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JOURNALEDITORIAL
Charleen: a
name that
stands by itself
you meet some thseinating people in
Shelton. Charleen Smith, for example.
Charleen - if you know her, and
thousands do -- you know her by her first
name. And she doubtless knows you by your
first name, and probably your last name,
too.
Charleen is a businesswoman. It's a one-
woman business run out of her Shelton
home. Good Time Tours, it's called, and it is
well named, for if you sign up with Charleen
Smith for a tour, you are sure to have a good
LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR
time. Charleen makes it so.
Unfailingly cheerful,
this tiny blonde dynamo
makes you comfortable
from the moment you meet
her, whether it's a first-
time tourist on the tele-
phone, or on the tour coach
for your first trip and your
initial person-to-person in-
By JOHN
troduction to Charleen.
KOMEN How she copes with all
the myriad details is a
marvelous mystery. You might take a one-
day trip to the mountains of Leavenworth to
witness the forest's fall season, or you could
spend a week in Washington, D.C., and
Charleen is there with you to make certain
you are indeed on a Good Time Tour.
The details never confront you, Charleen
makes certain of that. She arranges every-
thing, from your seat on the coach to your
accommodations at your destination, be it
Lake Chelan or the nation's Capitol, Bran-
son, Mo., or Seaside, Ore.
She not only makes all the arrangements,
she serves you personally, donning an apron
to offer you coffee and doughnuts on the bus
outbound from Shelton in the morning, then
wine and cheese when the bus takes you
home in the evening. All the while Char-
leen's genuine enjoyment with her people on
the bus is a delightful bonus.
She's been doing this for years. She regu-
larly sends out her simply-printed brochure
(no attention-grabbing colors, just black and
white) to the hundreds on her mailing list.
(She uses the U.S. mail; none of that compli-
cated email nonsense for her clients.) She
outlines her seasonal tours in paragraphs
that often have a cheerleading quality. The
Mariners, for instance, are always on the
verge of a great season when Charleen spells
out her annual four trips to Safeeo Field.
She's a pro. And like her, Tom is also a
professional. He's frequently the driver of
the coach that Charleen employs for her
tours. His prowess navigating the huge
coach on freeways or narrow mountain lanes
draws quiet admiration from the passen-
gers, while his bawdy sense of humor and
horseplay with Charleen brings grins and
chuckles.
Tom is a story unto himself. He didn't al-
ways drive a bus. For 26 years he was in the
Navy, "all underwater," he says. Tom was
indeed under the sea, not on it, for he served
all 26 years in submarines. "I loved my
job," says Tom, who worked as a submarine
sonar operator and suffers chronic tinnitus
because of it.
His Navy service came during the Cold
War, when American and Russian nuclear-
armed submarines frequently confronted
each other in deepwater sonar alerts. Tom
remembers tracking Soviet subs as they
roamed under the ocean down the Pacific
Coast from Alaska to Washington. His ad-
miration for the Soviet navy is genuine, and
he sadly notes today's Russia "doesn't even
have a navy anymore". Tom could recognize
a Soviet sub by name simply by the sonar
sound it made.
Charleen's people on the bus ride home
pass the hat for the driver in appreciation
for his professionalism. Tom will be handed
a wad of bills as he pilots the coach to its
home stop, the old Armory in downtown
Shelton.
The Armory is a long-treasured institu-
tion in Shelton. And like that Armory, we've
come to treasure Charleen for her long and
valued service.
[] John Kornen, who lives on Mason Lake,
teas for 40 years a reporter and editor, TV
anchorman, national TV network correspon-
dent, producer, columnist, editorial writer
and commentator. His column, Komen Com-
ment, appears each week in the Shelton-Ma-
son County Journal.
Shelton-Mason C~unty
USPS 492-800
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason
County Journal, RO. Box 430. Shelton, WA 98584.
Published weekly by Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc.
at 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Washington
Mailing address: P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584
Telephone (360) 426-4412 • www.masoncounty.com
Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washington
County
"ason County just
dodged a proverbial
. bullet.
Firefighter crews earlier
this week contained a 229-
acre wildfire that started
Thursday near Rainbow
Lake before it was able to
cause any major damage to
nearby homes.
