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00ournal of Opinion:
Acting lessons
Who cares if' apathy reigns in this community?
Everyone should, because otherwise local problems go
unsolved. Year after year.
This subject surfaced at a party a few weeks ago at which one
of Shelton's nonelected leaders approached us and said we had a
lot of good ideas for the community in our editorials but no one
was acting on them. He was dismayed that many knotty problems
fester here and aren't being resolved.
He implied that locals, having read the editorials, should
want to take the next step and act socially or politically.
That'sa nice sentiment but 180 degrees from reality. First,
though 20,000 read The Journal, a small portion read
the editorials. Second, to act, a reader has to believe the
editorialist is sane. Third, even ifa reader does not want us
committed, he needs the will to get involved if any action
is to be taken. So few read, fewer agree and even fewer
act. Hardly a formula for the newspaper to be a leader for
change in the community.
When a reader writes to complain that the editor is completely
out of step with his community, she couldn't be more correct. He
keeps telling people what they don't want to hear.
We happen to believe that Mason County is small enough
to make changes, unspoiled enough to save. (Would you
rather address infrastructure deficiencies, health care,
education, crime, water pollution and homelessness here or
in King County?) But we have found, in about four decades
here, that many people are misinformed, disinterested in
civic affairs and ignorant, which is lacking knowledge,
not being stupid.
We explained that to the man at the party, and he agreed
Mason County has an apathy problem but said the citizens could
be brought around if the issues could be boiled down to fit on a
T-shirt or bumper sticker, tte was serious, but he put his finger
on the problem: America's attention span is no longer even the
length of a half-hour sitcom. Without an informed populace, the
community is doomed to muddle along, make the same mistakes,
constantly complain and exacerbate problems.
It's real easy to say it's educators' fault or liberals' fault
or conservatives' fault. That way, one doesn't have to roll
up one's sleeves. It's not they, they, they. Miss Piggy said it
well: "Moi?" We're sad that history, civics and economics
get such short shrift in education and that the arts and
P.E. are cut in the wake of the Washington Assessment
of Student Learning and No Child Left Behind. However,
educators get their direction, and raw material, from the
citizens. They are supposed to teach morals to immoral
children, to make children learn who don't want to learn?
It is their fault when children, given the exact same foods
in two packages in a study, say the food in McDonald's
wrappers tastes better?
One essayist wonders aloud if America hasn't become "the can't-
do nation," a superpower unable to tie its own shoelaces. How
ironic it was to demolish a classic gymnasium here - a symbol
of "the can-do nation" that built it t the end of the Depression
- and replace it with portable classrooms symbolic of"the can't-do
nation" unable to maintain a structure, unable to plan facilities,
unable to appreciate its heritage.
We'll be optimistic instead of cynical here and opine
that Mason County can work its way out of its problems.
But it's not going to happen with today's attitudes.
It won't happen without leadership instead of caretaking.
It won't happen if special interests run things instead of
unselfish people working for the common good.
It won't happen without universal vohmteerism instead of a
fourth of the people carrying the load.
It won't happen with challengers in elections flaying
incumbents without workable plans of their own.
It won't happen with citizens in denial of everything from
pollution of the environment t) children abusing substances.
It won't happen with people sitting on opposite ends
of a spectrum and screaming at each other or, going one
better, people in one party screaming at each other.
It won't happen with 32 percent turnout in a city election or
two-thirds of electoral posts drawing one candidate.
It won't happen if the poor little community is waiting
for Bill Gates to give it something.
It won't happen ifpeople are existing rather than living, playing
rather than participating in the public discourse.
It won't happen with 35 percent dropout rates.
It won't happen if parents let someone else or a popular culture
raise their children.
It won't happen if citizens say they can't afford civic
improvements when they can.
It won't happen if uninformed citizens elect people they don't
know and change their minds five minutes later.
It won't happen unless folks believe they can achieve a
dream of a better community and work toward it.
-CG
iiiiiUillU1}iUiIiiIlUUiiUHi
oo..,, ournal
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason
County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584.
