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Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
September 2, 1999     Shelton Mason County Journal
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Belfair youth continues Dicks, Sheldon visit area battle with leukemia (Continued from page l.) rest oftheworldhowtobring there, highway extensiontheme, Dicks ByLINDA THOMSON ge::e'year'old Christopher Sar- eve L .m°m' Cathy, has done s,,:f.a)ng she can to make her .v, ,xe normal. That hasn't al- ays been easy for her, because • ,r 0hi • - . Sea._ Y child has leukemla. so::':a,from_ume sl her husband for Whose . .he is a single morn s0n Ch°n y job is caring for her ,.' ,,s and Cathy live in Bel- lalr. ts Was 71/2 when he was He'd had asthma and he had always SOmewhat easily. Other- as a pretty healthy lit- ealthy, that is, until t7. 'had made plans to go to a [ game, then to Twanoh ark that Saturday. But roe up with a 104-degree ne doctor thought it was .and advised Cathy to back Monday if he i ¢ett, MOST ASSUREDLY was m muc. wor. ii ''-iaoration.ble. He of his condition i hadn't shaken the d now he had pneumo- hi'fi s Physician gave him anti- kll . e h°ta, took X-rays, and for Ir: son even he can't ex- Itl ti_' an SOme blood tests, in- iIU 'One for leukemia. I]  .Y Was called into another IPl tt,_ .Where the doctor said "We ] ht.he has leukemia," and' ave %ll£hil;ectins to Mary Bgge to*[| Where e s Hospital in Tacoma, '- I eat had set up an appoint- drove them to Taco- ridge was a mad exclaimed. It hundreds of nurses her little boy, stick- him, and taking blood. traumatic," she con- nally a doctor listened ament about the refer- suspicion that he leukemia. "He does said the doctor is a scary word that of the blood. Cathy much about it then, began that very ad never cared to know I had no reason to earning about Lid. FOR A little over two has gotten quite an CATHY SARGENT is proud of her son Christopher, 9, who is living with leukemia and awaiting a bone mar- row transplant. him in school at Belfair Elemen- tary as much as he has been able to be there. He missed the end of his first-grade year, about half of second grade, and a little less than half of third grade. His teacher, Dr. Gall Davis, has of- fered to tutor Chris when he is unable to be in school. "HE LOVES SCHOOL," said Chris's morn. "He's got an awe- some brain!" He likes computers, too, and his favorite games are Deer Hunter and Virtual Pool. The young patient's leukemia went into remission, but in July of this year, it relapsed. One of the unusual side effects of his chemo that proved exhausting to mother and son were the drying out of his eyes, necessitating eye drops being administered every three hours, around the clock to prevent pain. Thankfully, that pe- riod came to an end, and they did their best to catch up on sleep! Chemo is a combination of drugs, worked out by a physician for a specific patient. It is a pow- erful arsenal aimed at a destruc- tive disease, but it also takes out some of the healthy cells during this process. The side effects are many, and they are unpleasant. Sometimes there need to be ad- justments. Cathy spoke of one family in Greece! Thanks to the generosity of a church and his grandparents, Chris and Cathy both had the op- portunity to visit Anastosios and to work in his family's olive orchard there. "The boys could go out until 10 or 11 at night, and they were completely safe," Cathy shared. They had a great time in Greece, but Chris lost five pounds while they were there. There have been other special trips and events. Chris and both his parents enjoyed the Make-a- Wish trip to Disney World in Florida. The only thing he had asked of the Make-a-Wish Foun- dation was a magic eight ball, his morn indicated, "which just shows how unselfish he is." ONCE CHRIS relapsed, the medical people began talking about the need of a bone marrow transplant. Recently, Chris and both his morn and his dad Ron each gave a pint of blood for the complex testing to see if either parent may be a compatible donor. There was some delay in running the tests until Chris .was again in remission, and strong enough to give up that much blood. "Friends of Chris" is the name of a bank account that has been set up to collect money to buy have to make sure that kids are treated stringently if they are caught with guns." "Our local school personnel need to keep their eyes wide open," Dicks said. He also be- lieves students are duty-bound to turn in information about fellow youth who have made threaten- ing statements. "We also need to be aware of any quasi-gang ele- ment that may exist in our schools," he concluded. ANOTHER NATIONAL topic of interest was the