Week of November 14, 2024

  • Journal News Submissions

    The Journal encourages Announcements and News Releases of local, timely interest to our readers. Local photo submissions are also welcome. Include information on the who, what, when, where, why and how of your news lead. Deadline is each Monday by 5 PM. All submissions should include the sender's name, address and daytime phone number which will be used for verification purposes only. Submissions are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. To submit your Announcement or News Release: • Email [email protected] (preferred)...

  • Heartwarming play staged on Harstine Island

    Gordon Weeks

    In John Patrick's stage dramedy "The Curious Savage," elderly widow Ethel Savage, whose husband left her $10 million, intends to give the entire fortune away to people who wish to pursue their "foolish dreams." Her three adults stepchildren strongly object. To prevent her from giving away their family's wealth, they have her committed to a sanatorium called The Cloisters. Among the gentle residents, Savage finds her true family. The Harstine Island Theatre Club stages "The Curious Savage" at 7...

  • Mason County voted solidly Republican

    Gordon Weeks

    For the third consecutive presidential election, Mason County was the only Washington county on Puget Sound to cast a majority of votes for Donald Trump. In fact, the results were solidly red: not a single Democrat at any level of government garnered a majority of votes in Mason County in the Nov. 5 general election. The election results are scheduled to be certified on Nov. 26. Voter turnout in Mason County was 77.37%, with 36,013 of 46,547 registered voters casting votes, according to the Mason County Auditor’s Office latest update at 4...

  • Habitat for Humanity celebrates groundbreakings

    Gordon Weeks

    Mounds of dirt and mud cover two adjoining lots in the Shorecrest neighborhood, but next year two families will have homes on the site courtesy of Habitat for Humanity of Mason County and their own hard work. On Nov. 7, the nonprofit organization hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its 39th and 40th houses, on Panorama Drive up the hill from Oakland Bay east of Shelton. House No, 39 will be home to Destiny Bosworth and her three children, 7-year-old Carter Felix, 10-year-old Allison Felix and...

  • Education briefs

    Communications awards for Hood Canal schools The Hood Canal School District, which has about 330 students, recently earned statewide recognition for excellence in communications at the Washington School Public Relations Association conference in Spokane. Competing against districts with enrollments up to 10,000 students, Hood Canal earned top honors for its website, bond measure video, and annual report, showcasing its dedication to transparency and community engagement, according to a news...

  • Citizen reporting

    June Williams

    The Mason County Sheriff’s Office announced a “triage” for increasing calls for service that mostly limits responses to in-progress crimes, according to a news release. Known as “Citizen Reporting,” the program started Nov. 1 and requires MACECOM to divert certain 911 callers to a new online form. “We understand due to historic increases in reported crimes and limitations on available Patrol Deputies to respond, we have had to triage what types of incidents we can respond in person. This has created long wait times for our...

  • Officials celebrate new Belfair pump statoin

    June Williams

    County and state officials celebrated the Belfair pump station in a ribbon cutting ceremony last week. The Washington State Department of Commerce commended Mason County on the completion and cited the project as an example for others. "I'm super excited," Mason County Commissioner Sharon Trask said at the Nov. 4 commission briefings. "This is the way we should do things." The Public Works Board, through the state Department of Commerce, provided a 0.54% interest loan to fund a portion of the...

  • City council approves tourism grants

    Compiled by reporter Gordon Weeks

    The Shelton City Council on Nov. 5 approved awarding $97,000 in tourism grant requests to local organizations for 2025 The council gave preliminary approval at its Oct. 15 meeting. The money comes from taxes collected from motels in the city. The city's Local Lodging Tax Advisory Committee met on Sept. 18 to review the tourism grant applications, with local groups requesting $164,426. The committee recommended Kristmas Town Kiwanis receive $9,000 for the annual Bluegrass from the Forest...

  • 'A crowd of heroes and heroines'

    Gordon Weeks

    One by one, the men and women gathered inside Memorial Hall in downtown Shelton Monday were handed a microphone to talk about their service to the country. A 20-year Navy career brought one man to 31 countries. Another served on a mine sweeper during the Korean War. A woman participated in communications duties during Operation Desert Storm. A Vietnam veteran mentioned he took part in the United States’ evacuation in 1975. With their loved ones, they were gathered to celebrate Veterans Day....

  • City to vote on $46M budget for 2025

    Compiled by reporter Gordon Weeks

    The Shelton City Council will vote to approve a budget of almost $46 million for 2025 at its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Shelton Civic Center. Everyone is welcome to comment on the proposed budget during a public hearing. The council gave preliminary approval to the budget at its Nov. 5 meeting. The proposed budget totals $45,902,596, with a general fund appropriation of $16,789,551. The state requires that the budget be approved by the end of the year. The proposed 2025 budget is a $1.9 million increase, or 4.3%, more than the...

  • Community Briefs

    Compiled by reporter Gordon Weeks

    Prevention Summit event targets Latinx people A Prevention Summit highlights health and prevention strategies in support of the Latinx community from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Shelton Faith Lutheran Church, 1212 Connection St., Shelton. The topics will include substance prevention, resources and how to be involved in community environmental and policy change; opioid overdose and Narcan training; and mental health and substance use addictions information data and resources. Lunch will be...

