Notice: Undefined index: HTTP_REFERER in /home/stparch/public_html/headmid_temp_main.php on line 4394
Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
March 1, 2012     Shelton Mason County Journal
PAGE 5     (5 of 24 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
 
PAGE 5     (5 of 24 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
March 1, 2012
 
Newspaper Archive of Shelton Mason County Journal produced by SmallTownPapers, Inc.
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader




By NATALIE JOHNSON natalie@masoncounty.com The Mason County 40 et 8 Vulture 135 was packed Saturday afternoon with veterans and their families to celebrate the veterans club's 90th birthday. George Radovich, Chef de Gare, or commander, of the 40 et 8, rec- ognized several members of the vet- eran's club, as well as organizations within the club, for their service over the past 90 years. Speakers at the event included Georgia Blair, president of the La Societ~ de Femmes, Gene Strozyk, who organizes the 40 et 8 and Shel- ton-Mason County Journal Christ- mas basket program each year and 40 et 8 publiciste Harvey Farrimond. Radovich particularly recognized a member of the military who recently Journal photo by Natalie Johnson George Radovich, Chef de Gare, or commander of the 40 et 8, kicked off the organiza- tion's 90th birthday Saturday by honoring veterans and volunteers who make the club what it is. returned to Mason County. "One most important item -- we want to welcome home Trevor Dodge," Radovich said. Dodge, a National Guard Staff Sergeant E6, returned to Mason County from his third and final de- ployment to Iraq on Wednesday, Feb. 15. He plans to retire in one year. "It's been a wonderful career and it's been an honor to be a member here (at the 40 et 8). I look forward to serving in this vulture for years to come," he said. Dodge joined the Army in 1992 and was on active duty until 2000 serving a tour of duty in Bosnia. Since 2000, Dodge has been an ac- tive member in the National Guard and has made three deployments to Iraq. After taking two months of paid vacation, Dodge plans to stay in Ma- son County with his family and look for a local job, g Quarter istration .is Now Olympic College Shelton offers classes that transfer to a university and career training. We also offer programs that help you get a high school diploma or GED and classes for English to Speakers of Other Languages. How about enrichment classes for personal and professional development? We're ready to help you, Classes begin Monday, March 26% Call 432-5400 or visit our web site today! • START HERE. GO ANYWHERE. Sal would increase the salary of for two years. 3rv ---.] a clerk in the Mason County "Ifsomebody's working out Continued from page A-1 Sheriffs Office. The posi- of class, we have to correct tion is included in the union this," Sheldon said. unanimously approved the I.A.M/Woodworkers Lodge However, Ring Erickson motion because Moore is per- W38, and the salary increase voted against the increase. forming duties under two job was approved by the Mason "I think this is every bit as titles, both as the interim di- County Civil Service Com- piecemeal. Everybody wants rector of utilities and waste mission, raises. As we give raises, that management, and his former Sheldon and Bloomfield will mean additional reduc- job, deputy director of the de- voted in favor of the increase, tions in our staff," she said. partment, because the employee had"I'm deeply troubled by this. The commission also dis- been working"out of class" or It's like, you like somebody, agreed over item 8.7, which was being paid less than the they get a raise. If you don't amount of work warranted, like somebody, they don't get a raise." The commission unani- mously approved another item, 8.9, to approve the in- terim appointment of county engineer Brian Matthews to public works director as cur- rent director Charlie Butros retires in March. Matthews will also still do the duties of engineer. The commissioners ap- proved a pay increase for Matthews to Step C of Range 45 to $7,555 per month. Festival Cedar Brianna Eddy with the title of Star Lions and the Shelton Kiwanis. Queen of the Forest. For more than six decades, Mason Continued from page A-1 "I'm proud to represent North Ma-County has celebrated its timber-town son," Eddy said. "I'm the first queen roots at Forest Festival, with live en- SHS senior Mike Bowman -- in addi- [from North Mason] since 2003." tertainment, a parade, a carnival and tion to receiving the Best Essay award Eddy, Bowman and Johnston re- more. and the Friendship award, an honor be- ceived $1,000 scholarships, sponsored Pageant winners go on to complete stowed by his peers -- was selected as by the Shelton Rotary, the Skookum community service activities. this year's Paul Bunyan. Rotary and the Phyllis and Duane "I'm really proud to be here now," "I feel honored," he said. "I'm really Guenther Memorial Scholarship Fund. Johnston said. "I'm looking forward to excited to do some community service." Each of the princesses received $500 working with everyday else that has Judges crowned Former Princess ofscholarships, sponsored by the Morning won." MACECOM about to fall from under our feet," Bakken said. Continued from page A-1 Because the MACE- COM board expected about are not available," the draft $600,000 in sales tax rev- audit report states, enue in 2009, it decreased Beau Bakken, MACE- user fees to agencies like COM Governance Board fire districts, ambulance Chair and Mason County companies and police de- Fire Protection District 2 partments. Chief, said the financial is- "In 2009, the (MACE- sues of the district go back COM) board adopted rates to its inception, for emergency dispatch ser- In 2008, MACECOM, vices to participating agen- which is governed by a nine- cies and a private ambu- member governance board lance service provider that -- five of which make upwere below the actual costs its legislative board -- was of service," the draft audit formed from the combina-report states. tion of two existing dispatch However, the district ac- centers in Mason County -- tually collected less than SHELCOM, ran by the City$500,000 in sales tax reve- of Shelton, and FIRECOM,nue in 2009, the start of the ran by