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Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
March 1, 2007     Shelton Mason County Journal
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March 1, 2007
 
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VJournal Strike a balance You don't have to look any farther than Mason County to see that a state senator's effort to soften Washington's harsh "Three Strikes, You're Out" law deserves the support of this year's legislature. Perhaps kinder hearts will prevail than in 2001, when another attempt to change the voter-approved, get- tough initiative failed in Olympia. The 1993 initiative grew out of citizens' frustration with repeat, violent criminals. The point was literally to lock them up and throw away the key. For life. However, as with many things done in anger, the shortsighted, one-sentence-fits-all law left no room for moderation in sentencing, rational judgment or forgiveness, nor for prisoner reform, maturation or education. The law snared young punks like Leonard Norling, Mason County's first "three strikes" victim. A kid with a troubled childhood and a terrible anger problem, Norling racked up his first strike at 19, his second at 21 and his third at 23, when he was sent to prison for life. Sentencing judge James Sawyer, whose hands were tied by the law in the local superior court proceedings, called the situation "an unbelievable waste." Interviewing Norling in prison in 1999 made us heart- sick. He belonged in prison. People who solve their problems with violence shouldn't be on the streets. But this was a 23-year-old who could straighten out his life by cooling off behind bars for a number of years. Ironically, society had previously given this criminal such short sentences for what it considered dangerous crimes that he had been given life before being given a five-year sentence that could have rehabilitated him. In the prison interview he spoke of getting an education, marrying and settling down, but all hope had been ripped from him. Instead of humanely imprisoning him for a significant period of his life so that he would wake up, society had merci- lessly tossed him on a scrap heap and agreed to pay a million dollars to confine him forever. He was a fascinating 23-year-old, obviously tough but evidently intelligent. That's what made his forever sen- tence so hard to fathom. Just a few years earlier he had been out on the Shelton High School wrestling mat and had been featured as a "poster child" in a-Journal story on the foster program. He barely remembered his father. He had been removed from his mother's home in the fifth grade and had kicked around foster homes until he was 18. He often ran away from his foster homes be- cause of the trauma of being placed with strangers. The "bad crowd" accepted him, and he began to get into trouble constantly. Somewhere in that childhood he was paying attention to something he was taught in school, because his correspondence with us was better written than many of the letters we receive. We saw potential in a hood society had discarded. We couldn't imagine him offending in middle and old age. Reading the papers every day only makes us wonder more about the "three strikes" hammering Norling received. A thief who dragged a man to death while stealing his car in Renton received 13 years in prmon. A Tacoma man who beat his wife to death with a hammer was given 18 years in prison. The man who murdered A]lyn resident Peggi Mitchell with "blunt force" received 19 years. Drunk drivers who kill people do a few years. Those who beat their own children to death or sell drugs that kill others don't get life, but Leonard Norling did. Comes now State Senator Adam Kline from Seattle, who wants to redefine what crimes constitute "strikes." Not just the most serious four or five crimes but dozens of crimes count as "strikes," including second-degree assault and second-degree robbery. Senate Bill 5964 would exclude those latter two from the "strikes" list and make the changes retroactive, which would mean about 25 lifers like Norling would be eligible for shorter sentences. The "three strikes" law has put about 285 criminals behind bars for life since 1994. During the 2001 attempt to narrow the list of "strikes" crimes, the press provided examples of people given life for stealing beer with a threat or taking $300 from an espresso stand• A witness at a legislative hearing last week said fistfights or barroom brawls can be "strike" assaults, while a public defender explained that a shoplifter pushing a security guard out of the way constitutes second-degree robbery. The brawlers and thieves don't have to be treated so nicely that they get "hand slaps," but to put them away for 50 years at taxpayers' expense is ridiculous. If Wash- inbton isn't going to treat substance abuse, educate inmates and make every effort to rehabilitate them, it is just going to keep building $250-million prisons and pay- ing $27,000 annually for each prisoner's room and board. Society can be tough without being cruel. It can protect itself without going overboard. There is a better way to spend tax- payers' money and a better way to treat lawbreakers. -CG uuuuuuuu '%°nn"  LisPs 492-800 ournal POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. Published weekly by Shelton Publishing 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 Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $31.0D per year in-county address, $45.00 per year in state of