Mason county journal feb 17, 2014 a section

Vet tech an animal lover PAGE A-12

Journal Mason County

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 - Week 8 - The Voice of Mason County since 1886 — $1

Lead me anywhere

Shelton Hills study draws calls for cleanup However, city officials say mitigation plans are in place

By GORDON WEEKS gordon@masoncounty.com

A standing-room-only crowd packed the Shelton City Commission chambers Tuesday night, with many residents urging the commissioners to ensure polluted Goose Lake and the former C Street dump are cleaned up before allowing the adjacent 604-acre Shelton Hills development to proceed.

See HILLS on page A-24

Recommendations designed to help city alleviate poverty Page A-2 Shelton takes action on shortterm memorials Page A-3 New transit center taking shape Page A-6 ‘Wizard of Oz’ takes the stage Page A-15 INSIDE TODAY: Opinion Journal of Record Living Business News Obituaries Belfair Herald Sports Classifieds Legals Crossword Sudoku

Page A-4 Page A-10 Page A-15 Page A-17 Page A-18 Page A-21 Page B-1 Page B-8 Page B-9 Page B-11 Page B-11

Journal photo by Gordon Weeks

VALENTINE’S DANCE: Angie Coombs and Leonard Necochea, both of Shelton, swing to a band’s rendition of ‘Teddy Bear’ at a Valentine’s Day dance Friday at the Mason County Senior Activities Center at the Pavilion at Sentry Park in Shelton.

Marshals arrest 30 fugitives in county during sweep

By NATALIE JOHNSON natalie@masoncounty.com

Thirty fugitives were captured in Mason County last week after a three-day dragnet led by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Operation Safe Harbors arrested 89 fugitives in Grays Harbor, Pacific and Mason counties, including 10 sex offenders in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties, on Feb. 11, 12 and 13, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

None of the 30 fugitives apprehended in Mason County during the operation were arrested on sex offense warrants.

The operation was intended to find wanted felons and check the status of registered sex of-

fenders in the three counties.

“I commend the leadership of the U.S. Marshals Service working with local law enforcement to remove wanted felons from the community,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan, of Washington’s Western District of Washington, in a news release Feb. 13.

“Just one offender can have a significant impact on a smaller community. Sex offenders in rural areas, just like those in urban settings, need to know that law enforcement is watching.”

Six teams of law enforcement officers worked together across Southwest Washington during the operation.

The Marshals Service is tasked, among other activities, with apprehending federal fugitives. The Adam Walsh Child

Protection and Safety Act also allows them to pursue sex offenders under certain circumstances, said Jack Williams, acting chief deputy of the U.S. Marshals Service in Western Washington.

“When sex offenders fail to register and they cross state lines, or they fail to register (and) they’ve been convicted on an Indian reservation or … a military base … then that also can be charged as a federal crime,” Williams said. “We work hand in hand with counties to look at their failure to register warrants.”

The U.S. Marshals Service has 35 deputies in Western Washington and a sex offender coordinator, he said.

During the operation, deputy marshals also conducted compliance checks on 101 sex

offenders in Grays Harbor County, and collected DNA samples for offenders who had not yet provided a sample.

Compliance checks ensure an offender is abiding by the terms of their release.

The Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Squaxin Island Police, the Washington State Department of Corrections, the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, the United State’s Attorney’s Office, Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office, Pacific County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hoquiam Police Department assisted in Operation Safe Harbors.

The dragnet concluded with a daylong training for local law enforcement, victim advocates and school staff related to child safety issues related to sex predators.

Commissioners reviewing plan for code enforcement officer

By NATALIE JOHNSON natalie@masoncounty.com

The Mason County Sheriff’s Office and county Department of Community Development have proposed working together to enforce the county’s land use and building codes.

“I want somebody with a lot of background, a lot of expertise,” said Barbara Adkins, director of

the county Department may not know Mason of Community DevelCounty code but they opment, at a briefing need to know how to Tuesday with Mason do their job when they County Commissioners come in the building, Terri Jeffreys and Ranshe said.”

Commissioner Jefdy Neatherlin, memfreys asked for another bers of the Sheriff’s Ofweek to review the fice and Mason County Adkins proposal. The commisEnvironmental Health sion plans to discuss it and Committee.

“I don’t want somebody who again in briefings this week.

The code enforcement offiI’m going to need to train. They

cer would be employed by the Department of Community Development. According to a job description provided to the commission Tuesday, they will “coordinate the enforcement of county land use and building codes,” perform and conduct onsite field investigations, attend public meetings and presentations, and other tasks.

See OFFICER on page A-11

City: Youth programs, leadership could ease poverty

By GORDON WEEKS gordon@masoncounty.com

The Shelton City Commission is considering implementing six key recommendations by its poverty task force, including supporting efforts to provide activities and services for youths, and establishing a city poverty committee and a business community task force.

The recommendations by the city’s Community and Economic Development Department, outlined at the commission’s regular meeting Tuesday night, also include directing the city’s police and public works departments to re-illuminate streetlights that have been turned off in recent years and consider adding lighting to downtown alleyways to provide better safety.

They also direct the city, particularly its elected officials, to provide leadership in working with organizations and county, state and federal representatives to implement the poverty task force’s recommendations.

The staff recommendations will receive a second reading and possible action at the commission’s study session at 2 p.m.

Monday.

The staff recommendations were culled from the 23 recommendations presented by the city’s nine-member poverty task force, which was formed last July to propose mitigations to ease the effects of poverty on Shelton residents and businesses.

The group’s collection of

data used to produce the report — presented to the city commission Dec. 13 — included 55 survey responses by Shelton merchants; 174 surveys filled out by people who use the services; two public forums; and presentations from such groups as Community Lifeline, Love INC, the Mason County Health Department, the Mason County Shelter, Mason Matters, Saint’s Pantry Food Bank and the Shelton School District.

According to the report, challenges faced by people in need in Shelton include a lack of safe, affordable housing; a shortage of affordable, accessible mental health options; and poor families trapped in poverty, where “children are most at the mercy of generational poverty.”

The 31-page report, and its appendices, can be viewed at www.ci.shelton.wa.us. Go to the poverty task force information page and click on “final report with appendices.”

At the commission’s meeting Tuesday night, Steve Goins, the city’s director of Community and Economic Development, outlined the six key recommendations. He pointed out that all 23 task force recommendations are included under the six categories. They include: n Supporting efforts by Youth Empowerment Strategies (YES) in its proposal to Mason County to use the former St. Edward’s Catholic Church rectory as a center for serving at-risk youths. n Partnering and providing city support to local orga-

nizations such as HOST/YES, Mason Transit Authority and Mason Matters to help bring “youth-related activities” to Shelton. n Establishing a city poverty committee to follow up on the poverty task force’s recommendations, and to recommend and develop a plan for implementation. n Establishing a task force from the business community to “identify the barriers that may be hindering business growth and economic development,” and suggesting strategies to attract new businesses to Shelton.

“These are great things to move on,” Commissioner Mike Olsen said.

But Dave Salzer, who served on the poverty task force, told the commission the staff recommendations “appear to be a rehash or recap of our final report.”

He added, “What is missing for me, now some two months after our final report, is any sense of support or opinion from the commission about the validity of the work we did.”

Salzer asked the commission to “put an action face on the task force conclusions ahead of any further deliberations by another committee. I have a couple simple suggestions to show your good faith effort. Turn back on all of the streetlights that you turned off some time ago.

Initiate a plan to secure all the dumpsters in the alleys in the downtown core. Show that you believe in and support the work we did and the conclusions that we reached.”

Journal photo by Gordon Weeks

The Shelton City Commission is considering implementing six recommendations by its poverty task force, including directing the city’s police and public works departments to re-illuminate street lights that have been turned off in recent years and consider adding lighting to downtown alley. The issue of dumpster diving would be examined by a city poverty committee.

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Page A-2 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014

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City passes policy on short- and long-term memorials

By GORDON WEEKS gordon@masoncounty.com

The Shelton City Commission on Tuesday passed a policy to regulate temporary and long-term memorials in the city to honor deceased loved ones.

The policy is designed to facilitate the “grieving process� of relatives who have lost a loved one. Residents can contact the city about placing a temporary memorial of 30 days on city property or within a city right-of-way. The type of memorial, the location and the duration will be agreed on by the city and the family.

The policy was spurred by a temporary memorial placed at the corner of First Street and Railroad Avenue in September, and remained until Jan. 10. The memorial, which included candles, a cross, photos and stuffed animals, paid tribute to 27-year-old Shelton resident Talon Newman, who was beaten to death in downtown Shelton on Aug. 27.

Business owners were concerned about how long the memorial would remain, Greg Clark, the city’s Public Works director, told the commission last week.

Under the new policy, temporary memorials can be displayed for up to 30 days. The memorials can include photos, candles, small writings or signs, plants, flowers, wreaths, ribbons, stuffed animals, balloons, crosses and religious

items, and other objects that can easily be removed.

Long-term memorials such as park benches with plaques would follow the guidelines in the city’s Parks Department gift and donation program.

During a public hearing on the policy, Shelton resident and business owner Forrest Cooper said he opposes temporary memorials that are reminders of violent deaths in the city, where “the place of the tragedy becomes a plot.�

Cooper suggested that the city designate a section of Shelton Memorial Park for temporary memorials. “Memorial parks exist for a reason,� he said.

Shelton resident Tom Davis said he agreed. “I think a temporary memorial is inappropriate at best,�

Davis said. He added, “There’s a place for grieving. It’s a private event.�

Temporary memorials are “a little tacky,� Davis said. “It’s really not something you want to see in the city.�

Commissioner Mike Olsen said that in his 35 years living in Shelton, the Talon tribute is the only temporary memorial he has seen. The city doesn’t need a policy regarding something that happens so rarely, and already has a policy regarding long-term memorials, he said.

But Commissioners Tracy Moore and Mayor Gary Cronce said the policy gives the city a tool to regulate temporary memorials. The measure passed by a 2-1 vote.

This temporary memorial was erected at the corner of First Street and Railroad Avenue in downtown Shelton in September to honor 27-yearold Shelton resident Talon Newman, who was beaten to death in downtown Shelton on Aug. 27. The memorial remained until Jan. 10.

Concerns by businesses about its longevity spurred the city to create a policy regarding short and long-term memorials.

Journal file photo

Everett L. Hughes, E.A.

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Opinion Komen Comment

Guest Column

Time to pay attention Why would a conservative back to our coal dilemma aid for undocumented students?

I

t’s under the radar for Manation.” son County, but it’s bound The situation in cities in to attract a lot more heat in northeast China, such as Harbin Puget Sound country in coming with 11 million people, becomes months. So let’s pay attention. worse when coal-fired generatThe underlying issue is cheap ing systems are ramped up durU.S. coal. The overlying the winter heating ing question is how season. The air quality to exploit it. And that in Harbin became so involves a proposal to bad this winter the ship massive amounts government shut down of coal to China from schools, airports and two or three Western highways. The impact Washington super on human health is ports. severe; respiratory The ports are at illnesses abound and

By JOHN Cherry Point north lung cancer rates have KOMEN of Bellingham and exploded. perhaps two on the It is China’s “overColumbia River near Longview. whelming reliance on coal” that They would be fed vast amounts generates the eagerness by of coal stripped at bargain rates U.S. energy and other corporate from public lands in Montana interests in developing Cherry and Wyoming and shipped west Point and Longview as major in long uncovered railroad cars. coal shipping centers.

So far, objections have cenThe economic profit-making tered on the impact in rail reasons are plain for all to see. traffic. Seventeen or more giCoal companies can strip-mine ant extended coal trains would Western coal for less than $10 a travel to and from Bellingham ton and sell it for ten times that and Longview each day, creatamount in Asia. Some 100 miling pollution and transportation lion tons could be shipped each nightmares. year from Western Washington Alarms by opponents point ports. to air pollution from open And a collateral issue is coal cars and untold traffic also how much of China’s coalproblems caused by long coal caused air pollution will eventutrains with the right of way ally come our way. It has been in corridors through heavily shown that Asian air pollution populated areas. The specter is carried by prevailing winds is raised of expensive highway across the Pacific to North infrastructure improvements America. that would be needed. Already The self-same airborne fine 29 railway crossing and highparticles of mercury and other way intersections have been toxins that contributed to 1.2 cited by state transportation million premature deaths in officials for major improveChina in 2010 could wind up ments to handle additional coal raising health risks here in trains.

Western Washington.

But the issue that seems to How ironic that coal be gaining greater traction is shipped from Cherry Point and the harm that would be done to Longview could return as air China’s air quality. China depollution and increase early pends on coal. Nearly 70 percent death rates in our own region, of its power needs are met by including right here in Mason burning coal. It burns almost County. as much coal as all of the rest of Those long slow-moving coalthe world. laden trains may be coming our The result is the world’s way. Best tune up the Mason worst air pollution problem.

County radar.

“Sixteen of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in China,” ren John Komen, who lives on ported The Week magazine.

