Shelton-Mason County Journal - Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886

Mary M. Knight School District students returned to school Wednesday to find a much smoother campus.

During the summer, Granite Construction employees replaced the gravel driveways and parking lots for the two Matlock schools with 3 inches of asphalt. The lots offer angled parking, handicapped parking and ramps into the schools. Drainage links were re-established during the $630,000 project.

"You don't have to go through mud puddles and potholes to get to the high school," said Superintendent Matt Mallery. The asphalt provides a better surface for emergency vehicles and a fire wall, if need...