Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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It's a lesson Pat Ford learned time and again since his days as an intelligence analyst for the U.S. Marines Corps. "We've all matured, grown up, and we see that life is fragile, so fragile, it behooves me when I see people gaff it off. You and I don't know when we're gonna die," he told the Journal. Ford enlisted in the Corps in 1966, and his aptitude tests showed him suited for interrogation work. "I was facing the draft and I had a choice. And I didn't want to be a grunt so I enlisted for...
George Blush and Tristen Smith will compete for a seat on the Shelton City Council in the November general election, and voters solidly support increasing the size of the Mason County Fire District 5 board of commissioners from three to five. Those are among the preliminary results of Tuesday’s primary election posted at 8 p.m. The next ballot count is scheduled to be updated at 5 p.m. Wednesday, after the Journal had gone to press. The initial voter turnout was 28.17%. The results are scheduled to be certified on Aug. 15. In the contest to w...
Former Mason County Fire District 12 commissioners John Pais, Albert Wilder and Brian Jutson were all recalled with more than 93% of the vote Tuesday. Wilder received the most votes against, 349-21, for 94.32% of people voting to recall. Jutson was recalled 348-21, for 94.57% of the vote, and Pais was recalled 344-25 for 93.22% of the vote. “I am pleased to see that the community was able to stick together to see this process through,” Kristin Masteller, who led the recall efforts, wrote to the...
Residents can make their voices heard at 1 p.m. Wednesday at 411 N. 5th Street in Shelton on a permit application for a proposed Taylor Shellfish floating oyster bag farm in Oakland Bay. According to the hearing examiner webpage, the permit will allow Taylor Shellfish to grow Pacific oysters and install a floating oyster bag system in Oakland Bay, which will take up an estimated 9.1 acres of surface water within a 50-acre area that will be used for floating oyster gear. According to Mason County...
A city beautification project that began before the pandemic is picking up its pace this year as several local artists and art groups contribute submissions and finances to the cause. The City of Shelton began decorating power boxes in town in 2019 with artwork chosen by the Shelton Arts Commission, out of a selection of submissions solicited from Mason County artists. Jordanne Krumpols, Parks and Recreation supervisor for Shelton, reported that six power boxes have been adorned, while another...
We got a letter from the IRS last month. I nervously opened it, but it only sought our participation in a survey on what the IRS calls “taxpayer burden” – the amount of money and time taxpayers spend on preparing their taxes. That’s fine, but it should have said this, in large letters, on the outside of the envelope: “It’s OK! You’re not in trouble!” A woman out bicycling the other day was wearing a mask, but not a helmet, and it reminded me of what I adore about human beings. When I was smal...
Editor’s note: David Stevens is a candidate for Mason County Superior Court judge. The Journal does not allow original letters from candidates for public office during election season. This letter is being allowed because it’s a direct rebuttal to several previous letters to the editor. Legal experience Editor, the Journal, No judge is an expert on every area of law. What you look for in a judge is discernment, judgment and experience. Supporters of my opponent have written to the Journal that they believe that I only know criminal law, so the...
Mason County Climate Justice and the Legacy Forest Defense Coalition will find out the results of their request for a preliminary injunction by Monday for the court to enjoin any operations and halt to operations on either of the sites of the Sure Wood and Plumb Bob Timber Sale forests while the court decides the merits of the case against the state Department of Natural Resources and Tacoma-based Stella Jones Corp. Superior Court Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown presided over the hearing Monday...
Two injured in SR3 crash A two-car crash resulted in two people injured Monday on state Route 3 in Belfair. According to a Washington State Patrol news release, a 2019 Chevy Cruze driven by an 85-year-old Neah Bay woman was southbound on Route 3 and a 2021 Winnebago driven by a 65-year-old Missoula man was northbound on Route 3. Southbound traffic was stopped for a car trying to make a left turn, and the Chevy failed to yield for traffic and swerved into the northbound lane, striking the Winnebago. The 85-year-old Neah Bay woman and a...
A front-page story in the May 28, 1938, Shelton Daily Spokesman began: "Despite the fact that he lost the election to the Democratic candidate for county auditor back in 1884, Clermont S. Brumbaugh, pioneer resident and long active in local politics, still treasures a copy of an 1884 issue of the Puget Sound Angus, published in Port Townsend, that showed the results of the territorial election as well as the Mason County election. Mr. Brumbaugh, still active at over 80 years of age, is the sole...
Overdose awareness events scheduled The seventh annual Mason County Overdose Awareness Walk and Resource Fair is hosted Aug. 31 at the Timberland Regional Library in Belfair, and Sept. 1 at Kneeland Park in Shelton. Everyone is welcome. The events honor the lives lost to overdoses and provide hope to those still struggling. At the Belfair event at 23081 NE state Route 3, the Resource Fair begins at 3 p.m., the gathering for the walk begins at 5:45 p.m., and the walk begins at 6:05 p.m. The same...
Four scholarships awarded to Mason County women Philanthropic Educational Organization Chapter B of Shelton awarded four $1,000 Mary M. Knight Achievement Award scholarships to Mason County women. Breeana Ross and Linda Bonney will pursue their certification in medical assisting at Olympic College. Kenzie Smith will pursue her X-ray certification at Pima Medical Institute. Tamra Ingwaldson will pursue a bachelor’s degree in business at Western Governors University. The scholarship awards honor Mary M. Knight, a Mason County pioneer educator a...
