September 2, 1999 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
©
Shelton Mason County Journal. All rights reserved. Upgrade to access Premium Tools
PAGE 34 (34 of 36 available) PREVIOUS NEXT Jumbo Image Save To Scrapbook Set Notifiers PDF JPG
September 2, 1999 |
|
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader ![]() |
Chamber numbers show Herald Highlights
dramatic Increase
dues are $100 a year. But the real
magnet is the KPS health in-
surance.
Area chambers in surrounding
communities also offer KPS
health coverage, but for some rea-
son, outsiders are not flocking to
join those chambers.
Melode Sapp, the executive di-
rector of the Port Orchard Cham-
ber, says their current member-
ship is at 484. Where nearly one-
third of North Mason's member-
ship is from outside the communi-
ty, Sapp estimates that no more
than 10 percent of Port Orchard
Chamber members are from out-
side of South Kitsap.
INDIVIDUAL DUES for the
Port Orchard Chamber is $135
annually and $485 for 100 or
more employees. And like all
other chambers, Port Orchard re-
quires local support to the cham-
ber as the only major criteria for
joining.
The Bremerton Area Chamber
of Commerce has 430 members
with annual dues costing $80 for
an individual and $850 for 100 or
more employees. Wayne Junge,
the executive director, says that
KPS coverage is offered to cham-
ber members. Though he does not
track the number of chamber
members from outside the area,
Junge believes the figure is just a
fraction of the total.
"Our only criteria for joining is
that you possess a viable business
license or live on the Kitsap Pen-
insula," says Junge.
In Shelton, executive director
Dick Taylor reports that the Shel-
ton-Mason County Chamber of
Commerce has 380 members with
individual dues costing $66 a year
for an individual and $935 for
companies with 100 or more em-
ployees.
"To join the Shelton Chamber,"
says Taylor, "all you have to do is
pay the fee." He reported that
less than one percent of members
are from outside the area.
Chambers of commerce are
tbund throughout the world and
are strongly entrenched in Ameri-
carl life at many levels. They are
the direct descendants of the mer-
chant guilds of medieval times.
The first association to take the
name "chamber of commerce" was
organized in Marseille, France, in
1599.
The first American chamber of
commerce was organized in New
York City in 1768 with the pur-
pose of "encouraging commerce,
supporting industry, adjusting
disputes relative to trade and
navigation, and producing such
laws and regulations as may be
By RICK STEDMAN
In a year-and-a-half, the North
Mason Chamber of Commerce
has nearly tripled its member-
ship. As of January 1, 1998, there
were 89 members. A year later on
January 1, 1999, 145 members
had joined the local chamber. By
August 4 of this year, the cham-
ber's rolls had swelled to 223
members.
That sounds impressive, until
you look at where the new mem-
bers are joining from.
Numerous members have
joined fi'om as far away as Cheha-
lis, Rochester, Morton, and Ma-
dras, Oregon. According to North
Mason Ctlamber of Commerce
President Don Cady, approx-
imately 70 members are from out-
side the North Mason area.
"ONE OF THE main reasons
people are joining our chamber is
because of our inexpensive dues
an(t the benefits offered," said
(ady.
Those benefits Cady refers to
are health-care coverage offered
by the troubled Kitsap Physicians
Service. KPS has been in finan-
cial troubles of late, but officials
at the 80,000-member health-care
organization say that coverage for
chamber members will not be af-
flicted.
KPS Health Plans, which has
subscribers in Mason, Kitsap, Jeff
ferson, Clallam and Thurston
counties, is the area's largest
health insurer.
Though KPS health-care cover-
age has attracted new chamber
members over the last year-and-
a-half, officials at the health-care
insurance company acknowledge
there is a problem.
ACCORDING TO Judith
Edgecomb of KPS, there is a loop-
hole in the system right now.
"We're in the process of changing
the policy because too many peo-
ple are abusing the system," she
said. "This offer was intended
solely for local chamber mem-
bers."
One North Mason chamber
member is Wendy Hawes of
ttawes Gutters in Rochester,
Washington. Ne basically joined
t:hc North Mason chamber in or-
der to receive KPS benefits," she
said. That same refrain was re-
peated over and over by numer-
ous others from outside North
Mason proper.
According to Cady, North Ma-
son Chamber's annual dues are a
modest $35 for individuals, non-
profit agencies, and government
organizations. For businesses
with five or more employees the
ms o Note
For more information, please
call (360) 874-9751, or e-mail
cappella@net-nw.com.
