September 8, 2011 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
©
Shelton Mason County Journal. All rights reserved. Upgrade to access Premium Tools
PAGE 4 (4 of 20 available) PREVIOUS NEXT Jumbo Image Save To Scrapbook Set Notifiers PDF JPG
September 8, 2011 |
|
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader ![]() |
Labor Day a grim reminder for those who are unemployed
A growing percenag of Maun t,.ounty
residents probably wished they were
working on Monday. While many of us
with the good fortune to still be employed
used the Labor Day holiday as an oppor-
tunity to escape the grind, tbr too many
of our neighbors and friends Labor Day
was just another day without work.
It is easy to point to the signs of doom
and gloom - nearly 16 percent of Ma-
son County lives below the poverty line
according to the census, and sales tax
incomes ace stagnanL since falling off
sharply three years ago. But while the
workforce dwindles. Mason County's pop-
ulation grows and that growth is bring-
ing new money and can bring new jobs.
According to a U.S. Bureau of Econom-
ics Analysis report. Mason County was
one of only 17 Washington counties to see
per capita income growth from 2008 to
2009. During that same time our county
had a 1.31 percent upgrade in total per-
sonal income, not great, but much better
than the decline 15 Washington counties
saw.
While not evc, j empty storehont tillb
up immediately, new businesses have
been opening and it seems the spirit of
entrepreneurship l, still alive and well.
Toss m some public pressure on the Port
of Shelton to get its act together and as-
sist in economic growth rather than sty-
mie it. Mason County may get back on a
track of significant economic growth.
The Shelton Mason County Chamber
of Commerce is stepping up efforts to
revitalize the downtown area and indi-
viduals like Forrest Cooper. who is vol-
unteering his time to spruce up down-
town signage, are making big impacts in
little ways.
Without being too optimistic, next
year more of out' friends and neighbors
can be breaking out the work boots on
Labor Day ... or even better, relaxing
with their families on a paid day off
And with a lot of hard work in a couple
of years we can look back at the depress-
ing statistics from 2011 and shake our
heads in disbelief that we ever thought
the sky was thlling.
Fire District
3 comments
invoke
response
Editor, the Journal
Stan Walster's letter to
the Editor. the Journal.
published July 28, 2011 con-
cernin Mason County Fire
District 3 incumbent Com-
missioner Candidate Start
Catron. deserves comment.
Mr. Walster's intimation
(using his wordJ was that
Mr. Catron was tbrgetfhl in
tus declining years that the
Grapeview Community As-
sociauon GCA) had raised
the money to remodel and
add on to the 'ire Station.
and m return tor their lar-
gess usng his word con o
tracted with the GCA use
ol the tacdJty at no charge.
FirstLy, it is an abomina-
uon that Mr. Walster made
such a statement referring
to age Secondly, the fact is
that the District contracted
only t.o put such words into
the Use Policy. That was
done. The Use Policy is not
a contract. The commismon-
ers can lawfully, unilater
ally right to change the te
schedule is specifically st,at-
ed in the schedule, whicl is
m Appendix 1-201A of the
policy.
Mr. Walster states that
the District changed the
Policy "'to include the word
'Rental' charge and began
charging the GCA $100 per
month calling it a utilities
tb.e." It is true the policy was
changed to charge the GCA
a utilities tbe However.
at the time of that change
the Policy and appendices
already included the words
rent or rental a total of 25
times. I WONDER if Mr.
Walster was readilg the
correct policy
Lastly Mr Walster eom-
mented that "in another life
Mr. Catron was a banker."
He then guesses the doesn't
wonder if) "that only a
banker would presume
such an underhanded major
charge would only provoke a
'little squabble.'"
I don't know if he is refer-
ring to his understanding
of the so-called addition of
the words "rent" or "rental"
change to the policy, or the
change to charge the GCA
a utility fee. in any event, if
I were a banker. I certainly
would be oftnded by his in-
timation referred to above.
Bob Shanks.
Gravpeview
Fire will not
destroy
their sprit
Editor. the Journal
To the person or persons
responsible for the arson of
the new baseball clubhouse
at Shelton High School,
know that although you
have maliciously and sense-
lessly destroyed the strut
lure. you haven't damaged
the spirit, dedication and
strength of character that
built it.
