Forest Festival 2019

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Diamond Jubilee 1945-2019 Celebrating the "Facets of our Forest "

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What You Don’t See Is Important, Too

Behind the scenes, our working forests are protecting clean water, clean air and wildlife habitat—all while supporting the local economy. We’re the best neighbor you’ve ever had.

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Hat's off & a round of applause!

Thank you to the many businesses and individuals who continue to sponsor this event! Without their financial support it would not be possible. Please consider them when shopping and doing business.

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsor Silver Sponsors

Duncan & Associates Insurance Brokers

Journal SHELTON-MASON COUNTY

Friends of the Forest

2nd Street Design Studio

Cooper Studios

John Nesset

AAA Septic

Classic Hits 100.5 FM

Kayo 96.9

94.5 FM Roxy

Advanced Automotive Services Alpine Way Retirement Center BCP Landscape Supplies Beko's Tree Service and Wood Carving

Black Star Graphics

Boy Scout Troop 9110

Bowman Financial Group Builders First Source

Centennial Guild - Mason

General Hospital Foundation City of Shelton

Coffee Creek Espresso

Central Mason Fire & EMS Denis & Adele Leverich Dr. Grimes Optometry

Karen Everett Kiti 1420 AM Kix 95.3

D.A.R.T. Disaster Animal Rescue Team KONP 1450 AM Dominos Pizza

Kristmas Town Kiwanis

Insurance Brokers

Linda Andrews

Duncan and Associates Green Diamond Resource Company Hanson Motors

Hood Canal Communications Hood Canal Lions

Hoss & Wilson-Hoss

iFiberone News Radio 1030 AM & 103.3 FM

KSTI 102.1 FM ​Live 95.1 FM

Lynch Creek Farms

Manke Lumber Company Manke Excavating

Mariano's Fine Jewelry

Mason County Garbage

Mason County Historical Museum Mason County PUD 3 McFarland Cascade Mike Willig

Nisqually Red Wind Casino

Our Community Credit Union Patsy Bixeumann

Peninsula Credit Union

Shelton High School

Design & Woodworking Classes

Sierra Pacific Foundation Skookum Rotary

Squaxin Island Child

Development Center Phyllis and Duane Guenther Memorial Steve & Jeff Boothe Scholarship Fund STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Port Blakely Tree Farms

The Shopper

Shelton Kiwanis

Z104 FM

Shelton High School NJROTC Booster Tupper's Floor Coverings Club & Cadets VFW Post 1964 Shelton Axemen Wrestling

Shelton-Mason County Journal 3

Shelton Rotary

Grow With Us Your Committed Community Partner bringing SUSTAINABLE JOBS to beautiful Mason County. spi-ind.com/careers • • • •

Millwrights Electricians Sawfilers Operators

• Drivers • Diesel Mechanics • Entry Level And many more!

Sierra Pacific Industries P.O. Box 700 Shelton, WA 98584 (360) 427-8200 SPI-IND.COM

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photo:Š Cooper Studios

MICK SPROUFFSKE MCFFA PRESIDENT

President – Mick Sprouffske Vice President - Amy Cooper Secretary - Cheryl Earsley Treasurer - Judy Bidwell Darrel Andrews, Sheryal Balding, Kristine Bowman, Central Mason Fire & EMS, City of Shelton Public Works and Parks Depts., Amy & Forrest Cooper, Amber Darland, Sarah DeHart, Nick Earsley, Darren Eiesle, Jodene Garrick, Teddi Green, Rachel Hansen, Christie Hensley, Susan Johnson, Rachel Lovingfoss, Mike McIrvin, Norma King, Patty Kuhnau, Denis Leverich, PJ Nichols, Anna Liljas, Steve Martinell, Joel Myer, Connie Nelson, Kay Pearson, Tara Phillips, Robin Redman, Tim Rhoades, Helen Thomson, Linda Trail, Sharon & Ted Trask, Cara Tredwell, Mike Todd, Bill & Lorena Valley, Mike Willig, and the Royalty Court Families for decorating and driving our the Forest Festival float to parades.

Thank you all for your amazing support!

If we missed anyone, please accept our deepest apologies!

Cover: 1953 Parade, Mason County Historical Society

Program designed and created

by Rachel Hansen

IMAGE IN ACTION DESIGN Shelton, WA | 360-427-5599

On behalf of the Mason County Forest Festival Board of Directors, Committee Members and Volunteers, welcome to The 75th Annual Mason County Forest Festival.

The theme of this year's Forest Festival is "Facets of the Forest" celebrating the 75 years of this event. Mason County Forest Festival Association is a volunteer organization, incorporated in 1947 as a non-profit. I would like to thank all of ours sponsors and the businesses and organizations that advertised in this program. Without this financial support this event would not be possible.

Please consider these sponsors, businesses and organizations when shopping and doing business in our community.

"Forest Festival was established to promote forest fire prevention and celebrate the rich logging history of Mason County."

To set the stage, the first known saw mill in the area was built in 1853 on Mill Creek, just south of Shelton, by Michael T. Simmons.

This was the beginning of the timber harvest in Mason County. That means when Forest Festival began, the area had been actively logged for more than 90 years. Several others would join in the timber harvest or logging, 5

including the most significant local figure Sol G. Simpson. Sol Simpson incorporated Simpson Logging Co. in 1895.

Whether started by lightning or human, fire is a natural part of the landscape. However, fire was and is something that loggers and forest managers despise for its loss of timber, equipment and, most of all, loss of life. By the early 1940s there had been so many forest fires that there was a national effort to prevent wildfire. In August 1944, the Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention campaign began.

This is the longest-running public service advertising campaign in U.S. history. "The original slogan read: "Smokey Says - Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires" in 1947, the slogan changed to "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires."

Forest Festival was an auxiliary member of the local chapter of the Keep Washington Green Committee, a relationship that lasted for 50 years. For many years of Forest Festival, there were parade floats themed around forest fire prevention and logging history.

Bringing this full circle, logging and forest fires are still part of our landscape. Today there are several logging companies, mills and major active timberlands in Mason County. Here are the major operations: The Simpson - Reed family, as the owners of Green Diamond Resource Co.; Port Blakely; Manke Timber Co.; Hama Hama Logging; Sierra Pacific is operating its state of the art fir and hemlock mill in downtown Shelton; Alta Forest Products Cedar Mill; and Belco Forest Products.

Unfortunately forest fire – referred to as wildfire today– is even more prevelent in recent years. Just as it was in 1944 when the Smokey Bear campaign was created, most wildfire can be prevented.

The Paul Bunyan Grand Parade will, without a doubt, be as spectacular as ever. There will be something for everyone at the parade, floats, dance teams, logging trucks, marching bands, classic cars, fire trucks and much more.

STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® is returning this year to Loop Field with the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Professional Men's and Women's Western Qualifier. This will be the first Western Women's Qualifier for STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS®, ten of the top female competitors in the region will vie to advance to the US Women's Championship. It is a huge honor for us to host this regional event.

The competition is going to be fierce, we have several competitors that have competed nationally and internationally.

Come to Loop Field for the Logging Show, root on your favorite competitor, and visit the vendors while you are there.