Mason Lake, was for 40 years a “The air in some cities there reporter and editor, TV anchoris so bad that, at times, visibilman, national TV network cority drops to 30 feet, traffic slows respondent, producer, columnist, to a crawl and nearly everyone editorial writer and commentawears masks over their noses tor. His column, Komen Comand mouth,” said The Week in a ment, appears each week in the story headlined “The face-mask Mason County Journal.

USPS 492-800 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mason County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584.

Published weekly by the Mason County Journal at 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Washington Mailing address: P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584 Telephone (360) 426-4412 • www.masoncounty.com Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washington

T

he state Senate rea legacy of determination cently approved a and hard work in my fammeasure that would ily. Their two daughters extend state financial-aid went on to graduate from eligibility to undocumented the University of WashingWashington stuton because luckdents. I was one ily, we don’t live of 35 bipartisan in a country that votes in favor of punishes children the bill; many of for their parents’ you have quesindiscretions. tioned why a selfIn America, we proclaimed conserdon’t take away vative would vote children’s freein such a way. doms because they

By TIM My maternal weren’t born here; SHELDON grandparents we don’t withhold came to this counfood or shelter or try from Sweden in the their chance to thrive. I am early 1900s – without docu- glad that we live in a counmentation. Neither spoke try that encourages chilEnglish at the time; my dren to flourish, regardless grandfather made a living of legal status.

I’m not excusing the in the woods as a choker setter and my grandmother actions of those who are here illegally. I hope all as a domestic worker. undocumented residents Their desire for a betwork to obtain citizenship, ter quality of life produced

See SHELDON on page A-5

Letters to the Editor

Reader thankful for changes Editor, the Journal Last summer when I was feeling kind of down in the dumps, I received an unexpected letter from a high

school classmate of 50 years ago. On the top of the letter in block letters, it read “In appreciation.” He told me that he remembered how I had stood up to and disarmed the boys in high school who stood in a particular spot in the hallway and ridiculed the less popular

Mason County Journal is a member of Washington Newspaper Publishers’ Association.

Owned and published by Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc. Tom Hyde, publisher

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Newsroom: Adam Rudnick, editor Natalie Johnson, reporter Gordon Weeks, reporter Emily Hanson, sports reporter Kirk Ericson, proofreader

Page A-4 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014

and I hope the federal government continues to work on immigration reform to make the path to citizenship more attainable. Our hands are tied in Olympia because only Congress can make laws regarding immigration, while the state can only address limited issues such as financial aid and eligibility standards.

Because the measure we passed improves on what is commonly referred to as the state “Dream Act,” it’s been renamed and is now known as the Real Hope Act. Not only does it open eligibility to undocumented students, it also commits $5 million more to the State Need Grant – a financial aid program for low-income students.

Advertising: Dave Pierik, Sr. Acct. Executive Kathy Brooks, ad representative Lloyd Mullen, ad representative Front office: Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper Reneé Chaplin, circulation

and less attractive girls. He appreciated my courage and effectiveness in breaking up the bullying that was going on. I realized he probably went to a self-improvement workshop that resulted in the letter.

See LETTERS on page A-5

Composing room: William Adams, graphics Linda Frizzell, graphics All editorial, advertising and legal deadlines are 5 p.m. Monday prior to publication.

To submit a letter to the editor, email adam@masoncounty.com.

LETTERS Continued from page A-4 But I thought, what a good idea to start thinking about what you appreciate in life, rather than what is wrong with everything. This year I am writing one appreciation letter a month.

With that in mind, I would like to say I appreciate the staff of the new Mason County Journal. I don’t know who they are and only recognize some of the names from the bylines. But I must say, I think the leadership and the staff are making a real effort to be inclusive of all parts and interests in the county, from business to entertainment to hard news. Fundraisers are well-covered, names appear along with interesting photos. The stories are rich with information, not opinion. I’m sure it took courage to print some of the recent hard news stories knowing there would be quite a reaction from elected officials and others covered in the news. The Journal has become an excellent small town paper, and I appreciate the staff who must work very hard to get it out every week.

My one criticism would be that some of the editorials are too long. So I will just stop here.

sentatives in Washington, D.C., will not help us keep the property for the people of the county without the endorsement of the port commissioners.

Marijo Hoffman Shelton

Rhoda Pykonen Grapeview

Shedding clarity Adage drama on fairgrounds controversy continues today petition Editor, the Journal In response to the fairgrounds relocation letter published Feb. 6: In October 2013, more than 4,000 citizens of Mason County signed a petition to keep the fairgrounds where they are.

The reasons they signed: n The fairgrounds land was actually given to the people of the community specifically for the use of the people, not the federal government. n Even though the facility has not been maintained, the fairgrounds still “works” for many events it holds. n Considering the slow economy, many wondered where the money will come from to build a grand new venue. New taxes? n Many wondered what other venue could possibly accommodate the parking needed for OysterFest. n Some asked what new venue would offer such easy access to the main highways. n And a few wondered what new venue would have access to an airfield for exciting fly-in events.

Many people, including several former county commissioners, have voiced these concerns.

One critical fact — our repre-

Editor, the Journal This Adage thing was back in 2010. Mr. J. Gaston, a senior development consultant for AREVA / Duke Energy was sent here to try and explain how and why they plan to install an incinerator, boiler and turbine to produce electric power by burning wood and other waste. This was to produce high-voltage power to sell to Bonneville. All this was presented to the public in a meeting. That’s when the “no letters” started — well over 4,000, plus input from 27 doctors.

Next, all these letters were presented to the port, along with asking them to place on the upcoming ballot with an up or down vote. The port turned down the offer, even if there was one person offering to pay to have it on the ballot.

Next up was the same letters to the county, along with the same offer like the port.

Again, a no.

Now, after all this, Bonneville did a comparative study and chose natural gas over Adage due to cost. A study now shows the conversation from coal and oil to natural gas, with the Environmental Protection Agency saying cleaner air, less mess.

Of course, there’s much,

SHELDON

portant to point out that undocumented students would have to meet strict requirements prior to eligibility and they wouldn’t go to the front of the line; they would simply join the pool of those already eligible for state financial aid.

I am glad my grandparents came to America and I’m proud of the values they

Continued from page A-4 The program is currently underfunded, leaving about 32,000 eligible students without aid. An additional $5 million will benefit all eligible students, not just those who are undocumented. It’s im-

Editor, the Journal February is Black American History Month. We are all pretty schooled on the atrocities of slavery but I learned some positive things that oc-

curred in the north that are lesser known. My interest was prompted by the recent movie “12 Years A Slave.” There is so much history to share that in just mentioning a few people it will be difficult to stay within the space permitted. All I can do is lay out a few names and leave it to the readers to do their own research.

For example, did you know about a black American elected to office before the Revolutionary War? Check out Wentworth Cheswell (of New Hampshire), elected in 1768 as town constable and then elected town selectman, auditor, assessor and justice of the peace. He started the town library.

Perhaps you heard about the election of Thomas Hercules to the office of clerk in Pennsylvania in 1793? Or that in Massachusetts, blacks routinely voted in Colonial elections? Or that when the Constitution was ratified in Maryland, more blacks than whites voted in Baltimore?

Many black Americans in the North owned land, paid taxes, voted and were educated.

Have you heard of these other notable black Americans?

Crispus Attucks was one of the five colonists killed in the 1770 Boston Massacre.

Peter Salem from Massachusetts received 14 commendations for great bravery in the Revolutionary War. In 1775, he killed the British commander, ending the Battle of Bunker Hill. Other free Black Americans in the battle were Titus Coburn, Alexander Ames, Cato Howe, Phillip Abbot, Alexander Ames, Isaiah Bayoman, Cuff Blanchard, Titus Coburn, Grant Cooper, Caesar Dickenson, Charlestown Eaads, Alexander Eames, Asaba Grosvenor, Blaney Grusha, Jude Hall, Cuff

Haynes, Caesar Jahar, Pompy of Braintree, Caesar Post, Job Potama, Robin of Sandowne, New Hampshire, Seasor of York County, Sampson Talbot, Cato Tufts, and Cuff Whitemore.

Seymour Burr also fought at Bunker Hill, Fort Catskill and suffered through the long winter at Valley Forge.

Barzillai Lew, a cooper from Massachusetts, was a soldier, fifer and drummer at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

He and his wife had 13 children. They formed a family band and were hired to play at assemblies in Maine and Massachusetts, as well as commencement exercises at several New England colleges.

Salem Poor also distinguished himself at Bunker Hill, and was recognized for exemplary service.

Jack Sisson was one of the key figures in the July 1777 capture of British General Richard Prescott.

In 1783, Lemuel Haynes was a black pastor of a white church in Vermont.

Alexander Twilight was elected to the Vermont General Assembly in 1836.

William C Nell ran for Massachusetts state legislature in 1850. He published “The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution.” Read it online using Google Books. In 1861, he worked in the federal civil service — the post office in Boston.

In 1864, Rebecca Lee earned her medical doctorate degree. The Rebecca Lee Society was named in her honor.

There are many more terrific stories of great American patriots — no matter their color.

I hope you’ll dig into some of these names.

instilled in their children and grandchildren. Today, I’m honored to manage the family-owned tree farm that my grandfather established all those years ago and to have received an education at my mom’s alma mater, the University of Washington.

We are all shaped by life experiences – things that give

us our identity, and form our opinions and actions. My family’s story helped shape my opinion when it came time to vote on Senate Bill 6523.

The measure passed overwhelmingly with support from members of both parties, which tells me this isn’t a matter of political stance.

As with many things, I think

we can find bipartisan solutions to our problems if we just continue to work together.

much more.

Conley Watson Shelton

Journal too harsh on commissioner Editor, the Journal Wow! When you guys at the Journal get a vendetta against a guy you just never let up! While reading the Komen Comment column in last week’s paper, I noticed he had county Commissioner Randy Neatherlin (while not mentioned by name) lumped in with a defense minister who had accepted bribes totaling $19 million, a former mayor who is charged with 21 counts of bribery and money laundering, and a number of village council elders in India who fined a woman 25,000 rupees, then ordered her to be gangraped for wanting to marry a man from another village. Ironically, he failed to mention Attila the Hun and Adolf Hitler. I will look forward to them being compared to Randy in future editorials in the Journal.

Stan Walster Grapeview

Research these lesser-known Americans

Sandy Tarzwell Shelton

n Sen. Tim Sheldon, DPotlatch, represents the 35th Legislative District and is a Mason County commissioner.

He can be reached at 7867668.

Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 - Page A-5

Demolition, new construction underway at transit center Crews work on former Shelton armory

By NATALIE JOHNSON natalie@masoncounty.com

By this time next year, the 60-yearold Shelton National Guard Armory at 601 W. Franklin Street will have a new look and purpose.

“We’re just super, super excited to be rolling,” said Mike Oliver, Mason Transit Authority (MTA) Development director.

Work began last month on the MTA Transit-Community Center, with demolition of a garage and interior walls at the armory.

In place of the old garage building, Forma Construction, based in Olympia, will build a two-story, 3,800square-foot operations center for the Transit-Community Center which will include offices, a drivers’ lounge, a new MTA boardroom and a computer lab.

“We’re just finishing up the last of the demo,” said Chris Pleasant, superintendent at Forma.

Earlier this month, Forma crews worked to demolish a garage at the center. Now, Pleasant said they will replace soft soil with a more suitable soil to build on, then install footings and metal framework for a new building.

MTA bought the armory building, which opened in 1955, in 2006 for $376,893.

The total cost for the TransitCommunity Center project is $7.3 million.

In 2011, MTA secured a $3.28 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration, which required $820,000 in matching funds.

In July 2013, MTA was granted

Journal photo by Natalie Johnson

Donald Strand of Forma Construction works in what used to be the firing range in the old Shelton National Guard Armory. Forma is wrapping up demolition work to turn the building, owned by the Mason Transit Authority, into the Transit-Community Center, which will be a transportation hub, and contain service organizations and retail space. an additional $800,000 in state capital budget money for the project. The agency plans to use that money to finance the center’s commercial-grade kitchen and computer lab.

MTA has also pledged $2.9 million from its reserves to pay for the project.

Forma crews have removed many of the interior walls and fixtures from the main armory building, to prepare it for its remodel into the Transit-

Community Center.

“We do a fair amount of (construction on old buildings),” Pleasant said. “We do a lot of new construction, too — this is unique because it’s both.”

One of the few recognizable features of the armory that will remain, said Transit-Community Center Manager Kathy Geist, is the original wooden gym floor, constructed with fir 2-by-6 beams cut into short sections and stacked on end.

The building will include 8,200 square feet for retail businesses and services for youth and seniors, and will have a full kitchen for classes and community use.

“We have probably at least a doz-

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Page A-6 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014

en community groups (interested),” Geist said. “We’ve gotten a lot of calls for the community kitchen.”

The kitchen will be in what used to be the armory’s shooting range.

Geist said she plans to begin signing leases with tenants in the next few months.

In the future, MTA staff members plan to develop two lots behind the Transit-Community Center, both on Railroad Avenue that the agency bought in early 2012 for about $146,000.

