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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
November 29, 2007     Shelton Mason County Journal
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November 29, 2007
 
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i00eaders " ¢]ournal: Street maintenance lacking Editor, The Journal: On Wallace Kneeland Boule- vard the street is falling apart right before our eyes because of poor maintenance from the City of Shelton. Notice the cracks and the emerg- ing potholes all up and down the street? In the area of the junior" high in the eastbound lane, there is a pothole that has been filled three times in less than seven days, and it is failing again and needs a fourth patch and maybe more. Why is this pothole so stub- born? Very simple: It is not being patched properly. When you repair a pothole it's necessary to remove the water from the hole before you apply cold patch or hot patch, and most of all, seal the repair with tar/oil. Who's at fault? I'm not really sure, but I think that someone was not properly trained or didn't fol- low procedures before being sent out to do the people's work. What does it cost the taxpayers to do a simple job three times in a seven- day period? Probably more than we want to know. I have requested a total cost from the director of public works. Take a close look at our city streets the next time you drive around. Are there a lot of cracks in the streets just waiting to tail? You betcha. The tired old excuse is, "We don't have any money." Of course they don't; they can't use the existing money wisely. What should the taxpayers do? (1) Require accountability tom city officials. (2) Reallocate city funds from items that are not essential and use for streets repair. (3) When you see deplorable road conditions, call the city com- missioners at 426-4491. (4) Do something positive; re- quire some bang for your buck. The normal excuse of "no mon- ey" is very tired and well worn. The city animal-control budget is as large as the street maintenance budget - reportedly $80,000. Is there something wrong with that picture? The city needs to rethink their priorities. I want to be proud of our city, not embarrassed because of a lack of maintenance by city officials. Each day that goes by the price tag gets larger and larger for repairs, and I think that it's high time that we received some action instead of hollow words. I think I understand why the issue for street funds failed: They can't maintain what they have. And don't even get me started on annexation or impact fees. Imag- ine 3,000 more cars downtown in l0 years, 1,500 more homes and a pothole tbr all. Lloyd E. Prouty Johns Prairie Shelter can use donations Editor, The Journal: The Cold & Hungry Coali- tion and Saint David's Episcopal Church are operating the extreme- cold-weather shelter again this year. The week of Thanksgiving gave us a taste of winter, and the shelter operated each night that the temperature was so cold as to be life-threatening (most nights last week and weekend). The shelter is in need of cash donations to pay the shelter staff, as we always are at this time of year. However, for those who are not able to make a cash donation, the shelter is always in need of clean used blankets, clean used coats, hats, scarves and gloves. II Corinthians 9:8 reminds us: "And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of' everything, you may share abun- dantly in every good work." I consider support of the shelter to be very good work, and I would encourage our local churches, ser- vice clubs, individuals and busi- nesses to collect clean used coats and blankets for the homeless who shelter at Saint David's. Donations for the shelter may be dropped off at Joe Snyder's of- rice, 125 North Fifth Street, Mon- day through Thursday, during business hours. For those who have already do- nated generously to the shelter, we express our appreciation, and we are especially grateful to members of the Shelton Kiwanis, the Shel- ton Rotary and Green Diamond Resource. Katherine Farr, secretary Cold & Hungry Coalition Angleside Watch for global meltdown Editor, The Journal." I wanted to bring a global fi- nancial warning to ybur readers' attention. It is from the chief ex- ecutive officer of a respected non- profit Pentagon think tank - The Arlington Institute. The Arlington Institute special- izes m predicting future events. Its CEO, John L. Petersen, put on-line a report titled, "Mhjor Fi- nancial Disruption," on November 14 that began, "It appears that the world in general and the United States in particular are on the edge of a major disruption in the global financial system." Consumer credit-card foreclo- sures were up 470 percent in the third quarter and "will be up over 500 percent this coming quarter (fourth)," according to this report. The predicted disruption could come as soon as February, the re- port warns, since "as much as 40 percent of retail sales are done in the fourth quarter of the year." The Arlington Institute cites the effort by China "to convert its $1.4-trillion U.S. Treasury hold- ings into euros" as a factor. The prediction is that "they'll dump them on the market" in Febru- ary. The report concludes, "March is when we realize that the dollar doesn't come back." An Associated Press article on November 20 mentions the im- portant recent meeting of' the Organization of Petroleum Ex- porting Countries where "Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called tbr oil to be listed for sale in a currency other than the dollar." If the dollar falls more globally we will see it immediately here in Washington as an even higher increase in already high oil prices. Reducing consumer spending this holiday season and not ex- tending one's credit would be a wise choice if such a scenario be- gins to unfold. Mason County resi- dents should be prepared for a fi- nancially shaky start to 2008. James Bell Union i i Wede'iv°r H EATI NG IL We carry kerosene. Located at Sanderson # __  Industrial Park II IT'00L0000I 427-8084 Page 6 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, November 29, 2007 Pogo had it nai Editor, The Journal: he writes about an ancient "We have met the enemy and he is us." I've quoted that bit of news from Pogo once or twice before. 