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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
May 24, 2012     Shelton Mason County Journal
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May 24, 2012
 
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Thursday, May 24, 2012 Week 21 -- The Voice of Mason County since 1886 -- Published for Mason County and Charles Hiatt of Shelton -- $1 Dylan J. Burke Police say Burke was driving under the influence By KEVIN SPRADLIN hicle homicide and two Class B felo- kevin@rnasoncounty.com ny counts of vehicular assault. Burke turned himself in to the Mason County Sheriffs Office two A Shelton man accused of beingdays after the incident. He appeared behind the wheel of a car involved in before Judge Tony A, Sheldon and a fatal crash on May 15 is scheduled conditional bail was set at $100,000. to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Tuesday in As of Wednesday morning, Burke Mason CountySuperiorCourt. remained confined at the Mason Dylan J. Burke, 24, is charged with one Class A felony county ofve- See Homicide on page AL6 ur Chamber's business expo draws record crowds By NATALIE JOHNSON nata~ie@masOnco~/nty.com Hungry and enthusiastic community members packed the Pavillion at Sentry Park on May 17 to take a bite out of the 12th Annum Shelton Ma- son County Chamber of Com- merce Business Expo and Bite of Shelton. The event was one of the big- gest and busiest in the expo's history, said chamber Execu- tive Director Heidi McCutch- con. "Last year it was the first sunny day of the year," she said. "This year we've had a week and a half of good weath- er and we've had a great turn- out." McCutcheon said 67 local businesses, including 12 res- taurants, packed the Pavillion. Those restaurants, repre- senting some of the best local fare available, competed for the Golden Fork award, won last year by Steven's on Railroad. "This is the busiest one I've ever seen and this is the most people I've seen," said Monica Beben of Smokin' Mo's. which is located at the Alderbrook Golf Club in Union."There's a lot of new businesses here," she said. While all of the restaurants competing, including the Alder- Journa ~nolo Dy Ron Bock takes a bite out of a prime rib slider at the Smokin' Mo's booth May 17 at the 12th annual Shelton Mason County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and Bite of Shelton. Natalie Johnson on brook. Robin Hood Restaurant food," she said. and Pub, Little Creek Casino Lucas Sautter, executive and more, want to win the top chef at the Alderbrook restau- honor, Beben said the competi- rant, said it was his first expo. tion ~s good-natured. He brought clam chowder and "I think we all vote for each bacon and Boursin cheese other -- we all eat each other's stuffed Peppadews, or tiny red peppers. "We've had a great response today. Everybody seems really excited," said Alderbrook rep- resentative Amber Williamson. See Expo on page A-6 3 using tech to cut consumer By KEVIN SPRADLIN kevin@masoncounty.com For many people, the subject of energy conservation might be too difficult to un- derstand. The idea might no~ hit close enough to home, said Justin Holzgrove, to make it matter to the average person. It's by that approach, said Holzgrove, who works as the conservation manager for Public Utility District 3. that the aver- age person loses out -- and loses money. "Energy conservation as a whole ... is such an ambiguous topic," Holzgrove said. "You can't see electricity. You can't see it being consumed unless you go out and watch your meter spin." One way Holzgrove and his colleagues at PUD 3 are trying to get the word out is through new media. So far, his staff have posted three vid- eos -- about the district's budget billing program, how to readjust the temperature on a hot water heater and an information 81111!!!l!!Jl!!lJl!l!llll2 " You can't see e[ectricityo You can't see it being consumed unless you go out and watch your meter spin." video on PUD 3's photovoltaic system. "For whatever reason, video is a much more accessible tool," said Ryan Smith. systems analyst. And in each case, the video messages last less than two and one-half minutes. The goal is to convey clear and concise in- formation in a friendly, functional format. The online link to the video, hosted by YouTube.com, can be shared at no cost to as many people as possible. The messages in the videos focus on conservation - and. in a manner likely to catch a viewer's attention, the goal is to il- lustrate how energy conservation can save customers money. "Did you know an electric water heat- er can account for up to 25 percent of a home's energy bill," Holzgrove asks in one video. "The United States Department of Energy recommends setting a residential water heater to 120 degrees to reduce en- ergy usage and to help prevent scalding." Holzgrove told the Journal that for ev- ery 10-degree reduction in ~emperamre, customers can expect saving between 3 percent and 5 percent on their monthly electric bill. Another program offered by PUD 3 is the "weatherization" of a home. Free for low-income homeowners, a conservation technician visits the home to determine ways in which heat is escaping the struc- ture. PUD 3 brochures state that up to 40 percent of a home's heat is lost through the ceiling. Walls and floors account for another 16 percent - each. "Increasing home insulation is the most cost-effective way to decrease home energy usage," Holzgrove said. Simply adding insulation and sealing leaky ducts help improve a home's energy efficiency. See PUD on page A-7 Public weighs in,on future Of city parks Spots slated to become Shelton's newest parks By KEVIN SPRADLIN kevin@masoncou~ty,corn It doesn't matter what Mark Ziegler wants. Shelton's director of Parks and Recreation simply wanted to Start the conversation. Ziegler did just that and more than two dozen people showed up at two public fo- rums earlier this month to help decide the future of Northcliff and Johnson neigh- borhood parks. "It's a blank slate," Ziegler said of the two neighborhood lots. "I don't have any preconceivednotions." Ziegler acknowledged he does, howev- er, have "'some experience in what works and what may not work in a neighborhood park." The first lot is a 1.75-acre lot located on NorthcliffRoad and Holly Court. The land was donated by the Terrance Heights de- velopers in the late 1970s. "It's been vacant since that time," Ziegler said. The second is a half-acre parcel by Cap- ital Hill situated off San Joaquin Avenue. Ziegler said that area once was a park, but the playground equipment there wasn't up to code and was removed. The lot is now covered mostly by large fir trees. Right now, the property has an 8-foot chainlink fence around it -- making it "a little industrial-10oking," Ziegler said, and a bit uninviting. The public forum on Monday was the second of two such opportunities for resi- dents of both neighborhoods to weigh in on what they see for the lots' future. Ziegler said he was pleasantly sur- prised that some 15 residents showed up, despite the weather. "I was anticipating standing out there in the rain by myself," he said. There, residents made sure Ziegler heard their No. i priority. "Playground equipment was at the top of their list," Ziegler said. The desire for a few picnic tables took the No: 2 spot and security lighting, land- scaping and a picnic shelter rounded out the top five priorities for residents. "We're not talking about large-scale playground (equipment) like at Kneeland Park," Ziegler said, only "basic ameni- ties." Ziegler said others expressed the desire to have trails or walkways where young children could learn to ride their bicycles without having to be in the street. "That came up at both park meetings," Ziegler said. During the May 14 public meeting at the Northcliff site, residents discussed is- sues such as access, security lighting and a timeline for design. The meetings were only the latest ef- forts ~o engage the public. Surveys were mailed out to area residents and a form is still available on the city's website. Respondents were asked to rank, in or- der of personal priority, elements such as playground equipment, bike racks, horse- shoe pits, picnic tables and other amem- ties. They also were asked whether they'd like to volunteer at a neighborhood park. Any timeline on park development will be "driven by their participation," Ziegler said. "If the neighbors are engaged and can help out, it certainly can help" things See Parks on page A-7