Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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A pedestrian was killed on West Railroad Avenue in a possible vehicular homicide late Saturday night. According to a Shelton Police Department news release, the collision occurred in the 1600 block of Railroad Avenue, just outside of the city limits. Officers arrived at the scene at 11:40 p.m. The pedestrian was walking in the middle of the road at the time of collision, according to police. The driver was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and DUI. According to Washington State Patrol’s Katherine Weatherwax, the pedestrian was p...
The City of Shelton is considering screening family-friendly films Friday nights this summer in Kneeland Park. The cost for showing movies under the stars was the focus of a work session the Shelton City Council conducted April 26. Jordanne Krumpols, recreation coordinator of the city’s parks and recreation department, said the city could present the movies on Fridays from July 8 through Aug. 12. The screenings could “piggyback” on the Thursday Music in the Park concerts staged by the Skookum Rotary Club July 7 through Aug. 11, she said. Counc...
The City of Shelton is considering either adding a student representative to the seven-member city council or creating a student commission that would advise on matters such as parks and recreation. Members of the Shelton City Council discussed the proposal at its work session April 26. City Manager Jeff Niten said city councils in Sequim and Quincy each have a “youth liaison.” In Sequim, the president of the Associated Student Body fills the role, while in Quincy, the mayor appoints the student and the council confirms the choice, he sai...
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City finalizes land sale to YMCA The Shelton City Council on Tuesday unanimously finalized the sale of 10.5 acres of leased land to the Shelton YMCA for $123,200. The council gave preliminary approval at its April 27 meeting. The city declared the property at the intersection of Shelton Springs Road and East Wallace Kneeland Boulevard surplus. In July 2017, the Shelton City Council approved leasing the site to YMCA for $1 a year, for 100 years. The facility opened in March 2021. At the council’s April 19 meeting, City Manager Jeff Niten said t...
As the editor of the Shelton-Mason County Journal, with the knowledge that 2022 was a major local election year - nearly all countywide offices will be on the ballot - I made a decision at the start of the year to keep the newspaper neutral to the best of my ability. I asked my reporters to use secondary sources whenever possible instead of those who were up for re-election, unless that person was speaking directly in their official capacity instead of a candidate. That's an important distinction because it's not always clear which is which,... Full story
Bastions of truth, not! Editor, the Journal, Two local bastions of truth (Laugh Out Loud) in our community have once again failed us and shown their true colors. First, the so-called nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Mason County (LWV) held a virtual meeting April 7 on the topic of climate change. Their guest speaker was advertised on Facebook with glowing credentials except no mention she is a current candidate for the state Legislature; registered with the Public Disclosure Commission...
We here at the Shelton-Mason County Journal and Belfair Herald are very thankful for readers, both those who subscribe and those purchase a single newspaper. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to publish the newspaper each week. As you have seen everywhere, prices on goods and services have increased. We have absorbed multiple cost increases over the past several years. Another postage increase starts in July and we have yet another printing increase effective this month. We have not changed our single-copy price for nearly a decade. Starting t...
Kangaroo Court and Star Court would be good road names in a housing development. Here are other possibilities: Hula Loop, Hard Road, Rue Avenue, Lame Lane, Broken Dreams Boulevard, No Way, Miss Place and Osama Bin Terrace. A picture isn’t worth 1,000 words if all you do is repeat the word “the” 1,000 times. When you go to your first rodeo, take a moment to appreciate that this is your first rodeo. The good thing about eating asparagus is that when you go the bathroom afterward, you might be re...
I thought "On fire" would be a better title for this week, but it's vague and misleading. Misleading assumes I'm trying to go somewhere. I've been meandering through the gardens doing maintenance as I tend the season's fires. Last year the burn ban caught some of us by surprise. I was stuck with several piles of 20-year tree stumps, perfect labyrinths of dirt and roots in which rodents hide. Though I chip thinned trees for mulch every spring, last year's stump backlog (pun intended) kept me...
The Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce honored its members and celebrated its 100th anniversary at its awards gala April 29 at the Little Creek Casino and Resort in Shelton. The sold-out event drew 326 guests. Jamie Mell, owner of John L. Scott Real Estate & Mell Property Management, was named Boss of the Year. The Patty Wagon, owned and operated by Patty Perry, was named Business of the Year. Dawn Myers was honored as Citizen of the Year. The Youth Connection was named Nonprofit of the Year. Kealy Electric is the Rookie of the Year, and...
