THIS PHOTOGRAPH of the late Nickolas J. Doidge was released by the Mason County Sheriff's Office. His mother has been arrested in connection with the 19-month-old's death.

CHUCK BROTCHE stands in front of a Fire District 11 truck at the time of his retirement as chief in 1994 after 26 years. He's holding a mallet that was used 26 years earlier to jump-start the pump in the fire truck. He died May 16 at age 82. His obituary is in this week's Journal.

HAVING A BLAST at the Advanced Space Academy at the U.S. Space Camp and Rocket Center in Alabama are, from left CHOICE Alternative School junior Laura Stevens, educational assistant Lori Fey and sophomore Troyanna "Anna" Mack.

SPORTING BOOKEND SMILES in the wake of their one-two shotput finish last weekend in track's 30-school district showdown in Tacoma are Shelton's Jacob Hanes (top and inset near) and Gabe Shoemaker (near and inset top). For more on their and the rest of the Climber thinclads' variously successful state qualifying bids, turn the page.

The're all fired
up over essays

The staff at Southside School and the folks at Fire District 4 join forces to promote safety. Students were asked to write an essay or create a poster that reflects what the school has taught them about safety while preparing them for the outside world. Entries were judged by volunteer firefighters and the Southside Safety Committee. Firefighters gave the three winners rides to and from school on Friday, and before the trip home all the students got a chance to check out the fire trucks that did the honors. Winners seen in the picture at the top are Taiyler Brown, Roquel Weston and Trina Smith. Brown is a first-grader who made a poster, Smith is a second-grader who made a poster and Weston is a fifth-grader who wrote an essay.

THERE'S SOMETHING fishy about this 1-million-year-old fossil that was found a few years ago along the Skokomish River.

High-school musical
opens tonight

The North Mason High School production of Bye Bye Birdie will begin at 7 p.m. this evening, Thursday, May 24, in the high school's auditorium. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children under the age of 10. The 1950s era musical is loosely based on the life of Elvis Presley. The story begins when a character named Conrad Birdie, a popular singing star, does a publicity stunt by traveling to Sweet Apple, Ohio, to give a kiss to a randomly chosen girl before heading off to war. Tonight's opening performance will be followed by 7 p.m. performances on May 25 and 26 and June 1 and 2. A 2 p.m. matinee performance will be held on Sunday, May 27.