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EDMTOWSNOTE
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Letters
Continued from page A-4
Decision on
curious
Editor, the Journal
At a recent Shelton
School Board meeting, the
members made an "offi-
cial" decision not to renew
the contract of last year's
varsity girls' soccer coach.
Now although that decision
was not a popular one with
some parents and players,
nor did the coach do any-
thing wrong, at least it was
made by the entire board.
You see, weeks earlier
one member of the board
made the decision inde-
pendently and Without the
knowledge of the rest of the
board, to notify the coach
via the athletic director,
that his contract was not
being renewed. As stated
in last week's article, when
coach Mike Malpass was
told his contract was not
being renewed, no official
decision was made by the
board. How can a coach
be told he will not have a
contract if it hasn't been
officially voted on by the
board? Now it appears the
board has gone into damage
control mode and are back-
pedaling, trying to cover the
actions of that one board
member.
According to the website,
the district core values are
integrity, commitment, ac-
countability, respect and
equity. The actions of this
one individual would lead
me to believe that those
values are mere words
on a page or website and
mean nothing. The board
member who overstepped
his authority should be
held accountable for his
actions and should step
down. The integrity of the
board and district is at
stake. It makes me wonder
what promises were made
or markers called in that
led this bg.~.rd member to
originally bypass the other
members and make that
contract decision. Going off
on his own shows a lack of
respect for his fellow board
members and I would ques-
# .
tion his commitment to the
district as it appears he has
his own personal, hidden
agenda.
The board should also re-
view its policies and proce-
dures in regards to the time-
lines involved in reviewing
and renewing coaching con-
tracts. Changes shouldn't
be made just weeks before
practices start. That is not
fair to the players nor does
it allow time for the most
highly qualified candidates
(which they already had in
place with coach Malpass) to
apply and be hired.
Kerry Halvorsen
Shelton
The Gay
Editor, the Journal
Reference: Diane Eaton
(Journal, Sept. 13).
First and foremost, I
would like to personally
thank Kathy Haigh, 35th
District state representa-
tive, for supporting mar-
riage equality.
If you are truly inter-
ested in learning about the
so-called "Gay Agenda," I
highly recommend http://
www.cnn.com/2012/06/17/
opinion/granderson-gay-
agenda/index.html entitled
"The Secret Gay Agenda"
by LZ Granderson, CNN
contributor.
I am quite puzzled as
to why Diane purports to
be so knowledgeable about
the "Gay Agenda" and why
she feels compelled to give
us a lesson on the law of
gravity when perhaps she
needs to become better
versed in constitutional
law, particularly the 14th
Amendment.
Sandra Cyr
Union
Malfeasance
troubling
Editor, the Journal
Recent court reports al-
leging grave malfeasance
involving a former and
a sitting county commis-
sioner are most troubling.
Apparently noncompliance
with established rules in
awarding a labor contract
is going to cost the Mason
County citizens consider-
able money, and the situa-
tion gives one much pause
in considering who we
should trust in the future
with the community's vital
resources. This is especially
true now, as the two indi-
viduals involved are aspir-
ing to government seats in
the November election.
There has been no rebut-
tal, explanation or other
comments from the two
named responsible indi-
viduals as yet, but it would
seem that we citizens at
least deserve to hear their
side of the story. Mean-
while, it would be of benefit
to all of us to use extreme
caution casting our votes in
the upcoming elections.
Jack Krause
Shelton
Veteran
Editor, the Journal
Rob McKenna is, by word
as well as deed, a strong
supporter of veterans and
their families. He is the son
of a career Army warrant
officer and his positions as
a candidate reflect contin-
ued and unqualified sup-
port.
Jay Inslee, on the other
hand, represents a far dif-
ferent perspective. In Octo-
ber 2011, prior to Inslee's
resignation from Congress,
there were 16 bills in Con-
gress that benefitted vet-
erans and their families.
Then-Congressman Inslee
had not signed on as a. co-
sponsor or supporter of one
of those bills. The issue is
not the scope or content of
a particular bill, but the
pattern of a lack of support
by Inslee of any of these
measures. In light of such
a significant failure of sup-
port, what can be expected
in the future?
McKenna is by far the
true supporter of veterans
and their families and the
best choice for governor.
