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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
June 14, 2012     Shelton Mason County Journal
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June 14, 2012
 
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,, ,,,, ,,,,,, ,,, ,,,, Thursday, June 14, 2012 Week 24 -- The Voice of Mason County since 1886 u Published for Mason County and Frank Simon of Belfair -- $1 : ~ : %! !i/i!~: ii:/~ Father Mikel asks,,,,,,,, city officals to aid less fortunate By KEVIN SPRADLIN proached the city commissioners at their May kevin@masoncount~.com 29 public meeting and said that a consortium ...................... of 10 area churches and an army of volunteers are working hard to help the city's homeless Father Joe Mikel has asked the city to share population. the burden of addressing Shelton's homeless. problem. Mikel, the pastor at St. David of Wales, ap- See Homeless on page A-7 Mikel Journal photo by Kewn Spraolln CHOICE Alternative School senior Jesus Lopez celebrates as his name is called to come forward and receive his diploma during the school's graduation ceremony on June 7 at The Pavillion at Sentry Park. Journa pno]:o oy Kevln SDradlin More than 250 Shelton High School students turned their tassles on June 9. 'So much opportunity awaits' SHS grads By KEVIN SPRADLIN kevin@,,nas(mcoun(y,com The journey, said Wan- da Berndtson, is only be- ginning. "Today's not the end." said Berndtson. the Shel- ton High School principal. "You are not done. There is still more to come." With that message, 256 graduating seniors participated in the 103rd commencement of Shelton High School. The hour-long cer- emony on Saturday was staged inside Marcus Pa- vilion at St. Martin's Uni- versity in Lacey. Colton Twiddy, senior class speaker, echoed Ber- ndtson's sentiments. ~'It's a beginning," Twiddy said. "It's time for us to take the next step in our journey." SHS co-valedictorians David Gorman and Taylor Muenchow each addressed their fellow graduates. Each included bits of hu- mor in their separate, but serious, messages. Muenchow centered her speech around Poke- mort, a Japanese amme and game series. Human trainers used Pokemon. or pocket monsters. 1;o battle a human opponenent in a gladiator-style contest. In high school, though, Muenchow said students prepared for battles against the foes of English and chemistry. Badges, she said. were earned by receiving good marks on exams. After Saturday, Muen- chow said, graduates en- ter a new arena. And then. just as before, Pokemon can continue the analogy of life. The real world, she IIIIU!UI!!I!!IJ!I!IIII said Pokemon 8 2 See Shelton on page A-7 CHOICE grads plan for things yet to come By KEVIN SPRADLIN kevin@masoncounty,corn There was a broad sense of accomplish- men~ on June 7 during the graduation ceremony for CHOICE Alternative School seniors. And yet. there was plenty of talk of things yet to come. Amid the smiles and celebratory hugs between graduating seniors, fam- ily members and CHOICE staff members, there was a sense that greater things are on the horizon. "We did it," said day program graduate Jesus Lopez. "Four years of hard work finally paid off." Lopez, though, said that after a night of cel- ebration, "change will come. Embrace it. Do not fear it. The future is ours for the taking."" Forty-two graduates were recognized during the 90-minute event in- side a packed room at The Pavilion at Sentry Park. Graduates were decked out in purple and black caps and gowns. The room was decorated with matching balloons and family members and friends crowded the Grand Ballroom. Principal Stacey Ander- son empathized with the graduating class, mem- bers of which, she said, had to deal with a host of personal and family is- sues to make it to gradu- ation night. Anderson said those issues included abuse, homelessness and addictions. "All of those experi- ences were necessary to get you te this moment," Anderson said. "Whatever your challenges, you over- came them. Hopefully, you had some fun along the way. Tonight is your night." Anderson also paid trib- ute to the faculty and staff at CHOICE. With their help, she said, the gradu- ates' journey "would have been much more difficult." Donnalyn Roberts -- affectionately referred to as "Diva" by students and staff alike -- is a 2008 CHOICE graduate and now works as a GEAR UP tutor at the school. Roberts, a Native American, told a story of Grandmother Cedar Tree and a young girl nick- named "Aye Aye Ish." The name. Roberts said, meant "dumb and stupid" to everyone in the village. Aye Aye Ish, as Rob- erts recounted the tale, was not permitted to learn any skills for fear that she would simply mess it up. After all, she was "dumb and stupid," Roberts said. But Grandmother Ce- dar Tree taught the girl the skill of basket weaving for her and her fellow vil- lagers to carry water from the river to their homes. After much trial and er- ror, the girl mastered the skill -- something the girl would have no matter who called her any names in See CHOICE on page A-7 2012 Mason County Graduations: Read the She#on-Mason County Journal's graduation guide in this week's paper. Find interviews of closs volidictorions and all of your gruduutes' senior photos. MMK grads ready to 'affect the world' By KEVIN SPRADLIN kevin@m a so ncou~#y.com Growing up in a com- munity such as Matlock helps students forge a spe- cial bond. That was evident on Saturday during the 80th annual commencement ex- ercise at Mary M. Knight High School. It was a graduation with a personal touch. Having a Class of 2012 with 13 members can per- mit things like that. MMK staff, friends and family bid a fond farewell to the outgoing seniors on Saturday inside the school's gymasium. The 90-minute program allowed each graduate a turn at the podium to thank parents or key sup- porters for their support over the years. Each senior created a slideshow that was shown to the audience. And behind the bleach- Journ~ photo by Kewn Spraolln Mary M. Knight High School valedictorian Emily Johnson smiles during graduation on June 9 in Matlock. ers, 13 tables -- one designated for each se- nior featured photos, mementos, trinkets and trophies, of high school memories from each student's four-year jour- ney. See Knight on page A-7