Thursday, February 21 2019  - Week 8

The storm's aftermath

Snowfall in downtown Shelton and throughout Mason County finally melted earlier this week after more than a foot of snow fell in parts of the area. This aerial photograph, taken by a drone, was shot Feb. 9 in Shelton before the majority of this storm hit the area. Journal photo by Shawna Whelan

County board opposes
​gun law

By MICHAEL HEINBACH
michael@masoncounty.com

A week after Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson issued a memo to law enforcement agencies statewide, reminding them of their obligation to enforce new firearm restriction laws passed by Washington voters in November, the Board of Mason County Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution stating its opposition to Initiative 1639.

The resolution was drafted in late January by BOCC chair Kevin Shutty, and backed Tuesday by second-term commissioner Randy Neatherlin and newly elected commissioner Sharon Trask. The resolution raises concerns over the constitutionality of I-1639, which requires increased background checks, firearm safety training and waiting periods before semiautomatic assault rifles may be purchased or delivered. It prohibits purchases by persons under age 21 and requires certain secured firearm storage or trigger-locks, and criminalizes certain firearm storage if it results in unauthorized use. Additionally, I-1639 enacts other firearm-related requirements, including certain warnings, record keeping and fees.

​“NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Mason County Commissioners that the Board of Commissioners does hereby oppose the implementation of I-1639 or the enactment of any legislation that would infringe upon the lawful rights of its residents to keep and bear arms, and would consider such laws to be unconstitutional and beyond lawful application of its legislative and governance authority or duties,” Shutty’s resolution states. “BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mason County Board of Commissioners hereby requests that copies of this resolution be transmitted to Mason County’s legislative delegation and Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson to encourage their support of the constitutionally protected right to bear arms.”


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City crews worked around the clock to remove snow from streets

By GORDON WEEKS
gordon@masoncounty.com

City of Shelton crews worked around the clock for seven days to clear snow off streets.

During heavy snows and the aftermath from Feb 8-15, the city used five snow-removal trucks (dump trucks with plows and sanders), four trucks and a sander, said Craig Gregory, the city’s public works director.
Employees worked in shifts of six to eight hours, continuously, for seven days.

The crews cleared the emergency routes, and then tackled connector streets and neighborhoods.

“The guys did a great job … The guys kept up on it,” Gregory said.

The biggest challenge was what to do with the snow removed from the roads, without blocking driveways and cul-de-sacs, Gregory said.

“When it’s that much, it’s just trying to find places to put it,” he said.
Olympic Highway North between North Seventh and East C streets — which closed yesterday for road construction expected to last until March 31 — was one of the most challenging stretches, Gregory said. The concrete jersey barrier made the passageway narrow, and harder to find places to pile the snow, he said.

The city’s supply of sand ran low, and twice the city bought new supplies, Gregory said. 

The public works department has limited space to store sand, he said.

“It has been a concern of ours in the past,” he said.

At the Shelton City Council meeting Tuesday evening, Mayor Bob Rogers thanked the city’s public works and police staffs for their hard work during the snow.

​For more of the Shelton-Mason County Journal, subscribe to our weekly edition.

Journal photo by Justin Johnson
​​
The match official raises Shelton High School senior Quinn Lacy’s arm, signaling victory, in her 235-pound bout with White River’s Tailyn Nelson on Feb. 15 at Mat Classic XXXI at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma. Lacy finished fifth in her weight class. See more wrestling stories on B-3 and B-6 and photos on B-4 and B-5. Journal photo by Justin Johnson

Shelton’s Lacy takes fifth

By JUSTIN JOHNSON
justin@masoncounty.com

After nearly losing her season to a leg injury, Quinn Lacy was pretty grateful for her fifth-place finish at Mat Classic XXXI. 

The Shelton High School senior advanced to the semifinal round of the state championship girls wrestling meet, held Feb. 15-16 at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, earning two pins and a 5-0 decision.

“Battling back from the injury was a pretty big challenge for me,” Lacy said. “Not only the fact that I had to be healthy again, but I had to keep my head right, thinking my leg wouldn’t get hurt again. The first day of the state meet, I felt really good about myself and I was confident in my performance. Those two pins really set a tone in my head that maybe I could take the whole tournament.

“Saturday was challenging, and I’m disappointed that I didn’t get a higher finish, but I’m not disappointed in my performance. I know that I wrestled hard and I could’ve done a few things a little different to win those matches, but a fifth-place finish is something I’m very proud of.”

Lacy injured her knee late during her junior season, but still battled through the state meet to finish third. After having surgery to repair the damage, Lacy
experienced a recovery that nearly ate through her final year of high school competition.

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