Thursday, April 19, 2018  - Week 16

GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT

Journal photo by Gordon Weeks

Olympic Middle School sixth-grader Trevor Rodeback practices putting the shot after school Monday at Shelton High School’s Highclimber Stadium. Olympic’s track and field team is scheduled to compete for the first time this season on Monday at the stadium.

State still collecting comments on ‘septic lagoon’ 

By MICHAEL HEINBACH
michael@masoncounty.com

The State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) comment period for a proposed “septic lagoon” at Bio Recycling Corporation’s North Ranch sewage treatment facility has been extended to Saturday. But that’s not quite enough for some Mason County residents who steadfastly oppose the project near Union due to possible contamination of the area’s groundwater and soil.

Those wishing to comment can visit https://bit.ly/2qMHaA3 with the user name “DCD” and use the password “1Plan*ing!” before clicking on the Bio Recycling-North Ranch Project tab.

The proposed 18 million gallon storage tank, called a septic lagoon, would be intended to store non-biodegradable refuse annually between Oct. 1 and March 31 at the 400-acre property, located at 820 E. Webb Hill Road. Last month, the state Department of Ecology determined the septic lagoon would “not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment.”

However, many resident disagree with that assessment and have vocalized their concerns to the Board of Mason County Commissioners and Kell Rowen, a planner with the county’s community development department. 

However, though it’s listed as a co-lead agency along with Ecology on the permitting, Mason County was only responsible for issuing a grading permit needed to build the septic lagoon. Ecology was the entity that issued a determination of nonsignificance that dealt with the environmental issues.

“Ecology feels that all of the information submitted by the company has addressed those environmental reviews,” Rowen told the Board of County

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

City considers
removing traffic light downtown

By GORDON WEEKS
gordon@masoncounty.com

City of Shelton engineers believe the traffic lights at the intersection of South First and West Cota streets are unsynchronized, create downtown traffic congestion and should be removed.

The Shelton City Commission gave preliminary approval at its meeting Tuesday evening to ask the state to remove the lights. The commission can vote to make the request official at its meeting at 6 p.m. May 1.

In his report to the commissioners, Public Works Director Craig Gregory wrote that the lights at South First and West Cota streets are synchronized poorly with the lights a block away at the major intersection of state Route 3 and East Railroad Avenue. His staff has requested an assessment of the signal timing by the WSDOT and, if warranted, removal of the signal.

Gregory told the commissioners that the video camera on lighting equipment at Cota and First streets doesn’t seem to detect vehicles.
Mayor Gary Cronce pointed out that he lives on Cota Street and frequently uses that intersection.

“I think it would improve traffic flow to remove that light,” he said.

The proposed letter from the city to WSDOT points out that the city “is also in the beginning phase of the revitalization of a major arterial road just north of the intersection and will include the City’s first roundabout, located at First and Alder Street. We believe removing the signal at state Route 3 and Cota Street will eased congestion and allow traffic to flow more efficiently for our residents and the general commuting public.”

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

---

Journal photo by Alexandra Smith

Shelton High School senior Alyssa Jorgensen plans to play softball at Centralia Community College and hopes to someday play for the University of Washington.

Shelton high school girls tennis sweeps two

By ALEXANDRA SMITH
alexandra@masoncounty.com

The Shelton High School girls tennis team recently is on a hot streak after sweeping two South Sound Conference opponents. 

On March 29, the Highclimbers beat Gig Harbor High School 5-0 in a home match. 

“This was an amazing win for us,” Shelton head coach John Perry said. “We have not beat Gig Harbor since I have been coaching the girls team, which is 28 years.  And to win 5-0 was truly awesome for the girls.”

At No. 1 singles,  Shelton’s Jessica Schreiber defeated Ally White, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. At No. 2 singles, Shelton’s Joni Allen defeated Grace Gladstone, 6-2, 6-2. At No. 1 doubles, Highclimbers Becca Allen and Emma Johnson defeated Abby Paul and Sofia Kastellar, 7-5, 7-6, (7-4). In No. 2 doubles, Shelton pair Josie Beaudoin and Kirsty Holdbrook defeated Tory Omlin and Lily Tebb, 6-4, 6-4. At No. 3 doubles, Shelton’s Lindsee Smotherman and Kaylee Slone defeated Rachel Lohse and Sophia Potak, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

“Every match was close, and I thought that every girl that played varsity gave it their maximum effort,” Perry said. “I could tell on the court that we had the attitude that we were not going to lose, and that attitude paid off for them. We battled so hard at each spot, supported our team when we were done, and it was a great way to begin spring break.”

The Highclimbers returned to the court after spring break and beat Yelm High School 5-0 on April 10 in an away conference match. 

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