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Shelton-Mason County Journal
Central Mason
announces its
firefighter of year
By NATALIE JOHNSON
natr~ lie@rnasoncou nly.com
Each year, Central Ma-
son Fire and EMS crowns
one person who consistent-
ly goes above and beyond
its Firefighter of the Year.
This year, the fire dis-
trict gave Cass Monroe the
title.
"I worked pretty hard
this year for it," he said.
Monroe, 26, is a Fire-
fighter/EMT IV, and has
been with the district for
five years.
Central Mason Fire
Chief Tim McKern Said
Monroe deserved the hon-
or.
"The firefighter of the
year award has been
around a long time." he
said. "Truly its a person
who's gone above and be-
yond what a normal fire-
fighter would do."
Over the last year, Mon-
roe helped the district
switch from a paper-based
scheduling method to an
electronic system.
"It's sure made life a
whole lot easier," McKern
said.
Monroe started his ca-
reer at the City of Shel-
ton Fire Department five
years ago after completing
a two-year degree program
at~ McLane Fire and Life
Safety in Olympia.
He stayed with the orga-
nization as Mason County
Fire District Five took over
operations at the city fire
department and later as
the organization changed
its name to Central Mason
Fire and EMS.
Monroe first fell in love
with firefighting when he
was 17 when he started as
a volunteer firefighter with
several friends in Grays
Harbor County.
"Also, for the firefighter
of the year, 1 researched
how we could save money
on fuel." he said.
Monroe found that the
fire district qualified to
purchase "off highway"
diesel, which is sold with-
out the 37 cent per gallon
excise tax.
"We're on track to save
about $7,000," he said. "I
just saw a problem and
came up with a solution."
Monroe said he fell in
love with his job because
he experiences something
new everyday.
"My shift -- I love the
guys and girlg I work with,"
he said.
Monroe and his wife
Bridget, married since De-
cember 2009, live in Des
Moines in King County.
However, Monroe doesn't
Journa DnOlO Dy Natahe Johnson
Central Mason Fire and EMS named Cass Monroe its firefighter of the year.
Slow-cooker barbeque chicken
Ingredients
Place" chicken in slow cooker. In a bowl, mix the
barbequesauce with assorted ingredients. Pour over
chicken:
Cover and cook three to four hours on high.
struggle with the commute toWhen he's not working as an
work because he works two full EMT or fighting fires. Monroe
days on and four days off. likes ~o travel and has visited
20 countries, most recently
Honduras in March.
"We've traveled a lot." he
said. "That's our passion."
Monroe said he looks for-
ward to his future in Central
Mason Fire and EMS.
"The department has a new
administration. I think we're
moving in the right direction,"
"he said. "It's kind of an excit-
ing future for a young guy."
Many of Central Mason's
firefighters and EMTs have
been with the district for a
long time, but Monroe said
young people are beginning to
join too.
"It's kind of nice to get the
younger generation in." he
said. "It's changing. We're
updating, getting more effi-
cient."
Tbought
this old Rototiller with a
|Briggs and Stratton engine 10
.l.years ago at a garage sale. It sits
out most of the year and has a nice
green sheen over the tillers yellow
paint.But, I'll be darned ifI don't get
it running each spring with just a few
pulls on the starting cord. This week-
end I did it again and was able to till
my soil. So, the garden is ready to
plant, now all we need is for the weath-
er to cooperate.
I forgot last week to mention the up-
coming fishing tournament that is held
annually at the Spencer Lake Bar and
Grill. Every year they stock Spencer
Lake with some nice trout an~] one nice
trout in particular --
it is worth $250. The
tournament will be
Saturday -- opening
day of fishing sea-
son. If you want to
fish and have a good
time, just go to the
lake.
However, if you
By MIKE want to have a
CALLAGtIAN chance to win the
prize money you
have to buy a ticket. I know they sell
them at the bar. I think you can be out
on the lake at daybreak.
In the early afternoon there will
be a gathering at the bar and win-
ners will be announced. Not only can
you win by catching the big fish but
also, there are other prizes and events
taking place. Larry and Kim, the own-
ers of Spencer ]Jake Bar and Grill, will
have all the details for you if you will
stop by their place.
Now back to that big fish. I know,
that they get it from a fish hatch-
ery. They stock the lake with regular
trout, but these prize fish are bigger.
I always wondered how they got that
big. Well, come to find out there are
two types of fish that are raised in the
hatcheries -- diploid and triploid. I've
heard these terms when it comes to
oysters but never quite understood
what they meant. Dr. Stewart Owen
wrote an article telling me about the
difference in a publication called Guide
to Angling in South West England.
"Like us, fish are made up from
genetic information gained from both
parents. Half of the genes come from
the father, and half from the mother.
Genes are the instructions to a cell of
how to build proteins. They are stored
in long strings of DNA. If the egg is
physically shocked shortly after fer-
tilization occurs, then it is possible
to produce a fish with three sets of
chromosomes, a triploid fish. The egg
does not in fact manufacture an extra
set for itself. If a triploid fish is not
able to produce eggs, then the benefit
for the angler is that the flesh quality
remains firm throughout the year. This
extra energy also allows for the fish to
grow faster. The shock isn't electrical
but can be caused by an increase in
temperature, physical shaking or an
increase in environmental pressure.
"These shocks prevent DNA informa-
tion from leaving the fertilized cell. So
when it comes to producing eggs for
themselves, the three sets of informa-
tion do not divide conveniently and no
See Harstine on page B-4
Pioneer schools to host evening of art, music
By KAREN EVERETT Teacher Laurie Me Govern said other ects, which are posted around the pri-
student projects will be shared from the mary school. A drawing for art items by
A Am evening of food, art, music and extra-curricular after school program local artists and a dessert auction will
drama is planned at Pioneer School for called "Imagination Station" including a round out the evening.
April 27. "Kids Flick" segment and presentations The event is sponsored by Pioneer
It is the fourth annual spaghetti din- by the photography and robot making school staff and the Pioneer school dis-
her/art walk and it will be held in the groups. A musical performance from tricts' parent teacher association.
Pioneer primary school multipurpose intermediate/middle school students is The cost for the dinner will be $5 per
room. Dinner will be served from 5 m also slated under the direction of teach- person or $15 for a family of up to six peo-
6:30 p.m. while diners enjoy piano mu- er Susan Casey. ple riving in the same household. Tickets
sic played by para educator Barb Love. A Throughout the evenmg, guests will will be on sale at the door. Proceeds from
readers theater performance put on by el- have the opportunity to stroll through the evening will help the PTA provide pro-
ementary students will follow the dinner, the halls to enjoy many student art proj- grams and events for the Pioneer students.
Thursday, April
19,201
2 - Shelton-Mason
Students
at Pioneer
schools will
host the
fourth annual
spaghetti
dinner/art
walk on
April 27.
Courtesv DnOIo
County Journal - Page B-1