TOPS to meet
Thursday mornings
According to Carolyn Thomas,
organizer of the Take Off Potds
Sensibly (TOPS) 1032 in Belfair,
the group meets on Thursdays at
9:15 a.m. in the Belfair Commu-
nity Baptist Church. For informa-
tion, please call 275-0962.
Cappella Girls' Chorus
looking for new members
The Cappella Girls' Chorus is
now accepting applications for the
1999-2000 season. Rehearsals be-
gin on Tuesday, September 7.
Girls ages 5-18 are invited to
audition for the beginning, inter-
mediate, or advanced choir. The
cost is $20 for beginning, $35 for
intermediate, and $45 for ad-
vanced, The advanced choir place-
ment includes monthly vocal
coaching sessions.
LAST GARAGE SALE
OF THE CENTURy!
LABOR DAy WEEKEND!
666 [ '9 puo 9 '17 '' JequJe4de$
iuosol61 qpoN jo qnlo s!uoM!)l
eq, o elDS eIDJD-O snowD=I PlJO/V eqi
EVERYTHING (almost) MUST GOI
"We have so much stuff, junk and treasures
we don't know what to do "
22921 NE Hwy. 3 -- Across the street
from the Belfair Elementary School
i,loe, qlP' t eql Joj JesloJ-punj | # JnO
found necessary for the benefit of
trade in general." These general
objectives still characterize the
movement.
Locally, the Belfair Business
Association was formed in 1953
with dues of $6 per year. Some of
the members of the group were
Nels Barber, Bill DeMeiro, Ed Co-
kelet (both Senior and Junior),
R.W. Cady, Leigh Hunt, Dorothy
Harper (Belfair Drug), Bill Grif-
fith, Bill Landram, John Pope
and Sam Theler.
IN 1967, THE organization's
name was changed to the Belfair
Chamber of Commerce with many
of the same members remaining,
plus double the number of firms
and individuals.
In 1968, dues increased to $12
per year.
It wasn't until 1977 when the
chamber's official name was
changed to the North Mason
Chamber of Commerce; it includ-
ed the communities of Allyn, Bel-
fair, Dewatto, Grapeview, Union,
Victor and Tahuya.
The local chamber's mission
states: The purpose of the cham-
ber shall be to encourage and
promote business, tourism, social,
educational, and environmental
interests and activities of the
North Mason community.
DON CADY SAYS that in-
creasing chamber numbers gives
the organization more clout. "The
chamber is the only political enti-
ty and organized voice for the en-
tire North Mason area," says
Cady. "When we need to call on
politicians, these bigger numbers
(of chamber members) definitely
give us more clout."
Cady cited the increased funds
as playing an important role as
well. "We recently donated $500
to allow a committee to examine
incorporating Belfair as a city,"
says Cady. The chamber will fol-
low up in the coming weeks by
bringing guest speakers to their
regular meetings.
In another charitable effort,
the North Mason Chamber donat-
ed $500 to help supply a school in
war-torn Bosnia. According to
Cady, the chamber is working
with Denny Hamilton, an Inter-
national Human Resource Devel-
opment Consultant and local resi-
dent to identify a specific school
to donate supplies.
Various members of the local
chamber are also involved with
this humanitarian effort that
could also lead to developing a
Sister City in Bosnia.
Steve Warn
Pastor Steve Warn has just ar-
rived in North Mason from Katy,
Texas. He is the brand-new asso-
ciate pastor at Belfair Communi-
ty Baptist Church (BCBC) who
will assist in all pastoral duties,
but will predominantly be work-
ing with youth. He and his wife
Dorothy, plus their four children,
live in LakeLand Village.
"These people are just awe-
some!" he said of the church
members. The Warn family ar-
rived at their rented home at 7:30
on a Saturday evening, and "They
unloaded us in just about an
hour!"
They thought it was a great
way to be greeted by the commu-
nity! The extended area around
Katy, Texas is "a very small
town" of about 150,000 people, he
said. (.Remember, it's in Texas!)
With three-and-a-half million res-
idents in nearby Houston, Katy is
indeed a very small town. Steve
and Dorothy have lived in smaller
places before, and they are al-
ready pleased with their new
community.
TH:E WARN children are Bek-
ki, 17, Andy, 15, Jenny, 11, and
Danny, 9. The two older kids will
be attending North Mason High
School, and the younger ones will
be students at Belfair Elementa-
ry.
