Notice: Undefined index: HTTP_REFERER in /home/stparch/public_html/headmid_temp_main.php on line 4394
Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
October 14, 1999     Shelton Mason County Journal
PAGE 37     (37 of 42 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
 
PAGE 37     (37 of 42 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
October 14, 1999
 
Newspaper Archive of Shelton Mason County Journal produced by SmallTownPapers, Inc.
Website Β© 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader




Mike McGuire 'VIEw SCHOOL 1 has one can- Don Torrey. candidates are Mike and June Hill. Posi- One candidate, incum- Nogler. Position five candidates: Arnold B. and Charles Carroll or :ion 2: 37, lives on ay in Allyn. He and have three sons He works at Pu- Shipyard as a engineer. d you to run this time? the board has little tion. As a fa- students, I wish to Grapeview parents. zal goals do you :t? are to achieve acade- and to increase You see as the most issues of the dis- task is to complete project and to es- financial footing. ray to estab- as the best ty in the region. you the best can- this office? roperly manage the to meet the School and communi- (incumbent), 54, to Sinclair Hill. They grown children and She is an ac: With the Washington L of Social and motivated you to run time? involved with the School District since 21 years ago. We Children attend and the district. I have for those 21 years; I probably have done it). I also worked for " years. I board e:ght for ; member ' care about this dis- Students. There are going right in the r Serving Belfair -- Allyn -- Grapeview -- Tahuya -- Mason Lake -- South Shore -- Victor DISTRICT 3 Position 3 candidates Churchward and Churchward is Y appointed incum- 52, With a son and a this year af- 30 years in the District. He con- career as a fltant. ted you to run time? has just recently Position, and I was his place until the ections. I have at that time and, if the rest of his ghbor is Commis- ensen. He has been apprised of the im- retired from 30 I have time .edUcated myself on and I real- it is to have on spending al do you goals for all the the volunteers is basically the which I be- the citizens fire and medical With the money we also have the ob- the public when more money to do 00,Thursday, October 14, 1999 Section of the Shelton-Mason County Journal # June Hill Charles Carroll Rush to attend young leaders vie for seats conference zn Washin.gton, D.C. district at this time, and I want to see this progress continue. What personal goals do you have for the district? I want to see the improvements we are starting to see continue. I would like to see every Grapeview student attend Grapeview School because of its excellence in educa- tion. I want to see them come to school with smiles on their faces looking forward to learning. We have a wonderful staff who are working hard to achieve better test scores and making learning fun. I want to see all this contin- ue by giving them the tools to at- tain our goal. This means more technology, new text books and a nurturing educational at- mosphere. What do you see as the most important issues of the dis- trict? The most important issue is money. The problem of financing a quality education program is probably the most difficult issue any school district will face now and in the future. Quality educa- tion costs money. Our community has been very supportive of Grapeview School. They have passed the last several levies and will be asked to pass another one this coming year. Another important issue is technology. How much and what kind? Do we hook up to the Inter- net or don't we? Technology changes faster than anyone can keep up with, so what does a school district do? It all costs money and we know that money is not easy to come by. This ques- tion will be with us for years to come. It probably will never go away. Why are you the best can- didate for this office? I have 21 years of experience of working and volunteering at Grapeview School. I have the ad- vantage of knowing the history of the district. I have attended school board meetings for most of those 21 years, as an interested parent and citizen of the district. For the last eight years, I have been on the board. I care about this district, and more important- ly, I care about the students of this district and the education they receive. Candidates for position 5: ARNOLD B. KEPNER (Arnold Kepner did not com- plete a questionnaire for the Herald.) CHARLES CARROLL, 50, lives on Coleman Road, and has a 7-year-old daughter, Jamie. Car- roll is self-employed, manages his personal investments, and is di- rector for a private educational endowment fund in North Dako- ta. What motivated you to run for office at this time? The Grapeview School is cur- rently on a solid course and I want to do everything I can to