Your account does not include highlighter on images.
Searches Highlighted on Image
| April 19, 2012 Shelton Mason County Journal |  |
|
©
Shelton Mason County Journal. All rights reserved. Upgrade to access Premium Tools
PAGE 4 (4 of 18 available) PREVIOUS NEXT Jumbo Image Save To Scrapbook Set Notifiers PDF JPG
April 19, 2012 |
|
|
Website © 2026. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader 
|
tOURNALEDITORIAL
are hearing the birds Part of the solution is pretty easy. anyone who knows how unique this
sing and the flowers are When they stop for gas, lunch,little city is.
ready to break forth, groceries or to camp, let's tell them The guests are asked: "Are you
School will be out before long. about our town and what interest- from around here?"
Highway 101 will be packed ing things there are to see in this If not, a brief informal script
with kids and families in cars, se- very historic place, would go like this:
nior citizens just cruising through Cashiers, clerks and managers '~You really ought to stay for an
and tourists going way too fast to can make the sale. In some towns extra hour or so. We have a historic
see the loop. it is called a form of hospitality, downtown filled with unique shops
Let's slow these folks down a lit- Training sessions can be givenand fine dining. Mason County of-
tle. Let's get them to see our town. by the Chamber of Commerce, orfers some of the best golfing, hiking
and boating in the Northwest." All businesses should commit to
Hopehtlly a stack of our visitors' sending employees to a brief train-
guides will be nearby. If they are ing meeting on welcoming visitors
sitting down to have a meal, hand to Mason County.
them some tourism information to It would kick off a good vibe for
peruse while they eat. the summer and work year-round.
"I love Mason County" buttons The residents in the trenches
should be available, are the best promoters we have. It
This kind of public relations efo is time for us to cheer and improve
fort costs virtually nothing. The the way we are and stop thinking
audience is here. about the way we were.
LETTERSTOTHEEDITORTM
Th o maS liform in Hood Canal, we've
had zoning violations that
are unattended to and we
Bjorgen for have septic systems that
clearly fail and it's getting
CO U rt of worse by the month.
It does not mean some of
our county staff doesn't make
Appeals
the effort. I should point out
that Debbie Riley of Environ-
Editor, the Journal mental health, Barbara Ad-
It's an election year and kins from the Land Planning
the top of the ballot is get- office, and Steve Bloomfield,
ting a lot of attention, but our newest commissioner,
the Court of Appeals elec- have demonstrated aware-
tion is an important race. If hess, concern and passion
you ever need justice from toward the "cesspool" that
the Court of Appeals, you is becoming Mason County
will want a judge who isin general and Hood Canal
fair-minded and has broad, in particular. The problem
real-life experience. You will is that these hard-working
want Thomas Bjorgen to people are not supported nor
hear your case. empowered by other lead-
Here is what former Sec-ers to reverse the pattern,
retary of' State Ralph Munro follow through on the tooth-
says, "In all my years with less decisions made by the
state government, Tom Bjor- commissioners on sanitation
gen was one of the bright- and land use, and get to the
est and best lawyers that I finish line.
ever worked with. He is fhir, So, we have lots ofmo-
knowledgeable, respecttul, tion and little movement. As
and vel~ smart. Tom always General Patton surveyed the
Listens to each side of the carnage at E1 Alamein he
argument and then makes could have accepted the sta=
his decision based on facts, tus quo or chosen to do some-
fairness, and the law, not on thing totally different. He
politics. Tom will make an chose to change the culture
excellent judge." of the situation and made a
Here's what Tom has choice to deal with the situ-
to say, "I will decide cases ation decisively, quickly and
based on the facts and the irrevei-sibly. He empowered
law, and apply the law fairly people to plan and act, and
and equally for everyone, our county leadership must
regardless of who you are, compel their staffs to ful-
whom you know, or how fill their tasks to a point of
much money you have. Judg- completion.
es must be above politics or At the meeting Tuesday
special interests." my comments were taken
Here's what I have to say: as "exaggerated." Folks,
Thomas Bjorgen for Court of this is an excuse, it's not
Appeals. taking ownership and ac-
Visit BjorgenForJudge. countability for what is -- a
corn to help us elect an excel- clear problem. For years, the
tent judge, responsibility for water qual-
Mike Coday ity has been thrown to state
Chehalis agencies, and by and large,
they have been helpful once
you get to the right person
Com ments and the right agency. But
this has been citizen work.
