Small town politics at the Port of Shelton

Submitted by Tom Davis:

I've been out of town on business these past few days, enjoying immensely an opportunity to discuss with intelligent, well-informed people, proposals that have nothing to do with Mason County politics or policies. I look on such opportunities as a welcome respite from having to stand by and watch our local officials engage in never-ending, petty, personal escapades that pass for business, especially at the Port of Shelton.

In the fifteen months I have been attending Port meetings, researching Port decisions and observing the personal behavior of those charged with managing Port property, I have come to one, inescapable conclusion; and that is that some folks charged with managing Port assets appear unable or unwilling to perform their duties in a fair and equitable manner, or even to comply with the spirit of the statutes by which they are governed.

The recent lease agreement between the Port of Shelton and Northwest Event Organizers, Inc., as sponsors of the Mason Area Fair may or may not be beneficial to the Port’s bottom line. But one thing is certain, and that is events leading up to the signing of the lease were atypical in that the opportunity to run the fair was not offered to a larger pool of entrepreneurs, and that the lease itself failed to follow standard Port procedures or to enact standard conditions. Also worthy of inclusion is the fact that Northwest Event Organizers, Inc. is a profit driven company, not a non-profit, charitable organization. So why has the Port been so accommodating, and why are event organizers asking the public to donate their time, money and energy?

The fact that the proprietors of Northwest Event Organizers, Inc. are personal friends of the Port Executive Director, John Dobson, may be entirely coincidental, but if I have learned anything about Port business over these past few months, it is that personal friends enjoy a level of access not extended to the public at large.

It would appear, also, as was the case of Port employee and whistle-blower, Teresa Rebo, that if you witness what you believe to be questionable behavior on the part of Port management and bring those concerns to Commissioners, you may very likely find yourself fired, which is exactly what happened. When the commissioners were questioned as to why they let director Dobson fire Teresa Rebo, Commissioner, Tom Wallitner went on record, saying that it was not his job to interfere with the methods employed by Port Director, John Dobson.

Had the above events occurred in the private sector total reaction may have been to raise a few eyebrows. But when they involve the governing body of a public municipality, the consequences of those actions will be borne by the public. And it is for that reason the public needs to remain vigilant, and to oversee all questionable business dealings involving the Port, as they occur.

There is a reason the Port’s legal counsel is a fixture at every public meeting, but it is not a good reason.

EPA releases timeline for MACT reconsideration

EPA releases timeline for MACT reconsideration
Biomass Power and Thermal
The biomass power industry has had more than one contention with the rules,
both proposed and final. While the final rule does eliminate numerical
emission standards for some types of area source boilers, it increases
emission standards in other areas. ...
http://www.biofuelwar.com/2011/06/biomass-crops-to-be-grown-on-airport-property/

Good Minus Tides This week, Go Dig Some Dioxinated Clams!



This is a picture of a clam squirting


The Old Settler's Song

I've traveled all over this country
Prospecting and digging for gold
I've tunneled, hydraulicked and cradled
And I have been frequently sold.

For each one who got rich by mining
Perceiving that hundreds grew poor
I made up my mind to try farming
The only pursuit that was sure.

So, rolling my grub in my blanket
I left all my tools on the ground
I started one morning to shank it
For the country they call Puget Sound.

Arriving flat broke in midwinter
I found it enveloped in fog
And covered all over with timber
Thick as hair on the back of a dog.

When I looked on the prospects so gloomy
The tears trickled over my face
And I thought that my travels had brought me
To the end of the jumping-off place.

I staked me a claim in the forest
And sat myself down to hard toil
For two years I chopped and I struggled
But I never got down to the soil.

I tried to get out of the country
But poverty forced me to stay
Until I became an old settler
Then nothing could drive me away.

And now that I'm used to the climate
I think that if a person ever found
A place to live easy and happy
That Eden is on Puget Sound.

