September 13, 2012 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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Letters
Continued from page A-4
More input
needed
Editor, the Journal
Mason County's handling of the
Lake Nahwatzel rezone leaves me
baffled. They tell us the process
needs to be fair. Alright, then why
can't we delay the process to allow
citizens of the lake to catch up with
Green Diamond, who is one and a
half years ahead of us? Well, we
are told, commissioners cannot
talk to us about it.
So, the process moves ahead,
and our organization scrambles to
catch up. We are forced to appeal
the SEPA Determination of Non-
Significance (DNS), which contains
numerous instances of flat-wrong,
inadequate and misleading in-
formation. How did that happen?
Did Mason County even read our
input? I doubt it. They are too busy
trying to be "fair" to Green Dia-
mond.
A clue to the above might be
found on Mason County's website
and the Q&A about Lake Nah-
watzel: it is a classic instance of
telling a very selective version of
the truth. Public statements by
Green Diamond about their inten-
tions for the land don't make it
into the Q&A, which allows the
county to act as though they, the
county, are blithely unaware of
Green Diamond's intentions. How
convenient.
Here are some of the public
statements we heard at the orga-
nizational meeting of Friends of
Lake Nahwatzel. The Green Dia-
mond representative handed out
a flyer, which outlined the 248.7
acres of long-term commercial for-
est adjacent to Lake Nahwatzel
that they want to have rezone&
Even though the rep stated up-
front that they have no immediate
plans to develop the lake, he went
on to state that they estimate 49
lots could be formed along the lake
and that much of the 5 acres per
lot that is normally required would
be in common areas, which actual-
ly extend behind existing cabins on
the east end of the lake (I believe
that is called a "performance sub-
division"). That sounds like high
density to me. He further said that
Green Diamond intended to work
with a developer to be sure that a
good plan that met their standards
would be developed. That sounds
like they have already made plans
to develop. He even mentioned
things like "speed bumps," "bike
lanes" and "street lights" when
people complained that it would
create too much traffic along Nah-
watzel Beach Drive.
If that isn't enough, we are
given an extremely short window
to prepare for the appeals hearing,
which inclu.des expert witnesses
and voluminous documentation.
Oh, and by the way, the process is
nothing short of a trial with law-
yers, cross-examinations, multiple
deadlines all with paid attor-
neys in attendance. The hearings
examiner says it's all done to be
fair to Green Diamond. Of course.
Gee, I'm sure glad someone is
looking out on their behalf. In the
meantime, the residents of the
lake are forced to collect donations
to fight this battle against the deep
pockets of Green Diamond! Erin
Brokovich, where are you?
Finally, we are told this proj-
ect is on a fast track. No kidding.
What's the hurry? Hmmm...
let's see: elections in November,
change of commissioners in Janu-
ary, review of the shoreline man-
agement plan. Could it possibly
be that Mason County and Green
Diamond are in a big rush to get
this done before anyone can catch
up with the process?
Why isn't Mason County inter-
ested in savmg one of the last pris-
tine waterfront areas in the coun-
ty? Why would they want to allow
a rezone that would inevitably lead
to overcrowding on the lake, excess
traffic along Nahwatzel Beach
Drive, reduced water quality (think
49 septic systems and increased
phosphorus load), potential reduc-
tion in the aquifers, and displace-
ment of wildlife that uses the old
growth-like shores of the lake.
We completely agree with the
concept that fairness is good. We'd
just like to see a little of it come
our way.
Sharon Kirry
Shelton
It's time for
Haigh to.go
Editor, the Journal
It was brought to my attention
to watch the Kitsap Sun's Edito-
rial Review Board's interview with
Kathy Haigh (D) and Dan Griffey
(R), particularly the discussion of
the Fund Education First bill (HB-
25331 that did not make it out of the
Education Appropriations Commit-
tee Haigh is chair of. When asked
about the bill, Haigh shook her head
and told the interviewer that the
bill never made it to her ccmmittee
as Griffey looked at her in disbelief.,
as she lied about it. Then I watched
another video of her education com-
mittee and as I did, there she was
residing as chair over the discussion
of HB-2533. The bill could have sup-
ported a situation where legislators
would vote on funding education
first before moving on to other state
expenditures -- a novel thought.