Oliver said the building should be substantially complete, but not yet ready to be occupied, by Jan. 31.

“We hope it’s going to go a lot faster than that,” said Geist.

Suspected shoplifter dies after fleeing Belfair Safeway STAFF REPORT news@masoncounty.com

A deputy with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office and a security officer revived a shoplifting suspect Sunday at

the Belfair Safeway. However, the suspect died the next day.

At 5 p.m. Sunday, the Sheriff’s Office received a report of a man stealing a cart of alcohol from the store.

According to a Safeway security guard, the suspect left

the cart and ran after being confronted, jumping two fences.

Deputy Sheriff Chris Mondry arrived and began searching the area. He found the suspect lying on the ground, unresponsive. According to

the Sheriff’s Office, the suspect was not breathing.

Mondry radioed for a medic unit, and with help from the Safeway employee, began performing CPR on the suspect until the ambulance arrived.

The suspect was taken to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, but died the next day.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the suspect had multiple felony warrants and previous felony convictions.

MACECOM dispatch reserve academy program begins Seven recruits met for the first time last week for a 911 dispatch reserve program that could serve as a model for cities throughout the country.

While reserve and volunteer programs are common in police and fire departments, Mason County Emergency Communications (MACECOM) might have the only dispatch reserve program in the country, MACECOM Director Mike Evans said.

“I looked everywhere but couldn’t find one in the country,” he said. “It just amazes me that this has not been done.”

The program will not replace existing full-time dispatchers, but will supplement staffing at MACECOM. Each reserve dispatcher will receive the same training as a full-time dispatcher.

MACECOM dispatcher Cathy Field has taken on the role of academy commander for the reserve academy, which met for the first time Feb. 4.

The recruits will graduate in April.

“It’s going to be a long academy,” Evans said to the recruits Feb. 4. “Each one of you can make this. It’ll be worth it.”

The academy meets for four hours, twice a week. It includes classroom instruction and side-by-side training with existing dispatchers.

“It is showing dedication,” Field said.

“A lot of people are dedicated to volunteering to their community or getting into this work.”

As far back as he can remember, reserve academy recruit Justin Johnson, who lives in Thurston County, said he wanted to be a police officer.

But when he was 18, that changed.

He stopped on U.S. Highway 101, saying he wanted to be a good samaritan, to help a motorcyclist who had gotten into an accident, and while calling 911, he was hit by a passing car.

“911 is what saved my life,” he said.

Johnson said he was one of the worst trauma patients to be airlifted to Harborview and live.

“I didn’t want to be a desk-job cop,” he said. “I thought dispatch would be second best.”

Johnson has applied for dispatch jobs in Mason and Thurson counties, but said he hasn’t yet been accepted. By participating in the reserve academy,

he hopes to get one step closer to becoming a professional dispatcher.

Aziza Wirth, 22, also has an interest in law enforcement.

“Originally, I wanted to be a police officer,” she said. “I figured this would get me through the doors. I’m just volunteering with this,” she said.

Wirth, a single mother, said she recently left an abusive relationship and is now a full-time college student and a recruit in the reserve academy.

“It’s a really neat opportunity, not just for the agency,” Evans said. “It’s a great opportunity for the reserve dispatchers to get to actually do the job and find out if it’s what they want to do.”

Evans said reserve dispatchers also present a pool of talent MACECOM can pull from when looking to hire a fulltime dispatcher.

Evans said he went through a law enforcement reserve program before becoming a police officer and ultimately the chief of the Squaxin Island Tribal Police Department. He took over as director of MACECOM in 2012 and began working with staff to create the reserve program in August 2013.

After taking applications and screening potential recruits, staff decided on seven of the applicants.

“We wanted a maximum of 10,” Evans said. “We really wanted to have a manageable group and have it be an intimate setting.”

Evans said he wanted a small group so current dispatchers wouldn’t get overwhelmed with recruits needing training.

“All the dispatchers in the dispatch center will play a hand in getting people through the academy,” Field said.

Field and fellow MACECOM dispatcher and academy supervisor Val Van Cleve worked with Evans and other staff to create a curriculum for the academy based on existing law enforcement reserve and fire district volunteer training programs, and a defunct dispatch reserve program from Fife.

Evans said the curriculum will be placed on MACECOM’s website so other agencies interested in creating a similar program can use it.

MACECOM will have the academy once a year.

“I would love nothing more than to next year start from scratch because you all get hired here or somewhere else,” Evans said to recruits Feb. 4.

Journal photo by Natalie Johnson

Justin Johnson said he wanted to be a police officer before an accident left him with a physical disability. Now he is dedicated to becoming a 911 dispatcher.

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Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 - Page A-7

County elderly poor stuggling to meet needs Senior providers say they need additional money, volunteers

By GORDON WEEKS gordon@masoncounty.com

Some free services are

available to poor seniors in Mason County, but “we probably turn down as many people as we serve … Our resources

are limited,” Faith in Action Executive Director Patty Kleist told members of the League of Women Voters of Mason County on Tuesday.

Nikki Lundberg, the information and assistance specialist at the Shelton office of the Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging, works to connect seniors to services. But many of her clients receive just enough income to miss out on benefits, she told League members at the library at the Shelton branch of Olympic College.

“Many of the people I deal with live on Social Security and that alone, about $1,200 a month or less,” Lundberg said.

Kleist, Lundberg and Terri Shaw — executive director the Mason County Senior Activities Association (MCSAA) — talked about poverty and the elderly at the discussion, the third and final forum focused on Mason County residents in need.

The MCSAA is offering more classes for se-

niors at its new center at the Pavilion at Sentry Park, Shaw said. Buying the building was “a great purchase for us” and the center is “better than ever,” but the group needs more funding for renovations, she said.

The heating system is old, and will cost about $75,000 to replace, Shaw said. The MCSAA also needs to redo the floors, and buy accordion doors, she said.

The senior center also needs more volunteers, Shaw said.

“Write a check, or ask what you can do to help,” she told League members.

She added, “In Mason County, senior stuff is low on the totem pole for these politicians … It’s tough if you’re a senior and need something.”

Kleist said Faith in Action helps seniors stay in their homes longer by providing services. But like MCSAA, the group needs more volunteers, especially to drive seniors to medical appointments, she said.

“Housing is a huge, huge need.”

Patty Kleist, Faith in Action executive director Kleist points out that the need to support elderly residents is only growing. A “huge senior tsunami is happening across the nation” as baby boomers age, she said.

Kleist said that by next year, an estimated 23,239 of about 63,000 Mason County residents will be older than 55.

Kleist points out that North Mason is home to only 40 units of low-income housing.

“Housing is a huge, huge need,” she said.

In May 6, Faith in Action will break ground for a north Mason senior center. The facility and its offerings will lessen the isolation felt

by North Mason seniors, Kleist said.

Kleist said she is trying to connect the young and the old, and elicited laughter when she sug-

gested teens teach seniors how to use smartphones, and seniors teach the teens how to quilt.

Lundberg said her agency helps support the caregivers of family members, who can’t provide adequate care if they are overtaxed and in declining health as well.

Mason County seniors have to pay at least $20 an hour for someone to come to their house and provide services such as bathing and helping with medications, she said.

Insurance is available for long-term care financing, but it’s expensive, unless you bought it when you were young, Lundberg said.

“Most people I deal with have no long-term care insurance,” she said.

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any Pacific Northwest have medicinal qualities. The native plants have a forager must be careful and natural tolerance for have good plant identification summer dry periods common in skills to successfully add to his the western side of the Cascades dinner plate without causing in the Northwest. These an upset stomach or plants include species worse. growing in woodlands, Both of these subsavannahs, meadows jects will be discussed and vernal pools (seaat the next Master sonally wet meadows Gardener Garden that dry out in the sumWorkshop on Saturday mer months). Most prefrom 9 a.m. to noon. fer some shade and will You will learn about need supplemental sumwild edible plants and

By JEANNE mer watering until they their medicinal propare established. I have REHWALDT erties from Elizabeth incorporated my ground Campbell.

Elizabeth covers, shrubs, and trees into my is a Spokane tribal member garden. They don’t seem to suffer and grew up harvesting nafrom insect or pest problems and tive foods with her family. She tolerate neglect. now specializes in growing and These plants are wonder- teaching about healthy foods. ful for creating a water-wise In 2008, she received a degree garden and keeping our wa- from The Evergreen State Colterways clean and healthy. I lege with a focus in education found a publication from King and Native American studies.

County Department of Natu- She is the program assistant ral Resources and Parks called and educator for the N.W. Indi“Going Native, A Guide To Cre- an Treatment Center’s Native ating Your Own Native Plant Foods Nutrition Project and Landscape.” You can download also runs an organic farm with it for free at your.kingcounty. her family in Shelton. Karin gov/dnrp/library/2003/gonative. Strelioff, environmental spepdf. cialist and low impact developMany Mason County resi- ment practitioner with Mason dents like to forage for wild Conservation District, will displants to incorporate into their cuss how to incorporate native diets. Many native wild plants plants into your landscape.

Now that the freezing weather has gone, I would once again like to ask you if you have plants in your garden that need to be divided. These could include hostas, ornamental grasses, rhubarb, sedum autumn joy and many others. Our Master Gardener dig team is available to dig up and divide your crowded plants and add your surplus to our inventory for the spring plant sale on May 9 and 10. Please contact me at 427-9670, ext. 688 if you would like a Master Gardener to come by and see what plants you may have that are suitable for donation.

A farewell to Bob Simmons will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. on Friday in the Mason County Commissioners’ chamber. Bob has been appointed as the WSU regional water quality extension specialist and state water quality program leader effective March 1. Bob will be leaving as Mason County WSU Extension director to assume this new role, and he will be headquartered at the Jefferson County WSU Extension Office.

As always, the Master Gardeners are available from noon to 3 p.m. on Mondays to answer your home gardening questions. If Monday is a holiday, they will be in the office Tuesday.

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Public safety explorer completes advanced academy

By NATALIE JOHNSON natalie@masoncounty.com

About a year after Mason County Public Safety Explorers Post 9004 was formed, one of its members has graduated from an advanced Washington Law Enforcement Exploring Advisors academy.

From Dec. 26 through 31, Austin Sillars, 15, attended the group’s winter academy in Yakima and participated in an advanced academy focusing on leadership. He is the first member of the Mason County post to graduate from an advanced academy.

Sillars, who is homeschooled, said he went to the advanced academy because his parents encouraged him to go, “and the fact that I would be just one step ahead — one step closer to my goal,” he said.

Before he joined the Explorer post, Sillars said he didn’t know what he wanted to be, either a sheriff’s deputy or a Department of Fish and Wildlife law enforcement officer.

The Explorer program

was originally created by the Boy Scouts of America, and is also a part of the Learning for Life organization.

Sillars The Explorer post is open to boys and girls, from ages 14 to 21. Mason County Fire District 4, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office and Mason County Emergency Communications created the post last year.

Sillars qualified for the advanced academy after he completed the Washington Law Enforcement Exploring Advisors Basic Academy during the summer.

“I learned a lot from my TAC officers,” he said.

TAC, which stands for Teachers, Administrator, Coach, are advisers from Explorer programs who act as instructors during academies.

Sillars described an average day at the advanced academy.

“They would wake us up by blowing whistles, blowing horns,” he said. “We all had to jump out of bed … and stand at attention.”

After a flag ceremony, he and other Explorers began attending classes. They also participated in physical training and firearms classes.

Detective Danielle Rickards of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office is an adviser for the Explorer post, and also went to the winter Rickards academy as a TAC assistant for the Academy Police Department.

At the Academy Police Department, Explorers, many of whom were between 18 and 21 years of age, Rickards said, had to respond to calls and investigate crimes staged by their TAC officers.

At the winter academy, the TAC officers formed an outlaw motorcycle gang, which the Explorers had to investi-

gate and ultimately arrest.

“They have to treat them as real calls,” she said. “They had to do reports and collect evidence. They had to collect enough information to collect a search warrant.”

Rickards said the Explorers in the police department were successful.

“I was amazed at their thought process,” she said.

“They found (the motorcycle gang) and arrested them when (the instructors) weren’t ready yet.”

Rickards said she plans to be a TAC officer again at a future academy.

Sillars said he wants to complete more advanced academies, including the Academy Police Department.

“It’s an honor to be accepted into the Academy Police Department,” Rickards said.

Rickards has been an adviser for Post 9004 since it was formed last year.

“I just thought it would be a great experience for kids to get involved with law enforcement,” she said. “Normally they would be too young.”

She said Explorers at the post have opportunities to

learn about diverse aspects of public safety.

“There are jobs besides being a cop or a paramedic or a firefighter,” she said. “We have support jobs.”

Rickards said the Public Safety Explorers learn about the legal system as well. The post plans to travel to Olympia in April to meet state Reps. Drew MacEwen (R-35th) and Kathy Haigh (D-35th) and will also soon visit Tacoma to meet federal Judge Benjamin H. Settle.

Other post activities include defensive tactics and rope rescue training.

“I would say, they should explore law enforcement and EMS and even if they decide it’s not for them, it gives them a good foundation for the future,” she said.

