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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
March 22, 2012     Shelton Mason County Journal
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March 22, 2012
 
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By NATALIE JOHNSON natalie@masoncounty.com I Shelton High chool graduates Grog Howe and Andy Graham left today, March 22, for a two-week trip to Cambodia, to teach life- saving skills to law enforcement and firefighters. Howe, who graduated from SHS in 1982, and Graham, who graduated two years earlier, both worked at Mason County Ambu- lance and later Mason County Medic One as paramedics and EMTs. Now, Graham works as an EMT in Gig Harbor, and Howe lives in Ireland, but the two men get to- gether every year to travel with the Outreach Emergency Service Program (OESP), a 501(c)3 non- profit, to Cambodia each year. "I was involved from the very beginning," Howe said. The program was founded in 2001 by Puget Sound residents Sos Ouch, a Cambodian immi- grant, and his nephew Vu Rouen. Howe went with them on OESP's first trip in 2001. That year, the group went to observe what work needed to be done to improve responses to fire and medical emergencies in the country. "We had a grandiose idea of starting a 911 system," Howe said. "We got there and realized none of that was going to happen as soon as we wanted." In 2001 Cambodia did not have a standardized emergency phone number. Instead, a person could call the fire department's number to report a fire. That department ason Solar panels, geothermal heat among features By NATALIE JOHNSON natalie@rnasoncounty.corm The brand new Mason County PUD 3 operations center on Johns Prairie is scheduled to open on April 2. and when it does, it will be green. Along with more space and up-to-date offices, ga- rages and warehouses for the utility's staff, it will also achieve new heights in green building technology, said Joel Myer, PUD 3 pub- lic information and govern- ment relations manager. For example, the new buildings are heated with radiant floor heat powered by geothermal heat pumps. Geothermal heat pumps provide a more stable source of heat than tradi- tional pumps, which pull warmth out of air, because ground temperatures are more stable, he said. "It's much more effi- cient," Myer said. The geothermal heat pumps send water through Journa pnoto By ~latalle Johnson Grog Howe, left, and Andy Graham, both Shelton High School graduates, left for Cambodia today with a group of paramedics and firefighters in the Outreach Emergency Service Program. would then have to coordinate with other emergency service groups. This caused long response times, Howe said. Fires are a huge problem in Cambodia, Howe said, not only be- cause of response times, but also because as many as 500 buildings can fill a city block there. In 2002, the group began work- ing to train law enforcement and emergency services in Cambodia. Now Cambodia has three stan- dardized emergency phone num- bers - 117 for police, 118 for an ambulance and 119 for fire. Over time. OESP expanded its training services. "We train their ambulance workers to be more along the lines of our EMT level." Howe said. "We brought them two fire engines and in a few years nine ambulances." This year, OESP plans to give firefighting lessons to crews at ~wo major airports in the country. OESP volunteers have worked to bring western and eastern phi- losophies on medicine together gol Journal 3noto oy Natahe Johnson Joel Myer, public information and government relations manager for Mason County PUD 3, said the new PUD operations center should be open for business on April 2 The PUD built the new buildings to be certified under the Leadership m pipes deep in the ground, then circulate the heated water in radiant floor heat- ing in the complex's build- ing's. Engineering and Environ- mental" Design (LEED) inc. Serving Western Washington for 41 years Superior quality workmanship at an affordable price! RESIDENTIAL . COMMERCIAL • MOBILE HOMES • * Our Roofs Are Hand Nailed ** 31) YEAR WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY TODAY AND program, he said. The utility hopes to get a Gold rating from the or- ganization for its efforts. The highest ranking is Platinum, but because the PUD is a public entity, Myer said the utility felt it couldn't justify the added expense. The most visible exam- ples of the operations con- ter's green design are the rain gardens that spot its landscape. The rain gar- dens help deal with storm- water that falls on the property. "We have about 8 acres of impervious surface," Myer said. The utility partnered with the Mason Conserva- tion District to put in the rain gardens. All of the complex's landscaping is done with native plants provided with help from / • to teach Cambodian EMTs about lifesaving techniques. | "Their ways are not ogr ways,,' Howe said. | Graham, who is tra, eling to Cambodia for the fifth ime this year, said his backgrour d in wil- derness medicine and skills helped him ad medical aid to residents villages. "They're way off the said. Graham spoke of one in particular when he h~ minister medical care t~ in a remote village. T burned her arm, and the smothered it in toothpast ing the only medicine would help her. Graham and the otb cleaned up the girl's arm for her to be taken to a h( a neighboring city. "It still gives me the think about that. I and o other medics on the tri weren't prepared to do tI medicine," he said. "It pu in perspective." OESP has also insta wells in remote villages. zations like the North M tary have donated money this possible. Graham al said OESP operates mair donations and from th teer's own pockets, Howe "We used to get matchi from Microsoft - all t~ lars are gone," he said. for ourselves. We work shifts." For more informati oesp.net. in gre the district. "We figure got: the conservation saved us about ha lion bucks," Myer The new operati ter also includes I est solar array in Washington. on t( Building D. The a: produce up to 21 wa~s of electricil sunny day. That electricity back into the gl helps power the in the complex. When the PUD tions center opel tomers in the lol be able to see a r digital read out of tricity produced ray. Also, the main admini building has a cL, its roof designed rainwater. This water will to flush toilets and plants at the comp As part of the certification, the complex also has spaces designated efficient cars. Overall, Myer ~' $34.5 million doll oct has provided 1 ity with a set of b big enough and enough to allow to grow into the ful "This facility w with the idea tha take us out 50 growth," he said. Myer expects tours of the new op center to begin in survival minister ,f remote Fid," he instance td to ad- , a child ae child villagers e, think- hey had .'r medic and paid spital in chills to ae of the p -- we at much things lled 188 Organi- ason Ro- to make ld Howe ly from volun- said. ag funds ose dol- 'We pay )vertime n, visit lg with district If a mil- aid. ons con- he larg- Western p of its • ray can ]5 kilo- yon a is fed id, and uildings 3 opera- IS. COS- ,by will ~al-time ;he elec- the ar- mplex's stration tern on ;o catch be used irrigate ex. LEED PUD parking For fuel- aid the ar proj- he util- aildings efficient ae PUD ure. ~s built it will ears in public ~rations Iay. 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