Steve became acquainted with
Dave Daroff when they were stu-
dents at Westmont College in
Santa Barbara, California. Daroff
is the senior pastor at BCBC, and
the two of them have been friends
for over 20 years now.
Steve and Dorothy also met in
college. "We fell in love in
college," he said, "and have grown
in love through life."
Steve looks forward to working
The following is an editorial from
The Tacoma News Tribune, Sunday, August 29, 1999.
Permanent EMS
levies aren't wise
Voting against an emergency medical services levy is like
voting against motherhood and apple pie. Even so, The News
Tribune recommends voters say no to EMS levy proposals in
Tacoma, University Place and Thurston County.
We have no quarrel with the purpose or the amount of the
proposals appearing on the Sept. 14 primary ballot. The
. I....,... problem is fire officials in those
r--Lr.U I IUFI
if jurisdictions want voters to
w'IWeMMENDATION S make the levies permanent -
........ -- and that's unwise.
Until this year, cities and fire districts could only ask voters
to approve EMS levies for six- or 10.year terms. This year,
however, the Legisla.ture allowed cities and fire districts to seek
approval for permanent levies, meaning they would no longer
be required to return to the voters periodically.
EMS levies, which pay for paramedics and medical rescue
units, almost always win handily at the polls. But occasionally
it's a close call, as it was in Tacoma in 1994 and in King County
in 1997. Fire officials would rather have the assurance of a
permanent tax; they note voters can reduce or repeal an EMS
levy by referendum if they're dissatisfied.
The traditional six-year term is long enough to provide both
stability and accountability to the taxpayers. Fire lepartments
should be no different from schools and other local governments
required to periodically put their special levy requests before
the voters.
Pro-EMS campaign statements don't tell voters that
permanent EMS levies, set at a fixed rate, could produce a
revenue windfall for fire departments if property values
increase strongly over the years. Rejecting permanent levies
this year won't leave citizens unprotected; fire districts or
departments can return to the polls next year before their
current levies expire.
Fire districts in Lakewood and tiny Greenwater are seeking
one-year and six-year EMS levies, respectively. Those are fine.
But voters should tell fire officials seeking permanent cash flow
to go back to the drawing board.
These concerns also apply to the EMS
levy by Mason County Fire District #5
Please don't double your EMS Tax and make it permanent.
VOTE NO ON PROP 1.
Paid by Thomas Brokaw, Candidate for MCFD #5 Commissioner Pos. #1
4950 Mason Lake Drive West, Grapeview, WA 98546.
i , ,i i
Page 4 - Belfair Herald section of Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, September 2, 1999
with the youth of the church, and
recognizes that that also means
working with the parents, a joy
he looks forward to, he indicated.
He wants to get to know the
youth a bit before he announces
any planned activities, but he
does have several ideas in mind.
SO FAR, HE is pleased with
all he has learned about this new
)lace of ministry. After receiving
master's degrees in both New
Testament theology and counsel-
ing, he has helped severely emo-
tionally disturbed teenage boys as
a social worker, pastored two
churches, and served as chaplain
and teacher at a Christian high
school.
Steve describes himself as
theologically conservative and
evangelical, but not fundamental-
ist. "I believe the gospel is the
power for salvation to everyone
who believes," he explained.
"When the gospel comes in,
there's hope. When hope takes
root, then truth can make a dif-
ference."
The casually-dressed pastor de-
scribes himself as an avid golfer
and fisherman who also enjoys
playing racquetball and tennis.
He likes to paint, as well, but con-
fesses he hasn't had time to pur-
sue that creative outlet in about a
decade.
Steve lets most things roll off
his back. "I just think there's way
too much to be thankful for to
spend any of my life dealing with
bitterness of any kind." Thus, he
doesn't let the little things irri-
tate him. "I'm a person who is in-
debted to forgiveness," he ex-
plains. To dwell on irritations, in
his way of thinking, would violate
the forgiveness he has received,
and would be a sin itself.
IN SOMEWHAT of a baptism
by fire, Steve has come aboard
the staff of BCBC just as Pastor
Daroff was preparing to leave for
two weeks of vacation, leaving
him in charge.
He is very pleased with his
new church and the strong ties to
the local community. "We have
two worship services each Sun-
day, one very contemporary and
one traditional," said the pastor.
He said they are really different
groups, which means they are
meeting people at their needs.
Steve's comment on that was,
'rhat's cool?"
(Editor's note: If you would like
to nominate someone to be fea-
tured in "Herald Highlights,"
please contact the Belfair Herald
at (360) 275-6680.)
