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JOURNALEDITORIAL
KOMENCOMMENT
The 'Hag' and
Johnny Paycheck
"fyou're a country music fan (arid if you
aren't, you should be), then two huge
.figures always come to mind -- Merle
Haggard and Johnny Paycheck. Here are
two Country-music giants whose lives and
work seem to intersect in several, often
tragib, ways.
Haggard -- the "Hag" to his followers
-- is no stranger to this part of the world.
He appeared two years ago on the stage at
the Little Creek Casino. It was a sellout, of
course. The Hag's follow-
ers, most of whom are his
age contemporaries, were
everywhere. White hair
was much in evidence.
He's 75, but he is still
on tour. Haggard has
been quoted as saying
he has to keep working
because so many people
By JOHN -- his musicians and his
KOMEN family -- are depending
on him. Still, you can't
watch the Hag and not
believe he's enjoying every moment of ev-
ery piece he plays and sings.
Ttie show he performed at the Squaxin
casino venue was classic Haggard. He was
in good voice and his musicianship was
outstanding. He plays with a nonchalance
that seemingly verges on laziness. But he's
fooling no one. His respect for the words
and music is very evident, and his public
responds with adulation.
The genius that is Haggard is astonish-
ing when you consider his life experience.
SimlJly put, Haggard in his youth was a
rowdy lout. Stealing cars was a youthful
habit. Armed robbery was on his list; so
was burglary. In 1957, he wound up in San
Quentin Prison, where a Johnny Cash con-
cert turned him on to music.
His post-prison life wasn't too much of
an improvement. He went through money
as if it were water. His propensity for
drugs and women was boundless. But his
music and his marvelous songwriting kept
him in the vanguard of true country-west-
ern star performers.
Paycheck, like Haggard, was another
of the hell-raising outlaw country-western
singers.
Like the Hag, Paycheck served time, two
years in a military prison for hitting an
offlcqr and two years in an Ohio prison for
shooting a man in a barroom brawl.
Ttieir paths crossed in prison. Haggard
was influenced by Cash in San Quentin;
the Hag played the Chillieothe Correction-
al Institute in Ohio where Paycheck was
residing at the time. It's doubtful Paycheck
was l~uch influenced by Haggard's appear-
anteI though in some of his songs he refers
to their similar prison histories.
LETTERSTOTHEEDITORTM
E.~ch of these country-western ren-
egades has had scores of hits and near-
hits. But each struck stardom with one
song-- Haggard burst into view in 1969
with ["Okie from Muskogee," seen then as
the pro-America, anti-protest theme song;
Paycheck roared to the top in 1978 with
the blue-collar anthem "Take This Job and
Shov9 It".
Tt~ere's so much more to the stories of
these two country-western stars: Haggard's
hundreds of standout recordings; Pay-
check's '70 albums and more than two doz-
en hi~ singles. Both men made truckloads
of money, and both wound up bankrupt.
Haggard overcame both drugs and
bankruptcy. Not so much for Paycheck.
His penchant for alcohol put him on Skid
Rows where from time to time a record
producer would retrieve him and dry
him Out long enough to record another
album.
PAycheck tried to escape his demons,
finding Christianity and reportedly quit-
ting alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. But it
was too late. He died of emphysema and
asthma in 2003.
Haggard lives with his fifth wife on a
ranch near Redding, Calif. Some of his
child~'en live there, too, and members of his
band, The Strangers, have homes nearby.
He has written about his extraordinary life
in two very readable autobiographies.
If ~euntry-western is America's con-
tribt~tion to the world of music, much of
the ckedit has to go to Merle Haggard and
Johnhy Paycheck.
• ~ohn Komen, who lives on Mason
Lake~ was for 40 years a reporter and edi-
tor, TV anchorman, national TV network
correspondent, producer, columnist, edito-
rial $riter and commentator. His column,
Komen Comment, appears each week in the
Shelton-Mason County Journal.
Journal staff takes home 9
s newspaper reporters and editors,
we try our best to remove our-
~elves from the story we're cover-
ing. Once a year, we get to put ourselves
into it.
On Sept. 28, the Washington News-
paper Publishers Association (WNPA)
held its 2012 Better Newspaper Contest
banquet and convention in Yakima. The
Shelton-Mason County Journal won nine
awards -- six in our newsroom and three
in our advertising room -- in its circula-
tion group.
Journal photo by Emily Hanson
awards
award for Best Ad Campaign for a Sin-
gle Advertiser (black and White or color).