Jim Sims
Shelton
Letter writer
Editor, the Journal
I read John Gunter's let-
ter to the editor in a recent
Journal and feel perplexed
by it.
I was the one who
pointed out that one of the
members of the recently
established Belfair Ad-
visory Committee (BAC)
didn't live in the Urban
Growth Area, not Randy
Neatherlin. Per the county
commissioners' resolution,
the minimum number of
BAC members is seven, and
all members must reside
within the UGA. I wonder
if the BAC is a legal group
and can they meet as a
committee with only four
members?
I want the BAC to suc-
ceed. Barbara Adkins (Com-
munity Development direc-
tor) is paid to attend the
meetings. I'm not, nor are
any of the committee mem-
bers, but I am committed
to attend these meetings
because I feel I can offer
much needed background.
I care about the community
I live in even though I'm
not a resident of the UGA.
I can assure you that Neat-
herlin has been attending
the meetings for the same
reasons.
Neatherlin and I have
been asking the Mason
County commissioners to
create a BAC for quite some
time, but we wanted one
made up of all "stakehold-
ers," not just residents.
When I was rejected from
serving on the committee
because I was not a "resi-
dent," the commissioners
assured me that any ac-
tions from the BAC would
come before the Planning
Advisory Commission of
which I was a member.
Neatherlin and I, while
serving on the Planning Ad-
visory Commission, stood
up to former director Do-
bey and stopped a planned
$15,000-to-$30,000-per-
parcel assessment that
was scheduled to begin this
year. This was before any-
one was focusing on any of
these issues. We advocated
that the affected citizens
be informed of this huge
assessment and told that
the sewer was about to be
forced onto them before
most people even knew
they lived in the UGA. If we
hadn't spoken up, the sewer
would already be headed
into Phase 2 and the resi-
dents would already be pay-
ing $15,000 to $30,000 per
parcel, as was scheduled to
be imposed this year.
I feel Mr. Gunter has
misinterpreted Neather-
lin's comments, which he
garnered from the Port of
Allyn article published in
the Belfair Herald on Aug.
9. Name-calling does no one
any good. I hope we will all
try to seek common ground
because if we don't work to-
gether, we will end Up with
the illplanned, overbuilt
and financially devastat-
ing sewer in our backyards,
and quite possibly never
see a Belfair Bypass in our
lifetimes.
Ken VanBuskirk
Belfair
lake's water
quality
Editor, the Journal
Yes, this is another letter
about the pendi.ng re-zoning
of the north shore at Lake
Nahwatzel.
Mason County citizens
should be concerned be-
cause this pending re-zone
will affect other areas of
the county and allow those
areas to be developed into
residential sites. The devel-
opment of these lands will
affect the wildlife and the
quality of your life. Addi-
tional human use, noise, air
pollution and water quality
are just a few of the adverse
consequences.
• Water quality is my
main concern at Lake Nah-
watzel. If the re-zone is
allowed, human use of the
lake and surrounding'area
will dramatically rise and
subsequently affect the wa-
ter availability and quality.
During a recent stay at
the lake, I monitored the
water level of the lake for a
week. During that time, the
weather finally turned nice
and consequently the human
use of the lake increased.
The water level dropped sev-
eral inches during that time.
I hate to think what would
happen if the weather had
been nice all summer.
The lack of a true water
inlet, evaporation and hu-
man use all contributed to
the water loss in the lake. A
small trickle of water com-
ing in on the south side and
ground seepage are the only
ways the lake can replen-
ish. These water sources
are not adequate and will
be greatly affected if the
north shore is developed.
A Google search says
there are 7,570 websites that
mention Lake Nahwatzel. In
a quick look at a few I found
a common theme. Words like
beautiful, clean, gin clear,
pristine and crystal clear
were all used in describing
the water in the lake.
Water quality should be
at the forefront of the deci-
sion as to allow these re-
zones. Only devastation of
water quantity and quality
will occur once these lands
are allowed to be developed.
Paul Wenzel
Westport
Gay agenda
Editor, the Journal
I take issue with the
remarks of Diane Eaton of
Grapeview in the Sept. 13
edition of the newspaper.
Ms. Eaton: your opinion
may be "truth" in your eyes,
however, it is not "trnth"
for everyone. Your "truth"
is not the same as gravity.