federal budget surplus. "There was a $300 billion deficit in 1993 when President Clinton came in to office," Dicks said. "Thanks to some tough deci- sions, there is now a surplus." He said he wants to see $2 trillion stay in the Social Security fund, and that he's concerned about un- realistic budget caps. But more than anything, he stressed, "Instead of tax cuts, which don't seem to benefit mid- dle income people, we should re- duce the debt of the United States." Dicks said once that is paid off, there will be an addition- al savings of $285 billion in inter- est per year. "That money could be given to the military, schools, and for infrastructure," he said. "I am not against tax cuts," he was quick to add, having voted for those he found workable in the past. Representative Dicks is cur- rently working on a patients' bill of rights, which would allow pa- tients to go to any emergency room or specialist needed, and also would empower doctors to make the healthcare decisions for their patients. On the topic of health care, he also pledged to intervene on be- half of Belfair's Dr. Michael J. Butler. The Doctors Clinic CEO Linda Brown has made the deci- sion to close the Belfair clinic, moving Dr. Butler out of Mason County, which has been labelled "medically underserved," and placing him in the Port Orchard Doctors Clinic in October. Con- gressman Dicks expressed his concern for the health and safety of North Mason residents. DICKS IS PROUD of the work that has gone on locally to restore salmon runs. He specifi- cally praised the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group's ef- forts. "We're going to show the on this disease that af- child. Chris has acute leukemia (ALL). His around two small in her purse notes, including the written and illustrated that day Chris was He scribbled down all as he explained begins with one mutating, and how it , OVer-crowding the nor- cells. notes also outlined medicines he would expected side-ef- SUccess rates. As recent- Years earlier, leukemia a certain death however, thanks more powerful drugs, a pretty good chance of as done her best to normal, and to help different. That has 'ing her own head for a year, after type of steroid that "took his spir- it away." Chris languished in bed, didn't want to get up, and didn't even want to live. She recognized the timing of this effect in him as drug-in- duced, and saw to it that it was changed to something different. "And his spirits came back!" she reported. Her upbeat, happy little boy, who never feels sorry for himself, had returned to her. CATHY BELIEVES there is a purpose for everything that hap- pens. Along with the bad comes the good. Among the good things that have happened for Chris are the camps he has been able to at- tend. Last summer, Chris went to the American Cancer Society- sponsored Camp Good Times on Vashon Island. Later he and his morn attended Camp Agape for ill children and their families. It was there that they met a 15-year-old boy from Greece, in America visit- ing his aunt and uncle. Anasto- sios was at the camp because his Chris a laptop computer. This will enable him to keep up with schoolwork and communicate via e-mail during the year-long peri- od he will have to stay out of school following the transplant. That account is at Peninsula Community Federal Credit GMA workshops Union. Donations may be taken mailed to any branch of offered this month or PCFCU. In Chris's honor, a special op- portunity to donate blood and pick up information about possi- bly becoming a blood marrow donor has been scheduled by the Puget Sound Blood Center. That event will be held at Fir Lane Health and Rehabilitation in Shelton, at 2430 North 13th Street, on Tuesday, September 7, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 1:45 to 4 p.m. Chris Sargent is in need of folks in his community who are willing to give up a few dollars, a little blood, and maybe even some bone marrow. Good thoughts and prayers wouldn't hurt either. The Mason County Depart- ment of Community Development is sponsoring a series of public workshops around the county to present and discuss proposed changes to Mason County's com- prehensive plan and development regulations. A 7 p.m. workshop will be held on Thursday, September 9, at the Theler Community Center in Bel- fair . The next day, Friday, Septem- ber 10, a 4 p.m. workshop will be held at the Port of Allyn. For further information, con- hair to cancer treat- has also included keeping aunt was on staff there. Chris's friendship with the older youth garnered an invitation to visit his '/ .,, €oIIfuIod by auto HEAIC r insur.nce SOuth of the border ,and receive t ale folk)wing P" II 'mgs when you