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Articles from the March 9, 2023 edition


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  • Port weighs city proposal

    Gordon Weeks|Mar 9, 2023

    If the Port of Shelton property at Sanderson Field is annexed from Mason County into the City of Shelton, the city would gain about 1,100 acres of land and the taxes and user fees that come with it. With annexation, the Port of Shelton might get quicker response from Shelton police than Mason County sheriff's deputies, but would lose sales taxes, stormwater fees and might have to change building codes under city regulations when port tenants change. Annexation could also be a mixed bag for port...

  • Charlotte Berry

    Mar 9, 2023

    Charlotte Berry passed away peacefully at Shelton Health & Rehab on February 25, 2023, at the age of 81. She was born in Weatherford, OK on October 10, 1941. Charlotte was a middle child of Ted and Cleo Nicewarner. She graduated from Weatherford High school in 1959, and then entered the school of Nursing at Southwestern State College in Weatherford, OK. While attending college, she met her husband Robert and were married in November 1960. They moved to Everett, WA and began 62 years of a loving...

  • Kelly LaMont

    Mar 9, 2023

    Kelly LaMont was born on April 2, 1964, in Longview, WA and passed away on February 26, 2023, in Shelton, WA. At a young age, her family moved to Seattle, and then to Shelton when Kelly was in the 6th grade. Kelly lived in Shelton most of her life, and briefly in Anchorage, AK where she had her daughter April. Kelly enjoyed the outdoors, and was involved in many activities; snow skiing, water skiing, golf, and her favorite – the Pyros Coed Softball team. She loved gardening, lighting off the f...

  • Joan Cliff Borden Winne

    Mar 9, 2023

    Joan Cliff Borden, also known as Grandma and Teeny Grandma, was born in Tacoma, WA on March 20th, 1936 to Frank and Violet Borden. She passed away on Feb. 28th, 2023, with her children and close relatives by her side. Joan graduated from Stadium High School, Tacoma, WA in 1954. She then met her future husband, William (Bill) H. Winne at Shady Beach, along Hood Canal. They were married on June 4th, 1954 and remained married until Bill passed away in November 2000. Bill and Joan moved to Arizona...

  • Ruth Khaw

    Mar 9, 2023

    Ruth Khaw, a resident of Middletown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, passed away on February 21, 2023, after a brave battle with thymic cancer. She was 73 years old. Ruth was kind, selfless and generous-a ray of positive light to those who knew her. She will be deeply missed by family and friends across the globe. Ruth was born and raised in Yangon, Myanmar (then known as Rangoon, Burma). She was a graduate of Rangoon Arts and Science University where she obtained a bachelor's degree in...

  • Recently Passed

    Mar 9, 2023

    Michael Pflugrad, 71, a resident of Elma, WA passed away January 29, 2023, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. James A. Roell, Sr., 63, a resident of Lakewood, WA, passed away February 28, 2023, at St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Joan Winne, 86, a resident of Shelton, WA passed away February 28, 2023, at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Elizabeth Ellinor...

  • Meet the court

    Mar 9, 2023

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  • Peacock Ridge annexed into city

    Gordon Weeks|Mar 9, 2023

    The Shelton City Council on Tuesday evening annexed 370 acres of Peacock Ridge into the city. Four property owners petitioned the city for annexation of forested Mason County land behind Olympic College Shelton. Green Diamond Resources owns two parcels totaling 240 acres, JPS Properties has almost 40 acres, Alpine Evergreen owns 50 acres and Bence Parcels owns 41 acres. The neighborhoods bordering the properties are Terrace Heights, Manke's Alpine View and Hiawatha Park. The land is designated...

  • City manager leaving Shelton

    Mar 9, 2023

    Shelton City Manager Jeff Niten will leave his job to become the city manager of Mountlake Terrace. Niten made the announcement Tuesday evening at the Shelton City Council meeting. His last day is March 31. Niten prefaced his remarks by saying his departure was in "the rumor mill." "It's bittersweet," he said. "I really enjoyed my time here and I can't tell you how much I appreciate the opportunity to work with council to address the issues we wanted to address." Niten said he set up...