No longer the slave of ambition
I laugh at the world and its shams
As I think of my pleasant condition
Surrounded by acres of clams.

Reporter Arrested for Recording Public Meeting

Biomass job impact will be insignificant

Biomass job impact will be insignificant
Herald and News
It's sad the Herald and News editorial board would publish its opinion
about the biomass plant without reading any of the articles in its own
newspaper. If board members had, they would know that finally NESCO has
admitted the biomass plant will create ...
http://www.heraldandnews.com/viewpoints/article_666b41ba-a0d2-11e0-8bff-001cc4c002e0.html

Wood Prices Fueled by Biomass Demand at Power Plants

Wood Prices Fueled by Biomass Demand at Power Plants
ERR News
Firewood prices are more than 20 percent higher than they were last year
thanks to increasing demand from power plants. The State Forest Management
Centre's (RMK) timber marketing director Ulvar Kaubi said in the daily
Postimees that demand for wood
http://news.err.ee/economy/f22e7802-569d-4af9-8485-777d12862449

MACT Rules Threaten to Derail Biomass Industry

MACT Rules Threaten to Derail Biomass Industry
Biomass Power
As the biomass power industry struggles to recover from one of the worst
economic downturns in our history, we now face another threat: a series of
proposed ...
http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/5604/mact-rules-threaten-to-derail-biomass-industry

Activists Battle Longview Fiber over Highly Polluting Biomass Plant

Remember, wind from longview will bring the pollution right to Shelton!

Longview Fibre and activists battle over biomass
Longview Daily News
Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging officials say their 54-megawatt biomass
energy expansion also would reduce air pollution and the company's carbon
footprint, plus make the mill more competitive. But the project's leading
opponent, No Biomass Burn, ...
http://tdn.com/news/local/article_5f8cde60-9f99-11e0-a960-001cc4c03286.html

Two Years Ago Today - Lindsey Baum Disappeared

LINDSEY BAUM MISSING FROM McCLEARY WASHINGTON

HELP BRING LINDSEY HOME!
Missing Date: Jun 26, 2009  Race: White   DOB: Jul 7, 1998  Age Now: 13
Height: 4'9" (145 cm)    Weight (then): 80 lbs (36 kg)
Hair Color: Brown   Eye Color: Brown
Lindsey was last seen leaving a friend's house on the evening of June 26, 2009.
She was wearing a hooded pullover shirt, blue jeans, and black slip on shoes.

If you see her or have information regarding her whereabouts, call 911
Grays Harbor County Information tip line 866 915-8299
McCleary Police (360) 495-3107
or EMAIL: soadmin@co.grays-harbor.wa.us

These Photo's are from Lindsey Baum's day of hope and awareness that was held in Olympia, one year ago today.  Lindsey and family, our hopes and prayers are still with you.

Poster of missing people

Family and friends of the missing

Cake

entertainment for children

Costumes and Balloons

Lindsey's mother sitting on the right

Family and friends gather for prayer

Balloon release

Live music

Hold your children tight and be thankful

Photographs by Shawnie Whelan

Shelton Street Portrait of the Week

It's just been that kind of week:

Port of Shelton website

Has the Port of Shelton's website always been formatted so poorly, or did they just mess it up in their rush to take Teresa Rebo's name down?

Page in question:
http://www.portofshelton.com/admin.html

Port's failure to use reasonable judgment, puts the taxpayers at risk

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Jack Miles

Jack Miles


The 6/21/11 Port Meeting was no different than any of the other meetings. For starters, I asked Commissioners Hupp and Wallitner if they believed that Mr. Dobson was justified in sending harassing emails to Teresa Rebo; coercing her to sign the "Last Chance Agreement and Disciplinary Action Plan"; and then subsequently firing her. The Hupp/Wallitner response was "absolutely". It is often hard for me to understand the mentality of my fellow commissioners.

