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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
March 15, 2012     Shelton Mason County Journal
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March 15, 2012
 
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Letter Continued from page A-4 Sandra Cyr I would like to add comment. Why attach other opinions on the level that you did? Good grief, folks did we forget the part of the constitution that says freedom of speech? Sandra, please look up the law on domes- tic partnerships. You are misinformed when you state that the law does not give the same rights as marriage. It is easy to look up on the Internet. I know because I looked it up. Katie's interpretation of the rule of law is not mean spirited and grossly misstated, it is her opinion. Thank you Doris My- ers, I would like us all to be blessed by God also. Maybe instead of attacking each other we could practice pray- ing for each other. That would be a novel thought. Marilyn Gregory Hoodsport Support Fire District 2 Editor, the Journal On April 17 Mason County Fire District 2 will be asking us to renew its expiring Emergency Medical Services levy. In do- ing so they are asking us to maintain the current funding level so that they can con- tinue to provide our community with the same great level of paramedic and EMT services. The district's outreach for com- munity input on this levy proposal and its decision to not ask for a funding increase firms my belief that they are in tune with the economic realities that we find ourselves in. Unfortunately, this can't be said of all gov- ernment agencies. I don't know about you, but living in Bel- fair I am hearing more and more emergency sirens responding to more and more medical emergencies in North Mason. I applaud our fire district for the ser- vice that they provide us in the most difficult circumstances. Let's get together as a com- munity to continue to provide our fire district with the resources that they need to continue and protect us. Cathy Strong Belfair The greenies costing us dollars Editor, the Journal PUb 3 is obligated to follow new rules from Initiative 937 re- quiring a 3 percentage requirement in 2012 to purchase electricity from qualifying renew- able resources. The per- centage goes up to 15 percent over a period of eight years. Well, OK, the greenies put forth this initiative (RCW 19.285, 1-937) and Washing- ton voters passed it in 2006. But the greenies listed qualifying renew- able resources as elec- tricity from a genera- tion facility powered by a renewable resource other than fresh water. I bet when we passed this initiative we didn't read the fine print. So, by disqualifying fresh water (hydroelectric from Bonneville, etc.), we will be paying increasingly higher rates forever more so that PUb 3 can pur- chase power from wind turbine and from solar sources. Of course, most of the solar pan- els and wind turbines are imported so we are doing our best to help create jobs in other countries and we are paying higher electric- ity rates to accomplish this. In conclusion, this initiative says, sun-good, wind-good, water-bad. Along comes PUb 3 Commission Chair Linda Gott, who pre- sented a resolution at the Republican caucus to modify this crazy initiative and allow hydropower. Good job, Commissioner Gott. Finally someone is working to overturn this and bring common sense to the issue and some relief to our wal- lets. We don't need to build any more dams, just keep buying that clean, reliable water- generated electricity. Let me know if you think waterpower is not renewable and not clean. William S. Zeigler Shelton Here's some perspective Editor, the Journal The League of Women Voters of Wash- ington has serious con- cerns about both the specifics and the pro- cess used Saturday to pass the budget in the Washington State Sen- ate. The league believes the state budget should reflect the Values and priorities important to all Washingtonians and should involve hear- ings, revisions, more hearings and then a consensus that moves to passage. This did not happen on March 3. The league's legisla- tive priorities this year are broad - we call for sufficient state funding for public schools, child care and early learn- ing, poor families and children, seniors and health care for the poor and the vulnerable and disabled. We support sound environmental policies, recognizing that we all live in a state blessed by natural resources that need pro- tection. Our priorities are based on League principles stemming from comprehensive studies. The 2012 Senate budget makes cuts from the proposed Sen- ate Democratic bud- get in multiple areas from K-12 and higher education to liquor revenue for local gov- ernments. The league believes these cuts are shortsighted and will lead to increased expenses in both the near future and the long-term. Worse, these cuts are not needed to balance the state budget. We call on respon- sible legislators to work together to revise this senate budget to more nearly reflect the legitimate needs and concerns of the people of Washington state. We call for a budget that is fair, compas- sionate and responsible to all Washingtonians. We call for