Your account does not include highlighter on images.
Searches Highlighted on Image
| December 22, 2011 Shelton Mason County Journal |  |
|
©
Shelton Mason County Journal. All rights reserved. Upgrade to access Premium Tools
PAGE 7 (7 of 24 available) PREVIOUS NEXT Jumbo Image Save To Scrapbook Set Notifiers PDF JPG
December 22, 2011 |
|
|
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader 
|
s R Christmas sponsors
seven families for 2Oll
By NATALIE JOHNSON
Seven families will have a
brighter Christmas morning
this year thanks to the an-
nual Town Pub and Deli Kids
R Christmas fundraiser.
The program raised $3,200
on Saturday, Dec. 3, at a ben-
efit auction at the Town Pub.
"We want to help the kids
in the community to have a
better Christmas," said San-
di Johnson, a Kids R Christ-
mas volunteer. "It makes us
feel good."
Town Pub owner Linda
Trout thanked members of
the community, including the
Jolly Jesters, Union mem-
bers of the PUD and local
businesses and pub patrons.
"Our patrons at the town
pub and the local businesses
were a humongous factor,"
Trout said. "Without them
you wouldn't see gifts."
Kids R Christmas
organizers Deon Paul,
left, Sandi Johnson
and Linda Trout
helped raise $3,200
• this year.
Journal photo by Natalie Johnson
Lifel, ong dream becomes reality for author
By NATALIE JOHNSON ed to write," he said. "This Phoenix Quest
ended up being one of the stories that I would
James Strom has always dreamed about talk to brothers and sisters and mom and dad
being a writer. From time spent in journal- about."
ism school to serving in the Vietnam War to In 1985, Strom began putting some of his
a career in retail, Strom deferred his dream thoughts down on paper, but with a full-time
for 40 years, job, no amount of time was ever enough to
But this year, Strom, who writes under the fully explore his passion, the Phoenix Quest
name James Malcolm, is releasing his first, idea.
self-published book called "Phoenix Quest: "Before I wrote 'Phoenix Quest' I wrote
The Medallion, the Ring, and the Feather." a six-book series -- a children's book series
"After 40 years of thinking about this book about a colony of ants," Strom said.
I actually sat down and I wrote it," he said. Strom's series, called "Anthology," is a fa-
"I've let people read my stories, but it's always vorite with his family, but isn't published.
been a manuscript ... to take it to book form~ Since last December, when Strom retired
it's like sharing your dream with everybody." ~., at 62; he has been able to devote much of his,
' Strom graduated from time writing, and has written a slew oflbooks
t ~ -#?~, ....... Shelton High School inin a short time, including a three-book series
..... ' ::'~:;ii:':.),i.~~'I ~ 1966, then attended Ev- fromhis original Phoenix
Quest
story.
~!!!i~:::::!'ii~,::i:iii:i:~ erett Community College,Strom said fantasy has always been his fa-
~!i .~i'.!iii:~ majoring in art and jour- vorite genre to write in.
~ nalism. Strom then en- "I think it gives you a creativity to explore
tered the U.S. Marines and something," he said. "People get tired of deal-
served for 13 months in the ing with the realities of everyday life. When
infantry during the Viet- you get to use the fantasy side of your brain it
nam War. takes you to a whole other world."
James Strom first began to Strom's book, set in 1350 B.C., focuses on
Strom think about writing a book the life of a blacksmith trying to win the heart
while serving in Vietnam. of a princess. To do so, he must embark on a
He kept a diary about his quest to find a phoenix feather, which throws
experiences in combat and planned to use it him in the path of numerous characters from
to help compile a book when he returned, history and mythology, which influence his
However, when Strom opened his bag epic journey from ancient England to the
upon returning to the United States. the di- Mediterranean to Egypt and back again.
ary was nowhere to be found. Strom decided "I was looking for a specific time frame
to abandon the project, where I could tie in fantasy, mythology and
"It's hard enough coming back from Viet- history all in one," he said. "I've also been fas-
nam without ha~ng to rehash it all," he said. cinated with Egyptian history and history in
"It's one thing if you're reading and writing general my whole life."
versus reliving it in your brain- I just couldn't The first book in the series will be available
do that so I didn't write the book."at Sage Book Store in Shelton this weekend.
Strom then spent time working at 20th Although Strom now lives in Tacoma, he
Century Thriftway in Shelton, now the Shel- said he wanted to come home to do his first
ton Red Apple. which started a 40-year career book signing, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
in retail. While Strom enjoyed his career, he on Friday, Dec. 23. at Sage Book Store.
said it seriously cut into time he would have Strom may have embarked on his dream
rather spent exploring his dream of becoming of writing novels later in life than he planned.
an author, but he encouraged people to never give up on
Through his life. the idea for "Phoenix their dream.
Quest" kept popping into his head. and even- '% lot of times those dreams start when
tually, he couldn't ignore it any longer, you're young don't be afraid to do anything,"
"I had these ideas that were kickinghe said.
around in my head about other things I want-
LOST DOG
"Bear"
Lost in the. ralne area.
Large Newfoundland /
Pyrenees cross. 160 Ibs.
Mostly black with white
on chest & feet,
Very friendly. If you find Bear
please call 360-229-1677.
REWARD OFFERED
MASON COUNTY 2012 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES BUDGET
SHERIFF'S OFFICE
2000 Explorer $35,000
2001 Pickup $35,000 $70.000
UTILITIES
1990 Chevy pickup $28,000 $28,000
PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT
1992 Mack 10/12 yard dump truck $170,000
1992 Frink snowplow 11' $16,000
1992 Swenson sander $19,000
2002 F 250 space 3/~ T 4X4 PU, 3 each $117,000
1989 International oiler $140,000
Butler two axle equipment trailer $30,000
2004 Tiger mower, J D tractor $110,000
1976 9 tire pneumatic corn pactor $100,000
1990 Vermeer brush ch pper $50,000
1980 Swenson sander $15,000
Front sweeper, 2 ea@ $40,000
$807,000
SHOP EQUIPMENT
Two post vehicle hoist $8.000 $8,000
COUNTY WIDE
Replacement PC's $80,000 $80,000
TOTAL EQUIPMENT PROPOSED $993,000
Paid for by Jean Hrbacek
Justin time for your holiday shopping!
Pick up your Shop Local coupons at the Chamber
or simply visit our website to print them now at
www.sheltonchamber.org
Coupons valid November 26 - December 31
LOCAL BUCKS are available too!
The perfect gift for anyone on your list - and
accepted at nearly 30 local businesses. Details at
www.sheltonchamber.org/localbucks
Available all year long
nber
: i