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Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
July 19, 2007     Shelton Mason County Journal
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July 19, 2007
 
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SHELTON- MASON COUNTY JOURNAL f Thursday, July 19, 2007 121st Year m Number 29 5 Sections m 44 Pages Published in Shelton, Washington 75 cents 00elfair woman'S00o00 00,00:body found with speclal needs students hangingwa ,.e 00oo- m m00r00hmaonro00athw Sh o "She had a passion for working leagues for making lasting connec- investigation by the coroner and graduated from Central Wash- with those kids in need and she tions with special-needs children ased the cause of death for a ed teacher from Belfair who found dead hanging from a on Monday with her feet still lc_hing the ground. ason County Coroner Wes kWell said an autopsy per- dc Tuesday afternoon on -f t dy of Patti Rothenberg, 55, , d that Rothenberg died from bral anoxia as a result of ging .fficials say Rothenberg's body found near her residence in Ridge Heights by a family sheriffs office. DEAN BYRD, chief deputy of operations for the Mason County Sheriffs Office, says investigators are "systematically interviewing people in hopes of establishing the manner of death." Rothenberg was reported miss- ing on Sunday, July 15, and post- ers were distributed throughout the North Mason area in an effort to locate her. Rothenberg grew up in Bremer- ington University and began her teaching career in Kennewick. Rothenberg was a longtime special-education teacher for the North Mason School District and also taught regular course work there. She began her teaching ca- reer at North Mason High School in 1980 and retired from Hawkins Middle School in 2002. Following her retirement from the school district, Rothenberg went to work at Kitsap Mental Health Services' Madrona House, again working was really good at it," said her son, Jeff. "She was great with kids and adults with special needs." ROTHENBERG'S DEATH had a devastating impact on her former colleagues at the North Mason School District, who de- scribed her as extremely friendly and cheerful with a great sense of humor. Rothenberg was a popular teacher and had a flair for style when it came to art, decor and and other classroom teachers. In addition to her work, family members say Rothenberg was an avid gardener, enjoyed traveling, was a great interior designer, en- joyed crafts and loved being near the water. A memorial service for her will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, at the Belfair Community Bap- tist Church. Arrangements are under the di- rection of McComb Funeral Home in Shelton. ........... PROUD FATHER Clyde Rau of Shelton pins the nevk insignia to the lapel of his son, Lieutenant Colonel Matt Rau, during a Marine promo- i tion ceremony July 2 on the East Coast. 0000ur00nes promote Shelton |tad to lieutenant colonel .Iatt Rau, a 1982 graduate of !lton High School, was pro- .d to lieutenant colonel by the ride Corps at a ceremony in rth Carolina on July 2. u, son of Clyde Rau of Shel- arid the late Sonja Rau, was Oted by Major General Den- ejlik, commander ofU.S. Ma- eor s es . p Forc , Specml Opera- COmmand, at Camp Lejeune Jacksonville. Highlights of his r/de career in intelligence have [led deployments to Bosnia- Herzegovina, Afghanistan and attended the Intelligence Offi- Iraq. cers Course at Navy Marine In- Rau attended Officer Candi- .telligence Training Center. Upon date School after graduating from graduating there with distinction, the University of Oregon in 1991 he served as the ground intel- and was commissioned as a Ma- ligence officer in the Air Combat rine second lieutenant in August Intelligence Branch of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing G-2. Upon comple- of that year. With his latest pro- motion, he received a transfer and tion of the Weapons Tactics In- will be working out of Washington, structors Course at Marine Corps D.C., for the next three years. Air Station Yuma, he joined Ma- rine Aircraft Group 16 at the Ma- AFTER COMPLETING the rine air station at Tustin, Califor- basic officer school in 1991, Rau (Please turn to page 3.) 