Homecoming mayhem

Warming to the task at the start of Friday night's Highclimber homecoming game are body-painted seniors Chelsie Uffelman and Steven Hasch. For more on the high-schoolers' big night to remember, see this week's Journal .

NEW SHELTON Postmaster Frank DeRemer, at right, is sworn in by postal official Mark Stoppleworth during a ceremony last week at the Shelton Post Office.

MISSION CREEK HIKING Trail awaits the first to walk its way. Standing to the left and right are women from the corrections center and standing front and center is a daughter of the Gruber family, people on a mission to make Saint Andrew's House a place of quiet and contemplation. Second from the left among the adults standing by the sign welcoming hikers is Jean Moore, who is letting the folks visiting Saint Andrew's House use her property for much of the trail.

English springer spaniel wins best of show

Judge Rita Bell of North Collins, New York, names an English springer spaniel named "C.H. Karmadi's Madam President" the winner of the best in show award at the annual dog show of the Gig Harbor Kennel Club. Port Commissioner Marlene Taylor presented the trophy to handler Robin Novak. More than 1,300 dogs competed for the top prize. Service groups helped with logistics at the Mason County Fairgrounds.

Bound for glory

No stairway to Heaven for these folks. Rock of Ages Northwest set up a 24-foot rock-climbing wall on the campus of Shelton High School from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday as part of a free Christian community event. Justin Peters spoke about "The Power of Faith" and Floodgate Alive was the headliner for a night of music by Christian bands.

HOMECOMING'S ROYAL COURT finds matching demeanor prevailing here Friday night as the host Highclimbers hold off previously unbeaten North Thurston 42-35 behind all-league senior Kyle Burbridge's school-record 330-yard rushing attack and four touchdowns. That's the 5-8, 170-pound speedmerchant himself in the inset, beating the Rams to the corner for another long gain en route to his historic total. And greeting quarterback Jacob Hicks on the Climber sideline after the senior signalcaller's 31-yard TD pass to Arlington transfer Derek Johnson in the second quarter are seated line stalwarts (from left) Abe Schlauderaff, Jacob "Niko" Nicolaisen, Adam Arellano and Ryan Fernandez. Our photogenic royalty above? Clockwise from the center, they're queen Laurie Hartley, escort Logan Roadman, princess Paige Barrett, king Anthony Jones, escort Josh Evans and princess Brittany Howell. All of them seniors at Shelton High, they were selected by vote of the student body.

SYDNEE PUTVIN, who went to Holland as an ambassador in the People to People bsketball program, is the subject of a Journal feature this week.

NORTH MASON High School senior Joel Oblizalo has been recognized as a Commended Student in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program.

NORTH MASON residents Barb and Dan Goodell traveled to Africa this past summer with their son Quin through a group called Serve The Children out of Gig Harbor. While there, they met and befriended Eman (also known as "Junior"), 19, whom they are now helping attend college.