Forest Festival is not just the parade and the logging show, there are many other events to attend and participate in: The Goldsborough Creek Run/Walk/ Jog, Firefighter's Pancake Breakfast, The Shelton Car Show Off, The Wood Duck Race and the Spectacular Fireworks Show. Check out them all!

A new event this year is Rockin' The Forest Saturday from 5 to 9, at 1st and Grove Streets adjacent to Bob's Tavern.

This is sponsored by the Martha Reed Foundation. Look for additional details on page 45 of this program.

I would like to thank my fellow Board Members, Committee Chairs, and all of our volunteers, for all of the hard work that they have do to make every Forest Festival the best. If it were not for the volunteers of the past we would not be celebrating the 75th Forest Festival.

We welcome new volunteers, if you are interested in helping – please contact us through masoncountyforestfestival.org.

Giving back to our community is very rewarding.

Enjoy the 75th Mason County Forest Festival.

AMY COOPER

“This is truly one of my favorite times of year in Shelton and Mason County. My husband Forrest and I have chosen to raise our family and run our business in Shelton, we simply love it here and love being involved in this community. Every year, when Forest Festival rolls around, there is excitement in the air, downtown gets prepped for this grand event, old photos and stories are shared, this Festival is so loved. To see our community and those visiting fill our city to experience this great event is exciting and so heartwarming. It’s a tradition for many, both for locals and out-of-towners alike.

Vice-president

Festival brings Smiles JUDY BIDWELL | MCFFA Secretary

Have you ever noticed that everyone smiles when they talk about Festival memories? The MC Forest Festival is one of the longest running festivals in WA and each year brings new memories, the kind you smile about.

When I moved here in the ‘90s, one of the delightful surprises was Forest Festival and the Paul Bunyan Grand Parade. How excited I was to live in a small town where they still have parades! This event unites the community – if you’re not in the parade, you’re watching it!

From the parade and logging show to the fireworks and the car show – Forest Festival is filled with free family fun that is sure to generate a smile when you relate your event memories!

I hope you and your family enjoy making your own wonderful memories during the 75th annual Mason County Forest Festival!

It’s good to make a Difference CHERYL EARSLEY | MCFFA Treasurer I have lived in Shelton most of my life and have so many great memories watching the Paul Bunyan Grand Parade as a child, then with my husband and daughters. We have been involved with the logging show over the years but never officially part of the Forest Festival Committee. In 2016 my daughter Eryn was Princess of Hemlock on the Forest Festival royalty court. Little did we know that having a child on the court would bring added duties for the parents. The parents and court are tasked with decorating, maintaining, hauling and driving the float. We spent many hours working on the float, which was exhausting but very rewarding, especially when you are walking with the float in the parade and the judge hands you an award. After all the hard work, I wondered why Mason County residents don’t get more involved with community events. Then I realized I AM a resident and need to do my part which is why I joined the Forest Festival committee. Get involved, it makes a difference!

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Congratulations on celebrating the 75th anniversary of the

Mason County Forest Festival!

Find the forest in your Subaru Crosstrek

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A parade, a pageant, and Paul Bunyan.

Eben Lehman | Forest History Society, Durham, NC

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Adapted with permission from internet article

To help combat the destructive wildfires in the region — while also promoting the importance of forests to the local economy — Mason County hosted a forest festival in the spring of 1945.

The festival featured a parade through downtown Shelton, a beauty pageant, a Paul Bunyan impersonator, and various other events and activities. The idea proved even more successful than imagined.

The history of Shelton is closely tied with logging operations in the area. In 1853, Michael T. Simmons built the first sawmill in Mason County on Mill Creek

just south of present-day Shelton.

Around this same time, David Shelton staked a settlement claim on a nearby inlet off Puget Sound. Sol G. Simpson came to the area and founded the Simpson Logging Company in the 1890s. The Simpson Company would eventually grow and expand throughout the country, but Shelton served as an important center of operations for much of the following century.

The area was also notable for being the home of the Shelton Cooperative Sustained-Yield Unit, which became active in 1946 and ended in 2002.

The first Mason County Forest Festival in 1945 honored the area’s logging history by showcasing the value of timber to the community, while demonstrating the importance of safeguarding the forests against destructive fires. Fire prevention was a prominent theme, as the Mason County Forest Festival Association was at this time operated as an auxiliary of the local chapter of the Keep Washington Green Committee.

Following that first festival – in which Lois Gibler was crowned Festival Queen and Gus Anderson played the part of Paul Bunyan – the event only grew.

photo: © Cooper Studios

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"For three fun-filled days, the whole area participated in a celebration which no family dreamed of missing.”

People from the northwestern Washington region flocked to Shelton to see, in the words of an ad for the 12th annual Forest Festival, “the dramatic Forest Pageant, the thrilling parade and the exciting contests in which loggers demonstrate their skills at falling, bucking, tree topping and truck driving.

The idea of a forest festival quickly spread across the country along with the Keep Green program.

“You have in Shelton, in my opinion, the best all-around forest festival in the United States,” read a quote from a mid-1950s article on the event. “It has been the inspiration of many forest communities throughout the U.S.”

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photo:© Cooper Studios

Meet the 2019 Forest Festival Royalty Court

Queen of the Forest: Hello everyone, my name is Jillian Abbe, and I am so honored to be this year’s Queen of the Forest! I am 17 years old and a senior at Shelton High School. After graduation, I will be attending Whitworth University to get a degree in Elementary Education. One day I hope to be a teacher here in Mason County! I love this community, and I’m so

grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had here. At Shelton High School, I am currently the Choir President, ASB Secretary, and School Board Representative. I’m also part of the Pep Club, and I love to dress up for spirit week and cheer on our Highclimber sports teams!

Additionally, I volunteer often at my church, serving as a leader for the middle school youth group and a Sunday School teacher for elementary students. Everything I’ve been involved in over the past few years has grown me into a more confident, outgoing person and has shown me just how special this community is. I’m so proud to call Mason County my home, and I’m honored to be part of the historic tradition of Forest Festival! This court has many goals we’re excited to strive towards, and I’m looking forward to all the memories I’ll make while we represent Mason County as the 75th Forest Festival Royalty Court!

Paul Bunyan:

Hello, my name is Bryce Dady, and I am the 2019 Paul Bunyan. I am so very excited to be a part in this momentous occasion. I am currently a Senior at Shelton High School, and through the automotive program at this school, I have fallen in love with automotive mechanics with the help of Mr. Beyer, the teacher of the class. After high school, I plan 11 on attending South Puget

Sound Community College and receive my 2-year degree in automotive mechanics. My overall goal for this career path is to be the service manager for Toyota of Olympia someday.

Other than mechanics, my greatest passion in life is wrestling. Wrestling has taught me many valuable life lessons such as determination and learning from my failures. I cannot wait to represent Mason County in its entirety all throughout Washington, and I promise to represent well. It is an honor to be Paul Bunyan during the 75th year of Forest Festival, and all the memories I make with the amazing 2019 court will last a lifetime.