en- sure it continues. I am sincerely interested in the welfare of our children and our community school. Also, I was encouraged by several members of the Grape- view faculty and administration, as well as members of our com- munity, to run. What personal goals do you have for the district? My goals for the district in- clude: effective and responsible long-term financial planning; compliance with state-mandated academic standards; and en- hanced school board/community respect and rapport. What do you see as the most important issues of the dis- trict? The most important issues are meeting state academic stan- dards; resolving the issue as to whether or not to unionize our bus drivers; and selecting a prin- cipal with the skills, integrity, de- votion and rapport to keep our school on course, after our current principal, Jim Snyder, retires. Why are you the best can- didate for this office? I have experience at the Grape- view School as a classroom volun- teer, preschool president (five years), volleyball coach (three years), and volunteer in the HOSTS (Help One Student To Succeed) reading program. I also run a community sports program at the school. I have excellent rapport with the faculty and ad- ministration. I have considerable business and investment experi- ence and believe I can make a positive contribution to our facul- ty, administration, school board and community team. ent seeks FD3 pq ,st ,j /i Budd Churchward our job adequately. My personal goal would be to work with the other commissioners to provide guidance to the chief and oversee the spending to make sure the money is well spent. I realize dif- ferences can and do arise in how we should spend money to achieve the common goal. It is im- portant to listen and learn, not just dictate. What do you see as the most important issues in the dis- trict? These are the issues that con- cern me: low volunteer numbers; the financial burdens being placed on us by new government regulations; the staggering cost of Tracy Rush, 16, a junior at North Mason High School, will be gone from her Grapeview home for six days in late October to at- tend The National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference is a leadership de- velopment program for high- school students who have demon- strated leadership potential and scholastic merit. High school li- brarian Lisa McLaughlin nomi- nated her for the experience. "Wow!" exclaimed Rush. "It is just an honor to be nominated. I was really excited to be chosen. I've never been to Washington, D.C., before!" Participants from across the United States will hear welcom- ing remarks from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, then hear a panel discussion pre- sented by prominent journalists who are members of the National Press Club. The group of 350 outstanding students will examine all three branches of the federal govern- ment. They will role-play "If I were President," taking parts as president or cabinet members, with an international crisis as the topic. They will examine actual U.S. Supreme Court cases in a ju- dicial simulation. Finally, the program will culminate in a mod- el Congress, with students taking the parts of representatives de- bating and voting on proposed legislation. Each year, in 20 sessions of The National Young Leaders Con- ference, 7,000 youth nationwide have the opportunity of stretching their leadership skills while gain- ing knowledge to help them in fu- ture decision-making and other : : challenging situations. Rush is not aware of any other local stu- dents who will be attending this session. She is pleased to have this chance to meet with people cur- rently in national office, who are "really doing it," she said. "That will sustain me for a long time to come!" She intends, at this point in her life, to get a degree in teach- ing, possibly becoming a science teacher. She sees leading a class as the ultimate leadership roll. "I've always thought of teaching new equipment; so many of our citizens are retired and/or on fixed incomes and cannot afford tax increases. Many of them find it hard to pay their taxes now. Why are you the best can- didate for this office? I come with many years of ex- perience handling taxpayer mon- ey in my role as an educator. I can help the district look at its annual budget and evaluate how funds are being spent. I will need to ask a lot of questions when pro- posals are brought to the table in- volving spending money. I think that it is real healthy to ask these questions and learn how things are done, rather than simply au- tomatically pass things through because we assume we all under- stand the same things. My background in education has taught me how to look for and ask tough questions. When a per- son is responsible for overseeing the spending of approximately $200,000 a year of public money, and