Personnel from every
Mason County fire district,
as well as state emer-
gency responders from the
Washington Department of
Natural Resources, worked
tirelessly over the weekend
to help control the fire. Ad-
ditionally, Thurston and
Grays Harbor county fire
districts supplied support,
as did the Bonneville Power
Administration, Green Dia-
mond Resource Company
and Manke Timber.
Overall, more than 200
firefighters had a hand in
containing the fire, which
started as a small brush-
fire.
The state Department
of Natural Resources even
brought in 55 adults and 10
juvenile offenders to work
14-16 hour shifts on the fire
line. Those offenders also
cooked meals for the fire-
fighters.
It proved no easy task
for all involved, as strong
winds and dry conditions
fueled the blaze.
"What they did was a
hell of a job," said Dave La-
Fave, incident commander
with Washington Incident
Management Team 3, who
helped manage the fire.
We couldn't agree more.
We're lucky that this fire
didn't escalate such as fires
we've seen during the sum-
mer in Eastern Washing-
ton. We're fortunate that
our fire personnel, with
help from firefighters in
other counties, were able
to get a handle on this fire
before it got even more out
of control.
A response
on gay
marriage
Editor, the Journal
Ms. Cyr:
In response to your re-
cent letter to the editor,
I submit a website from
which I obtained informa-
tion on the "Gay Agenda":
http://www.mass
resistance.org/docs/gelV
09b/Redeeming_rainbow/
chapters/Chapter- 13.pdf
The following is copied
from that website:
7. Repeal Of all laws gov-
erning the age of sexual
consent.
8. Repeal of all legisla-
tive provisions that re-
strict the sex or number '
of persons entering into a
marriage unit; and the ex-
tension of legal benefits to
all persons who cohabit re-
gardless of sex or numbers.
It is written:
Romans 1:18-32-For the
wrath of God is revealed
from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrigh-
teousness of men, who hold
the truth in unrighteous-
ness; because that which
may be known of God is
manifest in them; for God
hath shewed it unto them
for the invisible things of
Him from the creation of
the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the
things that are made, even
His eternal power and
Godhead; so that they are
without excuse; because
that, when they knew God,
they glorified Him not as
God, neither were thankful,
but became vain in their
imaginations, and their
foolish heart was darkened
professing themselves to
be wise, they became fools,
and changed the glory of
the incorruptible God into
an image made like to cor-
ruptible man, and to birds,
and four footed beasts, and
creeping things. Wherefore
God also gave them up to
uncleanness through the
lusts of their own hearts, to
dishonor their own bodies
between themselves.
2-who changed the
truth of God into a lie, and
worshiped and served the
creature more than the
creator, who is blessed for-
ever. Amen. For this cause
God gave them up unto
vile affections: For even
their women did change
the natural use into that
which is against nature:
and likewise also the men,
leaving the natural use
of the woman, burned
in their lust one toward
another; men with men
working that which is
unseemly, and receiving
in themselves that recom-
pense of their error which
was meet.
And even as they did not
like to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them
over to a reprobate mind, to
do those things which are
not convenient; being filled
with all unrighteousness,
fornication, wickedness,
covetousness, malicious-
ness; full of envy, murder,
debate, deceit, malfgnity,
whisperers,
30-backbiters, haters
of God, despiteful, proud,
boasters, inventors of evil
things, disobedient to par-
ents, without understand-
ing, covenant breakers,
without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful;
who knowing the judgment
of God, that they which
commit such things are
worthy of death, not only do
the same, but have pleasure
in them that do them.
1 Cor 6:9, 10,11-Know
ye not that the unrigh-
teous shall not inherit the
Kingdom of God? Be not
deceived; neither fornica-
tors, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor effeminate,
nor abusers of themselves
with mankind, nor thieves,
nor covetous, nor drunk-
ards, nor revilers, nor ex-
tortioners, shall inherit the
Kingdom of God, and such
were some of you; but you
were washed, but you were
sanctified, but you were
justified in tJhe name of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and in
the Spirit of our God." (It
is only too late to be saved
after you die).
May this touch your
heart and cause a turn-
about for all who have been
deceived into thinking it is
OK for same-sex.
