Thursday, September 13, 2018 - Week 37
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE CITY OF SHELTON?
Journal photo by Shawna Whelan
Oysters, marijuana, shown below, and mushrooms are the three agriculture industries the City of Shelton should target to conduct business, according to a new economic development plan produced for the city. The plan also measured strengths and weaknesses, and delved into Shelton demographics.
Oysters, marijuana, shown below, and mushrooms are the three agriculture industries the City of Shelton should target to conduct business, according to a new economic development plan produced for the city. The plan also measured strengths and weaknesses, and delved into Shelton demographics.
Construction projects back on track in city, schools
By GORDON WEEKS
gordon@masoncounty.com The walls are going up on a new Mountain View Elementary School, and the end of a 16-day construction labor strike means construction has resumed at Shelton High School. Major road projects in downtown Shelton are again underway after the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 reached a tentative agreement Sept. 6 on a labor contract with Associated Contractors of Washington. Union members will vote on the proposed change on ballots to be counted on Sept. 28. The union represents heavy equipment operators (including crane operators), mechanics, stationary engineers and surveyors. Pavers, concrete pumpers and hoisters who work under the Western Washington Master Labor agreement joined them on strike. Construction work had stopped on a three-story building and an auxiliary gym at Shelton High School. Jeff Feeney, the project manager for the Shelton School District’s $65 million building bond project, gave members of the Shelton School Board an update Tuesday at the regular board meeting at Oakland Bay Junior High School. “The good news: the strike is over,” Feeney said. “It was not as bad as we thought it might be.” Feeney said he will evaluate how the strike affected the construction schedule, and report back to the board. The most visible signs of progress are the walls rising at the new Mountain View Elementary, Feeney said. “Mountain View wasn’t affected by the strike,” he said. Work continues on the construction of an auxiliary gym and improvements in the Mini-Dome at Shelton High School. The single-pane windows in building 100 have been replaced with double-pane windows, which means fresh air can circulate into classrooms for the first time at the high school, Feeney said. The next major milestone at the high school is installing a new water line before the foundation is laid for the three-story building, he said. Also, “We have to have the Mini-Dome in tip top condition before basketball season,” Feeney said. The district will get $19.5 million from the state for passing the building bond to revamp the athletic complexes, said Superintendent Alex Apostle. For more of the Shelton-Mason County Journal, subscribe to our weekly edition. |
Ex-city finance director sentenced to six monthsBy MICHAEL HEINBACH
michael@masoncounty.com “I’m sorry.” That’s what Cinnamon Leigh Brown responded with when Judge Amber Finlay asked if the former City of Shelton finance director had anything to say prior to sentencing Monday for two counts of forgery and two counts of second-degree theft. Finlay then sentenced the 34-year-old Hoquiam mother of five to six months in prison for each of the four counts, with sentences to run concurrently, as well as to pay court costs during sentencing proceedings in Mason County Superior Court. Finlay also ordered Brown to pay restitution to the City of Shelton in an amount to be determined at a later date. After Finlay signed the judgment paperwork, Brown was led away from the courtroom in handcuffs by a Mason County Sheriff’s Office corrections deputy. Thus ended more than 18 months of courtroom drama surrounding Brown, who pleaded guilty to the charges Sept. 4. Shortly after then-City Manager Ryan Wheaton fired Brown from a stint from September to early November 2016 as city finance director for what Wheaton said was “poor job performance,” city staff noticed Brown’s final city-issued paycheck had been deposited twice. Further internal investigation led city staff to contact the Shelton Police Department to delve further into possible payroll discrepancies during Brown’s brief tenure with the City of Shelton. Former Shelton Police Det. Ses Maiava’s report states city staff provided him with copies of two city-issued paychecks — one issued Sept. 30, 2016 and the second issued Oct. 31, 2016. Maiava’s report states that records determined each check was deposited via mobile device twice, once each into Brown’s accounts at two different banks. The financial loss to the city totaled $4,632.07, according to Maiava’s certification for determination of probable cause. Both banks confirmed to Shelton police the deposits in question were conducted from a cellphone under Brown’s name and could be conducted only with a password and account identification information only available to Brown. On Feb. 15, 2017, Shelton police contacted Brown at her Hoquiam residence, where police placed her in custody. According to court documents, Brown immediately asked for an attorney and was not interviewed onsite. The case trudged its way through the court system, from Brown’s initial court appearance in February 2017 through Monday’s sentencing hearing. Along the way, Brown passed a court-ordered competency evaluation that determined she was fit to stand trial, failed to appear at scheduled court dates and had warrants for her arrest quashed three times. Additionally, Brown cited communication issues in having her request granted to change her court-appointed defense attorney from Minarik to Pat Lewis of the Mason County Public Defense office. During a scheduled pre-trial management hearing Sept. 4, two weeks before her jury trial was scheduled to begin, Brown entered the guilty plea while wiping away tears. For more of the Shelton-Mason County Journal, subscribe to our weekly edition. |
Journal photo by Alexandra Smith
Shelton High School senior Troy Goodwin rushes past a Montesano High School defender Sept. 7 at the away football game. The Highclimbers lost, 55-6.
