Shellfish hearing overflows chambers

If you didn't show up early, it was hard to find a seat for the public hearing Aug. 9 as people showed up to tell Taylor Shellfish how they feel about a proposed floating oyster bag farm in Oakland Bay.

About 100 people were either in the Mason County Commissioner Chambers or just outside the room watching the hearing on a TV broadcast by MasonWebTV.

The hearing lasted four hours until the county had to close its doors at 5 p.m., and the hearing continued virtually Aug. 16 to allow anyone else who didn't get an opportunity to testify the chance to do so.

Mason County Hearing Examiner Phil Olbr...