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Shelton Mason County Journal
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September 23, 1999     Shelton Mason County Journal
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00ournal of Opinion: Life and death [tow do you get people'to listen to a message they think has nothing to do with them? That's a question the Mason County HIV/AIDS Advisory Council is always exploring as it tries to trunlpet the truth that the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome affect homosexual and heterosexual, man and woman, rich and poor, urban dweller and rural resident. This Saturday's Mason County AIDS Walk on Moun- tain View is an opportunity for the community to raise money to help those with AIDS, but it also serves as an opening for the advisory council to raise awareness about a deadly disease with no known cure. 'rlm advisory council is the group working on many fronts to educate people about AIDS and help those afflicted with the disease. It's the organization that holds the candlelight vigils on World AIDS Day. The vigils don't draw big crowds, but each year, in addition to the activists who always attend, there are a few "new" people - a person recently diagnosed with AIDS who needs support, a parent who's just lost an adult child to the dis- asc and has decided not to surrender to the stigma surround- ing AIDS, or someone else recently touched by the disease. By the end, there aren't many dry eyes in the house. A lot of the people in the room have watched death or await it. It's a scene the "average" person never sees, or at least thinks he'll never experience. Sadly, more and more "average" people are living in the AIDS nightmare. It's not as bad here as in Africa, where half of newborns are llIV.positive. But 54 cases of AIDS have been diagnosed in this county, one-tenth of one percent of the popula. tion. Advisory council co-chair Jutta Riediger, an AIDS educator, said there are undoubtedly more undetected. A lot of people here ignore the risk, to their potential peril, Riediger said. They may still believe AIDS is a gay man's dis- case. They may believe they're immune because they are in a monogamous relationship. They may believe they know their partner well enough to know the partner couldn't have AIDS. However, Riediger points out that our society is filled with peo- ple cohabiting with partner after partner after partner in rela- tively short unions -"serial monogamous relationships," she calls them - which greatly increases the odds of running into someone who is HIV-positive. Here's a scary thought to Riediger: The average time between the date a healthy person contracts HIe and the time he or she is diagnosed with AIDS is now 14 years (shorter for drug users, those with illnesses and teens). Fourteen years ago, in the mid-'80s, women weren't told they were at risk, she points out. The only way they can find out their HIV status is to ask a doctor for an antibody test. She emphasizes that the quicker a person is diagnosed, the better chance for survival, be- cause people in early stages of infection respond better to medication. She likes to add that of the 54 people di- agnosed here, 41 are still alive and needing love. So some who think they couldn't contract the disease may be at great risk. Most know that intravenous drug users are sus- ceptible when theyshare needles. Women involved sexually with men who arc former drug users make up the highest risk group. |Jut young, poor, rural white women, of which Mason County has plenty, now make up a high-risk group. The county also has a large population of Hispanics, another high-risk group. Those are the latest statistical realities for the groups hit hardest, but if you're a white, middle-class person and as- sume you're not at risk, you could be dead wrong. Riediger takes a pragmatic approach in her AIDS edu- cation, a risk-reduction path acknowledging that many people aren't going to remain celibate in today's world. Since AIDS is only spread through unprotected inter. course or by blood entering a mucous membrane or through the skin via a cut, puncture, etc., talking about sex becomes a major part of her education program. Make no mistake. Abstinence is the only way to guarantee you won't contract AIDS sexually. Riediger, applauds those who choose that lifestyle, but she also recognizes that a large seg- ment of the population isn't going to stop having sex. So if she is intolerant in her attitude toward that segment, she won't reach them, and that is like condemning them to die, she said. Condoms are 98 percent effective in preventing AIDS transmis- sion, so she urges those insisting on having sex to practice "safer sex" (not "safe sex':), by using condoms. That