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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
May 3, 2012     Shelton Mason County Journal
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May 3, 2012
 
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Communities like Mason County have more to lose with the reform of the U.S. Postal Service than those directl' across the Puget Sound. Ideas like terminating service on Sat- urdays and closing thousands of post offices may make the post office a more profitable enterpris~ but will damage small businesses outside of urban cores across the United States by creating multi- day delays in mailing. According to Reed Anfinson, the president of the National Newspaper Association: "The Postal Service's plant-closingA five day delivery plan would plan is based on a desire to amass not have much of an effect on more mail at automated urban most Americans, but anyone who centers, where costly machines relies upon regular mail deliv- sit idle much of the day. To opti- cry would be adversely affected. mize machines, USPS would haul Subscribers to the Shelton-Mason mail much farther. But the haul- County Journal and Belfair Her- ing would slow the mailstream, ald living within the Shelton city particularly in small towns and limits should still receive their rural areas that are far from papers on Thursday, but readers mail plants and create a set of in Mason County that don't rely second-class citizens who get and on the Shelton Post Office might send mail more slowly than ur- be looking at Monday delivery. ban dwellers. It will also hamper Medication that used to show up smaller communities' quests for every Friday might take three economic development." extra days to arrive, or four if there's a holiday. There are better ways to save money at the USPS, and treating the postal service like a privately run enterprise is unrealistic and bad for our economy. Instead of completely closing many rural offices, shortening hours could help as a cost-controlling men- sure. Also, a benefit structure for employees more in line with the private sector would help. None of the options currently on the table in Washington D.C. are great, but the worst is prob- ably Rep. Darrell Issa's (R-Calif.). His bill directs the post office to favor profit over service and could immediately end mailing on Saturday while closing process- ing centers and thousands of post offices. His bill would do irrevers- ible damage to various industries and small businesses. Call your legislators and let them know your opinion, because if Mason County loses Saturday delivery or has to close any offic- es, it will be a much bigger blow to our businesses than those sit- ting comfortably near the urban core. Proud s. Sh American to Editor, the Journal In response to the letter last week by Vern Morgue, who gave you the right to~'~ "correct" the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) La- dies Auxiliary?, The essay O question was, What is an American?" not, "What is a Ed United States citizen?" If the young student wasn't St~ confused before, I'm sure me she will be after reading sai your letter to the Journal an, editor. Having been onewe of your students some la[ 58 years ago, I'm embar- pa~ fussed that you don't know wh the definition of an "Amer- the ican." Check it out in the no1 dictionary. We "United rid States" citizens are ?Amer- lar icans" regardless of what a s you think. Mr. Morgue, wil as I used to call you when we I was your student some years ago in crafts class, by' maybe we could have a off poll taken from any of the om service men and women tiv and have served on foreign us. soil if they did so as Amer- em icans? I for one have had an, enough political correct- for hess thank you. God bless elil our veterans. And to the fen Veterans of Foreign Wars offi (VFW) Ladies Auxiliary, I salute you with honor. Pete Goldsby Shelton What is an American? ii i ii i !iiii ii ii ii ii ii!i !i i !iiii iiiii ! i i iiiii iiiii!ii iii ii !i i ii! i i ii iii iiii !i !ii iiii i iii!iii i! iii ii i i i i i !ii ii i i i i iiiii iiiii ii iiii i! ii i i !i ii i!i i iii i7 iiiii!ii ii;iii ! i! ii ii ! iiiii i i i7i ii ! i i iiiiii ii7! ¸!TiTiiii iiiii iiiii'ii: 'izl'i'ii i'ii'iiii 'i'ii¸iiiTi iiili¸i i¸i ii iiiiiiiii ii!! i:ii iW :! iiii:i!i ii !ii i i!iii ! i;ii!ii ii ii ii iii i iiii iiiiii!i i ! iiii;! ii n a I Eetter R011cy Lea Albaugh, our The primary reason te fourth-grade winner. I am supportive is in- ~e ~~i ~ei~~ ~ ~~i~ ~6~i eii~ii knows what it means creasing access to sports ~e an American. through a change in our Shirley Schober academic standards. When~ t6~ ~i~r. ~ ~ill ~i6{ Sheltonbecausea studentofleaveSgrades,mYit spOrtof_ i;~~ ~e ~iii 6~{ tenis onlythe firstina iB#lB6 s iiil B i6 i 6#a " a ",, series of things that they a n 25 disconnect from. They say~la ~i~ia~ ~~ ~a ~aa~s i~f~ ~ f them goodbye tea system that monitors them year-round,~ and removes them from a itor, the Journal circle of students who are Nhat is happening with at school by choice to excel te park land manage-and achieve. I lose con- at? As