Coroner gets toxicology tools Mason County commissioners approved the purchase of rapid toxicology screening tools for the Mason County coroner. According to the information packet, it can take 10 weeks to receive a toxicology report from the state lab, which can interfere with death certificates, analysis of drug use in the community, assessment, surveillance and delays law enforcement. Public health departments in the state are looking to shorten the delay. Mason County Public Health recommended the purchase of toxicology screening tools....
Live performances by more than 20 bands and solo musicians, laser and pyro shows, a circus tent and an 80-foot illuminated sphere are among the offerings at the Peace Valley Barefoot Festival, hosted Aug. 11-13 at Peace Valley Farmgrounds between Shelton and Matlock. The festival at 2620 W. Little Egypt Road is staged by the nonprofit Sweitzer Strong Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting and educating people who are affected by traumatic brain injury. The organization's major goal is to b...
The youngest of four, Ward was born to William and Carol Villines. After graduating Olympia High School he joined the U.S. Air Force and served two tours in Vietnam. The same year, he graduated from Georgia State he married his first wife, Judy McKinnon. Years later, Ward married his second wife, Debra Keravich. At the time of his passing the couple had spent 32 years together. Ward was the owner and manager of Characters Corner Tavern in the community of Steamboat Island. In total, he had worked 44 years at Characters before selling it in 2022... Full story
To Honor the Memory of Tracy Bassett September 25, 1956 - June 17, 2023 Her children are holding a Celebration of Life on August 20th 2023 at 31 Haven Ln, Tahuya, WA 98588 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.... Full story
Bill was born April 13, 1945, in Hattisburg, Mississippi, where he lived until he was eight years old, when his father's military career brought the family to Washington. Bill was a quarterback for the Port Orchard Wolves and remained active in reunions for his Alma Matter. He was raised in the church and was committed to Jesus throughout his life. The draft sent him to Vietnam. When he returned he went back to his job with the phone company, Ma Bell. His lifelong passion was flying. From the... Full story
Neil August Jerrells died at his home in Shelton after a yearlong battle with lung cancer on Thursday, May 25th, 2023. He was 83 years old. Neil was born February 10, 1940, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to Thew Hahn and Florence Morrison. Neil held many jobs during his lifetime, but his favorite was being a machinist for the aerospace industry. He also owned Steamboat General Store for many years and came out of retirement to drive bus for the Shelton School District. Neil was blessed with two... Full story
Maxine Lovitt went home to be with the Lord on July 4th at the age of 81 after a brief battle with cancer. Maxine was born to Fred and Ethel Nellie (Grinton) Arbuckle of McMinnville, Oregon, and was the oldest of five children. Eventually the family moved to Tacoma, Washington, where she graduated from Franklin Pierce High School in 1959. Maxine married her high school sweetheart Roger Lovitt and moved to Shelton, Washington, where they had three sons. She was involved with the Elks club and... Full story
Shelton's free-admission "Movies in the Park" are heading into back-to-back sports films, with 1992's "The Mighty Ducks" on Friday, and 1996's "Space Jam" on Aug. 11, both of which start between 8:30 to 8:45 p.m. in Kneeland Park. It seems every generation needs its own "Bad News Bears," and for a lot of 1990s kids, Disney's pee-wee hockey-playing Ducks were that hard-luck team of underdog misfits, coached by an obligatory disillusioned adult authority figure who didn't want to be there. If you'...
Precious and beloved Ramona Maxine Grayson-Nersund, age 94, passed away peacefully at her home in Mesa, Arizona, in the loving arms of her granddaughter on June 28th, 2023. Ramona was born December 16, 1928 to William Clay and Mabel Nana (Tavis) Hart on a farm northwest of Hardner, Kansas. She was the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Tavis of Nevada, Missouri and Mr. and Mrs. Eusibius Hart of Kiowa, Kansas. She was the youngest of three children. Her brothers Delmar and Junior doted over her.... Full story
On Wednesday, July 26th, 2023, the world lost a kind-hearted soul as Steve Renecker, a loving husband, devoted father of two, and proud grandfather of four, passed away peacefully at the age of 73. Born on September 10th, Steve was a lifelong resident of Shelton, a town that witnessed the growth of an extraordinary individual. He was the son of Charles (Chuck) and Elizabeth (Betty) Renecker, who preceded him in death. Steve touched the lives of countless individuals with his warmth, wit and... Full story
Troy Lee Bina, 53, passed away at home in Lillington, NC on Friday, November 18th, 2022. He was born on June 25th, 1969 in Portsmouth, Virginia to Dan and Mary. He graduated from Shelton High School in 1988 and worked as a security guard at the Shelton saw mill during his senior year. Following his graduation, Troy worked in Alaska on a fishing boat. Troy's oldest son Dashedin Goldsby was born 1988. Troy moved to North Carolina with his wife Teresa and children Josh and TJ in 1995, and had... Full story
Ray Bunch, 73, died Thursday, July 13th, 2023, in Vancouver, WA. He was born October 29, 1949 to Aubrey Gordon and Joyce (King) Bunch. He was preceded in death by his sister Helen, father Aubrey, brother Eugene, and mother, Joyce; survived by his daughters, Angela Bunch of Shelton, Heidi Bunch of New Hampshire, and Cassandra Conroy (Anthony) of Curtis. Ray had 11 grandchildren. Ray had many adventures in the great outdoors. He worked as a forest fire fighter in the Everglades, Yellowstone, North Rim Grand Canyon and Crater Lake National Parks.... Full story