written off There have been a handful
of dedicated citizens who
have committed hundreds
Editor, the Journal of hours to point out needed
The Mason County Com- solutions. Their reward is
missioner's meeting this indifference or resistance,
morning was on the receiv- passive and active. Where is
ing end of some longstanding the county when it counts?
and deserved frustration Our leaders are in denial.
over lack of leadership and They will point the finger
direction in handling water in any other direction and
quality and sanitation is- claim "ain't my job." In doing
sues. These are symptoms of so, they tear the heart out of
what is a pervasive inability the energy and momentum
to establish a proactive strat- of their own staffto make a
ely to deal with growth and difference. Why should the
environmental pressure, and state or federal agencies
it's time to get into the 21st have to shoulder the burden
century, and the initiative? The coun-
Over the last four years ty is the grass root and they
there has been no shortage should be leading the charge,
of crisis. We've had fecal co- demanding the support, co-
WORDONTHESTREET
CORRECTION
In the story "PUD3 wrote a 10% per day in-
commission votes for crease would appear on
rate increase" the bills. It is a 10-cent per
Shelton-Muson County day increase. The Jour-
Jourm~/ mistakenly nal regrets the error.
SheltoniMa:son County ", II~!
Shelton-Mason
USPS 492-800
ordination, and collaboration
of any other agency that can
streamline results.
From the Puget Sound
Partnership, to Department
of Health, to other county
governments, to our own
citizenry, Mason County is
regarded as a laughing-stock
of efficiency and effective-
ness. It can change; it must
change. If our commissioners
do not feel up to shaking the
trees to establish a new way
of generating a new culture,
then someone else needs to
step in.
C. Scott Grout
Gold Coast Oyster
Company
Jesse Young
candidate
for the 6th
District
Editor, the Journal
I am thrilled to be sup-
porting Jesse Young for the
U.S. Congress in the 6th
District. Young is an amaz-
ing young man who loves his
country enough to take time
away from his successful
business to share his numer-
ous talents in serving our
nation.
Born and raised in Ta-
coma, Young grew up under
less than ideal circum-
stances. Instead of feeling
sorry for himself, he used his
intelligence and hard work
to achieve his goals, which
included a good education.
After graduating from Notre
Dame, he came back to
Washington where he mar-
ried his high school sweet-
heart and started a family.
He is a very successful com-
puter systems consultant.
Young believes in our
constitution and the prin-
ciples of freedom, which were
meant to govern our nation.
His business experience has
taught him to be organized
and plan to be successful
in solving problems. He be-
lieves in fiscal responsibility,
the free-market economy to
help increase job opportuni-
ties and in being accountable
What do you think is
ii',[~ :i', Y~.' ~ ili',ii i~
Teresa Jolibois
to his constiuents. He would the most beautiful places And in a downtrodden
like to secure our liberties over the world! I would like economy, every dollar is
by protecting our individual to say thank you for giving needed to be conserved to
freedoms as promised in the me this opportunity to: the alleviate any future rate
constitution. He believes USA Department of State,increases. To build an ex-
that peace can be attained Future Leaders Exchange pensive ratepayer-paid out-
only through strength. By program, ASSE and Mary of-town headquarters only
helping our nation become Loving, World Heritage, exacerbated the pressures
energy independent, he will Shelton High School, all my on our citizen's hard-pressed
ensure that our nation will teachers, Faith Lutheranpocketbooks.
not be forced into unwanted Church, my wonderful host These protests voiced re-
agreements, by foreign family (Rob, Deneen, Cole, peatedly in 2009, 2010 and
states. Ryder and Grace Phelan),2011 were ignored.
Young has confidence in my friends, other exchange How ironic and arrogant,
the unique qualities of our students and everybody who that raising rates was the
district and will work to see helped me a lot while I was first action taken in the
that we have the opportunity here. I will never forget this costly new Johns Prairie
to develop it into a thriving year and will miss every- complex.