the taxpayers cannot afford to pay any more, we must do our best to prioritize needs. I have the skills to do that. A commissioner's job calls for not just spending all of the money each year, but-having the fore- sight to do long-range planning. Nobody wants to hear that we must raise taxes to be able to put out your fire or get an ambulance and trained personnel to your house. GLENN A. TAYLOR (Glenn Taylor did not complete a questionnaire for the Herald.) NORTH MASON High School student Tracy Rush will join 350 other outstanding students in the nation's capital later this month. as one of the hardest jobs in exist- ence," she shared. "Now I want to go into it." Her parents, Pat and Dan Rush, are proud of their daugh- ter, and excited about this oppor- tunity. The conference itself and her family have paid for her tui- tion and airfare, plus other ex- penses, but she still needs some help with lunches and local trav- el. Those interested in assisting this young leader/scholar may reach her at (360) 275-6385. ACA endorses FD5 levy Statewide bal: ot issues of reaching 100. If you are one of the 20 people interested in the North Bay area who needs to join, a check for $12 would secure your membership. Mail it to the above address. The ACA's Planning Commit- tee has vowed to work on fish en- hancement on Sherwood Creek. Members hope to discover where the blockages to fish passage are in the creek, and help clear them. The Planning Committee has also initiated a change in the pro- posed Growth Management Plan for Mason County. They are con- cerned that designating Allyn a Rural Activity Center (RAC) is too restrictive. Ben Meservey, chairman of the committee, ex- plained that as a RAC, approval would not have been granted for a bank or assisted care home, both of which are currently operating in Allyn. Those specific business- es would be allowed to remain, but ff either closed, they could not be replaced by similar businesses. There are other restrictions, in- cluding the size of lots required for new homes. The residents of Allyn do not want to be considered an Urban Growth Area, either, Meservey said. The community would like Planting flowers By LINDA THOMSON The October meeting of the Al- lyn Community Association (ACA), conducted by Vice Presi- dent Ina Culberson, was jam packed with information to be shared. The group members approved spending $950 on four projects. As a non-profit group, the ACA board of directors has deemed that $3,000 would be the maxi- mum that would be granted in a year's time, and it must go to other 501-c-3 non-profit organiza- tions within the Allyn zip code area. The money granted was $250 to the North Bay Historical Society, $250 to the Fire District 5 Firefighters' Association for its building fund to remodel and up- date Station 1 in Allyn, $200 to the Jammin' Company of the Ma- son County Boys & Girls Club for :he purchase of jelly jars and 250 to the Allyn Historical Church toward repainting that building. Those who believe their organi- zation's project may be worthy of funding may send a request to the ACA at P.O. Box 52, Allyn 98524. THE MEMBERSHIP of the ACA is currently 80, with a goal Chris Ghianuly, a seventh-grader at Hawkins Mid- dle School, recently helped plant flowers at the school's main entrance. The beauty-enhancing effort was spearheaded by Nancy Gill, organizing chair of the North Mason Family Network. Gill and Ghianuly were joined during the six-hour work party by Deb- bie Ghianuly, Chris' mom, Rebecca Miller, Barbie Guile, and her son Mario. The group planted 550 tu- lips, daffodils, and crocuses, which were donated by Belfair Valley Nursery, Eagle Hardware, Home Base, and True Value Hardware of Belfair. The North Ma- son Family Network is an informal group of parents and children that meets monthly throughout the school year. The next Family Network meeting will be Wednesday, October 27, at 7 p.m. in the North Mason District Office. to retain some control of growth in order to maintain the lifestyle of the area. WITH OVER HALF the busi- nesses in Mason County currently outside of the two designated ur- ban areas of Shelton and Belfair, Mason County's Growth Manage- ment Plan really needs a third designation, and the term Village, as used on the East Coast, has been proposed to describe Allyn. The crowd at last month's county- sponsored hearing in Allyn una- nimously approved that title, but it has yet to receive approval from the state's Growth Management Hearings Board, Meservey indi- cated. Other announcements offered during last week's meeting in- cluded: • The North Bay Historical So- ciety will hold an open house on Saturday, October 30, beginning at 10 a.m. All who are interested in seeing the historic church res- toration progress and the histori- cal photo collection should drop by the church on Highway 3. • The