7'/?e New York Times' Frank Rich and editor Dave Zweifel of The Capital Times in Madison, Wis- consin, have written on something of the same sort in recent articles. Much of what follows is summa- rized fl'om them. We Americans are as much to blame tbr what is happening in our country's good name as is George W. Bush. The American public is the least culpable player during the runup to Iraq because of the brilliant and fear-filled propa- ganda campaign sold to them and Congress. But as the war drags on year after year it becomes difficult to give the public a pass because we have been slow to notice, let alone complain. A tiny fraction of our fellow citizens including, in some cases, both parents of small children are serving on the front lines while the rest of us go on as usual. How can a government grant this? Dur- ing World War II it got almost to the point where brothers couldn't serve in the same theater. In case you're wondering, don't get me wrong. I have no doubt that moth- ers can be just as brave and capa- ble as fathers. Was it Kipling who wrote in some piece, "The female of the species is more deadly than the male"? I'm reminded of a part in James Michener's The Covenant where tribe's custom appeasing God. Seems a great, huge idol was made that terrible head with a hu mouth leading to a chute to a huge fire pit. An eldest his fifth birthday was the maw, becoming a that War God. A statement entered into the manuscript "Thank God we don't do more. Now we wait until eighteenth birthday." Why don't we complain our government's use of Rich reported that recently dozen WWII vets held a Washington. They were part top-secret operation to some 4,000 Nazi prisoners turecl by Allied troops. The ington Post interviewed these One 90-year-old vet said, more information out of one man general with a game or ping-pong than they do with their torture." An 87-' added that he "never laid on anyone" in his many tions, adding, "I'm proud to never compromised my ity." And that humanity, Rich serted, is what all AmericanS l losing when we avert our what our government is doing. Public apathy and personal ambition creates quagmires. Charles L. Ridiculous cardin Editor, The Journal: On the Web site www.every- thing.com, one can locate the definition ibr "carding." It is as follows: "... a term used when a store, drinking establishment or nightclub requires that one pres- ent one's ID prior to purchase or entrance into the establishment. People are usually carded prior to being allowed to buy alcohol or cigarettes, so that the store's pro- prietor can be certain that the cus- tomer is of legal age to purchase such items." I begin with this definition due to a recent experience at Wal-Mart where I left the store absolutely dumbfounded. My husband and I • purchased a bottle of port at Wal- Mart and, while waiting at the checkout stand for my husband to pay for this purchase, I real- ized that he had been asked for his ID. Incredulous, I asked the clerk if she was "carding" my husbTind. She replied in the affirmative. When she saw the shocked look on my face, she went on to state that it was discrimination if she didn't ask for identification and that she would feel awful if she sold a bottle of liquor to an age person who then was sible for an automobile that resulted in injuries or Though I share this concern, I still confused as to why a old man needed to be carded. The salesgirl went on to that Wal-Mart had signed a tract with the state ( agreeing to card all who alcohol. I was, and continue to absolutely amazed. I was under the im I the purpose of carding was underage people breaking the and establishments needing closely monitor sales of can't help but wonder why is now an agreement between state and Wal-Mart stores to all purchasers of alcohol as are attempting to break a law. Why is it in this "I zy world" we do these ab, ridiculous things? Is this not discriminate actually an tempt to protect the of some teenager who wants break the law? Val Harstine Misunderstanding Editor, The Journal: I apologize to Bill Hrbacek for my commentary regarding his let- ter to The Journal (November 8, "Talk radio is market product"). I took his comment, "verifiable sources and facts," to be an as- sertion that the conservative talk shows dealt with facts as opposed to the liberal talk shows not deal- ing in facts. After talking to Bill ins his letter again, I now stand that Bill was saying all political talk shows, eral and conservative, would ter serve the public if they facts. Merlyn 10-Yard Truck most sizes CRUSHED ROCK -- delivered into Shelton 1 I[ pII Two for $312. for  1 I Special savings to outlying areas. just .ll,.J  Call for details and pricing to other areas. Plus tax, Price effective 5/15/07. Pricesubject to change with()ut notice. I Kennec I I 