Mason County Firerecession. Protection District 5. The MACECOM board "There was no need to chose to use reserve funding have two independent dis- to balance its budget and patch centers," Bakken said. "prop up the organization," That year, voters ap- Bakkensaid. proved a one-tenth of 1 MACECOM intended to percent sales tax to fund a use reserve funds to bal- dispatch center that func- ance the budget for a year tioned as a separate govern- at the most, but the econo- ment entity, which became my didn't improve as fast MACECOM. as board members hoped, "What [was] happen- and the organization ran ing in the background that its reserves down to about we [were] not as cognizant $80,000, triggering the state on [was] the economy wasauditor's finding. g~ .......... Bakken said MACECOM was "spending them (re- serves) down to a very dan- gerous point." However, today, he said MACECOM is well on its way to correcting the prob- lem. "We're estimating a sur- plus for 2012 of $70,000," Bakken said. "An audit looks at a period of time in the past. There's not a sur- prise here. We very much agree with the audit find- ing." MACECOM's funding is three-pronged. It is divided three ways, with funding coming from user fees, state funding and sales tax mon- ey. In the 2011 budget, user fees accounted for $454,331, state funding made up $730,260, and the one-tenth of 1 percent sales tax col- lected $525,000 for MACE- COM. In 2012, the organiza- tion approved a $1.8 million budget, which increased user fees. In the 2012 bud- get, MACECOM expects to bring in $597,733.37 in user fees, $571,135 in state fund- ing and $500,000 in sales tax money. In 2012, user fees should bring in $143,402 more than in 2011, a 31.5 percent in- crease. "While that was painful, there will be an increase again in 2013," Bakken said. However, the draft audit report questions whether measures taken by MACE- COM will be enough. "The board has adopted a rate increase for 2012, but it is insufficient to meet expenditures," the draft report states. "The center also has no formal written plan to address its financial condition due to the lack of MARCH 8TH 2:00 pm -7:00 pm COME SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR CHILD ............ NOW ENROLLING ~ ~&r~ ~ : .,~:i FOR 2012-2013 i:, Full Day K & Grade 1 :~!~ (combined class) (LIMIT 12) :j:i'r~- :.~!~ii~ ~ MT. OLIVE LUTHERAN SCHOOL ' 206 E. WYANDOTTE ~"~'~!i~ ;; 427-3165 schoolmolc@comcast.net www, mtoliveshelto n.o r,g Russ Denney pay, ng gas? ..... CLEANERS:& TAILORS ~,~ ~ Mon-Fr[ 6:30 ~. m .-b :00 p.m. • Sot 9:00 o.m.-2:00 p.m. .......... ~-u:ff215 South Second • 426-3371 Member Serving She~ton and Mason County for 86 years agreement on rates and al- locations." MACECOM Director Jill Evander said the organiza- tion is working on creating a written plan for the future. "One of the things that Voted "Best Chiropractor" Mason County .... 2010 & 2011 Advanced Chiropractic & Massage Accepting most insurances including Regence and GroupHealth Day .... Welcome 422 N. 1st St. • Shelton 426-6325 the budget committee is looking at is doing a five-,[A Family year plan, just to make sure ___ that we're continually keep- [ . Greenhouse. Nursery. Produce ing ahead of it," Evander / . Seafood. Bark I said. In addition to raising / .Soils. Plants I user fees, MACECOM also . Olympic M0untain Ice Cream ~ became completely inde- pendent from the City of / 1921 E. Hwy 106, Union WA 98592 I Shelton in January 2012. / i il I I Evander said this should / Winter Hours: Fri-Sat-Sun 9am-5:3Opm I also save the district money L www.hunter-farms.com j in the future. Sch 1 Major said the program includes an Parents at the forum also discussed GO S anti-bullying component, the burden of standardized tests on Continued from page A-1 "It's also getting the parents and both school district staffand students. the family to want to be connected," "Once they (students) hit the high my school ensure my child feels con- McCausland said. "There's myriad school our counselors are so overbur- nected and valued? What do you want ways of encouraging kids to do better." dened ... as far as guidance counseling for your children? What should our Several parents had concrete ideas -- they don't have the time to get to schools do to encourage students to do about how to make children and teen- know students," Vernon said. better academically? What would help agers more involved with their studies. One group of parents also discussed you as a parent to support your child's "I am a total believer that we need whether schools should offer incen- education?" those vocational programs -- not all tives to students to encourage good SSD school board member Sue Mc- kids will go to college," said parent grades. Causland attended the meeting, and Cindy Vernon. "I have a problem with incentives," answered the questions with two oth- Vernon, who has six children, four parent Helen Thompson said. "If the er members of the board, Chair Gene of whom are currently enrolled in Shel- expectation is clear, then that's the ex- Crater and Vice Chair Brian Major. ton schools and two SHS graduates, pectation., "We as board members know how particularly hoped that SSD would of- About one dozen people attended we want our children to feel connected fer programs to prepare students for the forum and all were parents of chil- and valued," McCausland said. work as well as a higher education, dren in the district, but many were She said the SSD ensures that Parent Jenna Coots also said chil- also employees of the district. through a program called "I Care," dren should lean concrete skills in Massie hopes to have at least two which stands for Integrity, Commu- school, more forums, which have yet to be nication, Accountability, Respect and "Teaching to the test is such a waste scheduled, and hopes to draw more Equity. of time," she said. groups of parents. Four Stars Shelton-Mason County Journal- Thursday, March 1, 2012 - Page A-5 (360) 427-8709 • Open for Supper Tuesday-Saturday Downtown Shelton • Corner of 3rd and West Railroad Award winning, Call for Parties, nationally known Meetings, Receptions FRI~SH A Wide ?ari~............... of & Special SHELLFISH Seafood & OtherMeat Dishes Occasion Lunches DAILY with Chef Xinh T, Dwell~s Asian Twist