cuts their risk, she said, from 100 percent exposed to 2 percent. Among those at the AIDS Walk on Saturday will be Ray Coleman, the tireless AIDS education crusader from Agate whose son died from the disease in 1987. The advi- sory council's co-chair does everything he can to make sure someone else's son or daughter or loved one doesn't suffer the same fate his son did. He's raised more money for AIDS patients than anyone on the advisory council and been available day and night to comfort those infec- ted and affected by AIDS. But some people still haven't gotten his message. The next casualty could be you if you are careless; it could be your child if he or she doesn't heed warnings. It's a matter of life and death. Primary interest Adults are fond of complaining about how standards have been lowered in schools. They certainly would be the experts on lowering standards. Take voting, for example. After last week's primary - an election in which bal- lots were mailed to every registered voter and citizens had to go to all the trouble of finding a mailbox - a coun- ty election official said he was happy with the turnout, estimated at 38 to 40 percent. And who could blame him? Turnout was 25 percent in the 1995 primary and 35 percent in the 1997 primary. Those voting percentages are about as impressive as the numbers of local students who have met state standards on math tests. The percentages become even more impressive when one considers that they reflect registered voters who bothered to mark their ballots and don't include those eligible to vote who didn't even register. We're sure those in East Timer would appreciate the way Mason County citizens cherish their precious right to vote. CG Page 4- Shelto'n-Mason Count; Journal- Thursday, September 23, 1999 Hyped motion sickness (motto: "The Endless Vast Ex- panse of Wilderness State"). They respond to this predicament exactly as Lewis and Clark would have: by holding long, whiny ar- guments wherein they wave the camera around and repeatedly shout a very bad word that I can- not put in the newspaper, so let's just call it "darn." Much of the dialogue sounds like this: FIRST CHARACTER: Darn you! You darned got us darned lost in these darned woods! Darn! SECOND CHARACTER: Go darn yourselfi SQUIRREL: Will you darners shut the darn UP!?! The characters are all so busy arguing and yelling "Darn!" at each other that, in the entire movie, they actually travel a grand total of maybe 7,5 linear feet. You get the impression that if they'd just shut up and WALK, in 20 minutes they'd come to a Wal-Mart. But they don't, and af- ter several days they run out of food. They do NOT, however, run out of electricity for their cam- eras, which apparently are pow- ered by tiny, highly portable nu- clear generators. And thus they are able to keep videotaping, which enables you, the viewer, to experience the ter- rifying things that happen right outside their tent at night, name- ly: It's hard to say. Apparently SOMETHING terrifying is hap- pening, but you can't really tell what it is, because pretty much all you see is the ground, or total darkness. Much of the footage near the end appears to be shot deep inside a sleeping bag. I won't reveal the terrifying and shocking surprise ending of the movie, because I don't want to spoil it, plus I have no idea what it is, since it's not actually IN the movie. The characters all get killed and are unable to videotape it. But at least the darned camera stopped moving. I hope I don't appear to be criticizing The Blair Witch Proj- ect. I happen to think it's a great film, because despite its flaws, it meets the ultimate artistic test: It will make over a hundred million dollars. This inspires me. In my college days, I spent my summers working at Camp Sharparoon as a counselor for disadvantaged youths, and one of my key coun- seling techniques was terror. When we were out in the woods at night, I could make the youths at least briefly stop hitting each other and making bodily sounds by telling them scary bedtime sto- ries. Not to brag, but some of my stories were a lot scarier than The Blair Witch Project, as deter- mined by the standard unit of measurement for bedtime-story scariness, which is Bedrolls Wet- ted. So I'm thinking I can cash in on my Camp Sharparoon stories by turning them into terrifying low-budget films. I'll start with "Hunt for the Latrine Demon," which will be about an ill-fated attempt to make a documentary about an entity that dwells, ac- cording to legend, in a primitive hand-dug campsite toilet facility. I've already got a script written ("It's got me by my darned ankles!"). All I need now is some unknown actors, a video camera and a huge promotional budget. And of course a seal. By DAVE BARRY Recently, it