I also found out that Mr. Dobson used Suzanne Michael, the outside counsel and same attorney who hired the investigator to address/whitewash Teresa Rebo’s concerns about the Port for the termination process. This same Suzanne Michael drafted the “Last Chance Agreement and Disciplinary Action Plan” that Mr. Dobson was coercing Ms. Rebo to sign.

 Mr. Dobson most definitely did not give Ms. Rebo adequate notice that this document needed to be signed by 10 am, June 20, 2011. (This is a good example of how Mr. Dobson operates.) The e-mails and the "Last Chance Agreement and Disciplinary Action Plan" were designed to try to establish some sort of pretext critical of Ms. Rebo’s conduct at the Port. Mr. Dobson knew he had no documentation to support his claims that Ms. Rebo was insubordinate.

I decided to consult with a colleague who has a background in Human Resources. I asked him what would be typical to have in a personnel file. After my discussion with him, I gathered the following items that would usually be found in an employee's file:On Monday at 8:21 am, Mr. Dobson sent Ms. Rebo a message to her personal email account, well knowing Ms. Rebo was already at work at the Port, and does not access her personal email account from work. The email stated that Ms. Rebo had only until 10 am that same day to sign the "Last Chance Agreement and Disciplinary Action Plan" or she would be terminated.

• A copy of Ms. Rebo’s personnel file (which I was given written permission from Ms. Rebo to obtain).
• A signed copy of the "Last Chance Agreement" signed by Dobson and Wendy Smith as witnesses.
• A copy of the Job Description of the Property Development Manager.
• A copy of notes from Mr. Dobson relating to his initial consultation with Ms. Rebo when she was hired, and what his expectations were regarding her duties and responsibilities as the Property Development Manager.
• A copy of notes from Mr. Dobson regarding Ms. Rebo's 6-month employee performance evaluation, and her 1-year employee evaluation.
• A written response as to why Ms. Rebo was given a raise.
• A copy of any and all notes, emails and/or letters advising Ms. Rebo of poor performance.
• A copy of the Executive Director’s Employee Evaluation Program and Performance Evaluation written policy Guide Book.

Upon inspection of Teresa Rebo’s personnel file on Tuesday, NONE of that information was present in her file!

In addition, it should be noted that RCW 42.41 states: “The purpose of this chapter is to protect local government employees who make good-faith reports to appropriate governmental bodies and to provide remedies for individuals who are subject to retaliation for having made such reports.“

To date, Mr. Dobson has never established a policy for staff on the procedures to follow for reporting such information, nor has he provided information to employees regarding proper procedure should anyone believe misconduct has occurred as in RCW 42.41.020 (paragraph 3) defining “Retaliatory Action”. I invite everyone to please read this chapter. Some of the examples cited therein are: frequent and undesirable office changes; unwarranted and unsubstantiated letters of reprimand or unsatisfactory performance evaluations; disciplinary action or dismissal, etc.

Also, in RCW 42.41.045, “Prohibition on intimidation of whistle blower“, it states: “A local government official or employee may not use his or her official authority or influence, directly or indirectly, to threaten, intimidate, or coerce an employee for the purpose of interfering with that employee’s right to disclose information concerning an improper governmental action."

Bottom line: The Port Commission has put the Port in legal jeopardy yet again.

Currently, the Port is facing litigation for other actions by Mr. Dobson (referenced when I spoke at the Port’s 6/1/10 meeting), including the firing of (2) employees at the Port and calling it a “Re-organization at the Port”. This resulted in a claim of $700,000 in damages. Such damages would be paid for with taxpayer money if a judgment against the Port is entered.

After sounding the alarm for many months regarding Mr. Dobson’s failure to exercise acceptable judgment in the use of taxpayer money, perhaps it is time to renew calls for his resignation and/or termination. I suggest that citizens demand that Mr. Dobson be dismissed. Any Port decision to protect/rescue Mr. Dobson yet again may prove to be very costly to the taxpayers of Mason County.