“It’s not just being a cop or a firefighter, it’s so many other things.”

Eleven students are signed up for the Explorer Post 9004, and Rickards said the group is looking for more recruits.

Applications are available at Mason County Fire District 4, at 2970 SE Arcadia Road or call 426-7222.

Elks to host hiring event for vets 2,000 gallons of oil, bilge water spill The Shelton Elks will host an event to connect local veterans with services and help them find jobs.

The Elks will join with the Veterans Administration, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the state Department of Social and Health Services, and WorkSource to host the stand down and hiring event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 11 at the Shelton Elks Lodge at 741 SE Craig Road.

The event will feature employment prep services and South Sound employers looking for candidates to fill open positions, according to the Elks.

The event will also host representatives from Olympic College and South

Puget Sound Community College to help veterans sign up for classes, scholarships and grants.

Attendees can also receive help signing up for low-income housing, legal advice for veterans on civil cases and help for returning veterans in their transition from active duty to normal daily life.

The Elks advise attendees to come dressed for interviews and bring their resume. A hot lunch will be provided.

From noon to 3 p.m., dependents and families of veterans can get information on services. Bring your military dependent identification card.

For more information, call 360-4272246 or Tim Sutovich at tsutovich@esd. wa.gov or Ken Langston at klangston@ esd.wa.gov, or go to sheltonelks2467. com

Too Late to Classify SPRING IS just around the corner…So to celebrate Maple Glen is hosting a Pre – Spring Craft Show.

Friday March 7th 10am2pm. Maple Glen Senior Living. If you are interested

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into Hood Canal near naval base

By NATALIE JOHNSON natalie@masoncounty.com

A malfunction in a waste oil tank pump caused 2,000 gallons of oil and bilge water mix to spill Feb. 11 into Hood Canal at Naval Base Kitsap– Bangor Delta Pier near Dabob Bay. Navy personnel released a containment boom and began using vacuum trucks and absorbent pads to clean up the spill.

On Feb. 11, Naval Base Kitsap officials said the spill was estimated to be about 150 gallons.

However, a later release from the Naval Base, the U.S. Coast Guard and the state Department of Ecology revised that estimate to 2,000 gallons.

An oily sheen from the spill was

reported as far north as the Hood Canal Bridge in Poulsbo, but does not appear to have affected Hood Canal as far south as Mason County, according to Ecology officials.

According to Naval Base Kitsap, “An investigation into the system failure and the environmental impact was started … The effects of this spill to wildlife or property are unknown at this time.”

The state Department of Health has issued a recommendation against harvesting or eating shellfish from 2 miles south of Bangor to the Hood Canal Bridge.

According to the Department of Health, there is no evidence of shellfish contamination, but state officials advise avoiding shellfish from the area until it is clear that they are safe to eat.

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STAFF REPORT news@masoncounty.com

Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 - Page A-9

Journal of Record

Burglaries At 8:58 a.m. on Feb. 11, a burglary was reported on Southeast Fir Lane in Shelton.

At 2:11 p.m. on Feb. 15, a burglary was reported in the 200 block of West Mary M. Knight Road in Elma.

At 11:40 a.m. on Feb. 16, a burglary was reported in the 9800 block of East state Route 106 in Union.

At 3:10 p.m. on Feb. 13, a burglary was reported on Southeast Skalapin Lane.

At 1:54 p.m. on Feb. 17, a burglary was reported on East Agate Beach Place.

At 11:22 a.m. on Feb. 14, a burglary was reported in the 100 block of East Wallace Kneeland Boulevard.

At 3:26 p.m. on Feb. 17, a burglary was reported in the 200 block of Park Street.

At 3:36 p.m. on Feb. 14, a burglary was reported in the 15000 block of North U.S. Highway 101.

At 3:36 p.m. on Feb. 14, a burglary was reported in the 200 block of Southeast Earsley Lane.

At 4:28 p.m. on Feb. 13, an assault was reported in the 500 block of West Cota Street.

At 9:22 p.m. on Feb. 15, a burglary was reported in the 100 block of East Woodland Drive.

At 3:26 p.m. on Feb. 11, a burglary was reported in the 900 block of East Timberlake East Drive.

At 3:06 p.m. on Feb. 14, a burglary was reported in the 1000 block of East Vine Maple Lane in Union.

East Meyer Lake Drive in Shelton.

At 5:17 p.m. on Feb. 13, an assault was reported in the 900 block of Mountain View Drive.

At 9:43 p.m. on Feb. 13, an assault was reported in the 1700 block of Olympic Highway South.

Robberies At 12:48 p.m. on Feb. 16, a robbery was reported on West Matlock Brady Road in Elma.

Sex Crimes At 10:20 a.m. on Feb. 11, a rape was reported in the 24000 block of North U.S. Highway 101 in Hoodsport.

At 12:51 p.m. on Feb. 13, a sex offense was reported in Mason County.

At 2:22 p.m. on Feb. 14, a sex offense was reported in the 2900 block of West Matlock Brady Road.

At 12:40 p.m. on Feb. 15, a burglary was reported on Bellevue Avenue.

At 11:27 a.m. on Feb. 16, a sex offense was reported in the 100 block of East Wallace Kneeland Boulevard.

At 12:50 p.m. on Feb. 15, a burglary was reported in the 400 block of East Poplar Street.

Assault At 11:55 p.m. on Feb. 12, an assault was reported in the 300 block of

Franklin Street.

At 3:55 p.m. on Feb. 11, an identity theft was reported in the 400 block of South 11th Street.

At 9:04 a.m. on Feb. 14, an identity theft was reported in the 300 block of North Mount Jupiter Drive in Hoodsport.

At 4:42 p.m. on Feb. 11, a shoplifter was reported in the 100 block of East Wallace Kneeland Boulevard.

At 12:41 p.m. on Feb. 14, a shoplifter was reported in the 100 block of East Wallace Kneeland Boulevard.

At 5:06 p.m. on Feb. 11, a theft was reported in the 2400 block of North 13th Street.

At 5:16 p.m. on Feb. 14, a theft was reported in the 12000 block of East state Route 106 in Union.

At 9:53 p.m. on Feb. 11, a vehicle was reported stolen on West state Route 108.

At 6:31 p.m. on Feb. 14, a theft was reported in the 700 block of Cascade Avenue.

At 9:58 a.m. on Feb. 12, a theft of forest products was reported on East McMickin Road.

Domestic Violence At 11:42 a.m. on Feb. 11, a domestic disturbance was reported in the 400 block of West Euclid Avenue.

At 11:21 a.m. on Feb. 12, a vehicle was reported stolen in the 1200 block of West Franklin Street.

At 11:18 a.m. on Feb. 16, a domestic disturbance was reported in the 6300 block of West Satsop Cloquallum Road.

At 1:16 p.m. on Feb. 12, a shoplifter was reported in the 100 block of East Wallace Kneeland Boulevard.

At 11:26 a.m. on Feb. 17, a domestic disturbance was reported on Southeast Klabsch Lane.

At 2:28 p.m. on Feb. 12, a shoplifter was reported in the 100 block of East Wallace Kneeland Boulevard.

Theft At 12:09 p.m. on Feb. 11, a theft was reported in the 1900 block of East Island Lake Drive.

At 2:46 p.m. on Feb. 11, a theft was reported in the 500 block of East Stadium Beach Road West.

At 10:31 p.m. on Feb. 14, a theft was reported on West state Route 108.

At 2:40 p.m. on Feb. 16, a shoplifter was reported in the 100 block of East Wallace Kneeland Boulevard.

At 3:37 p.m. on Feb. 16, a theft was reported in the 1300 block of East Shelton Springs Road.

At 11:36 p.m. on Feb. 16, a theft was reported in the 100 block of East Cedargrove Lane.

At 2:54 p.m. on Feb. 12, a shoplifter was reported in the 100 block of East Wallace Kneeland Boulevard.

At 11:46 a.m. on Feb. 17, a theft was reported in the 200 block of West Storeybrook Lane.

Arrests Feb. 11 Latoya Jean Johns, 24, of the 400 block of Southeast T Peeksin Lane in Shelton, was booked at 10:40 p.m. on suspicion of driving with a suspended license (DWLS) in the third degree.

At 5:44 p.m. on Feb. 12, a shoplifter was reported in the 100 block of East Wallace Kneeland Boulevard.

At 6:58 p.m. on Feb. 12, a shoplifter was reported in the 100 block of East Wallace Kneeland Boulevard.

At 8:34 a.m. on Feb. 13, a theft of forest products was reported on East McMicken Road.

Feb. 12 Barbara Ann Glass, 55, of the 700 block of West Pine Street in Shelton, was booked at 10:16 a.m. on suspicion of obstructing law enforcement and resisting arrest.

At 11:46 a.m. on Feb. 13, a theft was reported in the 600 block of West

Feb. 13 Arthur Lee Robbins, 24, of Shelton, was

At 4:46 a.m. on Feb. 13, a vehicle was reported stolen in the 200 block of East Thornton Road.

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Page A-10 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014

Jake Tyler VanBeek, 19, of the 2400 block of East Crestview Drive in Shelton, was booked at 12:32 p.m. on suspicion of burglary in the second degree.

Tana Ann Vara, 42, of the 400 block of Clifton Avenue in San Jose, Calif. was booked at 1:57 p.m. on suspicion of assault in the fourth degree.

Oscar John Archambault, 29, of Twana Court, was booked at 3:05 p.m. on suspicion of trafficking in stolen property in the second degree.

Zachariah Ashton Mirka, 27, of Shelton, was booked at 4:02 p.m. on suspicion of interference with a health care facility.

Feb. 15 Aaron Jacob Ferguson, 27, of the 200 block of East Alderney Street in Union, was booked at 12:52 a.m. on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

Terry Michael Adams, 63, of the 1200 block of West Birch Street in Shelton, was booked at 8:29 p.m. on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance.

Feb. 17 Jason Allen Benzmiller, 39, of the 1200 block of West Gallagher Road in Shelton, was booked at 6:09 p.m. on suspicion of DWI. Abel Tomas Santos, 29, of the 600 block of East Mason Lake Road, was booked at 7:11 p.m. on suspicion of DWLS in the third degree.

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Calls reported to Shelton Police, Mason County Sheriff’s Office and tribal agencies included:

OFFICER Continued from page A-1 The 2014 Mason County budget included funding for the Sheriff’s Office to create a code enforcement position.

The original plan, which was proposed by Neatherlin, included having two officers in the Sheriff’s Office, one for north Mason and another for the rest of the county, who would act as code enforcement officers half time and as civil service officers half time.

The Sheriff’s Office’s Civil Division serves civil and criminal subpoenas, court documents, summons documents and complaints, among other tasks, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The plan proposed Tuesday includes hiring a full-time code enforcement officer for Community Development instead.

The department has not had a code enforcement office since 2009.

Support Services Director Bill Kenny said the union that represents employees in the Department of Community Development would object to moving the position from the department of community development.

The plan includes a detailed job description for a code enforcement officer.

“I think the job description ... helps to identify some of the specific certifications that are needed, particularly around building code,” Kenny said.

However, the Sheriff’s Office still plans to hire a second civil service officer, allowing for one to work in the north end of the county and another in the south, to cope with increasing demand for service of court documents.

“I think with the creation of that third (Superior Court judge) position in the courts, civil processes

will also increase,” said Undersheriff Jim Barrett.

Mason County has asked the Legislature to approve a third Superior Court judge for the county. The Senate bill has been approved unanimously, and is being reviewed in the House.

Barrett said the Sheriff’s Office and Community Development can complement each other.

“During the course of their day, while they’re driving all over the county (serving papers), they would be looking for violations and do the proactive reporting,” he said.

The civil service officers would also provide support for the code enforcement officer if he or she felt uncomfortable visiting a property alone, he said.

Barrett said the civil services officers will not have the training of a full code enforcement officer.

“Those people aren’t necessarily going to be experts in code enforcement,” he said.

Under the plan presented Tuesday, departments including the Sheriff’s Office, Department of Community Development, Environmental Health and others could form an “inter-departmental task force” to deal with particularly challenging properties.

Adkins said the Department of Community Development has a position open for a permit specialist, with a salary of $63,900. She proposed hiring a code enforcement officer, for $75,700 per year, instead of filling the permit specialist position.

“The code enforcement part of what we do is the most lacking,” she said. “I would like to put somebody in that job to pick up the slack.”

Kenny said the position should generate the revenue, through fees and penalties on non-compliant properties, to cover the $12,000 difference between the salaries.

News Briefs

Port of Shelton approves nearly $1M timber sale The Port of Shelton Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $985,119 bid Tuesday for 137 acres of timber on its Sanderson Field property north of Shelton.

The winning bid came from forest products company Merrill & Ring of Port Angeles.

The bid was 13 percent higher than the estimated value of the timber, according to port staff.

Port Executive Director John Dobson said the money will go into the port’s reserves and be used for projects, including a possible building expansion at Sanderson Field.

