Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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Career incentive pay policy approved Mason County commissioners approved the adoption of a new pay and benefit policy and added it into the Mason County Personnel Policy. According to the information packet, the budget will be affected for Public Works with a $35,000 increase prorated for the remainder of 2022, $40,000 per year for eligible positions that could achieve the incentive and the auditor and financial services $10,000 increase prorated for the remainder of 2022. The reason for the pay policy is to recognize and encourage staff to...
Shelton baseball falls to Ellensburg to end season The Highclimbers had a lead against Ellensburg on May 21, but were unable to hang on as Ellensburg won 6-5 to end Shelton’s season in the State 2A baseball tournament at Davis High School in Yakima. The Highclimbers were down 2-0 until the fifth inning, rallying with five runs in the top of the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. Ellensburg tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Ellensburg walked off with the win with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Shelton baseball finished the s...
PUD 1 plans Bellwood water outage Thursday Mason County PUD 1 announced a water outage for Bellwood A&B system users from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday to do electrical work to install a generator. According to a Twitter post, PUD 1 is asking people to have extra drinking water on hand and turn off the breaker to their hot water heater. If you have any questions, call the district office at 360-877-5249. PUD 1 also asked people to share the notice with others who might not have heard about the outage. Candidate filing period ends Friday Mason...
Shelton softball The Highclimber softball team lost its final three games of the regular season last week in Evergreen Conference games. Shelton traveled to Chehalis and fell 15-5 to W.F. West on May 10. The Highclimbers went to Aberdeen on May 11 and lost 15-11. Rochester came to Shelton on May 13 for senior day, with the Highclimbers falling 16-4. Shelton ended its season 5-16 overall and 4-14 in Evergreen Conference games. Shelton Track The Shelton girls finished fourth in the Evergreen Conference Championships on May 13 at Tiger Stadium in...
Commissioners approve list of county projects Mason County commissioners approved a resolution to adopt the 2022-23 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Project list as recommended by the Mason County Economic Development Council. According to the information packet, the projects are a public infrastructure priority list, assessed annually by the EDC. Projects are considered based on community need, project readiness, probability of being funded and number of jobs created. The projects must be sponsored by a government entity to...
North Mason soccer The North Mason boys soccer team wrapped up its season with a 2-1 loss to North Kitsap on May 5 in Poulsbo. The Bulldogs ended the season 2-13 overall and 1-13 in league games. Softball The Bulldog softball team dropped two games last week in Olympic League softball action. North Mason fell to Sequim 8-7 on the road May 3 before hosting Olympic on May 4 and falling 3-0. The Bulldogs bounced back Monday with a 10-1 win against Kingston on the road. North Mason (10-6, 7-4) wraps up the regular season with three games this week....
Deadline nears for SBA disaster loans The U.S. Small Business Administration reminds private nonprofit organizations in the state that May 30 is the deadline to apply for SBA federal disaster loans for property damage caused by severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred Jan. 1 to 15. According to a news release, private nonprofits that provide essential services of governmental nature are eligible. Eligible nonprofits can apply for SBA loans of up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or...
County records 2 COVID-19 deaths Mason County recorded two COVID-19 deaths last week. According to the Division of Emergency Management the deaths were a man in his 70s and a man in his 80s. The county recorded 17 cases on April 20 and 21. The seven-day case rate per 100,000 people is 28.9 and the 14-day case rate is 62.5. The county is 58.8% vaccinated and no one is hospitalized with COVID. Kilmer issues statement on Biden’s Executive Order U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, attended President Joe Biden’s signing of an executive order at Se...
County requests architectural professional services Mason County commissioners approved allowing the county to issue a request for qualifications for architectural engineering professional services at their April 26 meeting. According to the information packet, the county seeks services for design and construction management, including all civil engineering and permitting requirements for county owned property in Mason County. The professional services contract is not budgeted. Public hearing for community development grant County...
Shelton baseball Shelton faced Black Hills in a pair of games this past week. The Highclimbers won 3-1 at home April 19 before traveling to Tumwater on Monday and earning a 5-2 win. Shelton (11-5 overall, 6-4 league) hosted Crosspoint Academy on Wednesday and is at home against Black Hills on Friday. The Highclimbers hit the road Monday to take on Aberdeen. Track The Shelton boys and girls competed in an Evergreen Conference meet with Tumwater and Black Hills on April 21 in Tumwater. In girls action, Shelton’s Tatum Dickey won the 800-meter r...
Belfair man dies in state Route 3 crash A two-car crash Monday in Belfair on state Route 3 killed a 74-year-old man. According to a Washington State Patrol news release, William M. Cundiff of Belfair was declared dead at the scene. His next of kin was notified. The release states Cundiff was driving west on Cokelet Lane to turn left onto Route 3 while the other vehicle, driven by a 17-year-old Tahuya male, was driving north on Route 3. Cundiff failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck by vehicle two. The road was closed for about two hours....
Rep. Kilmer tests positive for COVID-19 U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, tested positive for COVID-19 on April 6. “Late this afternoon I tested positive for COVID-19 after testing negative as recently as yesterday,” Kilmer said in a news release. “I am currently asymptomatic — and I am grateful to be fully vaccinated and boosted. I will follow CDC guidance and isolate for the next several days. My office will remain fully operational and I will continue working virtually on behalf of the folks I represent.” Belfair marijuana store rob...
DNR plans public hearing on proposed boundary expansion The state Department of Natural Resources is having a public hearing April 20 at Mason County Fire Hall District No. 4 about a proposed expansion of the boundary of the Skookum Inlet Natural Area Preserve. According to a DNR letter addressed to county commissioners, the proposed expansion area is adjacent to the 165 acres Skookum Inlet NAP (Natural Area Preserve) boundary. The preserve was appointed to the Natural Heritage Advisory Council in 1985 to protect three salt-marsh ecosystems,...