  • City Briefs

    Compiled by reporter Gordon Weeks|Mar 9, 2023

    City buys truck to patch potholes and camera van The Shelton City Council on Tuesday evening approved spending up to $280,000 for a new truck to patch potholes, and $257,000 out of the city's sewer and storm fund for a new camera van to better document the condition of sewer and storm lines. The council gave preliminary approval to both purchases at its Feb. 21 meeting. The city's current patch truck is more than 26 years old and maintenance costs are increasing, Brent Armstrong of the city's...

  • County Briefs

    Compiled by reporter Matt Baide|Mar 9, 2023

    Public comment on SR 302 corridor The public is invited to comment on the future of the state Route 302 corridor in Mason and Pierce counties. According to a news release, the state Department of Transportation has begun a study of Route 302 in the Victor area to identify potential transportation system improvements. This portion of Route 302 has experienced road settlement and sloughing and can be triggered by heavy rain, and it has led to temporary closures and rough roads. WSDOT is hosting...

  • Ruminations after skipping daily nutrition

    Kirk Ericson|Mar 9, 2023

    “I was a willow last night in a dream I bent down over a clear running stream.” — “Crazy on You,” Heart The first time I climbed Mount Ellinor was around the turn of the millennium, and it must have been spring because it was warm and deep snow was still packed in the chute. I was climbing with Darren Samuelson, who was the outdoor writer for The Olympian newspaper at the time. Darren and I had a sunny time clomping to the top and glissading to the bottom of that Olympic peak with the treeless...

  • Letters to the Editor

    Mar 9, 2023

    A Pioneer thanks Editor, the Journal, On behalf of the students, staff, board of directors and parents of the Pioneer School District, I would like to thank all of those stakeholders who voted to support our recent levy. The levy will give our district the necessary funding to continue our work in helping students recover from the delayed learning that occurred during the pandemic. It will also create opportunities for enrichment activities beyond the classroom that will only enhance the...

  • Transparency in the Auditor's Office

    Steve Duenkel, Mason County Auditor|Mar 9, 2023

    From time to time, I hope to let you know how the Auditor's Office team is working to prepare for future elections and provide more transparency to the people of Mason County. This year is off to a busy and solid start. With certification of the February 2023 special election behind us, we completed another successful election. Your dedicated and experienced elections team worked hard to ensure that every accepted ballot and vote was counted correctly and accurately. Voters approved educational...

  • School Briefs

    Compiled by reporter Gordon Weeks|Mar 9, 2023

    Learn today about trades offered by OC Shelton Olympic College Shelton offers information sessions today on construction trades and welding. Adults, high school students and employers are invited to learn about the course requirements, enrollment steps and financial aid opportunities for construction trades at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and for welding at 1 p.m. For more information and to RSVP, go to the website [email protected] or call 369-432-5404. Kristmastown Kiwanis offering...

  • Proposed offender housing near Tenino nixed

    Matt Baide|Mar 9, 2023

    A proposed sex offender home near Tenino has been canceled, according to the company pursuing the housing. Supreme Living, the operator of the proposed group home in Tenino, said in a Feb. 28 statement on Facebook that it would not be going forward “due to resources and expense associated with land-use requirements, it will not proceed with providing supportive housing services at its Tenino property.” According to a news release, local legislators say the cancellation is a relief, but Sen. Dre...

  • Legislature Briefs

    Compiled by reporter Matt Baide|Mar 9, 2023

    Griffey, Couture telephone town hall scheduled Friday Reps. Dan Griffey and Travis Couture, R-Allyn, are hosting a telephone town hall from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday. According to a news release, the town hall is an opportunity for constituents to ask questions related to the 2023 legislative session over the phone. The call-in number is 360-335-2741. “I am always excited to connect with my community in the 35th District. Like I said at the close of last session we had more work to do — especially on public safety,” Griffey said in a news rel...