Diane Eaton
Grapeview
Kathy Haigh
does her job
well
Editor, the Journal
A variety of opinions
are encouraged in an even-
handed editorial page. We
should be grateful for the
opportunity to share our
views. I believe that we all
expect honesty from edito-
rial contributors, but lately
I wonder if the hyperbole is
legitimate.
Kathy Haigh sits on
three legislative commit-
tees: Education, Educa-
tion Appropriations and
Oversight, and Ways and
Means. The Education com-
mittee considers K-12 edu-
cational policy and finance
issues.
Kathy is a member, not
the chair. The Education
App. and Oversight Comm.
consider issues relating to
funding andoversight of
early learning, K-12, and
higher education programs
and agencies. This com-
mittee makes recommen-
dations to the Ways and
Means committee. Kathy is
chair of this committee. The
Ways and Means commit-
tee considers the operating
budget, which involves most
parts of the state budget,
other than transportation.
Both revenue and spend-
ing are the responsibility of
Ways and Means. Kathy is
not the chair.
Kathy's voting record
is there for review by any
citizen. Google her name
and click Haigh - WA State
Legislator.
You be the judge if Kathy
has our students' best
interest at heart. She un-
derstands the value of an
educated populous because
she is well educated and
motivated to make deci-
sions for a better tomorrow
in Washington.
Guyla Vann
Belfair
voting for
jorgen
Editor, the Journal
Please consider voting for
Tom Bjorgen for the Court
of Appeals. I have known
him for more than 30 years.
Please do not hold that
against him.
I believe he would be an
excellent judge. His website
is BjorgenForJudge.com.
Robert Wilson-Hoss
Shelton
Hamilton for
commissioner
Editor, the Journal
I am endorsing Denny
Hamilton for the position
of Mason County Commis-
sioner, District 1.
I have known Denny for
30 years and believe his
knowledge and work experi-
ence will serve him well in
this position.
Having myself worked in
Mason County government
for 18 years in various
management roles, I believe
I have a good understand-
ing of the job skills required
to be a successful Mason
County commissioner.
Denny has worked for
many international orga-
nizations in strategic plan-
ning, emergency manage-
ment, and as a trainer and
facilitator of learning.
Denny's extensive expe-
rience in communications
would tremendously benefit
Mason County and encour-
age open dialogue between
business, community orga-
nizations, and government
agencies.
Having facilitated hun-
dreds of community meet-
ings, and his ability to both
listen and be available to
his constituents, is some-
thing that I believe has
been missing from the cur-
rent commission.
Denny is currently in his
sixth year serving as an
elected commissioner for
Mason County Fire District
2, and has volunteered
countless hours to Faith in
Action and other commu-
nity organizations.
Denny is also actively en-
gaged in training life skills
and personal planning for
Military Veterans and is
a member of the planning
team for the Washington
State Department of Emer-
gency Management.
I am very confident that
Denny Hamilton will be a
great Mason County com-
missioner and I encourage
you to support him and vote
for him in the upcoming
election on Nov. 6.
Betty Wing
Belfair
Ring Erickson
is honest
Editor, the Journal
I have known Lynda
Ring Erickson for a number
of years. I know her to be
honest and straightforward
when it comes to stand-
ing up for what is right
and just and for leading
by example in the political
arena.
She believes that elected
officihls, should be held ac-
countable for their actions
while representing those
who elected her.
During her years as a
Mason County commis-
sioner, Lynda chose to
eliminate her personal
taxpayer-funded benefits.
She returned her annual
pay raises and when that
was not possible, she donat-
ed equivalent amounts to
organizations that helped
people in need.
As our representative in
the 35th District, Lynda
will strongly support with-
holding pay for all members
of the Legislature if they
are unable to pass a budget
on time.
She intends to hold state
government accountable to
taxpayers by posting the
state budget and expenses
online so that taxpayers are
able to see how their money
is being spent.
Please remember these
things when you cast your
vote. Lynda will be account-
able and available to you,
her constituents.
She will be familiar with
the ~ssues and will listen
to your opinions. You could
not ask for more from your
representatives.
Barbara Anne Wyatt
Shelto'n
See Letters on page A-5
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Newsroom:
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Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, Oct. 11,2012