Merrill & Ring will be required to replant the trees with a species resistant to laminated root rot, such as pine or Western red cedar, according to the port.

Port OKs pot lease The Port of Shelton Board of Commissioners approved a lease for a 30,000-square-foot building Tuesday with a company that plans to produce and process marijuana.

M&R Distributing LLC, is a company that plans to produce and process Cannabis with a license from the state Liquor Control Board.

Port Executive Director John Dobson said the company needs to have a physical address before the Liquor Control Board can approve its license.

Commission Chair Dick Taylor said he was reluctant to approve the lease.

“I spent 34 years of my life in a society where the use of this substance was illegal,” he said. “To even discuss this is hard for me.”

However, the board approved the lease unanimously.

According to the lease, M&R Distributing will pay $7,857 each month for 31,248 square feet.

Dobson said the port can terminate the lease if the company does not receive a license to grow and process Cannabis there.

County says ‘yes’ to land vacation The Mason County Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 to approve the vacation of a portion of Wheelwright Street and a nearby alley, in Allyn.

The item was tabled twice, most recently on Feb. 11. The Mason County Hearing Examiner recommended the approval of the vacation, which means the county would give up ownership of the street.

Commissioner Randy Neatherlin voted against the proposal.

“I have issues with any more vacations than necessary,” he said.

Neatherlin said Allyn needs county roads to facilitate further development.

Commissioners Terri Jeffreys and Tim Sheldon, who attended the meeting by phone, voted in favor.

Jeffreys said the county could be subject to a lawsuit if the board went against the hearing examiner’s recommendation.

“Goodness knows this county’s been in court enough,” Jeffreys said. n Compiled by reporter Natalie Johnson

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One OF A KIND

Donna Harless Shelton Animal Hospital veterinarian technician Donna Harless comforts a cat after its examination. Harless has worked in the veterinary field for more than 25 years.

Journal photo by Emily Hanson

ONE OF A KIND

is a series of profiles of Mason County people, each unique, and each with a story to tell.

A tale of tails Shelton vet tech devotes life to animals

F

STORY BY E M ILY HANSON

or all the difference Donna Harless has made in the lives of animals as a veterinarian technician, animals have had an even greater effect on her.

Harless, 50, has worked as a vet tech at the Shelton Animal Hopsital for 5 ½ years. She has worked in the profession for more than 25 years.

“I grew up around animals — dogs, cats and horses — and enjoyed that,” Harless said. “I thought it would be great to work with them.”

Harless grew up on 40 acres in Port Orchard, where her parents raised Arabian horses.

At one point, 16 horses lived on the property.

Harless has owned 19 cats and seven dogs in her life.

Page A-12 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014

“Being around animals has given me a healthy immune system,” she said. “They’ve given me companionship. I enjoy their company.”

She said that before she owned her first dog, she would’ve characterized herself as a cat person.

“But dogs feed a different need,” Harless said. “I can take my dog places and he comes when he’s called. Cats are quiet-time compan-

ions. They’re interesting personalities.”

Among the animals Harless has now are a kitten that loves her dogs, a shy cat that hides all day but Harless wakes up cuddled in bed with, and CH Cedarhills Greystoke CGC, RN — Harless’ champion standard Schnauzer.

“He’s a show dog, a champion and a studmuffin,” Harless said with a grin. “His short name is Zane.”

Harless began competing at dog shows with Zane three years ago when a couple of coworkers told her how much fun they have at dog shows.

“I wanted to do something with my dog, to make my dog my hobby and get out of the house,” Harless said.

Before the dog shows, she said her life consisted of going to work and going home.

“This got me out and gave me a whole new set of acquaintances and friends,” she said.

And she felt she’d paid her dues to the animal world, having been the owner of rescue dogs and raising abandoned kittens before buying Zane.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

A TALE OF TAILS:

Photo courtesy of Donna Harless

Shelton Animal Hospital veterinarian technician Donna Harless walks her standard schnauzer Zane, whose show name is CH Cedar Hills Greystoke, CGC, RN, around during a dog show.

“Being around animals has given me a healthy immune system.

They’ve given me companionship. I enjoy their company.”

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE “I mostly do the dog shows for fun,” Harless said. “Zane’s a good-looking kid, but he suffers from an amateur dog-handler.”

Harless began working at the Shelton Animal Hospital at the recommendation of her friend, Dr. Donna Keirn.

Harless earned an associate’s degree of veterinarian technology from Pierce College and became a licensed vet tech.

She said there are several different elements distinguish a vet tech from a veterinarian.

“A vet has a bachelor’s degree and fouryear doctoral degree,” Harless said. “Techs are somewhere between being an RN and a doctor’s (assistant) in terms of what we do.”

She said her job consists of following the veterinarian’s directions and assisting with surgeries.

“There are limits to what we can do with the vet in the building,” she said. “I wish the Veterinarian Board of Governors and Department of Health would expand what we can do.”

Harless said one frustrating aspect of her career is that there are animal ailments she knows how to diagnose, but can’t diagnose them because she is not a veterinarian.

“I wish there was another level of vet tech that would move us closer to being similar to a doctor’s (assistant),” she added.

Harless said that while she would like to be a veterinarian, the cost of school has prevented her from continuing.

“Being a vet would guarantee being $100,000 in debt,” she said. “It’s a very stringent program. It would be very difficult to support myself and go to school. I’m also not that great of a student.”

She said when she was 30, she might have considered going back to shool.

“Being that much in debt scares me at any age,” she added.

As a veterinarian technician, Harless said the biggest misconception about her job is twofold.

“Either people think I just hold the animal for the vet or they think I can do a lot more than I can do,” she said. “I know how to neuter a cat, but I can’t do it legally.”

Of the two sides, Harless said being undervalued is more frustrating.

Although there isn’t what Harless would call an average work day in her profession, most days she begins by checking on the animals that stayed at the hospital overnight and taking notes for the veterinarians.

“The vet techs here then draw blood and start running blood work, organize surgeries to go in the order the vets like and set up the surgery suites,” Harless said. “But sometimes, we’ll get emergencies coming in the door at 7:30 a.m. and the vet isn’t here yet.”

Harless and other vet techs also conduct treatments for hospitalized animals as prescribed by the veterinarians.

That’s just before lunch.

“After lunch, the vets are seeing appoint-

Journal photo by Emily Hanson

Shelton Animal Hospital veterinarian technician Donna Harless offers a treat to her standard schnauzer Zane (show name CH Cedarhills Greystoke, CGC, RN) after clipping his nails.

Veterinary technician at a glance According to the National Association of Veterinary Technicians, a vet tech is in charge of: n Collecting, recording animals’ case histories n Performing physical examinations n Taking, developing X-rays n Collecting samples; performing laboratory tests n Administering anesthesia n Assisting in surgery

ments, so we’re collecting lab samples, doing nail trims and suture removals, getting samples out the door, and checking patients to see if they’re ready to go home,” Harless said. “We also back up the receptionist with refills and checking patients out.”

Her life of animal care has its hard days.

“A couple of summers ago, there was distemper running through the cat population,” Harless said. “I had to put down 11 kittens in one day.”

Another heartbreaker came in April.

Shortly after she began working at the hospital, Harless’ friend Keirn died, leaving Harless with the task of finding homes for Keirn’s cats.

“Her favorite cat, Tucker, who was a very big personality, had to be put down in April,” Harless said. “It was a little bit like losing my friend again. In some ways, you’re prepared for it, but it’s hard to put your friends down.”

Although it’s not part of her job, when kittens are abandoned at the hospital, Harless often takes them home to raise them and find them good homes.

“I really enjoy raising the orphan kittens,” Harless said with a small smile. “I’ve been raising stray kittens on and off for years. People drop them off all the time.”

She said raising kittens can be a frustrating process and a financial drain at times.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to find them homes,” Harless added. “I keep a list of people looking for a kitty. After putting that much work into raising a kitten, I get a little picky about where they go.”

Harless said what she enjoys most about her job and her life raising kittens is making a difference and making animals feel better.

“It’s sometimes frustrating not being able to ‘fix it,’ ” she said. “I like to help.”

Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 - Page A-13

Page A-14 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014

Living Mason County

Journal photo by Natalie Johnson

From left, Jordan Hanson as the Scarecrow, Kim Fuchs as Dorothy, Brenda Oster as a guard in Oz, Rob Reed as the Tin Man and Paul Muldoon as the Cowardly Lion rehearse a scene Feb. 13 for the Faith Acts production of ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ which will have eight performances starting March 16.

Follow the yellow brick road Theater group presents production of ‘Wizard of Oz’

By NATALIE JOHNSON natalie@masoncounty.com

L

overs of the 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz” may find more to love at a Shelton production of the play next month.

Starting on March 16, Faith Acts, a ministry of Faith Lutheran Church, will present a slightly different “Wizard” than moviegoers saw on the silver screen, producer Hal Burton said.

“It has scenes in it that are not in the movie at all,” he said.

Its production follows the Royal Shakespeare Company version of the play, based on the 1900 book by L. Frank Baum.

Faith Acts staged a production of “Annie” last year as its first play. Now in its second year, organizers say more than 100 people from throughout the community are now involved.

If you go: WHAT: Faith Acts presents ‘The Wizard of Oz’ WHEN: 2 p.m., 7 p.m. March 15; 2 p.m. March 16; 7 p.m.

March 21; 2 p.m., 7 p.m. March 22; 2 p.m. March 23 WHERE: Faith Lutheran Church, 1212 Connecticut St., Shelton TICKETS: $10 each; $75 for 10 tickets FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 545-3149

See OZ on page A-24

Harstine Island News

Chili cook-off slated to heat up Pioneer Primary School

T

here seems to be a for warmer temperatures little spring in the and sun. air. I’m sure we will The women’s club is lookget another blast of wining for scholarship appliter, but seeing a few cants again. Donna young buds making Hamilton sent this their way to branch in: “The Harstine Isends sure gets my land Women’s Club hopes up. While drivand Chase Memoing down Pickering rial Endowment Road, I see another announces their sign of spring on the 2014 scholarship sign at Heaths and program. ScholarHeathers — Karla is

By MIKE ships are available opening up her nursCALLAGHAN for applicants enery from 10 a.m. to 1 tering or continup.m. Feb. 22. Then I ing in an institution of see she will be open again higher education, including March 8 and 22. If it is time vocational training proto plant heathers, it’s time

grams. Applicants must be residents of Harstine Island and have graduated from an accredited high school program by August 2014, or have obtained a GED by that date. The number and amount of the scholarships will be determined at the time scholarship recipients are chosen. The application deadline is April 14. Applications and information sheets are available at Shelton and North Mason high schools, CHOICE Alternative School, and Olympic College Shelton and South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. Further

information and applications may be obtained from the Harstine Island Women’s Club Scholarship Committee, c/o Pat Remine at premine@msn.com or Rose Benz at gwandrm@gmail. com.”

On Friday, Pioneer Primary School Gymnasium will host a great event.

Organizers will have their Pioneer Chili Cook-Off and Art Walk. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and the event will last until about 7:30 p.m. Some great cooks are going to be stirring their brews and you get to vote for the best one. Also, there

will be walls full of artwork made by Pioneer Primary students. For more information about the event, or if you would like to volunteer contact the Pioneer PTA. On Sunday, Inquiring Minds will have its second presentation. Harriet Baskas will bring her photo-filled collection of Washington history. She will share stories of museum artifacts that are rarely shown to the public. Doors at the community hall will open at 1:30 p.m. and the presentation will start at 2.

See HARSTINE on page A-20

Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 - Page A-15

CALENDAR THURSDAY A community meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Agate Grange, 1631 E. Agate Loop Road, to discuss thefts in the neighborhood. Timberlakes, Agate and Shorecrest residents are encouraged to attend. For more information, call 426-1296.

FRIDAY TOPS (Taking Off Pounds

Sensibly) No. 1225 in Hoodsport meets at 10 a.m. every Friday at 71 Finch St., Hoodsport.

Weigh-in from 8-10 a.m.

For more information, call Laura at 620-2979 or email gypsiegenoes@yahoo. com.

Through the Garden Gate workshop will be from 9 a.m. to noon at Memorial Hall (behind Shelton Post Office). Registration required. Cost is $10. For more information or to register, call 427-9670, ext.

680.

SATURDAY WSU Master Gardeners of Mason County’s

The Mason County Sheriff’s Office will host an open house and ribbon cutting from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its North Precinct at 23293 E. state Route 3 in Belfair. The event will include a free barbecue, tours of the facility and displays of Sheriff’s Office equipment.

OPEN HOUSE

MARCH 6TH 5:00 pm -7:00 pm COME SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR CHILD NOW ENROLLING FOR 2014-2015 Full Day & Half Day K & Grade 1

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427-3165

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www.mtoliveshelton.org

“THE GIFT OF GOD to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and the fundamental oneness of religions. War shall cease between nations, and, by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come…” (from the sacred scriptures of the Baha’i Faith).

