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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
July 2, 2009     Shelton Mason County Journal
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July 2, 2009
 
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JOURNAL OF OPINION: READERS' J O_U R_ N__A_A L-- Giving a thought Horse parts to our veterans on Editor, theJournal: The citizen of Mason County Table of Knowledge the Fourth of July questions the judgment of "I'm gonna have me a dog." That pronouncement came from a guy I knew when a group of us went to the fights in Seattle 30 years ago. He was talking about grabbing a hot dog, the quintessential sporting event comfort food and a staple of Fourth of July celebrations. Nowadays the humble hot dog is held in low regard in some quarters thanks to food fetishists, who always seem to know what's best for others. Despite animal byproducts and the gluttonous Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, where some guy chowed down 59 hot dogs in 10 minutes to win the an- nual Fourth of July event in New York last year, I plan to partake of a hot dog this Saturday. And while I'm happily munching, I'll be thinking about Independence Day and what it means. I'll probably watch a baseball game and the Boston Pops concert to catch their rendition of "Stars and Stripes Forever." But baseball, the Boston Pops, fireworks and even hot dogs are simply ritu- als that remind us it's the Fourth. There's a deeper, more profound meaning. Military veterans get their due on Veterans' Day and Memorial Day. Their duty and sacrifices are important to remember at other times as well, and especially, I think, on the Fourth of July. There are many local veterans who deserve our thoughts and thanks. Two who come to mind are Sheltonians Frank Wokojance and Larry Godwin, both of whom served in the Army during World War II and fought against the Nazis in B E H I N D Europe. Wokojance was an THE Army scout who land- ed at Omaha Beach SCENES on D-Day plus four and saw his first ma- By jor action in the Bat- JEFF GREEN tle of Saint-Lo in Nor- mandy. From there "Woko" fought in sev- eral major campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge, as the Americans pushed across Europe. "We got shot at just damn near every day," he said of German snipers and artillery fire. Wokojance has no special plans for the Fourth. He used to get together with family members, but quit doing that a few years back. Instead, he'll stay home with his wife and reflect back on old friends he served with. "A lot of things happened and I still think about them," he said. He also thinks about the guys who were killed in Europe. Godwin was in the Army's fabled 10th Mountain Divi- sion. He was as hard as nails. Not a big man, he weighed about 125 pounds and learned to ski carrying 100 pounds of packs and weapons. He lugged around a heavy machine gun as his unit fought in the mountains of Italy. He'll spend Saturday with his family. "It brings it all back," he said of his wartime experiences and the Fourth of July. "Off and on, I think about parts of it every day." Godwin, now well into his 80s, will rise early on Satur- day as he does on most holidays to help put flags out along streets in downtown Shelton. The Fourth of July is very significant to him. "It means we're independent, have our freedom and speak as we wish and worship as we wish," he said. "It's a wonderful, wonderful day." Like Wokojance, he'll also remember absent friends, par- ticularly Clayton Gunter, a Shelton man and buddy who was killed in action in Italy. Gunter left behind two young children and when Godwin came back from the war, he shared with them what he knew of their father. He has two grandsons who are serving in Iraq and Af- ghanistan and said he'll also be thinking about both of them Saturday. "The young people of today are doing an outstanding job," he said. Every time I fly, I'm subjected to a free "wanding  and pat-down by Transportation Security Administration offi- cers because the metal in my knees and hips trips off air- port walk-through metal detectors. Almost invariably they ask me where I'm headed. On re- turn flights I always answer, "Shelton, Washington, home of the brave." They usually smile. The reason I say it is because of Frank Wokojance and Larry Godwin and many others; good people who do their duty, come home and pick up their civilian lives. So at times on Saturday my thoughts will be about our local veterans, current military personnel and the ones who didn't come home, like my father's cousin who lies buried in Normandy, his young life cut short 65 years ago. So, am I gonna have a dog on the Fourth? Of course I am, probably two. Tim Sheldon in the position of county commissioner and his statements in the past and last week in the rela- tionship to the business of Mason County. We believe he is over-utilizing his pow- er of county commissioner. 