Washington $55.00 per year out of state Charles Gay, editor and publisher. Newsroom: Sasn Hanlon, managing editor, Port of Shelton; Steve Patch, sports editor; Jeff Green, general assignment, city government, schools; Rebecca Wells, society editor, county government; Mary Duncan, police, courts. Advertising: Stephen Gay, advertising manager; Dave Plerik and Harvey Morris, ad sales. Front office: Julie Orme, business manager; Kathy tester, circulation; Donna KJnnaird, bookkeeper; Cdcket Carter, mailroom supervisor. Compmdng room: Diane Rlordan, supervisor; Margot Brand, Jan Kallinen, pagination; Monica CarvajaI-Beben, pagination, darkroom; Koleen Wood, typesetter, computer system manager; Colleen Scott, ad builder, computer system manager; Clinton Kendall, proofreader. Pressroom: Kelly Riordan, pressman; Nick Carr, pressman's assistant. uuunuluuululluululluuu Page 4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, March 1,2007 Son Bindi I00ea ders " -00Journ al: Reasons for Pioneer's bond Editor, The Journal: As president of the Pioneer School Board, I feel compelled to respond to Mr. John Diehrs letter to the editor printed last week ("Question Pioneer bond issue"). In regards to tearing down buildings, there comes a time when every school has outlived its ability to provide the space neces- sary to effectively educate our students. We have reached that point with some of our district's buildings. Add the fact that the roof on the original school, built in 1952, has an inverted roof that makes a great rain catcher during most months of the year, which makes it very susceptible to leaks. Using funds to constantly repair a roof that will continue to have problems is wasting money that could be better spent on improv- ing the education of our students. As for "the dubious purpose of moving the fourth- and filch-grad- ers to the primary school," it is quite simple. Not only is a K-5 elementary configuration stan- dard, but adding these classrooms to the existing primary school is more cost-effective than building new construction anywhere else on campus. The primary school was designed and built with the plan of easily adding on class- rooms at a later date. (Good plan- ning by Pioneer 15 years ago.) As far as "transform the mid- dle school into a single building, supposedly to improve security," there is no "supposedly'" about it. Right now when students or staff need to go to another classroom, go to the office or even use the restroom, they must leave their building and travel outside to another building. Not only is this inconvenient in inclement weath- er, but it makes it hard to keep track of students wandering around the campus unsupervised. Students aside, a visitor com- ing onto campus is also very hard to monitor and is a security issue. To take a school with at least 29 outside doors leading into classes and in and out of the main build- ing and create an enclosed cam- pus with one main entrance for students as well as visitors to en- ter, that improves security, period! As for the declining enro½1- ment, while it is true our enroll- ment has declined over the past several years and the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction projects that we will not see any increases in the near future, their projection was done in 2005 prior to the increase in development throughout the county. A study done this past September by a consultant work- ing with all of the Mason County school districts to prepare capital facilities plans shows that neer, as well as the other in the county, will see comparable to the amount velopment we are periencing. One only has to around the district to obserVe many new homes under tion. These new homes may more students and will broader tax base tbr us all. In response to the that the board was failing "distinguish between true and nice-to-haves," I would make this comment. Three ago, Pioneer submitted a its voters for $12.8 million. bond didn't pass, and while struction costs since then calated, we are now bond for $9.8 million. We take our role as gut of the district's children .very seriously. Our school comprises parents, hess owner, a waterfront people on fixed incomes - all very aware of the fact es will be going up if we are nate and this bond is We feel it is a modest that will benefit our well as our entire district. schools are necessary to healthy and safe Brandee Would Americans ration gas Editor, The Journal: I can't find anyone who dis- agrees with the notion that just about everything we pay for in terms of food, energy, clothing, gasoline and other essentials is moved up or down the scale ac- cording to the price ofoil. If this includes the power that moves and motivates politicians then I think we can safely say the "company store" to whom we owe our souls as in the Tennessee Er- nie Ford song is, in fact, the inter- national oil cartel. It shouldn't surprise us their lobbyists in D.C. are calling the shots on behalf of their well-heeled masters. They control the votes of our represen- tatives and hence our daily lives. I can recall during World War II when we had a clear idea of who and what was the face of our ene- my we dug in our heels and in ad- dition to Victory Gardens, etc., we also accepted gasoline rationing. I'm just wondering how fed up we really are with "business as usual" in D.C. Would we return to gas rationing if it was made cer- tain that by rationing our thirst at the pump and cutting off our overseas suppliers like the Saudis and Hugo Chavez we would cut