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My name is Ethan Payment, and I’m a senior at Shelton High School. After high school, I want to be a mechanic. I have always loved cars and learning how to work on them. I plan to go to a technical college to learn more about cars and get my degree in automotive technology. I am so happy to be a part of Forest Festival and to get the chance to be Timber the Axe Man. Forest Festival is such an amazing opportunity. You get to meet so many new wonderful people and learn more about your community. It’s so cool that we get to participate in all the events like parades, going to elementary schools, and just telling people about Mason County, and how it was founded. I love the woods so much: me and my brothers used to make forts in the woods when we were kids. Now I like to ride quads with my two best friends, and we ride all the time. It’s so much fun!

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Princess of Hemlock:

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When I was a little girl, I always had a dream to be a princess, I’m so honored to be Princess of Hemlock to represent my community and make it better.

I plan on attending Olympic

College to receive my Associates in Science, after that I will attend Pierce County Community College and go into a Dental Hygienist program.

I was part of Shelton Dance team for two year, it has taught me to be responsible, reliable and self-motivated. My favorite thing about dance is putting on the youth dance program. I love to inspire kids to achieve great things in their life.

Princess of Cedar: Hello, my name is Grace Renecker, and I am so honored to be this year's Princess of Cedar! I am currently a junior at Shelton High School, but also a full-time running start student at South Puget Sound Community College. I love Mason County and I absolutely love being involved in my community, which lead me to be part of the Rural Development Initiative this year. I am a two-year member of the high school cheer team and had the joy of being co-captain this past season. The past two years I have worked hard to establish the Interact Club at SHS and have held the position of president for both years. For the past nine years I have been a part of 4H here in Mason County, and I’m currently in two clubs.

Sponsor Spotlight

Sierra Pacific Industries: Continuing a Proud Forest Products Legacy with 21st Century Advanced Manufacturing

Shelton’s working waterfront proudly houses a 21st century manufacturing facility that produces high-quality lumber products that have been a hallmark of Mason County for over one hundred years. Sierra Pacific Industries’ Shelton Division, currently in its third year of production, boasts one of the highest tech lumber facilities in the nation.

The mill, which produces lumber for construction, uses lasers, scanners, cameras and even artificial intelligence to efficiently use as much of the incoming wood as possible. “If you went back to the mid1900s there are studies that show between 30-50% of the fiber was not utilized. We are proud to say that virtually every fleck of sawdust is used in our process or sold as a byproduct,” according to Lisa Perry, Community Relations Manager for Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI). Due to the high-tech machinery, many in town were afraid that there wouldn’t be many jobs associated with the new plant, but SPI has hired over 280 people and is looking to increase their crew.

“There are still plenty of jobs, many are just more high-tech, utilizing people to run, troubleshoot, or maintain the machines, rather than doing the heavy lifting,” explained Jacquelin Earley, Human Resources for the Shelton division. She continued, “SPI is known for on-the-job training and promotion, so it’s been exciting to watch people move up within the ranks with all of the new opportunity.

The mill still offers many job opportunities.

Those that are interested can visit the website at www.spi-ind.com. SPI is proud to be a sponsor of the 2019 Forest Festival.

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DEBIT

photo:© Cooper Studios

June 2 – Shelton, WA

29th Annual Shelton CAR SHOWOFF

It all started in 1990 when a car show was added to the line-up of events during the weekend of the Mason County Forest Festival.

Since 2010, the Shelton High School Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Booster Club(NJROTC), has hosted this event on the Sunday of the Mason County Forest Festival weekend.

Months of planning go into this event and on the day of the show it takes eight city blocks of space and fifty volunteers to operate! In 2015, the 25th anniversary of the show, 423 cars registered from all over Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

The Shelton Car Showoff continues to be a success because of all the support from the car owners, the local businesses that help sponsor the event costs and the dedication of the cadets and volunteers that participate every year.

Proceeds support the NJROTC cadets’ leadership program and activities. The Booster Club is able to send cadets to leadership academy and competitions with funds they raise from the car show. This year these cadets became division and conference champions and are celebrating the 40th year of Shelton NJROTC. Proceeds also support the Mason County Forest Festival.

Thank you to the businesses listed below for your support!

The Car Showoff is Sunday, June 2, 10 AM – 3 PM on Olympic Hwy N. It is free to spectators. Car registration is from 8 AM to 11 AM on F Street. Car registration is $20 per car. There will be food vendors on site.

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The Mason County Forest Festival Paul Bunyan Grand Parade is celebrating 75 years! photo:© Cooper Studios

Experience the "Facets of the Forest" Who doesn’t love a parade? It’s an annual opportunity to see local and visiting performances, floats, cars, kids, and horses. Don’t forget Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox! Be prepared to be wowed by the marching bands from local schools.

There will be plenty of classic cars to appeal to the automobile enthusiasts.

The 2019 Forest Festival Court will be on display in all their regalia. The beautiful float that they appear on is the result of many hours of hard work done by the royalty and their families. The court also visits numerous other festivals throughout the year on their float including Seafair.

Honoring past Forest Festival royalty is a long-standing tradition look for them appear in this year's parade. Also keep an eye out for visiting royalty from other festivals and their creative presentations.

Commercial entries in the parade are a great way for organizations to show community support. Local businesses in various industries like shellfish, forestry, insurance, emergency services, utilities, and more make up a large portion of the pageantry of parade day.

Non-profit groups and organizations are always highlights of the parade. From honoring our veterans to guiding our youths these organizations promote good will in our community each and every day. Look for entries from the Boy and Girl Scouts, Shriners, American Legion, 4-H, and various equestrian group — just to name a few.

Parade participants even compete for various awards in several categories. The unique award plaques have been designed and produced by local high school students. Some of the award categories include Grand Sweepstakes, Grand Marshall, Motorized Vehicles, Spirit, Creativity, Novelty, Equestrian, Bands, Dance/Drill, and more!

The Forest Festival Parade committee encourages organizations to get creative and be part of the annual Forest Festival Paul Bunyan Grand Parade. Come out and enjoy the parade as a spectator – it wouldn’t be a parade without the community!

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photo:© Goldborough Creek Run

GOLDSBOROUGH CREEK FUN RUN Sheryal Balding, Director The Centennial Guild, a chapter of Mason General Hospital Foundation, is pleased and honored to bring this run/walk event to our community. Proceeds from this event support Mason County Forest Festival, a scholarship, and equipment fund for the local hospital in memory of Kristi Armstrong, a community member, nurse, and Guild member.

The run has a history of about 30 years as an event for Forest Festival. It started as a gathering for friends to run around Loop Field and downtown before the parade and then grew to the more organized event we know today. It was even held at Shelton High School with running around Island Lake for a couple of years. The event is for walkers or runners of all ability levels Check-in Saturday, June 1 at 6:00 am.

Follow signage to find check-in near the Post Office on Railroad. As in past years, participants will be bussed from check-in to the start at Shelton Valley. The 7 mile walk starts at 7:00 am so that walkers have completed the course by roughly 9:30. The

main events, the 7 mile run and 2 mile run/walk begin at 8:00 am. The run events and 2 mile walk will be using electronic chip timing so it is wise to pre-register. The junior jog begins at 9:30 am on Railroad Avenue. This year we have added a new event intended for our seniors who may want to walk, but can’t make the entire 2 mile course, the ¼ mile Senior Walk. It will follow our Junior Joggers in a wave at 9:30 AM. An awards ceremony is held at the registration area at 9:45, giving medals to a variety of age categories and prizes donated from local businesses. All Runners and Walkers this year will receive a pair of commemorative socks.