came to my atten- tion that I was one of the eight re- maining Americans who had not seen The Blair Witch Project. In case you're one of the other seven, I should explain that The Blair Witch Project is a hugely popular movie that was featured simultaneously on the covers of both Time and Newsweek (mottoes: "We Both Have The Same Motto"). The Blair Witch Project stunned the Hollywood es- tablishment, because it proved that, to make a hit movie, you don't need big stars, an expensive production and a huge promotion- al budget to generate hype. All you need is a huge promotional budget to generate hype. The movie itself can cost $34. Not wishing to be a cultural holdout, I went to see The Blair Witch Project, which tells the story of three young actors who attempt to make a documentary without a tripod. This means the camera constantly moves around, as though it is strapped to the head of a hyperactive seal. (For some reason, the camera is often pointed mo.r'e or less at the ground, as though the seal is hunting for ants.) The effect of this technique is to create a mood of intense realism for several minutes, after which it creates a mood of intense motion sickness. The three movie characters are looking for the Blair Witch, who according to legend is a mean witch who is never actually seen because of the high cost of special effects. The characters set out and almost immediately become lost in the legendarily huge unin- habited forests of Maryland Tests step in right direction back two rows. When I switched over to pri- vate schooling in 10th grade, much to my displeasure I found myself in classrooms with desks arranged in circles, no place to hide anymore, but voild, my grades went back up to B's. One of the few things I like about the Washington Assess- ment of Student Learning (WASL) tests is that instead of fo- cusing our attention on the front half of the classroom where help is needed least, we'll be forced into putting the spotlight on the back half of the classroom, where help is needed most. Without a doubt this will be a great challenge with many prob- lems to solve along the way, but I believe it's the first of many need- ed steps in the right direction. Hopefully by the year 2006, if not much sooner, the teachers left standing in our classrooms will be justly rewarded for any true suc- cess we manage to attain. Rich Kispert Matlock Editor, The Journak When I attended public school back in Massachusetts many moons ago, I realized where you sat in class had a great effect on how much you were challenged by teachers and ultimately upon your final grade. The A's sat in the front and answerec most of the questions, B's and C's in the middle and D's and F's could usu- ally be found having all the fun in the back two rows." I challenge anyone to come up with the name of an A student who sat in the Oh my gosh! Professor Stewart - a gigantic meteorite is hurtling toward Earth! Now remember, Sarah - we call it a meteor until it hits Earth. Mike S. Buy clinic Editor, The Journak This is really addressed to the residents of Belfair and those who live nearby. If those who have been pa- tients of Dr. Mike Butler want to keep him - and he wants to stay - there may be a remedy. You could band together and buy the clinic. In small towns and unincorporated areas all over the U.S, residents have done that, and even more. They have built and furnished a clinic and have even gone so far as providing a home for the doctor they needed. There are a lot of "ifs" involved here but if the clinic owner would sell and if Dr. Mike would stay - could you do it? There are a lot of businesses in Belfair and their companies and employees would gain a lot of goodwill with donations. Vivian Mitchell Shelton Editor, The Journal." is a dollar that it took Three years ago one of the big and me, who as Seattle newspapers took a poll als, had to earn it first. among the state's Democrat and When Republicans Republican leaders, asking them, the passage of Initiative "Who is most responsible for the lier this decade, well-being of people- government had just months or the people?" the biggest single tax Republican leaders answered, the history of our state, "People." Democrat leaders an- ning around swered, "Government." falling." Guess Through policies promoted by didn't fall. Life went on as Democrats (including their crea- and, because of 1.601, tion of our current health in- stopped the tax. surance crisis, which is quietly in- tices of the past and have tended to push us into govern- alized a state budget ment-run, rationed health care), more than $1 billion. it becomes quite obvious that the 1-601 has been a thorn Democratic Party believes that side of Democrats who government knows best how to more money to spend take