the cost of a gallon of gas by half and never ever go back to warring in the Mideast for any reason and at any price no matter how cheap? Needless to say such an idea would really strike terror in the hearts of OPEC and their Ameri- can business partners. The ques- tion is: Would most Americans be satisfied with 10 to 15 gallons a week for their family car? Well, why not find out? I reckon Mason County is about as mainstream America as you can find, east or west. If your readers will answer this simple poll and return same to me at P.O. Box 56, Union, 98592 I'll forward the re- sults to The Journal. If it could be shown that a ra- tioning of gasoline for private noncommercial vehicles (only) and administered by ali and independent non thority would result in becoming self-reliant on fuel reserves/alternative: consequences of barring imports of oil and a least 50 percent in the gasoline at the pump, (circle one): Support such an endeavor? Not support such an My gut guess is most cans have little stomach foJ rice, even if it means liberty and well-being. I wrong. If so, I. will sults of this poll to every big-city newspaper questing they reprint it. worst hunch is right, I'll minority voters to a response with that usually accompany and the death of Start with vision for streets Editor, The Journal." Reading your editorial last week, I was personally deeply im- pressed with your "2020 vision" for Shelton! Given the location of the city, the magnificent Olymp- ics on three sides and Oakland Bay on the other, the changes you suggest could make Shelton one of the most attractive cities on Puget Sound. Anything worthwhile begins with a vision. You have, there- fore, rendered a tremendous ser- vice to us all, including the city commission. But it's also a service which requires an encouraging response from us all, especially from the city commission and the county. I hope the city commission gives this vision some serious con- sideration. In my opinion, the place for city and county officials to begin is with the streets. It's tough, if not impossible, to travel around in Shelton and not en- counter potholes and other forms of rugged going. Improved street conditions and curbs, together with sidewalks, would motivate homeowners to greatly improve the appearances of their yards. I realize making improvements to the city, including the streets, is' a potentially costly venture. Why not plan as a homeowner does when numerous changes are needed, but, completing all time is impossible? Such a owner prioritizes that needs to be done. If repairing the streetS.i sidered a top priority, the streets by name, bids, give some idea home or citizen. Put the thing up for bid and happens. Have some meetings and a chance to vote for or against. would, hopefully, the hearts of us all as tial steps taken to cause vision to become a reality- ,ors °. eb w Howard F ..,; Christrass VlJ' VJournal Strike a balance You don't have to look any farther than Mason County to see that a state senator's effort to soften Washington's harsh "Three Strikes, You're Out" law deserves the support of this year's legislature. Perhaps kinder hearts will prevail than in 2001, when another attempt to change the voter-approved, get- tough initiative failed in Olympia. The 1993 initiative grew out of citizens' frustration with repeat, violent criminals. The point was literally to lock them up and throw away the key. For life. However, as with many things done in anger, the shortsighted, one-sentence-fits-all law left no room for moderation in sentencing, rational judgment or forgiveness, nor for prisoner reform, maturation or education. The law snared young punks like Leonard Norling, Mason County's first "three strikes" victim. A kid with a troubled childhood and a terrible anger problem, Norling racked up his first strike at 19, his second at 21 and his third at 23, when he was sent to prison for life. Sentencing judge James Sawyer, whose hands were tied by the law in the local superior court proceedings, called the situation "an unbelievable waste." Interviewing Norling in prison in 1999 made us heart- sick. He belonged in prison. People who solve their problems with violence shouldn't be on the streets. But this was a 23-year-old who could straighten out his life by cooling off behind bars for a number of years. Ironically, society had previously given this criminal such short sentences for what it considered dangerous crimes that he had been given life before being given a five-year sentence that could have rehabilitated him. In the prison interview he spoke of getting an education, marrying and settling down, but all hope had been ripped from him. Instead of humanely imprisoning him for a significant period of his life so that he would wake up, society had merci- lessly tossed him on a scrap heap and agreed to pay a million dollars to confine him forever. He was a fascinating 23-year-old, obviously tough but evidently intelligent. That's what made his forever sen- tence so hard to fathom. Just a few years earlier he had been out on the Shelton High School wrestling mat and had been featured as a "poster child" in a-Journal story on the foster program. He barely remembered his father. He had been removed from his mother's home in the fifth grade and had kicked around foster homes until he was 18. He often ran away from his foster homes be- cause of the trauma of being placed with strangers. The "bad crowd" accepted him, and he began to get into trouble constantly. Somewhere in that