use your Visa card. :: t=ll2 )  rates, air-inclusive packages to Mexico per person on Palace Resort, Cancun  :-" -' ' Swe packages of 5 nights or longer. ,re Rates ...5 nights from $699 Coil us for CARIBBEAN a quote. At a SuperClubs Super-Inclusive Resort just about I I You II be. everything you can eat, drink and do included in did. one simple upfront price! Receive the following O you savings when you use your Visa card, '-'" ",l"lad • Up to $100 OFF bookings O n • Breezes Montego Bay... from $586 Gall For Hore Details! Mutual umclaw E-Mai1:vacation@telebyte.com I Call US toll-fie; Arnold & Smith WEBSITE: www.enquest.com/wa/wa8398 1 800 633 4848 LocalPresence, GlobalPower sM [ " " " InlurInce Agency, Inc. 3276 NW Plaza Road, Suite 112, Silverdale, WA 98383 __ Phone (360) 698-1411 Fax (360) 698-1428 426-3317 1535 Olymp,c Hnghway North, Shelton Owned and operated by S.E.E.K., Inc. salmon back," he said. Senator Sheldon and Represen- tative Dicks jointly addressed some topics. Both oppose Initia- tive 695. Sheldon said, "This ini- tiative is a reaction to peoples' frustration with the state's high motor vehicle excise tax, the next to the highest in the United States." Based on an unrealistic vehicle value, not fair market val- ue, the tax is unfair, Sheldon ac- knowledged. "If the legislature had been more flexible and sym- pathetic to the public, they would have reduced this a long time ago." Sheldon said that 1-695 would not be good for local government. The criminal justice programs would especially suffer, he stated. "The MVT should be reduced, but saddling voters with every tax and fee increase is not the way to go." His example was that if the camping fee in state parks were proposed to be raised by $1, there would need to be a vote of the people to accomplish that. "Representatives of the people have been elected in our form of government to vote on such things," Sheldon stated. He said this initiative was written from the perspective that government is not working, and that the legis- lature needs to be overridden. "If you don't like your representa- tive, you can elect someone else," he advised. DICKS ADDRESSED the to- pic of 1-695 as well. "If 695 passes," he said, "it will hurt many areas of service, including transportation, public health and law enforcement." His example was if the fee to put a boat into the water were increased, that could not happen apart from a vote of the people. "It's ridicu- lous!" he said emphatically. Both elected officials addressed the Tacoma Narrows Bridge is- sue. Sheldon did not expect pend- ing law suits to be successful in this case. "The project will contin- ue," he prophesied. He regretted the veto of Governor Locke taking money out of the state budget for the approaches to the bridge, and is hopeful that the legislature will restore funds for those as the bridge project nears completion. Dicks also sees the bridge as essential to serving people in this area, and is concerned about the lengthy traffic jams that occur whenever there is an accident tact the Mason County Depart- ment of Community Development at 275-4467, ext. 282. Dewatto Road to be temporarily closed Dewatto Road will be closed be- ginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, September 7, through 5 p.m. on Friday, September 10. The cul- vert at mile post 2.2, Cady Lake Creek crossing, will be replaced in conjunction with a statewide program for salmon enhance- ment. This will open up hundreds of acres of prime habitat for fu- ture spawning beds, according to Sharon Vaughan of the engineer- ing department for Mason Coun- ty. "The ferry runs are really ma-. rine highways," Sheldon stated. He included Rich Passage in his statement, and indicated the state should pay fair market val- ue for property there, where the Bremerton-Seattle boats run, and have been accused of doing water- front property damage. "THE POWERS OF eminent domain exist for the good of the people," he continued. He also in- dicated that the Washington State Department of Transporta- tion perhaps should have done an Environmental Impact Statement prior to running the fast foot ferry Chinook, the subject of the con- troversy. An EIS was not legally mandated, however. "This is a matter of public access," Sheldon said, "not merely private homes." Dicks stated that the slowdown in the foot ferries to Seattle needs some kind of federal/state resolu- tion. "Foot ferries are very im- portant," he agreed. "We can find a way to design these things to make them work," he said. He suggested the Army Corps of En- gineers could run tests on the designs, and that this must be a team effort. He mentioned an engineer he believes could help resolve the