YEAR IN REVIEW 2023 - APRIL

APRIL 2023

The Shelton City Council gave final approval for the annexation of 40-acres of land, known as “Meadows Edge,” into the city at the April 4 meeting.

According to the background information, the city of Shelton received notice in February of intent to petition for annexation. The property being annexed is in the Shelton urban growth area and is north of the Shelton Springs subdivision and south of Island Lake.

The property is owned by one person and is the subject of a 36-lot subdivision, which is under review by Mason County staff. The subdivision would utilize city utilities and roads and requested annexation as part of their development proposal. The area is pre-zoned Neighborhood Residential as recognized in the city’s comprehensive plan future land use map.

According to RCW 35A.14.120, the applicant intends to petition the city for annexation utilizing the 60% method by providing a petition with signatures of at least 60% of the assessed valuation of the annexation area’s property owners following the approval of annexation.

Shelton Senior Planner Jason Dose told the council that nothing has changed since it was originally brought to the council on March 21, unanimously passing to be put on Tuesday’s action agenda for final approval. 

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The state Supreme Court ruled on April 10 the recall petitions against the commissioners of Mason County Fire District 12 can move forward.

According to state Supreme Court documents, the court concluded that all of the recall charges found by Mason County Superior Court and Judge Monty Cobb were factually and legally sufficient to proceed, were upheld and allowed to move forward. The document also stated the charges the superior court found were insufficient to move forward were reaffirmed, and the document is signed by Chief Justice Steven C. Gonzalez. 

“I am relieved, and pleased that the supreme court saw the merits in the sufficiency of the allegations against each commissioner,” Kristin Masteller told the Journal in an email. “Besides waiting years for election cycles This recall process is the public’s only real recourse for reclaiming stewardship over public agencies that are being misused and mismanaged. It’s a very high threshold to meet and that’s intentional, but nonetheless when it is reached, it’s important that the public can exercise their right to recall. We are pleased that we can now move forward with our signature gathering.”

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One person is dead and four others were injured, including one critically, in a series of weekend shootings across Mason County.

On April 15, Shelton Police responded to three shootings in a span of four hours, according to a Shelton PD news release.

The first shooting was at 7:38 p.m. near East Fir and Otter streets in Shelton’s Capitol Hill neighborhood and was determined to be a homicide. Officers arrived on scene to find two victims. On April 18, Shelton Police identified Pablo Calmo Abelino was identified as deceased at the scene and the other critically injured. Officers were told of descriptions of a car and later identified and located the vehicle, taking three juveniles of interest into custody. The three were arrested on unrelated charges, according to a Tuesday news release, and investigators determined they are not the homicide suspects.

Central Mason Fire and EMS paramedics found the person who was critically injured had multiple gunshot wounds, according to a CMFE news release. The person was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center.

The second shooting, according to the release, occurred around 11:20 p.m. in the 200 block of East B Street in Shelton. No injuries were reported in the shooting and no suspects have been identified.

The third shooting occurred around 11:35 p.m. in the 1000 block of Ellinor Avenue in Shelton. Officers arrived and found one person injured. CMFE treated the person and transported the person to Capital Medical Center in Olympia.

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The initial results of the April 25 special election show voters approving the merger of Mason County Fire Protection District 11 based at Island Lake with Central Mason Fire & EMS based in downtown Shelton, and the renewal of a property tax levy for Mason County Fire Protection District 3 in Grapeview.

The merger was passing with 283 “yes” votes for 65.66%, with 148 “no” votes for 34.34%. Grapeview’s renewal levy had 573 “yes” votes for 73.56%, and 206 “no” votes for 26.44%.

Both needed a simple majority of 50% plus one vote. Voter turnout on the initial count was 35%.

If passed, the merger between Mason County Fire District 11 into Mason County Fire District 5 becomes effective June 1.

“We are very pleased with the preliminary results and voter support,” Mason County Fire 11 Chief Brandon Searles wrote in an email to the Journal. “We are anxiously waiting to see the final count. This merger will be a huge benefit for our citizens!”