Come join us for a “Fireside” informal meeting to learn more of the spiritual teachings and principles of the

BAHA’I FAITH

FEBRUARY 28th at 7:00 P.M. PUD 3 AUDITORIUM 2621 JOHNS PRAIRIE RD., SHELTON

21265

CALL 360-426-6529 OR 1-800-22-UNITE (1-800-228-6483) OR VISIT http://www.bahai.us

WEDNESDAY Shelton Timberland Library presents Teen Game Lounge from 3-5 p.m. Play Xbox, Wii and other games, or bring your own laptop and connect to the library’s Wi-Fi. Don’t miss the fun on the last Wednesday of the month. Snacks and supplies provided by the

Friends of the Shelton Timberland Library. For more information, call 426-1362.

FEB. 27 A Youth Leadership Book Group for individuals age 12-18 will meet at 6 p.m. at 800 E. Old Farm Road, Shelton.

Meetings are on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. For more information, call 253302-4761.

Mason County VFW Post 1694 will meet at 7 p.m. at 206 W. Franklin St. Meetings take place the second

and fourth Thursdays of the month. Post members and veterans of foreign wars are encouraged to attend. Beverages and snacks provided at 6 p.m. by the Ladies Auxiliary. For more information, call 4264546.

A regular meeting of the Mason County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners will be at 9 a.m. at the Mason County Commission Chambers, 411 N. Fifth St. n To submit a calendar item, email news@ masoncounty.com.

Congregation honors pastor for ministry, service

Mt. Olive Lutheran School

(combined class) (LIMIT 12)

MONDAY The Friends of the Shelton Timberland Library will meet at 1 p.m. Those interested in joining are encouraged to attend. For more information, call 4261362.

Page A-16 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014

STAFF REPORT news@masoncounty.com

The congregation at Mountain View Christian Missionary Alliance Church hosts an open house and potluck to celebrate pastor Mark and Marlene Sartori’s 25 years of ministry and service from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the church at 304 J St., Shelton.

Patrons can bring a lunch-style potluck dish to share, if they wish.

Drinks, coffee and dessert will be provided.

The church is at the corner of Washington and J streets.

Personal cards and well wishes can be dropped into a basket at the event.

Mark has been a pastor for 33 years, the past 25 at

Mountain View Alliance Church. He worked as a cabinet maker for eight years before becoming a pastor.

“When I see my mission as a call to love and serve people, pray with them, be a supportive friend, have coffee together, it’s fulfilling,” he said in an interview conducted by a member of his congregation.

“If we think of God as boring, austere, joyless and eager to crush humanity, maybe it’s time to rethink our view of him,” he added. “He is the god of life, full of energy, color, creativity, love and joy.

The prospect of enjoying a relationship with God of the universe is a privilege that is stunning — and it isn’t based on a marathonperfect-Olympic-level performance.”

Photo courtesy of Mountain View Christian Missionary Alliance Church

Pastor Mark and Marlene Sartori, seen with grandchildren Jaron and Katelyn Sartori, have presided for 25 years at Mountain View Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Shelton.

Business News

Journal photo by Lloyd Mullen

Rand Wagner, owner of McComb & Wagner Funeral Home and Crematory, sits in his new office. The funeral home recently moved to a new location, at 718 W. Railroad Ave. in Shelton.

Caring for their final wishes

By Lloyd Mullen lloyd@masoncounty.com

When the customers come to him, they’re grieving.

“They’re angry. They’re hurting. It’s hard, initially, to sit down and begin the conversation about what we can do to help them,” explained Rand Wagner McComb & Wagner Funeral Home and Crematory’s owner.

The most difficult part of the job, he said, are the “why questions.”

By the end of the process, Wagner said, he has usually made a friend.

“They’ll come in and there’s this hesitation that comes from most families. Once we begin the conversation, they quickly realize that it’s not about the money. It’s not about anything else but making sure that they’re cared for, that their loved one is cared for. That’s it,” he said.

The process of caring for a loved-one is complex.

Once a death occurs, if someone has been in hospice care, that facility would call the mortuary directly. If the person is not in hospice, authorities are notified and a call comes in from the coroner.

“The family will call asking on the process.

Depending on where the death occurs would determine the next step for us,” he said.

If the death occurs at a hospital or nursing home, a member of Wagner’s staff will go to bring the body back to his facility.

The transition from the back of the funeral home to the front always starts with a moment of silence, Wagner said. It’s a reminder that each person and each family needs individual and special care.

“No matter what they’re going through, my role and my desire is to take care of them. Some days are easier than others,” he said.

He said he still finds the work challenging.

“I don’t think folks realize the extent of the details that it takes to coordinate the laying to rest of their loved ones. Getting everything in order in a timely fashion, trying to make sure no detail is left unaccomplished. You can’t mess up,” he said. “That, for me, is the challenge, doing everything perfectly for the family. It’s very sad if we ever mess something up.”

As for what to do when he dies, Wagner said he hasn’t really thought about it.

“I’d probably prefer cremation. The miracle of it all coming back together,” he said. “I would like a place for my kids and grandkids. A place for them to remember my life, whether it’s at the cemetery or the ocean. We live to go out there and it’s a place that the family can go and remember the legacy.”

Crematorium finds new home Wagner went to school to become a professional baseball player. Then he met the oldest daughter of the McComb family.

“I met Kailey and found out her dad was a funeral director. I joked with her and said, ‘No way, we have to stop dating.’ ” When he visited his future wife at her family’s funeral home, at first he found it creepy.

“One thing led to another and Bill (McComb) offered me an opportunity to come work for him and it seemed right,” he said. “We loved the Shelton area and we decided to take that opportunity.”

Wagner moved to Shelton with his wife

around 2002. He went to mortuary school during that time in Portland at Mount Hood Community College for an education in funeral service.

Before making his move, Wagner also attended Western Seminary in Portland.

“I have been a pastor in two churches. I was a senior pastor at the Harmony Church in Arizona,” he said.

Part of the decision to move to Shelton was to potentially take over the business.

“I saw it as a great opportunity but also, funeral service is the kind of business that incorporates part of what I really enjoy even when I was thinking pastoral. Opportunities to help people and give them encouragement as best I can. Try to make a difficult time not so difficult,” he said.

In 2007, Bill McComb sold his funeral home.

“Due to various factors, over the last six years or so, the economy and so forth, the owner was not able to maintain a business that could continue into the future,” Wagner said.

Wagner bought the business in 2013. After assessing it, he found that the expenses were too high to maintain its location in the downtown building.

“We started looking at a potential place to move the business and this one came up, right across the street,“ he said.

The funeral home is now at 718 W. Railroad Ave. Because of the savings, the business has been able to upgrade most of its equipment.

“There’s still a sadness. It’s been an icon in the community, but the business itself was around about 30 years before the building,” Wagner said.

The transition, Wagner said, has allowed him to lower his costs.

Business Briefs

Chamber to discuss State of the Community The Shelton Mason County Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its annual State of the Community event for noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Colo-

nial House at 222 E. Pine St. Representatives from the city of Shelton, Mason County and the Port of Shelton will give presentations at the annual forum.

Lunch will be provided by The Strip Steak House. Reservations are required. Lunch costs $15 in advance for chamber members and $20 at the door.

North Mason chamber hands out awards More than 145 members of the North Mason Chamber of Commerce and guests attended the 2014 Red & White Installation Gala at Alderbrook

Resort and Spa on Feb. 8.

Tom McDonald received the Chairman’s Choice award; Jeromy Hicks of the North Mason Regional Fire Authority was named Citizen of the Year; Margie Kaiser of Peninsula Credit Union was named Member of the Year; and Scott McLendon’s Hardware, Belfair was named Business of

the Year.

U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer of the 6th District, attended the event and Mason County District Court Judge Victoria Meadows conducted the installation ceremony for the chamber’s 2014 board of trustees. n Compiled by reporter Natalie Johnson

Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 - Page A-17

Richard Lloyd Byrd passed away peacefully with family at his side on February 10, 2014 at the age of 74.

Ric was born on October 6th 1939 to Thomas Lloyd and Emma Jane Byrd in San Bernandino, CA. He married his first love Nancy Hughes in 1956 when they were both 16 years old. Ric worked at a local 7/11 store and earned his GED. He then took the test to become a firefighter ending up at the Westminister Fire Dept where he worked his way up to engineer/paramedic, and finally retired from there. Ric and Nancy bought their first Weimaraner when they were 20 years old and he and Nancy showed dogs on weekends and any other time he had off. He became an accomplished dog breeder, handler/trainer and as a distinguished judge who travelled all over the United States. Ric was recognized internationally as a respected multiple breed Group Judge since 1998, by the American Kennel Club.

Rick and Nancy were very involved in the Gig Harbor Kennel Club and while serving in that club brought their annual national dog show to the Fairgrounds in Mason County generating thousands of dollars of revenue for local businesses. Ric served as The AKC Delegate for the Gig Harbor Kennel Club from 1998 – 2007.

He was a Port of Shelton Commissioner from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2008.

He was a team player, a conscientious, diligent supporter of Mason County and Port businesses.

While he was in office a new rail spur was put in at John's Prairie, Kapowsin Air Sports came to town-all bringing revenue, families and fun to the community.

Ric loved to cook and entertain. At family gatherings he was the chief cook. He loved to be with his family and friends.

Ric is survived by daughter, Vicki Willard (Steve) New Zealand, son-in-law Denis Leverich, Shelton, grandchildren Nathan Willard (Brittney) North Carolina, Laura Lewis (Paul) New Zealand, Patrick Hunter (Cherie) Seattle, Rachel Barnett (Andrew) Fort Drum, NY, Brenda King (Brian) Forks, WA and seven great –grandchildren.

Ric was preceded in death by his parents, brother, beloved wife, Nancy, daughter Janis Byrd Leverich, son Richard Scott Byrd.

A private family gathering will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, dog fanciers may make a donation to “TAKE THE LEAD, “or a donation to Mason General Hospital Foundation would be appreciated.

— Paid Obituary Notice —

Page A-18 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014

Jason Clifford Combs, 36, a resident of Shelton, died Feb. 10, 2014.

He was born Sept. 21, 1977, in Shelton to Dennis Combs and Linda (Dodge) Warner.

Jason was a selfemployed flooring specialist.

Jason enjoyed riding his motorcycle and quad, camping, working on cars and spending time with his family.

He is survived by girlfriend Tamara and her daughter, Nadia; son Joseph Tucker Combs of Hawaii; daughters Paige and Mallery Combs of Shelton; mother Linda Warner; stepfather Matt; sister Trena Johnson (Tim); brother Denny Combs Jr. (Pheadra); nephews Cole and Cameron Johnson, Anthony Carlson and Denny Combs III;

Connie McMurtry Connie (Quartier) McMurtry, 74, a resident of Shelton, died Feb. 12, 2014, at home.

She was born July 22, 1939, in Portland, Ore. Connie was married to Vern Frerking for 14 years. She was married to Carl McMurtry for 10 years.

She was involved in the Red Hat Society, the Shelton Moose Club, and enjoyed volunteering.

Connie is survived by daughter Cindy Whitman; son-in-law Stew Whitman; granddaughter Brittney Whitman; grandson Zach Whitman; brother Warren Hintz; sisterin-law Carlotte Hintz; sister Bonnie McKeon; brother-in-law Perry McKeon; brother Harold Hintz; Eillene and Jessi; brother Kenny (Mary) Hintz; nephews Ethan, Casey and Shane; aunt Bonnie Oaks; Arlene Davidson, Marie Cormier, Marshall and Jackie McGuire, Cheryl and David White, Carol and Jill Oaks; Patty Putvin.

A service took place Feb. 19 in Lemmon, S.D. New Hope Church officiated the service.

Arrangements are under the direction of McComb & Wagner Funeral Home and Crematory in Shelton.

Larry Hurst

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Lawrence (Larry) Hurst, 74, a resident of Fawn Lake in Shelton, died Feb. 10, 2014, in Vancouver, Wash.

He was born May 15, 1939, in Berkeley, Calif., to Dolly and Herman Hurst. He served in the Air Force, and was an airman first class on discharge.

Larry married Nancy Elizabeth (Till) Thomsen on July 20, 1984, in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

He was previously married to Nellene Howe.

That marriage ended in divorce.

He worked for the California Department of Corrections in Southern California. He enjoyed woodcarving and was involved in a multiple sclerosis group.

He is survived by stepsister Patty Hurst of Alta Loma, Calif.; children Lori of Honolulu, Jeff and Jane Hurst of Alta Loma, Calif., and Victoria (Hurst) and Dave Fortner of Beaverton, Ore.; nephew Steve (Delycia) Hurst of Stanwood; nieces Susan (Hurst) and Paul Baldwin of Richland, Ky., Kathy Hurst and Kelly Hurst; stepchildren Robert Allen Thomsen of Atlanta, Victoria Lynn (Thomsen) and Mark Smith of Redmond, and Linda Sue (Thomsen) and Kenneth Hess of Vancouver, Wash; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Dolly and Herman Hurst; brother Bud Hurst; and stepson Dan Keith Thomsen.

A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on Feb. 22 at Hamilton-Mylan Funeral Home, 302 W. 11th St., Vancouver, Wash.