In the newsroom, report
Johnson won four awards.
second-place awards for Bq
Feature for her story "Hall
siege on Hood Canal" and:
ity Profile - Short for "The
nine dozen oysters." She a:
third-place awards -- one
Best Personality Profile - i
er Natalie
She took
~st General
oween lays
3est Personal-
man who ate
so won two
br another
~hort for "Ma-
son County woman is bloo~l bank's best
friend" and Best Government Reporting
Each year, the WNPA, which cel- This photo, showing Shelton for "Candidates campaign
ebrated its 125th anniversary this year, High School's Skylar Core Sports reporter Emily
takes submissions from its newspaper attempting to pin teammate Erik brought home a second-pl~
members. Those submissions are then Smith at the North Mason Best Black and White Spol
judged by other state newspaper pub- Classic tournament on Dec. 29, Action or Feature for her
lisher organizations. This year, New 2011, won a second-place award Shelton wrestlers." She aL,
York and Washington state traded and third-place award for Best
judged each other's submissions, at the 2012 Washington Story for "Seniors optimist
Winners are notified each fall during Newspaper Publishers Associa- build after arson."
an annual conference, tion's Better Newspaper Contest. While we're happy with
Nobody at the Journal got into news- we're always striving for i]
paper work for the awards. But it's nice Dave Pierik and advertising designer Our primary goal is to pub
to be honored by our peers, especially Will Adams combined to win the Bestpaper that's chock full ofs
when they're on the other side of the Use of Humor in Advertising and Best relevant and interesting t(
country. Youth-Oriented Content awards, nity.
Two of the Journal's awards were Former editor and sales representa-If we get a few awards e
first-place honors --sales representative tive Jesse Mullen added a third-place that's fine, too.
For the
Editor, the Journal
I want to thank Mr. John-
son for his interest in solid
waste management. While I
appreciate his commitment,
I do need to clarify one point.
In his letter dated Sept. 27,
Mr. Johnson stated that
"David Baker was fired from
Mason County." I was, in fact,
not fired, and in actuality left
the county on good terms.
I appreciate the opportuni-
ties provided to me in Mason
County and look forward to
further service this commu-
nity.
David Baker
Olympia
Belfair art a
distraction
Editor, the Journal
When looking at the sup-
posed art display at the four-
way stop in Belfair, I see a
huge lawsuit waiting to hap-
pen when someone trips on
one of the black bowling balls.
Who in Mason County de-
cides what artwork should
go where? Whoever designed
the intersection at Highway
3 and 106 did a beautiful job.
I would love to see what they
would have suggested for
Hunter Park.
Linda Bruns
Belfair
program a
success
The block party sponsored location was locked in place for programs to
by St. David's Church brought when the property was do'national debt, v
in about $1,300 after expens- nated for that purpose byabove $16 trilli~
es, and another 550 pounds of Mrs. Winlock W. Miller in• to "Citizens Ag~
food. Once again, the commu- 1926. Use of the property for ment Waste," tl
nity has responded with their fairgrounds events was inter- vote ratings rat
hearts and their pocketbooks, rupted during World War II tile" to "Unfrier
We are so appreciative and we and for some time thereafter, comes to using
Editor, the Journal
As a follow-up to the letter
I wrote recently, I am pleased
to report that much has hap-
pened with the Backpack
Program between the Shelton
School District and the Saint's
Pantry Food Bank. As a direct
response, we have received
donations in the amount of
$4,000 from the community
and beyond. This money will
be used to help homeless and
food-deprived students in the
schools. Each backpack costs
around $5.19 each and we put
together 150 of them a week.
It is a task worth doing.
1[~ Shetton-Mason C;unty
......... .........................
.... She/ton-Mason County Journal is a member of
USPS 492-800 Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
$37 per year for Mason County addresses,
$51 per year in state of Washington but outside
Mason County, $61 per year out of state.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason
Count) Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584.
Published weekly by Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc.
at 227iWest Cota Street, Shelton, Washington
Mailing address: RO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584
Telephone (360) 426-4412" www.masoncounty.com
Perioc~icals postage paid at Shelton, Washington
Owned and published by
She~ton-Mason County Journal, Inc
Page A-4- Shelton-Mason County Journal- Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012
~n city time."
anson
ce award for
'ts Photo --
hoto "Three
o nabbed a
Sports News
ic about re-
our success,
aprovement.
lish a news-
:ories that are
our commu-
long the way,
offer thanks for their contin-
ued support. And, a good time
was had by all! It was great
to have the participation of
some of the other churches,
namely Shelton Methodist
and Mt. Moriah Four Square
churches.
The Varmints band played
their hearts out, adding to
the atmosphere, and they are
raffling offa $1,500 guitar as
well. The winning ticket will
be drawn at OysterFest this
weekend with the proceeds
to benefit The Saint's Pantry:
Thank you guys for your ef-
forts to feed the hungry.
The pantry has had to be a
little more creative in the way
we are purchasing food and in
the distribution process to our
clients. But, with the help of
everyone involved, we are cop-
ing with the times and mov-
ing forward. We are alive and
well. The food bank continues
to help 150-plus families each
week. We have been in the
"business" for 31 years and it
looks like we are herq to stay!