care of you. government So it comes as no surprise that your expense. Mason County Democratic Chair- Nogler's article man Neal Nogler and his central no surprise. It's a committee are leading the local side of Democrats charge against the $30 car-tab would deprive them measure, Initiative 695. In Nog- to spend more of ler's September 9 letter, "I-695 is on government. And a bad idea," to the Shelton-Mason Nogler and his county County Journal he says county central committee are Democrats oppose the initiative ing out that "the because it cuts the capacity of the Guess what? It won't. county (government) to raise what 1-695 will do money through auto license tabs ernment to live and prevents any taxes from be- and make every ing imposed without a yearly vote It will take the of the people, taxes out of the Once again, as we read in this happy politicians article, Democrats defend govern- where it belongs m ment over people. Republicans, on people, not the other hand, defend people does what the over government. And that is why been criticizing the Mason County Republican not doing for a long Central Committee is supporting the little guy the big our state Republican Party's en- stead of"makingthe dorsement ofi-695. Mason County Republicans are the party of don't believe that the people. We believe govern- us "find Big Rock C ment must practice fiscal respon- tain, where the sibility and allow individuals to lemonade springs... keep more of the money they thing is free and earn. We believe the best govern- able." Instead, we ment is the one which governs puts people least. We also believe that the It's time to allow most effective, responsible and re- keep more of the sponsive government is govern- earn. It's time to m merit closest to the people. 1-695 ment fiscall) accomplishes this. money it takes from 1-695 is an initiative of the it's time to fight the PEOPLE, not government. It's an defended by initiative of FEWER TAXES and stead, defend the LESSER government. It's an ini- people- not government. tiative which takes on the status That's why the quo of government and its prac- Republican Central tice of taxing everything we own. joins with the It's an initiative which forces gov- Republican Party in ernment to become more account- the November able and efficient with our money PEOPLE'S initiative, it spends. 1-695 defends people Craig over government. Remember, Mason County every dollar government spends Hypocrisy Editor, The Journal: At the state level, You have to hand it to the poli- 695 and the ticians.., they never let hypocrisy ment are stand between them and a dollar, political mischief. The problem is they think we citi- and his right-wing zens are stupid. Sometimes I that for a few wonder if they're not right, plate bucks they are For instance, on the national bunches of votes level, the House, with ballyhoo ing of government and fanfare, passes a moderate effects even they campaign finance reform bill for partisan knowing full well that Senator are convinced you McConnell and his well-paid bud- look beyond that dies will never let such a thing license plate. see the light of day in the Senate. And locally, ou Then they have the temerity to the developer's suggest raising the limits on indi- money interests a vidual contributions.., knowing another loaded c0n again that you and I are not going hire a powerless to be able to make a dent in the lay any meanin influence of the big spenders.., the Growth but maybe they can get us to en- the, Skokomish richen the coffers even further In Will Roger's and be convinced we are "making stand you could a difference".., all the while re- in political she moving the processes of govern- they're just ment further from the ordinary citizen. ul 00'he Shelton-/fason eoMn tg USPS 492-800 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-MaSO County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. Published weekly by She/ton PubHsNng Inc. at 227 West Cots Street Mailing Address: P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA Telephone (360) 426-4412 Second-class postage paid at Shelton, Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' AssociatiOn SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $25.00 per year in-county addre, i $35.00 per year in state of Washington $45.00 per Charles Gay, editor and publisher. Neweroom: Carolyn Maddux, Patch, sports editor; Jeff Green, general assignment, city society editor, county government; Scan Hanlon, police, courts, Stephen Gay, advertising manager; Dave Pierik, ad sales. Front o manager; Vicki Kamin, circulation; Donna Dooms, bookkeeper; Composing room: Diane Riordan, supervisor; Margot Brand and Jan Koleen Wood, typesetter and computer system manager; Karl Freer, computer system