00ou2.?.00c00yu2,2,[ I Creek l! Quarry Located on Highway 101 Call for details! between Shelton and Olympia Year-round delivery (360) 426-4743 i00eaders " ¢]ournal: Street maintenance lacking Editor, The Journal: On Wallace Kneeland Boule- vard the street is falling apart right before our eyes because of poor maintenance from the City of Shelton. Notice the cracks and the emerg- ing potholes all up and down the street? In the area of the junior" high in the eastbound lane, there is a pothole that has been filled three times in less than seven days, and it is failing again and needs a fourth patch and maybe more. Why is this pothole so stub- born? Very simple: It is not being patched properly. When you repair a pothole it's necessary to remove the water from the hole before you apply cold patch or hot patch, and most of all, seal the repair with tar/oil. Who's at fault? I'm not really sure, but I think that someone was not properly trained or didn't fol- low procedures before being sent out to do the people's work. What does it cost the taxpayers to do a simple job three times in a seven- day period? Probably more than we want to know. I have requested a total cost from the director of public works. Take a close look at our city streets the next time you drive around. Are there a lot of cracks in the streets just waiting to tail? You betcha. The tired old excuse is, "We don't have any money." Of course they don't; they can't use the existing money wisely. What should the taxpayers do? (1) Require accountability tom city officials. (2) Reallocate city funds from items that are not essential and use for streets repair. (3) When you see deplorable road conditions, call the city com- missioners at 426-4491. (4) Do something positive; re- quire some bang for your buck. The normal excuse of "no mon- ey" is very tired and well worn. The city animal-control budget is as large as the street maintenance budget - reportedly $80,000. Is there something wrong with that picture? The city needs to rethink their priorities. I want to be proud of our city, not embarrassed because of a lack of maintenance by city officials. Each day that goes by the price tag gets larger and larger for repairs, and I think that it's high time that we received some action instead of hollow words. I think I understand why the issue for street funds failed: They can't maintain what they have. And don't even get me started on annexation or impact fees. Imag- ine 3,000 more cars downtown in l0 years, 1,500 more homes and a pothole tbr all. Lloyd E. Prouty Johns Prairie Shelter can use donations Editor, The Journal: The Cold & Hungry Coali- tion and Saint David's Episcopal Church are operating the extreme- cold-weather shelter again this year. The week of Thanksgiving gave us a taste of winter, and the shelter operated each night that the temperature was so cold as to be life-threatening (most nights last week and weekend). The shelter is in need of cash donations to pay the shelter staff, as we always are at this time of year. However, for those who are not able to make a cash donation, the shelter is always in need of clean used blankets, clean used coats, hats, scarves and gloves. II Corinthians 9:8 reminds us: "And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of' everything, you may share abun- dantly in every good work." I consider support of the shelter to be very good work, and I would encourage our local churches, ser- vice clubs, individuals and busi- nesses to collect clean used coats and blankets for the homeless who shelter at Saint David's. Donations for the shelter may be dropped off at Joe Snyder's of- rice, 125 North Fifth Street, Mon- day through Thursday, during business hours. For those who have already do- nated generously to the shelter, we express our appreciation, and we are especially grateful to members of the Shelton Kiwanis, the Shel- ton Rotary and Green Diamond Resource. Katherine Farr, secretary Cold & Hungry Coalition Angleside Watch for global meltdown Editor, The Journal." I wanted to bring a global fi- nancial warning to ybur readers' attention. It is from the chief ex- ecutive officer of a respected non- profit Pentagon think tank - The Arlington Institute. The Arlington Institute special- izes m predicting future events. Its CEO, John L. Petersen, put on-line a report titled, "Mhjor Fi- nancial Disruption," on November 14 that began, "It appears that the world in general and the United States in particular are on the edge of a major disruption in the global financial system." Consumer credit-card foreclo- sures were up 470 percent in the third quarter and "will be up over 500 percent this coming quarter (fourth)," according to this report. The predicted disruption could come as soon as February, the re- port warns, since "as much as 40 percent of retail sales are done in the fourth quarter of the year." The Arlington Institute cites the effort by China "to convert its $1.4-trillion U.S. Treasury hold- ings into euros" as a factor. The prediction is that "they'll dump them on the market" in Febru- ary. The report concludes, "March is when we realize that the dollar doesn't come back." An Associated Press article on November 20 mentions the im- portant recent meeting of' the Organization of Petroleum Ex- porting Countries where "Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called tbr oil to be listed for sale in a currency other than the dollar." If the dollar falls more globally we will see it immediately here in Washington as an even higher increase in already high oil prices. Reducing consumer spending this holiday season and not ex- tending one's credit would be a wise choice if such a scenario be- gins to unfold. Mason County resi- dents should be prepared for a fi- nancially shaky start to 2008. James Bell Union i i Wede'iv°r H EATI NG IL We carry kerosene. Located at Sanderson # __  Industrial Park II IT'00L0000I 427-8084 Page 6 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, November 29, 2007 Pogo had it nai Editor, The Journal: he writes about an ancient "We have met the enemy and he is us." I've quoted that bit of news from Pogo once or twice before. 