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Shelton-Mason County. Journal
SOCK, Old Time Fiddlers work together for youth downward trend in attendance. Last
year, about 600 people attended the
two-day event at the Shelton Perform-
By NATALIE JOHNSON the Washington Old Time Fiddlers As- ing Arts Center, formerly the Shelton
natalie@masoncoun~y,com sociation. High School auditorium.
"It's like any organization, if you In order to preserve the festival,
don't keep young blood involved it dies and the music showcased in it, the rid-
Spring is here and that means the out," she said. dlers' association is working hard to
Shelton Old Time Fiddlers Fest is just The Old Time Fiddlers' mission is bring the music to a new generation.
around the corner, to "promote, preserve and perpetuate "We do that by bringing kids along
Each year on the first weekend in old time music and related arts," she and teaching (the music) to them,"
April, Save Our County's Kids (SOCK) said, but the event also raises money Farr said. "It's Old Time Fiddlers but
and the Washington Old Time Fid-for SOCK. that doesn't mean it's about old people.
dlers Association get together to raise "SOCK's mission is to save our coun- The goal is to keep our kids interested
money for area youth, ty's kids. What they do and what we do So the music doesn't die."
This year the event is scheduled for is really around youth," Farr said. The Washington Old Time Fiddlers
April 6 to April 7. This year is the 27th anniversary of also raise money through the event.
Laura Farr represents the Wash- the fiddle fest, and the 16th year that "It supports their youth.programs
ington Old Time Fiddlers' District SOCK has sponsored it. as far as music goes," Bottman said.
Five, which includes Kitsap and Ma- "It's the biggest fundraiser we have The Old Time Fiddlers run a week-
son counties, each year - it's important to us," said long fiddle camp for kids in Kititas
"It has double significance," Farr Bob Bottman, SOCK fund develop- County, Farr said.
said. "First and foremost as far as the ment and facilities manager. "It's just huge," she said. "We have
music itself, it's preserving a culture of Last year SOCK earned about got entire families coming and taking
old time music." $5,000 from the event to promoteclasses and learning the instruments."
Farr is a classically trained musi- programs that serve youth in Mason Music students as young as six or
cian who discovered old time fiddle County. seven years old participate in the
music in the 1980s. Since then, she However, in the past several years,
has had a passion for the music and fiddle fest organizers have noticed a See Fiddle Fest on page B-5
Journal photo by Natalie Johnson
Laura Farr, a representative from the
Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association,
said the Shelton Old Time Fiddlers Fest is all
about helping kids.
HARST NEISLANDNEWS
Journal photos bY Natalie Johnson
Gavin Shier, a member of Shelton High School's Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and the SHS
Small-Bore Rifle Team, practices at the Mason County Sportsmen's Association Range on Thursday, March
16.
New coach brings support to SHS Small Bore Rifle Team
By NATALIE JOHNSON
natalie@m, asoncounty.com
Shelton High School marksmen
have kept their eye on the target this
year, and hope to do well as they con:
tinue to compete.
Allen Bragg took over as coach for
the Shelton High School Small Bore
Rifle Team in October, and since
then, he said his young team has
made a marked improvement and
are now ranked fifth in the state.
"We made the league nervous --
the kids are doing so well," he said.
When he took over coaching the
team, it was made up of 20 students.
Now there are 10 students on the
team.
"These kids have done extremely
well," he said. "I'd like to see it grow
-- I'm revitalizing the program."
Bragg also coaches the SHS Navy
Junior Reserve Officer Training
Corps (NJROTC) air rifle team.
Members of the NJROTC and
regular students can be on the small-
bore rifle team, which shoots 22 cali-
ber rifles. Students can earn letters
in this program, like other students
do in other sports.
"Five of the kids I have are going
to be getting letters out of the pro-
gram," Bragg said.
Only NJROTC students can par-
ticipate in the air rifle team.
Members of the small-bore rifle
team are working hard on the Na-
tional Rifle Association's Winchester/
NRA Marksman Qualification Pro-
@
Allen Bragg, the coach of
Shelton High School's Navy
Junior Reserve Officer
Training Corps air rifle team
and the SHS Small-Bore Rifle
Team, shows off the target
his students have to hit with
their 22 caliber rifles.
gram.
Specifically, the students are striv-
ing for good scores on the American
Rifleman Three Position Stage Skill
Course.
Students working on this program
must earn a total score of 300 points
based on the results of shooting from
three different positions: standing,
kneeling and prone. Based on their
score, the program ranks students as
an expert or distinguished exlJert.
In order to achieve the expert clas-
sification, students' have to score a
230 or higher, out of 300.
For the distinguished expert clas-
sification, students need to do three
trials and score a 230 on one, a 240
on the next, and a 250 on the third.
Bragg said junior Jeff Bell, an
NJROTC student, has gone through
the program particularly quickly, and
is now on his way to achieving the dis-
tinguished expert classification.
"It's really fun - we come out
here and get to spend a couple of
hours shooting and hanging out with
friends," Bell said.
Freshman and NJROTC student
Candace Roy joined the team last
fall.
"It's an experience," she said. "I'd
never shot before -- the first shot I
was afraid, but it got fun."
Bragg said he is working hard to
fund the program with the help of
grants.
The Mason County Sportsman's
Association has also stepped up, and
donated 3,000 rounds of ammunition
in January.
"I think we're lucky we've got a
range and people willing to support
us," Bell said.
Bragg said if these students do
well in the Winchester qualification
program, they could be eligible for
college scholarships.
Indoor-outdoor
garage sa
is weekend
i
"~'~ -row, the sky opened and the big
~ yellow orb just hung around
• • for a couple of days -- it was
nice. And I got to get out to the golf
course on Sunday and actually hit a
golf ball. I don't think the ball went in
the right direction all the time, but it
was enjoyable trying.
Then there were the twodeer walk-
ing down my driveway. They had their
eyes on my raspberry patch. I was out-
side working and the dogs were in the
house, but I assumed I could chase the
deer off myself -- so I yelled. Noth-
ing, they just kept
walking toward me.
Then I gave them
my best whistle
-- it's loud and
sharp -- but those
two deer just kept
coming. Think-
ing I should go
let the dogs out, I
By MIKE turned but then I
CALLAGHAN started barking like
a dog myself and it
worked -- those two
deer scampered back up the driveway.
Ruff, ruff.
Okay, what are you going to do this
weekend? A great idea would be to
head down to the community hall for
the indoor-outdoor garage sale. Mary
Nichols and Barbara LaJune are head-
ing up our annual event on Saturday.
If you want a table give Mary or
Barbara a call to see if there are
still openings, but it might be too
late. Judy and I have attended in the
past and this year we will have a table
of our own. The sale gives islanders
a chance to get rid of treasures they
no longer need and shoppers can find
treasures they just can't live with-
out. Usually the hall is packed and
filled with the excitement. The doors
will open at 9 a.m. but it is a good idea
to be a little early because there might
be a line to get in. Remember, there is
going to be a lot of good, great stuff.
Throw some salt over your shoulder
for luck as it looks like we will have
a Friday the 13th this month. In fact
that will be the date of the next Com-
munity Club meeting. And this will be
a great meeting to attend, as it will be
the annual chili cook-off. You too can
bring a chili to the contest if you like,
so get your favorite chilies ready for
the ultimate taste test. All members
are encouraged to participate, the only
restriction being that you must have
your chili at the clubhouse between
5-5:30 p.m. on April 13. All entrants
must be in by 5:30 p.m. so that we can
have all the samples set out by 6 p.m.
See Harstine on page B-5
Thursday, March 29, 20i,2 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Page B-1