manager; Cynthia Meyer, proofreader. Preaeroom: duction foreman; Roger Lawson, darkroom; Kelly Riordan, pressman, i lll 00ournal of Opinion: Life and death [tow do you get people'to listen to a message they think has nothing to do with them? That's a question the Mason County HIV/AIDS Advisory Council is always exploring as it tries to trunlpet the truth that the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome affect homosexual and heterosexual, man and woman, rich and poor, urban dweller and rural resident. This Saturday's Mason County AIDS Walk on Moun- tain View is an opportunity for the community to raise money to help those with AIDS, but it also serves as an opening for the advisory council to raise awareness about a deadly disease with no known cure. 'rlm advisory council is the group working on many fronts to educate people about AIDS and help those afflicted with the disease. It's the organization that holds the candlelight vigils on World AIDS Day. The vigils don't draw big crowds, but each year, in addition to the activists who always attend, there are a few "new" people - a person recently diagnosed with AIDS who needs support, a parent who's just lost an adult child to the dis- asc and has decided not to surrender to the stigma surround- ing AIDS, or someone else recently touched by the disease. By the end, there aren't many dry eyes in the house. A lot of the people in the room have watched death or await it. It's a scene the "average" person never sees, or at least thinks he'll never experience. Sadly, more and more "average" people are living in the AIDS nightmare. It's not as bad here as in Africa, where half of newborns are llIV.positive. But 54 cases of AIDS have been diagnosed in this county, one-tenth of one percent of the popula. tion. Advisory council co-chair Jutta Riediger, an AIDS educator, said there are undoubtedly more undetected. A lot of people here ignore the risk, to their potential peril, Riediger said. They may still believe AIDS is a gay man's dis- case. They may believe they're immune because they are in a monogamous relationship. They may believe they know their partner well enough to know the partner couldn't have AIDS. However, Riediger points out that our society is filled with peo- ple cohabiting with partner after partner after partner in rela- tively short unions -"serial monogamous relationships," she calls them - which greatly increases the odds of running into someone who is HIV-positive. Here's a scary thought to Riediger: The average time between the date a healthy person contracts HIe and the time he or she is diagnosed with AIDS is now 14 years (shorter for drug users, those with illnesses and teens). Fourteen years ago, in the mid-'80s, women weren't told they were at risk, she points out. The only way they can find out their HIV status is to ask a doctor for an antibody test. She emphasizes that the quicker a person is diagnosed, the better chance for survival, be- cause people in early stages of infection respond better to medication. She likes to add that of the 54 people di- agnosed here, 41 are still alive and needing love. So some who think they couldn't contract the disease may be at great risk. Most know that intravenous drug users are sus- ceptible when theyshare needles. Women involved sexually with men who arc former drug users make up the highest risk group. |Jut young, poor, rural white women, of which Mason County has plenty, now make up a high-risk group. The county also has a large population of Hispanics, another high-risk group. Those are the latest statistical realities for the groups hit hardest, but if you're a white, middle-class person and as- sume you're not at risk, you could be dead wrong. Riediger takes a pragmatic approach in her AIDS edu- cation, a risk-reduction path acknowledging that many people aren't going to remain celibate in today's world. Since AIDS is only spread through unprotected inter. course or by blood entering a mucous membrane or through the skin via a cut, puncture, etc., talking about sex becomes a major part of her education program. Make no mistake. Abstinence is the only way to guarantee you won't contract AIDS sexually. Riediger, applauds those who choose that lifestyle, but she also recognizes that a large seg- ment of the population isn't going to stop having sex. So if she is intolerant in her attitude toward that segment, she won't reach them, and that is like condemning them to die, she said. Condoms are 98 percent effective in preventing AIDS transmis- sion, so she urges those insisting on having sex to practice "safer sex" (not "safe sex':), by using condoms. That cuts their risk, she said, from 100 percent exposed to 2 percent. Among those at the AIDS Walk on Saturday will be