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Tlmrsday, September 15, 2011
-- Week 37 --- The Voice of Mason County since •1886 Published in Shelton, Washington -- $1 ,.
By ARLA SHEPHARD
On a bright, blazingiy hot day in Shel-
ton, young and old gathered to remem-
ber the events that drastically changed
the course of this nation's history ten
years ago.
Mason County met the anniversary
of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with
somber fanfare and hopeful affirmations
last Sunday at the Shelton Rotary Club
and MACECOM's Patriot Day program
in the Walmart parking lot.
Service providers from local fire dis-
tricts and hundreds of community mem-
bers attended the event, which included
statements from County Commissioner
Lynda Ring Erickson and a keynote
speech by U.S. District Court Judge
Benjamin Settle.
Settle implored the audience to be
truthful and honest citizens who are
knowledgeable of events happening not
just at home but the world over.
"I believe our obligations as citizens
don't just extend to our own provincial
interests, but also beyond our shores,"
said Settle, referencing the extreme
drought occurring m Somalia that has
already killed more than 29,000 children
in the last three months and threatens
one-half of the 3.7 million people living
in the country and fleeing to refugee
camps. "I am disturbed ... here again I
am harkening back to the importance of
citizens being informed."
Settle encouraged everyone to look
inside him or herself to help one another
in times of need.
"And finally, be courageous," he said.
'TYhen fighting back terrorism, the best
weapon we have is courage ... We honor
those who died in the attacks on 9/11 best
by dedicating ourselves, our fortunes and
our sacred honor to ensuring that the
United States of America will remain a
beacon to the world and a home to a brave.
an honest, a diligent and a generous peo-
ple for now and generations to come."
Settle reminded everyone the reason
why they were there.
"My last message is be good citizens
worthy of those who protect us," he said.
'T~e have men and women in far off
places serving us and right here in our
community. We are indebted to them."
Following Settle's speech, the crowd
quieted for a moment of silence. The
Honor Guard at VFW Post 318 per-
formed a three-gun volley° Greg Walsh
played "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes and
Shelton High School student David Ger-
man performed "raps" on his trumpet.
The Shelton Rotary Club began plan-
ning for the event one month ago, and
once the group partnered with MACE-
COM, the event came together quickly,
said past president Jackie Ross.
"People found out about it and they just
wanted to participate," Ross said. "I think
that on this day Americans realized what
it meant to be American. The fact that our
first responders gave so much was a re-
minder of how much they do for us."
Rotary President Kevin Earls said
the club is interested in continuing the
event each year.
"I think there is a spiritual hunger in
people that they want to see more than the
average and more than the mundane," he
said. '~rhis is our chance to stand together."
Journal 13noto oy Aria Shephard
U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle gives
the keynote speech at the Patriot Day program
presented by Shelton Rotary Club and
MACECOM on Sunday, the ten-year
anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Journal photos by Aria Shephard
Skokomish Habitat Biologist Shannon Kirby examines the contents of a fish's stomach as part of the Skokomish
tribe's ongoing fish monitoring project at the Nalley Island estuary. By sampling fish, collecting insects and
monitorir/g fish diet, the tribe is creating a baseline to determine the health of the Nalley Island estuary.
Tribe monitors health
of Skokomish estuary
By ARLA SHEPHARD
It's been one year since the Skokomish
tribe completed Phase II of its extensive estu-
ary restoration project at the confluence of the
Skokomish River and Hood Canal, and changes
have already transformed the landscape.
More than 200 acres on Nalley Island, which
had been diked in the 1930s and turned into
farmland, has been reintroduced to tidal influ-
ences, bringing back to the island a salt marsh
habitat hospitable to juvenile salmon species
and steelhead.
"Just in the year that the Phase II has been
completed, there's been substantial re-vegeta-
tion," said Skokomish Natural Resources Di-
rector Joseph Pavel. '%'egetation is one of the
factors in rehabilitation; it provides habitat for
Salt water from Hood Canal seeps
into a channel on Nalley Island at
the head of the Skokomish River,
reintroducing salt marsh vegetation
to the formerly diked island.
food for the fish, as well as cover for the fish."
The Skokomish tribe and its partners from
the county~ state and federal governments re~
moved a 2.5-mile dike on Nalley Island last •
year under Phase II, and the tribe has already
started applying for grants to instigate a Phase
III. ' " ' "
The tribe restored 108 acres of land across
from Nalley Island in 2007, under Phase I,
when 5,000 feet of dike was removed at a cost of
about $1.6 million. Phase II cost approximately
$2 million.
Phase III would reconnect an additional 200
to 300 acres of freshwater wetland along the
Skokomish River to the tidal wetland habitat,
creating more territory for fish to rear.
"~/herever we've reconnected the tidal chan-
nels, it's been an instant habitat recreation,"
said Skokemish Habitat Manager Alex Gouley.
"There's a very strong likelihood that Phase III
will get funded next year."
Channel formation and re-vegetation are key
to improving an estuary's health, Pave] said.
"The desired outcome would be deep, narrow
channels, lower hanging vegetation and steep
See Project on page A-8
/ : .... • J " • • ,T •'- • 7•••:• ••
Mental
health
committee
holds
public
hearings
By NATALIE JOHNSON
A Mason County advisory
committee to consider a one-
tenth of i percent sales tax
for mental health programs
held two hearings in the
last several weeks to gather
public opinion on the pro-
posed tax.
The most recent meet-
ing took place on Thursday,
Sept. 8 at the Mason County
Public Works building.
Kim Klint of Mason Mat-
ters is a member of the com-
mittee and gave a presenta-
tion to members of the pub-
lic on the tax's purpose.
"By default our jails are
our public health/mental
health system," she said.
"This provides an option for
the community to find out if
there's a different way of do-
ing things."
The Washington State
Senate created the tax in
2005 through senate bill
E2SSB-5763 to expand ex-
isting mental health and
chemical dependency, ser-
vices in counties through-
out Washington, but not to
replace existing funding for
those services.
Before deciding whether
to approve the tax, along
with 16 other counties
which already have, the
Mason County Department
of Public Health created an
advisory committee to "re-
view current services and
gaps, look at costs and ben-
efits, and consider whether
enhancements to services
could save money and im-
prove the health and safety
of Mason County reaidents
in the long run," accord!ng
See Hearings on page A-7
Remodeled Shelton Library shows off fresh, new look
8 IIIIU! UI!!II!!!!!I1112
By NATALIE: JOHNSON On Monday, the librmT opened project quickly expanded to include Library manager Patty Ayala Ross
for business after being Closed for a vinytlaminate flooringin some rooms, said the project was long Overdue.
After nearly a month of work the month for remodeling, new paint complete with colorfully 'Tae carpet was replaced last, as
Shelton Timberland Library finally Originally, the library was sched- accented walls and reorganizing the
has a new look. uled to receive new carpet, but th~ library's more than 84,000 volumes. See Library on page A-7