Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
The road to Staircase
Editor, the Journal,
I recounted the recent experience Mark Woytowich had travelling to Staircase. Having made that trip for over 20 years, I can relate. I was disappointed that he implied that Olympic Park managers were neglecting the Staircase Road as a preface to closing this popular destination. During my years as the Staircase District ranger, I observed several projects to improve the road’s quality.
Journal readers may appreciate clarification that the Staircase Road (FS-24) is under the supervision, maintenance and jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
The National Park Service, Department of Interior, has the responsibility of the paved Staircase Road extending from the park boundary to the Staircase Ranger Station, campground and trail head.
Granted, the road as a whole needs constant attention and the wet months can create a rough trip for visitors. Perhaps a higher priority of maintenance can smooth the way.
George Bowen
Hoodsport
A letter clarification
Editor, the Journal,
In Mr. Robert Graham’s letter here on Nov. 18, he goes on to praise Mr. Ardean Anvik’s column of Nov.11, which is about Veterans Day. After several paragraphs, he abruptly changes to writing about me and my comments directed to AA, which made him “angered and embarrassed” but in his haste to make so many different comments, he changes topics without explanation making it look like my letter was directed to AA’s Veterans Day column instead of his letter of Oct. 28 in which AA paints a very sad picture of a future without freedoms and points to books such as “Atlas Shrugged” to make his point without letting readers know they were works of fiction.
The point of my letter was to include an additional book to his list and to point out “Chicken Little” made just as much sense to use as a guide to the future. I was not “comparing “Chicken Little” to “The Fountainhead,” only adding to AA’s list. Period.
However, since both gentlemen like to suggest books, might I add another by Jonathan Karl “Betrayal.” It’s a nonfiction book on current events.
The way Graham switches topics without letting readers know is confusing and could lead readers to believe I was mocking Veterans Day, and I most certainly was not. I come from a military family and am married to a Purple Heart veteran. I was not commenting on AA’s column, however I would agree with Karen Skimmer’s letter of Nov. 18, which does address his column.
I find it interesting that Graham refers to my letter but ignores the letter printed directly above mine: “A question” by John Vernon. Vernon asks both Graham and AA (forgive me for taking liberties, however it is so obvious) a question you both have yet to address in your many letters. So I will ask about the 500-pound gorilla in the room:
How can one still support ex-President Donald Trump, who staged a failed coup to try to stay in power?
I am a big girl and can handle constructive criticism, however my words are placed out of context and your childish description of bodily functions about how I felt in your mind while writing them is not necessary.
You close your letter stating my party affiliation is obvious. But that is the view from someone who only sees things in red and blue. Not that it’s any of your business, but I consider myself independent and I have voted split tickets in the past. Give me someone who is for people over party any day.
Perhaps I should be the one who is angered and embarrassed.
Patricia Hawley
Shelton
Kudos and jeers
Editor, the Journal,
In the past six months or so, I have noticed a significant improvement in the Journal’s coverage of local issues.
My most sincere thank you to reporters and staff for working together to educate and entertain our community.
Congratulations for the awards and recognition received from your peers at the Washington Newspapers Publishers Association.
I miss the Backyard Explorer.
I am unable to choose a favorite columnist, as it changes week to week.
All these excellent writers provide insightful, informative, nostalgic and sometimes funny content.
Special tip of the fur-lined hat to Mark Woytowich: enjoy your hiatus.
I notice that the Thanksgiving week letters pages have again been commandeered by the caustic comments of the Chronically Cranky Complaining Curmudgeon Club.
One contributor writes to our local newspaper to complain about another newspaper published 90 miles away.
Go figure. No coverage glorifying the baby-faced vigilante. I think you wrote to the wrong editor.
Another contributor goes on and on
I would like the addresses of the “$300,000-$500,000 units” available to people living without shelter.
The contributor rounds out the diatribe with imagined or outright false “crises” as pushed by biased media.
