Notice: Undefined index: HTTP_REFERER in /home/stparch/public_html/headmid_temp_main.php on line 4394
Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
July 2, 2020     Shelton Mason County Journal
PAGE 4     (4 of 40 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
 
PAGE 4     (4 of 40 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
July 2, 2020
 
Newspaper Archive of Shelton Mason County Journal produced by SmallTownPapers, Inc.
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader




Page A-4 Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, July 2, 2020 The sheep in he scene: A moun- tain pasture at night. A flock of sheep form a circle, some stand- ing, some lying. The light of the moon has turned the eyes of the sheep into eerie white beads. The animals, amazingly, speak English. David: Baa! Get up! Harriet: Baa? What? David: I smelled a wolf. He’s over there at the tree line. See? Eleven o’clock. Next to that rock that looks like Dolly. Harriet: That’s the wolf that got Rahm the ram last month. Get the Sheepdog. I’ll move the flock. Hurry! Harriet stirs the running in the op- posite direction of the now-sprinting wolf. Da- vid dashes to alert Jay the Sheepdog, who is yards beyond the edge of the flock. Jay is idly pawing at some- thing in the dirt. The full moon hangs high over the horizon. David: We have a wolf, male, a quarter-mile over there (gestures with his nose). The floék’s on the move. You can intercept him from here by running parallel to the tree line. Jay: Really? I 'thought I heard something. (Looks back down at the ground) But I don’t see a wolf. Don’t smell one either. David: Then look up! He’s not hiding in the dirt in front of you. Do what we ’ pay you to do _— take care of that wolf. Now! Jay: Listen. We’ve had tremendous success with our wolf program. Attacks are way down. Way, way down. Way. Down. Down more than they ever were before. And that’s just the start. What you saw was probably . David: It’s a wolf. I saw it. I smelled it. I heard it. It’s there and it’s about to attack the flock. This is as real as a wolf’s toothin a sheep’s neck. You need ... thnniitaammnt USPS POSTMAST ER: Send address changes toSheIton—Mason County Journal, PO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 93584. Published weekly by the Shelton—Mason County Journal at W. Cota St, Shelton, Washington. Mailing address: PO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584 Telephone: 360-426—441 2 Website: www.masoncounty.com Periodicals postage paid in Shelton, Washington. By KIRK flock and leads them ERICSON the pasture Jay: (getting testy) Look. I don’t smell it and I don’t see it. And now I definitely did not hear anything from you about any kind of ani- mal — wolf, sheep or other- wise. Get away from me. David: That’s it. We’re done with you. Done! Harri— et will talk to the shepherd tomorrow. (Turning toward the flock) Harriet! Keep the flock tight and head toward those rocks. Jay won’t help. Jay: Fine. Fine. You go. You prob- ably won’t survive the night anyway. And that shepherd guy? Dick? He’s ac- tually a goatherd. He’s pathetic, that Dick. I know his sto- ry. Everyone does. David dashes toward the herd, angling away from the wolf so hecatches up to Harriet just as the flock reaches an outcropping. The flock turns and all the sheep face the wolf, knowing one of them is about to die. The wolf at- tacks an older ewe named Bella. It’s over quickly. The scene: The next day in the pasture. Harriet meets Dick, the shepherd. Harriet: Dick, 'Dick, Dick (shaking her head). You’ve got to get rid of Jay, Dick. He won’t do his job. Last night it was Bella, and it was the same wolf that killed Rahm. How many more? We’re dying while he’s busy pawing at the dirt, like he’s looking for some- thing that’s never there. Don’t treat us like humans! You hired him, Dick. You’ve supported him. Do some- thing, Dick! V Dick: I agree, totally. But here’s the thing, and this is just between you and me. I’m not going to be that guy who cries wolf. People hate those people who cry wolf. , ‘ Harriet: But, Dick, it is a wolfl Dick: We done? I. Contact Kirk at kirk@ masoncounty.com. ' it be nice to take off EDITOR'S DESK Bowling center idea knocked me oVer uring a particularly ’ bleak and stormy Saturday earlier this winter, my wife and I had a simultaneous observation —— Shelton