childhood he was paying attention to something he was taught in school, because his correspondence with us was better written than many of the letters we receive. We saw potential in a hood society had discarded. We couldn't imagine him offending in middle and old age. Reading the papers every day only makes us wonder more about the "three strikes" hammering Norling received. A thief who dragged a man to death while stealing his car in Renton received 13 years in prmon. A Tacoma man who beat his wife to death with a hammer was given 18 years in prison. The man who murdered A]lyn resident Peggi Mitchell with "blunt force" received 19 years. Drunk drivers who kill people do a few years. Those who beat their own children to death or sell drugs that kill others don't get life, but Leonard Norling did. Comes now State Senator Adam Kline from Seattle, who wants to redefine what crimes constitute "strikes." Not just the most serious four or five crimes but dozens of crimes count as "strikes," including second-degree assault and second-degree robbery. Senate Bill 5964 would exclude those latter two from the "strikes" list and make the changes retroactive, which would mean about 25 lifers like Norling would be eligible for shorter sentences. The "three strikes" law has put about 285 criminals behind bars for life since 1994. During the 2001 attempt to narrow the list of "strikes" crimes, the press provided examples of people given life for stealing beer with a threat or taking $300 from an espresso stand• A witness at a legislative hearing last week said fistfights or barroom brawls can be "strike" assaults, while a public defender explained that a shoplifter pushing a security guard out of the way constitutes second-degree robbery. The brawlers and thieves don't have to be treated so nicely that they get "hand slaps," but to put them away for 50 years at taxpayers' expense is ridiculous. If Wash- inbton isn't going to treat substance abuse, educate inmates and make every effort to rehabilitate them, it is just going to keep building $250-million prisons and pay- ing $27,000 annually for each prisoner's room and board. Society can be tough without being cruel. It can protect itself without going overboard. There is a better way to spend tax- payers' money and a better way to treat lawbreakers. -CG uuuuuuuu '%°nn"  LisPs 492-800 ournal POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. Published weekly by Shelton Publishing 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 Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $31.0D per year in-county address, $45.00 per year in state of Washington $55.00 per year out of state Charles Gay, editor and publisher. Newsroom: Sasn Hanlon, managing editor, Port of Shelton; Steve Patch, sports editor; Jeff Green, general assignment, city government, schools; Rebecca Wells, society editor, county government; Mary Duncan, police, courts. Advertising: Stephen Gay, advertising manager; Dave Plerik and Harvey Morris, ad sales. Front office: Julie Orme, business manager; Kathy tester, circulation; Donna KJnnaird, bookkeeper; Cdcket Carter, mailroom supervisor. Compmdng room: Diane Rlordan, supervisor; Margot Brand, Jan Kallinen, pagination; Monica CarvajaI-Beben, pagination, darkroom; Koleen Wood, typesetter, computer system manager; Colleen Scott, ad builder, computer system manager; Clinton Kendall, proofreader. Pressroom: Kelly Riordan, pressman; Nick Carr, pressman's assistant. uuunuHluuululluululluuu Page 4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, March 1,2007 Son Bindi I00ea ders " -00Journ al: Reasons for Pioneer's bond Editor, The Journal: As president of the Pioneer School Board, I feel compelled to respond to Mr. John Diehrs letter to the editor printed last week ("Question Pioneer bond issue"). In regards to tearing down buildings, there comes a time when every school has outlived its ability to provide the space neces- sary to effectively educate our students. We have reached that point with some of our district's buildings. Add the fact that the roof on the original school, built in 1952, has an inverted roof that makes a great rain catcher during most months of the year, which makes it very susceptible to leaks. Using funds to constantly repair a roof that will continue to have problems is wasting money that could be better spent on improv- ing the education of our students. As for "the dubious purpose of moving the fourth- and filch-grad- ers to the primary school," it is quite simple. Not only is a K-5 elementary configuration stan- dard, but adding these classrooms to the existing primary school is more cost-effective than building new construction anywhere else on campus. The primary school was designed and built with the plan of easily adding on class- rooms at a later date. (Good plan- ning by Pioneer 15 years ago.) As far as "transform the mid- dle school into a single building, supposedly to improve security," there is no "supposedly'" about it. Right now when students or staff need to go to another classroom, go to the office or even use the restroom, they must leave their building and travel outside to another building. Not only is this inconvenient in inclement weath- er, but it makes it hard to keep track of students wandering around the campus unsupervised. Students aside, a visitor com- ing onto campus is also very hard to monitor and is a security issue. To take a school with at least 29 outside doors leading into classes and in and out of the main build- ing and