Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886

Articles from the July 20, 2023 edition


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  • New home for vets

    Gordon Weeks|Jul 20, 2023

    About six years after it was proposed, the Shelton Veterans Village finally opened its doors Tuesday to about 150 people celebrating the new residence for 30 homeless Mason County veterans. The nonprofit organization Quixote Communities operates the village on North 13th Street across from Christmas Village. It features seven four-plexes, one duplex and a community building that includes a laundry room, two bathrooms, three offices and a boardroom. The group also has homeless villages in Orting...

  • William Reed Ells, Jr.

    Jul 20, 2023

    Remembering William Reed Ells, Jr. A Celebration of Life for William Reed Ells, Jr will be held Saturday, July 29, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 7620 W. Shelton-Matlock Road. The family is providing main dish and refreshments. Please feel free to bring a side dish for the potluck and your memories to share.... Full story

  • Recently Passed

    Jul 20, 2023

    Kyle Eli Malone, 40, a resident of Seattle, passed away May 22, 2023, at Harborview Medical Center. Arrangements are by McComb and Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Herman Eigenman, 88, a resident of Shelton, passed away July 9, 2023, at St. Peters Hospital. Arrangements are by McComb and Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. John “Jack” Connolly, 94, a resident of Shelton, passed away July 7, 2023, at home. Arrangements are by McComb and Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Jack Petterson, 87, a resident of Shelton, pas... Full story

  • Marvin H. Ackerman

    Jul 20, 2023

    On June 30, 2023, our dad completed his life's journey in Shelton, Washington. Dad was born in 1934 in Volt, Montana to Gottlieb and Christina. His family later migrated to the little town of Quilcene, Washington where he grew up on the family farm with his 12 brothers and sisters. Dad graduated Quilcene High School in 1953 and started his long career life. He served honorably in the U.S. Army, spending a short time in Germany before returning home to work in the logging industry. Dad drove a lo... Full story

  • Brian Hayden Tindall

    Jul 20, 2023

    Brian was born December 30, 1962 in Bellingham, Washington, to Judith and Reed Tindall. By the time his sister Jean was born in 1966, the family was living in Mount Vernon, Washington. In 1974 his mother married Duane Eitreim, and the family went to live on Duane's farm in Bow, Washington. Whenever possible, they went to stay with their Shelton and Hood Canal families where many happy memories were made. In 1981 Brian graduated from Sehome High School in Bellingham, Washington and enlisted in... Full story

  • Mary Elizabeth Wyatt

    Jul 20, 2023

    Mary Elizabeth Wyatt, 83, passed away on July 9, 2023 in the presence of family, whom she loved very deeply. She was a resident of Shelton, WA for over 51 years. Born in Chicago, Ill on May 3, 1940 to Albert and Mildred Minghi. On June 30, 1962, she married Wilburn Franklin Wyatt who passed away November 16, 2019. Mary was a homemaker for most of her married life. She was a volunteer firefighter, a member of the election board, and loved to bake, attend garage sales and shop for bargains. Above all though, Mary loved her family and the Lord.... Full story

  • Fire board aims to grow

    Matt Baide|Jul 20, 2023

    Central Mason Fire & EMS has a ballot measure Aug. 1 to expand its board of commissioners to five members. “We are a growing department and we are covering a lot of extra ground and having more representation across our entire district will better serve our community and our citizens,” CMFE executive secretary Norma Brock told the Journal. The board had six commissioners after the merger with Fire District 11 brought in the three commissioners from Island Lake Fire. By law, it has to be red...

  • Fire 12 resignation

    Matt Baide|Jul 20, 2023

    Commissioner chair Albert Wilder resigned from Mason County Fire District 12 at Tuesday’s regular meeting at the fire station in Matlock. “At the conclusion of this day, I am resigning as a commissioner,” Wilder said right before the end of the meeting. “I will continue to serve the community as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, but as far as the commissioner, I am resigning at the end of this day.” Wilder joins two other Fire 12 commissioners, John Pais and Brian Jutson, who have resigned....

  • Allyn Days

    Jul 20, 2023

  • COUNTY BRIEFS

    Compiled by reporter Matt Baide|Jul 20, 2023

    Special filing period Aug. 8-10 The Mason County auditor’s Election Department announced a special three-day filing period Aug. 8 to 10 for no filing fee. According to a news release, candidates for the positions of Mason County Cemetery District positions No. 1, 2 and 3, Fire Protection District 18 commissioner position 1 and 4, Public Hospital District No. 2 commissioner position No. 4, Port of Dewatto commissioner district 2, North Mason School District school board director district No. 4, and Tahuya River Water District commissioner p...

  • COMMISSION BRIEFS

    Compiled by reporter Matt Baide|Jul 20, 2023

    North Mason Fire, county sign lease North Mason Regional Fire Authority and Mason County have agreed to a lease agreement for the old fire authority building at 490 NE Old Belfair Highway in Belfair for certain county services. According to the information packet, the term of the lease is 10 years for $2,000 per month. The county will make improvements to accommodate county offices and during the period of initial construction, NMRFA will forgo monthly rental payments for a period not to exceed two years. Mason County Sheriff’s Office North P...

  • THESE TIMES

    Kirk Ericson|Jul 20, 2023

    WE’RE NO. 51! In 2022, the number of (police) officers decreased by 70 to around 10,600 officers in Washington. The 4.4% drop brought the staffing rate to 1.35 officers per 1,000 people, putting Washington at the 51st lowest rate among all U.S. states and Washington, D.C., for the 13th year in a row, according to Steven Strachan, with the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Nationally, the rate is around 2.31 officers per 1,000 people. — The Seattle Times, July 10, 2023 ATTEMPT...

  • LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

    Jul 20, 2023

    Journal letters policy regarding election season The Journal does not publish letters to the editor from candidates for public office - including those running unopposed - or their immediate family members, including spouse/partner, parents or children during election season. Election season is defined as from the moment a candidate declares for public office through the conclusion of the fall general election. This includes letters endorsing or opposing candidates in other races and endorsing o...

  • HISTORY AT A GLANCE

    Jan Parker|Jul 20, 2023

    In May 1956, the Simpson Lookout magazine included the following story: "I'm the Three-Spot, named after William Shorter, one of the early Simpson engineers. I'm 30 years old, and as steam lokies go, that makes me a grandfather. Steam is going out, stepping aside for the diesels. Simpson has used lokies like me since the nineties, but diesels are running the Simpson rails now. I'm just an old fellow puffing a lot of memories. They had me run out to Camp Govey during the March snows to get some...

  • 3 people sent to prison for murder in Tahuya

    Matt Baide|Jul 20, 2023

    Three of the four people involved in a January shooting death in Tahuya were each sentenced to at least 12 years in prison July 7 in Mason County Superior Court. Judge Monty Cobb sentenced all three people, handing down a 15-year sentence to Jacob Elijah Joe Ualika. Ualika, 24, pled guilty to one count of second-degree murder in the killing of Alejandro Rodriguez, 28, who was killed by gunshot wounds to the head and chest, according to the affidavit of probable cause. Brenda Maja Hudson-Culp,...

  • COMMUNITY BRIEFS

    Compiled by reporter Gordon Weeks|Jul 20, 2023

    Register for Love INC fundraising golf tournament Golf team registration forms are available for the 12th annual Love INC Golf Tournament & Golf Ball Drop, which is hosted Monday at the Alderbrook Golf and Yacht Club in Union. Tickets are also available for the cash-winning golf ball drop staged in conjunction with the golf tournament. The charity event is the primary source of financial support for Love INC (Love in the Name of Christ) Mason County and its 25 partner churches. The nonprofit...

  • County 'ham' radio operators demonstrate relevance

    Kirk Boxleitner|Jul 20, 2023

    When Tim Weber arrived in Shelton in 1977, he recalls that a small group of amateur or "ham" radio hobbyists gathered monthly in the upper room of Blondie's (then Timbers) restaurant. "It was informal then, and the main interests included DXing, 2-meters and computer use in packet radio," said Weber, who is Mason County Amateur Radio Club vice president. "I can't recall when the club became more formal, with bylaws and officers, but I know it held field days in the 1980s. I participated in just...

  • Friday movies in Kneeland Park

    Jul 20, 2023

  • IN THE DARK REVIEWS

    Kirk Boxleitner|Jul 20, 2023

    For this week’s “In the Dark” column, I’m reviewing two weeks of the Shelton’s free-admission movies in the city’s Movies in the Park series — for July 21, “Holes” from 2003, and for July 28, “Shrek” from 2001. Both start around 8:30 to 8:45 p.m. on Fridays in Kneeland Park. For next week’s column, I’ll be doing a double-decker review of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” both of which are scheduled to premiere that same weekend. Since Michael Bay’s first “Transforme...

  • Port of Allyn weighs options to defend against sea lions

    Kirk Boxleitner|Jul 20, 2023

    Port of Allyn officials have reached a consensus on dealing with sea lions. During a special meeting of the port commissioners July 10, Port Executive Director Lary Coppola reviewed how the port had been invaded by sea lions on its dock. Coppola met with representatives from port insurer Enduris, which sent a team out to inspect the damage. "We are getting bids on the repair work now, and hopefully work will get underway shortly," Coppola said July 10. "We've been told there may be a supply...

  • Allyn Days

    Jul 20, 2023

  • MARY'S MEMOIRS

    Clydene Hostetler|Jul 20, 2023

    Mary and Babe Michael drove down to the beach for the day and had a wonderful time. Hottest day of the year was this week in 1949 and Mary said the swimming was so unreal. Raspberries are still being picked but I think they should be about done. Sunday, July 10, 1949 We arose late as it was so noisy it was impossible to sleep. Ate breakfast and looked over the park which was very lovely although we could see not much time or money has been spent on it. Drove around some of the lovely view proper...

  • GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

    Justin Johnson|Jul 20, 2023

    A senior-year transfer to Shelton High School sparked a resurgence for Olivia Henry's love of sports. "All in all, I was really burned out my junior year on sports. I didn't have any coaching and Capital (High School) was very toxic and very what can you do for me, where at Shelton, they just want to build you as a person; they want to feed into your life; they don't care what you give them, they just want you to be your best and so that really helped spark my fire again and want to just play...

  • GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR

    Matt Baide|Jul 20, 2023

    Shelton girls swim coach Rob Phelan is the Shelton-Mason County Journal's All-County Girls Coach of the Year. The Shelton girls swim team placed ninth at the state meet, the highest ever finish in school history. "It's great. It's a testament to how good the kids have been doing," Phelan told the Journal. "We've been really lucky with the kids doing so well, the boys and girls. The girls getting top 10 at state last year, that was really awesome." Phelan swam at Sumner High School before...

  • Fern L. Adams

    Jul 20, 2023

    Fern L. Adams, 92, of Belfair, died Wednesday, June 7, 2023, due to complications of late-stage vascular dementia. She passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family. Fern was born in El Paso, TX in 1930. She married the late Clifford F. Adams in Los Lunas, NM in 1948. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of WWII and the Korean War. Survivors include her three children, Boyd of Los Lunas, NM, Sherry Tomerlin of Superior, AZ, and Ronald of Shelton, WA, along with seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Fern was preceded in death by... Full story