Coalitions Meet at the Capitol

Above: Senator Tim Sheldon (D-35th, Mason County) chats with medical marijuana activists at the State Capitol Building on Thursday. Legislators and lobbyists were in Olympia on Thursday and Friday for Committee Assembly Days.

 

by Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

 

Seen Thursday at the State Capitol chatting with medical cannabis activists, Senator Tim Sheldon (D-35th) was asked today in a telephone conversation for his position on medical marijuana.

 

"I've been involved on the county level, and my position has evolved on the issue....We have a medical marijuana clinic in Potlatch. I was apprehensive about it at first, but it's been low-key and there haven't been any problems with it. I'm supportive of medical marijuana and don't want the implementation of I-502 to undermine its availability...." said Sheldon. Sheldon is a Mason County Commissioner and member of the Majority Coalition Caucus.

 

Sheldon said he told the activists on Thursday that Senator Ann Rivers (D-18th, La Center) has taken the lead on the issue for the Majority Coalition Caucus and is working on a bill to secure access for medical marijuana.

 

I-502 turned the distribution of recreational cannabis over to the state Liquor Control Board. There will be legislative hearings on the new regulations proposed by the state Liquor Control Board. In the second week in January, activists say they are planning a "Save Medical Cannabis" lobby day.

 

For more information, go to the Cannabis Action Coalition at www.CannabisActionCoalition.com 

 

 

69th Mason County Forest Festival

 

Above: Paul Bunyan does the limbo today under power lines in downtown Shelton at the 69th Mason County Forest Festival parade.

by Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

You haven't seen the Mason County Forest Festival until you've seen Paul Bunyan do the limbo under power lines on Railroad Avenue in downtown Shelton. And he did that trick, without bending his knees, to audible gasps from parade goers today.

Did he make it? You betcha, courtesy of Industrial Hydraulics, Inc., who has given the big man himself the extra lift in his step.

Trucks, classic cars, decorated horses, representatives of the armed forces, princesses, trucks, American flags, school marching bands, (did I say trucks?) participated in the annual parade under sunny skies.

 

Above: A live Paul Bunyan with Manke Lumber Company.

Above: Capital High School student Katherine Nguyen, the 2013 Capital Lakefair Queen, far right, greets Mason County residents today. The jukebox themed float blared old rock and roll classics and came in third place for the Best in Show parade category award. Later, the Queen and her court toured the Shelton farmer's market. Capital Lakefair will be held in downtown Olympia July 17 - 21, 2013.

 

Above: The North Mason High School marching band.

 

Above: The Mason County 4-H horses sported beautiful purple pedicures. Mason County 4-H won the Novelty category for the parade.

 

Above: The chips were flying for David Moses, Jr. during the vertical log chop contest at the Forest Festival's Log Show.