“What makes Enumclaw so special?”
There are many answers to that question — the proximity to Mt. Rainier, it’s small-town charm amid “big” city drive-throughs, the close-knit community — but for Athena Dean Holtz, it’s the people.
That why Holtz, her husband Dr. Ross Holtz, and Dixie Massey interviewed several of Enumclaw’s movers and shakers and compiled their experiences into “People of the Plateau”, which will soon be available to purchase on July 20 at Romans 8:28 books (located on Cole Street) or at the store’s tent during the annual Street Fair on July 21 and 22.
Ross and Massey interviewed 17 people for this book, some — if not many or all — you probably already know: Dr. Jim Merrill, Rev. Fred Davis, Ben Blair, Dr. Randy Magley, Fred Eaton, Duane Weeks, Trip Hart, Chuck Smith, Dale Pratt, Jeff Antonelis-Lapp, Donald R. Grover, Lawton Case, Mike Reynolds, Linda Rolczynski, Miles Moergeli, Jim Putman, and Dorothy Sleigh. These people were chosen from about 25 or 30 nominations from members of the public — too many to tackle for one book, Holtz said.
(You’ll notice that some of the subjects might have died before or during when the book was being put together, so some interviews are with family or friends instead).
In the interviews, Ross and Massey asked the same six questions: How did you end up in Enumclaw? What was your greatest challenge? Most rewarding experience? Your most disappointing? What’s the most impactful thing you’ve accomplished? And, what one word would you use to describe your life?
Ross knew most of the people he interviewed, having lived on the Plateau since 1979.
“I learned things I didn’t know about them,” he said. “It was wonderful. I had great fun.”
Holtz and Ross hope the book will have extra value to newcomers in the area — to provide some history and context for how Enumclaw was shaped over the recent years.
“It gives them some insight to the kind of character our community had in times past,” Ross said.
Holtz said she is still taking nominations for a another volume — suggestions can be made at peopleoftheplateau.com.
SELAH AWARD WINNERS
In other Redemption Press news, several of its published and soon-to-be published authors won, or were finalists, in the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference’s 2023 Selah Awards (“selah”, as found in the Bible, means “silence” or “pause”, in terms of reflection).
Placing first in the Bible Study category was Illinois resident Nanette V. Larson for her book, “From Shattered to Restored”.
Placing second in the memoir category was Karen Black Mercer, a Midwest author, for “Only if God Says So!”, and placing third was Colorado resident Gwendolyn O. Burton’s “You Don’t Know Just How I Feel”.
:The Covenant Story” by Sonya Anderson placed second in the Christian Life category.
Maureen Miller (an author soon to be published by Redemption) placed first in the essay category for her submission, “If Jesus Had a Dog”, second in the print category for her “Freedom in Forgiveness” article, and third in the devotion in print category for “This Time Next Year” submission.
Finally, Sara Cormany placed second with the online devotion article “Under Construction”.
