Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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The state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group is seeking public comment on the planned restoration of 7 acres of estuarine habitat in the Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve in Belfair. The project focuses on estuary restoration to improve habitat for fish and wildlife species, including Hood Canal summer chum salmon, which are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. It also includes removing a 1,250-foot breached levee to...
The North Mason Food Bank will be relocating to a larger building, helped in part by $47,000 in state money secured in the last legislative session. The nonprofit group recently purchased the property at 24131 NE state Route 3, Belfair, in the old HD’s Pub’s building just a few miles from its current location. “For more than 20 years we have been operating out of a small, converted house on a main highway. Parking is extremely limited, and our clients have to back out onto the busy road. In addition, we are very small, so our folks wait outsi...
The HUB Center for Seniors in Belfair has scheduled an Easter event for all ages, The Hoppining, from noon to 4 p.m. March 30 at the center at 111 N.E. Old Belfair Highway. The event is billed as a “Glow in the Dark Extravaganza” with thousands of eggs and many prizes. The nonprofit group is seeking sponsors, vendors and community booths to host booths at the event. The center is also offering hand-crafted Easter baskets as a fundraiser. Fill out the order form available on the group’s website and provide information to help create a baske...
District students are making progress towards year-end academic goals, but most have a long way to go, according to midyear presentations given at the North Mason School Board Feb. 26. The district’s academic goals for 2023-2024 are to have 100% of third-graders reading on grade level, 100% of seventh-graders meeting state standard on ELA (English Language Arts) and math SBA (Smarter Balanced Assessment), 100% of ninth-graders on track (0% failures in core classes), 100% graduation rate (85% on time) and 100% of graduates complete CTE (...
Port of Grapeview commissioners announced webmaster Bob Pastore’s resignation at the regular meeting. “We greatly appreciate his time and effort,” Commissioner Mike Blaisdell said. Blaisdell and Managing Official Amanda Montgomery will take over the website duties. Commissioners also discussed forest fire protection assessments on seven parcels donated by Pastore to the port. The Department of Natural Resources “uncombined” the parcels after the donation and billed each separately, Blaisdell said. Commissioners voted to apply for a refund an...
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Port of Allyn commissioners removed former Executive Director Lary Coppola and former Interim Executive Director LeAnn Dennis, who are deceased, and former commissioner Scott Cooper from the safe deposit box contract with Kitsap Bank at a special meeting Feb. 16. “So we can get this resolved soon, by the advice of the bank,” Commissioner Judy Scott said. Commissioner John Sheridan will inspect the contents of the box, accompanied by Mason County Commissioner Randy Neatherlin. Scott said they will “discover what’s in there,” make a record of...
The Port of Allyn will be posting applications on its website for the District 2 Commissioner position, current commissioners said at the Feb. 5 meeting. The post is open after Commissioner Ted Jackson’s sudden resignation Jan. 19. Jim Freeman, a prospective candidate, introduced himself at the meeting and said he “wanted to give back to the community.” Freeman grew up in Port Orchard and currently lives in LakeLand Village. He’s spent most of his career in the waterworks industry and works at the Belfair water district. “There’s certainly b...
StreamTeam is looking for Hood Canal-area interns to help with a variety of research projects that help protect wild salmon and restore their habitat. The organization is part of the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and based at the Pacific Northwest Salmon Center in Belfair. Interns can expect to hike in rugged areas, perform wading surveys, drive on remote logging roads (with company vehicles) and perform basic data entry using MS Excel and MS Word, according to the job description. Interns will gain skills in field work and research that...
In 2022, fire killed 81 civilians in Washington, according to the most recent figures from the state Fire Marshal’s Office. More than 30,733 fire incidents resulting in $330 million in property damage happened that year. Most of these events are preventable, state officials say, by taking steps such as installing multiple smoke detectors, having fire extinguishers handy and having an escape route. Rural Mason County residents may face additional challenges with fires, including increased response times, limited driveway access and lack of a...
North Mason School Board members met the Sasquatch on Jan. 22. James A. Taylor High School's new mascot made its debut at the monthly board meeting. "I think it looks strong right before it gets scary," District 2 Director Leanna Krotzer said. The logo features a stern bigfoot face popping out of evergreen trees and holding "JTHS" with its claws. Superintendent Dana Rosenbach said staff used artificial intelligence to design the logo so that it's "totally original" and students approved it. "I...
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Port of Allyn commissioners were expected to vote on a proposed change to the gazebo rental policy at the Jan. 10 meeting that happened after the Herald went to press. Patty Noel, who was appointed interim executive assistant at the Jan. 1 meeting, proposed changing the current rental schedule that's set at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., to a minimum four-hour rental with an additional hourly charge after four hours. "Right now, the gazebo is only able to be rented twice in one day," Noe...