7'/?e New York Times' Frank Rich and editor Dave Zweifel of The Capital Times in Madison, Wis- consin, have written on something of the same sort in recent articles. Much of what follows is summa- rized fl'om them. We Americans are as much to blame tbr what is happening in our country's good name as is George W. Bush. The American public is the least culpable player during the runup to Iraq because of the brilliant and fear-filled propa- ganda campaign sold to them and Congress. But as the war drags on year after year it becomes difficult to give the public a pass because we have been slow to notice, let alone complain. A tiny fraction of our fellow citizens including, in some cases, both parents of small children are serving on the front lines while the rest of us go on as usual. How can a government grant this? Dur- ing World War II it got almost to the point where brothers couldn't serve in the same theater. In case you're wondering, don't get me wrong. I have no doubt that moth- ers can be just as brave and capa- ble as fathers. Was it Kipling who wrote in some piece, "The female of the species is more deadly than the male"? I'm reminded of a part in James Michener's The Covenant where tribe's custom appeasing God. Seems a great, huge idol was made that terrible head with a hu mouth leading to a chute to a huge fire pit. An eldest his fifth birthday was the maw, becoming a that War God. A statement entered into the manuscript "Thank God we don't do more. Now we wait until eighteenth birthday." Why don't we complain our government's use of Rich reported that recently dozen WWII vets held a Washington. They were part top-secret operation to some 4,000 Nazi prisoners turecl by Allied troops. The ington Post interviewed these One 90-year-old vet said, more information out of one man general with a game or ping-pong than they do with their torture." An 87-' added that he "never laid on anyone" in his many tions, adding, "I'm proud to never compromised my ity." And that humanity, Rich serted, is what all AmericanS l losing when we avert our what our government is doing. Public apathy and personal ambition creates quagmires. Charles L. Ridiculous cardin Editor, The Journal: On the Web site www.every- thing.com, one can locate the definition ibr "carding." It is as follows: "... a term used when a store, drinking establishment or nightclub requires that one pres- ent one's ID prior to purchase or entrance into the establishment. People are usually carded prior to being allowed to buy alcohol or cigarettes, so that the store's pro- prietor can be certain that the cus- tomer is of legal age to purchase such items." I begin with this definition due to a recent experience at Wal-Mart where I left the store absolutely dumbfounded. My husband and I • purchased a bottle of port at Wal- Mart and, while waiting at the checkout stand for my husband to pay for this purchase, I real- ized that he had been asked for his ID. Incredulous, I asked the clerk if she was "carding" my husbTind. She replied in the affirmative. When she saw the shocked look on my face, she went on to state that it was discrimination if she didn't ask for identification and that she would feel awful if she sold a bottle of liquor to an age person who then was sible for an automobile that resulted in injuries or Though I share this concern, I still confused as to why a old man needed to be carded. The salesgirl went on to that Wal-Mart had signed a tract with the state ( agreeing to card all who alcohol. I was, and continue to absolutely amazed. I was under the im I the purpose of carding was underage people breaking the and establishments needing closely monitor sales of can't help but wonder why is now an agreement between state and Wal-Mart stores to all purchasers of alcohol as are attempting to break a law. Why is it in this "I zy world" we do these ab, ridiculous things? Is this not discriminate actually an tempt to protect the of some teenager who wants break the law? Val Harstine Misunderstanding Editor, The Journal: I apologize to Bill Hrbacek for my commentary regarding his let- ter to The Journal (November 8, "Talk radio is market product"). I took his comment, "verifiable sources and facts," to be an as- sertion that the conservative talk shows dealt with facts as opposed to the liberal talk shows not deal- ing in facts. After talking to Bill ins his letter again, I now stand that Bill was saying all political talk shows, eral and conservative, would ter serve the public if they facts. Merlyn 10-Yard Truck most sizes CRUSHED ROCK -- delivered into Shelton 1 I[ pII Two for $312. for  1 I Special savings to outlying areas. just .ll,.J  Call for details and pricing to other areas. Plus tax, Price effective 5/15/07. Pricesubject to change with()ut notice. I Kennec I I 00ou2.?.00c00yu2,2,[ I Creek l! Quarry Located on Highway 101 Call for details! between Shelton and Olympia Year-round delivery (360) 426-4743