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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
February 23, 2012     Shelton Mason County Journal
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February 23, 2012
 
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]©URNALEDITORIAL We were heartened by news earlier his month that a Thurston County uperior Court judge ruled in favor of the City of Shelton regarding proposed development south of Sandersen Field. The ruling in favor of the city was more than three years in the making and finally opens up the possibility of major commer- cial and residential development in Shelton. Officials from the Port of Shelton, who have strenuously opposed a rezone of the prop- erty for years, say that they will not raise any further objections. That's good news for the developer, the Hall Equities Group out of California, and good news for residents of Shelton and Mason County. We've been scratching our heads ever since the Port of Shelton began making noise about noise concerns. The port argued that the development, specifically a residential portion of the pro- posal, was too close to Sandersen Field and noise from planes flying overhead is not conducive to residential development. One of the big problems with the port's argu- ment, in our minds, is the fact that plenty of people already live, work, shop, go to school and receive medical care in close proximity to the airport. The port was tilting at wind- mills. We're proud of the city for fighting for what's right. Perhaps now more than ever, Shelton and Mason County need folks that are willing to invest their hard-earned dol- lars to make a difference here. That's be- cause the more people that live here, work here and spend their paychecks here ben- efits us all. The Hall Equities Group development may not be Shelton's salvation_ but it is an obvious step in the right direction. It would be one thing if the port had raised legiti- mate concerns or objections to the project on its merits, but they instead chose to pursue picayune protests in the courtroom. And they lost. Bravo to the city and bravo to the rest of us who live and work here that can't wait for the first shovel to turn some dirt. LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR children in my care be- Water haved as the employees and district is commissioners of the BWD do, the children would find themselves in a very boring shameful time-out area. Isn't it time for someone in authority to Editor, the Journal: take charge and put BWD I am almost ashamed people in time out? Also, in to say or tell anyone that this economy and with the I live in Belfair with all public and people of Belfair the "childish behavior" of paying the wages of BWD the Belfair Water District employees, why do these (BWD). I am sure I am not employees continue to have the only person in Belfair contracts that give them a that wants answers to guaranteed pay check for some questions. I under- years no matter what they stand that according to Mr. do or how they act as long Tipton's golden contract as it isn't criminal? Isn't it he gets three days pay time for the people of Bel- for overtime, but before fair and the State of Wash- a commissioners meeting ington to demand major that starts at 4 p.m. is Mr. changes, for the better, at Tipton already gone for the the BWD? day? What days and hours does Mr. Tipton have? Also, Betty Jones if Mr. Tipton is excused Belfair from all commission meet- ings that would put him in overtime, isn't it true that Mr Tipton, by his own ac- tions, makes it impossible U se for commission members to hand correspondence Mr. to Mr. Tipton? The big- gest question is why are Editor, the Journal: the restrooms locked at Last Saturday, I par- public meetings? Isn't the ticipated in Denny Heck's BWD building publicly Listening Tour event in owned? Who is the person Shelton at the Civic Center. dictating that at public The event, meant to be a fo- meetings the restrooms be rum to discuss local issues locked in a building owned in Mason County, brought by the people? Am I wrong together a bipartisan and or do the people of Belfair diverse group representing have no rights when it many walks of life in Mason comes to the BWD? If the County. restrooms continue to re- For more than an hour, main locked, why aren't the the group discussed issues public BWD meetings being ranging from Washington held somewhere else? The State's Shellfish Initiative public meeting room at the to the nation's federal im- library is a perfect place. If migration policy. Seated the commissioners need to around a table, the con- meet in private, the public versation was lively as the would have a warm dry twenty-or-so attendants did place to wait and the rest- not shy away from speaking rooms are always unlocked, their mind to Denny. Den- I worked for one family for ny, in turn,was attentive to more than 20 years as a each question and showed a professional nanny. If the deep understanding of the JOurn:al Letter Policy county's issues. As I sat there contem- plating what Congress should and could do to help Mason County, I couldn't help but think that the to: t:he editor.:: will print signed, original letters thoughtful discussion I was watching about substantive OflocaHnterest :We will not publish letters that issues was an example of one thing missinginWash- a:re ::l: i:b:eil0:us: :or sCurrilous in nature. Signed letters ington, D.C. should provide:contact and address information Thanks to Denny for throwing the event and for the reminder that civil conversation among people with differing concerns and viewpoints about serious mitted, efficient team and just ordinary citizens who tion for that matter? Is it a issues can still happen, a personal commitment like the idea) still practice matter of time before reli- which makes him the right polygamy, even though gious clerics will be fi)rced Marlene Taylor person to represent the they can't legalize theseto perfbrm these marriages? Shelton 10th Congressional District unions, the Rule of Law in This is why we have a stan- Heck i in the House ofRepresenta- our country, andhasbeen dardlawofmarriagebeing S tires, since its origin, is that mar- a legalized umon of one riage is a ceremony, either man and one woman. We the best Karen Sandberg religious or secular, be- are headed down a slippery Shelton tween one woman and one slope by diverting from this nd idate man. It is illegal to practice very ba.