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All current events, except the junior jog and senior walk, begin at Shelton Valley.

Participants are bussed from the check-in point to the start line so it is important to check-in 30 minutes prior to the start of the event in which you participate. 7 mile participants follow the Shelton Valley/Dee-

gan Road loop before heading into Shelton.

2 mile participants leave Shelton Valley proper and go directly to downtown. Mile sponsors mark each mile of the course(s). Âź mile junior joggers, ages 3 to 8, and our Senior Walkers begin at 7th street and continue to the post office. The youngsters each receive a medal and book about the forest at the finish line.

Centennial Guild, a chapter of Mason General Hospital Foundation, has been managing the event for the Forest Festival Association since 2009. It is a major fund raiser for the Guild. Title sponsor of the event is Our Community Credit Union.

Mile marker sponsors are Hiawatha Evergreens, Armstrong and Armstrong Christmas Trees, Gillis Auto Center, Don Small and Sons Oil Distributors, and Hood Canal Communications. Lynch Creek Farm sponsors the finish line area with awards sponsored by Peninsula Credit Union.

Electronic chip timing is co-sponsored

by Kristi Buck, John L Scott Realty and Karen Schade/Edward D Jones Financial and Metzger Associates, LLC. AAA Septic provides porta-potties at the race start and on Deegan Road for the 7 mile walkers.

Register before May 29 at runsignup.com or download a registration form at masoncountyforestfestival.org to. They can be picked up at either Fitness Center in Shelton or the Hospital Foundation office in Gateway Center of Shelton. Early registration before May 12 is $25. After May 12 registration is $30.

Day of race registration is $35. Entry fee for Senior Walkers is $20, and Junior Jog is $15. A group rate for four or more pre-registered participants is available by contacting G_creekrun@comcast.net.

Because chip timing will be used, everyone is urged to pre-register.

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JUNE 2

1 PM | LOOP FIELD SHELTON | FREE photos:© Cooper Studios

2019 Logging Show MICK SPROUFFSKE | MCFFA President

We are excited to host the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Professional Men's and Women's Western Qualifier. This will be the first Western Women's Qualifier for STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® where 10 of the top female competitors in the region will vie to advance to the U.S Women's Championship.

As always the competition is going to be first class. For the Men's division there will be 8 of the top TIMBERSPORTS® male athletes in the Western Region competing here for a chance to move onto the U. S. Professional Men's Championship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Competing for the top for spots to move on to Milwaukee, are Walt Page, Jeff Skirvin, Mike Forrester, David "Junior" Moses, Adam LaSalle, Nate Hodges.

The following five men will be competing in a earlier separate competition to qualify for the last two positions for the Men's Division; Trevor Baker, Brian Bartow, T.J. Bexten, Cody LaBahn and Erc Hoburg.

For the Women's division there will be 10 of the top TIMBERSPORTS® female athletes in the Western Region competing here for a chance to move onto the U. S. Professional Women's Championship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Competing for the top for spots to move on to

Milwaukee, are Erin LaVoie, Lindsay Daun, Kate Page, Heather Robertson, Christine Ramsey, Carley Stinson, Tiffany Baker, Amber Auld, Erin Cramsey and Andrea Card.

The events for the qualifying portion of this show are the Standing Block Chop, Underhand Chop, SingleBuck, Spring Board Chop, Stock Saw and Hotsaw. During the breaks between the qualifying events we will have the following events: On the Spar Poles — Speed Climbing and Topping; In the birling pond we will have the fan favorite Birling (Log Rolling).

So come down to Loop Field after the Paul Bunyan Grand Parade visit the vendors and enjoy the show. In fact, Loop Field has been the site of most of the Forest Festival Logging Shows since 1945. In fact Loop Field is one of the places where logging competition first got started in the U.S. It truly is a grand setting with the lush green grass and the back drop of the majestic fir trees.

I am grateful to the City of Shelton. in particular Parks and Recreation, for the way they go the extra mile in

85 1934-2019

21

maintaining Loop Field and the City Public Works staff for all of their help every year.

CMYK

MGH&FC advances its Mission of Patient-First care

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than 2D • Reduced need for re-screenings and breast biopsies

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Annual mammograms are recommended to women over 40 and younger women who are a higher risk for breast cancer.* To schedule your mammogram, call MGH&FC’s Diagnostic Imaging Department at (360) 427-9590.

Jody Olsen, RT, R, M, stands behind the protective screen while scanning.

*Don’t have adequate insurance to cover your mammogram? Apply for assistance through the Karen Hilburn Cancer Fund by calling (360) 426-3868.

www.MasonGeneral.com • 901 Mountain View Drive, Shelton, WA 98584 • (360) 426-1611, from Allyn (360) 22 275-8614, Toll free (855) 880-3201, TTY/TDD (360) 427-9593 • Equal Opportunity Provider • Free Translation Services Provided/Se habla español • MGH&FC complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex or sexual orientation.

Have fun at the Forest Festival

photos:Š Cooper Studios

Family & Pet Parade

DART (Disaster Animal Rescue Team) invites people of all ages, families, groups and pets to come downtown Shelton before the Paul Bunyan Grand Parade to have some good old fashioned fun in the Family and Pet Parade.

Dress up with your pets, decorate your bikes, wear a costume, have a forest theme or something totally different! Ribbons awarded for best entries in the following categories: Group or Family; Dress-up with Pet; Forestry Theme; Costumes/Fairy Tales; Float or Decorated Wagon; and Decorated Bike. Every child receives a book from South Sound Reading Foundation.

can provide effective assistance to animals and owners in difficult situations.

Everyone is welcome to participate in the Family Parade and it is a lot of fun for the whole family! Entry forms available at masoncountyforestfestival.com.

DART of Mason County, is a group of volunteers trained to assist with rescuing, sheltering and protecting pets, livestock and other animals during disasters such as floods, fires, storms, hazardous material spills, or other catastrophic situations.

DART conducts training programs, drills and meetings to develop skills so the team

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th

MASON COUNTY F Celebrate the Face

SATURDAY, JUNE 1 @ 1:00 PM

STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® WESTERN PROFESSIONAL QUALIFIER FREE LOGGING SHOW Loop Field, 1020 W. Franklin Street All DAY enjoy FOOD/VENDORS meet the FOREST FESTIVAL ROYAL COURT

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

Parade Route - Railroad Avenue & Franklin Street, Shelton WA

FAMILY & PET PARADE | BEGINS @ 10:30 AM

PAUL BUNYAN GRAND PARADE PARADE BEGINS AT 11:00 AM

SATURDAY, JUNE 1 BEGINNING @ 6:00 AM GOLDSBOROUGH CREEK

RUN/WALK/JOG

SUNDAY, JUNE 2| 2:00 PM KIWANIS DUCK RACE Goldsborourgh Creek, Shelton WA

ENTER FOR THE PRIZE PACKAGE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU!