Published weekly by Shelton Publishing 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
Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $31.00 per year in-county address,
$45.00 per year in state of Washington $55.00 per year out of state
Charles Gay, editor and publisher. Newsroom: Sean Hanlon, managing editor; Steve Patch,
sports editor; Jeff Green, general assignment, city government, schools, Port of Shelton; Rebecca
Wells, society editor, county government; Mary Duncan, police, courts. Advertising: Stephen
Gay, advertising manager; Dave Pierik and Harvey Morris, ad sales. Front office: Julie Orme,
business manager; Kathy Lester, circulation; Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper; Cricket Carter, mailroom
supervisor. Composing room: Diane Riordan, supervisor; Margot Brand, Jan Kallinen, pagination;
Frank Isaac, pagination, photo technician; Koleen Wood, typesetter, computer system manager;
William Adams, ad builder, computer system manager; Clinton Kendall, proofreader. Pressroom: Nick
Carr, pressman; Jon Hughes, pressman's assistant.
IIIIIII IIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIII IIIIIIIIIIIIlUlIIIIIIIlU U U lUlII Ill I Ill lUll IIIlU U llUlUlIIlUllUlU U lIIIlUlIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIlUlIIII
Page 4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, August 23, 2007
l00eaders" 00ournal:
Start beefing up our borders00
Editor, The Journal:
I read with some concern the
headline in the August 16 Journal
about the "Two dozen brush pick-
ers arrested." Then I reread it, and
yes it was true that Dean Byrd of
the Mason County Sheriff's Office
was quoted as saying, "The sher-
iffs office does not actively enforce
immigration laws."
My question then is: Who does
actively enforce immigration laws
here? Have I stumbled onto the
root cause of our problem of being
overrun by all the undocumented
aliens that we seem to have in our
area?
If I had some land being in-
vaded by uninvited brush pickers,
I would certainly call the sheriffs
office to report the offense. They
seem to have an efficient orga-
nization that can be relied upon
to apprehend the perpetrators of
criminal activity in our county.
Why is it that they don't take an
active role against undocumented
aliens? Is it because they would
spend all their time doing this and
not in going after our homebred
criminal element?
I would imagine that it is very
expensive for them to chase down
our local criminals and prosecute
them. But I'll bet it is even more
expensive to apprehend and pros-
ecute aliens such as these when
our usually efficient District Court
Judge Victoria Meadows has to
take the time out of her busy
schedule to get a larger courtroom
to hold the many perpetrators in
this case and to bring in the costly
Mam interpreter so she can have
verbal exchange with them and be
able to explain to them their rights
and to charge them.
Then more taxpayer money has
to be spent to provide the perpe-
trators with defense attorneys
who also have to use the Mam in-
terpreter to communicate with the
perpetrators. It seems to
it might have been more el
to put a stronger deterrent
our borders to keep the alie
But I also think that we:
welcome them to come to h
harvest our forest productS i
were here legally and went!
it legally. [
Apparently our elect
makers are bowing to t
mands of the special-iJ
groups rather than legisla'
stronger deterrent at our b
I imagine that we will see.!
increase to help provide the
vices to the many undocu
aliens that seem to get
think we should expect our]
ed lawmakers to serve the
that elected them, rather
the special-interest grou.pS
get on with beefing up our
against this onslaught.
Gordy
Mountai t
Applause for Northcliff work00
Editor, The Journal:
We live on a private road that
runs up a steep hill off Northcliff
Road. Like many of our neighbors
and fellow Sheltonians, we had
concerns as the time for the long-
awaited construction project on
Northcliff Road approached. I am
happy to report that none of the
things we worried about have come
to pass, and I want to give credit to
the folks from the city and the con-
tractor for their fine efforts in the
area of public relations.
Well before things kicked off,
when I called with questions, my
calls were followed up and the re-
quested inibrmation was provided.
As the actual work started and the
road was closed to through traffic,
I was impressed to have the day-
glo resident pass delivered to my
door by the city project engineer.
When I complained about the way
my driveway was repaved after
trenching, again he came to my
door in person, and soon the drive-
way was repaved as I requested.
For sure, there have b$
lays and frustrations for
of us who live along Nort]
but everybody involved il
project has worked very l
minimize them and to h
dea' with our frustrationS'r
cial credit and kudos go
flaggers who have dealtT
hand with motorists whO,
sure, have not always bee
to handle.
Toby
Editor, The Journal."
How can anyone read the won-
derful, nostalgic letter by Norma
A. Vincent (August 2, "Decency
destroyed") and see only the para-
graphs truthfully describing many
of today's students and liberals?