Mike Glaser tact from these students d, they should back off quickly, and they often t regroup. A good start find a new group to hang ~ld be terminating the out with. When they leave, d manager. The state it is often the first step in 'ks fired a lot of people a journey that will result a maintained and made in them dropping out of parks enjoyable. It is school. I look at my sport good business to get as an extension of school. of timberland and get My main purpose as a d with small trees. Also teacher/coach is to teach ~ate saltwater park life skills, and to help keep hout the tidelands is students engaged and :thless. moving forward in school : noticed Irene Golds- so that they reach their letter regarding sex greatest potential as a stu- mders. The cure is with dent and a person. When legislative representa- a student is removed from ~s who do not represent my team, they are re- The cure would create moved from a support sys- What has happened to puhishment of crime and the Tacoma Mall shooter? Wt y is the killer of the Jm ~ in Seattle still alive? Im ant, temporarily or otL th~ ne~ sle is ] Editor, the Journal we According to my Ameri- sle can College dictionary, th~ copyright 1947, Random wil House, Inc. An American the is: 1. Of or pertaining ed to the United States of rec America; an American ani citizen. Has this meaning changed? No, it has not and the national organiza- tion of veterans of foreign wars and their auxiliaries think not. In this past year stu- dents in third, fourth and a fifth grade entered an es- say contest titled "What is e an American?" Different themes are chosen every year by the national or- ~t/ ganization and all are in- tended to promote patrio- ~l tism and skills in reading and writing. It has been my privi- Cl lege to be involved in this program for several years. Ed The entries are wonderful. These young people are thi the future of our nation, om Congratulations to all eta our local winners, espe- are tachs of child molesters tern that may be the only 1 those who use deadly reason they care about m. That policy would school; often it is the one ninate most level 3 of- motivating factor for them ders also many level 2 to succeed academically. I mders, am not in favor of lowering standards, but my primary purpose as a coach and teacher is to teach, and to assist my students toward future success. I cannot do that if I lose access to solid family environment tern. When students make and that their home was mistakes in school, you simply challenged by lack take their car keys, you of money. Too often that is take their cell phone, you not the case. Many (maybe limit their fun, you take most) of our students also the TV, you take their face the challenge of a Facebook access and you home with single parents, take away the videogames. alcoholism, drugs, limited The last thing you should transportation, no com- take are things that are purer, anger, desperate good for them. As a school parent(s), neglect, limited we cannot take those other hope and certainly depres- things away. That does sion. I challenge you to not mean we should skip have a clear conscience to the last resort punish- after taking away the only mont. positive influence in a A student in this situa- child's life when they come tion seldom is the one that from a desperate situation, is a critical athlete that My value system says I would result in more wins, need to find a better way or a higher place at state to solve the problem than by themselves. However, by sending them away. when the coach and team Improving access to sports care about each other and through a change in our will not quit on each other, academic standard is not we have hope that we can lowering a standard. One win. We should be a fam- "F" should be the signal ily, a team, and we should that alerts us to a prob- not leave anyone behind lem and then holds us to a that is making an effort to higher standard. It could succeed. be an indicator that a stu- Chad Youngquist erwise? I will agree them. dent is about to make a Shelton High School t they are crazy and When a senior does well very, bad turn away from a boys' and girls' ,d to be hung. Going to all three years of school, better future. If a student swimming coach ~p with lethal injection and finds that they are is failing one class he can Shelton tot adequate. Most of us in a hole that they can-be saved. An alarm should ~ld prefer to go in our not climb out of in one go off somewhere that says ~p. If they hang within class, we should allow for to us that we need to put F i r~ d in g ee years the guards a bump in the road. Re- this student with a good [ be safer, the chance of cently, I have had several mentor, surround him CO m m o n m to escape is eliminat- students who have had ac- with a group of peers that ~nd attorney fees are ademic success, but have about him and then watchCan support them, care n ~.1~ teed. After all, rabid then overestimated their grou male are put down. academic abilities. Onehim carefully. Sure, put Ralph Wingertsigned up for advanced the student on probation. Editor, the Journal