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Articles from the February 22, 2024 edition


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  • State champ

    Feb 22, 2024

  • City Council discusses public safety

    Gordon Weeks|Feb 22, 2024

    At a Shelton City Council work session Feb. 13, Mayor Eric Onisko asked Shelton Police Chief Chris Kostad the same question he asked his two predecessors: "What's your dream? How many officers would be in your world if it was perfect?" "Four per shift ... one sergeant, three officers per shift," Kostad replied. The Shelton Police Department has two officers for each 12-hour shift. Staffing, recruitment challenges, the K-9 program and future projects were among the subjects discussed during the...

  • Citizen police academy begins

    June Williams|Feb 22, 2024

    “When you leave here in eight weeks, our hope is you will know the truth of how the criminal justice system works,” Shelton Police Captain Daniel Patton told members Feb. 15 at the first class of the Citizens Academy. The goal of the academy is to strengthen relationships with the community through education. “You live here, you work here, you own a business here,” Patton said. Understanding the department can help residents and police come together to find solutions to complex problems affecting our community, according to Patton. One of the...

  • WSDOT shares bypass information

    June Williams|Feb 22, 2024

    Community members can find the latest information about the Belfair Bypass, officially known as the Highway 3 Freight Corridor, and leave comments about the project through Feb. 28 at engage.wsdot.wa.gov/sr-3-freight-corridor. The state Department of Transportation prepared the online open house to present information in the recently completed supplemental environmental assessment, WSDOT spokesperson Mark Krulish told the Journal. A Feb. 13 public drop-in at North Mason High School featured 24...

  • Final election results

    Gordon Weeks|Feb 22, 2024

    Voters in the Grapeview and Mary M. Knight school districts solidly passed two replacement levies in the Feb. 13 special election, and the Hood Canal School District's proposed $33.5-million building bond fell short of the 60% super majority. Of the 44,481 registered voters in Mason County, 15,315 cast ballots for a turnout of 34.43%. The ballot results are scheduled to be certified Friday. The proposition for Mason County to increase the sales and use tax by two-tenths of 1% to provide ongoing...

  • These Times

    Kirk Ericson|Feb 22, 2024

    The world is not going to hell. It’s not going to heaven, either. It’s going to where it’s always been going and where it’s always been: Planet Earth. This world of ours is a mix, a kind of impure puree. Sometimes, the heaven part coagulates at the top, and sometimes, the hell part’s at the top. That’s the ebb and recharge of the universe’s experiment with Homo sapiens. Many of us humans have worked hard to learn how to exist amid other Homo sapiens, and many of us have worked hard to destr...

  • Letters to the Editor

    Feb 22, 2024

    Editor's note: In a recent letter to the editor, Mr. Graham questioned a letter writer's use of TinyURL links. TinyURL is a link-shortening website that allows for more user-friendly entry into an internet browser than typing out a full web address - some of which can be hundreds of characters long. The shortened links in question came from the Journal staff during the editing process. This note was intended to be included in last week's edition to clarify the process but was inadvertently left...

  • Shelter-bed increase came with conditions

    Gordon Weeks|Feb 22, 2024

    When a city hearing examiner last week gave Community Lifeline permission to increase the number of beds from 35 to 54 at its downtown Shelton shelter, the approval came with a slew of conditions. No one has filed an appeal of the hearing examiner's decision. Friday is the deadline. Community Lifeline is required to comply with city ordinances and codes, including building, plumbing and fire codes. Before receiving the certificate of occupancy for a 54-bed capacity, Community Lifeline must...

  • Crime & Courts

    Compiled by reporter June Williams|Feb 22, 2024

    Police: Drunken driver rips up Shorecrest farmers’ hayfield James and Nancy Hancharik, who raise cattle in the Shorecrest area of Shelton, called police after seeing a pickup truck drive into their pasture, “ripping it up” and “doing donuts,” on Feb. 9, according to a Mason County Sheriff’s probable cause document. Deputies found John Gardenhire, 33, standing beside a Chevrolet pickup truck stuck in a muddy pasture waving his cellphone, the document says. “Initially I bypassed the truck and went straight to the residence where I was able to c...

  • Community Briefs

    Compiled by reporter Gordon Weeks|Feb 22, 2024

    Writer talks about BC land co-op Laura Busheikin, co-founder of a land cooperative on Denman Island in British Columbia, reads from works in progress from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Shelton Timberland Library. Busheikin, a writer in residence at Hypatia-in-the-Woods, will read a personal essay about the land-share community she’s part of and how the community deals with conflict. Afterward, she’ll take questions and open the event to discussion. “Many people are curious about life in a contemporary intentional community and there’s lots we can...

  • K-9 officer demonstration

    Feb 22, 2024

  • Education Briefs

    Compiled by reporter Gordon Weeks|Feb 22, 2024

    Shelton schools sets 2024-25 calendar The Shelton School District has set the calendar for the 2024-25 school year. The Shelton School Board on Feb. 13 approved a schedule that begins with the first day of school Sept. 4, and the last day June 13, 2025. Notable dates include early release days of 1½ hours Sept. 11, Sept. 25, Dec. 11, Jan. 15, Feb. 12, March 12, March 26, April 23 and May 14; and early release days of three hours for staff training or conferences Oct. 11. Oct. 21, Oct. 22-25, Nov. 27, Dec. 20, Jan. 31, March 14, March 31,...

  • Getting Out

    Gordon Weeks|Feb 22, 2024

    The British classical crossover group Vox Fortura performs at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Shelton High School Performing Arts Center. The trio's eclectic set can include everything from Elgar and Bizet's "Pearl Fishers" to David Bowie, John Legend and Ed Sheeran. The group was a semifinalist on the TV show "Britain's Got Talent." The Mason County Community Concerts Association presents the show as part of its annual program. Single-concert tickets are $30 for adults, with children under age 18...

