TWO FIREFIGHTERS prepare to enter the Mason County Jail following reports of smoke inside the facility early Tuesday afternoon. At right in the background is Mason County Undersheriff Gary Crane.

HECTOR SOLANO, right, attends to his reading while Toby Kevin waits to talk to a group at Saint David's Parish Hall about sending money to the family of a Mexican man allegedly killed by his roommate.

ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD on high were played by Gale Packer and young Lexie Wybenga when Matlock Community Church staged a bone-chilling living nativity on a cold and windy Saturday night. Emily Elliott and Jared Eck played the parts of Mary and Joseph while two guitarists braved the elements to sing Christmas carols.

LONG-TIME LOGGER Guy Lusignan of Shelton applies his skills to the problems caused by the two hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast this summer. He was part of a group from Faith Lutheran Church who went to the Gulf Coast to help after the disasters.

CLIMBER DAN PAINE bears down on the finish line in his breakout performance in cross-country's United States Track and Field Junior Nationals two weekends ago in Rhode Island. The sophomore finished ninth overall in his 15- and 16-year-olds' division and thus earned no less than age-group All-American distinction. Despite the snow, the Climbers' ace pared fully 49 seconds off his 5k PR, clocking in at 15:41.

NOT SO DISTRACTINGLY that Climber alums can't simultaneously catch up with each other in the cheap seats, Climber girls' hoop action entertains in the Minidome Friday night. The hooded fella is '05 grad and Climber pole-vault recordholder Chris Smith, home for the break from college in Arizona. Behind him is '04 grad and varsity soccer player Colin Hart, and at near right is another soccer standout of yore, '05 grad Leah Vazquez. The inset? It finds the Climbers' Jen Hoss (40) and CarrieAnne Allegri (15) risking physical damage inside against the Bremerton Knights, who pulled out the win after trailing early.

PREMATCH RITUAL GIVES way to leg-leverin' fun Thursday night in the Climber wrestlers' home duel with league nemesis Gig Harbor. Sending off sophomore 160-pounder Stephen Carnahan at the top are (from left) Katie Madison, Brittany Chamberlin, James Zyski and Katie Mak. Levering en route to pin victory at 125 pounds in the inset is Climber senior Jeremy Knowlton who two days later dominated in title-clinching fashion in the Climbers' annual Holiday Tournament. And handfighting out of danger in the nearmost shot is the Climbers' much-heralded female component of the varsity contingent, frosh 112-pounder Sarah Brownstein who went on to beat a fella in her yuletide-tourney opening round two days later.

Taylor warms to the Flame

Marian Greenberg, left, outgoing president of the Mason General Hospital Foundation, presents the 2005 Fantasy Forest Flame Award to Norma Taylor. Taylor was recognized for her many hours of volunteer time, effort and energy towards the creation and support of Fantasy Forest and the foundation. She has also made numerous in-kind and direct donations to the health care of people living in Mason County Public Hospital District 1.

Kent group picks
up school bus

A group of Kent residents was in Belfair this week to pick up a bus that will ultimately be of use in El Grullo, Mexico. The bus, which can't be used locally, was sold for $1 by the school district to the city of Kent which has a Sister City relationship with the town in Mexico. Seen here in front of the bus at the North Mason School District bus barn are, from left, Ed Amundson, Joanne Schaut, Mayor Jim White, Roberto Gonzalez (an El Grullo transplant living in Kent), Edna White and Florance Amundson.

Allyn hosts celebration

The Allyn Waterfront Park and Gazebo was the site of the town's annual Christmas celebration earlier this month. Two of the special visitors this year included Santa Claus and local music legend Lucy Mitchell who, once again, entertained crowds with her wonderful singing and playing. Despite cold temperatures and exposure to the sometimes windy North Bay, the annual celebration is always a popular one.