I urge everyone to support Teresa Rebo!

Sincerely,
Jack Miles http://www.webackjackmiles.com/

Free Kittens

We have 4 kittens left, we need to find them a home this week:

Taxpayers who support Teresa Rebo

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Taxpayers-who-support-Teresa-Rebo/209426729102263

Like the above facebook page to show your support for Teresa Rebo as she goes through this trying time.  Teresa Rebo is the whistle blower who was fired almost immediately after filing for whistle blower protections.  She did not have an axe to grind, she honestly believed that public land was being gifted to the Port Executive's close friends.  Before she was fired, she was subjected to obscene phone calls and sexual slurs while she was on the job, and the Port of Shelton has done nothing to investigate the source of these calls.

Now 2-3 employees who have been fired by John Dobson are suing the port.  How much will John Dobson cost the taxpayers?

Police set up Sting in front of Elementary School as Kids were Getting Out

Evergreen Elementary Pick-up  Area

We witnessed this last week and were horrified. As my spouse went to pick up our child from Evergreen Elementary School (K-5) on Franklin street, he witnessed police with guns out, throwing a man to the ground in front of the pick up area, where kids wait for parents to take them home. 

 This was just as school was letting out. Kids were waiting in line to get on buses and parents were walking to pick up children who are too young to walk alone. Parents were also driving in to pick up their children. I can't think of a much worse time or place for the police to conduct a pre-planned high risk traffic stop, than on the property of an elementary school just as school is getting out! Many of the younger children were quite frightened and confused by this horrible scene.

As luck would have it, this was one of the rare days that my spouse walked to pick up our child, thank God I did not have to witness this event myself. My spouse saw what was happening and he quickly moved to block our young child from seeing the view and thus being frightened. As a result of my spouses quick thinking, my child was not traumatized by this, but my husband was a bit upset. Not all children leaving the school that day were as lucky as my child.

Another View of the crowded pick up area that the police
used to stage a pre-planned high risk arrest just as
school was getting out for the day.

It seems  that police set up this sting to arrest a man for destroying his girlfriends cell phone, thus preventing her from calling the police. The suspect himself set up the time and location of the meeting as he was going to be there anyway to pick up his child from school.  Of course he had no idea he was going to be arrested, he just thought he was meeting someone from craigslist who wanted to buy his car.     Did the suspects child witness the horrific event of seeing their father thrown to the ground? How did that child get home from school?  Did the police not stop to consider that they were setting up a sting on the property of the grade school? Why did the police fail to inform the school of their plans?

Shelton school district superintendent Jan Zook was not at all pleased by this and she is demanding some answers. Thank you Jan!  Jan Zook said that if the school had been informed that this was going to happen they would have put the school into lock down mode to protect the kids.

It's bad enough that ICE waits outside of schools like Evergreen, that have large immigrant populations. School should be a safe place for students to learn and not a place for police to wave guns about and set up pre-planned high risk traffic stops!

Spokane Steam Converted to Shopping Mall

Spokane Steam was converted into a shopping mall, let's do the same with Seattle Steam

Complaint: Aspen wastewater threatening Ellen Trout Lake
Lufkin Daily News
A private landowner has filed a complaint with the Texas Commission on
Environmental Equality, alleging that the release of the new Aspen Power
biomass plant's wastewater into Ellen Trout Lake could adversely affect the
area. ...
http://lufkindailynews.com/news/local/article_45212f16-9497-11e0-add8-001cc4c002e0.html

Port of Shelton Commissioners Meeting June 21st 2011




 

Jack Miles:  "I move that the board place
 John Dobson on Administrative Leave
 pending the review of events leading up to
 Teresa Rebo's Termination." 

  During the public comment period Tom Davis stood up and talked about the firing of Teresa Rebo.

