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| December 27, 2012 Shelton Mason County Journal |  |
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December 27, 2012 |
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Study: Mason County ranks third in state in tobacco sales to minors
By NATALIE JOHNSON
natalie(~i~ma,s.oneounty.com
Mason County has one of
the highest rates of retail-
ers selling tobacco products
to minors, according to a re-
port released by the Wash-
ington State Department of
Health (DOH) on Dec. 12,.
Out of 24 compliance
checks carried out county-
wide between January and
June 2012, minors were
able to buy tobacco at seven
of those checks.
That puts the county's
under-age tobacco purchase
rate at 29.2 percent, only
Yakima County's 30 percent
and Okanogan County's
30.4 percent came in higher.
Statewide, 16 percent of
retailers were 'caught sell-
ing tobacco to minors, up
from 11 percent in 2011.
Percent of sales of tobacco
to minors were not available
for 2011.
"This is unacceptable,"
Washington state Secretary
of Health Mary Selecky said
in a statement. "Our young
people should not have ac-
cess to these deadly tobacco
products. Most adult smok-
ers start as teens, so if we
can keep tobacco out of the
hands of kids, it's likely
they'll never take up this
dangerous habit."
Compliance checks for to-
bacco sales in Mason County
are performed by the Wash-
ington State Liquor Control
Board.
The seven stores that
sold tobacco to minors dur-
ing compliance checks in
Mason County include the
Food Mart at 108 N. First
St. in Shelton, the Ag-
ate Store at 3840 E. Agate
Road., the Belfair QFC at
N.E. 201 State Hwy 300, the
Deer Creek Store at 5881
E. Highway 3, the Matlock
General Store at 17490 W.
Shelton Matlock Road., the
Taylor Towns Store at 70
Lynch Road and Bear Creek
Country Store and Feed at
3530 N.E. Old Belfair High-
way.
The Mason County De-
partment of Health used to
perform these compliance
checks, but two years ago,
the department's funding to
do these checks did not sur-
vive budget cuts.
"It looks like from the
data, (retailers) have gotten
complacent because they
don't get checked as often,"
said Heidi Iyall, who works
Heidi Iyall, who works with the Mason County Health
programs, demonstrates material given to retailers to
funding for smoking preven-
tion programs, tobacco com-
Smok|ng in panics spend $80 million
on advertising each year in
Washington alone, accord-
ing to the state DOH.
13 percentdWashingt0nresidents smoke Kirkpatrick said anti-
smoking advertising cam-
26 ~rcent d ~0n Count/residents paigns have been used in
smoke the past, but, without new
funding, have all but disap-
70200 min n Wmh ngton make peared.
"Those were determined
50 teefl~e~ start smoking each day to be pretty effective," she
said.
7,900 Wmhington residents die each year With law enforcement
from tobacco-related diseoses agencies stretched thin on
property and violent crimes,
Source: Washington State Depa~t~nt of enforcing laws against the
Heol$ sale of tobacco to minors
is not a high priority, said
Chief Deputy Dean Byrd of
with tobacco prevention pro- the Mason County Sheriffs
grams at the county's public Office.
health department. "Tobacco products have
While funding was cut for traditionally not been at the
compliance checks, the pub- top of the list," he said.
lic health department still In the past, the sheriffs
has some funding each year office has made efforts to
to educate retailers about curb sales of alcohol to mi-
the importance of checking nors. In summer 2011, the
identification and not sell- sheriffs office joined with
ing tobacco to minors, the Washington State Li-
"With a lack of funding, quor Control Board to do
our focus is on education," compliance checks on liquor
public health Director Vicki stores.
Kirkpatrick said. "By the end of that pro-
While public health de- gram, we found that the
partments have limited compliance rate had signifi-
co-related diseases, accord-
ing to the DOH.
If the rate of retailers sell-
ing tobacco to minors exceeds
20 percent statewide, Wash-
ington -- which is at 16 per-
cent'-- could lose nearly $14
million in federal funding
for drug, alcohol and tobacco
prevention and treatment,
according to the DOH.
Clerks who are caught
selling tobacco to minors
can be fined up to $i00 and
store owners can be fined up
to $1,500. After multiple vi-
olations, a store can lose its
license to sell tobacco per-
manently.
The Washington State
Department of Health
Tobacco Quit Line is
1-800-QUIT-NOW.
Journal photo by Natalie Johnson
Department's anti-smoking education
discourage sales of tobacco to minors.
Cell Phones
• taptops
cantly improved," Byrd said. smoke.
"If there was an emphasis "We do have a high adult
on tobacco, we would do us- tobacco use rate," Kirkpat-
sentially the same thing." rick said.
With budget cuts, law en- To combat adult smok-
forcement simply does not ing, the Mason County and
have the money to investi- City of Shelton commissions
gate tobacco sales to minors have enacted resolutions
Byrd explained, to ban smoking in public
"We are not in a position parks, she said.
to do that kind of enforce- "It's only in recent years
ment and regulatory work," that it hasn't been complete-
he said. ly socially acceptable," Kirk-
About 13 percent ofWash- patrick said.
ington residents smoke, ac- About 70,000 minors
cording to the state DOH. statewide smoke cigarettes,
That number has droppedand about 50 teens start
by hal£in the past 12 years, smoking each day. Roughly
In Mason County, more 7,900 people die every year
than 26 percent of residents in Washington from tobac-
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t
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We carry kerosene. Located at Sanderson
_ Industrial Park
Calls reported to Shel-Assaults
ton Police, Mason County At 6:27 p.m. on Dec. 20,
Sheriffs Office and tribal an assault was reported
agencies included: in the 400 block of North
Fourth Street.