~ic law. ca polygamy, it is illegal to Labeling same-sex marry your sibling, it is die unions as marriage will Editor, the Journal: gal to marry underage chii neither give absolution tu I met Denny Heck for the is rule dren and in the majority ot' the union uor uplift it; it first time on Saturday at states, still illegal to ma,~y oni) t,~kt:~ w h,~ ih~ m~jo~ his pnblic forum in Shelton. of law the same sex. Andyes, itityofAmericansbeheveto I am aware of his business is illegal to buy and sell be holy and distorts it to experience and his past drugs, even if your opinion whatever certain groups public service. I learned a Editor, the Journal: is that it is harmless to so- desire it to be. i harbor lot about my new 10th Dis- In response to Thomas ciety and protected by the no ill will against gays trict (stretching from Shel- "Birdy" McKee's comment constitution, and lesbians, but with ton all the way to Puyal- in the Feb. 16 Journal By your own interpreta- civil unions and legal docu- lup!) and was impressed by about the opposition to tion of the constitution, Mr. ments, they have every Denny as our Democratic same-sex marriage and the McKee, all laws forbidding right that any married candidate for that seat in Constitution: Mr. McKee,same-sex, polygamous, couple has without the the United States Congress. I really don't think theincestuous, etc, mar- title. The Rule of Law in Speaking to a bipartisan Founding Fathers had riages (or even drug use) America that marriage group, Denny showed a same-sex marriage in mind should be null and void is between a man and a thorough understanding of when ibrming this Consti- because (quote) "under woman as it was originally our region's many issues, tution and to tell you the the Constitution, everyone created should remain as it His focus stayed like a laser truth, the government (nor has the f~eedom to do orhas for centuries. on how Congress' work in I) doesn't give a fig for what marry as they will, after Another thing, Christi- D.C. would affect Mason legal-aged, consenting (fully all, they aren't hurting any- anity is about 33 percent of County and its residents. I conscious) adults do in the one." Isn't that what you the world's population, but believe he is very qualified privacy of their bedroom, as said? Are you ready for the 85 percent of the United to address the lagging eco- long as the public doesn't legalization of polygamyStates. Granted, the per- nomic development of our have to witness it, so you or the marriage of deeply centage is dropping as soci- area. can wash that argument devoted siblings? Marry-ety is slowly throwing God More than anything else, down the drain, ing 13 year olds? Do we out with the bath water. I was impressed that he The issue here is Rule of stop there? There are listened to each questioner Law. While some religions families of plural wives that Katie Groves and took notes. He showed (Islam, some Eastern, orwould love to legalize their Shelton real curiosity and concern, some self-proclaimed re-union. Why gays and not Denny Heck has a com- ligious splinter groups, or them or any other combina- See Letters on page A-5 PAPERBOY S s all The Republican Party needs This is so a likable, electable person if ~ evident that they hope to win the White ~i pundits on both House so I'd like to nominate sides of Fox Sara Lee. News are begin- Established as a brand in 1939 ning to specu- she's over the age of 35, a U.S. late on a bro- born citizen (according to the kered national Supreme Court's Citizens United convention. decision) so she meets all the re- By TOM The last time quirements set by our Founding MULLEN a convention Fathers. was brokered And, of course, nobody doesn't was in 1952 like Sara Lee. when the Democrats pushed Ad- Neither Mitt, nor Newt nor lai Stevenson into an impossible Rick nor even Run seem to be able match against General Dwight to capture a majority of the party Eisenhower. faithful nor the momentum need- Pretty much everybody liked ed to seal the deal with voters. Ike and that idea became the greatest campaign slogan of all Democrat, is someone we can like. date. time. Like Ike. What I'm saying here is corpo- The trouble with the Republi- Sara Lee is an Illinois corpora- rations don't come with baggage can Party is that it has become so tion so the Republicans would be so why stop with the president? fractured that every time some- taking the fight directly to the Imagine an entire executive one new is handed the football he/ president's home state, branch filled with the names we she gets gang-tackled by his/her As a corporation she is sure to grew up with, the corporations we own team. win the favor of business interests already love. By the time the Grand Old and no Super Pac could compete Mr. Clean would make an ex- Party has its nominee (Aug. 30 in with a true corporate candidate, cellent running mate for Sara, se- Tampa) President Barack Obama Who better than Sara Lee to riously, he is the opposite of dirty. will be in full re-election mode shed a contrast against the likes G.I. Joe was the first corpora- which leaves Republicans just a of Hillary Clinton who once de- tion to pop into my head as Sec- couple of months to rally behind meaned those women who stayedretary of Defense but after seeing one candidate who can convince at home and baked cookies? his Super Bowl commercial (star- that great silent majority'that it Corporations protect their im- ring the Rock and Bruce Willis!) I is time for a change, ages better than any human can. was reminded of those Hollywood And what we want from our Fidelity problems have been the president, whether Republican or undoing of more than one candi- See Paper Boy on page A-5 SheltoniMason County ::::i .,~J .............. ........ :,:, i ................ ~ iShelton-Mason County Journal is a member USPS 492-800 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason County Journal, RO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. Published weekly by Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc. at 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Washington Mailing address: RO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584 Telephone (360) 426-4412 • www.masoncounty.com Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washington of Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $37 per year for Mason County addresses, $51 per year in state of Washington but outside Mason County, $61 per year out of state. Owned and published by She/ton-Mason County Journal, Inc Kari Sleight, publisher Jesse Mullen, general mgr. Newsroom: Kevan Moore, managing editor Aria Shephard, North Mason, environment, reporter Natalie Johnson, reporter Emily Hanson, sports reporter Adam Rudnick, copy editor Advertising: Dave Pierik, Sr. Acct. Executive Harvey Morris ad representative Sharee Miller, ad representat ve Front office: Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper Margot Brand, circulation ~,ricket Carter, mailroom supervisor Composing room: William Adams, graphics Koleen Wood, classifieds/legals Becky Curt, typing Pressroom: Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, February 23, 2012