 Later John Hansen stood up and mumbled something about not wanting to address the anonymous obscene phone calls that had been received by Teresa Rebo, while she was still employed by the Port.  He also complained about the blogs that are covering events at the Port.  (However he does not seem to have any problems with the local corporate owned media.)

This blog  received a couple of anonymous obscene comments and / or threats directed at Teresa Rebo while she was still employed by the Port.

Jack Miles asked a local corporate media source to retract a statement that said he told Teresa Rebo how to file a complaint.  He did not tell Teresa to file a compliant, but AFTER Teresa had filed a complaint Jack advised her to file for whistle blower protection.  A member of the local corporate owned media who was in attendance, told Jack to call her editor in the morning.


Motion died for lack of a second



Pat Vandehey stood up and addressed that fact that the Port is tearing its self apart with it's own activities.  She also talked about the polluted property on the Port.  Jay Hupp denied that there was any pollution, this in spite of the Brownfield study that outlines this pollution.

  One can easily see the contaminated soil up there with the naked eye and the standing water in some places is black with either tannins or some other sort of pollution.

After the executive session Jack miles entered a motion that died for a lack of second.  See his picture above to read the text of the motion.

You and your Family are invited to a Fair Fundraiser

You and your Family are invited to a Fair Fundraiser:

When: Thursday, June 30 • 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: Memorial Hall (behind the Post Office)
             206 W Franklin Street
             Shelton, WA
------------------------------
For Mason Area Fair and Rodeo
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_124655197564707
Click above to join Fair Face book Page and get updates at they come in!
------------------------------
More Info
Join us for live Jazz great food and help raise money for cash prizes for
EACH department at the Fair and encourage even more people to enter! Live
Auction, activities for kids.
Tickets $15/ Kids $5. Available in advance by calling 427-5599.

This event is to raise money for Fair departments.
If you wish for your department to have the opportunity of funds for prizes
or supplies please let me know if you can arrange to have a donation
represent your department. The contributor can receive a tax deductible
receipt from the Mason Area Fair Association.


A few of items include:
- Children's book basket -- to fund kids' writing contest
- Drawing Basket - to fund kids' art contest
- Queen Size handmade quilt (beautiful) - Needlework and Sewing
   Department
- Handmade jewelry - Lapidary department
- Planter/plants - Agriculture
- Dog training/basket - Dogs - 4-H and Open
- Bunnies, cage and supplies - Rabbits
- Hand painted bird feeder/ supplies - Natural Resources
- Fireworks Basket
- Historical books
- Furniture, plants, artwork, crafts, and more!

Please let us know as soon as possible if you have an item that you can
contribute. We need to know about items by June 28 at the latest.

Download Fair Fundraiser 8.5 X 11 flyer
Here http://www.masoncountyfair.org/fair_fundraiser.pdf

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

FAIR Direct Mailer

We will once again be printing and direct mailing to 35,000 households the
40 page magazine that talks about the fair. These ties into the event above!
If you have a special contest, feature, highlight in your department -- WE
WANT TO WRITE ABOUT IT!!!!! Please consider if you would like your
department to have any schedule included. Pictures? WE WANT THEM! Please
send copy by June 28 or call if you have an idea you would like to discuss.
We need to get as many people entering the Fair this year as possible. You
know best what makes your department sparkles!

We are selling ads in this program to support it. The ads start at $85.00
each. This is just 3 cents each impression - delivered! Please call or
email Rachel (427-5599) if you have questions/comments. Download Rate sheet
for ads here. http://www.masoncountyfair.org/advertising.pdf

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••


Nuts and Bolts:

Fair Dates: July 29 - 31
Hours: 10-10 FRI/SAT; 10-6 SUN... admission will
be $5.00 for adults; $10 for weekend. Kids always FREE!

2011 theme: “Make Tracks to the Mason Area Fair."
Entries will be received Wednesday unless otherwise previously arranged
 (apart from agricultural or animals).  Printed Premium Guides will be available at
 the Fair Fundraiser -- and at "usual" locations the week following.