1. He says, "we don't need sheriffs deputies, we live in Mason County." We have guns and we know how to use them, vigilantes that is. 2. Ione Zeigler's allega- tions that the county needs somebody younger with new ideas. The question I have is how her job performance has been, not how old she is. She brought the county out of chaos when she was hired and has continually attended certifiable classes to bring in the most up- date methods for her job as budget director. We should look to her past history to understand that it takes an educated professional to put forth a proper budget, not some part-time commission- er. She has keen in place to keep the county in check. 3. The two above state- ments have just been lately. I sure hope Ione doesn't sue the county for age discrimi- nation and that some pis- tol-packing citizens do not shoot up the county because Tim said it was okay. We at the table have served our country during wars and peacetime. We believe that when we sit down to discuss life and the county business we have the ability to express new ideas that some younger person who has not had our life ex- perience can't know. Tim Sheldon's action and his past stewardship of his position calls in a quote from one of our members, Kenny, an entrepreneur World War II bomber pilot of B-17s and B-29s from Montana: "The man acts like he is the sound end of a northbound horse." Earl Mallinger Shelton Corrections A photo caption appear- ing on page B-5 in the June 4 edition of the Journal incor- rectly identified the truck on which the 2009 Forest Festi- val Paul Bunyan rode. That truck belonged to Miles Gor- don Logging. A story on page A-7 in the June 11 edition of the Journal incorrectly listed the federal level at which Barbara Hirschi testified on Army budget matters. Hirs- chi testified before congres- sional staffers on financial and budget matters. The AM& is The hezflth mettl .. ,$ ,  I1 A READER WRITES Let a thousand community parks bloom By B.J. BEATTY MaryAnne Murray and I are moving to Lewis Coun- ty, a move necessitated by MaryAnne's new workplace, which is beyond a reason- able commute from the Shelton area where we have resided for more than four years. It would be ideal if we could stay here as we have become very fond of the community and believe that we have made significant contributions to it. Our most visible contribution is land bounded by Grant Street on the north, Harvard Avenue on the south, Seventh Street on the east and Eighth Street on the west, which we gave to the city for a park. The city was delighted to accept the land but ex- pressed concern that there was very little money to develop the property. Un- daunted by this detail, we chose to name it Catalyst Park - Connecting Neigh- bors, Building Community, a name that expresses our hopes for this property. This statement clearly ex- presses our own communi- tarian values and we hope that you, the community, will embrac these values as well and will work to cre- ate beauty and peace within the park and far beyond its boundaries. We hope the park will in- deed live up to its name by bringing together the im- mediate neighborhood and others from the larger com- munity who will contribute time, sweat equity and good will to its development. Of course, money for materi- als to create a working in- frastructure would be most welcome as well. Our vision for the park: The land on the north half (Harvard Street side) of the park would become a com- munity garden where neigh- bors work together to grow food, children and teenag- ers are mentored by people with experience working the ground and who know the value of growing one's own food and learning the value of self-sufficiency. Our personal goal: Know what you are eating and what went into its production. The upper half of the prop- erty, which slopes north- ward from Grant Street, is partially treed and can be a space where people can find quiet and relaxation, a rest- ful place where one can con- nect with nature and self. We realize that our dreams can be nothing more than that. The community and the city will be driving forces behind the realiza- tion of the park since it now belongs to the community. We made sure that it will remain a community asset by making the donation in perpetuity. The land can never be sold or used by the city in any way that is not in keeping with the concept of a park. The park's success depends almost entirely on the efforts of the people and their commitment to ongo- ing stewardship of the park. We have faith in the spir- it and generosity of the peo- ple of Shelton and trust that they will find ways, no mat- ter how insignificant they may seem to each and every donor, to give to the park and the larger community. We have given much to the community through the years and one of our pres- ent charities is the Saints' Pantry food bank, where we deliver fresh eggs from our pastured chickens. Over the past two years we have de- veloped and maintained a customer base for our eggs. Since we set a firm date for our move, the chicks have upped their production while we have made no ef- fort to find new customers. So we bring our surplus eggs to Saints' Pantry. Since it is a nonprofit agency, we can claim a tax deduction for our charitable giving. Perhaps you have chicks who