create an enclosed cam- pus with one main entrance for students as well as visitors to en- ter, that improves security, period! As for the declining enro½1- ment, while it is true our enroll- ment has declined over the past several years and the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction projects that we will not see any increases in the near future, their projection was done in 2005 prior to the increase in development throughout the county. A study done this past September by a consultant work- ing with all of the Mason County school districts to prepare capital facilities plans shows that neer, as well as the other in the county, will see comparable to the amount velopment we are periencing. One only has to around the district to obserVe many new homes under tion. These new homes may more students and will broader tax base tbr us all. In response to the that the board was failing "distinguish between true and nice-to-haves," I would make this comment. Three ago, Pioneer submitted a its voters for $12.8 million. bond didn't pass, and while struction costs since then calated, we are now bond for $9.8 million. We take our role as gut of the district's children .very seriously. Our school comprises parents, hess owner, a waterfront people on fixed incomes - all very aware of the fact es will be going up if we are nate and this bond is We feel it is a modest that will benefit our well as our entire district. schools are necessary to healthy and safe Brandee Would Americans ration gas Editor, The Journal: I can't find anyone who dis- agrees with the notion that just about everything we pay for in terms of food, energy, clothing, gasoline and other essentials is moved up or down the scale ac- cording to the price ofoil. If this includes the power that moves and motivates politicians then I think we can safely say the "company store" to whom we owe our souls as in the Tennessee Er- nie Ford song is, in fact, the inter- national oil cartel. It shouldn't surprise us their lobbyists in D.C. are calling the shots on behalf of their well-heeled masters. They control the votes of our represen- tatives and hence our daily lives. I can recall during World War II when we had a clear idea of who and what was the face of our ene- my we dug in our heels and in ad- dition to Victory Gardens, etc., we also accepted gasoline rationing. I'm just wondering how fed up we really are with "business as usual" in D.C. Would we return to gas rationing if it was made cer- tain that by rationing our thirst at the pump and cutting off our overseas suppliers like the Saudis and Hugo Chavez we would cut the cost of a gallon of gas by half and never ever go back to warring in the Mideast for any reason and at any price no matter how cheap? Needless to say such an idea would really strike terror in the hearts of OPEC and their Ameri- can business partners. The ques- tion is: Would most Americans be satisfied with 10 to 15 gallons a week for their family car? Well, why not find out? I reckon Mason County is about as mainstream America as you can find, east or west. If your readers will answer this simple poll and return same to me at P.O. Box 56, Union, 98592 I'll forward the re- sults to The Journal. If it could be shown that a ra- tioning of gasoline for private noncommercial vehicles (only) and administered by ali and independent non thority would result in becoming self-reliant on fuel reserves/alternative: consequences of barring imports of oil and a least 50 percent in the gasoline at the pump, (circle one): Support such an endeavor? Not support such an My gut guess is most cans have little stomach foJ rice, even if it means liberty and well-being. I wrong. If so, I. will sults of this poll to every big-city newspaper questing they reprint it. worst hunch is right, I'll minority voters to a response with that usually accompany and the death of Start with vision for streets Editor, The Journal." Reading your editorial last week, I was personally deeply im- pressed with your "2020 vision" for Shelton! Given the location of the city, the magnificent Olymp- ics on three sides and Oakland Bay on the other, the changes you suggest could make Shelton one of the most attractive cities on Puget Sound. Anything worthwhile begins with a vision. You have, there- fore, rendered a tremendous ser- vice to us all, including the city commission. But it's also a service which requires an encouraging response from us all, especially from the city commission and the county. I hope the city commission gives this vision some serious con- sideration. In my opinion, the place for city and county officials to begin is with the streets. It's tough, if not impossible, to travel around in Shelton and not en- counter potholes and other forms of rugged going. Improved street conditions and curbs, together with sidewalks, would motivate homeowners to greatly improve the appearances of their yards. I realize making improvements to the city, including the streets, is' a potentially costly venture. Why not plan as a homeowner does when numerous changes are needed, but, completing all time is impossible? Such a owner prioritizes that needs to be done. If repairing the streetS.i sidered a top priority, the streets by name, bids, give some idea home or citizen. Put the thing up for bid and happens. Have some meetings and a chance to vote for or against. would, hopefully, the hearts of us all as tial steps taken to cause vision to become a reality- ,ors °. eb w Howard F ..,; Christrass VlJ'