Ray Coleman, the tireless AIDS education crusader from Agate whose son died from the disease in 1987. The advi- sory council's co-chair does everything he can to make sure someone else's son or daughter or loved one doesn't suffer the same fate his son did. He's raised more money for AIDS patients than anyone on the advisory council and been available day and night to comfort those infec- ted and affected by AIDS. But some people still haven't gotten his message. The next casualty could be you if you are careless; it could be your child if he or she doesn't heed warnings. It's a matter of life and death. Primary interest Adults are fond of complaining about how standards have been lowered in schools. They certainly would be the experts on lowering standards. Take voting, for example. After last week's primary - an election in which bal- lots were mailed to every registered voter and citizens had to go to all the trouble of finding a mailbox - a coun- ty election official said he was happy with the turnout, estimated at 38 to 40 percent. And who could blame him? Turnout was 25 percent in the 1995 primary and 35 percent in the 1997 primary. Those voting percentages are about as impressive as the numbers of local students who have met state standards on math tests. The percentages become even more impressive when one considers that they reflect registered voters who bothered to mark their ballots and don't include those eligible to vote who didn't even register. We're sure those in East Timer would appreciate the way Mason County citizens cherish their precious right to vote. CG Page 4- Shelto'n-Mason Count; Journal- Thursday, September 23, 1999 Hyped motion sickness (motto: "The Endless Vast Ex- panse of Wilderness State"). They respond to this predicament exactly as Lewis and Clark would have: by holding long, whiny ar- guments wherein they wave the camera around and repeatedly shout a very bad word that I can- not put in the newspaper, so let's just call it "darn." Much of the dialogue sounds like this: FIRST CHARACTER: Darn you! You darned got us darned lost in these darned woods! Darn! SECOND CHARACTER: Go darn yourselfi SQUIRREL: Will you darners shut the darn UP!?! The characters are all so busy arguing and yelling "Darn!" at each other that, in the entire movie, they actually travel a grand total of maybe 7,5 linear feet. You get the impression that if they'd just shut up and WALK, in 20 minutes they'd come to a Wal-Mart. But they don't, and af- ter several days they run out of food. They do NOT, however, run out of electricity for their cam- eras, which apparently are pow- ered by tiny, highly portable nu- clear generators. And thus they are able to keep videotaping, which enables you, the viewer, to experience the ter- rifying things that happen right outside their tent at night, name- ly: It's hard to say. Apparently SOMETHING terrifying is hap- pening, but you can't really tell what it is, because pretty much all you see is the ground, or total darkness. Much of the footage near the end appears to be shot deep inside a sleeping bag. I won't reveal the terrifying and shocking surprise ending of the movie, because I don't want to spoil it, plus I have no idea what it is, since it's not actually IN the movie. The characters all get killed and are unable to videotape it. But at least the darned camera stopped moving. I hope I don't appear to be criticizing The Blair Witch Proj- ect. I happen to think it's a great film, because despite its flaws, it meets the ultimate artistic test: It will make over a hundred million dollars. This inspires me. In my college days, I spent my summers working at Camp Sharparoon as a counselor for disadvantaged youths, and one of my key coun- seling techniques was terror. When we were out in the woods at night, I could make the youths at least briefly stop hitting each other and making bodily sounds by telling them scary bedtime sto- ries. Not to brag, but some of my stories were a lot scarier than The Blair Witch Project, as deter- mined by the standard unit of measurement for bedtime-story scariness, which is Bedrolls Wet- ted. So I'm thinking I can cash in on my Camp Sharparoon stories by turning them into terrifying low-budget films. I'll start with "Hunt for the Latrine Demon," which will be about an ill-fated attempt to make a documentary about an entity that dwells, ac- cording to legend, in a primitive hand-dug campsite toilet facility. I've already got a script written ("It's got me by my darned ankles!"). All I need now is some unknown actors, a video camera and a huge promotional budget. And of course a seal. By DAVE BARRY Recently, it came to my atten- tion that I was one of the eight re- maining Americans who had not seen The Blair Witch Project. In