00ire starts in Shelton Valley and blackens 25 acres re that started in a mowed some firefighters were on the though the fire threatened hves and Clallam counties last that the cause of the fire involved are a main feeder serving sever- ,Sda evening, the machine cutting the hay," al counties. PUD 3 worked with 'rews were dispatched to the Salzer said. Bonneville Power to handle the around 3 p.m. Thursday and Wind-driven, the fire spread situation. and eventually split, a portion Joel Myer, PUD 3 spokesman, heading north under the power- said the fire threatened the four IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlUlIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII[IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlll lines, parallel to Highway 101, BPA transmission lines, offi- pJ00n th--e inside and a portion heading east, to- cials, worried that smoke from ward West Deegan Road and the the blaze could cause the lines highway. There are homes on to begin arcing, decided to shut "  iths ........................ ...... 18 Deegan Road. down two of the four lines at 5 I lsifleds ....... . ['i. , ................ 32 Salzer said some residents P'm'Thursday'whileflrefighting unity Calendar ....... 17 evacuated their homes, removing efforts were going on. The lines SWord ........................... 37 animals from thei r properties in were switched back on by 7:30 the process, that evening. ttainment, Dining ..... 30 When Salzer left the scene at There were between 60 and alth Journal ................. 18 8 p.m. Thursday, the north-burn- 80 flrefighters from a number of oura t al of Record ........... ;. 25 ing fire was under control. Crews departments, including fire dis- rQitaries .... ................. 140 were on the scene of the east- tricts4,6, 11, 13, 16, SheltonFire biaions, Letters ................. heading fire all night. Department, Thurston County l t8 ................................... 21 Salzer said that while the fire Fire District 13 (Griffin) and the ][s ............................... 27 was headed toward West Deegan Washington State Department of iather ........................... 12 Road, it never crossed it. And of Natural Resources. Some crews Illlllll,llll,l,llll;liiHlllll,miHlll,liHl,,i,ill,i the homes and people there, he worked all weekend, making sure said, "To my understanding, they hot spots didn't flare up. l[Jl!l! [!]!![ll!I!!I!I!IuII were never endangered." Also, a helicopter from the Salzer notes that there were DNR attacked the fire with a no injuries reported and no re- large bucketofwaterdrawnfrom 2 port of structural damage even Lake Isabella. FAA official warns port about drags By JEFF GREEN The future of drag racing at Sanderson Field may be in jeop- ardy despite two successful week- ends of racing there earlier this month. In a letter dated July 10 to Bob Robinson, managing direc- tor of the Port of Shelton, an of- ficial with the Federal Aviation Administration warned the port may risk losing the federal agen- cy's future approval for the non- aviation activity and put grant funding for the local airport in question. "We would caution you from entering into any arrangement that would give the community an expectation that racing events can always take place on the air- port," Jeffrey W. Winter, a civil engineer with the FAA's Wash- ington Section, wrote in an e-mail message to Robinson on June 11, which was reiterated in Winter's July 10 letter. "We have allowed interim uses of closed runways for non-avia- tion uses, including drag racing, provided we can review and ap- prove the proposed arrangement," Winter's letter read. THE RACING should go in the direction away from the airport's operational area, the federal offi- cial wrote, adding that the area adjacent to the operational area should be fenced to keep vehicles and people out, and the fencing should be outside the object-free area for the airport taxiway. Winter wrote that Robinson had not responded to his June 11 e-mail. He phoned Robinson after hearing on Friday, July 6, that racing was scheduled for that weekend and the next. "You said the racing would be heading toward the runway area, though we had asked that it go the other way. According to re- ports we heard about the event last weekend (July 7 and 8), one car went through some hay bales, which were put just before the parallel taxiway," Winter wrote. "Apparently they (race spon- sors) had removed the perimeter fencing, which crossed the closed runway, but no other fencing or barriers were used except these hay bales. More is needed to keep the race cars and unauthorized persons from getting into the air- craft operational areas." IT IS APPARENT from news- paper coverage and the turnout that the community may easily develop an expectation that rac- ing on airport property will con- tinue, Winter noted. "It is important to establish the operating rules that protect the aircraft oPerational areas during an event, rather than giving the operators the impression they can do what they want to do or that the public expects the event