Class size
not a factor
Is there a correlation between
class size and student achieve-
ment? If so, what is it, and what
are the reasons?
According to a report released
by the Evergreen Freedom Foun-
dation, a public policy research
organization in Olympia, there is
little correlation between efforts
to reduce class sizes and student
learning. EFF Policy Analyst Da-
vid Boze stated, "trends from the
'505 to the '80s provide no evi-
dence of a significant relationship
between student achievement and
class size."
Dr. Marie Pickel, superinten-
dent of North Mason School Dis-
trict has heard of several similar
studies over the years. "According
to the statistics," she said, "you
have to reduce the class down to
15 students before it makes an
appreciable difference in acade-
mic achievement."
PICKEL NOTED that the
Washington Assessment of Stu-
dent Learning (WASL) scores
over two years for fourth graders
showed an increase in those
schools which had a school-wide
focus on reading and mathemat-
ics. "Increasing the amount of
time spent on reading and math,"
Pickel explained, "and integrating
those two subjects into other con-
tent areas, have proven very ef-
fective in bringing up the acade-
mic test scores."
Why would schools seek so dili-
gently to keep class sizes down, if
that is not the effective strategy?
Smaller teacher-to-student ratios
mean less stress on teachers and
more one-to-one time given to
children, Pickel said.
"This allows teachers to possi-
bly recognize a Columbine before
it occurs, or a situation like the
young man who stabbed a North
Mason teacher in her home this
summer. Having 25 instead of 35
kids in a class may give the
teacher time to notice and report
such concerns. There
other than pure
enter into the picture,
continued.
Last spring, parents
munity members across
tion, including in North
indicated that the safety
dents was their number one
cern about schools.
new worry, but one that
to the top of the list
than one disturbing
lent incident in sc
the country.
IN ADDITION TO
security, the school
conducted training for
dents and even the
how to deal with
lent situations, as
types of emergencies.
In North Mason
sizes are kept under 25
garten through third
27-29 in grades 4
average 27 in the high
State and federal money
able on a "use it or lose
to keep K-3 class size do,
el explained.
The superintendent
that with 30 to 32
classroom, the teacher
ing a great deal
room management
roll, dealing with
lems, and the like.
time to notice what's
their lives?" she asked.
t
Dig
Water
P
oog
WELL DRILLIH6
& PUMP SYSYTEM$
275-7501
TRUCKING
& LANDSCAPE SUPPLY, INC.
• TOPSOIL •
lark • (:rushed Rock • Washed Rock * Rockery Rock * Decorative
Sand * Pitrun • Land Clearing * Road Building * Stump RemovaJ
Free Estimates: 275-3465 7-
Corner of Highway 3 and Log Yard Road, Belfair
Vendor Guide:
Chiqui's Corner ................................................................... Linda Alas, 871-6790
Marie's Embroidery ......................................................... Marie Aman, 275-3182
Dorothy's Alterations ............................................ Dorothy Barfield, 275-011 I
Native American Crafts ............................................. Donna Buehler, 275-6018
Davis Farms ........................................................................ Irene Davis, 275-2032
Devaney's Crafts ............................................................ Ron Devaney, 877-5056
Foxes ........................................................................................ Carl Fox, 275-9251
Tina's Homeworks Jams 'n' Things ................................................. Tina Fugman
Outdoor Furniture ..................................................... JoAnn Herrick, 426-8516
Donna's Wreaths .......................................................... Donna Huard, 479-043 I
Betty's Boutique ............................................................ Betty Lamont, 426-4458
The Treasure Cove .......................................................................... Shirley LeMaY
The Airplane Factory ....................................................... Lohn Lentz, 377-6770
McKinley Farms-Cookies & Produce ............... Francine McKinley, 275-4395
Peters Crafts ................................................................. Norma Peters, 857-3290
Penible Farms ................................................... Jack & Debbie Piggot, 372-2735
Crocheted Creations by Bea ...................................................... Beatrice Riedal
Terry's Honey .......................................................... Terry Robertson, 426-II 44
Personalized Signs & Woodcrafts ....................... David Rosenquist, 275-7428
Finished Ceramics ........................................... Jack & Inez Schaeffer, 275-5137
Eileen's Gardens ................................................................................... Eileen Scott
Home.made Pies & Fry Bread .................................. Norma Stencil, 275-0616
Home Sweet Home Crafts ...................................... Carol Tauscher, 275-5769
Tahuya Soap Opera ............................................................................ Bey Wendell
- . Attention Back Yard Gardenersl
extra p00o00oco ao. °p fee
.e ] Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the
k // Belfair Elementary play shedl
For more information call 275-0616
I
Chamber numbers show Herald Highlights
dramatic Increase
dues are $100 a year. But the real
magnet is the KPS health in-
surance.
