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IOURNALEDITORIAL
Reefer madn
Earlier this month PBS began airing Most medical users, though, it
"Prohibition," a three-part, five-and-a- should be pointed out, aren't actually
half-hour documentary film series di- using cannabis to get high or stoned or
rected by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. ripped or messed up. They are eating or
The series documents the folly of the smoking cannabis in order to feel nor-
Eighteenth Amendment and its unin-mal, stave off pain or regain their ap-
tendend consequences. The timing of petites.They are taking their medicine.
the new series' arrival coincides with The people of this state voted in 1998
ongoing efforts by the City of Shelton to legalize medical marijuana. Thirteen
and Mason County to make medical years later, the governor, the mayor
marijuana use so difficult and compli- and his colleagues and the county
cated that it is well nigh impossible to commissioners still haven't gotten the
get high. memo.
LETTERSTOTH EEDITOR
Don't groups are responsible ston, for Commissioner of
to spend your tax dol- Union Fire District No.
lars wisely. I obtained6. As a fellow Veteran
re-elect the the most recent budget,and longtime resident
Fire District 3 has spent of Union, I would like to
i mbent $12,245.50 of our tax dol- convey to my neighbors
ncu lars for lawyer fees this and friends that to me,
year alone to file suite he is the only choice that
Editor, the Journal against the GCA. The makes sense for this posi-
I just saw a very large original appropriation for tion.
sign stating that it is a this year was only $3,200 Johnston, along with
and as of Sept. 29, they the other two current
conflict of interest for any
member of the GCA to are in the hole 382.67 commissioners, did an
take the office of Commis- percent. This lawsuit incredible job over the
sioner for either the fire is because Fire District last two years addressing
department or the Port of 3 changed the original operational, financial and
Grapeview. It says that contract without GCA's legal issues that were left
GCA members should not knowledge. Is this not undone, ignored and/or
hold public office. Where a breach of contract, to overlooked by the previ-
did that come from? change the original con- ous commissioners.
Where is the conflict of tract, which was signed, As Secretary to the
interest? Incumbent Mr. by both GCA and Fire Union Fire Dist. 6 Com-
Allen and Mr. Hoopman District 3 in 2005? Themission, Johnston has
are both members of the Fire District 3 we pay tax- been a productive and
GCA. es to support is now using valuable member of
As a concerned tax- some of those monies for Union's elected represen-
payer of the community their lawyers to sue us, tatives who have worked
of Grapeview, I am not the taxpayers. Where's diligently to craft, encour-
aware of any local forum the logic? Taxpayers need age and implement updat-
tin discussions regard- to attend the meetings,ed and crucially needed
ing the upcoming elec- Port Commissioner Bob district-wide policies and
Allen has been in office far procedures for continuing
tion, but there are many
political signs giving us too long as no one has op- district 6's quality and
choices. Among these posed him. Glenn Carlson delivery of fire and emer-
signs are a few asking will work well with thegency services.
to re-elect a particular other two and get things I observed early on af-
incumbent. When I at- done in a timely and ef- ter he was appointed by
tend the commission ficient manner. He willthe Mason County Com-
meetings for Fire Dis- save us money in the per- mission that Johnston
trict 3 and the Port of diem account. Ignore the was able to quickly trans-
Grapeview, there are re-elect signs for the port late the new policy deci-
only a few members of commissioner. Carlson is sions made by the other
our community in at- ready to serve as our new fire commissioners into
tendance. Attendance at port commissioner, very clear action steps to
Fire District Commis- be taken by volunteers
these meetings show you
hew these incumbents sioner Stan Catron has and paid staff. His suc-
perform. It is apparent been in his office for 20 cessful policy transla-
they have been there too years. It is time for him tions into concrete action
long. I fear others will to be replaced and let steps has led to the rapid
vote by name recognition new leadership take theresolution of several bud-
without other knowledge helm. Experience does getary, legal and staff-
of other candidates, not always allow for new ing issues that had been
Information in the ideas and technology toplaguing our fire district
paper is often one-sided, be put to good use. Elect- for some time.