Being at the end of the life cycle,
my K-12 memories are very close
to Ms. Vincent's. Now, too many
of the teachers are aging hippies
of the '60s and '70s who became
teachers because that was the only
while things always change, it
is not always for the better. I don't
think the way schools are run to-
day could be called "conservative."
"Liberal" seems very appropriate,
and if you can't see the complete
breakdown of traditional stan-
dards and morals, you have to be
blind. Public education is a disas-
ter, and I blame liberal thinking.
If there is another reason, I am
open to suggestions.
And please, would liberals quit
defining the term for others. Mr.
son has seeped into lives,
rypicked the many definitia
make himself feel intell
superior. I have read this
edly in your paper.
If one believes liberab
"generous and unselfish,
how this is applied by Deva0
politicians. Schools have
harmed enough by liber
is time to say, No more 0t
experimentation on our cll
kids."
John S
Trait
thing they could qualify for. Rhodes, in last week's letter, "Poi-
Hupp has integrity and abilitl
s uitS:
Admin:::r ati l
Editor, The Journal:
In the upcoming election for
Port of Shelton commissioner, I
will be casting my ballot for a man
whose character is best described
by the word "integrity." Beyond
that, he has a proven economic de-
velopment ability and a long his-
tory of assisting business growth
at the port.
With his past career in naval
aviation and local involvement
with the Mason County Planning
Commission, he has a balanced
perspective on issues involving
aviation development at Sander-
son Field. He has a vital concern
for the Johns Prairie Industrial
Area and will continue in his
many years of work to provide
water for future development
there.
As a drag racing enthusiast, he
has encouraged regularly sched-
uled events and has
relocation to a more
because of noise levels
eral Aviation
cerns.
For all of the above reasO
more, I encourage all voters
Shelton Port District to. joi
the opportunity to elect JaY
as commissioner• Bob
Editor, The Journal."
I wish it was the law to paw-
print puppies and kittens at
birth.
That's ridiculous, you say?
Well, another dog has been
dropped off on my street. A nice
little female, good with kids and
other animals. Neighbors are feed-
ing her, but can't keep!
If we had a computerized reg-
It's been raining cats and
istry paid for by licensing
nations, maybe we could
low-life culprits that do
act.
Lake
1
Schools harmed by liberals
00ournal of Opinion:
Acting lessons
Who cares if' apathy reigns in this community?
Everyone should, because otherwise local problems go
unsolved. Year after year.
This subject surfaced at a party a few weeks ago at which one
of Shelton's nonelected leaders approached us and said we had a
lot of good ideas for the community in our editorials but no one
was acting on them. He was dismayed that many knotty problems
fester here and aren't being resolved.
He implied that locals, having read the editorials, should
want to take the next step and act socially or politically.
That'sa nice sentiment but 180 degrees from reality. First,
though 20,000 read The Journal, a small portion read
the editorials. Second, to act, a reader has to believe the
editorialist is sane. Third, even ifa reader does not want us
committed, he needs the will to get involved if any action
is to be taken. So few read, fewer agree and even fewer
act. Hardly a formula for the newspaper to be a leader for
change in the community.
When a reader writes to complain that the editor is completely
out of step with his community, she couldn't be more correct. He
keeps telling people what they don't want to hear.
We happen to believe that Mason County is small enough
to make changes, unspoiled enough to save. (Would you
rather address infrastructure deficiencies, health care,
education, crime, water pollution and homelessness here or
in King County?) But we have found, in about four decades
here, that many people are misinformed, disinterested in
civic affairs and ignorant, which is lacking knowledge,
not being stupid.
We explained that to the man at the party, and he agreed
Mason County has an apathy problem but said the citizens could
be brought around if the issues could be boiled down to fit on a
T-shirt or bumper sticker, tte was serious, but he put his finger
on the problem: America's attention span is no longer even the
length of a half-hour sitcom. Without an informed populace, the
community is doomed to muddle along, make the same mistakes,
constantly complain and exacerbate problems.
It's real easy to say it's educators' fault or liberals' fault
or conservatives' fault. That way, one doesn't have to roll
up one's sleeves. It's not they, they, they. Miss Piggy said it
well: "Moi?" We're sad that history, civics and economics
get such short shrift in education and that the arts and
P.E. are cut in the wake of the Washington Assessment
of Student Learning and No Child Left Behind. However,
educators get their direction, and raw material, from the
citizens. They are supposed to teach morals to immoral
children, to make children learn who don't want to learn?
