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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