Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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Stan Yantis is laying down his baton in June after teaching music to Hawkins Middle School students for 39 years. That doesn't mean North Mason's music man will be packing his trumpet into its case. He'll continue to perform with local bands The Windjammers and Swing Fever, and then he'll start his part-time job as the instrument manager for the marching band at his alma mater, the University of Washington. For a couple more months, Yantis will instruct fifth-grade students in the mornings...
The Mason County Forest Festival court was crowned Saturday at Gateway Christian Fellowship in Shelton. Gabriela Lepe is the new Queen of the Forest, and Joshua Brennan is Paul Bunyan. Shawna Lacy is Princess of Cedar, Nevaeh Haskins is Princess of Hemlock and Bradley Haskins Jr. is Timber the Axe Man. The court members will represent the community while riding on a float in the parades of regional festivals, such as Fathoms O'Fun in Port Orchard. They will make their hometown debut during...
The 35th Legislative District trio of Rep. Drew MacEwen, Rep. Dan Griffey and Sen. Tim Sheldon spoke at a legislative wrap-up event hosted by the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Council of Mason County and the North Mason Chamber of Commerce on March 17 at the Mason County Public Works building just outside Shelton on U.S. Highway 101. Shelton Mayor Eric Onisko started the proceedings by thanking all three legislators for their support of the city and county....
The Mary M. Knight School District has received the first electric school bus in Mason County, a $275,000 gift from the state Department of Ecology. The bus was delivered last week, and should be transporting students in the next couple weeks, said Superintendent Matt Mallery. The grant also paid for a charger for the bus. The bus can travel about 100 to 120 miles on an electric charge, Mallery said. That means the bus can pick up and deliver students to the two schools in the morning, be...
Pioneer School Board adds member The Pioneer School Board appointed Ellory Rowe to fill a board vacancy at its March 15 meeting. Rowe will assume Position 4, which opened up when Dwayne Kipple resigned. Rowe is a lifelong resident of Mason County, and her daughter attends second grade at Pioneer Elementary School. Rowe was sworn in Sunday at the board’s retreat. Scholarships for law enforcement students available Graduating Mason County seniors who plan to pursue a career in law enforcement or criminal justice can apply for a Charlie’s Vision S...
When people remark about how amazing our modern technology is — sometimes after discovering something else their cellphones can do — I wonder what time in human history they’re comparing “modern” to. Is modern technology more amazing than inventions of the 1920s: television, the altimeter and liquid-fueled rockets? How about the Renaissance when the printing press, eyeglasses and the musket emerged? What about the Han Dynasty in China when paper and the blast furnace were created? How about the...
The humanist Editor, the Journal, In response to James Poirson, thank you for reading my letter of March 3 and finding it to be useful. I appreciate that you did not see it as a personal attack but rather a way to continue a discussion. It seems to me that too much anger is expressed on these pages and not enough thoughtfulness. As regarding any future debate: as a young man I was a liberal firebrand, in middle age a staunch conservative. Now, in my later years, I think of myself as a humanist. I hope for peace in the world and I look for good...
The League of Women Voters of Mason County heard from a pair of veteran journalists on "The Decline of Local Journalism and Its Impact on Democracy" during its March 15 meeting. Sally Carpenter Hale retired in 2019 after 40 years with The Associated Press, most recently as director of regional media for Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. As the AP's bureau chief in New Jersey, she directed that state's coverage of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and their aftermath. Dee Anne Finken reported for the Fresno and Sacramento Bee newspapers early in...
Clay soil is commonplace in Mason County. I've got various mixtures from almost soil to practically pottery. People put a lot of effort into fluffing up that clay soil for planting purposes. Introducing air and organic matter can lighten some of that impermeability and compaction. Tilling clay contributes to hardpan formation, and manually busting it up is a daunting prospect. I've bent a homemade broadfork almost beyond operability on Harstine Island clays. Working the clay on a broadacre...
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...
Imagine taking home fresh tomatoes, lettuce, beets, peas and carrots that you grew yourself. If you are new to growing, lack garden space or have not gardened in a while, consider joining a community garden. It is amazing what you can learn to grow. A community garden is a place people gather to grow food. People can grow fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers. The community garden can be one plot or several individual plots. The land can be flat or have raised beds. Community gardens are in rural, suburban and urban areas. These sites can be at...