It is their fault when children, given the exact same foods
in two packages in a study, say the food in McDonald's
wrappers tastes better?
One essayist wonders aloud if America hasn't become "the can't-
do nation," a superpower unable to tie its own shoelaces. How
ironic it was to demolish a classic gymnasium here - a symbol
of "the can-do nation" that built it t the end of the Depression
- and replace it with portable classrooms symbolic of"the can't-do
nation" unable to maintain a structure, unable to plan facilities,
unable to appreciate its heritage.
We'll be optimistic instead of cynical here and opine
that Mason County can work its way out of its problems.
But it's not going to happen with today's attitudes.
It won't happen without leadership instead of caretaking.
It won't happen if special interests run things instead of
unselfish people working for the common good.
It won't happen without universal vohmteerism instead of a
fourth of the people carrying the load.
It won't happen with challengers in elections flaying
incumbents without workable plans of their own.
It won't happen with citizens in denial of everything from
pollution of the environment t) children abusing substances.
It won't happen with people sitting on opposite ends
of a spectrum and screaming at each other or, going one
better, people in one party screaming at each other.
It won't happen with 32 percent turnout in a city election or
two-thirds of electoral posts drawing one candidate.
It won't happen if the poor little community is waiting
for Bill Gates to give it something.
It won't happen ifpeople are existing rather than living, playing
rather than participating in the public discourse.
It won't happen with 35 percent dropout rates.
It won't happen if parents let someone else or a popular culture
raise their children.
It won't happen if citizens say they can't afford civic
improvements when they can.
It won't happen if uninformed citizens elect people they don't
know and change their minds five minutes later.
It won't happen unless folks believe they can achieve a
dream of a better community and work toward it.
-CG
iiiiiUillU1}iUiIiiIlUUiiUHi
oo..,, ournal
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason
County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584.
Published weekly by Shelton Publishing 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
Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $31.00 per year in-county address,
$45.00 per year in state of Washington $55.00 per year out of state
Charles Gay, editor and publisher. Newsroom: Sean Hanlon, managing editor; Steve Patch,
sports editor; Jeff Green, general assignment, city government, schools, Port of Shelton; Rebecca
Wells, society editor, county government; Mary Duncan, police, courts. Advertising: Stephen
Gay, advertising manager; Dave Pierik and Harvey Morris, ad sales. Front office: Julie Orme,
business manager; Kathy Lester, circulation; Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper; Cricket Carter, mailroom
supervisor. Composing room: Diane Riordan, supervisor; Margot Brand, Jan Kallinen, pagination;
Frank Isaac, pagination, photo technician; Koleen Wood, typesetter, computer system manager;
William Adams, ad builder, computer system manager; Clinton Kendall, proofreader. Pressroom: Nick
Carr, pressman; Jon Hughes, pressman's assistant.
IIIIIII IIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIII IIIIIIIIIIIIlUlIIIIIIIlU U U lUlII Ill I Ill lUll IIIlU U llUlUlIIlUllUlU U lIIIlUlIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIlUlIIII
Page 4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, August 23, 2007
l00eaders" 00ournal:
Start beefing up our borders00
Editor, The Journal:
I read with some concern the
headline in the August 16 Journal
about the "Two dozen brush pick-
ers arrested." Then I reread it, and
yes it was true that Dean Byrd of
the Mason County Sheriff's Office
was quoted as saying, "The sher-
iffs office does not actively enforce
immigration laws."
My question then is: Who does
actively enforce immigration laws
here? Have I stumbled onto the
root cause of our problem of being
overrun by all the undocumented
aliens that we seem to have in our
area?
If I had some land being in-
vaded by uninvited brush pickers,
I would certainly call the sheriffs
office to report the offense. They
seem to have an efficient orga-
nization that can be relied upon
to apprehend the perpetrators of
criminal activity in our county.
Why is it that they don't take an
active role against undocumented
aliens? Is it because they would
spend all their time doing this and
not in going after our homebred
criminal element?
I would imagine that it is very
expensive for them to chase down
our local criminals and prosecute
them. But I'll bet it is even more
expensive to apprehend and pros-
ecute aliens such as these when
our usually efficient District Court
Judge Victoria Meadows has to
take the time out of her busy
schedule to get a larger courtroom
to hold the many perpetrators in
this case and to bring in the costly
Mam interpreter so she can have
verbal exchange with them and be
able to explain to them their rights
and to charge them.