What started out as a
senior culminating project
became the wsmn of three
young men that meant ,co
much more that a gradua-
tion requirement. Their goal
became a gift to this com-
munity; a legacy that repre-
sents their love of baseball_
their commitment to their
coaches and teammates,
pride in their school and a
benefit to all the athletes
that will tbllow in their tbot+
steps+
Colton Twiddy, Joe
Strand and Forrest Puter-
baugh created this project
trom the ground up. Last
winter, they began to put
their plans to paper Blue-
prints were drawn, permits
were obtained and con-
struction began in June.
With the guidance of their
head coach and mentor,
Erik Engstrom, a gen-
eral contractor, they built
a 2.400-square-tbot sports
complex that would be dedi-
cated to the Shelton boys'
baseball, football and girls'
fastpitch teams. They put in
eight-to-12 hour days and
worked six and seven days
a week all summer long to
have the building finished
in time tbr this school year.
They gained knowledge of
construction, a strong work
ethic, teamwork and pride
in a job well done. When
they weren't playing base-
ball tbr the Timbers sum-
mer team_ they were at that
field, building their dream
into a reality.
As parents of these boys.
we could not be more proud
of how they have conducted
themselves during this hor-
rible twist of fate. Although
are libelous or scurrilous<in nature. ,Letters should
be under 350 words and provide contact and ad-
dress nformation for the)ouma/.
admittedly sad. hurt and
terribly disappointed, they
are choosing to stay post-
live. stand strong together
and rebuild,
We have so appreciated
the community's support
thus far and ask tbr your
continued support as they
work throughout their se-
nior year to follow through
on turning this random act
of violence into the source
of pride tbr this town that
their project was intended
LO be.
The Shelton Timbers
teams ahmg with coach
Engstrom and the Shelton
Highclimbers. apprecia-
tively accept any and all do
nations of support tbr their
endeavors. Please watch tbr
upcoming bulletins on how
you'll be able to help.
We oitb.r our special
thanks to Erik Engstrom,
fbr his commitment and
steadfast leadership and to
the Shelton Police and Fire
Departments tot their care
and kindness shown to our
sons at the scene of the fire.
Greg and Shannon
Twiddy
LuAnn Stand, Stace3
Puterbaugh
Shelton
What do you think about the county imposing a six-month moratorium on
collective medical marijuan gardens, which were legalized by the state in July?
Billie
Swanson
"I don't think there
should be a morato-
rim, aT. all 1 think
the state should
take cm)tr'ol and the
county could run
their own gardens."
Marc
Buchheit
"The whole mari-
juana issue is a con-
troversial gray area
that hasn't had de-
finitive guidelines
... We need to really
have things cleared
up and identified.
There's contusion
and people are tak-
ing advantage of it."
..... .... ,°
Sheton.Mason County Journal ,s a member of
usPs 492 800 Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shetton-Mason SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
County Journal, RO. Box 430. Shelton, WA 98584.
Published weekly by Shelton-Mason County Journal Inc.
at 227 West Cota Street Shelton, Washington
Mailing address: RO. Box 430, Shelton. WA 98584
telephone (3601 426-4412 * www.masoncounty.com
Periodicals postage paid at Shelton. Washington
$37 per year for Mason County addresses,
$51 per year in state of Washington but outside
Mason County, $6i per year out of state.
Owned and published by
Shelton-Mason County Joumal. Inc
Paoe A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, Septernber 8,-2011
James
R. Carr
"If it wasn't tbr po-
litically correct fools
in the government.
they'd legalize it."
Jesse Mullen, general mgr.
Newsroom:
Kevan Moore, managing editor
Aria Shephard. North Mason,
environment, reporter
Dax
Moore
"lf the state says
it's OK. then who-
ever's running the
county should let
people do what they
want. When Cali-
fornia started out
it was shady people
running the busi-
nesses, and now it's
just normal people.
As tmle goes on ..
they'll realize it's
just like any other
business."
Advertising:
Dave Pierik, advertising manager
Harvey Morris. ad representative
Front office:
Donna Kinnaird. bookkeeper
Natalie Johnson, repor[er Margot Bra)rd, circulation
Emily Hanson, sports reporter Cricket Carter. mailroom
Adam Rudnick. copy editor superwsor
Composing room:
William Adams. graphics
Koleen Wood. classifieds/legals
Becky Corr, typing
Pressroom:
Kelly Riordan. production manager
Travis Miller press operator