And this week’s prize for racing to the bottom of the civic discourse barrel once again goes to the serial contributor who just can’t seem to keep quiet and give others a chance. The cynical, juvenile name-calling borders on “scurrilous” as defined by Webster. If one investigates the Latin etymology of the word, the root meaning is “buffoon.”
The contributor crows about one person holding up one sign at one demonstration in one state as evidence confirming a tired, false, often repeated conspiracy theory. Go figure.
I do not know of a single instance of a U.S. citizen being “incarcerated” by the governor or president “for refusing vaccines ...” This is just plain not true.
The contributor goes on to reference when FDR “incarnated” Japanese ...”
This makes no sense. Please consult a dictionary.
Perhaps the contributor is referring to Executive Order 9066.
This shameful, unconscionable racist action actually imprisoned American citizens, not Japanese.
In 1988, the U.S government formally apologized to the Americans harmed and issued a paltry sum for reparations to those American victims still living. Their descendants are still suffering the consequences of this horrific action.
The contributor hijacked beloved Thanksgiving tradition as a platform for his own mean-spirited, sarcastic remarks.
Thanksgiving is a unique holiday, encouraging us to count our blessings independent of religion and crass consumerism. It is a day to feast and celebrate with family and friends.
Millions of Americans, including myself, also observe this day as a solemn, somber Day of Mourning.
The arrival of European colonists to this continent began an era of land theft, violent murder, broken treaties, genocide, oppression and cultural erasure that continues to this day. On this day, I honor the Indigenous ancestors whose land and lives were stolen. On this day I honor the African ancestors who were kidnapped from their homelands and enslaved to build the “American Dream.” Descendants of these people still suffer the consequences today.
I have lived in Mason County for decades. I know so many fine neighbors acting in the spirit of goodwill to find creative solutions, build community and improve our collective lives.
I encourage folks to pick up a pen and send a letter to this newspaper to tell stories of kindness, joy and ideas for civic improvement.
Theresa Jacobson
Agate
Gasoline hysteria
Editor, the Journal,
Last week, a letter writer speculated that the real cost of inflation was 20%. The number appears to be plucked out of the air. I will respond to only one area because doing an analysis on all of them is simply too long. So, I will restrict myself to the hot button issue of gasoline. This is the commodity where there is a claimed 59% increase in cost. For the purposes of analysis, I am using statistics from the U.S. Energy Information Bureau. The analysis looks at the fourth week of November for comparison.
In November 2020, the average price was $2.789. The current average is $3.924. That is a 40.7% increase. But let’s not compare to a period of unusually low demand. Instead, what was it when everyone was crowing about how great the economy was. How about 2018 and 2019? In November 2019, the price was $3.349. In 2018 it was $3.341. From 2019 to 2021, we see a 17% increase.
We can take the analysis back further though. Perhaps to 2016. The price then was $2.576. The price in 2017 was $2.993. That is an increase in 2016 to 2017 of 16%. The increase from 2017 to 2018 is 11.6%. As a reminder, these are the years when the people complaining now about the economy were boasting of it despite the significant increase in gas prices. Note that the two-year increase from 2017 to 2019 was 30% as opposed to the more recent 17%. Nobody made a peep.
It is easy, reductionist thinking to simply blame the rise in gasoline on a change of administration. Market events contribute to current prices. One should never ascribe to the government that which can adequately be accounted for by market dynamics. This is particularly true for those claiming to be capitalists. Here is an alternative explanation:
Producers want to maximize profits. To that end, they will adjust output to keep prices at a desirable level to the extent that they can do so. In times of economic expansion and calamity, it is easy to engage in a little price fudging while blaming anybody but themselves. The trend from 2015 to 2019 was increased cost of gasoline reflecting increased demand for gasoline due to an expansion in the economy that begun in 2014. 2020 was a year of unusually low demand from unusual circumstances resulting in abnormally low prices. The economy has greatly expanded bringing prices back up to a more normal level. The increase in prices for the past five or six years suggests that the 2021 increases are not that far out of the norm, although there is probably some advantage being taken by global producers seeking to recoup some expenses from 2020. In other words, a very capitalist explanation.
