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I
WORDONTHESTREET
/OURNALEDITORIAL
With
what
a new
projects
kyor and
issues
city commissioner in Shelton,
do you hope will be addressed
Journal photo by Kevan Moore
Mason County Literacy has been
changing lives for 20 years,
Read all about it!
Mason County Literacy celebrated its 20th an-
niversa17 a couple of weeks ago and announced
that it is changing its name to Sound Learning.
We hold great hope for the organization as it
moves forward and wish it the best of luck in the
next 20 years.
As a weekly newspaper, we have an obvious
interest in literacy and have long been supporters
of MCL.
It takes real courage for folks to reach out and
ask for help in learning to read and the staff and
volunteers at MCL do heroic work behind the
scenes, day in and day out. They change lives
when nobody is looking.
MCL began as a reading improvement pro-
gram sponsored by the Simpson Timber Company
and now provides education to 300 adults per year
in Mason and Thurston counties.
It turns out. though, that basic literacy isn't
what it used to be. MCL Executive Director Kris-
tina Smock says that critical thinking, creative
problem solving and sound reasoning are neces-
sary tools to be successful in the 21st century in a
knowledge-based economy. The name change to
Sound Learning is a reflection of that reality.
While we're a bit nostalgic and it may take us a
while to get used to the new name. we'll continue
to be big fhns.
CORRECTION
LETTERSTOTNEEDIT()R
I've heard that some are
No mention being paid to be involved.
The big question is where's
of Palin? the money coming from ibr
all that? The whole thing
Editor, the Journal reeks of Democratic Party
involvement to counter the
It must take some edito- Tea Party.
rial ingenuity for a news-
paper to announce the Dave Maxwell
arrival of a new publisher. Agate
f~om Wasilla. Alaska with
no mention of Sarah Palim
Will it be conceivable to the
Journal readers that Mrs.
Change of
Sleight could be Democrat?
Robert Hoit name
Union
unfair
Occu py Editor, the Journal
crowd Last week Port of Shel-
ton commissioners took it
reeks of upon themselves to change
the name of the Mason
County Fairgrounds to the
Democrats Sanderson Field
Special
Event & Fairgrounds, with
public input neither sought
Editor, the Journal nor desired. According to
COmmissioner Jay Hupp,
I read a letter to the the change was necessary
editor where the writer ad- because the property had
vocates joining the Occupy developed a negative image
movement. I also read an problem due to multiple is-
article outlining the goals sues with fair management
of the Occupy movement and leases. "It still has the
and I wonder if the majority odbr of death when we talk
of the Occupiers are aware about fairgrounds," he said,
of those goals. They are "We need to re-brand it."
against capitalism because Adding insult to incre-
of the obscene profits but dulity, Mr. Hupp then per-
yet they want a living wage, formed a perfect "180." say-
whether one is working or ing he was now optimistic
not, forgiveness of all debts, about a reversal of the FAA
including all national debt. mandate that required re-
trillions of dollars for de- moval of the fairgrounds by
velopment and ecology, free Dec. 31, 2013. a possibility
health care for everyone, the port said was an impos-
free college tuition for all sibility right up to the very
and open borders. Socialist moment it wasn't.
European countries that So what's really going
have measures like these on? Well. the port wants to
are going bankrupt. They lease the land to a private
claim to be the 99 percent, concern, much like they
Could it be that they are 99 trfed to do earlier this year.
percent of those who refuse NO doubt, this time. they'll
to work for a living? Some be some name-changing
of these protesters are now and a bit of paper shuffling,
showing a violent side and b~t the outcome will likely
]If. Shelton-Mason County I[
• " .. .... , .... - -
She/ton Mason
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Michelle
Sparks
"Road improvements and
allowing businesses to come
to our community."
Sue Tom Wes
Younglove Noreen Whitish
,,]
e:
e]
b:
d
want them to be hon- "Streets. definitely streets." "I'd like to see somethin
,t and help the town. Ev- done about the cemeter~
'y time someone wants to They need Go get somethin
• ing something new and done up there."
fferent to Gown. they al-
In an article titled "Port
talks budget, renames fair-
grounds," por~ commissioner
Jay Hupp was paraphrased
as saying that the fair-
grounds had an "image prob-
lem after multiple fiascos
be the same: fhvorable lease
terms of public assets to
personal fldends.
[t never thiiq to surprise
u~ ,,hen the port wants
something to happen, all
obstacles in its path are
treated like bumps in the
road, but when the pub-
lic wants it, those bumps
become insurmountable
mountains. Examples: a
citizen advisory committee.
a vote on biomass, accurate
minutes, workshops, open
discussion, transparency,
accountability, honesty, eq-
uitability, jobs, growth and
common courtesy.
The fact that port com-
missioners changed the
name of our fairgrounds
without consulting with.
or even considering citizen
reaction testifies to the con-
tempt for public input that
has defined that body since
Jay Hupp came onboard.
