Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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For the first time in two years, Shelton High School choir, drama and stagecraft students blend their creative talents to produce a show, “Night of Musical Theater,” which debuts at 7 tonight in the school’s Performing Arts Center. The show is also staged at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. Audience members are required to wear face masks. “Into the Wild” is the theme of the production, an annual showcase that skipped 2020 due to the pandemic. The multi-med...
The City of Shelton is moving forward on two street projects, the overlaying of new pavement on Brockdale Road and the addition of flashing beacon lights and other safety improvements at three busy intersections. At its Nov. 2 meeting, the council voted unanimously to move the two projects to its action agenda at its meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Since both projects are receiving government funds, the city is required to sign an Olympic Region Programs Project Administration Agreement on both. No...
In the most recent ballot count from the Nov. 2 election, Miguel Gutierrez held a three-vote lead over George W. Blush for a seat on the Shelton City Council. In the Mason County Auditor’s Office results released on Nov. 4, Gutierrez had 714 votes for 49.51% and Blush 711 votes for 49.31% in their race for a four-year seat as council member No. 7. Write-in candidates had received 17 votes. The votes are scheduled to be updated yesterday, after the Journal had gone to press. On Friday, Mason County Auditor Paddy McGuire told the Journal his o...
The North Mason School Board levy is passing as of Thursday’s afternoon by just 42 votes. In Mason County, the levy is passing with a vote of 2,516 to 2,479. In Kitsap County, the levy is passing by eight votes, 56-51. In Tuesday’s initial count, the levy was failing. “We are very grateful that our school levy is now passing,” North Mason School District Superintendent Dana Rosenbach said in an email. “This vote was so important to ensuring that we are able to support the needs of our students....
Lake Cushman Maintenance Company has been the victim of theft twice in the span of a week. According to General Manager Aaron Nix, the company has had people cutting off the catalytic converters to some of their vehicles, along with stealing some tools and truck battery. There were two separate incidents of theft in the early morning hours of Oct. 25 and Oct. 30. The thefts occurred at its maintenance shops and both instances have been reported to the Mason County Sheriff’s Office and i...
A new term for old people: The formerly young. When you go to the parking lot where you’ve parked your car and it isn’t where you thought you parked it, is your first thought, “Damn! Someone stole my car!” Then, when you find your car, do you give a silent apology to the person you falsely accused? Whenever I’m in a hot tub, I feel like I’m a member of the 1%. We should use the word “unsettled” instead of “settled” when referring to the effect of immigrants occupying other people’s land. For...
On Veterans Day we honor our veterans but we must also honor the mothers and fathers who sent their sons and daughters to war. Edgar Guest (1881–1959) wrote the book Poems of Patriotism in 1942. My maternal grandmother loved Edgar Guest poetry. My Uncle Dave, her oldest son, was a tail gunner on a B-29 when President Harry S. Truman authorized dropping the atomic bomb on Japan. When he returned from combat, Grandma gave him a book of poetry by Guest. Twenty years ago, I visited my Uncle Dave in Bozeman, Montana, arriving on Sept. 10, 2001. T...
A question Editor, the Journal, Newly retired after 41 years of teaching, I have a lot more free time and enjoy reading the various letters to the editor, well, except for the occasional name-calling. It appears that some people have running conversations with others. So, I have a question I will ask at the end. First a side story. In 2016, there was a lull during the fall parent-teacher conferences and I had a memorable discussion with a fellow teacher about the presidential election. I listened as she logically explained her reasoning in voti...
Folks have the unkindest things to say about locusts. Whether it's the insect scourge or the trees known as "honey" or "black" locust, there is abundant opprobrium for all these fine organisms. Locust insects, like deer, can be fattened on your food, especially grain, before you eat them. Their appetite for agricultural products is at the root of their unpopularity. Fried, smoked or dried, they have been a staple since at least John the Baptist dipped them in wild honey. Speaking of honey, the...
In a news release, the district said it is hiring regular substitute teachers for $175 a day, emergency substitute teachers for $140 a day, para educators for up to $21.59 an hour, substitute para educators for $13.69 an hour, and a starting wage of $21.73 for bus drivers. Applications are available on the district's website at www.sheltonschools.org/departments/human_resources/employment....