No, instead these legislators like
Haigh pay for their special interest
favorites first and come back to us
voters with their handout telling us
there isn't enough for education or
cops or something that is important
to the public.
Some years back when the Leg-
islature was about to vote on a bill
with a substantial gas tax increase
for roadway infrastructure spend-
ing, I read in the paper Haigh sup-
ported passing the gas tax increase.
so I called her up and expressed my
concerns that the bill was skewed
to spend more in places like Seattle
and discussed with her that Seattle
wanted the viaduct replaced and at
that time a tunnel was the highest
cost item by far on their wish list of
replacements, and that the bill was
not the best thing in the interests
of us here in Mason County. She
told me then that bill was good for
everyone and she doubted Seattle
would ever get the tunnel. Well, she
voted for the bill and the gas tax in-
crease and Seattle is building their
precious tunnel with one less lane
than the old viaduct had. which
seems absurd when you think of
Seattle's traffic. On July 26, I at-
tended the Shelton Mason County
Chamber and the Mason County
League of Women Voters forum of
candidates at Oakland Bay Junior
High where Seattle's tunnel and
other infrastructure projects were
talked about. There was Haigh
again, shaking her head. in what
looked like disgust, with the project
she had her part of voting in. Well
folks, it's time to vote her out.
Jerry Goodwin
Union
Janda for PUD 1
Editor, the Journal
It is with great pleasure that I
endorse Jack Janda for reelection
as commissioner with the Mason
Public Utility District 1.
I have served as a commissioner
with Pend Oreille PUD for the past
11 years and have had the honor
of working with Janda. I have wit-
nessed firsthand his true passion
for the people he serves. He always
carries himself professionally and
is well-respected by the others who
work by his side, whether it is in
the local, state or federal arena.
Janda has the ability to work with
all people regardless of which side
of the aisle they sit on.
Janda has also been elected to
serve on the executive board of di-
rectors for Energy Northwest and
once again he is respected for his
insight and leadership.
In today's world, many people
see politicians with a negative eye.
']?he people of Mason PUD 1 can
be proud to have elected Janda as
your commissioner and I wish him
well with his reelection efforts.
Curt Knapp
Newport
Postal
Continued from page A4
Here, advertising dol-
lars pay most the freight
to keep this paper prosper-
ous and foot the bill for
the news coverage of Ma-
son County.
And without those dol-
lars, many newspapers
across the country could
face going under.
That hurts their com-
munities tremendously,
whether the papel is big
or small.
It is important that
the postal service con-
tinues, and faced with
rising debt and decreased
mail volume, we're glad
they're assessing their
options, but in offering
an unfair advantage to
one corporation, they
will be hurting not just
newspapers like this one,
but also communities like
this one.
The postal service isn't
a business. It is owned by
Uncle Sam. It is ours and
it exists to serve us all
equally.
It shouldn't be picking
winners and losers in any
marketplace. It shouldn't
be competing with and
undercutting its stake-
holders us.
In last week's What's
Cooking article, the book
signing for Michelle Mer-
rin's book "A Faith of a Dif-
ferent Color" was incorrectly
stated as Sept. 25. The book
signing will take place from
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Sept.
15 at Sage Book Store. The
Journal regrets the error.
Driving event stresses safety
By GORDON WEEKS
gordon@znasoncounty.com
Automobile accidents are the No. 1 cause
of deaths of American teenagers, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention reports.
Shelton State Farm Insurance agent
Melanie Bakala cited that statistic last week
when she told the City of Shelton Board of
Commissioners about the free family safety
event "Celebrate My Drive," which will take
place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at
Oakland Bay Junior High School in Shelton.