Love INC offers free life skills workshops The Shelton-based nonprofit Love In the Name of Christ and its 25 partner churches in Mason County are offering free life skills workshops. The group and the churches work together to connect people in need with goods and services that include clothing, blankets, backpacks for kids, diapers, medical equipment and financial help. The group provides assistance to hundreds of low-income and indigent families each year. The workshops are hosted from 6:30...
Meet finalists tonight for Pioneer superintendent The public is invited to meet the two finalists for the position of superintendent of the Pioneer School District from 5:45 to 6:45 tonight at the Pioneer Middle School. Jeff Davis is the superintendent of the Onlaska School District. He has been a superintendent for 16 years, and a teacher, head football and track coach, athletic director and school principal. Lisa Riggs is the superintendent of the Sweet Home School District in Oregon. She has also been a teacher, coach and assistant...
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...
Commissioners sign deal with PUD 3 on internet program An interlocal agreement with Mason County PUD 3’s Internet Redundancy Program was approved by Mason County commissioners. According to the information packet, PUD 3 presented Mason County with the option of providing a backup internet connection to the downtown and public works locations. Implementing these redundant connections, the county would have a secondary way to access the internet in the event of a failure and it would allow IT to optimize some network traffic flow and reduce l...
After a two-year interruption due to COVID-19, the Matlock Old-Timers Historical Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Mary M. Knight School. Engine enthusiasts can marvel at the Steam Donkey and antique tractors. Inside the gym, patrons can find bargains at the swap meet tables, listen to live music and create crafts. Thrill seekers can plummet down the giant pink slide. Admission is free. The school is at 2987 Matlock-Brady Road. The displays include World War II...
Last month was my first time driving on the beach. Formerly I was totally against the idea of cars rolling down the Washington coast, based on the principle that rubber tires don't belong on sand. Rubber-soled shoes, now that's another matter. OK, so I've also entertained the argument that salt and sand can't be very good for your car either. Squealing brake pads, clogged air filter, salted chassis, right? Well, never mind. This old dog learns a new trick. Thus I find myself with Linda on a...
A North Mason High School student died last weekend, according to a post on the North Mason School District’s social media pages. According to the post, North Mason Principal Chad Collins and staff were mobilizing counselors to be available to students and staff Monday morning to offer support and guidance. “We ask that you take a moment to delicately share the news with your student; and let them know we have prioritized having resources in place to help them cope,” the post states. “We a...
After being in the works for more than a year, the Belfair Park & Ride is set to open May 23. According to Mason Transit Authority General Manager Amy Asher, MTA will transition its routes to run out of the new building May 23 and away from the temporary Roy Boad Road and the park and ride behind The Bridge Church before closing, which will impact routes 3 and 23. There are still a few things left to complete in the building but Asher said she was confident MTA will meet the May 23 deadline. “I...
COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Mason County, according to Director of Community Services Dave Windom. Speaking to the county commissioners during the Monday briefing, Windom said cases are up 217% in the past two weeks. “We had gotten to a point where we were at zero deaths per 100,000 for 14 days and we had 1.5 hospitalizations per 14 days and those numbers have doubled,” Windom said. “That’s what it looks like on paper. That’s the problem with small numbers. Our deaths are back up again,...
What's perhaps most notable about "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent," a charmingly affectionate sendup of the iconically bizarre public persona of Nicolas Cage, is that its most compelling performance doesn't come from the actor you'd expect. In both his best and worst work as an actor, Cage has always managed to distinguish himself from his peers, in no small part because he never gives any performance less than his all. To his credit, he commits just as wholeheartedly to this film's...
The Shelton baseball team finished the regular season Tuesday with a 10-0 win in five innings against Aberdeen, with a game-winning two-RBI double to invoke the 10-run rule and send the Highclimbers into the postseason. Shelton has been rolling since a 10-0 loss in Rochester on April 5, winning 10 straight games entering the District 4 2A baseball tournament. "It feels awesome because I have guys all through my lineup that are hitting and it's a different guy every night," Shelton coach Trevor...
Shelton's Alauna Carstens has the Shelton girls record in the mile race after her performance at the 62nd Shelton Invitational on Saturday at Highclimber Stadium. Carstens won the mile in 5:08.92. The previous record was held by Rima Butler, set in 1993 at 5:12.98. Carstens won the 1,600 meters with a time of 5:07.13. Ali Clifton finished fourth in the 3,200-meter race with a time of 11:46.48. "Alauna had an amazing day. She came in determined to win and she pulled it off," Shelton coach Doug Se...
The 62nd annual Shelton Invitational was Saturday at Shelton High School’s Highclimber Stadium. The long-running invite featured athletes from 56 high schools around the state with 16 participants in each event....