Andy Makar
Hoodsport
Watch where you’re shooting
Editor, the Journal,
I want to start this with my own feelings. I have nothing against guns and people who own them. I do however have a problem with shooting so close to homes, churches and walking trails. Yes, we live in a country setting. But that is changing so fast. Our laws are not being updated for the number of people moving to our little piece of heaven. We moved here over 30 years ago, thinking that we would live a nice quiet life. Boy, was I wrong. The shooting is getting out of hand. We can’t enjoy our property anymore. Little kids are afraid to go outside and play. Dogs run and hide. If you are going to shoot (remember, I have no problem shooting guns) can you please do it away from your neighbors? If you have 30-plus acres, why do you have to shoot 400 feet from my house? Our commissioners need to update some laws and get the sheriff to enforce.
Teresa Olson
Allyn
Media reflections
Editor, the Journal,
Re: “A Confession” by Robert E. Graham, Union, Journal, Nov. 25 edition; “I’m Thankful For” by Ardean Anvik, page A-4.
I am amazed that Mr. Graham, a self-described college faculty member, doesn’t understand the difference between a “compendium” and a “daily” newspaper. In his unwarranted criticism of The Seattle Times, it would appear to the most casual observer his real objective was to denigrate anything and anyone that might be labeled according to his ideology as “liberal.” The last I checked a compendium is a “n., a collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject, especially in a book or other publication” and a daily is described as “A publication, usually issued daily or weekly, containing current news, editorials, feature articles, and usually advertising.” The Seattle Times is a daily newspaper for the Seattle environs. In no way, shape, or form is it or any of its issues to be considered a “compendium.” If you subscribe to the Times “chiefly for its sports section … and comics,” don’t expect it to cover other news for which you have no true interest. The Kyle Rittenhouse verdict was announced Friday, Nov. 19, and hit the daily printed news Saturday. By Sunday, it was no longer daily news but the national reactions were. No wonder the verdict was not covered in the Sunday edition of the Seattle Times as it was already common information. Please, Mr. Graham, put your advanced degree to use and don’t try to camouflage your true intentions with inaccuracies. Since your letter appears to show you don’t know the difference between a compendium and a daily, I seriously question of what else you are ignorant and only opine about without thought.
I’m thankful, Mr. Anvik, that I don’t need to hear about the daily “crumbinations” of Donald J. Trump. I am also thankful that the Journal is a weekly and limits your letters to one each issue. If you dislike the current administration so much might I suggest what the previous administration recommended to those who didn’t agree with it … leave.
Bill Pfender
Shelton
Good deeds done well
Editor, the Journal,
Passing by Shelton’s St. David of Wales Episcopal Church, I notice a professional looking team of gardeners plying their trade and making the corner of Third and Grove streets right spiffy. This warn’t no DOC chain gang.
“Whoa,” I thought to myself, “St. David’s pledge drive must have turned on the after-burners to suddenly afford this kind of professional service!”
Being the shy, retiring type, and considering the general impecunious nature of most traditional churches, I introduce myself and ask what inspired this team to perform this exhaustive labor. The work team: Terrance McElroy, Sean Meck and Forman Robert Scroggins explained they are active members of Gethsemane Ministries (gethsemane-ministries.com) whose missionary activity includes providing services to not-for-profit organizations and people who can use a bit of assistance in their lives.
They perform good deeds, often gratis; throughout Mason County: today’s version of The Once and Future King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table — yet rather than shining armor on horseback slaying malevolent fire-breathing dragons and rescuing damsels in distress, they arrive on site fit, competent and ready to work (yet in place of swords, armor and horses a utilitarian pickup truck and trailer stacked high with gardening tools). They utilize this equipment to masterfully vanquish today’s obstacles to a clean and wholesome environment: sodden leaves, fallen branches and clogged storm drains on their spiritual and practical quest to make Mason County’s residents live a better life through competent gardening.
Thank you, Terrance, Sean, Robert and especially Gethsemane Ministries for your efforts to make our Mason County a better place to live.
James Poirson
Shelton
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