Gravity is a scientific fact,
your opinion is based on
your religious beliefs, to
which there is absolutely
no evidence that God ex-
ists, except for your faith.
According to our Consti-
tution, "Congress shall
make no law respecting an
establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free ex-
ercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or
of the press; or the right of
the people peaceably to as-
semble, and to petition the
government for redress of
grievances." In essence, the
constitution is saying there
is to be no "official" religion
sanctioned by the govern-
ment.
The founding fathers
considered several versions
of the first amendment:
Some early draft amend-
ments to the religion sec-
tion were:
"James Madison, 1789
- "The Civil Rights of none
shall be abridged on ac-
count of religious belief
or worship, nor shall any
national religion be es-
tablished, nor shall the
full and equal rights of
conscience be in any man-
ner, nor on any pretext
infringed. No state shall
violate the equal rights of
conscience or the freedom
of the press, or the trial by
jury in criminal cases."
House Select Cbmmit-
tee - "No religion shall be
established by law, nor
shall the equal rights of
conscience be infringed."
Samuel Livermore, AUG-
15 -"Congress shall make
no laws touching religion,
or infringing the rights of
conscience."
House version - "Con-
gress shall make no law
establishing religion, or
to prevent the free exer-
cise thereof, or to infringe
the rights of conscience."
(Moved by Fisher Ames)
Initial Senate version -
"Congress shall make no
law establishing religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise
thereof."
Final Senate version -
"Congress shall make no
law establishing articles of
faith or a mode of worship,
or prohibiting the free exer-
cise of religion."
Conference Commit-
tee - "Congress shall make
no law respecting an es-
tablishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise
thereof."
The final wording was
accepted by the House of
Representatives and by the
Senate. It was ratified by
the states in 1791." Quote
from ReligiousTolerance.
org.
While you are indeed free
to worship as you see fit, so
are others free to worship as
they see fit. If others have
no problem with same sex
marriage, why should you?
The point is, a marriage is
valid in the eyes of the state
only when it has a valid
marriage license. And the
state is where all the ben-
efits are: insurance, medical
decisions, rights of survivor-
ship, you name it. Every cit-
izen is entitled to the same
rights as every other citi-
zen. You may believe that
a marriage is valid in the
sight of God when a couple
is married in a church by a
minister or priest. That is
your beliefi You can retain
the right to refuse to per-
form marriage ceremonies
that go against what you
believe, but you may not
infringe upon the rights of
others to practice their reli-
gion in the way that seems
right to them. I am sorry
that you are having a hard
time 'accepting this. Intoler-
ance is what has divided our
country and caused the hate
and discontent that now
rears its ugly head. I find
that it is impossible to hate
the sin and love the sinner
as the two are so closely
tied to each other. You view
homosexuality as a sin. oth-
ers do not. You may wish
to, but you are prohibited
from foisting your beliefs
on the rest of the citizens of
this and other states in this
United States of America.
I don't claim to know the
mind of God, but I believe
that he gave His only begot-
ten Son, a sacrifice that we
cannot understand because
we are not God, to redeem
the world He declared he
would have mercy on whom
he would have mercy, who
are you, then, to judge God's
children? I say, get over
yourself, and find out what
God has in mind for you.
Don't worry about what oth-
ers are doing. God will make
everything known at a later
date.
Andrea Abruzzo
Belfair
Lake's SEPA
questioned
Editor, the Journal
Our family has had a resi-
dence at Lake Nahwatzel for
six years. It is our intention
to maintain this property for
generations to come.
Our extended family has
personal experience with
lakes in British Columbia
that have been ruined by
both algae and overuse
caused by poorly planned
residential expansion. This
is why we located in Mason
County at Lake Nahwatzel.
The situation proposed now,
locally, seems headed that
same direction. This is a
huge concern to us. from our
observed experience in Brit-
ish Columbia, as it IS irre-
versible on a practical basis.
I have serious concerns
regarding the recent Mason
County acceptance of the
required State Environ-
mental Policy Act (SEPA)
study submitted by Green
Diamond Resource Com-
pany (GDR).
There are many things
that concern me about the
situation at hand, but the
overarching issues fall into
three primary categories:
• Residents, such as
ourselves, were not notified
until very recently, in spite
of the process being in play
for over a year.