  • Commission Briefs

    Compiled by reporter Matt Baide|Mar 9, 2023

    Historic Preservation Commission announces program The Mason County Historic Preservation Commission announced the Historical Building, Structure or Place Plaque Program. According to a news release, the program acknowledges the value of buildings, structures or places in Mason County that should be considered historically important, possess distinct architectural or have other characteristics associated with important events in Mason County’s history. The plaque program acknowledges and recognizes the county’s historical places through a sim...

  • Sultans of String perform

    Mar 9, 2023

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  • Nonprofit Briefs

    Compiled by reporter Gordon Weeks|Mar 9, 2023

    Author talks about St. Helens aftermath Eric Wagner will talk about "After the Blast: Mount St. Helens 40 Years Later" at 1:30 p.m. March 26 at the Harstine Island Community Club as part of the Inquiring Minds/Humanities Washington program. This is the 14th year the two entities have presented the programs, which are staged at 1:30 p.m. on the last Sunday in January, February and March at the Community Club, 3371 E. Harstine Island Road North. Donations will be accepted to support Inquiring...

  • Navy Sea Chanters perform Saturday at SHS

    Gordon Weeks|Mar 9, 2023

    The United States Navy Sea Chanters will perform patriotic tunes, sea chanteys, opera, Broadway and traditional choral music at a free concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Shelton High School Performing Arts Center. Admission is free, but patrons are asked to make reservations at www.usnavyband.ticketleap.com/us-navy-band-sea-chanters-shelton-wa. However, no one will be turned away without reservations. The Navy Band Chanters are the U.S. Navy's official chorus. Based in Washington, D.C., the group...

  • 'Picard' could go either way; 'Creed III' wraps saga

    Kirk Boxleitner|Mar 9, 2023

    'Star Trek: Picard' Three episodes into the third and allegedly final season of "Star Trek: Picard," and too much of it has already been wasted on recreating the hide-and-seek fight inside of a nebula from "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," which seems to be the all-too-obvious inspiration for other key aspects of our protagonist's intended character arc this time around. In terms of pacing overall, this season has already introduced two new adult children of core cast members from "Star Trek:...

  • North Mason program gets $40K maritime grant

    Kirk Boxleitner|Mar 9, 2023

    North Mason School District's CORE+ Maritime program recently received a $40,000 grant that will help pay for the program's supplies and equipment as it expands from woodworking into metalworking and body shop operations, using lumber, epoxy composites and molded fiberglass. The grant was provided through the Legislature's allocation for the CORE+ Maritime programs. Gavin Forseth teaches woodworking and CORE+ Maritime, and is the district's Career and Technical Education Department leader. Lexi...

  • HUB runway show set to offer 'Patio Party' May 13

    Kirk Boxleitner|Mar 9, 2023

    The HUB Center for Seniors revival of what had traditionally been a semiannual runway show has settled on the theme for its Patio Party in May: Fashions inspired by the late 1960's through the 1970s. Barbara Treick, manager of Belfair Self-Storage and creator of its art wall, received emails of interest last year from people who wanted to participate, and then received their fashion designs by Feb. 28. Treick said the event would feature two runway shows, one before lunch and the other...

  • Mary, new puppy have grown fond of each other

    Clydene Hostetler|Mar 9, 2023

    Sam is still in California and Mary keeps herself busy. The weather is getting nicer and she works out in their yard picking up, raking and burning branches from winter storms. When she leaves her new pup is extremely happy upon her return. Mary speaks of her new pup several times this week. One day she was gone most of the day and into the evening and when she arrived home there was no pup. After exploring, she discovered him on the neighbor's porch. Poor little guy got lonely. Saturday, Feb....