  • In the Dark Reviews

    Kirk Boxleitner|Feb 22, 2024

    This year's Academy Awards are coming up next month, but I've never been any good at predicting the winners, so I thought I'd look back at a film that was nominated for eight Academy Awards 30 years ago and didn't win one. When "The Remains of the Day" premiered in 1993, my tastes ran more toward Miramax than Merchant Ivory, but a family friend recently suggested to my mother, the retired English teacher, that they give the film a second viewing. My mom had taught the 1989 Booker Prize-winning...

  • North Mason's Evans wins state wrestling title

    Matt Baide|Feb 22, 2024

    North Mason junior Sadie Evans won the 155-pound weight class during the 1B-2A girls state championship at Mat Classic XXXV on Friday and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. Evans is the first North Mason wrestling state champion since Zac Joaquin in 2011. "It was pretty dang good. She pinned out, I think she might have spent all of her matches, nine or 10 minutes total on the mat," North Mason assistant coach Bill McCarty told the Journal. "Obviously, a lot of pins. Regardless of that, she really...

  • Shelton High swimmers, wrestlers shine at state

    Feb 22, 2024

  • 'Dogs at districts

    Feb 22, 2024

  • Port of Allyn approves access to safe deposit box

    June Williams|Feb 22, 2024

    Port of Allyn commissioners removed former Executive Director Lary Coppola and former Interim Executive Director LeAnn Dennis, who are deceased, and former commissioner Scott Cooper from the safe deposit box contract with Kitsap Bank at a special meeting Feb. 16. “So we can get this resolved soon, by the advice of the bank,” Commissioner Judy Scott said. Commissioner John Sheridan will inspect the contents of the box, accompanied by Mason County Commissioner Randy Neatherlin. Scott said they will “discover what’s in there,” make a record of...

  • The roads are bad, but Mary presses on

    Clydene Hostetler|Feb 22, 2024

    Wet and icky for most of the week. Mary attended chapter meetings all week. Sam had to fix a pipe down at the tavern. I am wondering whether Mary and Sam owned what is now the Woodshed Tavern? Does anybody know? Sunday, Feb. 12, 1950 Today was very wet. It was dark all day. Simply poured down! Made ham waffles and we ate about 12 o'clock. Then I ironed and mended all the clothes. Sam went up to Belfair to see Emmett about the bread man who stole bread yesterday. There is still snow on the lawn...

  • Gary Probert

    Feb 22, 2024

    Gary Probert, 87, passed away on December 5th, 2023 in Shelton, Washington. He was born on December 22nd, 1935, to John and Violette Probert in Edgewood, Washington. Gary is survived by his two sons; Scott and Brian Probert, grandsons; Jeramey, Brandon, Bryson, and Cody, also great-grandchildren; Kori and Jack. Gary attended Shelton High School, and then enrolled in the U.S. Army. After his time spent in the Army, he attended Olympic College and the University of Washington, and was...

  • Darrell R. Reed

    Feb 22, 2024

    Darrell R. Reed went to be with the Lord on February 14, 2024. A resident of Shelton for 25 years, and a member of the Skokomish Community Church. He retired from Simpson Paper in Anderson, CA in 1998, and then moved to Shelton with his wife of 56 years, Carol Reed. Darrell was also a skilled craftsman in masonry and construction. He hunted and fished his whole life, and taught many about the great outdoors. Darrell loved horses, old movies, and God. He was known for his kind, generous heart,...

  • Tami Simmons

    Feb 22, 2024

    Tami, a loving mother, daughter, sister, grandma and friend, passed peacefully at home in Olympia, WA on January 31, 2024. She had a huge heart with a smile and laughter that brightened a room. Tami is shining bright in heaven with her mom, Bonnie Eddy, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Tami leaves behind her son Perrin Simmons; daughter Krystal Ary; best friend and father to their son, Chris Simmons; dad, Douglas Walker; siblings Heath Walker, Dawn Clark, Amy Varner, Shane Walker; grandkids...

  • Curt Lesley Cheney

    Feb 22, 2024

    Curt Lesley Cheney passed away February 5, 2024 in Medford, Oregon. Curt and his twin sister Connie were born February 7, 1950, in Shelton Washington. Curt and Connie attended Shelton schools, graduating from Shelton High School in 1968. Curt was an outstanding track athlete. In 1968, he finished second in the Pole Vault to Casey Carrigan in the Shelton Invitational. Casey Carrigan went on to be an Olympic gold medalist in the Pole Vault. After high school, Curt worked briefly for Manke Lumber...

  • Eric "Wig" Williams

    Feb 22, 2024

    On February 4th, 1981, a force of nature was born when Eric "Wig" Williams entered the world. From his earliest moments, he lived life to his own rhythm and speed with unparalleled determination to do it all to the fullest and fastest extent. A loveable badass, Wig's creativity was endless as was his generosity and the depth of his heart. He bled adventure, and loved nothing more than a last minute boat cruise or road trip, searching for "rusty gold" and treasures...his friends came to call...

  • Recently Passed

    Feb 22, 2024

    Cathy Luhm Munson, 74, a resident of Seattle, passed away January 20, 2024, at home. It is unknown at this time who is making arrangements. Muriel Wilson, 93, a resident of Shelton, passed away February 3, 2024, at Alpine Way in Shelton, WA. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Arlene Clarke, 98, a resident of Olympia, passed away February 3, 2023, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. David Brown, 79, a resident of Tumwater, passed away February 7, 2024, at home....