County Briefs

Matt Baide | Aug 17, 20230

Shawna Whelan/SMCJ

A Central Mason firefighter battles a fire Saturday in Shelton.

Structure fire Saturday in Shelton

Central Mason Fire & EMS responded to a structure fire Saturday night on Olympic Highway North in Shelton.

According to a news release, the fire was reported at 8:22 p.m., and crews arrived on scene in four minutes to find a single-wide mobile home on fire. Crews entered to search for occupants and extinguish the fire. All occupants made it out of the home and three occupants were transported by medic units to Mason General Hospital for evaluation and then released. Multiple pets were rescued from the blaze and crews provided emergency oxygen to the animals before releasing them to the homeowner. The cause is under investigation.

For more information, contact CMFE's Norma Brock at nbrock@cmfe.org.

Shelton teen injured in motorcycle wreck

A 15-year-old Shelton boy was injured in a motorcycle accident at noon Tuesday on state Route 8 near Rayville in Grays Harbor County.

According to a Washington State Patrol news release, the boy's motorcycle was eastbound on Route 8 and failed to negotiate a curve and struck a cable barrier.

The teenager was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Route 3 congestion this weekend

State Route 3 between Gorst and Belfair will see increased daytime traffic this weekend during the Bremerton air show.

According to a state Department of Transportation news release, the air show at Bremerton National Airport is expected to draw spectators throughout the region and congestion is expected both days of the event. Plan for longer travel times and occasional backups near the airport. Highest traffic volumes will be before and after.

Drivers can help everyone by traveling during non-peak times, rescheduling nonessential trips, carpooling or using alternative modes of transportation.

Real-time traffic information can be found at http://www.tinyurl.com/2p8veaea.

Shelton residents hurt in crash

A 49-year-old Shelton man and a 23 year-old-Shelton woman were injured in a motorcycle crash Friday night on state Route 3 near the Bremerton airport.

According to a Washington State Patrol news release, the man was southbound at the Airport Way roundabout at a high speed when he failed to make a curve, leaving the road into brush and crashing, ejecting both people from the motorcycle.

The two were transported to St. Michaels Medical Center in Silverdale. The man was charged with a DUI and vehicular assault.

State Route 108 roadwork begins

Drivers on state Route 8 can expect occasional one-way alternating traffic on state Route 108 near McCleary.

According to a state Department of Transportation news release, the work began Monday and after Labor Day, Route 108 will close around the clock until Sept. 19.

Until Labor Day, people should expect occasional traffic stops of up to 15 minutes for other work activities from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each weekday at milepost 5.5, which is about 2 miles northeast of Elma Hicklin Road East.

The work is for a fish barrier removal project at two tributaries to Skookum Creek. For more information about the project, go to http://www.tinyurl.com/52sav6ym.

Belco Forest Products expands

Belco Forest Products is expanding its headquarters and revolutionizing its operations ahead of the company's 45th anniversary.

According to a Belco news release, a $2.5-million expansion will improve efficiency of manufacturing and enable faster shipping to customers.

The project includes a 15,000-square-foot building addition to assist the expansion and 6 additional acres of asphalt to support storing and shipping of finished goods. The expansion is at Belco's primary site at 1890 E. Johns Prairie Road in Shelton.

Belco acquired its 16-acre manufacturing facility in Shelton in 2003.