Then more taxpayer money has
to be spent to provide the perpe-
trators with defense attorneys
who also have to use the Mam in-
terpreter to communicate with the
perpetrators. It seems to
it might have been more el
to put a stronger deterrent
our borders to keep the alie
But I also think that we:
welcome them to come to h
harvest our forest productS i
were here legally and went!
it legally. [
Apparently our elect
makers are bowing to t
mands of the special-iJ
groups rather than legisla'
stronger deterrent at our b
I imagine that we will see.!
increase to help provide the
vices to the many undocu
aliens that seem to get
think we should expect our]
ed lawmakers to serve the
that elected them, rather
the special-interest grou.pS
get on with beefing up our
against this onslaught.
Gordy
Mountai t
Applause for Northcliff work00
Editor, The Journal:
We live on a private road that
runs up a steep hill off Northcliff
Road. Like many of our neighbors
and fellow Sheltonians, we had
concerns as the time for the long-
awaited construction project on
Northcliff Road approached. I am
happy to report that none of the
things we worried about have come
to pass, and I want to give credit to
the folks from the city and the con-
tractor for their fine efforts in the
area of public relations.
Well before things kicked off,
when I called with questions, my
calls were followed up and the re-
quested inibrmation was provided.
As the actual work started and the
road was closed to through traffic,
I was impressed to have the day-
glo resident pass delivered to my
door by the city project engineer.
When I complained about the way
my driveway was repaved after
trenching, again he came to my
door in person, and soon the drive-
way was repaved as I requested.
For sure, there have b$
lays and frustrations for
of us who live along Nort]
but everybody involved il
project has worked very l
minimize them and to h
dea' with our frustrationS'r
cial credit and kudos go
flaggers who have dealtT
hand with motorists whO,
sure, have not always bee
to handle.
Toby
Editor, The Journal."
How can anyone read the won-
derful, nostalgic letter by Norma
A. Vincent (August 2, "Decency
destroyed") and see only the para-
graphs truthfully describing many
of today's students and liberals?
Being at the end of the life cycle,
my K-12 memories are very close
to Ms. Vincent's. Now, too many
of the teachers are aging hippies
of the '60s and '70s who became
teachers because that was the only
while things always change, it
is not always for the better. I don't
think the way schools are run to-
day could be called "conservative."
"Liberal" seems very appropriate,
and if you can't see the complete
breakdown of traditional stan-
dards and morals, you have to be
blind. Public education is a disas-
ter, and I blame liberal thinking.
If there is another reason, I am
open to suggestions.
And please, would liberals quit
defining the term for others. Mr.
son has seeped into lives,
rypicked the many definitia
make himself feel intell
superior. I have read this
edly in your paper.
If one believes liberab
"generous and unselfish,
how this is applied by Deva0
politicians. Schools have
harmed enough by liber
is time to say, No more 0t
experimentation on our cll
kids."
John S
Trait
thing they could qualify for. Rhodes, in last week's letter, "Poi-
Hupp has integrity and abilitl
s uitS:
Admin:::r ati l
Editor, The Journal:
In the upcoming election for
Port of Shelton commissioner, I
will be casting my ballot for a man
whose character is best described
by the word "integrity." Beyond
that, he has a proven economic de-
velopment ability and a long his-
tory of assisting business growth
at the port.
With his past career in naval
aviation and local involvement
with the Mason County Planning
Commission, he has a balanced
perspective on issues involving
aviation development at Sander-
son Field. He has a vital concern
for the Johns Prairie Industrial
Area and will continue in his
many years of work to provide
water for future development
there.
As a drag racing enthusiast, he
has encouraged regularly sched-
uled events and has
relocation to a more
because of noise levels
eral Aviation
cerns.
For all of the above reasO
more, I encourage all voters
Shelton Port District to. joi
the opportunity to elect JaY
as commissioner• Bob
Editor, The Journal."
I wish it was the law to paw-
print puppies and kittens at
birth.
That's ridiculous, you say?
Well, another dog has been
dropped off on my street. A nice
little female, good with kids and
other animals. Neighbors are feed-
ing her, but can't keep!
If we had a computerized reg-
It's been raining cats and
istry paid for by licensing
nations, maybe we could
low-life culprits that do
act.
Lake
1
Schools harmed by liberals