Mason County Fire District 12 commissioners received a lesson about the state Public Records Act at their March 15 meeting. State Assistant Attorney General Morgan Damerow was on the agenda to talk about the Public Records Act. Damerow spoke for about 30 minutes of the meeting, addressing why people should care about transparency laws, what agencies must do under the PRA and what a PRA request looks like. The commissioners answered more community questions during the meeting. Commissioner John P...
This week, no matter the weather, you need to visit Lake Cushman while the lake water is low. At the far end of the lake, just before the Staircase entrance gate to Olympic National Park, is a small day park that serves as a beach and kayak launch in summer. Bear Gulch is its official name. You'll know it by the restrooms and tumbling creek on the right side, just after you pass the Lake Cushman causeway bridge. This is a beautiful spot in summer, with shallow, sheltered water especially suited...
Artist Alice Durrie has embraced an eclectic variety of media in her attempts to capture and convey the beauty she sees in seemingly insignificant and naturally occurring phenomena around her. Belfair Self-Storage manager Barbara Treick said she looks forward to sharing Durrie's visions and handiwork with appreciative audiences in April. Durrie traces the origins of her 25-year professional art career to influences that include her father, an interior decorator whom she watched create domestic...
Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger were able to lean on their movie careers to get elected governor of California, which led Reagan to higher office and Schwarzenegger back to Hollywood. Donald Trump's high profile from his reality TV show was credited with helping him win the presidency, although his social media presence played at least as large a part in that. But none of those three entertainers went directly from playing the president of their country on TV to getting elected...
The Highclimbers have started off hot, earning wins against North Thurston and Port Angeles last week. Shelton defeated North Thurston 9-0 on March 18 at home. The Highclimbers hosted and beat Port Angeles 6-2 on March 19 and opened the season with an 8-2 win against Capital on March 11. Head coach Trevor Cahoon said the strength of the team is pitching, which has only given up four runs in the first three games. He mentioned Cannon Hutson, Kyle Gerchak and Tobyn Dudley being at their best so...
The Shelton High School dance team will be competing in the state competition Saturday at the Yakima SunDome. Competition begins at 12:30 p.m., and Shelton is scheduled to dance 16th in set five with their military routine and will dance its pom routine 65th in set 22, shortly after a 40-minute dinner break. The Highclimber dance team has had an excellent season so far, finishing first or second in most of the competitions. The team has competed against all levels of classification, so the high...
Junietta Louise Milam, 76, died February 25th, 2022, surrounded by family in Matlock, WA. A celebration of life will be held at Matlock Community Church at 11 AM on March 26th. June was born December 16, 1945 in Seattle, Washington to Charles and June Dimm. She was devoted to her family, helping raise her siblings throughout her childhood. As a child and young adult she was a member of All Saint's Lutheran Church. She graduated from Federal Way High School and soon after began working as a... Full story
Carl J. Petri, Jr. was a big man with a big heart. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 25th, 1946, and passed away at Mason General Hospital in Shelton, Washington on March 1st, 2022. Carl is held in loving memory by his family, his wife Shari, son David (Katherine) Petri, and grandchildren Alex and Honor Petri, on whom Big Daddy doted. He leaves behind adult grandchildren Dakota Lorentz (Ahwaxtin), Natalie and Daniel Petri. Big D was so proud of the young people they have grown to be. He... Full story
Darlene Diane Gosser (Ortiz) went to be with the Lord in the early hours of March 20, 2022, at Billings Clinic in Billings, MT. Darlene was born to David and Ercinia Ortiz on January 4, 1957, in Espanola, New Mexico¬, growing up in Chimayo. She was one of five daughters and twin to her sister, Marlene. On December 12, 1980, our Mom and Dad, Thomas R. Gosser, got married while our Dad served in the United States Air Force, which took them to Alaska for the first time. During their 41+ years of ma... Full story
Junietta Louise Milam, 76, a resident of Matlock, passed away February 25, 2022, at home. Arrangements are by Forest Funeral Home and Crematory. Tiffany Hunt, 38, a resident of Olympia, passed away March 8, 2022, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Trevor Maxworth, 80, a resident of Shelton, passed away March 11, 2022, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Bruce McLain, 67, a resident of Allyn, passed away March 16, 2022, at... Full story