to look a certain way, which may be unsafe for the airport," Winter wrote. "It is also important that the airport receive appropriate revenue for the use of the ground. "Unless you can show us an op- erational plan for these events in advance that we can accept, you are risking losing our approval for these non-aviation activities. This could lead to non-compli- ance with the grant and surplus property obligations and thus put future grant funding in question for projects you wish to do," Win- ter wrote. Winter's concerns were set off by an e-mail that Robinson sent him on June 5 about drag racing at the airport. "WE HAVE BEEN under some local pressure to facilitate, to a greater extent, drag racing activ- ity on the inactive runway here at Sanderson Field," Robinson wrote. "To date, our commissioners have resisted this pressure as it relates to structural modifications to the runway and to granting a long- term lease for the purpose of drag racing. They currently advocate, somewhat hesitantly, dealing with (the) issue on an occasional event basis. "We are very aware of our pri- mary mission, aviation, and of the deed restrictions that exist," Rob- inson wrote. As the port's managing direc- tor, he wrote he needed some con- (Please turn to page 2.) Park conunents sought Local residents are invited to express their preferences for the design and uses of the county's new park on Oakland Bay at a workshop next week. The Mason County Parks and Trails Department and the Capi- tol Land Trust will conduct the public workshop starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, at Memo- rial Hall in Shelton, Second and Franklin streets. Officials hope the public will provide the county and land trust with information regarding the future planning and usage of Oak- land Bay Historical County Park. The Capitol Land Trust and the county partnered to purchase the 80-acre park in 2005. The county has retained the services of Rob- ert Droll, Landscape Architect to prepare a master site plan for the park. Oakland Bay Historical Park is accessed from Agate Road. It is primarily undeveloped with the exception of a former homestead with a house built in the early 1900s. The park provides won- derful views of Oakland Bay, and Melaney Creek meanders through the property. Anyone with questions about the Oakland Bay Park public workshop may contact John Ke- ates at Mason County Parks, 42%9670, Extension 669, or at: johnk@co.muon.wa.us by e- mail. SHELTON- MASON COUNTY JOURNAL f Thursday, July 19, 2007 121st Year m Number 29 5 Sections m 44 Pages Published in Shelton, Washington 75 cents 00elfair woman'S00o00 00,00:body found with speclal needs students hangingwa ,.e 00oo- m m00r00hmaonro00athw Sh o "She had a passion for working leagues for making lasting connec- investigation by the coroner and graduated from Central Wash- with those kids in need and she tions with special-needs children ased the cause of death for a ed teacher from Belfair who found dead hanging from a on Monday with her feet still lc_hing the ground. ason County Coroner Wes kWell said an autopsy per- dc Tuesday afternoon on -f t dy of Patti Rothenberg, 55, , d that Rothenberg died from bral anoxia as a result of ging .fficials say Rothenberg's body found near her residence in Ridge Heights by a family sheriffs office. DEAN BYRD, chief deputy of operations for the Mason County Sheriffs Office, says investigators are "systematically interviewing people in hopes of establishing the manner of death." Rothenberg was reported miss- ing on Sunday, July 15, and post- ers were distributed throughout the North Mason area in an effort to locate her. Rothenberg grew up in Bremer- ington University and began her teaching career in Kennewick. Rothenberg was a longtime special-education teacher for the North Mason School District and also taught regular course work there. She began her teaching ca- reer at North Mason High School in 1980 and retired from Hawkins Middle School in 2002. Following her retirement from the school district, Rothenberg went to work at Kitsap Mental Health Services' Madrona House, again working was really good at it," said her son, Jeff. "She was great with kids and adults with special needs." ROTHENBERG'S DEATH had a devastating impact on her former colleagues at the North Mason School District, who de- scribed her as extremely friendly and cheerful with a great sense of humor. Rothenberg was a popular teacher and had a flair for style when it came to art, decor and and other classroom teachers. In addition to her work, family members say Rothenberg was an avid gardener, enjoyed traveling, was a great interior designer, en- joyed crafts and loved being near the water. A memorial service for her will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, at the Belfair Community Bap- tist Church. Arrangements are under the di- rection of McComb Funeral Home in Shelton. ........... PROUD FATHER Clyde Rau of Shelton pins the nevk insignia to the lapel of his son, Lieutenant Colonel Matt Rau, during a Marine promo- i tion ceremony July 2 on the East Coast. 