Master Beekeeper Debra Langley-Boyer, a North Mason resident, has filed a claim with the county for reimbursement for the loss of her bees due to herbicide spraying. Langley-Boyer is asking for $4,035.48 and provided the county with an itemized list for the deaths of her bees in 2020 and 2023, including $800 for the loss of queens, $483 for honey lost and “unrecoverable” for native bee loss. “This is the second time (May 2023) Mason County has killed my honeybees and native bees due to spraying herbicides along the Tee Lake county road. The h...
Port of Allyn commissioners observed a moment of silence at the regular meeting Jan. 1 for interim Executive Director LeAnn Dennis, age 55, who died Christmas Day. “LeAnn will be greatly missed. She left a big hole,” Commissioner Judy Scott said. Scott read a statement from Dennis’ daughter, Alena Dennis, at the meeting. “Anyone who ever met LeAnn would tell you that their lives changed forever after knowing her. She made everything brighter and gave her whole heart to anyone who showed her kindness and love. Her commitment to caring for her...
Taelor Schooler, a 2023 graduate of North Mason High School in Belfair, completed 13 weeks of recruit trailing at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Schooler was assigned squad leader duties and meritoriously promoted to private first class. Schooler graduated from 3rd Training Batallion, Lima Company, Platoon No. 3249. Schooler, whose father, Josh, is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, will be on active duty. Her grandfathers were also veterans, one serving in the Navy and another in the...
JANUARY The state Department of Transportation in early January used a blog post to update North Mason on the state Route 3 freight corridor project, pushing back the expected construction year to 2026 instead of 2024 as it had been projected. According to the blog post, the Move Ahead Washington funding package included two more roundabouts for the project, which are located at the intersection or state Route 3 and state Route 302 near North Mason High School. The connections of the roundabouts will allow new local roads to be built by Mason...
The North Mason School Board unanimously voted for Nicholas Thomas to replace retiring District 4 Director John Campbell at a special meeting Dec. 14. During his interview for the position, Thomas said “being a dad” is one of his reasons for applying for the position. He said he really wanted to get involved. “I can only do so much as a Pee Wee football coach,” he said. Thomas has lived in the area for 20 years and works in instructional design for the Navy as a civilian. He told the board he can help improve communication with communi...
If you're thinking about owning honeybees, Belfair & Beyond Beekeepers group says answer this question: Why? Do you want honey? Do you want beeswax? "What do you actually want to do?" Debra Langley-Boyer, president of the group, asked workshop participants at the North Mason Timberland Library Dec. 9. Secretary Brian Stefanko jumped in with his answer. "I keep bees because they're awesome!" Most people keep bees for honey, Langley-Boyer said, but before you decide, get to know the bees....
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The Port of Allyn was set to vote on the final draft of a purchase and sale agreement for the Allyn Carey water system at a Wednesday special meeting occurring after the Herald’s deadline. Commissioners called a special meeting Nov. 27 to hammer out details of the proposed contract with Jeff Carey’s attorney and the port’s legal team. The port is hoping to use grant money to acquire Carey’s system, including the well and surrounding lots. “A number of moving parts remain,” said port attorney Peter Fraley, of Ogden Murphy Wallace. The propert...
Nine St. Bernard-mix dogs found with their owner, who had been dead in his home for almost two weeks, have been rescued by the Humane Society of Mason County and Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County. All of the dogs are receiving care at area shelters. HSMC Executive Director Katherine Johnson told the Herald her group worked with local emergency responders to get the dogs, who are between 5-10 years old, safely out of the home. "Our team worked diligently on the ground, providing all...
Tahuya and North Belfair residents suffered phone and internet outages Tuesday, after thieves removed copper wiring in the area, according to the Mason County Sheriff’s Office. Two pedestals and one vault were broken into about one-fourth mile north of Dewatto Hills Road, Deputy Matt Colbenson told the Herald. The theft caused about $25,000 worth of damage to the phone lines according to the phone company, Colbenson said. Budget update at tonight’s school board meeting The North Mason School Board meets at 6:30 tonight in the board room of the...
Between mid-August and mid-October, 3,912 adult chum salmon returned to spawn on the Union River in Belfair. That's the count at the adult fish trap operated by the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group in Belfair on state Route 300. That's the fourth highest total counted in years when the fish were not supplemented on the river, said Josh O'Hara, the salmon and steelhead biologist for the group. "It was definitely a good year," he said. The annual counts have been conducted since 2000. The highe...
The HUB Center in Belfair hosts its fourth annual Haunted HUB Drive Thru starting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at 111 N.E. Old Belfair Highway. The event is billed as kid friendly. Family fun packs will be handed to patrons in the first 150 vehicles that complete the drive, which will feature strange and spooky characters. Admission is the suggested donation of $5. The HUB (which stands for Hospitality, Unity and Belonging) is also seeking businesses, organizations and families who love Halloween to...