Special election set for April 26 A special election for Mason County Fire Protection District No. 18 and Southside School District is set for April 26. According to a news release, the emergency medical services property tax levy for Fire Protection District No. 18 and a replacement educational programs and operations levy for Southside School District will be on the ballot. Ballots and voters’ pamphlets will be mailed out this week. Voter registration and applications must be received by April 18 to be effective for the special election. A...
Sheriff’s Office contract with Monarch Children’s Advocacy Center approved Mason County commissioners approved a contract extension between the Sheriff’s Office Detectives Division with Monarch Children’s Advocacy Center. According to the information packet, the advocacy center conducts forensic interviews when the Mason County Sheriff’s Office is investigating abuse. The contract for services expired in August 2021 and the Sheriff’s Office wants to continue services currently conducted and extend the contract through Dec. 31, 2025. The S...
Shelton Baseball The Highclimber boys split a pair of games against Tumwater last week in EvCo action. Shelton defeated Tumwater 5-1 on March 29 at home. The Highclimbers traveled to Tumwater March 30 and fell 4-0. Shelton (5-3, 1-3) faced Olympic on Tuesday in a nonleague game. The Highclimbers hit the road to take on Rochester today before returning home Friday to play the Warriors again. Track The Shelton girls had several winners in an Evergreen Conference track meet with Tumwater, Rochester and Centralia on March 29 in Shelton. Shelton’s K...
Cascade Natural Gas replacing Shelton natural gas pipelines Cascade Natural Gas is going to replace natural gas main pipelines and service lines in a portion of Shelton. According to a news release, the work will occur over the next five to six months beginning Monday and is an ongoing integrity management process to ensure safety and reliability of the natural gas system. Cascade identified sections of pipe for replacement based on physical, operation and maintenance components. The work requires a short interruption of natural gas service...
County invites comments about county road project Mason County invites the public to comment on alternative plans for the Uncle John Creek lower culvert fish barrier correction project on Agate Loop Road. According to a news release, an open house is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. April 7 at the Agate Grange No. 275, 1631 Agate Loop Road, Shelton. The open house is for people to come talk with Public Works team members about the design alternatives, ask questions and provide comment. Comments must be received by Public Works by 4:30 p.m. on April...
President signs Kilmer’s legislation President Joe Biden signed a 12-bill spending package into law that provides money for Derek Kilmer-supported priorities. According to a news release, Kilmer, D-Gig Harvor, the legislation included the Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, which approved $13.6 billion in emergency funding to support Ukraine. The package included $22.9 million in community project funding for 10 projects in Kilmer’s district. The list of projects and money includes $1 million to support Duckabush Estuary Restoration, $3....
County seeking planning applicants The Mason County Planning Advisory Commission is taking applications for the Commissioner District 2 open seat. According to a news release, District 2 represents the areas of Kamilche, Matlock, Hoodsport and Lilliwaup. The commission is a seven-member board appointed to advise county commissioners on policies related to the comprehensive plan, shoreline master program, resource ordinance and other development regulations. The commission usually meets on the third Monday of the month with special meetings as...
Shelton Softball Shelton softball earned its first win of the season against Lakes 18-16 on March 15 in Shelton. The Highclimbers fell to Rochester in its first Evergreen Conference game 9-7 on March 18 at home. Shelton took on Tumwater on Monday and lost 19-5 in Shelton. Shelton hit the road to play Centralia on Wednesday before returning home to face Olympic in a nonleague game Friday. The Highclimbers travel to Chehalis on Monday for an EvCo game against W.F. West. Girls tennis The Shelton girls tennis team kicked off its season with a 5-0...
Electronic home monitoring contract approved Mason County commissioners approved a contract for electronic home monitoring services for Mason County Juvenile Court Services at its March 15 meeting. According to the information packet, Juvenile Court Services receives grants to provide staff support and create alternate programming instead of detention. The court received additional money and decided to add electronic home monitoring as another option that can be used instead of detention. The contract is between Mason County Juvenile Probation...
State Route 302 near Victor reopens The state Department of Transportation has reopened state Route 302 east of Victor after it was closed March 1. According to a news release, heavy rainfall triggered roadway settlement and sloughing. An 80-foot section of highway settled more than 6 inches. WSDOT crews ground off and replaced damaged asphalt, according to WSDOT spokesman Doug Adamson and shown in the picture above. “SR 302 passes over a slow-moving landslide that is occasionally retriggered by rain,” Adamson said in an email to the Jou...
Mason Health reveals new patient access center A patient access center officially opened at Mason Clinic with a ribbon-cutting event for staff March 8. According to a news release, plans to remodel the former clinic and office space was delayed in 2020 due to COVID-19. Construction began in August 2021 and was completed in February. Public Hospital District No. 1 commissioners Darrin Moody and Gayle Weston, patient access center staff and Mason Health Senior leadership attended the ribbon cutting. “The outstanding work of leaders and f...
Track & Field The Owls kicked off the track season with a jamboree at Montesano on March 10. Mary M. Knight’s Danny Goeders finished eighth in the 400-meter dash and he placed ninth in the discus. Junior Drake Jenkins finished 10th in the shot put and 12th in the discus. Mary M. Knight returns to Montesano today for a league meet. Baseball The North Mason baseball team fell in its opening game 13-1 at home against Klahowya in a nonleague game. The Bulldogs (0-1) host Port Angeles today in the first Olympic League game of the season before t...