ANNUAL FOREST FESTIVAL RAFFLE

Thank you to the wonderful businesses that have donated prizes for the annual raffle. Tickets are just $1.00 and can be purchased at the MCFF info booth during the Parade. Prizes include a beautiful chainsaw carving and a cord of firewood donated by Beco’s Tree Service and Wood Carving Family Pass to Grays Harbor Raceway (2 passes to give - 2 winners) Donated by 94.5 Roxy, a STIHL chainsaw donated by STIHL, and a gift bask from Our Community Credit Union! Drawing is held Saturday, June 1 at the end of the Logging Show in Loop Field.

24 * Must be 18 to enter. Need not be present to win.

FOREST FESTIVAL ets of the Forest!

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SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS Provided by Manke Lumber Compay hosted at Oakland Bay Junior High, Shelton WA

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In the 1940’s Elmer Manke began a family’s legacy as a timber family in the Pacific Northwest. Today Shelton is more than timber, but its forestry ties are evidenced by this annual Festival, “High Climbers,” and a waterfront dominated by the wood industry.

Manke Lumber Company is a family owned business with ties to virtually every aspect of the wood products industry. They continue to explore new technologies to protect resources and provide quality products to their customers. Forest Festival is an important way in which Manke Lumber celebrates our community’s heritage. For many years, Manke has been the proud sponsor of the spectacular fireworks show Saturday evening of the Forest Festival event.

The fireworks start as the sun sets Saturday, June 1. Come early as parking fills while families settle in to surround the viewing areas near Shelton’s Oakland bay Junior High off Kneeland Boulevard. Good spots include the Fred Meyer and Walmart parking lots.

The community and the Forest Festival Association and volunteers thank the Manke family for their continued commitment to our timber heritage –now and in the future!

Your ONE STOP Outdoor Recreation Store since 1948

The Making of an Award:

Mason County Style There is something special about the Forest Festival parade awards that you might not know. For the past few years, the awards have been fabricated, designed and finished by students at Shelton High School (SHS). The Forest Festival Committee invites the students each year to come up with unique ideas to showcase the Forest Festival theme, Mason County, and its forestry heritage.

Matt Gordon is one of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers at SHS. He has more than 20 years’ experience in teaching the construction trades. For the past three years, he has overseen the production of the wood plaques for the awards.

The wood for the awards was graciously donated by Simpson Door Company, located in McCleary, WA, The students, in Mr. Gordon’s class, used grit and hard work along with routers, sanders, and other tools to lay a precise foundation for the designs of these unique award plaques.

The plaques then make their way to the AutoCAD class taught by Mr. Jake Fullington.

For the past four years, Mr. Fullington has been a CTE teacher at SHS, specializing in Engineering and Robotics. His class of sophomore through senior

classmen, create the graphic design artwork in AutoCAD that is then laser engraved on each plaque The awards are given out to the best of the best in the Forest Festival Parade in a variety of categories. These include school marching bands, car clubs, equestrian, community, and visiting festival floats. In addition to local entries, participants come from far and wide to show off their hometown pride.

These distinctive awards have their origins in the minds and hearts of humble Mason County residents but make their way to winners all across the Pacific Northwest. The Forest Festival Committee wants to express their gratitude to Simpson Door Company and the students and teachers at SHS for their contributions in making these awards possible.

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75th Annual Mason County Forest Festival

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Sponsor Spotlight

Green Diamond Traces Roots in Shelton to 1890

Green Diamond traces its roots to 1890 when Sol Simpson founded Simpson Logging Company. After five generations, the company is still private and owns forest land in WA, OR and CA. Here in Washington, the company operates under a federal Habitat Conservation Plan that require protection for fish, wildlife, clean water and soils.

Green Diamond land is certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® Standard. This assures that the forest products you buy, whether lumber, particleboard or paper, comes from sustainably managed forests.

Today’s forest operations don’t look much like the skills displayed at the Forest Festival Logging Show. Nearly all operations are highly mechanized, ensuring the safety of the workers. Green Diamond is proud of its early involvement in Washington’s Logger Safety Initiative, under which the Washington Department of Labor & Industries works with logging contractors, landowners and others to improve safety through training and audits.

One activity still done by hand is reforestation after harvest.

Washington requires that lands be replanted within three years of harvest. Planting is conduct28

ed when seedlings are dormant during some of the toughest weather of the year. Imagine the rough terrain and many obstacles planters must work around and then marvel that a good planter can put upwards of 1000 trees in the ground each day!

One of Green Diamond’s unique contributions to Forest Festival is a field day, open to 5th graders throughout Mason County. Each year, since 2000, some 400 students learn the value of a tree, an applied math exercise; the habitat in a streamside buffer; forest history, including the teamwork required in operating a crosscut saw; how to set a choker and fell a tree; and how “round” logs are made into “square” lumber, among other lessons. This field day is paired with other activities to ensure students in Mason County are aware of the contributions our forests make to our environment and our economy.

In short, Green Diamond Resource Company celebrates Forest Festival every day.

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VirtCareScopeInsert 3’19 Size 49x64Picas=Specialist Guide

CMYK

30

th 2019 Grand Marshal:

Patti Tupper

Patti is well-known for her involvement in the community. She spent two years as Forest Festival President in the 90’s and also organized the carnival for years. She, along with the Kristmas Town Kiwanis, built the floats from 1996 to 2000 and traveled to the parades.

In addition to her Forest Festival commitments she also held a term as president of the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce; Chamber citizen of the year in 2004, and volunteer of the year in 2011.

As past President of Kristmas Town Kiwanis, you have likely run into her collecting gloves, hats and school supplies for Shelton kids. She also has taken great pride in organizing Holiday Magic and the Christmas parade every year. Patti was well known as Shelton's favorite bank manager until 2001 when she and her husband Al started Tupper's Floor Coverings. They sold their business in late 2017 and now she is spending even more time giving back to our community, including Mason County Veterans.

Partial list of past Grand Parade Grand Marshals 2018 Annette McGee 2017 Norm Eveleth 2016 Ron Pannell

1978 Ada & Rudie Oltman

2015 Carolyn Olsen

2012 Lyle Coleman

2009 Joan Manke

2006 Max Schmidt

2003 Mike Fredson

2013 Frank Bishop

2010 Bill Hunter

2007 Betty Wolf

2004 Dean Palmer

1991 Berwyn Thomas 1965 “Teeny” Safeway Clown

2014 Nita Bariekman

2011 John Tarrant

2008 Bob Puhn

2005 Bill Jackson

1999 Billie Howard

1969 Gabert James

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306 W. Railroad Avenue, Shelton, WA (360) 426-3319

Annual "Duck "Race at Forest Festival

Helping Our Community One Duck at a Time Each year Kristmas Town Kiwanis provides scholarships for local youth. One is awarded to the Princess of Cedar. They also presents events and services for the community: • • • • • • •

BLUEGRASS FROM THE FOREST May 17-19 FOREST FESTIVAL DUCK RACE Win prizes (first $500) Buy your “Ducks” and Festival Buttons during the Grand Parade HOLIDAY MAGIC AND TREE LIGHTING Tree lighting ceremony, bonfires and marshmallows, caroling and kiddie train rides.