Victor Improvement Club will host a dance on Satur- day, October 30, with a social hour at 6:30 p.m., and live music beginning at 7:30 p.m. The ticket money, at $15 per couple, will go into a fund to replace the club's roof. For tickets, contact Margie Meservey at 275-6835. • Bonnie Knight shared infor- mation with the ACA members that the Washington State De- artment of Transportation has 11.3 million available for various projects in communities along state highways. She will be writ- ing a grant request for sidewalks in Allyn, and received a vote of support from the association, which would serve as the receiv- ing agency for the funding, if granted. • THE FD5 Firefighters' Asso- ciation will sponsor a haunted house at Station 1 in Allyn on Sunday, October 31, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., as a gift to the communi- ty's children. Last year over 300 people came and were terrified (in a fun way) by the experience. • The ACA voted to endorse the FD5 EMS levy, to appear on the general election ballot. • Santa Claus will arrive in A1- lyn at the gazebo on Saturday, December 11. • Toni Clement, recycling coor- dinator for Mason County, shared that there is money available from the state Department of Ecology to clean up litter from county roadways and public right- of-way areas. Groups interested in helping clean up litter and ille- gal dumps may reach Clement at (360) 427-5271 or 426-9731. There are four statewide ballot issues that will appear on the general election ballot on Tues- day, November 2. For more infor- mation, including the full text and the pro and con arguments on each of them, one may see the state Voters Pamphlet, or read the information in the 1999 On- line Voters Guide at www.aec state.wa.gov/vote99. Following are the official ballot titles: * Initiative 695, "Shall voter approval be required for any tax increase, license tab fees be $30 per year for motor vehicles, and existing vehicle taxes be repealed?" * Initiative 696, "Shall com- mercial net, troll, and trawl fish- ing be prohibited in Washington State fresh and marine waters, except tribal fisheries conducted under a valid treaty right?- • SJR 8206, "Shall the consti- tution be amended to permit the state to guarantee payment of voter-approved general obligation debt of school districts, as author- ized by law?" • SJR 8208, "Shall the state constitution be amended to per- mit the Emergency Reserve Fund to be invested as the legislature may authorize by law?" Brokaw withdraws Tom Brokaw, the front.runner in the race for Fire District 5 Position 1, ended his election campaign last week. For complete de- tails, see Brokaw's let- ter to the editor on page 2. Mike McGuire 'VIEw SCHOOL 1 has one can- Don Torrey. candidates are Mike and June Hill. Posi- One candidate, incum- Nogler. Position five candidates: Arnold B. and Charles Carroll or :ion 2: 37, lives on ay in Allyn. He and have three sons He works at Pu- Shipyard as a engineer. d you to run this time? the board has little tion. As a fa- students, I wish to Grapeview parents. zal goals do you :t? are to achieve acade- and to increase You see as the most issues of the dis- task is to complete project and to es- financial footing. ray to estab- as the best ty in the region. you the best can- this office? roperly manage the to meet the School and communi- (incumbent), 54, to Sinclair Hill. They grown children and She is an ac: With the Washington L of Social and motivated you to run time? involved with the School District since 21 years ago. We Children attend and the district. I have for those 21 years; I probably have done it). I also worked for " years. I board e:ght for ; member ' care about this dis- Students. There are going right in the r Serving Belfair -- Allyn -- Grapeview -- Tahuya -- Mason Lake -- South Shore -- Victor DISTRICT 3 Position 3 candidates Churchward and Churchward is Y appointed incum- 52, With a son and a this year af- 30 years in the District. He con- career as a fltant. ted you to run time? has just recently Position, and I was his place until the ections. I have at that time and, if the rest of his ghbor is Commis- ensen. He has been apprised of the im- retired from 30 I have time .edUcated myself on and I real- it is to have on spending al do you goals for all the the volunteers is basically the which I be- the citizens fire and medical With the money we also have the ob- the public when more money to do 00,Thursday, October 14, 1999 Section of the Shelton-Mason County Journal # June Hill Charles Carroll Rush to attend young leaders vie for seats conference zn Washin.gton, D.C. district at this time, and I want to see this progress continue. What personal goals do you have for the district? I want to see the improvements we are starting to see continue. I would like to see every Grapeview student