case you're one of the other seven, I should explain that The Blair Witch Project is a hugely popular movie that was featured simultaneously on the covers of both Time and Newsweek (mottoes: "We Both Have The Same Motto"). The Blair Witch Project stunned the Hollywood es- tablishment, because it proved that, to make a hit movie, you don't need big stars, an expensive production and a huge promotion- al budget to generate hype. All you need is a huge promotional budget to generate hype. The movie itself can cost $34. Not wishing to be a cultural holdout, I went to see The Blair Witch Project, which tells the story of three young actors who attempt to make a documentary without a tripod. This means the camera constantly moves around, as though it is strapped to the head of a hyperactive seal. (For some reason, the camera is often pointed mo.r'e or less at the ground, as though the seal is hunting for ants.) The effect of this technique is to create a mood of intense realism for several minutes, after which it creates a mood of intense motion sickness. The three movie characters are looking for the Blair Witch, who according to legend is a mean witch who is never actually seen because of the high cost of special effects. The characters set out and almost immediately become lost in the legendarily huge unin- habited forests of Maryland Tests step in right direction back two rows. When I switched over to pri- vate schooling in 10th grade, much to my displeasure I found myself in classrooms with desks arranged in circles, no place to hide anymore, but voild, my grades went back up to B's. One of the few things I like about the Washington Assess- ment of Student Learning (WASL) tests is that instead of fo- cusing our attention on the front half of the classroom where help is needed least, we'll be forced into putting the spotlight on the back half of the classroom, where help is needed most. Without a doubt this will be a great challenge with many prob- lems to solve along the way, but I believe it's the first of many need- ed steps in the right direction. Hopefully by the year 2006, if not much sooner, the teachers left standing in our classrooms will be justly rewarded for any true suc- cess we manage to attain. Rich Kispert Matlock Editor, The Journak When I attended public school back in Massachusetts many moons ago, I realized where you sat in class had a great effect on how much you were challenged by teachers and ultimately upon your final grade. The A's sat in the front and answerec most of the questions, B's and C's in the middle and D's and F's could usu- ally be found having all the fun in the back two rows." I challenge anyone to come up with the name of an A student who sat in the Oh my gosh! Professor Stewart - a gigantic meteorite is hurtling toward Earth! Now remember, Sarah - we call it a meteor until it hits Earth. Mike S. Buy clinic Editor, The Journak This is really addressed to the residents of Belfair and those who live nearby. If those who have been pa- tients of Dr. Mike Butler want to keep him - and he wants to stay - there may be a remedy. You could band together and buy the clinic. In small towns and unincorporated areas all over the U.S, residents have done that, and even more. They have built and furnished a clinic and have even gone so far as providing a home for the doctor they needed. There are a lot of "ifs" involved here but if the clinic owner would sell and if Dr. Mike would stay - could you do it? There are a lot of businesses in Belfair and their companies and employees would gain a lot of goodwill with donations. Vivian Mitchell Shelton Editor, The Journal." is a dollar that it took Three years ago one of the big and me, who as Seattle newspapers took a poll als, had to earn it first. among the state's Democrat and When Republicans Republican leaders, asking them, the passage of Initiative "Who is most responsible for the lier this decade, well-being of people- government had just months or the people?" the biggest single tax Republican leaders answered, the history of our state, "People." Democrat leaders an- ning around swered, "Government." falling." Guess Through policies promoted by didn't fall. Life went on as Democrats (including their crea- and, because of 1.601, tion of our current health in- stopped the tax. surance crisis, which is quietly in- tices of the past and have tended to push us into govern- alized a state budget ment-run, rationed health care), more than $1 billion. it becomes quite obvious that the 1-601 has been a thorn Democratic Party believes that side of Democrats who government knows best how to more money to spend take care of you. government So it comes as no surprise that your expense. Mason County Democratic Chair- Nogler's article