economy, while preserving thing and everybody! John Komen
the quality of our environ- Yernur Kerimbekov Shelton
ment. Kazakhstan
There is so much more
to say about Young, but I Veterans
would hope you will go to his PUD raises
website at jesseyoung£orcon-
gress.com to check out his of Mason
ideas on the issues and learn rates after
more about him. I believe he CoU nty a
re
is a man ofintegrity who can expensive
help turn our congress back
into a true representative of proud to
the people. He is my choice new move
and I think he will be yours, march with
Kathy JohnsonEditor, the Journal
Hoodsport For blatant arrogance,
there is no match for Mason NJROTC
County's Public Utility Dis-
A h a p py trict 3. Editor, the Journal
Meeting for the very first Hoorah, for the Shelton
exc.a n_e,,u time in PUD 3's palatial High School NJROTC stn-
castle on Johns Prairie, its dents. That's four times
commissioners poked a stick recently that they have gar-
Editor, the Journal in the eyes of 33,000 Mason nered positive press for their
Hello. My name is Yer- County electric ratepayers school and community. The
nur Kerimbekov, and I'm by raising their rates, military veterans of Mason
an exchange student from Here they sat in their glit- County view this dedicated
Kazakhstan. I lived in Shel- tering new edifice that cost group of students with pride.
ton for eight months. This the ratepayers $45 million The cadets always answer
experience changed my plus millions more in a bur- the call when we ask them to
life and became one of the densome 30-year bond issue, assist us with ceremonies of
best experiences that I ever They had promised these remembrance and communi-
had. Here I had my first huge expenditures would not ty celebrations of patriotism.
real American Halloween, lead to higher rates. Why are these outstanding
Thanksgiving and Christ- And so on April 10 they young people and their highly
mas, high school and college assessed the ratepayers a 3 effective organization so disre-
football games, I visited real percent increase in monthly spected by the superintendent
American Disneyland, which electric rates and a 20 per- of schools and the high school
I really liked, Los-Angeles, cent increase in the onerous principle? For over 20 weeks,
San Francisco, Washington, daily "customer charge." the NJROTC Boosters have
D.C. and Seattle. I lived From the beginning, been attempting to achieve a
my whole life in a l-million citizens had protested plans waiver system, which substi-
people city, and living on to move PUD 3 lock, stocktutes NJROTC for physical
Harstine Island in the forest and barrel out of downtown education graduation credits.
was a new experience for me Shelton. It made no senseLikewise, they have had a
and now I changed my view to spend ratepayers' money number of fruitless conversa-
of life outside the city. This to build an expensive newtions regarding the granting of
helped me to feel the beauty headquarters. The down- science, social studies and fine
of the nature, and without town center could easily arts credits for participation
any hesitation I can say that accommodate any needed
Washington state is one of expansion. See Letters on page A-5
'i'ii
Eye-catcher: "I do like the
Post Office Park."
Eyesore: "An eyesore is the
vacant, run-down buildings
that need to be cleaned up."
County Journal is a member of
Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
County Journal, nO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. $37 per year for Mason County addresses,
Published weekly by Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc. $51 per year in state of Washington but outside
at 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Washington Mason County, $61 per year out of state.
Mailing address: P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584
Telephone (360) 426-4412 * www.masoncounty.com Owned and published by
Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washington Shelton-Mason County Joumal, Inc
the biggest eye-catcher and the biggest eyesore in Shelton?
ii!!iiii:i~" : ~!i:iii ....
~"~°i~i'i®~i~!~i~!~!~!il~''''''¸
i, .....
~ii# ~iiii!iii~!ii~i~i~iii~iiiii~iiiiiii!ii!!~i~iiiii~i~iiiiiiijiii~ii~iii~iii~
Jack Torgeson Deb Nielsen Jeffrey Wake
Eye-catcher: "I love the Eye-catcher: "The viewEye-catcher: "These
trees and I love Christ- of the Olympics." trees when they
mas time with the lights bloom."
up. Eyesore: "The eyesore is
the streets -- the pot-hol-
ey streets that you can
lose a Volkswagen in."
Eyesore: "I'd have
Eyesore: "Vacant lots to say the Dew Drop
are kind of an eyesore." (Inn)."
Kari Sleight, publisher Advertising:
Dave Pierik, St. Acct. Executive
Newsroom: Harvey Morris, ad representative
Jesse Mullen, editor Sharee Miller, ad representative
Natalie Johnson, reporter
Emily Hanson, sports reporter Front office:
Adam Rudnick, copy editor Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper
Margot Brand, circulation
Cricket Carter, mailroom
supervisor
Composing room:
William Adams, graphics
Becky Corr, typing
Pressroom:
Kelly Riordan, production manager
Travis Miller, press operator
Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, April 19, 2012