• The poor quality of the
SEPA study submitted by
Green Diamond,
• The acceptance of the
SEPA study and "Determi-
nation of Non-Significance"
by Mason County.
Early notification of
people directly affected by
such proposals is part of the
intended process for such
matters.
The SEPA report is ad-
mittedly "observations"
made at random. This re-
port has numerous errors,
due to the process by which
the study was conducted.
There are several examples
of wildlife not included in
the report, such as otter and
loons that are not common
to the surrounding valley
area. These two examples
alone should be more care-
fully studied to determine
the impact such action
would have upon them.
It is clear to me that a
complete Environmental
Impact Statement should
be completed - with the
normal process and care
that is due such a mat-
ter. I am very surprised
by Mason County's accep-
tance of the shoddy SEPA
report submitted by Green
Diamond. It is probably
due to the longstanding
good working relationship
of GDR with the county
and community but this
action is a mistake, or
more simply wrong. The
GDR proposal needs to be
properly managed, before
it becomes impossible to
reinstate Lake Nahwatzel
to the healthy, vibrant,
natural lake and wildlife
habitat (in delicate bal-
ance) as currently exists
for fishermen, visitors, and
residents.
James Dunne
Shelton, Salem, Ore.
• Duetothe large vol-
ume of letters to the editor
this Campaign season, The
Shelton-Mason County
Journal has not been able
to immediately publish all
submissions each week. If
you Submitted a letter and
have not seen it published,
please wait until after the
Nov. 6 general election to
contact us.
An apology
Editor, the Journal
To Randy Neatherlin and
Jennifer Hines:
I offer a sincere apology
to you. I acted in good ihith
and asked those in authority
in the county to clarify about
whether or not our commit-
tee could vote on issues with
less than seven members.
When they told me that
you were flat-out wrong,
I checked and double-
checked what they told me.
I asked and re-asked the
same questions. I was livid
and felt like you needed to
be called out publicly on it
since you spoke out publicly
about our committee m a
negative way and you are
running for a public office.
Turns out. Randy and Jen-
nifer, you were accurate
and the county was dead
wrong in the information
they gave me. I'm sorry!
I only started to doubt
Mason County when I bad
written to the assistam
attorney general about
another county issue and
asked him. 'Oh by the way,
about a quorum, here is the
resolution and here is what
I was told.' He suggested I
speak with the prosecutor of
the county, but added tbat
it sounded like we could not
operate as a committee un-
til we had more members. I
could not believe it!
I checked again with
the county and they con-
firmed once again that you
were wrong. Only after l
asked them to check with
the prosecutor did they get
back several .days later and
say that you were correct!
I was just as livid about
that as I was about what l
thought was wrong infor-
mation you gave us!
I would have written this
sooner, however. I didn't
find out until Sept. 13 that
the county was wrong. I
humbly apologize to you!
I regret that at this point
in time, the county doesn't
seem to know their right
hand from their left hand
on matters of basic opera-
tions. It is truly unfortu-
nate and regretful!
John Gunter
Belfair
Sign food
petition
Editor, the Journal
If you would like to know
what is in your food by ge-
netic manipulation, such as
insertion of fish genes into
corn or inserting bacteria
or herbicides and pesticides
into the genetic makeup
of fruits and vegetables,
you can sign a petition at
Healthy Benefits at 825 W.
Franklin St. in downtown
Shelton and many other
locations throughout the
state. The petition 1-522
"The People's Right to Know
Genetically Engineered
Food Act" is an initiative to
the Washington state Leg-
islature to establish manda-
tory labeling of foods pro-
duced through genetic engi-
neering, so the public has a
choice. Label It WA's goal is
to gather 320,000 signatures
by Dec. 31, to ensure we
have at least 241,153 valid
signatures needed to get
1-522 on the ballot. Anyone
who would like to volunteer
to collect signatures, such as
outside grocery stores, or if
you have a place of business
and want to have a petition
on the counter, can go on-
line at www.labelitwa.org or
email labelitwa@gmail.com
or call 253-256-1921.
Pat Jerrells
Shelton
Shelton-Mason County Journal- Thursday, Sept. 20,2012 - Page A-5