attend Grapeview School because of its excellence in educa- tion. I want to see them come to school with smiles on their faces looking forward to learning. We have a wonderful staff who are working hard to achieve better test scores and making learning fun. I want to see all this contin- ue by giving them the tools to at- tain our goal. This means more technology, new text books and a nurturing educational at- mosphere. What do you see as the most important issues of the dis- trict? The most important issue is money. The problem of financing a quality education program is probably the most difficult issue any school district will face now and in the future. Quality educa- tion costs money. Our community has been very supportive of Grapeview School. They have passed the last several levies and will be asked to pass another one this coming year. Another important issue is technology. How much and what kind? Do we hook up to the Inter- net or don't we? Technology changes faster than anyone can keep up with, so what does a school district do? It all costs money and we know that money is not easy to come by. This ques- tion will be with us for years to come. It probably will never go away. Why are you the best can- didate for this office? I have 21 years of experience of working and volunteering at Grapeview School. I have the ad- vantage of knowing the history of the district. I have attended school board meetings for most of those 21 years, as an interested parent and citizen of the district. For the last eight years, I have been on the board. I care about this district, and more important- ly, I care about the students of this district and the education they receive. Candidates for position 5: ARNOLD B. KEPNER (Arnold Kepner did not com- plete a questionnaire for the Herald.) CHARLES CARROLL, 50, lives on Coleman Road, and has a 7-year-old daughter, Jamie. Car- roll is self-employed, manages his personal investments, and is di- rector for a private educational endowment fund in North Dako- ta. What motivated you to run for office at this time? The Grapeview School is cur- rently on a solid course and I want to do everything I can to en- sure it continues. I am sincerely interested in the welfare of our children and our community school. Also, I was encouraged by several members of the Grape- view faculty and administration, as well as members of our com- munity, to run. What personal goals do you have for the district? My goals for the district in- clude: effective and responsible long-term financial planning; compliance with state-mandated academic standards; and en- hanced school board/community respect and rapport. What do you see as the most important issues of the dis- trict? The most important issues are meeting state academic stan- dards; resolving the issue as to whether or not to unionize our bus drivers; and selecting a prin- cipal with the skills, integrity, de- votion and rapport to keep our school on course, after our current principal, Jim Snyder, retires. Why are you the best can- didate for this office? I have experience at the Grape- view School as a classroom volun- teer, preschool president (five years), volleyball coach (three years), and volunteer in the HOSTS (Help One Student To Succeed) reading program. I also run a community sports program at the school. I have excellent rapport with the faculty and ad- ministration. I have considerable business and investment experi- ence and believe I can make a positive contribution to our facul- ty, administration, school board and community team. ent seeks FD3 pq ,st ,j /i Budd Churchward our job adequately. My personal goal would be to work with the other commissioners to provide guidance to the chief and oversee the spending to make sure the money is well spent. I realize dif- ferences can and do arise in how we should spend money to achieve the common goal. It is im- portant to listen and learn, not just dictate. What do you see as the most important issues in the dis- trict? These are the issues that con- cern me: low volunteer numbers; the financial burdens being placed on us by new government regulations; the staggering cost of Tracy Rush, 16, a junior at North Mason High School, will be gone from her Grapeview home for six days in late October to at- tend The National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference is a leadership de- velopment program for high- school students who have demon- strated leadership potential and scholastic merit. High school li- brarian Lisa McLaughlin nomi- nated her for the experience. "Wow!" exclaimed Rush. "It is just an honor to be nominated. I was really excited to be chosen. I've never been to Washington, D.C., before!" Participants from across the United States will hear welcom- ing remarks from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, then hear