man Neal Nogler and his central no surprise. It's a committee are leading the local side of Democrats charge against the $30 car-tab would deprive them measure, Initiative 695. In Nog- to spend more of ler's September 9 letter, "I-695 is on government. And a bad idea," to the Shelton-Mason Nogler and his county County Journal he says county central committee are Democrats oppose the initiative ing out that "the because it cuts the capacity of the Guess what? It won't. county (government) to raise what 1-695 will do money through auto license tabs ernment to live and prevents any taxes from be- and make every ing imposed without a yearly vote It will take the of the people, taxes out of the Once again, as we read in this happy politicians article, Democrats defend govern- where it belongs m ment over people. Republicans, on people, not the other hand, defend people does what the over government. And that is why been criticizing the Mason County Republican not doing for a long Central Committee is supporting the little guy the big our state Republican Party's en- stead of"makingthe dorsement ofi-695. Mason County Republicans are the party of don't believe that the people. We believe govern- us "find Big Rock C ment must practice fiscal respon- tain, where the sibility and allow individuals to lemonade springs... keep more of the money they thing is free and earn. We believe the best govern- able." Instead, we ment is the one which governs puts people least. We also believe that the It's time to allow most effective, responsible and re- keep more of the sponsive government is govern- earn. It's time to m merit closest to the people. 1-695 ment fiscall) accomplishes this. money it takes from 1-695 is an initiative of the it's time to fight the PEOPLE, not government. It's an defended by initiative of FEWER TAXES and stead, defend the LESSER government. It's an ini- people- not government. tiative which takes on the status That's why the quo of government and its prac- Republican Central tice of taxing everything we own. joins with the It's an initiative which forces gov- Republican Party in ernment to become more account- the November able and efficient with our money PEOPLE'S initiative, it spends. 1-695 defends people Craig over government. Remember, Mason County every dollar government spends Hypocrisy Editor, The Journal: At the state level, You have to hand it to the poli- 695 and the ticians.., they never let hypocrisy ment are stand between them and a dollar, political mischief. The problem is they think we citi- and his right-wing zens are stupid. Sometimes I that for a few wonder if they're not right, plate bucks they are For instance, on the national bunches of votes level, the House, with ballyhoo ing of government and fanfare, passes a moderate effects even they campaign finance reform bill for partisan knowing full well that Senator are convinced you McConnell and his well-paid bud- look beyond that dies will never let such a thing license plate. see the light of day in the Senate. And locally, ou Then they have the temerity to the developer's suggest raising the limits on indi- money interests a vidual contributions.., knowing another loaded c0n again that you and I are not going hire a powerless to be able to make a dent in the lay any meanin influence of the big spenders.., the Growth but maybe they can get us to en- the, Skokomish richen the coffers even further In Will Roger's and be convinced we are "making stand you could a difference".., all the while re- in political she moving the processes of govern- they're just ment further from the ordinary citizen. ul 00'he Shelton-/fason eoMn tg USPS 492-800 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-MaSO County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. Published weekly by She/ton PubHsNng Inc. at 227 West Cots Street Mailing Address: P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA Telephone (360) 426-4412 Second-class postage paid at Shelton, Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' AssociatiOn SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $25.00 per year in-county addre, i $35.00 per year in state of Washington $45.00 per Charles Gay, editor and publisher. Neweroom: Carolyn Maddux, Patch, sports editor; Jeff Green, general assignment, city society editor, county government; Scan Hanlon, police, courts, Stephen Gay, advertising manager; Dave Pierik, ad sales. Front o manager; Vicki Kamin, circulation; Donna Dooms, bookkeeper; Composing room: Diane Riordan, supervisor; Margot Brand and Jan Koleen Wood, typesetter and computer system manager; Karl Freer, computer system manager; Cynthia Meyer, proofreader. Preaeroom: duction foreman; Roger Lawson, darkroom; Kelly Riordan, pressman, i lll