Pre-Sale Carnival passes: One day pass $18.00 - available now for purchase
at Tozier Brothers Ace Hardware.
Rodeo: Friday @ 7:00 pm/ Saturday @ 6:00 pm.

VENDORS: Currently we have 80 vendors booked in. The indoor Commercial
Building is full. Main Fairway is 75% full. Art Walk Area has spaces
available for $75.

Click here to view current Fairgrounds
Map. http://www.masoncountyfair.org/map.pdf

Hope to see you on Thursday, 30th of June! Please let us know if you and
your family can join us for dinner! Olympic Mountain ice cream (!) and we
will have craft activities for the kids!

Thanks for all your support! This is going to be a wonderful Fair! If you
have any questions please feel free to contact me!
Thank you for all you do!
Warm regards,
Rachel
 360-427-5599  360-427-5599

Environmental groups sue DNR over biomass plant permit

Environmental groups sue DNR over biomass plant permit
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Critics who have raised questions about the environmental effects of
biomass power plants continue to fight the We Energies-Domtar project.
Opponents of biomass power plants on Tuesday filed a court challenge in
Marathon County against the state ...
http://www.jsonline.com/business/124324819.html

Four Kittens Left Now

We are sickened because one of these cute feral kittens has been maimed by our hunting breed dog.  I fear the rest will have the same fate if no one takes them.  Kitten rescue can't take them and obviously we can't take care of them.  Write to sheltonprogressive@gmail.com if you can take one or more of them.

One week ago

Port of Shelton Fires Port Whistle Blower

Submitted by Tom Davis:

On Monday, Teresa Rebo, Port of Shelton employee and recent “whistleblower” was fired by Port Executive Director, John Dobson. Ms. Rebo’s dismissal is being cloaked in unrelated charges of alleged insubordination. Such action confirms suspicions held by many citizens that management at the Port needs to change.

For some months now Port Commissioners Jay Hupp, Tom Wallitner, and Director Dobson have been engaged in an ill-advised effort to exclude citizen input. To this end, the Port has discontinued publicly attended workshop sessions, ignored public requests for more information regarding action agenda items, and does not respond to emails and/or letters.

Favoritism in Port dealings has been a major concern of citizens, and nothing has brought this more to light than the recent decision to grant long-time friends, John and Rachel Hansen operation of the Mason Area Fair, the transaction at the root of Ms. Rebo’s allegations, which includes “gifting of public assets.”

Prior to blowing the whistle on such shenanigans, Ms. Rebo was considered a valuable and respected employee, whose duties were to assist in management of Port property, including leases. Before Ms. Rebo challenged the Port’s apparent policy of favoritism, she had received positive evaluations and a raise for excellent performance of her duties.

However, after her allegations were filed with the Mason County Prosecutor’s Office, Director Dobson presented Ms. Rebo with a laundry list of her professional failings, which he called a “Disciplinary Action” and demanded she sign the document or be fired. Ms. Rebo declined to sign and her termination was effective immediately.

This most recent action by the Port will undoubtedly result in yet more litigation, more legal fees and perhaps a significant award granted Ms. Rebo under the “Whistleblower Act,” all at public expense.

Amid all its recent unsavory dealings, it is easy to forget the Port is a public municipality that exists solely as an economic engine. It would appear, however, that management of the Port of Shelton is far too busy waging war against all those who would challenge their behavior to have any time left over for job creation or to find new sources of income generation.

Turning biomass into fuel? Do we never learn?

Roger Rulseh: Turning biomass into fuel? Do we never learn?
Madison.com

Dear Editor: So Bill Berry thinks turning biomass into fuel is wonderful. Is it?

Rake off those cornstalks and leaves, then with what do you replace the minerals and organic matter they provided when plowed under? Remove the pine branches, needles and stumps, then with what do you replace the minerals and organic matter that prepared the soil for the next forest? And how many crops of switchgrass can you get before the soil is depleted? The entropy of a biomass-to-fuel system should be obvious.