Mason County Public Works discovers loss of funds The Mason County Public Works and Utilities department discovered a loss of funds relating to refuse transfer stations. According to a news release from County Administrator Mark Neary, the county has notified the state Auditor’s Office and are working with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office on an investigation. Full details will be released when the investigation is complete. Mason County Sheriff’s Office tracks down truck responsible for damage The Mason County Sheriff’s Office tracked down a...
After 16 years of service to the Shelton-based nonprofit Community Lifeline, longtime Executive Director Barb Weza will serve as the group's development director. Instead of filling the executive position, Community Lifeline has instead hired Athena Ayes as the new shelter manager. Weza will be working from her home office. As development director, Weza said her duties include networking in the community, speaking to groups, writing grant proposals and overseeing fundraising. She is reaching...
The following items are from the October and November issues of the 1952 Irene S. Reed High School weekly newspaper called The Saghalie. The mirror in the boys' lavatory had disappeared and would not be replaced until "those responsible report to the janitor. The loss of the mirror has already inconvenienced many." With Halloween coming up, Mr. Hermes, school principal, put out the word that "High school students have had a good record on this count for several years. Keep it that way. Don't...
In one important sense, filmmaker Chloé Zhao's cinematic adaptation of comics creator Jack Kirby's "Eternals" is incredibly faithful, in that both tried to establish a semi-independent universe-in-microcosm within a broader Marvel universe, and neither one quite managed to stick that particular landing. While "Eternals" has been review-bombed online, it matters why it doesn't work, which is far different from the reasons motivating a number of internet trolls with grudges. Zhao is to be commende...
Snow level will determine if this Saturday's TrashMash adventure leads us to the trailheads on Mount Ellinor. My gut says we'll not make it that far, but if we do, we'll be visiting two impressive (but lesser known) waterfalls as part of the excursion. Upper Big Creek Falls is a short hike down what used to be a logging road before it collapsed under a landslide. The access point is between the lower and upper trailheads to Mount Ellinor, down a short spur with decent parking. For serious...
Geral was born at home in Utica, Montana to Russell and Cora Rodgers. He lived in Shelton since 1942. He passed away at St. Joseph's Hospital in Bellingham in his sleep. In 1944, he married June Chesley, raised two sons, Jerry and Jim and lived on Island Lake for 62 years. During WWII, he joined the army landing in France then walked with his unit to Germany to liberate the Nazi death camp Ohrdruf. His brothers and he owned Rodgers' Brothers' Garage for 20 years, then worked at Rayonier and... Full story
Patricia Jean Stratton passed away after a long illness, September 30, 2021, surrounded by her loving family in Shelton, Washington. Pat was born March 22, 1930 to George and Mildred Coons in Tacoma, Washington. While living in Idaho, Pat met Vernal Franklin Stratton, the love of her life. Vern and Pat were married April 12, 1947, a blessed union that lasted for 74 years. Vern and Pat loved traveling and camping with their family. Pat was a wonderful and inventive cook, so their travels were spi... Full story
Don Jones passed away at his home with family by his side on October 8, 2021. He was 72. Don was born in Spokane, Washington in March of 1949. He moved to Belfair, Washington in the 1970's. He worked at and retired from Mission Creek Youth Camp after 30 years in Probation/Counseling. He then drove school bus at North Mason School District for multiple years. He was well known and loved in his communities and by his family and friends. He leaves behind his wife Margie Steinke, his brother Lowell... Full story
Mary Ellen Haefliger, a former resident of Shelton, WA who moved to San Antonio, Texas in 2011, died at age 76 from kidney failure and pneumonia on Friday, October 15,2021, at a San Antonio hospital. A native of Pennsylvania, Mary Ellen graduated from Dondero High School in Royal Oak, MI, in 1963, and American River College in Sacramento, CA with an Associate Arts Degree in Home Economics in 1965. She later married Edward Haefliger in1967, and they were divorced in 1997. Survivors include her... Full story