Burglaries
At 9:52 a.m. on Dec: 18, Sex crimes
a burglary was reported in At 3:11 p.m. on Dec. 20,
the 200 block of East Will- a sex offense was reported
char Boulevard. in an undisclosed address
in Shelton.
At 12:22 p.m. on Dec.
18, a residential burglary Domestic violence
was reported in the 1400 At 12:12 p.m. on Dec. 18,
block of east Eagle Point adomestic disturbance was
Drive. reported in the 100 block of
West Grizzly Ridge Road.
At 8:41 a.m. on Dec. 19,
a burglary was reportedThefts
in the 1400 block of Wing- At 10:50 a.m. on Dec. 18,
wood Place. a mail theft was reported
in the 100 block of South-
At 12:16 p.m. on Dec. 19, east Old Arcadia Road.
a burglary was reported
in the 2000 block of East At 10:54 a.m. on Dec.
South Island Drive. 18, a theft was reported in
the 100 block of East Agate
Drive.
At 8:45 a.m. on Dec. 20,
a residential burglary was
reported in the 200 block ef At 12:33 p.m. on Dec. 18,
South Seventh Street. a backpack was reported
stolen in the 100 block of
At 11:17 a.m. on Dec. 20, West State Route 108.
a residential burglary was
reported in the 5200 block At 6:13 p.m. on Dec. 18,
of East Mason Lake Drive a backpack was reported
West. stolen from the 100 block
of West State Route 108.
At 4:43 p.m. on Dec. 20,
a residential burglary was At 1:48 p.m. on Dec. 19,
reported in the 200 block of a mail theft was reported
East Agate Loop Road. in the 600 block of Holly
Drive.
At 11:08 p.m. on Dec.
20, a residential burglary At 3:31 p.m. on Dec. 19,
was reported in the 100a toolbox and other items
block &Southeast Lupinewere reported stolen in
Court. the 1000 block of East En-
chantment Drive, Union. [ ~!iC!'A CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS IN DOWNTOWN SHELTON in:duding
Estimated value is $1,500.
N~I~ ~f:the Lights Tree Lighting on Friday night and the Christmas Town USA Christmas
At 9:41 a.m. on Dec. 20, I i~ej°yfulkick°fft°theh°lidays it was meant t° be"
a theft was reported in the ~ the Shelton Kiwanis, Hiawatha Evergreens, Comcast, Hood Canal Communications
100 block of East Wallace .... ~CityofSheltonformakingourtownshinebrightandmerryfortheHolidayseason.
Kneeland Boulevard. We ~ank Peninsula Credit Union and Little Creek Casino Resort for believing in the magic of
: ~ual Christmas Parade through their continued sponsorship year afrer year. Peninsula...
At 10:42 a.m. on Dec. thehotCocoawassocomforting!!!
20, a generator was report- O~elming thanks to Amy and Forrest Cooper & the Downtown Merchants Association for
edly stolen in the 100 block :: ~oRab0rating with us in bringing Joy to our community and maybe a little financial help to our
of East Flaggwood Lane, merchant.
Union. Estimated value is i ~ks ~o Washington State Lt. Governor Brad Owen and his mother Laurel Willis for lighting
$3,500.
our Christmas Tree!
At 11:28 a.m. on Dec. : i: ~ur Gratitude t° the ever p°pular Dale Hubbard and KMAS f°r taking°nther°le°femcee
20, a puppy was stolen ~ndannouncer.
reported in the 100 block ~ankyou to Elizabeth Berndt, the Hartstine Island Choir and the music directors and kids
of Southeast Mill Creekfrom local schools that participated in making the night sound joyous and welcoming to all.
Road. ~ank yon to Mason County Christian School- Shepherds & Angels also for a great
~rformance.
At 11:44 a.m. on Dec. 20, Santa and Mrs. Santa-.as always...our thanks for being you...for sharing LOVE, HOPE and
a theft was reported in the ~OY.
1700 block of North 13th ~dtothe following ......... we could not have done it without you ........ ffwe left anyone out it
Loop Road. Estimated val .......
ue is $500-$700. was not intentional....just old age .....
:::
At 2:52 p.m. on Dec. 20, Septic Tank PumpingEllen Julian Kay Pearson
a theft was reported in the Ed & Cheryl Stanley Jenny Durago Billy Corral
100 block of West State ..... :: GailBrewer Lorraine Coots Bruce&TerriGierke
Route 108. : EriE Thompson Jimmy Hunter Vern Gonzales
Olsen Furniture City of Shelton Shelton Mason County
At 5:51 p.m. on Dec. 20, Tozier Brothers GlenLatham Chamber of Commerce
a gray 2011 Hyundai So-40et8 MerideeAnderson GregLinder
nata was reported stolen in Madeline & Elizabeth Miller Roger Pearson Travis Shank & Kids
the 100 block of Southeast :Elma Feed & Farm SupplyTim & Shari Underhill Venture Crew 9110
Clemantis Avenue ..................
Kayla Gustafson Muddy & Melody Gill Mike Oblizalo
Fires ~ighthouse Electric Mason County Optimists
At 1:23 p.m. on Dec. 18, a
structure fire was reported
in the 200 block of South- :::.:
east Clematis Avenue. ......
....... :,>
At 2:07 a.m. on Dec. 19,i::'i::
2
a structure fire was re- .... :
ported in an undisclosed ....
address on East Dartmoor of Kristmas Town Kiwanis members- thank you for letting us have the time to do this project!/t!
Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 - Page A-5
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