Area chambers in surrounding
communities also offer KPS
health coverage, but for some rea-
son, outsiders are not flocking to
join those chambers.
Melode Sapp, the executive di-
rector of the Port Orchard Cham-
ber, says their current member-
ship is at 484. Where nearly one-
third of North Mason's member-
ship is from outside the communi-
ty, Sapp estimates that no more
than 10 percent of Port Orchard
Chamber members are from out-
side of South Kitsap.
INDIVIDUAL DUES for the
Port Orchard Chamber is $135
annually and $485 for 100 or
more employees. And like all
other chambers, Port Orchard re-
quires local support to the cham-
ber as the only major criteria for
joining.
The Bremerton Area Chamber
of Commerce has 430 members
with annual dues costing $80 for
an individual and $850 for 100 or
more employees. Wayne Junge,
the executive director, says that
KPS coverage is offered to cham-
ber members. Though he does not
track the number of chamber
members from outside the area,
Junge believes the figure is just a
fraction of the total.
"Our only criteria for joining is
that you possess a viable business
license or live on the Kitsap Pen-
insula," says Junge.
In Shelton, executive director
Dick Taylor reports that the Shel-
ton-Mason County Chamber of
Commerce has 380 members with
individual dues costing $66 a year
for an individual and $935 for
companies with 100 or more em-
ployees.
"To join the Shelton Chamber,"
says Taylor, "all you have to do is
pay the fee." He reported that
less than one percent of members
are from outside the area.
Chambers of commerce are
tbund throughout the world and
are strongly entrenched in Ameri-
carl life at many levels. They are
the direct descendants of the mer-
chant guilds of medieval times.
The first association to take the
name "chamber of commerce" was
organized in Marseille, France, in
1599.
The first American chamber of
commerce was organized in New
York City in 1768 with the pur-
pose of "encouraging commerce,
supporting industry, adjusting
disputes relative to trade and
navigation, and producing such
laws and regulations as may be
By RICK STEDMAN
In a year-and-a-half, the North
Mason Chamber of Commerce
has nearly tripled its member-
ship. As of January 1, 1998, there
were 89 members. A year later on
January 1, 1999, 145 members
had joined the local chamber. By
August 4 of this year, the cham-
ber's rolls had swelled to 223
members.
That sounds impressive, until
you look at where the new mem-
bers are joining from.
Numerous members have
joined fi'om as far away as Cheha-
lis, Rochester, Morton, and Ma-
dras, Oregon. According to North
Mason Ctlamber of Commerce
President Don Cady, approx-
imately 70 members are from out-
side the North Mason area.
"ONE OF THE main reasons
people are joining our chamber is
because of our inexpensive dues
an(t the benefits offered," said
(ady.
Those benefits Cady refers to
are health-care coverage offered
by the troubled Kitsap Physicians
Service. KPS has been in finan-
cial troubles of late, but officials
at the 80,000-member health-care
organization say that coverage for
chamber members will not be af-
flicted.
KPS Health Plans, which has
subscribers in Mason, Kitsap, Jeff
ferson, Clallam and Thurston
counties, is the area's largest
health insurer.
Though KPS health-care cover-
age has attracted new chamber
members over the last year-and-
a-half, officials at the health-care
insurance company acknowledge
there is a problem.
ACCORDING TO Judith
Edgecomb of KPS, there is a loop-
hole in the system right now.
"We're in the process of changing
the policy because too many peo-
ple are abusing the system," she
said. "This offer was intended
solely for local chamber mem-
bers."
One North Mason chamber
member is Wendy Hawes of
ttawes Gutters in Rochester,
Washington. Ne basically joined
t:hc North Mason chamber in or-
der to receive KPS benefits," she
said. That same refrain was re-
peated over and over by numer-
ous others from outside North
Mason proper.
According to Cady, North Ma-
son Chamber's annual dues are a
modest $35 for individuals, non-
profit agencies, and government
organizations. For businesses
with five or more employees the
ms o Note
For more information, please
call (360) 874-9751, or e-mail
cappella@net-nw.com.