is- sue, given the cooperation (and patience) of all parties to the cur- rent dispute. He thinks ferry boats should not be subjected to the state Environmental Policy Act. Otherwise, "will new air- planes need an environmental im- pact statement every time one is built?" he asked. "This bottleneck," said Shel- don, "is throwing things off." He reported that funding for six new passenger ferries has already been approved. CONTINUING WITH the shared that Kitsap Transit is planning to take its buses onto the ferry boat and drive into Seat- tle, simplifying travel for pas- sengers. Sheldon spoke of the Belfair Bypass project which is of special interest here. tie said that $594,000 has been included in the transportation budget for prelimi- nary engineering work on that proposed road on the plateau above and parallel to Highway 3. This will be the first step in a much larger project. Sheldon cited the dramatic changes that have occurred in Belfair in the past few years, and that the four-way traffic light coming to Highway 3 with the Belfair Safeway project will help control traffic. IIII II I IIII II Jllsl ¢I note in say THANK YOU to the North Mason Kiwanis Jbr their.financial dotlatiovl to our outdoor play equipment from the Christ Lutheran Childcare Center. I I I Just a note to say THANK YOU to PLS Limo Service and Jerry & Katy Martin for their gracious donation to the staff of Christ Lutheran Childcare Center. CLEAN Septic Service Serving All of Mason County FREE SYSTEM EVALUATION WITH EACH PUMPING I • Tanks Pumped • Risers Installed • taflles/Pumps Repaired • Sewers Unclogged * Electronic Tank Locating *tlome Sales Inspection R3)orts A1 Droulliard, Owner-Operator O&M Certified (CMS) NE 1120 Old Belfalr Hwy. Belfair 360-275-4685 Belfair. WA 98528 1-8OO-939-O465 ...... Member gf bl,M. Chamber of Commerce • - II Star • NEW 00WNERsHOP00** B RV & Self Storage if, MOVE-IN SPECIAL! Jr, .........  Pay for 2 months, get 3rd month "We r_t rl00t__t_it'. Feature SIZES The Most -k On-Site Management RANGING Complete , Electronic Security Gate FROM Storage In "k 24-Hour Security Camera 5X;O TO Three IOX50 Countiesl" . Indoor/Outdoor RV & Boat Storage i -..  . Senior Citizens Discount- _.4,  Military Discounts Stop by and have coffee with Debbie and Lee at All .00tarl "We WIL____L meet your needs!" Office Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. * Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.rr (360) 275-8028 or Toll Free (888) 450-2222 E. 19720 State Route 106, Belfair Learn what it takes to become a Qualified Tax Professional. Attend our Open House. Did you know Americans spend more than $7.5 billion a year on tax preparation? This can mean opportunity for you, n Stop by and see how an H&R Block Income Tax Course ca teach you what you need to know to begin earning money as a tax preparer, Beffer yet, find out about career opporttnities with H&R Block. As the largest tax preparation firm i he country, we do employ many of our best ,dl graduates. I An H&R Block Open House can be the first step to a I rewarding career. So join us on September 2rid & 4th from i am to 5 pm at the H&R Block office at 2817 Wheaton Way, Suite 101, Bremerton, WA 98310, (360) 405-104g 7 look forward to meeting you! i We i Someone YOU Con Count On Completion of the course is neither an offer nor a Thursday, September 2, 1999 - Belfair Herald section o! Shelton-Mason County Journal - Page 3 Belfair youth continues Dicks, Sheldon visit area battle with leukemia (Continued from page l.) rest oftheworldhowtobring there, highway extensiontheme, Dicks BYLINDA THOMSON ge::e'year'old Christopher Sar- eve L .m°m' Cathy, has done s,,:f,a)ng she can to make her .v, ,re normal. That hasn't al- ays been easy for her, because • ,r 0hi • - . Sea._ Y child has leukemla. so::':a,from_ume sl her husband for Whose . .he is a single morn s0n Ch°n y job is caring for her ,.' ,,s and Cathy live in Bel- lalr. ts Was 71/2 when he was He'd had asthma and he had always SOmewhat easily. Other- as a pretty healthy lit- ealthy, that is, until t7. 