Shelton High School senior Troy Goodwin rushes past a Montesano High School defender Sept. 7 at the away football game. The Highclimbers lost, 55-6.
Montesano tops Highclimbers
By ALEXANDRA SMITH
alexandra@masoncounty.com
The Shelton Highclimber football team continued a trend of losing to teams in lower divisions when they fell to the Montesano Bulldogs, 51-6, Sept. 7 at Montesano High School.
Montesano got on the board with just under nine minutes left in the first quarter on a short touchdown run by Brent Hollatz.
The Bulldogs then went into their bag of tricks in the second quarter, when quarterback Shaydon Farmer completed a pass to Sam Winter who then pitched it to Teegan Zillyett on a hook-and-ladder play for a touchdown and a 15-0 lead at the 6:13 mark of the second quarter.
With just over a minute until halftime, Farmer and Winter connected again, this time on a 32-yard scoring strike to take a 22-0 lead into the break.
Outside of a 64-yard TD run from Shelton running back Josiah Olels in the third quarter, the second half belonged to the Bulldogs. Montesano scored on a TD pass from Farmer to Trace Ridgway, and a safety and a 15-yard run from Zillyett to take a commanding 38-6 lead into the fourth quarter.
A Farmer TD pass to Jordan King and a short scoring run from Cooper Johanson in the fourth quarter rounded out the scoring.
“All-in-all, it was a good game,” said Montesano head coach Terry Jensen, whose team had a balanced attack with 230 yards rushing and 208 yards through the air.
Jensen was quick to highlight the effort of his defense, which has held its opponent to under 10 points for the second straight week to open the season.
The Highclimbers dropped to 0-2. They return to Jack Stark Field at Highclimber Stadium tomorrow to open South Sound Conference play against Capital High School.
The Capital football team secured its 300th win in program history last weekend as it defeated W.F. West 29-9 on Sept. 7. The Cougars opened the 2018 season with a 22-9 win over Lakes High School. The Cougar defense has been solid, allowing only nine points per game. The Cougars’ roster is loaded with veterans — 21 of the 22 offensive and defensive first string are seniors.
For more of the Shelton-Mason County Journal, subscribe to our weekly edition.
alexandra@masoncounty.com
The Shelton Highclimber football team continued a trend of losing to teams in lower divisions when they fell to the Montesano Bulldogs, 51-6, Sept. 7 at Montesano High School.
Montesano got on the board with just under nine minutes left in the first quarter on a short touchdown run by Brent Hollatz.
The Bulldogs then went into their bag of tricks in the second quarter, when quarterback Shaydon Farmer completed a pass to Sam Winter who then pitched it to Teegan Zillyett on a hook-and-ladder play for a touchdown and a 15-0 lead at the 6:13 mark of the second quarter.
With just over a minute until halftime, Farmer and Winter connected again, this time on a 32-yard scoring strike to take a 22-0 lead into the break.
Outside of a 64-yard TD run from Shelton running back Josiah Olels in the third quarter, the second half belonged to the Bulldogs. Montesano scored on a TD pass from Farmer to Trace Ridgway, and a safety and a 15-yard run from Zillyett to take a commanding 38-6 lead into the fourth quarter.
A Farmer TD pass to Jordan King and a short scoring run from Cooper Johanson in the fourth quarter rounded out the scoring.
“All-in-all, it was a good game,” said Montesano head coach Terry Jensen, whose team had a balanced attack with 230 yards rushing and 208 yards through the air.
Jensen was quick to highlight the effort of his defense, which has held its opponent to under 10 points for the second straight week to open the season.
The Highclimbers dropped to 0-2. They return to Jack Stark Field at Highclimber Stadium tomorrow to open South Sound Conference play against Capital High School.
The Capital football team secured its 300th win in program history last weekend as it defeated W.F. West 29-9 on Sept. 7. The Cougars opened the 2018 season with a 22-9 win over Lakes High School. The Cougar defense has been solid, allowing only nine points per game. The Cougars’ roster is loaded with veterans — 21 of the 22 offensive and defensive first string are seniors.
For more of the Shelton-Mason County Journal, subscribe to our weekly edition.