TOPS to meet
Thursday mornings
According to Carolyn Thomas,
organizer of the Take Off Potds
Sensibly (TOPS) 1032 in Belfair,
the group meets on Thursdays at
9:15 a.m. in the Belfair Commu-
nity Baptist Church. For informa-
tion, please call 275-0962.
Cappella Girls' Chorus
looking for new members
The Cappella Girls' Chorus is
now accepting applications for the
1999-2000 season. Rehearsals be-
gin on Tuesday, September 7.
Girls ages 5-18 are invited to
audition for the beginning, inter-
mediate, or advanced choir. The
cost is $20 for beginning, $35 for
intermediate, and $45 for ad-
vanced, The advanced choir place-
ment includes monthly vocal
coaching sessions.
LAST GARAGE SALE
OF THE CENTURy!
LABOR DAy WEEKEND!
666 [ '9 puo 9 '17 '' JequJe4de$
iuosol61 qpoN jo qnlo s!uoM!)l
eq, o elDS eIDJD-O snowD=I PlJO/V eqi
EVERYTHING (almost) MUST GOI
"We have so much stuff, junk and treasures
we don't know what to do "
22921 NE Hwy. 3 -- Across the street
from the Belfair Elementary School
i,loe, qlP' t eql Joj JesloJ-punj | # JnO
found necessary for the benefit of
trade in general." These general
objectives still characterize the
movement.
Locally, the Belfair Business
Association was formed in 1953
with dues of $6 per year. Some of
the members of the group were
Nels Barber, Bill DeMeiro, Ed Co-
kelet (both Senior and Junior),
R.W. Cady, Leigh Hunt, Dorothy
Harper (Belfair Drug), Bill Grif-
fith, Bill Landram, John Pope
and Sam Theler.
IN 1967, THE organization's
name was changed to the Belfair
Chamber of Commerce with many
of the same members remaining,
plus double the number of firms
and individuals.
In 1968, dues increased to $12
per year.
It wasn't until 1977 when the
chamber's official name was
changed to the North Mason
Chamber of Commerce; it includ-
ed the communities of Allyn, Bel-
fair, Dewatto, Grapeview, Union,
Victor and Tahuya.
The local chamber's mission
states: The purpose of the cham-
ber shall be to encourage and
promote business, tourism, social,
educational, and environmental
interests and activities of the
North Mason community.
DON CADY SAYS that in-
creasing chamber numbers gives
the organization more clout. "The
chamber is the only political enti-
ty and organized voice for the en-
tire North Mason area," says
Cady. "When we need to call on
politicians, these bigger numbers
(of chamber members) definitely
give us more clout."
Cady cited the increased funds
as playing an important role as
well. "We recently donated $500
to allow a committee to examine
incorporating Belfair as a city,"
says Cady. The chamber will fol-
low up in the coming weeks by
bringing guest speakers to their
regular meetings.
In another charitable effort,
the North Mason Chamber donat-
ed $500 to help supply a school in
war-torn Bosnia. According to
Cady, the chamber is working
with Denny Hamilton, an Inter-
national Human Resource Devel-
opment Consultant and local resi-
dent to identify a specific school
to donate supplies.
Various members of the local
chamber are also involved with
this humanitarian effort that
could also lead to developing a
Sister City in Bosnia.
Steve Warn
Pastor Steve Warn has just ar-
rived in North Mason from Katy,
Texas. He is the brand-new asso-
ciate pastor at Belfair Communi-
ty Baptist Church (BCBC) who
will assist in all pastoral duties,
but will predominantly be work-
ing with youth. He and his wife
Dorothy, plus their four children,
live in LakeLand Village.
"These people are just awe-
some!" he said of the church
members. The Warn family ar-
rived at their rented home at 7:30
on a Saturday evening, and "They
unloaded us in just about an
hour!"
They thought it was a great
way to be greeted by the commu-
nity! The extended area around
Katy, Texas is "a very small
town" of about 150,000 people, he
said. (.Remember, it's in Texas!)
With three-and-a-half million res-
idents in nearby Houston, Katy is
indeed a very small town. Steve
and Dorothy have lived in smaller
places before, and they are al-
ready pleased with their new
community.
TH:E WARN children are Bek-
ki, 17, Andy, 15, Jenny, 11, and
Danny, 9. The two older kids will
be attending North Mason High
School, and the younger ones will
be students at Belfair Elementa-
ry.
Steve became acquainted with
Dave Daroff when they were stu-
dents at Westmont College in
Santa Barbara, California. Daroff
is the senior pastor at BCBC, and
the two of them have been friends
for over 20 years now.