'had made plans to go to a [ game, then to Twanoh ark that Saturday. But roe up with a 104-degree ne doctor thought it was .and advised Cathy to back Monday if he ¢ett,' MOST ASSUREDLY was m muc. worse ii ''-iaoration.ble. He of his condition i hadn't shaken the d now he had pneumo- hi'fi s Physician gave him anti- kll . e h°ta, took X-rays, and for Ir: son even he can't ex- II tiJ an SOme blood tests, in- m, 'One for leukemia. [  .Y Was called into another | th', .Where the doctor said "We | h';'.he has leukemia," and' ave %llhil;ectins to Mary BEige "[| Where e s Hospital in Tacoma, '- I] eat had set up an appoint- drove them to Taco- ridge was a mad exclaimed. It hundreds of nurses her little boy, stick- him, and taking blood. traumatic," she con- nally a doctor listened ament about the refer- suspicion that he leukemia. "He does said the doctor is a scary word that of the blood. Cathy much about it then, began that very ad never cared to know I had no reason to earning about ud. FOR A little over two has gotten quite an CATHY SARGENT is proud of her son Christopher, 9, who is living with leukemia and awaiting a bone mar- row transplant. him in school at Belfair Elemen- tary as much as he has been able to be there. He missed the end of his first-grade year, about half of second grade, and a little less than half of third grade. His teacher, Dr. Gall Davis, has of- fered to tutor Chris when he is unable to be in school. "HE LOVES SCHOOL," said Chris's morn. "He's got an awe- some brain!" He likes computers, too, and his favorite games are Deer Hunter and Virtual Pool. The young patient's leukemia went into remission, but in July of this year, it relapsed. One of the unusual side effects of his chemo that proved exhausting to mother and son were the drying out of his eyes, necessitating eye drops being administered every three hours, around the clock to prevent pain. Thankfully, that pe- riod came to an end, and they did their best to catch up on sleep! Chemo is a combination of drugs, worked out by a physician for a specific patient. It is a pow- erful arsenal aimed at a destruc- tive disease, but it also takes out some of the healthy cells during this process. The side effects are many, and they are unpleasant. Sometimes there need to be ad- justments. Cathy spoke of one family in Greece! Thanks to the generosity of a church and his grandparents, Chris and Cathy both had the op- portunity to visit Anastosios and to work in his family's olive orchard there. "The boys could go out until 10 or 11 at night, and they were completely safe," Cathy shared. They had a great time in Greece, but Chris lost five pounds while they were there. There have been other special trips and events. Chris and both his parents enjoyed the Make-a- Wish trip to Disney World in Florida. The only thing he had asked of the Make-a-Wish Foun- dation was a magic eight ball, his morn indicated, "which just shows how unselfish he is." ONCE CHRIS relapsed, the medical people began talking about the need of a bone marrow transplant. Recently, Chris and both his morn and his dad Ran each gave a pint of blood for the complex testing to see if either parent may be a compatible donor. There was some delay in running the tests until Chris.was again in remission, and strong enough to give up that much blood. "Friends of Chris" is the name of a bank account that has been set up to collect money to buy have to make sure that kids are treated stringently if they are caught with guns." "Our local school personnel need to keep their eyes wide open," Dicks said. He also be- lieves students are duty-bound to turn in information about fellow youth who have made threaten- ing statements. "We also need to be aware of any quasi-gang ele- ment that may exist in our schools," he concluded. ANOTHER NATIONAL topic of interest was the federal budget surplus. "There was a $300 billion deficit in 1993 when President Clinton came in to office," Dicks said. "Thanks to some tough deci- sions, there is now a surplus." He said he wants to see $2 trillion stay in the Social Security fund, and that he's concerned about un- realistic budget caps. But more than anything, he stressed, "Instead of tax cuts, which don't seem to benefit mid- dle income people, we should re- duce the debt of the United States." Dicks said once that is paid off, there will be an addition- al savings of $285 billion in inter- est per year. "That money could be given to the military, schools, and for infrastructure," he said. "I am not against tax cuts," he was quick to add, having voted for those he found workable in the past. Representative Dicks is cur- rently working on a patients' bill of rights, which would allow pa- tients to go to any emergency room or specialist needed, and also would empower doctors to make the healthcare decisions for their patients. On the topic of health care, he also pledged to intervene on be- half of Belfair's Dr. Michael J. Butler. The Doctors Clinic CEO Linda Brown has made the deci- sion to close the Belfair clinic, moving Dr. Butler out of Mason County, which has been labelled "medically underserved," and placing him in the Port Orchard Doctors Clinic in October. Con- gressman Dicks expressed his concern for the health and safety of North Mason residents. DICKS IS PROUD of the work that has gone on