a panel discussion pre- sented by prominent journalists who are members of the National Press Club. The group of 350 outstanding students will examine all three branches of the federal govern- ment. They will role-play "If I were President," taking parts as president or cabinet members, with an international crisis as the topic. They will examine actual U.S. Supreme Court cases in a ju- dicial simulation. Finally, the program will culminate in a mod- el Congress, with students taking the parts of representatives de- bating and voting on proposed legislation. Each year, in 20 sessions of The National Young Leaders Con- ference, 7,000 youth nationwide have the opportunity of stretching their leadership skills while gain- ing knowledge to help them in fu- ture decision-making and other : : challenging situations. Rush is not aware of any other local stu- dents who will be attending this session. She is pleased to have this chance to meet with people cur- rently in national office, who are "really doing it," she said. "That will sustain me for a long time to come!" She intends, at this point in her life, to get a degree in teach- ing, possibly becoming a science teacher. She sees leading a class as the ultimate leadership roll. "I've always thought of teaching new equipment; so many of our citizens are retired and/or on fixed incomes and cannot afford tax increases. Many of them find it hard to pay their taxes now. Why are you the best can- didate for this office? I come with many years of ex- perience handling taxpayer mon- ey in my role as an educator. I can help the district look at its annual budget and evaluate how funds are being spent. I will need to ask a lot of questions when pro- posals are brought to the table in- volving spending money. I think that it is real healthy to ask these questions and learn how things are done, rather than simply au- tomatically pass things through because we assume we all under- stand the same things. My background in education has taught me how to look for and ask tough questions. When a per- son is responsible for overseeing the spending of approximately $200,000 a year of public money, and the taxpayers cannot afford to pay any more, we must do our best to prioritize needs. I have the skills to do that. A commissioner's job calls for not just spending all of the money each year, but-having the fore- sight to do long-range planning. Nobody wants to hear that we must raise taxes to be able to put out your fire or get an ambulance and trained personnel to your house. GLENN A. TAYLOR (Glenn Taylor did not complete a questionnaire for the Herald.) NORTH MASON High School student Tracy Rush will join 350 other outstanding students in the nation's capital later this month. as one of the hardest jobs in exist- ence," she shared. "Now I want to go into it." Her parents, Pat and Dan Rush, are proud of their daugh- ter, and excited about this oppor- tunity. The conference itself and her family have paid for her tui- tion and airfare, plus other ex- penses, but she still needs some help with lunches and local trav- el. Those interested in assisting this young leader/scholar may reach her at (360) 275-6385. ACA endorses FD5 levy Statewide bal: ot issues of reaching 100. If you are one of the 20 people interested in the North Bay area who needs to join, a check for $12 would secure your membership. Mail it to the above address. The ACA's Planning Commit- tee has vowed to work on fish en- hancement on Sherwood Creek. Members hope to discover where the blockages to fish passage are in the creek, and help clear them. The Planning Committee has also initiated a change in the pro- posed Growth Management Plan for Mason County. They are con- cerned that designating Allyn a Rural Activity Center (RAC) is too restrictive. Ben Meservey, chairman of the committee, ex- plained that as a RAC, approval would not have been granted for a bank or assisted care home, both of which are currently operating in Allyn. Those specific business- es would be allowed to remain, but ff either closed, they could not be replaced by similar businesses. There are other restrictions, in- cluding the size of lots required for new homes. The residents of Allyn do not want to be considered an Urban Growth Area, either, Meservey said. The community would like Planting flowers By LINDA THOMSON The October meeting of the Al- lyn Community Association (ACA), conducted by Vice Presi- dent Ina Culberson, was jam packed with information to be shared. The group members approved spending $950 on four projects. As a non-profit group, the ACA board of directors has deemed that $3,000 would be the maxi- mum that would be granted in a year's time, and it must go to other 501-c-3 non-profit organiza- tions within the Allyn zip code area. The money granted was $250 to the North Bay Historical