Steve and Dorothy also met in
college. "We fell in love in
college," he said, "and have grown
in love through life."
Steve looks forward to working
The following is an editorial from
The Tacoma News Tribune, Sunday, August 29, 1999.
Permanent EMS
levies aren't wise
Voting against an emergency medical services levy is like
voting against motherhood and apple pie. Even so, The News
Tribune recommends voters say no to EMS levy proposals in
Tacoma, University Place and Thurston County.
We have no quarrel with the purpose or the amount of the
proposals appearing on the Sept. 14 primary ballot. The
. I....,... problem is fire officials in those
r--Lr.U I IUFI
if jurisdictions want voters to
w'IWeMMENDATION S make the levies permanent -
........ -- and that's unwise.
Until this year, cities and fire districts could only ask voters
to approve EMS levies for six- or 10.year terms. This year,
however, the Legisla.ture allowed cities and fire districts to seek
approval for permanent levies, meaning they would no longer
be required to return to the voters periodically.
EMS levies, which pay for paramedics and medical rescue
units, almost always win handily at the polls. But occasionally
it's a close call, as it was in Tacoma in 1994 and in King County
in 1997. Fire officials would rather have the assurance of a
permanent tax; they note voters can reduce or repeal an EMS
levy by referendum if they're dissatisfied.
The traditional six-year term is long enough to provide both
stability and accountability to the taxpayers. Fire lepartments
should be no different from schools and other local governments
required to periodically put their special levy requests before
the voters.
Pro-EMS campaign statements don't tell voters that
permanent EMS levies, set at a fixed rate, could produce a
revenue windfall for fire departments if property values
increase strongly over the years. Rejecting permanent levies
this year won't leave citizens unprotected; fire districts or
departments can return to the polls next year before their
current levies expire.
Fire districts in Lakewood and tiny Greenwater are seeking
one-year and six-year EMS levies, respectively. Those are fine.
But voters should tell fire officials seeking permanent cash flow
to go back to the drawing board.
These concerns also apply to the EMS
levy by Mason County Fire District #5
Please don't double your EMS Tax and make it permanent.
VOTE NO ON PROP 1.
Paid by Thomas Brokaw, Candidate for MCFD #5 Commissioner Pos. #1
4950 Mason Lake Drive West, Grapeview, WA 98546.
i , ,i i
Page 4 - Belfair Herald section of Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, September 2, 1999
with the youth of the church, and
recognizes that that also means
working with the parents, a joy
he looks forward to, he indicated.
He wants to get to know the
youth a bit before he announces
any planned activities, but he
does have several ideas in mind.
SO FAR, HE is pleased with
all he has learned about this new
)lace of ministry. After receiving
master's degrees in both New
Testament theology and counsel-
ing, he has helped severely emo-
tionally disturbed teenage boys as
a social worker, pastored two
churches, and served as chaplain
and teacher at a Christian high
school.
Steve describes himself as
theologically conservative and
evangelical, but not fundamental-
ist. "I believe the gospel is the
power for salvation to everyone
who believes," he explained.
"When the gospel comes in,
there's hope. When hope takes
root, then truth can make a dif-
ference."
The casually-dressed pastor de-
scribes himself as an avid golfer
and fisherman who also enjoys
playing racquetball and tennis.
He likes to paint, as well, but con-
fesses he hasn't had time to pur-
sue that creative outlet in about a
decade.
Steve lets most things roll off
his back. "I just think there's way
too much to be thankful for to
spend any of my life dealing with
bitterness of any kind." Thus, he
doesn't let the little things irri-
tate him. "I'm a person who is in-
debted to forgiveness," he ex-
plains. To dwell on irritations, in
his way of thinking, would violate
the forgiveness he has received,
and would be a sin itself.
IN SOMEWHAT of a baptism
by fire, Steve has come aboard
the staff of BCBC just as Pastor
Daroff was preparing to leave for
two weeks of vacation, leaving
him in charge.
He is very pleased with his
new church and the strong ties to
the local community. "We have
two worship services each Sun-
day, one very contemporary and
one traditional," said the pastor.
He said they are really different
groups, which means they are
meeting people at their needs.
Steve's comment on that was,
'rhat's cool?"
(Editor's note: If you would like
to nominate someone to be fea-
tured in "Herald Highlights,"
please contact the Belfair Herald
at (360) 275-6680.)
Class size
not a factor
Is there a correlation between
class size and student achieve-
ment? If so, what is it, and what
are the reasons?