Chaplain Landis Epp will officiate the service.

Burial will be at Brush Prairie Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Dave Fuller.

Memorial donations can be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

See OBITUARIES on page A-19

20572

Richard Lloyd Byrd

Jason Combs

grandparents Lee and Lucille Chapman, Lee Reynolds; stepmother Charlene Combs; stepsiblings Michele and Nichole White of Shelton, Nathan White and wife Sara, and their children of Shelton.

He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Donna Reynolds of Shelton; and father Dennis Combs of Shelton.

A memorial service will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Feb. 23 at Skookum Hall, 3840 SE Lynch Road. Bob Selby will officiate.

Memorial donations can be made to the Jason Combs GoFundMe account at gofundme.com.

13911

16145

Obituaries

STAFF REPORT news@masoncounty.com

Mason County Sheriff Casey Salisbury and two CHOICE Alternative School students testified before the state House Early Learning and Human Services Committee last month.

Students Selina Mejia-Sandoval and

Albertina Samudio and Salisbury testified in favor of House Bill 2377, known as The Early Start Act, which would improve quality in the early care and education system, according to the bill.

They represented the Fight Crime, Invest in Kids organization.

After they testified, the three met with Lt. Gov. Brad Owen.

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Selina Mejia-Sandoval, Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, Albertina Samudio and Mason County Sheriff Casey Salisbury met after Salisbury, Samudio and Mejia-Sandoval testified in favor of House Bill 2377 in January.

OBITUARIES

Death Notice

Continued from page A-18

Constance McMurtry Constance McMurtry, 74, a resident of Shelton, died Feb. 12, 2014, at home.

Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Funeral Home and Crematory in Shelton.

Dorothy Cuzick Dorothy Lee (Edens) Cuzick, 97, a resident of Shelton, died Feb. 12, 2014, at home with family.

She was born Oct. 19, 1916, in Odell, Ark., to Abner and Dora (Hamilton) Edens.

Dorothy worked in the Bremerton shipyards during World War II. She enjoyed spending time with her family, quilting and gardening. She especially liked tending to her flowers.

She is survived by son Roland Cuzick (Rose) of Shelton; daughter Reba Tibbets of Shelton; many grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by husband Rufus; daughter Norma Brown; and son Melvin.

No service will take place at her request.

Burial will be at Shelton Memorial Park.

Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Funeral Home and Crematory in Shelton.

Jason Combs Jason Clifford Combs, 36, a resident of Shelton, died Feb. 10, 2014. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Funeral Home and Crematory in Shelton.

Virginia Grout Virginia J. Grout, 90, a resident of Union, died Feb. 11, 2014, at Mason General Hospital. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Funeral Home and Crematory in Shelton.

Dorothy Auseth Dorothy Auseth, 76, a resident of Shelton, died Feb. 15, 2014, at home. A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. on Feb. 22 at the Agate Grange, 1631 E. Agate Loop Road, Shelton. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Funeral Home and Crematory in Shelton.

Toni Britton Toni R. Britton, 47, a resident of Elma, died Feb. 14, 2014, at Mason General Hospital in Shelton. Arrangements are by Funeral Alternatives of Washington in Tumwater under the direction of Trent Nielsen.

Donna Davis Donna Lois Davis, 56, a resident of Shelton, died Feb. 17, 2014, at home. Arrangements are by Forest Funeral Home in Shelton under the direction of Dave Lucas.

Martha Simmons Martha (Marty) M. Simmons, 71, a resident of Shelton, died Feb. 13, 2014, at home. A service will be at 1 p.m. Feb. 22 at American Lakewood Cemetery in Lakewood. Call Carol at 426-0864 for information. Flowers or donations can be made to Girl Scouts in Allyn.

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Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 - Page A-19

Births

Furry Friends

Adalee Jean Wilbur Adalee Jean Wilbur, a girl, was born Jan. 28, 2014, at Capital Medical Center in Olympia to Rachael Jean Wilbur and Nicholas Glen Wilbur III of the Skokomish Nation. She was 7 pounds, 13 ounces.

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HARSTINE Continued from page A-15 The annual Pioneer Kiwanis Crab and Clam Dinner is getting closer. This has been a popular event during the past few years. The Kiwanis club takes over the Pioneer Primary School cafeteria and transforms the location into

Andrew Ralph Kohler Andrew Ralph Kohler, a boy, was born Feb. 2, 2014, at Capital Medical Center in Olympia to Amy L. Smith of Shelton.

He was 7 pounds.

a place where residents can find a seafood feast. There are also great silent and live auction items. The club is now in the process of gathering those items for the auction. If you want to help out and donate that would be great. All the funds raised are given back to Pioneer school in several ways. If you have an item that you would like to donate, give me a call at 259-9027.

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Page A-20 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014

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A section of the Mason County Journal

Belfair

Herald

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 - Serving the communities of Belfair, Allyn, Grapeview, Tahuya, Mason Lake, South Shore and Victor

Residents speak out on Theler’s financial troubles Restoring center’s nonprofit status a priority, officials say

By NATALIE JOHNSON natalie@masoncounty.com

Herald photo by Natalie Johnson

Belfair resident Jeromy Hicks was named Citizen of the Year by the North Mason Chamber of Commerce this month.

Chamber’s choice Fire authority captain named chamber’s Citizen of the Year

By NATALIE JOHNSON natalie@masoncounty.com

People often react one of two ways when they see a problem in their community, said Belfair resident Jeromy Hicks. They complain or they take action.

“The second one is being part of changing the community for the better,” he said. “If you want to complain about it, then be part of the solution … There’s nothing in our community holding people back but their determination to do it.”

On Feb. 8, the North Mason Chamber of Commerce named Hicks, 34, Citizen of the Year for 2013.

“I hope that it wasn’t a popularity contest,” Hicks said. “I hope … it was a well-deserved award.”

Hicks moved to Belfair from Maple Valley in 1999 to work as a resident volunteer firefighter at Mason County Fire District 2. Hicks is now captain of fire prevention for the North Mason Regional Fire Authority, a deputy fire marshal and fire investigator, a member of the North Mason Rotary, a North Mason Chamber of Commerce Trustee, a North Mason Food Bank board member and a reserve officer with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office.

His most recent project involves building a new play-

ground at the Mary E. Theler Community Center.

“I have two kids in Belfair and there’s no place for them to play,” he said. “I want to have a playground that is accessible to children all the time.”

Hicks and his wife, Jenna, have two children, Cohen, 5, and Blake, 1.

“The nomination was unexpected,” he said. “I was up against some pretty heavy hitters.”

Hicks’ fellow nominees included Melody Hopfensperger, executive director of the Belfair Community Food Pantry, and Cat Ross, executive director of North Mason Resources.

Hicks noted that the same chamber members who voted for him to be Citizen of the Year own businesses that he performs fire inspections on.

“That says a lot about our fire prevention program,” he said.

“We would rather do enforcement through education than enforcement through penalties — that keeps the businesses open.”

Hicks started volunteering in Belfair at age 20. He started by tutoring students at Hawkins Middle School.

“I found out that was rewarding to me,” he said. “I wanted to be that role model.”

Hicks was hired as a fulltime paramedic and firefighter at Fire District 2 in 2001, and began volunteering for road cleanups and other projects with his coworkers.

He also volunteered at the Theler Center, and joined the North Mason Rotary.

Since 2007, Hicks has han-

dled fire prevention and community outreach at the fire district. He said the position has given him the freedom to work with people to address some problems in the community, or to simply help fire district residents.

Hicks recalled one woman who regularly needed emergency medical transport because she couldn’t get to routine doctors’ appointments because her car didn’t work properly. Fire district staff cleaned up her yard and the outside of her house as part of its Adopta-House program, and helped her get a more reliable car.

“We’ve delivered turkeys on Thanksgiving … we’ve picked up presents and driven them to people’s houses,” he said. “When I compare what I do with those other nominees, it’s surprising because … the people that were nominated like to do that too.

They’re doing it because they want to improve what’s going on in our community.”

Each year, Hicks participates with the North Mason Rotary to organize its Christmas giving tree Taste of Hood Canal events.

He went through the Sheriff’s Office’s reserve academy to aid in his work as a deputy fire marshal.

“When you’re investigating fires, you come across the people who have started the fires,” he said. “It gives you one more tool in your toolbox.”

He is working to complete a bachelor’s degree, and is considering majors in fire service management or fire prevention and protection services.

Four months after possible embezzlement was reported at the Mary E. Theler Community Center, board members and staff are still working to restore the organization’s federal nonprofit status.

“The nonprofit is my priority,” interim director Scott Stanton said.

About 50 people attended a public forum Monday night at the Theler Center to discuss the organization’s financial status and its plans for the future.

The meeting was not organized by the Theler board, but Stanton and several board members attended the meeting.

“Tonight our intent is to bring you up to date somewhat on what’s happening at Theler,” said Don Atkinson, who organized the meeting.

Former Theler Board member Tim Wing spoke at Monday’s meeting.

“I personally am … well, I’m disappointed in myself and maybe other board members … that in our time on the board that this kind of problem was brewing and festering under our noses,” he said.

The Theler Center’s building is owned by the North Mason School District and leased to the board. The lease agreement requires the Theler Center to have nonprofit status.

Two years ago, the IRS suspended the center’s nonprofit status because of unfiled tax returns. The Theler Board only learned of that in late 2013.

The Washington state Auditor’s Office became aware of the financial state of the Theler Center after an area resident reported the issue and supplied newspaper articles on the topic, said spokesman Thomas Shapley, of the state Auditor’s Office.

The state Auditor’s local audit team will review the issue as part of its regularly scheduled audit of the school district this year, which is scheduled to be completed in May, Shapley said.

The Theler Center is $162,000 in debt, which includes back taxes and missing donations, some of it going back to 2008.

Former Theler Center Director Anne Whitman was placed on administrative leave in October, and her contract was terminated in December after board members discovered that the center’s bank account contained $6.

The Mason County Sheriff’s Office has launched an embezzlement investigation.

No charges have been filed.

Stanton said the center has asked the IRS to reinstate its nonprofit status. He said that would likely not happen until the center submits all of its back tax returns.

See THELER on page A-22

Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 - Page A-21

Meeting scheduled with Rep. MacEwen

THELER At a glance

Continued from page A-21

STAFF REPORT news@masoncounty.com

State Rep. Drew MacEwen (R-Union) invites residents of the 35th District to a town hall meeting from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Theler Community Center, 22871 NE state Route 3, Belfair.

Residents who are unable to attend can email or phone MacEwen with ideas, proposed solutions and concerns at 786-7902 or Drew.MacEwen@leg. wa.gov.

The board is working with the IRS on a compromise on the $97,000 it owes for Social Security and Medicare contributions.

To further complicate the center’s finances, Stanton said the center will not receive money from the Theler Trust in 2014 or likely in 2015. He said the Theler Trust has no more liquid cash assets.

Traditionally, the Theler trail system has been managed with money from the trust.

Stanton said he can’t apply for grants without a nonprofit status.

Without grant

Q:

“I want everyone to know my door is open. I’m not too busy to hear from each and every one of you.”

WHAT: Italian dinner fundraiser for Mary E. Theler Community Center WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Theler Center, 22871 state Route 3, Belfair TICKETS: $20 per ticket; $30 per couple FOR MORE INFORMATION: 275-4898

funds or Theler Trust money, the center is surviving on rent of its facilities and donations from the community.

Stanton said the center is a month behind on its bills, including his own salary.

“I’m doing this because I firmly believe this can be fixed,” he said.

The center needs $6,000 per month to

Scott Stanton, intermin director for the Mary E. Theler Community Center

meet its obligations.

Last month it took in $4,800.

Donations for memorials for deceased loved ones at the center are also missing.

Stanton said he and the board are working on resolving the issue.

“It is a priority to me,” he said.

Part of the problem, Stanton said, is that all income to the center

used to go into the general fund.

“That’s going to change,” Stanton said.

The Theler board is working to create separate accounts for management of its Brisko property, which houses Belfair Head Start, fundraising and trail maintenance, he said.

The changes will

help create more transparency, Stanton said.

“Every transaction is being recorded multiple times,” he said.

Stanton said he is open to input from the community.

“I want everyone to know my door is open,” he said. “I’m not too busy to hear from each and every one of you.”

A girl was born Jan. 28, 2014, to Ashley Bjorkquist of Belfair.

Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton.

To submit a birth announcement, email news@masoncounty.com or call 426-4412.

Births

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A girl was born Jan. 24, 2014, to Brandi and

Calls reported to Shelton Police, Mason County Sheriff’s Office and tribal agencies included: Burglaries At 9:42 p.m. on Feb. 13, a burglary was reported in the 3000 block of East Mason Lake Drive West.

At 5:29 p.m. on Feb. 14, a burglary was reported on East Windy Ridge Lane in Belfair.

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At 2:45 p.m. on Feb. 12, a burglary was reported in the 300 block of Northeast Log Yard Road in Belfair.

At 11:13 a.m. on Feb. 14, a theft was reported in the 100 block of Northeast Fern Way in Belfair.