Do you feel lucky?

This is how some photographers make a living these days:
This website and its content are copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system without the prior written permission of Shelton Blog.

Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited and punishable by up to $25,000  per infringement.  More for registered content ; you can potentially recover up to $175,000.00 per copyright infringement of registered content.

At $25,000-$175,000.00  a pop most copyright attorneys will take a good case without charge.

Consider yourself warned!

Hundreds Turned out for Seattle Slutwalk

http://www.king5.com/home/Hundreds-march-in-Seattle-slut-walk-124162889.html

Free Kittens

Mom is not doing a good job, she's leaving them out where dogs could get to them.   If you want one
write to Shelton Blog.  The mom is wild and this is her first litter.  She's not ours but she had these under
our shed and we are hoping that they will have a better life than their mom.   They are quite tame.

When were smoke stacks added to the Port of Shelton logo and why?

On the POS website



In the POS meeting room



Tree takes direct action against Nippon in suicide attack

Production at Nippon's Port Angeles, WA, mill stopped briefly after fallen tree cuts power lines
Peninsula Daily News
PORT ANGELES — A tree that fell into a power line Monday morning cut power to the Nippon Paper Industries USA’s paper mill and several other businesses along Marine Drive.  The tree, which fell at 8:15 a.m. near Marine Drive and Hill Street, closed Marine Drive to non-commercial traffic between Tumwater and Hill streets.
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110614/news/306149992/tree-falls-into-power-line-cuts-power-to-nippon-mill

Breaking News

A small plane attempting to land at Sanderson Field lost the use of one engine and was preparing to land on Highway 101 about five miles North of Sanderson Field.  The police are deploying to 101 to watch for the plane, but at the last report the plane has regained use of the engine and was gaining altitude.

Update:
The plane is now headed for the Tacoma Narrows airport.

Hikers Beware! Ornery Goat on Mount Rose.

Cute but wild


Mount Rose is my favorite mountain in the Olympics, it's also not far from Shelton.  The Mount Rose trail starts at Lake Cushman.  Last week a hiker reported that a mountain goat chased him down the trail for one mile.   I've never seen a goat on Mount Rose, I always see them on Ellinor.   I am convinced that one day a goat will butt someone right of the summit of Ellinor.  I love the goats, but I fear them too.  People should  give mountain goats a wide berth, they are wild animals and they have really sharp horns!  No one has recently been hurt on Mount Rose or Mount Ellinor but a goat killed a hiker on  hurricane ridge last year and in 1999 a goat gored a hiker on Mount Ellinor.




Goat on Mount Jupiter, this is the way I like to see goats in
the Olympics.  These were on a distant peak, so I was safe but
and I had a great view of the goats during my lunch break

 So... be careful out there, give goats the right of way, it is their home that you are invading.  If a goat decides it wants to take up all of the trail, by all means get off the trail and walk around the goat!  (I prefer being uphill of the goats) One other tip that I can give you is to bring trekking poles with you.  Goats (and bears) will usually clear off if you clank your trekking poles together.  But only do this as a last resort.

The hiker posted a picture of the goat he had trouble with here:
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110617/NEWS/306179980/0/NEWS/another-mountain-goat-threatens-in-the-olympic-last-years-death



The ferocious domesticated Nubian is safe to pet, but she deserves your  respect too!



These beautiful black bears gave me the space I needed after I clanked my trekking poles together. 
This was taken with a 12X zoom from about 300 feet way.

Free Kittens

Yesterday the Washington State Attorney General Visited this Blog Twice

Yesterday the Washington State Attorney General Visited this Blog Twice:

The first time the attorney general got here by using the search term "Gary Cronce home remodel".  The second time the attorney general arrived by using the search term "Gary Cronce and Tray Moore".  Maybe it is normal for the attorney general to investigate new political candidates:

Here are the runners for mayor of Shelton, I don't know much about them.  I know that Gary Cronce owns or owned a Jewelry store downtown and I know that Tracy Moore likes Incinerator Free Mason County on Facebook.