Thank you, Journal, for
our support also.
Billie L. Howard
Shelton
Several
points
omitted
Editor, the Journal
I am not writing on behalf
of the Port of Shelton Com-
mission, but rather present-
ing my opinion as an individ-
ual port commissioner.
While my friend Norm
Eveleth and I agree on most
subjects, we differ significant-
ly on the fairgrounds location
issue. I think his Sep. 20 let-
ter omits several pertinent
points.
The decision-making
authority over fairgrounds
removal or retention on port
property rests not with the
Federal Aviation Administra-
tion (FAA) or with the county.
That decision rests with the
Port of Shelton Commission
acting on behalf of the port
district electorate.
The present fairgrounds
Karl Sleight, publisher
Newsroom:
Adam Rudnick, editor
Natalie Johnson, reporter
Gordon Weeks, reporter
Emily Hanson, sports reporter
but resumed operations in
1963 with no objection from
the FAA, or its predecessor will raise the ce
the Civil Aeronautics Board. care, while decr
The first signs of FAA ob- freedom, she an
jections began in the early in the senate h~
1990s. The fairgrounds have town without p~
resided in that location for 66 get for the thirc
out of the last 86 years with It is time to giv,
the property being used for the chance.
nothing else except a Blimp Michael Bau:
Recovery Pad during the war the right man fl
years. The facility poses less Born in Pullma:
increase the
'hich is now
,n. According
inst Govern-
Le senator's
ge from "Hos-
dly" when it
~he taxpayers
money wisely. Along with
supporting Obamacare, which
aviation safety concern than ........ college professo
either the Walmart store or : school te~cher,:
high school 10cations because • ~: exposedat an e~
aircraft do not fly over the the importance
fairgrounds. He has traveled
At its Sept. 4 meeting, the 70 countries in(
port commission made no de- Middle East. Hq
cision on fairgrounds removal, elor's degree in
The decision was rather to and a master's 1
form a committee to look into in public admin
the feasibility of moving the volunteered to
fairgrounds. It is yet to be with the state d
seen what the results of that As a husband a:
committee work will be. he understands
The FAA's desires are challenges ofm
well known, as are the incli- ily. There is mu
nations of each of the port story, which yol
commissioners. Community votebaumgartn,
input seems to strongly favor Unlike our p
continuing with the present tor, Michael B~
location, will use his ece
For those who would like to help prepare
to read a more in-depth budget for our
analysis of the subject, I have will use his ski
made a research paper titled ate with others
"The Fairgrounds Relocation ate to get thin~
Question" publicly available, will also use hi
It can be found on Mason and economic s
County Daily News Citizens regulations am
Editorial. I will provide cop- job opportuniti
ies via email at jayhupp@this country. T
comcast.net, or it can beabout a cut in t
downloaded from my Face- ment rate and
book page. It is also available a better econo~
at http://www.scribd.com/Washington stt
doc/106741690, rest of the nati,
Michael belie
Jay Hupp U.S. Constituti~
Shelton do all he can to
knows what is
Cantwell Iraq and Afghm
first-hand expeJ
a great admirat
armed forces.
We need to s~
placi g the same mista:
re n over again. We
Baumgartner ir
Editor, the Journal improve the life
It is time we replaced U.S. son in Washing
Sen. Maria Cantwell. In theUnited States a
12 years she has served in
the U.S. Senate, she has done
little to improve life for those
of us in Washington. She has,
however, managed to vote See Lette
Advertising" Composing roo~
Dave Pierik, Sr. Acct. Executive William Adams, g
Maggie Burdick, ad representative
Pressroom"
Front office: Kelly Riordan, pro
Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper Travis Miller, pres,.
Margot Brand, circulation Mary Northover,
Cricket Carter, mailroom
supervisor
st of health-
easing patient
d her cronies
ve just left
rasing a bud-
year in a row.
someone else
~gartner is
,r the job.
1, the son a
., and public
VIichael was
~rly age to '::
~f education.
to more than
luding the
has a bach-
economics,
~om Harvard
[stration. He
~ork in Iraq
epartment.
]d father,
the joys and
[sing a fam-
ch more to his
can find at
r.com.
resent sena-
umgartner
aomic skills
and pass a
~ountry. He
I1 to negoti-
in the sen-
s done. He
business
kills to cut
increase
s for all in
fis will bring
he unemploy-
,~ive hope for
tic outlook in
~te and the
)n.
ves in the
,n and will
aphold it. He
oing on in
fistan from
ience and has
ion for our
~op voting for
~es over and
]eed Michael
office to help
of every per-
;on and the
s a whole.
~athy Johnson
Hoodsport
rs on page A-5
I:
'aphics
~uction manager
operator
ress assistant