So what should have been a
no-brainer became just an-
other misstep in a long line
of missed opportunities for
the port to involve the pub-
lic in decisions that affect
their lives.
In my opinion, Hupp is
unfit to govern a munici-
pality dedicated to growth
because he is blind and/or
stubbornly resistant to any
opportunities that do not
have at its center airport
operations.
And while it may sound
as if I'd like Hupp to ride
off into the retirement sun-
set. I hasten to add he take
director John Dobson with
him. Because if Hupp and
Dobson were the business
visionaries they'd like us
all to believe, the Adage,
Shelton Hills, and Mason
County Fairground issues
would not have turned into
embarrassing fiascos, and
the Port of Shelton would
have swung wide the doors
to much needed public in-
put.
It's not that these two
men lack the skills to do the
w ays
County Journal is a member of
shut it down.."
dth fair management andpublic funds, a subsequent ers and frustration from
~ases." investigation that cleared public.
Hupp took exception to the por~ of wrongdoing, the However Hupp confin
haracterizing recent issues loss of a possible long-term the following quote, in wt
elated to the fairgrounds as lease of the fairgrounds to he said, "It still has the (
ascos, including a whistle- John and Rachel Hansen of of death when we talk a~
lower complaint for gifting Northwest Event Organiz-the fairgrounds."
the
aed
Lich
dor
out
The Journal welcomes and encourages your letter
to the editor, will print sqnedi original letters'
of local interest!:We will not publish letters that
are libelous or scurrilous in nature. Signed letters
ii!i~i!i!i!i!i!i!i!ii!ii!
ii~iiiiiiiiiiiiiii~iiiii~
a Highclimber, wanted t~)
be a Highclimber, to pla_$
as a Highclimber. Whether
job they were "hired" to do, teams. There was a differ-
it's that they've hunkered eflt mentality back then.
down against the public as Today there's been a shift
if protecting their own pri- primarily to academics, not
rate fort, instead of work- athletics. With all the bud-
ing with the public for the get cuts. the whole thing is
benefit of all. a mess.
Now, don't get me wrong;
Tom Davisacademics are the key ~o
Sheltonsuccess ibr our students.
However, not all students
Are you are gifted academically.
Some are naturally gifted
athletes though. So, why
proud to be
not g]ve our young athletes
the best chance for success
from SHS? too? That means we need
to be more competitive in
all areas. We're not doing
that: our students should be
Editor, the Journal proud to go to Shelton High
Ask yourself: if someone School. to be a Highclimber.
were to ask you, "Where are Nothing against any of
you from?" would you say the curren~ coaching staff,
Shelton with pride? this problem starts at the
Where does community top. The students need
pride start? Is it in the ap- our community leaders
pearance of our town? and the community as a
Something unique that whole our school boards,
makes it different? Is it superintendents, princi-
the education system, how pals. teacher and coaches.
about our sports? One could The philosophy should be
debate on this till the cows that of winning. Winning
come home. There will al- breeds success, success
ways be a difference of opin- breeds wining. Athletically
ions where we're entitled to or academically if you suc-
that: or should I say it's a ceed you're considered a
privilege, this is America. winner, no matter how you
Now let's get to pride in look at it.
our community. I've lived So. how do we change
in this town and county my this course of mediocrity
whole life and it seems like to get back to the days of
the community pride is low. Stark and Brickert. Gregg
Once upon a time people and Buitenveld. Wentz and
around here had more Crater and many others?
pride in our town. We ral- That was a time when the
lied around our local sports students were proud to be
you were in a club, dranq a,
band. cheerleading or
sports you were proud tc
wear the red and black.
Ask our current stu-
dents if they're proud to be
a Highclimber. You may
be surprised. Some do n( t
think it's a great place t(
go to school. I've heard
grumblings myself. I thi: lk
it's sad: it's a pity that tl Ley
don't have pride in their
own school and that's a
shame.
Budget cuts or not, th LS
current trend of losing
should be unacceptable. We
are sending a poor mess~ tge
Go our youth if we think os-
ing is OK.
Dave Pu ;vin
Shelton High Sc] lool
Class of 1981
Thanks fo
the suppo
Editor, the Journal
A pat on the back of
Steve Bloomfield and Ly ada
[e
~art
ton
Ring Erickson for havint
both the moral and polit
cal courage to approve t]
mental health tax. Nicel
done.
Cheryl Ste~
t
Kari Sleight, publisherAdvertising:
Jesse Mullen, general mgr. Dave Pierik, advertising manager
Harvey Morris, ad representatwe
Composing room:
She
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Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, November 10, 2011
Newsroom:
Kevan Moore, managing editor Front office:
Aria Shephard, North Mason, Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper
environment, reporter Margot Brand, circulation
Natalie Johnson, reporter Cricket Carter, mailroom
Emily Hanson, sports rep.orter supervisor
Adam Rudnick, copy editor
William Adams, graphics
Koleen Wood, classifieds/leg~
Becky Corr, typing
Pressroom:
Kelly Riordan, production man
Travis Miller press operator
Is
ager