At 9:05 a.m. on Feb. 15, a theft was reported in the 100 block of Northeast Laurel Road in Belfair.

At 5:06 p.m. on Feb. 16, a shoplifter was reported in the 23000 block of Northeast state Route 3 in Belfair.

At 11:45 a.m. on Feb. 17, a theft was reported on Northeast Laurel Road in Belfair.

TODAY North Mason Timberland Library presents PageTurners Book Discussion from 10 a.m. to noon. Join in a discussion of “Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter” by Tom Franklin. For more information, call 275-3232.

have an open house and ribbon cutting from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its North Precinct at 23293 E. state Route 3 in Belfair. The event will include a free barbecue, tours of the facility and displays of Sheriff’s Office equipment.

SATURDAY The Mason County Sheriff’s Office will

n To submit a calendar item, email news@ masoncounty.com.

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Page A-22 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014

At 12:23 p.m. on Feb. 12, a theft was reported in the 23000 block of Northeast state Route 3 in Belfair.

At 1:34 p.m. on Feb. 13, a theft was reported in the 400 block of Northeast Union River Road in Belfair.

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At 5:33 p.m. on Feb. 11, a theft was reported in the 100 block of Northeast Barbara Lane in Belfair.

At 6:40 p.m. on Feb. 12, a theft was reported on Northeast Snowcap Drive in Tahuya.

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Theft At 3:22 p.m. on Feb. 11, a theft of forest products was reported on Northeast Tahuya Blacksmith Road.

At 4:25 p.m. on Feb. 11, a vehicle was reported stolen in the 100 block of Northeast Barbara Lane in Belfair.

At 1:49 p.m. on Feb. 14, a burglary was reported in the 3800 block of East state Route 302 in Belfair.

Assault At 3:37 a.m. on Feb. 14, an assault was reported in East Royce Road in Grapeview.

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Mary’s Memoirs Seventy-eight years ago, Belfair had 4 to 5 inches of snow two days this week. Of course, the rain came and took it away. It is always wonderful to catch the snow while it is fresh and observe its natural beauty.

There is nothing like snow-covered evergreen trees. Enjoy!

— Thursday, Feb. 20, 1936 Received a picture of Kent’s boy on a Valentine. The game warden went up and got the deer. Maybe we’ll get some of it to eat. Cleaned some clothes in cleaner.

Received a parcel from Sears and Roebuck that we never sent for. I don’t know whether someone sent it as a gift or if it was a mistake. PC Coryell who owns Forest Beach shot and killed two men in Seattle over a lawsuit concerning his gold mine in Oregon.

What a terrible thing for his family to go through.

Coryell is so old he doesn’t care much. Sam came back from town with a big load and snow was coming down so fast Photo courtesy of Clydene Hostetler he and Emmet decided The is a photo of Kent’s baby, who Mary Theler talks about in this week’s they couldn’t wait for it to diary. It had been enclosed in a valentine that the Kents sent to Mary. stop snowing before they could unload. The snow is now 4 inches deep. Louie The snow is going fast Polly’s. We sat and it slick. came down and took as it’s rained steadily all talked quite a while.

Mama down to his place. day. Ronhaar brought up Aunt Polly is so thin.

Monday, Feb. 24, 1936 Wonder what she thinks A cold quiet day and a bunch of ribs and front Home early and read of the snow. The trees cleaned up store, put legs for us to eat so we until late. are certainly up stock and Wanda decided not to lovely with the finished pasting new take any. Pinky Sunday, Feb. 23, 1936 snow on them. bylaws in post office was surely sore A queer day. Snow, Ronhaar put books. Sam went to because he fully sunshine and cold. We some venison off Seattle at 12 and got a expected some got up late and went to that deer in the load. Charlie hauled a steaks. Ronhaar see Emmet’s house. It’s cooler so now gave it to the going to be a lovely place. load of gravel down to we can get a the beach to put on the new girlfriend.

We went to Seattle by piece of it. Mrs. road. He was going to Elizabeth had way of Shelton, Olympia Pearsall got Sundstroms and Tacoma. It was a fine haul wood but couldn’t her eyebrows get in with the truck as trip. We ate oysters in

By CLYDENE to dinner as plucked and she the ground was too soft. it was Doug’s Olympia and they were HOSTETLER certainly looks Mrs. Baldwin had a misbirthday. They very good. Saw Richard strange. carriage last week and will have a good Arlen in “The Calling of is pretty sick. Hillary is time, I know. Wrote to Dan Matthews.” Fairly Friday, Feb. 21, 1936 Sam’s mother today and good. Also Buck Jones in taking care of her so AlA very wet sloppy ice Pope is shorthanded. sent her five dollars for “Silver Spurs.” We drove day. Sam worked on his She is the one who told a new dress. Wonder if around to Bremerton to books all day down at the she sent me that curtain me. Don and Alice came eat noodles and ran into beach. He went to the home Saturday night. material? lots of snow between bank about 5. Worked on Must start cutting for Manchester and Port the shelves most of the my scrapbook again.

Saturday, Feb. 22, 1936 Orchard. Home late. No afternoon and they look I certainly got a lot of A fine day and I took snow at Belfair. Only on very good. Fairly busy. my mother to Aunt the hill coming down was magazines. Received a

letter from Ruby and must write her soon.

Sam came back early with a big load and we unloaded. He is listening to speeches of candidates for mayor of Seattle and worked on his books until late in fact 12 o’clock.

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1936 Snow on the ground this morning four or five inches deep. Very quiet in the store. I visited my dad and nearly skidded off the road on the way up. Mrs. Mac Mennony died, Ada Marsh Moore’s mother. She’s to be buried at Retsil tomorrow at 2 o’clock. Pinky Williams paid Sam in full for that old Ford truck today.

The old truck of Paddy Ryan’s. Louie saw Mrs. Pearsall getting out of the game Warden’s car in Bremerton yesterday. So I guess she wasn’t working all day as she told me? Maybe she thinks I’ll believe it. Received a letter from Irene and one from Hilda Hamburg.

Now I must write some more letters, maybe tonight. Rode down to the beach with Charlie about 2:45 and was there the rest of the day. I cleaned up all the cupboards and dresser drawers and dusted the furniture. It looks very good. In the evening I cut out stuff for my scrapbooks. To bed late.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1936 A terrible rainy day.

I never saw so much water come down. Sam went to Tacoma to get his income tax report fixed up and see a house mover. A good day to go to town. Got out special sheets and now I’m going to put up macaroni and compound. Always something to do. All of us took out a $1,000 life insurance policy today.

Pays only in case of

death, no benefits otherwise and is for clerks only.

— I received an email from Estelle Foster in sharing information for last week’s diary. This is what she shared: “Last week you mentioned how popular potatoes, etc., seemed to be on many tables in this area.

One reason being they were easy to grow, and the people eating them were usually of Scandinavian or German descent, where those meals were usual. Mostly, people in this area ate whatever they grew in their gardens, whatever came out of the woods, or whatever was in the canal or on the beach. Big depression during the ‘30s.

“The pond on which people went skating was McKnight’s pond, about halfway or so down McKnight’s road, just off Old Belfair Highway. The weather had to be very cold and stay that way for some time in order to trust the ice for skating. Not everyone had skates, but the soles of leather shoes worked quite well. There was also a small knoll at one end of the pond, where, if one took a good run, slapped their sled down at the top of the knoll, it was possible sometimes to slide all the way to the other end of the pond!

Cheap fun, but very cold!”

Thank you for sharing, Estelle, and thank you for reading this week’s diary.

Clydene Hostetler is a longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary film maker of “Hidden in Plain Sight.” She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 11 years. She can be emailed at clydeneh@ wavecable.com.

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Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 - Page A-23

Continued from page A-15 “Last year when we did ‘Annie’ … probably 20 percent of our participants didn’t have anything to do with this church,” Burton said. “This year it’s flipped. They’re from all over the place. I think it’s fantastic — that was our original goal.”

When Faith Lutheran members created Faith Acts, Burton said they had two goals: to create a community theater in Shelton and to include people from throughout the county

and surrounding areas.

“This year we’ve really accomplished the second goal, which was to bring these people together,” he said.

Because “Annie” was so successful last year, Faith Acts added an eighth performance this year. Performances are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. March 15; 2 p.m.

March 16; 7 p.m. March 21; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. March 22; and 2 p.m. March 23. All of the performances are at Faith Lutheran Church, 1212 Connection St. in Shelton.

Faith Acts also added practices this year because of the

demands of the play. Instead of practicing only Sunday and Monday evenings, choreography practices are now on Thursday evenings.

On Feb. 13, the cast ran through a scene in which Dorothy, played by Kim Fuchs, and her traveling companions the Scarecrow, played by Jordan Hanson, Tin Man, played

by Rob Reed, and the Cowardly Lion, played by Paul Muldoon, prepare to meet the wizard.

Burton said the scene and choreography coached by Stacey Bramley were “very complicated.”

Another feature of Faith Acts’ performance is the curtain will never close during the play’s acts.

“The scene changes are going to be done by the actors themselves,” Burton said.

Many of the set pieces have multiple sides and can be turned for different scenes.

Actors will carry other set pieces on and off stage after scenes.

“Not only do you have to memorize your lines, you have to remember if you have to take a box offstage,” Burton said.

In the scene where Dorothy

HILLS Continued from page A-1

Journal photo by Gordon Weeks

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An apparently abandoned squatter’s hut sits in the woods in the southcentral area of the proposed 604-acre Shelton Hills development. The Shelton City Commission on Tuesday agreed adequate mitigation plans are in place to deal with polluted Goose Lake and the former C Street dump — both located outside the proposed development — in the final environmental impact statement.

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But the commissioners agreed that adequate mitigation plans are in place in the final environmental impact statement (EIS) on the development.

The planned action ordinance on the final EIS moved forward, and will receive a second reading at the commission’s study session at 2 p.m. Monday in the Shelton Civic Center.

“The city has done its homework … We have a project we can live with for many years to come,” Mayor Gary Cronce said. “I feel comfortable with it.”

The city also wants Goose Lake and the former C Street dump cleaned up, said Steve Goins, the city’s director of Community and Economic Development. The city also believes the mitigations proposed in the EIS are sufficient to allow the development by Hall Equities to proceed, he said.

“It’s a comprehensive document,” said Brandon Farrell, senior vice president and director of leasing for Hall Equities. “We feel good about it.”

Hall Equities, based in Walnut Creek, Calif., bought the property in 2006. The company’s Shelton Hills concept includes a 50-acre business park, 68 acres of commercial property, as many as 1,600 primarily single-family residences, a new school and 10 parks.

The highest density plan for Shelton Hills would add about 4,877 residents and 3,546 employees to the site.

The full buildout is expected to take 20 years.

Goins emphasized that Goose Lake and the former C Street dump lie outside the proposed development “That’s the key issue here,” he said.

From 1931 to 1942, the Rayonier Pulp Mill dumped waste into 23-acre Goose Lake, which sits outside the northern boundary of the Shelton Hills development. Any cleanup efforts have to be coordinated by landowner Rayonier and the state Department of Ecology. The former city dump is just south of C Street, the southern boundary of the development.

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During more than an hour of public comments Tuesday, former state legislator Doug Sayan was among the many residents who said the toxicity of Goose Lake and the C Street dump need to be addressed before the development proceeds.

“We don’t buy into anything we don’t know about, the unknown unknowns … That’s not moral,” he said.

The city is opening itself up for litigation if it allows building near toxic sites, Shelton resident Pat Vandehey said.

“The cart is front of the horse, premature,” she said.

Everyone agrees the two sites need to be cleaned up – it’s just a question of when, Shelton resident Tom Davis said.

“This is the optimum time to clean it up … First you do the cleanup, then you do the building,” he said.

Farrell reiterated that the concerns about the two sites are addressed in the final EIS, and encouraged residents to read it.

“This isn’t putting the cart ahead of the horse,” he said. “This is just part of the process. … We don’t want to sell houses in the future with a cloud over it.”

Hall Equities hopes to break ground on the development later this year, and start building next year, Farrell said.

Commissioner Tracy Moore said she’s read the final EIS several times.

The city is addressing pollution concerns that go back 30 years, she said.

“I’m not sure how much we can hold back this decision,” she said.

Commissioner Mike Olsen said he is concerned about the environmental issues posed by the two sites, but believes the project will work with enough oversight. The development could be the “best ally” in getting Goose Lake cleaned up, he said.

The two sites will be cleaned up because of the Shelton Hills development, Cronce said. The development will also bring needed employment opportunities, he said.

“We need jobs, we need good solid places for our young people to work,” he said.

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gets swept up in the tornado, set lights will go dark and stage hands wearing black will walk around holding set pieces to simulate the tornado’s destruction, he said.

The version of the play used

by Faith Acts will include more tricks from the wicked witch, played by P.J. Hopkins, and complicated costumes, Burton said.

“You’ve got munchkins, you’ve got monkeys, you’ve got crows — it’s a tremendous amount of costuming,” Burton said.

For more information and to buy tickets, call 545-3149.

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