Society, $250 to the Fire District 5 Firefighters' Association for its building fund to remodel and up- date Station 1 in Allyn, $200 to the Jammin' Company of the Ma- son County Boys & Girls Club for :he purchase of jelly jars and 250 to the Allyn Historical Church toward repainting that building. Those who believe their organi- zation's project may be worthy of funding may send a request to the ACA at P.O. Box 52, Allyn 98524. THE MEMBERSHIP of the ACA is currently 80, with a goal Chris Ghianuly, a seventh-grader at Hawkins Mid- dle School, recently helped plant flowers at the school's main entrance. The beauty-enhancing effort was spearheaded by Nancy Gill, organizing chair of the North Mason Family Network. Gill and Ghianuly were joined during the six-hour work party by Deb- bie Ghianuly, Chris' mom, Rebecca Miller, Barbie Guile, and her son Mario. The group planted 550 tu- lips, daffodils, and crocuses, which were donated by Belfair Valley Nursery, Eagle Hardware, Home Base, and True Value Hardware of Belfair. The North Ma- son Family Network is an informal group of parents and children that meets monthly throughout the school year. The next Family Network meeting will be Wednesday, October 27, at 7 p.m. in the North Mason District Office. to retain some control of growth in order to maintain the lifestyle of the area. WITH OVER HALF the busi- nesses in Mason County currently outside of the two designated ur- ban areas of Shelton and Belfair, Mason County's Growth Manage- ment Plan really needs a third designation, and the term Village, as used on the East Coast, has been proposed to describe Allyn. The crowd at last month's county- sponsored hearing in Allyn una- nimously approved that title, but it has yet to receive approval from the state's Growth Management Hearings Board, Meservey indi- cated. Other announcements offered during last week's meeting in- cluded: • The North Bay Historical So- ciety will hold an open house on Saturday, October 30, beginning at 10 a.m. All who are interested in seeing the historic church res- toration progress and the histori- cal photo collection should drop by the church on Highway 3. • The Victor Improvement Club will host a dance on Satur- day, October 30, with a social hour at 6:30 p.m., and live music beginning at 7:30 p.m. The ticket money, at $15 per couple, will go into a fund to replace the club's roof. For tickets, contact Margie Meservey at 275-6835. • Bonnie Knight shared infor- mation with the ACA members that the Washington State De- artment of Transportation has 11.3 million available for various projects in communities along state highways. She will be writ- ing a grant request for sidewalks in Allyn, and received a vote of support from the association, which would serve as the receiv- ing agency for the funding, if granted. • THE FD5 Firefighters' Asso- ciation will sponsor a haunted house at Station 1 in Allyn on Sunday, October 31, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., as a gift to the communi- ty's children. Last year over 300 people came and were terrified (in a fun way) by the experience. • The ACA voted to endorse the FD5 EMS levy, to appear on the general election ballot. • Santa Claus will arrive in A1- lyn at the gazebo on Saturday, December 11. • Toni Clement, recycling coor- dinator for Mason County, shared that there is money available from the state Department of Ecology to clean up litter from county roadways and public right- of-way areas. Groups interested in helping clean up litter and ille- gal dumps may reach Clement at (360) 427-5271 or 426-9731. There are four statewide ballot issues that will appear on the general election ballot on Tues- day, November 2. For more infor- mation, including the full text and the pro and con arguments on each of them, one may see the state Voters Pamphlet, or read the information in the 1999 On- line Voters Guide at www.aec state.wa.gov/vote99. Following are the official ballot titles: * Initiative 695, "Shall voter approval be required for any tax increase, license tab fees be $30 per year for motor vehicles, and existing vehicle taxes be repealed?" * Initiative 696, "Shall com- mercial net, troll, and trawl fish- ing be prohibited in Washington State fresh and marine waters, except tribal fisheries conducted under a valid treaty right?- • SJR 8206, "Shall the consti- tution be amended to permit the state to guarantee payment of voter-approved general obligation debt of school districts, as author- ized by law?" • SJR 8208, "Shall the state constitution be amended to per- mit the Emergency Reserve Fund to be invested as the legislature may authorize by law?" Brokaw withdraws Tom Brokaw, the front.runner in the race for Fire District 5 Position 1, ended his election campaign last week. For complete de- tails, see Brokaw's let- ter to the editor on page 2.