News Briefs

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 truck and the driver who did doughnuts on the grass at Pioneer Middle School on Nov. 3.

According to a MCSO Facebook post, the truck was at Pioneer Middle School around 9 p.m. and is seen on camera doing doughnuts on the grass at Pioneer Middle School, causing damage. After posting the incident on Facebook, the truck and driver have been identified and are coordinating the restitution and repairs for the damage.

Chum retention allowed near Olympia

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has allowed chum retention in Marine Area 13 beginning Nov. 6.

According to a news release, Chum salmon are allowed as part of the daily limit, with the minimum size of a chinook 22 inches and no size limit for all other species, with a daily limit of two. Anglers are asked to release wild Chinook or wild coho.

WDFW cited the sufficient returning numbers to allow for recreational harvest. Marine Area 13 is the mouth of Kennedy Creek in Olympia to U.S. Highway 101 north.

For more information, visit https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/.

Hunting Bigfoot coming to Shelton Cinemas Friday

Shelton Cinemas will be hosting screenings of ‘Hunting Bigfoot’ beginning Friday.

According to the film’s website, Seattle-based filmmaker Taylor Guterson created the film, along with screenwriter Leigh Savidge, an Academy Award nominee for his work on Straight Outta Compton. The film is a drama about a man obsessed by trying to confirm the existence of a sasquatch he claims to have witnessed in the Northwest.

For tickets, visit http://www.sheltoncinemas.com.

Fees waived at public lands for Veterans Day

State and national parks will be free to visit on Thursday in honor of Veterans Day.

According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the fee waiver is one small way of thanking and honoring veterans. The fee waiver includes forest service picnic areas, boat launches, trailhead and visitor centers. Fees will continue to be charged at recreation sites operated by concessionaires unless the manager chooses to participate.

According to the National Park Service website, this is the final day for fee-free entrance to national parks, including Olympic National Park.

The USDA encourages visitors to know before you go but checking out recent fire activity, public use restrictions and closures, and also reminded people to make sure someone knows where you’re going and when you plan to return. Weather checks are also recommended before visiting.

Shelton Municipal Court, Mason County District Court receives state grant

The Shelton Municipal Court and Mason County District Court have been awarded a grant of $199,000 from the state Administrative Office of the Courts.

According to a news release, the money will establish and operate a therapeutic treatment court and also used to identify individuals before either the Shelton Municipal Court or Mason County District Court with substance use disorders or other behavioral health needs and engage people with community based therapeutic interventions.

Anyone participating must show educational and employment progress. The treatment court will be multilingual, and operations will begin in December.

Shelton Municipal Court will manage and host the therapeutic court and track statistics for state and federal audits.

Mason County records 143 COVID-19 cases

Mason County has recorded 143 COVID-19 cases in the past six days.

According to Mason County Emergency Management, there have been 364 cases in the past 14 days since Oct. 25 and the case rate per 100,000 is 560.

The county is 53.3% vaccinated and there are five people currently hospitalized with COVID.