locally to restore salmon runs. He specifi- cally praised the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group's ef- forts. "We're going to show the on this disease that af- child. Chris has acute leukemia (ALL). His around two small in her purse notes, including the written and illustrated that day Chris was He scribbled down all as he explained begins with one mutating, and how it , OVer-crowding the nor- cells. notes also outlined medicines he would expected side-ef- SUccess rates. As recent- Years earlier, leukemia a certain death however, thanks more powerful drugs, a pretty good chance of as done her best to normal, and to help different. That has 'ing her own head for a year, after type of steroid that "took his spir- it away." Chris languished in bed, didn't want to get up, and didn't even want to live. She recognized the timing of this effect in him as drug-in- duced, and saw to it that it was changed to something different. "And his spirits came back!" she reported. Her upbeat, happy little boy, who never feels sorry for himself, had returned to her. CATHY BELIEVES there is a purpose for everything that hap- pens. Along with the bad comes the good. Among the good things that have happened for Chris are the camps he has been able to at- tend. Last summer, Chris went to the American Cancer Society- sponsored Camp Good Times on Vashon Island. Later he and his morn attended Camp Agape for ill children and their families. It was there that they met a 15-year-old boy from Greece, in America visit- ing his aunt and uncle. Anasto- ties was at the camp because his Chris a laptop computer. This will enable him to keep up with schoolwork and communicate via e-mail during the year-long peri- od he will have to stay out of school following the transplant. That account is at Peninsula Community Federal Credit GMA workshops Union. Donations may be taken mailed to any branch of offered this month or PCFCU. In Chris's honor, a special op- portunity to donate blood and pick up information about possi- bly becoming a blood marrow donor has been scheduled by the Puget Sound Blood Center. That event will be held at Fir Lane Health and Rehabilitation in Shelton, at 2430 North 13th Street, on Tuesday, September 7, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 1:45 to 4 p.m. Chris Sargent is in need of folks in his community who are willing to give up a few dollars, a little blood, and maybe even some bone marrow. Good thoughts and prayers wouldn't hurt either. The Mason County Depart- ment of Community Development is sponsoring a series of public workshops around the county to present and discuss proposed changes to Mason County's com- prehensive plan and development regulations. A 7 p.m. workshop will be held on Thursday, September 9, at the Theler Community Center in Bel- fair . The next day, Friday, Septem- ber 10, a 4 p.m. workshop will be held at the Port of Allyn. For further information, con- hair to cancer treat- has also included keeping aunt was on staff there. Chris's friendship with the older youth garnered an invitation to visit his ./ ,,, €IIifiled by auto NEAIC ; insurance SOuth of the border ,and receive t ale folk)wing [1" Ilj 'mgs when you use your Visa card. :: t=ll_2 )  rates, air-inclusive packages to Mexico per person on Palace Resort, Cancun ::-" -' ' Swe packages of 5 nights or longer. ,re Rates ...5 nights from $699 Coil us for CARIBBEAN a quote. At a SuperClubs Super-Inclusive Resort just about (]$///" I J You II be. everything you can eat, drink and do included in did. one simple upfront price! Receive the following Q you savings when you use your Visa .rd, ".00"lad • Up to $100 OFF bookings O n • Breezes Montego Bay.,. from $586 Gall For Hore Details! Mutual umclaw E-Mai1:vacation@telebyte.com I Call US toll-fie;' Arnold & Smith WEBSITE: www.enquest.com/wa/wa8398 1 800 633 4848 LocalPresence, GlobalPower sM [ " " " InlurInce Agency, Inc. 3276 NW Plaza Road, Suite 112, Silverdale, WA 98383 __ Phone (360) 698-1411 Fax (360) 698-1428 426-3317 1535 Olymp,c H,ghway North, Shelton Owned and operated by S.E.E.K., Inc. salmon back," he said. Senator Sheldon and Represen- tative Dicks jointly addressed some topics. Both oppose Initia- tive 695. Sheldon said, "This ini- tiative is a reaction to peoples' frustration with the state's high motor vehicle excise tax, the next to the highest in the United States." Based on an unrealistic vehicle value, not fair market val- ue, the tax is unfair, Sheldon ac- knowledged. "If the legislature had been more flexible and sym- pathetic to the public, they would have reduced this a long time ago." Sheldon said that 1-695 would not be good for local government. The