TAYLOR GUNTER, left, a student at Bordeaux Elementary School, reads while Elizabeth Moon and her "comfort" dog Spencer listen.

BETTER LATE than never, says Sheltonian Frank Wokojance about his Purple Heart medal dating from World War II that arrived recently in the mail.

STEVE VAN DENOVER, former assistant licensing supervisor for the Mason County Auditor's Office, is a candidate for Mason County auditor.

A tectonic triumph

Among the 73 entries in his year's Mason County Science and Engineering Fair was the volcano engineered by Lindsay McAntosh, a fifth-grader at Mason County Christian School.

Israel wins best of show

Showing off some of his work is John Reylord Israel, a Shelton High School senior who recently won the best of show award for a drawing titled "Trinity." Israel also won first place in the black and white drawing category for his charcoal work, "The Fallen King," displayed behind him.

TAKING TO THE STREETS in a stand against multiple sclerosis is Eileen Bailey, leader of a local team participating in the annual MS Walk, which will take place April 1 in Lacey.

Yacht club sets table

Gathering fresh oysters from Manke's beach on Hood Canal, 25 members of the Shelton Yacht Club prepare for their 49th annual oyster and ham dinner. The dinner will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 1, at the Shelton Yacht Club. Guests will be served pan-fried oysters or ham with scalloped potatoes, rolls and butter, green beans with bacon and dessert. The cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children. Tickets are available from any club member and at the door on the evening of the dinner. The club will provide a shuttle from the parking area.

PENSIVE IN THE dugout in the early goings of their runaway win over visiting Lincoln at MCRA Monday is the Climber varsity fastgals' upstart ninth-grader at third base, Steph Ware.

TWO NEW TROOPERS have joined the Shelton Detachment of the Washington State Patrol. They are Toby Haapala (right), who grew up in Mason County, and Tim Knopp, who hails from Wyoming and is a recent graduate of the Washington State Patrol Academy in Shelton.

TWO YOUNGSTERS show their enthusiasm during tryouts Monday afternoon for the Missoula Children's Theatre production of The Frog Prince , which will be performed twice this Saturday at Shelton High School.

A FIRE DISTRICT 2 firefighter douses a burning motorhome on the North Shore Saturday evening. Belfair resident Henry George Weeks, 52, apparently retreated to the vehicle and set it ablaze when bail bond company agents attempted to arrest him. He emerged some 15 minutes later and had to be airlifted to Harborview.