0000ur00nes promote Shelton |tad to lieutenant colonel .Iatt Rau, a 1982 graduate of !lton High School, was pro- .d to lieutenant colonel by the ride Corps at a ceremony in rth Carolina on July 2. u, son of Clyde Rau of Shel- arid the late Sonja Rau, was Oted by Major General Den- ejlik, commander ofU.S. Ma- eor s es . p Forc , Specml Opera- COmmand, at Camp Lejeune Jacksonville. Highlights of his r/de career in intelligence have [led deployments to Bosnia- Herzegovina, Afghanistan and attended the Intelligence Offi- Iraq. cers Course at Navy Marine In- Rau attended Officer Candi- .telligence Training Center. Upon date School after graduating from graduating there with distinction, the University of Oregon in 1991 he served as the ground intel- and was commissioned as a Ma- ligence officer in the Air Combat rine second lieutenant in August Intelligence Branch of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing G-2. Upon comple- of that year. With his latest pro- motion, he received a transfer and tion of the Weapons Tactics In- will be working out of Washington, structors Course at Marine Corps D.C., for the next three years. Air Station Yuma, he joined Ma- rine Aircraft Group 16 at the Ma- AFTER COMPLETING the rine air station at Tustin, Califor- basic officer school in 1991, Rau (Please turn to page 3.) 00ire starts in Shelton Valley and blackens 25 acres re that started in a mowed some firefighters were on the though the fire threatened hves and Clallam counties last that the cause of the fire involved are a main feeder serving sever- ,Sda evening, the machine cutting the hay," al counties. PUD 3 worked with 'rews were dispatched to the Salzer said. Bonneville Power to handle the around 3 p.m. Thursday and Wind-driven, the fire spread situation. and eventually split, a portion Joel Myer, PUD 3 spokesman, heading north under the power- said the fire threatened the four IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlUlIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII[IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlll lines, parallel to Highway 101, BPA transmission lines, offi- pJ00n th--e inside and a portion heading east, to- cials, worried that smoke from ward West Deegan Road and the the blaze could cause the lines highway. There are homes on to begin arcing, decided to shut "  iths ........................ ...... 18 Deegan Road. down two of the four lines at 5 I lsifleds ....... . ['i. , ................ 32 Salzer said some residents P'm'Thursday'whileflrefighting unity Calendar ....... 17 evacuated their homes, removing efforts were going on. The lines SWord ........................... 37 animals from thei r properties in were switched back on by 7:30 the process, that evening. ttainment, Dining ..... 30 When Salzer left the scene at There were between 60 and alth Journal ................. 18 8 p.m. Thursday, the north-burn- 80 flrefighters from a number of oura t al of Record ........... ;. 25 ing fire was under control. Crews departments, including fire dis- rQitaries .... ................. 140 were on the scene of the east- tricts4,6, 11, 13, 16, SheltonFire biaions, Letters ................. heading fire all night. Department, Thurston County l t8 ................................... 21 Salzer said that while the fire Fire District 13 (Griffin) and the ][s ............................... 27 was headed toward West Deegan Washington State Department of iather ........................... 12 Road, it never crossed it. And of Natural Resources. Some crews Illlllll,llll,l,llll;liiHlllll,miHlll,liHl,,i,ill,i the homes and people there, he worked all weekend, making sure said, "To my understanding, they hot spots didn't flare up. l[Jl!l! [!]