According to a report released
by the Evergreen Freedom Foun-
dation, a public policy research
organization in Olympia, there is
little correlation between efforts
to reduce class sizes and student
learning. EFF Policy Analyst Da-
vid Boze stated, "trends from the
'505 to the '80s provide no evi-
dence of a significant relationship
between student achievement and
class size."
Dr. Marie Pickel, superinten-
dent of North Mason School Dis-
trict has heard of several similar
studies over the years. "According
to the statistics," she said, "you
have to reduce the class down to
15 students before it makes an
appreciable difference in acade-
mic achievement."
PICKEL NOTED that the
Washington Assessment of Stu-
dent Learning (WASL) scores
over two years for fourth graders
showed an increase in those
schools which had a school-wide
focus on reading and mathemat-
ics. "Increasing the amount of
time spent on reading and math,"
Pickel explained, "and integrating
those two subjects into other con-
tent areas, have proven very ef-
fective in bringing up the acade-
mic test scores."
Why would schools seek so dili-
gently to keep class sizes down, if
that is not the effective strategy?
Smaller teacher-to-student ratios
mean less stress on teachers and
more one-to-one time given to
children, Pickel said.
"This allows teachers to possi-
bly recognize a Columbine before
it occurs, or a situation like the
young man who stabbed a North
Mason teacher in her home this
summer. Having 25 instead of 35
kids in a class may give the
teacher time to notice and report
such concerns. There
other than pure
enter into the picture,
continued.
Last spring, parents
munity members across
tion, including in North
indicated that the safety
dents was their number one
cern about schools.
new worry, but one that
to the top of the list
than one disturbing
lent incident in sc
the country.
IN ADDITION TO
security, the school
conducted training for
dents and even the
how to deal with
lent situations, as
types of emergencies.
In North Mason
sizes are kept under 25
garten through third
27-29 in grades 4
average 27 in the high
State and federal money
able on a "use it or lose
to keep K-3 class size do,
el explained.
The superintendent
that with 30 to 32
classroom, the teacher
ing a great deal
room management
roll, dealing with
lems, and the like.
time to notice what's
their lives?" she asked.
t
Dig
Water
P
oog
WELL DRILLIH6
& PUMP SYSYTEM$
275-7501
TRUCKING
& LANDSCAPE SUPPLY, INC.
• TOPSOIL •
lark • (:rushed Rock • Washed Rock * Rockery Rock * Decorative
Sand * Pitrun • Land Clearing * Road Building * Stump RemovaJ
Free Estimates: 275-3465 7-
Corner of Highway 3 and Log Yard Road, Belfair
Vendor Guide:
Chiqui's Corner ................................................................... Linda Alas, 871-6790
Marie's Embroidery ......................................................... Marie Aman, 275-3182
Dorothy's Alterations ............................................ Dorothy Barfield, 275-011 I
Native American Crafts ............................................. Donna Buehler, 275-6018
Davis Farms ........................................................................ Irene Davis, 275-2032
Devaney's Crafts ............................................................ Ron Devaney, 877-5056
Foxes ........................................................................................ Carl Fox, 275-9251
Tina's Homeworks Jams 'n' Things ................................................. Tina Fugman
Outdoor Furniture ..................................................... JoAnn Herrick, 426-8516
Donna's Wreaths .......................................................... Donna Huard, 479-043 I
Betty's Boutique ............................................................ Betty Lamont, 426-4458
The Treasure Cove .......................................................................... Shirley LeMaY
The Airplane Factory ....................................................... Lohn Lentz, 377-6770
McKinley Farms-Cookies & Produce ............... Francine McKinley, 275-4395
Peters Crafts ................................................................. Norma Peters, 857-3290
Penible Farms ................................................... Jack & Debbie Piggot, 372-2735
Crocheted Creations by Bea ...................................................... Beatrice Riedal
Terry's Honey .......................................................... Terry Robertson, 426-II 44
Personalized Signs & Woodcrafts ....................... David Rosenquist, 275-7428
Finished Ceramics ........................................... Jack & Inez Schaeffer, 275-5137
Eileen's Gardens ................................................................................... Eileen Scott
Home.made Pies & Fry Bread .................................. Norma Stencil, 275-0616
Home Sweet Home Crafts ...................................... Carol Tauscher, 275-5769
Tahuya Soap Opera ............................................................................ Bey Wendell
- . Attention Back Yard Gardenersl
extra p00o00oco ao. °p fee
.e ] Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the
k // Belfair Elementary play shedl
For more information call 275-0616
I