TAKING BIG BITES out of the Shelton Gymnasium, excavators begin demolishing the building Tuesday morning, ending a lengthy and contentious battle between preservationists and the Shelton School District and Shelton School Board, which wanted the 1941 gym torn down. The job will take some three weeks.

ON HIS LAST day before retiring, longtime Shelton Post Office employee Jim Johansen gets a hug from co-worker Nora Jordin as he admires a gas barbecue, a farewell gift from his fellow postal workers.

CAROL ACOCKS is a school nurse, make that the school nurse for the entire Shelton School District. She figures there are approximately 5,000 students within the seven school buildings and 11 programs that she's involved with. She been the district's sole nurse since 1985. In appreciation of all her hard work and to coincide with National School Nurse Day on May 11, the Shelton School Board recognized her at last week's meeting, presenting her with a certificate and round of applause.

The royalty of the woods

Crowned and glowing just after the coronation pageant stand the Forset Festival Royalty Court for 2005. From left in front they are: Junior Princess of Wildflowers Lynnette Harrison, Junior Princess of Wildlife Lacie Messenger, Senior Princess of Spruce Cara Oldham, Senior Princess of Cedar Alaire Hall, Queen of the Forest Cyndal McKenzie, Senior Princess of Douglas Fir Jessica Pascher and Senior Princess of Hemlock Emilie Schnabel. Smiling behind the princesses are Tony Enslow, left, as Paul Bunyan and Russell Milarch as Smokey Bear. The royalty are gearing up for next month's Forest Festival.

SOCCER'S SWAN-SONG climax for the Climber varsity lads plays out with a sustained emotional drain last week as the visiting Wolves of mighty South Kitsap nip the hosts' last-gasp playoff hopes with a tying goal in the final minutes of play. Looking on at the top during a late-match breather are Kyle Swenson (near) and teammate Chanvir "Chuck" Singh. Deflecting a direct-kick penalty shot in the nearmost photo is Climber keeper Kris Chapman. And in the insets (from top), standout midfielder Richard Rodriguez untangles from a fallen Wolf rival as the man in stripes prepares to whistle the Climber for an infraction; Dwain Friedlander (3) battles in the midfield while all-leaguer Rory Cavaille (13) closes in; young Swenson prepares to unload on the SK goalie, and James Sobotka (15) gets physical to head one out of imminent danger. Also identifiable for the Climber hosts are Ethan Miller (16) and Andy Korver (18). SK had drubbed Shelton 8-0 earlier in the season.

FINAL-GAME HERO Juli Bolender serves one up from the mound for the Climbers prior to her walk-off clout against arch rival Port Angeles last Thursday. In the nearmost shot, Climber catcher Steph Robinson tags out a would-be run-scorer in the 1-0 nailbiter.

HIS 800-HORSE STEED at the ready, Shelton's Rahn Redman parks recently at the gate of the airport's abandoned runway once and, he hopes, imminently future site of Shelton drag racing.

NORTH MASON Relay for Life Chairperson Kathy Tietz, left, and Shelton Relay for Life Chairperson Vickie Gonzales, right, welcome American Cancer Society-funded researcher Dr. David O'Keefe to Mason County for a special cancer survivors' dinner held over the weekend in Belfair.

Boad promoted while in Iraq

Bryan E. Boad, son of Ken and Debbie Boad of Belfair, was recently promoted to the rank of sergeant in the United States Army. Sergeant Boad is currently serving in Iraq with the 25th Infantry Division Stryker Brigade Combat Team and is part of Task Force Olympia from Fort Lewis. He was deployed to Iraq in October and serves as a stryker vehicle commander in Mosul. His wife, Michelle, and their son, Noah, reside at Fort Lewis. Boad attended North Mason High School and is a 1994 graduate of Choice High School in Shelton.