CHRISTMAS PARADE A fantastic parade celebrating the holiday season in downtown Shelton.

ALUMINUM CAN DRIVE Three times a year HIGHWAY PICKUP Four times a year SHELTON LOG MONUMENT The Kristmas Town Kiwanis provide flowers and maintain the historic “Log Monument” overlooking Oakland Bay as you enter Shelton from highway 3 on Hillcrest.

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Thank you to Amy&Forrest Cooper for

“CAPTURING” THE FESTIVAL Amy & Forrest Cooper are portrait artists. They capture memories for their clients and produce top-of-the-line artwork to adorn a home. This husband and wife creative team; who own and operate Cooper Studios, located on Railroad Avenue in Shelton. Both hold BFA degrees in visual communications. Their “focus” is on perfections and quality mixed with extensive professional experience – and a whole lot of talent!

Brady Trucking goes to great heights to bring top quality landscaping products!

Handmade in Shelton, the duo’s Fine Art Portraits are captured, retouched, printed and custom framed in their downtown studio giving them the control to create finished works of the highest quality.

Forrest and Amy are ever ready to lend their skills at community events like the Forest Festival and consequently, bring a level of professionalism to all the images captured at the event. Cooper Studios is honored to be only the 4th photographer ever to create the official Queen of the Forest Portrait. There has been a long-standing tradition of portrait studios in Shelton, in fact, there has been a portrait studio on the very same block they are located since the 1940s. It’s a tradition the Cooper’s are proud to be a part of and look forward to continuing for many years to come.

Thank you, Amy and Forrest for preserving our Forest Festival memories each year!

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CARNIVAL FUN

th

Save $10 on pre-sale wrist band Cotton candy, fresh candy apples, churros, giant stuffed animals in brilliant colors – and rides that make your head spin – a popular part of the Mason County Forest Festival.

Paradise Amusements Carnival, a Mason County Forest Festival event, will open on Thursday, May 30 st at 4:00PM. The full carnival, located at Gateway Center on Olympic Highway will include rides and “fair” food as well as plenty of games with a variety of prizes.

The Carnival will be open until 11PM Thursday – Saturday and until 6 PM Sunday – depending

upon attendance and weather.

The event opens Saturday and Sunday at noon. Pre-sale wrist bands are available until May 29 at: The Shopper (2505 Olympic Hwy N) and Shelton Mason County Chamber (215 W Railroad Ave). Pre-sale bands cost $25 (includes 5 game tickets) and are valid for Wrist bands are valid for one session (one day) only.

Wrist bands at the gate are $35 and do not include game tickets.

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Cover Image

1953 Log Monument at Overlook Park reminds local residents of our timber heritage

The ninth annual Forest Festival in 1953 was one for the ages. The monumental event celebrated the 100th anniversary of logging operations in Mason County, and the large Douglas fir "end" sign at Overlook Park was permanently dedicated.

On the festival’s final day 30,000 people — about six times the regular population of the town — crowded into Shelton to watch the Parade (cover image).

The Log Monument is a 10’ diameter, 2.5’ thick cross section of a Douglas Fir tree from the Grisdale operation of the Simpson Logging Company. The Douglas Fir used for the monument was 224 feet tall and 664 years old when it was cut down in 1953. The upper half is carved with the “City of Shelton”, followed by “Home of the Evergreen Forest”. The lower half is carved with dates depicting important events in world history, beginning with the

sprouting of the tree in 1289. The monument was erected by the Mason County Forest Festival Association in 1953 in commemoration of 100 years of commercial logging in Mason County from 1853 – 1953. A short insert in the “Story of the Monument” states, “The monument is dedicated to keeping green forests and to preserving forever the source of raw materials which provide work and happy living for all of us.”

The Chamber is community Whether you are looking for something to do or have a particular experience in mind we

Evergreen Square June 15, 12:00 – 5:00

Railroad Avenue July 19, 11:30 – 6:30

Shelton-Mason County Chamber sheltonchamber.org (360) 426-2021

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Sponsor Spotlight

Nisqually Red Wind Casino The Nisqually Red Wind Casino has become the South Sound’s go-to spot for gaming, dining, and entertainment. The gaming floor, measuring in at more than 46,000 square feet, contains both a smoking section and a newly renovated smoke-free section – the largest of its kind in the region. Within that vast space are over 1,600 slot machines, Keno, and a plethora of table games in both the smoking and smoke-free sections including Blackjack, Three Card Poker, Pai Gow, Roulette, and Craps with 10x odds!

Guests can satisfy their hunger at one of the six restaurants on site, including the multiple award-winning Seafood Restaurant and Squalli-Absch Grille. Locally sourced seafood dishes and sushi freshly prepared satisfy even the most critical taste buds. The Medicine Creek Deli and Coho Sports Pub offer up diverse menus with appetizing meals that you won’t feel underdressed for – at reasonable prices. Or, guests can try the Blue Camas Buffet's 80-foot buffet, voted the Best Buffet in the South Sound multiple times.

In addition, casino patrons are welcome to take in the tunes of the South Sound’s hottest musical acts at the stage in the Coho Sports Pub. Every show is free of charge, so a bit of rhythmic relaxation is just an added perk of visiting the Red Wind. Another valuable benefit is the Club Red VIP Card. This card, which is available to anyone 21 years of age or older, offers guests the ability to enter into exclusive promotions and drawings.

Guests can also convert their points – earned through playing slots, table games, or Keno – into cash any time they would like right at the machine. Membership allows guests a 50% discount at the restaurants in the casino when paying with points.

The casino offers more than just exciting and state-of-the-industry gaming and dining – it offers community. The casino’s design, accents, and hospitality all seek to incorporate the local tribal presence. Built to resemble a traditional native longhouse, the Red Wind itself pays homage to its namesake. Since opening its doors in 1997, Nisqually Red Wind Casino has become an integral part of its surrounding communities. Gaming revenues are used to fund a broad base of support services for tribal members and provide operational funding for many non-profit agencies and organizations in local communities as well.

"In 2018, charitable funding awarded by Nisqually Indian Tribe Charitable & Local Government Program totaled an estimated $2.4 million."

With an expansion on the horizon and constant improvements focused on customer service, the Nisqually Red Wind Casino is truly an experience where the sky is the limit.

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SUN – THURS: 10am-12am FRI– SAT 10am -1am

Celebrate family&good vibes!

Take time to enjoy local events

Rachel Hansen | Editor

It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful the views are in Mason County! Equally amazing is how close Mason County is to the rest of the civilization, yet how pristine and abounding with recreational opportunities and community events!

Even when the sun isn’t shining, cresting the hill on Highway 101, after a fresh fall of snow in the mountains, you are hit smack in the windshield with a view to rival any wonder of the world!

Take a journey to your backyard. Take a sick day. It will become a health day for the whole family as you remember what is to share in the rich traditions of being an integral piece of a community.

