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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 Granite Falls clerk makes desk comfortably her own By Kristi O'Harran Herald Columnist Sometimes my ongoing ambush idea is a flop. I pulled a surprise visit at a school in Granite Falls and it was like I'd slammed into First Heritage Bank saying "Stick 'em up!" How dare I ask to look at a secretary's desk. Why, it could have disciplinary paperwork about kids and everything. I was as welcome as a spider in the bathtub. I just wanted to do my usual ambush, where I show up unannounced, see what photographs, takeout menus and gimcracks folks keep at their desks. Snubbed, I popped into Granite Falls City Hall. Lotta Hines understood the ambush concept and invited me into her office. It was quiet at City Hall. They are in the process of remodeling. She's new in town, since October, and her office was already decorated with this, that and the other. She's a Pisces, a water person, but she was found in the snow when Mayor Lyle Romack was in need of a certified municipal clerk. One application rolled in, from Naknek, Alaska. Beautiful Naknek, a hotbed for certified municipal clerks. Hines loved her home in the frozen north but wanted to live where there were more than 137 people. Mayor Romack flew to Naknek, interviewed the potential clerk and treasurer, talked to her references, flew home, and then made her an offer a few days later. So Hines, 48, arrived in Granite Falls, after years in Alaska and Port Orchard. She left Sweden in 1992 with two suitcases and $400. On her desk is a tinkling waterfall, with dollar-store frogs. She found the water feature at "Wally World." There is a guardian angel wind chime on the wall behind her desk. She played 106.9 KRWM-FM on the radio. "It's nice music to listen to when you are working," Hines said. A posted Maxine cartoon read, "The reason we have elections in November is because it's the best time to pick a turkey." To keep things fresh, there was a can of Febreze. Snapshots showed upside-down crabs. Well, you don't want them to run away. Hines said fishermen store their gear near Naknek, in False Pass, and once a year you can get free crab. Hines used to cook it and freeze it. Also on the wall, Garfield says "I might as well work, I'm in a bad mood anyway." She has an Alaska key ring with a spinning moose. The single mom has a daughter and dogs Sasha, Duchess and Angel. Her screen saver shows a snapshot of rushing river water near Granite Falls. A pretty desk clock came from her daughter. She wants Mom to always know when it's 5 o'clock, and time to get home. Lotta Hines makes sure her place of employment is comfortable. "Your job is like your second home," Hines said. "You need your private things. Get your work place so it's your space and it will make you do a better job." She gets my ambush idea. Columnist Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.

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