The commission meetings ing Nancy Montgomery For the first time that
of both the fire district will bring positive andI can remember while at-
and the port are the best clear change to our fire tending monthly fire com-
place to know how our department, mission meetings, John-
taxes are being spent. I Fire Commissioner ston and the other two
urge all taxpayers to at- Glenn Hoopman was ap- fire commissioners have
tend commission meet- pointed in an unusual demonstrated a new and
ings. Next meeting for the manner without any an- energizing transparency
fire district is Wednes- nouncement regarding anand openness by provid-
day, Oct. 19, and the Port opening for that position, ing Union residents de-
of Grapeview is Tuesday, No one had a chance to tailed and itemized draft
Oct. 18. We get no min- apply and there should budgets, as well as criti-
utes at either meeting, have been a posting cally needed revised man-
Yes, the fire district does for that position. Mikeagement and operational
put them on its website, Creighton has attended policies, for the public
sometimes months af- most fire commissioner to review prior to their
ter their meeting. They meetings and can see adoption.
are not complete, as one there is a need for newHe has been open
ideas and positive change and positive at pub-
must request for the see-
attached portions of the in commission leadership, lic meetings, and has
minutes. Most impor- which he will bring, maintained his profes-
tantly, you will not hear sionalism and dignity
the public comments or Judith L. Berry in spite of personal at-
discussion from the com- Grapeview tacks from a small mi-
missioners and fire chief, nority of previous staff
and fire commissioners
It appears many decisions
are made behind closed Retain Dave who either resigned or
doors and not in public retired. Rather than ig-
view as required by law. Johnston nore any issues he has
There is no other way to been requested to pro-
give your input or find vide a response to, he
out what other concerns has communicated and
your neighbors have re- Editor, the Journal addressed them openly
garding our fire depart- I am writing to offer and with honesty both
ment and port. my wholehearted support verbally and in writing
Both commission for retaining, Dave John- with no loss of content
or context.
What I have hoped to
convey in this letter of
support for Johnston are
the intangibles, from a
local resident's point of
view, that I think the ide-
al candidate must possess
to successfully perform
the duties and responsi-
bilities of a fire commis-
sioner.
I truly believe that
Johnston has these quali-
ties that we need here
in Union for a fire com-
missioner, and that he
should be retained as a
fire commissioner. Thank
you for the opportu-
nity to communicate my
thoughts.
Ed Binder
Union
Vote for
Caroline
Rich
Editor, the Journal
I would like to urge
you to join me in sup-
porting Caroline Rich
for Shelton School Board
director District 1. I have
had the pleasure of do-
ing business with Rich
for the past eight years
and have found her to
be intelligent, a great
listener, an innovative
problem solver and super
energetic. Her passion for
this community is evident
in her extensive involve-
ment with Shelton Ro-
tary, exemplifying their
motto of "service above
self." We are lucky that
a person of this caliber
has decided to share her
talents in service to our
community and Shelton
School district. Vote for
Caroline Rich.
Kristy Buck
Shelton
Vista is truly
Editor, the Journal
In response to last
Thursday's letter, "Vista
Oncology needed..." I
would like to say and
emphasize, the following.
Vista Oncology -- both
clinics in Olympia, Lily
Road and Black Hills
Lane, as well as the Radi-
ology Department, Capital
Medical Center -- saved
my life. I was diagnosed
with a rare, very aggres-
sive form of prostate
cancer, neuroendocrine
carcinoma. From Sep-
tember to May, driving
myself, I had to brave the
elements, wind, rain, hail
and snow, often in dark-
ness, to reach my daily
treatments, chemotherapy
and/or radiation. During
last winter's snows, I was
involved in a hit-and-run
accident. I wasn't injured,
fortunately, but my car
was seriously damaged.