Shelton physics but found himself Force them to prove their Too often those engaged unprepared. As a result, efforts to succeed in that in efforts to spur economic he was unable to pass, yet class that they are failing, growth in our community h a n n e o u r continued to try by getting but don't cut him loose af- fail to consider that sue- help from his teacher. Our ter a couple of weeks when cess ultimately depends on cadem .i current system does notthey are over whelmed our environmental health: C allow for students to learn and can't catch up. TooThose industries that from the consequences of often our sport programs are considering relocating • .i".i b i I ity biting off more than they are the only positive sup- to our community tend to can chew. port group students have. monitor local politics be- _aa s My suggestion for We must evaluate what cause they know that the ',an change was to allow for we are doing when we opportunity for increased one "F" as long as the GPA exclude them, and what enforcement of existing on- students of the student showed often results when we quit vironmental regulations or ) overall success. But that on them. the creation of new regula- rtla li, I may not be enough. The As I understand it, we tions can come about with n i~. 3 poverty rate in this com- currently match the high- each new election cycle. munity is staggering, est standard of any public For this reason, it is best itor, the Journal Well over 50 percent of school in the state. It has that all stakeholders in ~es, I am a coach who the district students live been said a million times, the community be involved ~ks we should change in poverty. I wish that "If you raise the bar, they in decisions that may academic eligibility every underprivileged will rise to the occasion." result in degradation to adards so that students student that went to ourThat only works when our environment. This is not turned away. school was from a good they have a support sys-especially true of commu- Shelton-Mason County eur0ee he~ton Mason USPS 492-800 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to S County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA Published weekly by Shelton-Mason County at 227 West Cota Street; Shelton, Washingb Mailing address: P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA Telephone (360) 426-4412 • www.masoncou Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washir Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Jot nities in which the major economic drivers are based on natural resources, as is the case in Mason County. As it currently ex- lets, timber and shellfish play a large part in our economy, so it follows that clean water condi- tions are critical to our survival. But the timber and shellfish industries are not necessarily com- patible with each other, as evidenced by the large volume of storm-water runoff that comes from clear-cut timber harvest- ing. This is problematic because contaminated storm-water is the leading cause of pollution of the marine environment in which shellfish are grown. This condition is made worse by the fact that marine waters in Mason County are located at the southernmost reaches of Puget Sound, which makes flushing contami- nares from our shellfish beds more difficult. If history is any lesson, preventing environmental pollution is far less costly than cleaning up after it has occurred. And one of the most effective methods of prevention is to keep new sources of industrial pollution from gaining any more of a foothold in our county than it already has. With a little cooperation, those concerned about our environment and promot- ere of economic growth can find uncontaminated com- men ground. In this way, our community can look forward to a healthier, more promising future for everyone. Toward that end, if Ma- son County is to achieve a sustainable and desirable pattern of growth it would serve us well to consider the following: 1) Agree on a plan that has continuity of purpose among county, city and port municipali- ties. 2) Approach growth less as facilitators of busi- hess and more like archi- tects of appropriate up- portunities for our time. Tom Davis Shelton County Journal is a member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association. qelton-Mason SUBSCRIPTION RATES: )8584• $37 per year for Mason County addresses, Journal, Inc. $51 per year in state of Washington but outside ,n Mason County, $61 per year out of state. 98584 ~ty.com Owned and published by gton Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc [rnal- Thursday, May 3, 2012 Karl Sleight, publisherAdvertising: Dave Pierik, Sr. Acct. ExecutiVe Newsroom: Harvey Morris, ad representative Jesse Mullen, editor Sharee Miller, ad representative Kevan Moore, reporter Front office: Natalie Johnson reporter • . Emil" Hanson s'orts re-orter Donna Kinna~rd, bookkeeper Y , P . . Adam Rudnick, copy e~l~or Margot Brand, circulation Cricket Carter, mailroom supervisor Composing room: William Adams, graphics Becky Corr, typing Pressroom: Kelly Riordan, production manager Travis Miller press operator !