needs more inside activities for children. We came upon this revela- tion with our hands on hips, out of breath, chasing our 15-month-old son around our home. Sure, we had done extensive outdoor exploring during the, wintery weather, but on this February day, we thought, “Wouldn’t our coats and have away from the pound- ing rain and howling wind?” Apparently Dawn Myers and her husband had a simi— lar epiphany. But instead of just complaining, they decid- ed to do something about it. Fast-forward about six months, and we learned that the couple, with help from the Economic Development Council of Mason County and ether community mem- bers, hopes to build a 16—lane bowling alley in Shelton. The EDC announced last week the couple’s plan for Skeeter’s Bowling Center: For a full story on the announcement, see page A-7. ' There are still a lot of pins to knock down in order to get this project completed. The couple needs to update a feasibility study, which was Mom-ml The Shelton-Mason County Jour- Publisher: Tom Mullen nal is a member of the Wash- Association. ington Newspaper Publishers SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $62 per year ($43 for six months) for Mason County addresses and $75 per year ($55 for six months) outside of Mason County. Owned and published by Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc. Advertising: By ADAM some fun as a family RUDNICK originally conducted in But if all goes according to plan, the bowling center could be completed in September , 2021. I’m glad to see some posi- tive economic news in Shel- . ton. The past three months have been devastating to local businesses and their employees, who have made drastic cutbacks amid the coronavirus pandemic. A new bowling alley, in addition to , giving Mason County residents an enter- taining’place to spend time, could supply ad- ditional tax revenue to the 'City of Shelton, and bring in residents from surrounding areas. Shelton’s former bowling alley, Timber Bowl, burned to the ground in leav- ing county residents without many options for a family- friendly, indoor entertainment venue. Should this project move forward, Shelton would not only have another local business, but it would also have an activity that young and older residents can enjoy. I have distinct memories of my parents and friends tak- ing me to Westside Lanes in . Olympia for birthday parties. We would run around, drink soda and play arcade video games. Our greasy hands would fill the bowling balls’. finger holes with pizza sauce. But most importantly; we would have a blast no matter Front office: Dave Pierik, circulation and classifieds manager John Lester, general manager Newsroom: . Theresa Murray, ad representative Adam Rudnlck, editor in chief Gordon Weeks, reporter ' Justin Johnson, sports/outdoors editor Kirk Ericson, columnist/ proofreader Lloyd Mullen, creative director Isabella Breda, reporter Delivery: Jon Garza David Olson , Niel Challstrom Composing room: technical support William Adams, advertising and which of our friends knocked down the most pins. Fast forward more than years, and a bowling al- ley could give my wife and I a place to take our son. We could create those memories for him, and there’s no doubt he would be a better bowler than his dad, Co-workers could meet at the bowling alley after work for an adult beverage and a couple of games. Community members could join leagues and compete against one an- other. Strangers could become friends. The’bowling alley could also provide a place for the Shelton High School bowling team to play in its own back- yard, providing it with a real home-team advantage. The team has to travel to West- side Lanes in Olympia for its home matches. , I don’t Want to get too far ahead of myself, nor do I want to get anybody’s hopes up. And sure, some residents will scoff at the idea of a bowling alley. But it’s nice to see a bur— geoning plan that could bring so many residents joy. I hope the couple behind this en— deavor can knock down all the pins on the project and give residents a chance to do the same some day soon. I Adam Rudnick is editor . in chief of the Shelton- Mason County Journal. He can be reached at adam@ masoncounty.com. All regular editorial, advertising and legal deadlines are 5 pm. the Monday prior to publication. To submit a letter to the editor, email adam@masoncounty.com.