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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
June 7, 2012     Shelton Mason County Journal
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June 7, 2012
 
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JOURNALEDITORIAL KOMENCOMMENT Trust me, Mason Lake was a star The huge stump of an old-growth fir that once towered 200 feet over the lake is still there. It remains, in its way, as a monument to a day in 1957 when Mason Lake was the stage for an event televised live nationwide. Black and white TV, of course. Color television was still in its developmental infancy. And the lack of color from this Mason Lake event was sadly noted by the program host. ,'If only we had color for you,!' was the woeful lament from the star of the program. "Such woods! Such forests!" He looked out over "this beautiful Lake Mason!" for, his national radio and TV audiences. Those who watched By JOHN KOMEN and listened were in the millions, for he was the biggest broadcasting star in America. And the tree stump is there to remind us of who he was and why he had come all this way from New York City to sit in the rain at Mason Lake. And it was raining, steady, unrelenting LETTERS rain. We who live here understand and empathize with the star and his retinue of singers, musicians and production people. In their sweaters and raincoats, their instruments and themselves wet and soggy, they huddled under tem- porary shelters and broadcast for two hours from lakeside at the Simpson Log- ging Company recreation park. Just to be there was a major event in its self. Power cables and telephone lines had to be strung to the still almost primitive park. It was being used, and still is today, by Simpson employees and their families who camped out in tents and shelters, using gas lanterns for light and camp fires for warmth. It wasn't what Simpson Park now offers -- camp sites for trailers and RVs complete with electric connections and running water. But the star and his cast toughed it out, and they seemed to enjoy it, or at least they acted like they were having a good time. Even the singers smiled as they scrunched under the hastily built lean-to that sheltered a microphone, and there they entertained the nation, all the way from Mason Lake. One of the singers was to become a TV star himself many years later. A very young Ken Berry, the same Ken Berry who became a fixture on the TV show "Mayberry RFD" and later had his own variety show on ABC. Fifty-five years ago on the Mason Lake shore, he strummed a ukulele and sang, appropri- ately, "It's A Rainy Day". The highlight of the two-hour show praising Simpson's logging practices was the actual falling of a huge tree, the same tree that once towered from that now forlorn stump. The tree, estimated to be 350 years old, was worked by two Simpson loggers, live on camera. The na- tion was shown how the men made their undercut to insure the tree fell where they wanted--toward the lake. Then the logger with the chain saw did his job, and the old-growth fir crashed with a huge "whoomp" sending a heavy spray of water from the rain-soaked grounds. Just before that event the great climber Hap Johnson, then 35 years old, on camera, rapidly climbed another old- growth fir and topped it 150 feet high with just his hand saw. But back to the stump. It is still large, but ragged with age. A maple tree that took root in the stump is now a hundred feet high. But as we said, the stump is still here. And there, too, is a weatherworn wood sign affixed to a sturdy post. Carved in the sign are the words: "The Arthur God- frey Tree." I hear the younger generation asking: Who is Arthur Godfrey? Fifty-five years ago you'd know. He was big, boys and girls. He was really big. Trust me. WORDONTHESTREET • John Komen, who lives on Mason Lake, was for 40 years a reporter and editor, TV anchorman, national TV net- work correspondent, producer, columnist, editorial writer and commentator. His column, Komen Comment, appears each week in the Shelton-Mason County Jour- nal. Community events prove county's merit wo successful events in the last two weeks, the 68th annual Ma- son County Forest Festival and the first big race of the year at the new Ridge Motorsports Park, prove we live in a community that knows how to get it done. Both events brought hundreds of visi- tors to Mason County, and were welcome distractions from what was one of the most violent weeks in our area's history. Most of the reviews we have seen on The Ridge have been positive, and we expect the facility will continue to bring thousands of visitors to the area every year- visitors who rent motel rooms, dine at our restaurants and shop in our business district -- providing a much- needed economic shot in the arm. of living in a tight-knit community. It's The Forest Festival was a success, as evident by the attendance that we are usual, but event organizers are worried not alone in our reasoning. Too often, about its future. More community mem~ though, we see the same names and fac- bers need to step up and volunteer their es giving so generously of their time and time and money or the long-running money so that others have an enjoyable festival will perish. It takes financial experience. support and hundreds of volunteer hours We urge those who are able to donate from businesses and the community at financially to the area festivals to do so, large to put on a quality event like the and those who are unable to help finan- Forest Festival. cially to give the gift of time. Either is an 'That the festival is popular was evi- excellent investment and one that will denced by the overflowing support from pay dividends for years to come. visitors and area residents. Every event, In what would have otherwise been a from the parade and carnival to the runs couple of very dreary weeks for Mason and logging events, were well attended. County, event organizers put on a great Community events, such as the For- festival despite being stretched incred- est Festival, are one of the key benefits ibly thin. For that, we applaud you. 0 Festival a success Editor, the Journal Kudos to the Forest Fes- tival parade staff. "Jesse Young for Congress" volun- teers want to thank the pa- rade staff for the award for Most Creative Float. It was very fun participating in the festivities. Our thanks to our float master Lori Wood of Harstine Island, and also to the fun-loving and gifted musicians, Freed Radicals Band from New Horizons Church of God, who entertained us before and during the whole pa- rade. Remember the name, Jesse Young, when you vote. He's a strong voice for conservative politics and will represent the sixth district well. We praise God for his many bless- ings, including great parade weather. Jan and Bernie Walton Harstine Island How has the privitizations of liquor sales affected you? Jonathan Porter Nykol Garramone "I'm an ex-alcoholic. I don't like the feeling that I get. It's more "It doesn't really bother me. The increase in tax is quite pricey. of a temptation." I didn't vote for it (and) it shows me the people that did vote for it didn t read the initiative. Ed Lapinski USPS 492-800 "I voted against it. I was told a long time ago the prices would go Shelton-Mason County Ii~ up. No matter what you do, somebody's going to be unhappy." -- ...... ___._ _m__ ...... !!: ..................................................... Shelton-Mason County Journal is a member of Karl Sleight, publisher Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason SUBSCRIPTION RATES: County Journal, RO. 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: RO. 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 Journal, Inc Advertising: Dave Pierik, Sr. Acct. Executive Newsroom: Harvey Morris, ad representative Jesse Mullen, editor Sharee Miller, ad representative Natalie Johnson, reporter Front office: Kevin Spradlin, reporter Emily Hanson, sports rep.orter Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper Adam Rudnick, copy editor Margot Brand, circulation Cricket Carter, mailroom supervisor Composing room: William Adams, graphics Pressroom: Kelly Riordan, production manager Travis Miller, press operator Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, June 7, 2012