All of us are going a million directions at once and our lives are scheduled and over scheduled– and we are still not getting it all done. Just for a moment pause. Put down the iPhone. Unplug the games. When was the last time you cheered on the under-hand chop contest? Admired classic cars? Ate cotton candy? Spun uncontrollably on the Twister?

Mason County is full of opportunities for you to connect with friends, family and make new friends – the annual Forest Festival celebrates and embodies these! Enjoy your community and your local festivals. Get the whole family involved –you never know when you might discover something wonderful!

What's Next?

Bluegrass From the Forest Festival May 17 -19 SHS Performing Arts Center. Shelton, WA

Union City Community Festival May 26, 1:00 - 5:00 PM Union, WA

75th MASON COUNTY FOREST FESTIVAL May 30 - June 2, Shelton, WA

Tour de Mason Bike Ride June 9, Start: 8:30 AM Olympic Highway North, Shelton Blues & Brews June 15, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Evergreen Square, Shelton, WA

Fjordin Crossin Paddle the Canal June 29 – Hoodsport, WA Mason County Historical Car Show June 30 – Shelton, WA Tahuya Day Celebration July 6 – Tahuya, WA

For details on these and more wonderful local events, lodging and things to do in the area visit explorehoodcanal.com.

39

th Who Has the Button?

75 years of button designs

Dr. James Grimes does! In fact, Dr. Grimes has a Forest Festival Button for each of the last 75 years. Collecting these buttons has been a hobby of his since 1985. One of his complete collections is on display at the Shelton Civic Center for all to see.

The first year of the Forest Festival was 1945 and the button was of Smokey Bear. The button was also printed in yellow and brown and is a very rare find according to Dr. Grimes. He continues to look for that button as well as ones from 1946, 47, 48, 98 and the nickel-sized children’s buttons from the early years. One button, the 2004, was issued incorrectly with the first year of the festival as 1944 instead of 1945.

Pick up your 2019 button throughout Shelton, visit 40 masoncountyforestfestival.com for locations!

Button Design Winners EMILY SIMMONS, a ninth-grade student at Oakland Bay Junior High in Shelton, won the 2019 Forest Festival button design contest. She received $100 for the grand prize, and an additional $75 for placing first in her age division (see below for a full listing of the winners in their respective age categories).

She is a second time winner. Her design also won in 2017.

K-5

First: Bella Wildma, 5th Grade, Mountain View Elementary; Second: Angelina Gerverio Montejo, 5th Grade, Mountain View Elementary; Third: Arianna Wetch, 4th Grade, Southside; Honorable Mention: Claire Godwin, 5th Grade, Mountain View Elementary; Honorable Mention: Arthur Banoyorn, 5th Grade, Mountain View Elementary

6-8

First: Miguel Ordonez Tomas, 7th Grade, Olympic Middle School; Second: Arely Delgado, 6th Grade, Olympic Middle School; Third: Nathan Gonzalez Vielma, 6th Grade, Olympic Middle School; Honorable Mention: Fayt Wilbour, 7th Grade, Southside; Honorable Mention: Maddie Allred, 7th Grade, Southside

9-12

First: Emily Simmons, 9th Grade, Oakland Bay Junior High; Second: Israel Nicolas, 11th Grade, North Mason High School; Third: Shaolin Hoskins, 12th Grade, North Mason High School

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75 years of local royalty

The Forest Festival Court Legacy Carolyn Maddux | Author

Have you wondered what’s become of the royalty of past Forest Festivals? Here’s a quick look at where life has taken some of them since they rolled down Railroad Avenue in the Paul Bunyan Parade.

Presiding over the first Forest Festival, in 1945, was Irene S. Reed High School senior Lois Gibler. Eighteen years later, in 1963, her 14-year-old daughter, Linda LaBissoniere, was a Forest Festival junior princess.

The Journal reported that Linda said her mom, wearing the current queen’s robes, looked “even more beautiful” than she had in 1945. Five years later, Lois’s younger daughter, Leslee LaBissoniere, was a princess in the festival’s royal court.

Lois and her husband, Les LaBissoniere, had been married for 23 years when he died of a

THE 1967 FOREST FESTIVAL COURT visit the

Washington governor, Dan Evans. Shayna Larson, queen, and Art Tozier, Paul Bunyan, are surrounded by the princesses of the Forest.

In its second year, the festival named Max Schmidt Jr. as Paul Bunyan. A 1937 graduate of Irene S. Reed High School, he began studies at Stanford but left to fight in World War II. After being injured in Germany, he returned to finish his degree in forestry at the University of Washington.

Max spent his career as a real-life version of the legendary lumberjack, working for Simpson Timber Company as a log bucker, forester, logging manager and Washington Timberlands Manager from 1946 until his retirement in 1984. He and his wife, Louise, had two sons and a daughter; two live in Shelton. He died in December, 2012, at 92, and called Shelton home for all those years.

heart attack. Later, still living on Hood Canal, Lois met Bob Kussman, a retired Naval Air Corps pilot with two sons Lois and Bob married 42 years ago and lived in Tacoma, then Olympia. They have been active and honored volunteers with the Boys & Girls Club of South Puget Sound, and have enjoyed extensive travel. Bob’s health is failing these days, but “We’ve had a wonderful life,” she said.

Linda LaBissoniere Frady lives in Montlake Terrace and Leslee LaBissoniere Bailey lives in Olympia. Lois Kussler rejoices in 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

The Port of Shelton proudly supports the 75th Annual Mason County Forest Festival! portofshelton.com

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The 1964 festival queen, Liz Somers, and that year’s Paul Bunyan, Ron Orr, made it a permanent duo. Ron attended Washington State University, Liz the UW; when Ron entered the Air Force and was stationed at Williams Air Force Base, she put her speech therapy

degree to work at the Gompers center in Phoenix; when he was posted to Rome, New York, she worked for the school system there. Later, he flew private planes for International Paper, and Liz worked in Vancouver schools. Ron flew for Western Airlines and Delta, retiring in 2004.

His last four years, he flew out of New York to Europe, Russia, the Middle East and India.

When the Orrs moved to Bainbridge Island in 1980, Liz directed the Montesorri program there until her death at 52 in 1998. The Orrs had two children, Matt and Kjirste; Matt has one daughter. Ron resides on Bainbridge Island.

North Mason’s first Forest Festival queen was Patsy Bixenmann, who reigned in 1965.

Patsy recalls with delight the court’s participation in other parades (she had her first taste of bear stew at McCleary’s Bear Fest), and chaperon Alma Burke’s proper manners and stunning Thunderbird car.

Patsy, who lives in Olympia, married, raised a family of three, worked with senior services for Lewis County, went back to school, and became human resources manager for Providence Centralia Hospital.

She’s now single again, enjoying retirement, and working as a CASA volunteer with Thurston County courts. Patsy notes that in its first decades, Forest Festival had a distinctive fire-prevention theme. “The queen was also Miss Keep Washington Green for the year,” she said, recalling that she and Smokey Bear visited children’s camps and other places all summer, promoting fire safety.