prompt ac- tion by legislators to write and pass such a budget. Lynda Links Co-President, LWVMC PUD 3 sets public hearing for rate increase Myer said the PUb 3 is dealing Board looks at3 with a 1o percent increase in whole- sale power costs from BPA. n repnt increase Also, he said the utility's whole- sale power costs have increased by 3 percent because of requirements un- By NATALIE JOHNSON der 1-937, an initiative that requires natalie@rnasoncounty.com public utilities to purchase 15 per- cent of their power from renewable sources, excluding hydropower, by The Mason County PUD 3 Com- 2020. mission voted to set a public hearing Myer said many public utilities to discuss a rate increase included in the state are contemplating rate in the utility's 2012 budget, increases. The hearing is scheduled for 10 "The common theme for just a.m. on Tuesday, March 27. about every utility in the Northwest The commission plans to consider is the Bonneville rate increase and a 3 percent increase for power con- increases due to renewable energy sumption, and a 10 cent per day in- requirements," he said. crease in the daily customer charge, With the rate increase, PUb 3 said Joel Myer, PUb 3 public in- customers would pay less per 1,000 formation and government affairs kilowatt hours (kWh) than custom- manager, ors in Franklin, Snohomish, Grays The PUb commission plans to Harbor, Clallam PUDs and Mason implement small rate increases over County PUb 1, among others. several years to spread out the cost "Most of the utilities that are on of the wholesale power increases, he par or lower than us are utilities said. that have their own electrical gen- The utility's increases are driven oration," Myer said. primarily by rate hikes from the BPA raised wholesale rates to the Bonneville Power Administration PUb 3 in October 2011. The utility (BPA), from which the PUb pur- included the proposed rate increases chases the majority of its power, in its 2012 budget. Journal file photo Joel Myer, PUb 3 public information and government affairs manager, said the utiliy's has scheduled a public hearing for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 27. March 8 -- Darrell March 10 -- Joseph Dan- March 12 -- Terry Mat- March 15 -- Aaron Charles Roberts and Tammy iel Johnston and Susan Ma- thews Fowler and Alexandra Charles Kerns and Mary Marie Allender rio Fraisure Lynn Rostvold Ann Coleman March 8 -- Joshua Lee March 11 -- Aaron Ray March 15 -- Kevin Doug- Barber and Crystal CodyBourne and Michele Lynnlas Brown and Nadine Lou- Jones Worthy ise Johnson DIVORCES March 6 -- Richard A. Ladue and Katrina A. La- due March 7 -- Arleta K. Caldwell and Michael D. Caldwell March 7' "-- Ashe Wolf Weatherly ~fld Steven Roy Weatherly Open for Business April 2, 2012 Mason County PUD No, Johns Prairie Operations Center Cost Effective - Coordinated - Future Focused March 9 -- Shawn Marti- nache and Erin Martinache March 12 -- Marion Sanders Jr. and Teresa E. Sanders A permit was issued on March 7 to Pete Chick of the 600 block of East Dana Drive to replace an existing rotten door size-for-size. A permit was issued on March 8 to Mason Lake, LLC, of the 600 block of Windsor Drive Southeast, Sammamish, for a new sin- gle-family residence. A permit was issued on March 12 to State Fish & Wildlife of the 600 block of Capitol Way South, Olym- pia, to add a ductless heat pump. A permit was issued to Timberlake Community Club of the 2800 block of East Timberlake Drive West for a demolition of an exist- ing manufactured home. In the story "Islanders voice concerns on land swap," from the March 8 edition of the Journal, Mi- chael Glaser's last name was spelled incorrectly. In the story, "Port of Shel- ton Commission talks transportation, race- track," from the March 8 edition of the Journal, Commission Chair Dick Taylor referred to high- way intersection between State Route 3 and High- way 101, not between Wallace Kneeland Boule- vard and Highway 101. PUD 3 is pleased to announce that April 2 will be the first official day of business at the new operations center at 2621 E Johns Prairie Road. The energy efficient facility provides for improved customer service more efficient management of utility functions; lower cost of operations over the long term; and additional office space that will allow for continued customer-centered service for the next 50 years or longer. To enhance customer convenience, PUD 3 has a pay center in downtown Shelton at 310 West Cota Street. The changes will not affect the services available at PUD 3's Belfair office. During the month of March, PUD 3 departments such as engineering, energy conservation, and telecommunications will be moving to the new facility. Prior to April 2, customers may want to contact the PUD to coordinate business they may have with staff. Mason County PUD No. 3 - Clean, Renewable Energy Every Day Main Shelton Office - 2621 E Johns Prairie Road, Shelton, WA Shelton Payment Center - 310 West Cota Street, Shelton, WA Belfair Office- 21341 E State Route 3, Belfair, WA Shelton (360) 426,8255 - Belfair (360) 275-2833 - Elma (360) 861 Outage Line (360) 432-1533 -4247 Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, March 15 2012 - Page A-5