criminal justice programs would especially suffer, he stated. "The MVT should be reduced, but saddling voters with every tax and fee increase is not the way to go." His example was that if the camping fee in state parks were proposed to be raised by $1, there would need to be a vote of the people to accomplish that. "Representatives of the people have been elected in our form of government to vote on such things," Sheldon stated. He said this initiative was written from the perspective that government is not working, and that the legis- lature needs to be overridden. "If you don't like your representa- tive, you can elect someone else," he advised. DICKS ADDRESSED the to- pic of 1-695 as well. "If 695 passes," he said, "it will hurt many areas of service, including transportation, public health and law enforcement." His example was if the fee to put a boat into the water were increased, that could not happen apart from a vote of the people. "It's ridicu- lous!" he said emphatically. Both elected officials addressed the Tacoma Narrows Bridge is- sue. Sheldon did not expect pend- ing law suits to be successful in this case. "The project will contin- ue," he prophesied. He regretted the veto of Governor Locke taking money out of the state budget for the approaches to the bridge, and is hopeful that the legislature will restore funds for those as the bridge project nears completion. Dicks also sees the bridge as essential to serving people in this area, and is concerned about the lengthy traffic jams that occur whenever there is an accident tact the Mason County Depart- ment of Community Development at 275-4467, ext. 282. Dewatto Road to be temporarily closed Dewatto Road will be closed be- ginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, September 7, through 5 p.m. on Friday, September 10. The cul- vert at mile post 2.2, Cady Lake Creek crossing, will be replaced in conjunction with a statewide program for salmon enhance- ment. This will open up hundreds of acres of prime habitat for fu- ture spawning beds, according to Sharon Vaughan of the engineer- ing department for Mason Coun- ty. "The ferry runs are really ma-. rine highways," Sheldon stated. He included Rich Passage in his statement, and indicated the state should pay fair market val- ue for property there, where the Bremerton-Seattle boats run, and have been accused of doing water- front property damage. "THE POWERS OF eminent domain exist for the good of the people," he continued. He also in- dicated that the Washington State Department of Transporta- tion perhaps should have done an Environmental Impact Statement prior to running the fast foot ferry Chinook, the subject of the con- troversy. An EIS was not legally mandated, however. "This is a matter of public access," Sheldon said, "not merely private homes." Dicks stated that the slowdown in the foot ferries to Seattle needs some kind of federal/state resolu- tion. "Foot ferries are very im- portant," he agreed. "We can find a way to design these things to make them work," he said. He suggested the Army Corps of En- gineers could run tests on the designs, and that this must be a team effort. He mentioned an engineer he believes could help resolve the is- sue, given the cooperation (and patience) of all parties to the cur- rent dispute. He thinks ferry boats should not be subjected to the state Environmental Policy Act. Otherwise, "will new air- planes need an environmental im- pact statement every time one is built?" he asked. "This bottleneck," said Shel- don, "is throwing things off." He reported that funding for six new passenger ferries has already been approved. CONTINUING WITH the shared that Kitsap Transit is planning to take its buses onto the ferry boat and drive into Seat- tle, simplifying travel for pas- sengers. Sheldon spoke of the Belfair Bypass project which is of special interest here. tie said that $594,000 has been included in the transportation budget for prelimi- nary engineering work on that proposed road on the plateau above and parallel to Highway 3. This will be the first step in a much larger project. Sheldon cited the dramatic changes that have occurred in Belfair in the past few years, and that the four-way traffic light coming to Highway 3 with the Belfair Safeway project will help control traffic. IIII II I IIII II JlL'l tl note to say THANK YOU to the North Mason Kiwanis Jbr their.financial donation to our outdoor play equipment from the Christ Lutheran Childcare Center. I I I Just a note to say THANK YOU to PLS Limo Service and Jerry & Katy Martin for their gracious donation to the staff of Christ Lutheran Childcare Center. 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