are giving more eggs than you can use and/or a garden, orchard or berry patch that is providing more than you can use. Why not bring your surplus to Saints' Pantry or other charity of your choice. You will be twice blessed for your gen- erosity! READERS: JOURNAL: Goose kill Editor, the Journal: I live on the small lake in the Timberlakes com- munity. For over 10 years we have had two domestic white geese living on the lake. They are characters of the lake and folks enjoyed them. Over the years mal- lard ducks have made this lake their summer home. Over the past four years Ca- nadian geese have discov- ered the lake. On June 19, 2009 the Tim- berlake Community Club officers decided to eliminate the waterfowl. With their own maintenance people and help from the federal government they captured and killed all water fowl on the lake. There was no no- tice sent to the members for discussion. This heartless act is beyond reproach. If we can send a man to the moon and bring him back, give a person a new heart and communicate with anyone in the world via the Internet, can we not find a less-violent approach. A lake with no life on it is just a puddle. Robert M. Giroux Timberlakes Kernels of truth Editor, the Journal: A recent letter was critical of one regarding "healthcare reform" by stating that it did not contain "... a kernel of truth." So let's explore his letter for kernels. If Americans always "pay more and receive fewer ben- efits and inferior care," why do we see those articles and stories about Canadians coming south for care and treatment? And I'm sure glad my treatment at hospital emer- gency rooms has not always cost "a minimum of a thou- sand dollars." And if "fat cat insur- ance corporation CEOs were doing nothing," state insurance commission- ers and I as a stockholder would have taken action! And insurance com- panies do not "special- ize in denying claims of policyholders." Com- mon sense would tell us that such a company would not remain in busi- ness within the American free-enterprisesystem! And, if his statement had a ker- nel of truth, where was the state insurance commis- sioner that he is helping pay for? If his "kernels" are pop- corn, there sure were a lot of old maids! Jerry Horstman Harstine Island Rates up? Editor, the Journal: Oblivious to growing pub- lic dismay, even anger, Pub- lic Utility District 3 blindly hurtles onward in its intent to spend millions of the ratepayers' dollars on a Taj Mahal out-of-town head- quarters. Even as it raises electric power rates by 3 percent and implies that further rate increases are coming, PUD 3 plunges ahead with its outrageous plan. Even in the face of economic distress with Mason County's jobless rate rising to fearful levels, PUD 3 arrogantly pillages the ratepayers' pockets. In this woeful climate of job losses, foreclosed mort- gages and failing business- es, it defies common sense to expend an estimated $41.5 million in PUD 3 ratepay- ers' increasingly hard-to-get dollars. In truth, it is an act of cruelty. In each PUD 3 monthly statement comes a plea for contributions to assist the poor, the unemployed and the aged to meet their ris- ing electric bills. Why are the PUD 3 commissioners not working to lower Mason County's electricity costs? Why are they not cutting ev- ery possible corner to reduce rates? They ignore the public need. They insist spend- ing millions and floating bonds backed by the suffer- ing ratepayers is the way to serve the public. Spending $41.5 million enhancing an already costly bureaucracy is simply be- yond reason. John Komen Mason Lake We welcome letters RO. Box 430, Shelton Direct e-mail letters to dan@masoncounty. com 11" Shelton-Mason Cunty 11|! USPS 492-800 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. Published weekly by Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc. at 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Washington Mailing address: P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584 Telephone (360) 426-4412 • www.masoncounty.com Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washington Shelton-Mason County Journal is a member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $37 per year for Mason County addresses, $51 per year in state of Washington but outside Mason County, $61 per year out of state. Owned and published by Shelton- Mason County Journal, Inc., Dan Mancuso, publisher, dan@ masoncounty.com. Newsroom: Gregory Skinner, managing editor; Jeff Green, features, schools, Port of Shelton; Mary Duncan, police, courts; Chris West, sports; Clinton Kendall, copy editor; Kevan Moore, city government. Advertising: Dave Pierik, advertising manager; Harvey Morris. Cheyanne Kelly, Belfair Herald ad sales. Front office: Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper; Margot Brand, circulation; Cricket Carter, mailroom supervisor. Composing room: Diane Riordan, supervisor; Koleen Wood, legals, computer system manager; William Adams, graphics. Pressroom: Kelly Riordan, production manager; Jon Hughes, press operator; Travis Miller. Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, July 2, 2009