Celebrate My Drive is sponsored by State
Farm Insurance and the Shelton High
School/Oakland Bay Junior High Students
Against Destructive Driving (SADD) Club.
The event features a golf cart obstacle course
that simulates the effects oftexting or drink-
ing while driving. It also offers a driving
contest in the parking lot, with $124 gift
certificates given to the top three finishers.
The bicycle rodeo includes drawings for free
bicycle helmets.
Admission, the activities and the food and
refreshments are all free of charge.
The event reinforces positive driving hab-
its as teens learn to drive, Bakala said.
'hese are not scare tactics- they're share
tactics," she said.
Organizers added more offerings to make
Celebrate My Drive a community event for
all ages. A dunk tank will provide opportuni-
ties to make a splash, the deejay Music De
Lite from Olympia will play music and chil-
dren can enjoy the slide and bouncy house.
The free food includes hot dogs, hamburgers,
popcorn and cotton candy, and firefighters
will host a smokehouse.
A big truck demonstration will show mo-
torists how to stay within the sight lines of
the drivers of semi-trucks, and classic cars
will be showcased.
On display in the parking lot will be a
wrecked car that was driven by a young per-
son who was killed while texting and driv-
ing. The Thurston County coroner and the
mother of the young driver will talk about
the tragedy.
This is the inaugural Celebrate My Drive
event in Shelton, and organizers hope to
make it an annual event, said Gerald Apple,
who has taught driver education at Shelton
High School for 42 years. Participants will
see that texting while driving is as danger-
ous as driving while intoxicated, he said.
Apple said he believes strongly in educat-
ing children from kindergarten on in driver
safety, beginning with bikes, so they know
the rules of the road when they come into his
class.
The goal of the event "is to celebrate and
support teens as they learn to drive and get
ready for driving on our highways," Apple
said. "But we want to make sure these teens
are safe on the road by giving them the skills
and telling and showing them the conse-
quences of distracted driving."
Apple said he hopes the event draws 1,000
people. He plans to record the event and
show it at seminars. Apple coordinates the
driver education courses at 31 schools in five
counties.
Agressive goats keep Mt. Ellinor.trail closed
By NATALIE JOHNSON
natalie(@nasoncounty.com .
Olympic National Forest
personnel announced recent-
ly that the forest's Mr. Elli-
nor Trail will remain closed
because of concerns about
"human-goat interactions."
The trail was first closed
in July when four separate
hiking parties reported en-
counters with aggressive
mountain goats on the trail.
Forest staff said that the
goats have become accus-
tomed to people in their hab-
itat and are "inappropriately
assertive in their efforts to
obtain food and salt from hu-
mans."
Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife, Olympic
National Park and mountain
goat experts to monitor the
situation.
'%Ve will reopen the trail
as soon as it is safe but we
need to give our strategy
time to work. People need
to become a part of the so-
lution and not the problem;
they can do this by not feed-
ing the goats or allowing
them to lick salt from their
skin or backpacks," Acting
Forest Supervisor Amanda
McAdams said in a state-
ment.
Up to 20 goats, including
seven kids, have been ob-
served in the area since the
trail was first closed. Forest
to humans and are obtaining
food and salt from people.
"A comprehensive, sci-
ence-based plan for manag-
ing the human-mountain
goat conflicts is being devel-
oped," forest staff said in a
press release.
The plan addresses goat
numbers, distribution and
behavior.
Staff members are work-
ing on an "aversive condi-
tioning program," which
would discourage goats from
approaching people.
McAdams said people
need to understand how
their actions can encourage
or discourage harmful hu-
man-goat interactions.
For more information,
SkokomishPark.com • 360-877-5760
Olympic National For- staff members have noticed contact the Hood Canal
est staff is working with the that the goats are habituated Ranger District at 765-2200.
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Shelton-Mason County Journal- Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012 - Page A-5