This blog will be paying close attention to our mayoral candidates, with the Solmon incinerator looming on the horizon.  Here they are in filing order:


Mayor Nonpartisan office (4-year term)

Dawn Pannell
1513 Northcliff Rd
Shelton WA 98584
(360) 426-0512
dandr721@msn.com
6/6/2011 8:42 AM On File

Gary Cronce
PO Box 2228
Shelton WA 98584
(360) 490-0569
garyc@hctc.com
6/9/2011 12:56 PM On File

Tracy Moore
611 W Birch St
Shelton WA 98584
(360) 426-0163
tmoore@hcc.net
6/10/2011 4:01 PM On File

To learn more vist the secretary of state:
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Jack Miles Statement to the POS: regarding Dobsen conflict of interest allegations

Hupp reads the decision, Wallitner and Hupp approved this decision,  Miles did not


Jack Miles Statement to the POS regarding Dobsen conflict of interest allegations

Submitted by Jack Miles:

The Seabold Group was retained on April 14, 2011 and requested to investigate and provide findings regarding an employee complaint.  9 interviews were conducted, including all of the Port commissioners, the Executive Director, (3) employees of the port and one other person.  Where are the statements and why are they not included in this investigation?  I seem to have my own section with what appears to be a statement or interview summary, which is mostly inaccurate.  After several attempts to interview the employee who made the complaint, why is there no response to the investigator from the employee?  Why are the questions asked by the investigator to the employee not included?  And was there enough time for the employee to respond?  Is there a set amount of time given? 

     It is stated in the investigation that "However, the employee has sent the commissioners and the port counsel several emails which have been taken into account in this investigation."  Why are those emails to the commissioners and counsel not included or provided?

     Investigator, Martha Norberg claims she reviewed hundreds of pages of documents concerning pertinent port activities related to the fairgrounds.  Where are the documents that were reviewed?  Why are they not identified and why are they not included in this investigation?  Where is the written request for those documents?  I know for a fact the investigator did not spend hours in this office going over documents.  Which means she either took documents from this office or she never reviewed documents from this office.
She also states "This report is intended to be a summary report and is not intended as a comprehensive detail of the information that was collected, reviewed and considered."
Finally, the findings presented herein are based on a preponderance of the evidence.  Preponderance means; The facts, superiority in weight, power, pre-dominance ect.....

     There is no evidence provided.  No statements by those interviewed, other then mine and that's inaccurate.  No documents supporting findings and no emails to support evidence collected. 

Therefore;

"I find this investigation to be incomplete and inaccurate.  I'm sorry, but I fail to see an investigation as being a summary or not intended to be comprehensive.  In my experience with investigations...Investigations are comprehensive!  They do provide every piece of detail gathered and all interviews are included in an investigation."

     Where is all of the evidence?  Where are all of the documents reviewed by Martha Norberg to support the findings?  Who were the employees interviewed and where are there interviews in this investigation?

Based on the Lack of Evidence in this "Final Report,"  I can not accept this investigation as being complete, accurate or comprehensive by any means.

I will be forwarding a request to the State Attorney General's Office, along with a copy of this so called investigation, asking that it be reviewed.  That all documents reviewed by investigator Martha Norberg be available for review and request the Attorney General conduct a proper comprehensive investigation.

Thank you!

Jack Miles

Here is a shaky video of Jack Miles making this statement, unfortunately the camera turned off at the five minute mark.



More pictures from the meeting:





Hupp Hands Minutes to Wallitner to sign

Miles and Houser discuss something after the meeting





One year ago today June 15th 2010

Dobson flamenco dances his way out of it for now..