Smokey the Bear, the fire-prevention icon, was an appointed role in those years. Michael Connolly said he and his older brother, Jim Connolly, both of whom worked at KMAS Radio and participated in high-school drama, were probably chosen on that basis for the Smokey role in 1972 and 1970, respectively. “The Smokey the Bear costume was borrowed from the Forest Service,” he said. “The body of the costume was all one piece, with itchy fur above the blue jeans. There was an absolute rule that you were not to appear in public with the head off.” He recalls returning during his freshman year at the UW to do a Smokey interview with Katherine Wise on KOMO Radio.

Jim Connolly attended Gonzaga and law school before practicing law in Olympia. He died of cancer in 2010. Michael went on to study music, earned his master’s and doctorate in musical arts at University of S. California and studied music in Vienna as a Rotary International Scholar. He is a professor of music at the University of Portland, and maintains his county connection at his family’s Hood Canal cabin and now with his own cabin at Kamilche Point.

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Celebrating over 30 years in Mason County

From the festival’s first year until 1967, Paul Bunyan with his axe stood atop a load of enormous old-growth logs. “I was the last one,” Art Tozier recalls. “I was up there on the top log of a three-log load.” Art figured that standing, he was about 24 feet up. “When we turned

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the corner at First Street I had to literally crawl through the wires.” Now Paul Bunyan rides at a lower level. Despite the danger, Art loved being Paul Bunyan. “It was a really special group of people,” he said of the court.

In subsequent years, Art did a brief stint in the woods himself, but has spent most of his career in business in Shelton with his brother, Evan. First, they bought the Western Farmers Co-op on First Street. “We had no idea what we were doing,” he said.

But they got the hang of it; today, their Tozier Brothers business at the east end of First Street includes farm and garden supplies, equipment sales and rentals, and hardware.

Forest Festival Queen Shayne Larson reigned the same year Art did.

Shayne, however, didn’t stay local. She got her degree at Washington State University, went to work, married former Paul Bunyan Dan Barrom, and had a son. After five years, however, the two divorced and went their separate ways. Shayne worked in the financial department at Stanford University’s medical center; she remarried, and she and Mike Frankel have a daughter. She left her job as finance officer at Stanford when Mike was transferred to the Pentagon, but they have now retired and returned to San Jose. Dan lives in Laguna Hills. Remarried, he has twin daughters. His career has been in program planning in the world of business computers.

Forest Festival tends to be a family event.

The year after Shayne was queen, her mom, Edee Larson, assisted Miss Burke, and the next year, Edee began a seven-year stint as the court’s chaperon.

One year, with Edee’s encouragement, Queen Janice Wittenberg and her court made their own dresses.

Art Tozier’s niece, Julie Johnston, was a Forest Festival princess in 1995. After completing her Master’s degree in college student services at Oregon State University, Julie works as an academic advisor at the University of Washington Tacoma Campus, and recently competed in a halfIron Man competition in Lake Stevens.

She lives in Covington. Billie Howard, Art’s aunt and Julie’s great-aunt, was the parade’s first woman Grand Marshal in 1999.

Paul Hunter, who was Paul Bunyan in 1981, earned his bachelor of science degree at WSU and works in the family business, Hunter Farms. Paul married Leslie Schumacher; their son works in the family business and their daughter is a junior at WSU. Looking back on his festival experience, Paul said it gave him “the confidence in myself to face life as a young adult.” He says he encounters other Paul Bunyans as business and community leaders, and called his festival role “one of the most positive memories of my life.”

Paul’s nephews followed in his festival footsteps. Tyler Schlauderaff carried the axe in the parade in 2003, and Abe Schlauderaff did the same honors in 2008. Tyler works for Paul in the farm business, and Abe’s in medical school in Wisconsin. Their brother, Caleb Schlauderaff, was the festival’s Smokey Bear; he went on to play football for the Jets, and is retired. At 27. “He was my timber faller this year,” his uncle said. Caleb plans to attend medical school in the fall.

Molly Eveleth, who reigned in 1982, has lived in many places since. She attended the UW, married Sheltonian Bruce Parker, and soon afterward went to Germany where Bruce was posted with the Army. “Since then, we have moved into 19 different homes, eight different states, and will make our final move this summer to Aberdeen, N.C.,” she said. They have three daughters, Paige, Kayl and Cassie. Molly later finished school and puts her RN degree to work as case manager for high-risk Medicaid and Medicare patients in Pinehurst, N.C. Bruce retired as a colonel after a career that took him to Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan. “We have lost friends and fellow soldiers and officers in the war – and we regularly visit Arlington Cemetery,” she said.

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Molly and Bruce, and often Molly and their daughters, have traveled widely: Mexico; Canada; 35 states; Berlin when the wall was intact and under guard and again when East and West Germany reunited; England; Italy; and most of Western Europe.

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Molly has spent hundreds of hours volunteering with military families. Two of their daughters are married, and one is in college in Georgia.

NEW Event added to the Forest Festival Weekend Stick around after the Logging Show for the second annual Rockin' The Forest, a benefit for Crossroads Housing. Featuring local musical favorites The Psychedelic Shadow Show and Hurts Like Hell with the talented Jeff Slakey returning as event emcee.

Food trucks, live music, beer garden and much more all proudly sponsored by the Martha Reed Foundation. This event will take place between the Loggers Show and the Fireworks Show all part of Mason County's 75th Forest Festival! $10 entry into the venue, youth 13 and younger are free. Current ID is required to enter the beer garden!

For more info visit masoncountyforestfestival.com or follow the Rockin' The Forest Event on Facebook.

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Happy Birthday Smokey Bear!

Since 1944, Smokey Bear has urged wildfire prevention.

Also celebrating his 75th birthday this year, Smokey Bear is the longest running public service campaign in U.S. history -- and he's evolved over the years, originally from a live bear injured in a fire to a lovable and iconic, talking bear in denims and a ranger's hat.

Smokey Bear has been a recognized symbol of wildfire prevention since August 9, 1944.

Although progress has been made, wildfires remain one of the most critical environmental issues affecting the U.S. On average, nearly nine out of 10 wildfires nationwide today are caused by people. The main causes of wildfire include campfires or warming fires being left unattended or

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improperly extinguished, debris burning on windy days, improper discarding of smoking materials or BBQ coals, and operating equipment without spark arrestors.

Let's celebrate 75 years of the Mason County Forest Festival and Smokey Bear's 75th Birthday by bringing awareness and inspiring responsibility to prevent wildfires in our beautiful Northwest forests.

“No Job too BIG or too small!”

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Paul Bunyan rides the parade on a Manke truck in the parade | photo: © Cooper Studios

We’re your neighbors.

For four generations MANKE LUMBER COMPANY has been proud to call Mason County home. Our livings, families and futures are all connected. That’s why we are honored to annually sponsor the Mason County Forest Festival. Congratulations on 75 years of success!

Relying on a wealth of experience from over 60 years of hands-on operation, Manke Lumber continues to explore new technologies and business practices protecting resources and providing maximum value to our customers.

Our forestry divisions work together to ensure maximum recovery, sustainability and value yielded from our local forests. It is our pleasure to serve timberland owners, lumberyards, distributors as well as wholesalers both domestic and abroad.

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