Ironically, this life being
saved b3z Vista
and Capital Re
brilliantly prot
staff members
same time, nee
out by some re
caring and pro
sured driver.
many patients
ton who were t
treatment at t]
time as I, all v
people, some o:
were really too
dure the trip tq
The unforgetts
sions on faces,
between fear a
had to have be
way connected
distance travel
sure they, and
Oncology to teachers and their no
diology's confidence in the current
essional board and the board's
was, at the lack of partnership to
rly taken carry out this mission
~kless, un- alarms me. My observa-
)ably unin- tion at a recent citizen
here were meeting where the board
from Shel- was clearly closed to any
ndergoing criticism of their policies
m same and procedures was also
~ry dear very alarming.
"whom Hence, the Coalition
ill to en- for School Board Excel-
Olympia. lence was formed.
ble expres-
oscillating Carolyn Olsen
ad hope, Shelton
en in some Coalition member
to the
ed. I'm
certainly Leopards
I, would roll t the red
carpet, or at least strike
up the band, tqwelcome~a,~ l- UUI IlL
a much needed, full-time,
completely equipped and chan~e
staffed Vista Oncology
-- ~
clinic here in tbwn and
additionally, a~adequate their spots
radiology facility. I'm cer-
tainly not the ~elf-pitying Editor, the Journal
sort, but I often wonder if
the abandonedland abused
pets in Mason ~ounty re-
crave more attentmn than
the increasing umber of
our citizenry ~ he bravely
face their varfi,us cancers.
Let's make it asier for
them to fight tMs disease.
David V ~aine Corliss
Shelton
Several .....
community
members
are the
coalitic
,n
trnal
~o recent
ditor: "Who
rs of this
Editor, the Jol
Regarding t
letters to the
are the memb
mysterious co .lition?" I
can't say that it is myste-
but I ca~ say that
rious,
we are all citizens" of this
great community genu-
inely concerne~l about the
Shelton Schoo~district
board and its ~lecisions.
I have always been a
proponent of"If I am not
happy with what is hap-
pening, it is Ul~ to me
it." Sev-
y members
,ffee and
coming
• ganized to
ideas, new
is time for
to help change
eral communH
were having c~
discussing the
election. Wee:
encourage ne~
perspective. It
change. It is tJ
at our school
new eyes. Car,
and Sharon
have offered
that.
Our missior
support a prof
functional and
me to look
istrict with
fline Rich
,naldson
do just
is to
ssional,
efficient
school board ill partner-
ship with com:nunity,
staff, families,J students,
ensuring that goals,
visions and initiatives
best sm'ving t~e students
of the Shelton~School dis-
trict are met. Listening
Leopards don't change
their spots as the old
saying goes. I take excep-
tion to Mr. De Capua's
letter to the editor. This
is not the Dave Johnston
I've known for nearly 15
years. Johnston's been
consistently committed to
delivering a good product
He's honest, trustworthy
and considerate of others.
During this time, I've
witnessed his involve-
ment in our community
and his willingness to
help others. He's a mem-
ber of Rotary, past presi-
dent of Skookum rotary
and past chairmen (GOO)
of OysterFest. He as-
sists other service groups
including Toys for Kids
Plus with fundraising
and by donating his la-
bor.
Johnston is the real
deal when it comes to car-
ing about others.
His influence and guid-
ance in managerial situ-
ations is exceptional and
appreciated by all involved.
Johnston is a stickler for
open process and communi-
cating with the public. He's
financially conservative
and believes in accountabil-
ity at all levels of govern-
ment, by all its members,
paid or not.
Normally I just read the
letters to the editor, but in
Johnston's case, I'm com-
pelled to write this encour-
aging letter for everyone to
read.
Vote tbr Dave Johnston,
he delivers for all of us.
Dr. Gary Olson, DVM
Shelton Veterinary
Hospital
It is time for
change
Editor, the Journal
As a volunteer firefighter
at District 6 in Union, I
See Letters on page A-8
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