DAMAGE FROM the air compressor explosion Wednesday morning at Simpson Timber Company's Mill 3 is evident in this photograph.

SMOKE BILLOWS from the southeast corner of Mill 3 on the waterfront. An explosion there sent five Simpson Timber Company workers to the hospital.

STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS pick vegetables together last week in a Mountain View Elementary program teaching kids how to grow food.

STUDENT SPEAKERS at the recent promotion of eighth-graders at Hood Canal School are Jenny Johnson, left, and Liam Malpass.

SHELTON RESIDENT Steve Graves is raising funds for a nonprofit organization he founded called Bikers for Kids with Cancer.

WINNING A RECENT 1500-meter race is former Highclimber Mike Miller (far right). His 3:40.50 finds him among a handful of prime contenders for the United States' three berths in this summer's Olympic Games.

Relay sets a record for survival

The South Mason Relay for Life draws a record number of cancer survivors to Highclimber Stadium at Shelton High School last weekend. Organizers of the annual fund-raiser, which supports research into the prevention and cure of cancer, said more than 120 survivors participated in the "victory lap" that opened the 24-hour event. Pictured, clockwise from top right, are: participants watching a launching of purple balloons that kicked off the Relay at 7 o'clock on the night of Friday, June 18; little lady Kings cheering on the survivors; members of a wagon train; a coalition of the willing making the rounds at a team lap; a place to collect a penny for your thought with white paper bags containing candles that were lit later in memory of the deceased; a group of survivors going through their paces, and a young supporter wishing them well while clinging to a post in the stadium bleachers.

COONSKIN CAP ON HEAD AND six-string guitar in hand, John Strasburger serenades, from left to right, Anita Chandler, Nancy Schmidt and Allie Schmidt in a number from Fads and Fancies, to be presented July 1-3 by the Harstine Island Theatre Club.

Ringing out their first year

The Shelton United Methodist Church's youth hand bell choir, The BellMasters, recently displayed their talents to residents at Alpine Way Retirement Home on June 14. Director Laura Farr said the children rang a flawless performance. "These kids have worked so hard all year. I am so proud of them," said Farr. This event marked the end to the inaugural year for the youth hand bell choir. The BellMasters range in ages from first to sixth grades. They are, from top left: Kari Davis, Alex Opfer, Roger Schoedtke, Derrick Wily, Aaron Jacobs, director Laura Farr, Chris Chase, Ben Thacher, Lauren Thacher, Hannah Mueller, Payton Wheeler and Cody Fuller. The BellMasters will begin year two this fall. For more information, contact the church office at 426-4174.

THIS EXCAVATOR, which was later discovered to be stolen property, was dumped off a trailer in front of the NAPA auto parts store in Belfair this week. The driver fled the scene on foot and was later arrested by a member of the Washington State Patrol before being booked into the Mason County Jail. The excavator was unable to start following the incident and was badly scratched and dented.

Mullins gets great send-off

Fellow teachers and administrators at Belfair Elementary School recently pulled out all the stops to send off retiring teacher Sharon Mullins. She is retiring this year after teaching at the school for over 30 years where she touched the lives of thousands of local students.