!![ll!I!!I!I!IuII were never endangered." Also, a helicopter from the Salzer notes that there were DNR attacked the fire with a no injuries reported and no re- large bucketofwaterdrawnfrom 2 port of structural damage even Lake Isabella. FAA official warns port about drags By JEFF GREEN The future of drag racing at Sanderson Field may be in jeop- ardy despite two successful week- ends of racing there earlier this month. In a letter dated July 10 to Bob Robinson, managing direc- tor of the Port of Shelton, an of- ficial with the Federal Aviation Administration warned the port may risk losing the federal agen- cy's future approval for the non- aviation activity and put grant funding for the local airport in question. "We would caution you from entering into any arrangement that would give the community an expectation that racing events can always take place on the air- port," Jeffrey W. Winter, a civil engineer with the FAA's Wash- ington Section, wrote in an e-mail message to Robinson on June 11, which was reiterated in Winter's July 10 letter. "We have allowed interim uses of closed runways for non-avia- tion uses, including drag racing, provided we can review and ap- prove the proposed arrangement," Winter's letter read. THE RACING should go in the direction away from the airport's operational area, the federal offi- cial wrote, adding that the area adjacent to the operational area should be fenced to keep vehicles and people out, and the fencing should be outside the object-free area for the airport taxiway. Winter wrote that Robinson had not responded to his June 11 e-mail. He phoned Robinson after hearing on Friday, July 6, that racing was scheduled for that weekend and the next. "You said the racing would be heading toward the runway area, though we had asked that it go the other way. According to re- ports we heard about the event last weekend (July 7 and 8), one car went through some hay bales, which were put just before the parallel taxiway," Winter wrote. "Apparently they (race spon- sors) had removed the perimeter fencing, which crossed the closed runway, but no other fencing or barriers were used except these hay bales. More is needed to keep the race cars and unauthorized persons from getting into the air- craft operational areas." IT IS APPARENT from news- paper coverage and the turnout that the community may easily develop an expectation that rac- ing on airport property will con- tinue, Winter noted. "It is important to establish the operating rules that protect the aircraft oPerational areas during an event, rather than giving the operators the impression they can do what they want to do or that the public expects the event to look a certain way, which may be unsafe for the airport," Winter wrote. "It is also important that the airport receive appropriate revenue for the use of the ground. "Unless you can show us an op- erational plan for these events in advance that we can accept, you are risking losing our approval for these non-aviation activities. This could lead to non-compli- ance with the grant and surplus property obligations and thus put future grant funding in question for projects you wish to do," Win- ter wrote. Winter's concerns were set off by an e-mail that Robinson sent him on June 5 about drag racing at the airport. "WE HAVE BEEN under some local pressure to facilitate, to a greater extent, drag racing activ- ity on the inactive runway here at Sanderson Field," Robinson wrote. "To date, our commissioners have resisted this pressure as it relates to structural modifications to the runway and to granting a long- term lease for the purpose of drag racing. They currently advocate, somewhat hesitantly, dealing with (the) issue on an occasional event basis. "We are very aware of our pri- mary mission, aviation, and of the deed restrictions that exist," Rob- inson wrote. As the port's managing direc- tor, he wrote he needed some con- (Please turn to page 2.) Park conunents sought Local residents are invited to express their preferences for the design and uses of the county's new park on Oakland Bay at a workshop next week. The Mason County Parks and Trails Department and the Capi- tol Land Trust will conduct the public workshop starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, at Memo- rial Hall in Shelton, Second and Franklin streets. Officials hope the public will provide the county and land trust with information regarding the future planning and usage of Oak- land Bay Historical County Park. The Capitol Land Trust and the county partnered to purchase the 80-acre park in 2005. The county has retained the services of Rob- ert Droll, Landscape Architect to prepare a master site plan for the park. Oakland Bay Historical Park is accessed from Agate Road. It is primarily undeveloped with the exception of a former homestead with a house built in the early 1900s. The park provides won- derful views of Oakland Bay, and Melaney Creek meanders through the property. Anyone with questions about the Oakland Bay Park public workshop may contact John Ke- ates at Mason County Parks, 42%9670, Extension 669, or at: johnk@co.muon.wa.us by e- mail.