COUNTY BRIEFS

Girls Who Click workshop on June 10

Girls Who Click, an event for girls age 13-18 who want to learn the basics of wildlife filming and photography, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 10 at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge.

The event will be led by Erin Ranney, a wildlife cinematographer who has worked on many projects.

For more information about the workshop, go to http://www.girlswhoclick.com.

Wildfire Ready Neighbors Saturday

The state Department of Natural Resources will be a part of the Mason County Forest Festival to talk to residents about Mason County’s Wildfire Ready Neighbors program to prepare for wildfire season.

According to a news release, Wildfire Ready Neighbors is in its third year and is a collaborative effort between the state DNR, regional fire districts, community partners and wildfire experts to better prepare those most at wildfire risk. The effort connects forest health and wildfire experts with residents so they can be proactive to protect homes and surrounding property from wildfires.

DNR along with Smokey Bear will participate in the Forest Festival parade at 11 a.m. Saturday and talk with county residents about the program to build community resilience and share tips at their table on how residents can sign up for a free action plan.

The program began in 2021 and is in Chelan, Okanogan, Spokane, Yakima, Kittitas, Klickitat, Pierce Thurston and Mason counties. Since the program launched in Mason County, 192 residents have signed up with 96 of those residents requesting a home visit.

Watershed Coalition meeting Monday

The next Lower Hood Canal Watershed Coalition meeting is online from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday.

According to coalition member Teri King, Mason County Commissioner Kevin Shutty will be the guest speaker and provide an update on the recent downgrades in Hood Canal and the water quality work Mason County is working on.

To register for the meeting, go to http://www.tinyurl.com/bdhet5te.

Motorcyclist, 78, hit head-on by truck

A 78-year-old Shelton man was injured in a two-vehicle accident Friday on state Route 3 just south of Belfair.

According to a report by the Washington State Patrol, a 60-year-old Allyn woman was driving a Ford Ranger southbound, and the Shelton man was driving a BMW motorcycle northbound. The Ford Ranger crossed the center turn lane into the northbound lane and struck the BMW head-on.

The Shelton man was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The Allyn woman was charged with vehicular assault.

Budget amendment hearing June 20

The 2023 budget supplemental appropriations and amendments to the 2023 budget will be the subject of the public hearing at 9:15 a.m. June 20 in the Mason County Commissioner chambers.

According to the information packet, the proposed increases and decreases to the 2023 authorized expenditure appropriations will decrease the budget by $1,426,060.

The American Rescue Plan Act expenditure will decrease by $2,437,073, the Skokomish Flood Zone expenditure will decrease $5,963 and the Island Lake Management expenditure will decrease by $9,022.

The general fund expenditure will increase by $840,000, the Rustlewood Sewer and Water expenditure will increase by $98,686 and the information technology expenditure will increase by $86,920.

Memorial Hall committee dissolved

Mason County commissioners approved dissolving the Memorial Hall committee at the May 24 meeting.

According to the information packet, the Memorial Hall committee was a seven-member board that oversees the use and maintenance of the Veteran’s Memorial Hall and sets policy and rental fees for using the hall.

The topic of dissolution was reviewed and approved by the county’s legal department and all concerns that would have been discussed with the Memorial Hall committee will be eligible for discussion with the Veterans Advisory Board, which hosts its meetings at Memorial Hall. Concerns will be brought back to the commission by county staff who attend the Veterans Advisory Board meetings.

Two groups agree to pick up road litter

Bear Creek Dewatto Road and Sunnyside Road were adopted through the commissioner’s Adopt-A-Road litter control program.

According to the information packet, Jim and Brenda Jensen put in an application and were approved to adopt Bear Creek Dewatto Road from milepost 3.15 to 5.15. Ginger Kenyon and Chelsey Dugger, referred to as “In Memory of Cody Shea Kenyon,” adopted Sunnyside Road from milepost 0.20 to 3.45.

Both applications were deemed eligible to participate and Public Works Transportation Technician Tim Rhoades spoke with them and will meet with each group on site to go over risks, responsibilities, safety rules and answer any questions. The agreements are for two years and volunteers commit to picking up litter at least twice per year along with other conditions in the agreement.