  • Port still reviewing water line agreement

    June Williams

    Housing Kitsap's Phase 2 line extension and water availability agreement with the Port od Allyn is still in review with legal advisors, according to Executive Director Travis Merrill. "I will be inquiring about status this week as I intend to get this wrapped up before the end of the year," Merrill wrote in his report to commissioners. "I think it will be wrapped up in the next few weeks," he said at Tuesday's meeting. He said he would bring the contact before commissioners for approval. "It's...

  • Former Shelton High soccer star earns All-Conference

    Submitted

    Emmanuel Nicasio, a senior midfielder at The Evergreen State College, has been selected First Team All-Cascade Collegiate Conference in men’s soccer, as voted on by the CCC head coaches. Nicasio was a dynamic and exciting player for the Geoducks this season and in 2023. The 2024 All-CCC Men’s Soccer Team included 41 players. Fourteen players were chosen for the First Team, with 13 players on the Second Team, and 14 players earning Honorable Mention. Nicasio, a 2019 graduate of Shelton High School, played in and started 13 games in 2024....

  • Prep roundup

    Cross country North Mason sophomore Alisha Carpenter was the top local finisher at the state cross country meet Saturday at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. Carpenter finished the 5K course with a time of 20 minutes, 42.2 seconds fo finish 58th overall in the 2A girls race. Bulldog freshman Samantha Neil was 108th with a personal-best 22:13. In the 3A boys race, Shelton High junior Trayson Bartholomew finished 157th with a time of 17:45.4. North Mason Volleyball The Bulldogs earned an at-large...

  • Running away with it

  • Owls wrap up season

  • Journal Letter Policy

    The Shelton-Mason County Journal encourages original letters to the editor of local interest. Diverse and varied opinions are welcome. We will not publish letters that are deemed libelous or scurrilous in nature. We reserve the right to reject any letter for any reason. When submitting a letter, please observe the following guidelines: Writers are limited to one original letter plus one rebuttal or counter-rebuttal per calendar month; Letters should be no more than 300 words; Letters will be edited for grammar, spelling, style, clarity and...

  • Military veterans' everyday missions mirror civilians' civic duties

    Kirk Boxleitner

    Last year around this time, the U.S. Census Bureau reported a little more than 16 million living military veterans were in the United States. I’m one of them. Like civilian society, what’s made so many of our contributions important is how ordinary they’ve been. It’s tempting to fixate on grand gestures, and make no mistake, plenty of veterans have made significant sacrifices to serve their country, even those who are still with us, but what’s just as essential is all the everyday...

  • Coffee, broccoli, carrots, a pile of red onions

    Kirk Ericson

    “What’s going on?” Nate asked when I entered the little grocery store he manages. The grocery’s just down the block from my house. It was early Monday morning, and Nate was in the vegetable section, tending to the broccoli and carrots. “I’m escaping,” I answered him. “From what?” he asked, broccoli in hand. I had just left the coffee shop two businesses down from the grocery store. “Loud talkers,” I told him. Nate laughed. In the coffee shop I often write my column in that...

  • Letters to the Editor

    Belfair road work Editor, the Journal, In response the letter to the editor regarding the freight corridor Belfair bypass on Oct 31. As we know the bypass is a long-sought state Department of Transportation project. Because some of the bypass if funded by federal monies is needed to be called the freight corridor, I know it’s confusing, but the government sometimes works in mysterious ways. DOT has been working together to plan the project and Mason County Public Works has been working with DOT on where to install additional connector roads...

  • 'Heretic' elicits chills by attacking manipulators

    Kirk Boxleitner

    When Scott Beck and Bryan Woods wrote and directed "Heretic," they really went all-in on combining "Saw" with comparative theology. This is not a film for all audiences, even more than most horror movies. While some families might share an appreciation for psychological thrillers, the title of "Heretic" should be your first clue that it devotes a significant amount of screentime to debating religion. Given the number of impending holiday dinners already haunted by the prospect of post-election...

  • Dennie R. Ross

    Dennie R. Ross, age 88, passed away on November 2, 2024, in Rockford, Illinois, where they had recently moved from Shelton, WA. Born in a sod house in rural Nebraska on October 1, 1936, Dennie was the son of Roscoe R. Ross and Goldie (Smith) Ross. His early years took him across Idaho and Oregon before his family settled in Ellensburg, Washington, when he was nine years old. Dennie graduated from Ellensburg High School and went on to earn both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education...

  • Rev. Donald J. Maddux

    The Rev. Donald J. Maddux of Shelton died at home with his family on November 10, 2024, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Born August 27, 1938, in Longview to Delbert and Daisy (Slagle) Maddux, he grew up on the family's small farm at the edge of Castle Rock. He graduated from Castle Rock High School, Lower Columbia College, and Oregon State University with a degree in agriculture. He had planned to teach agriculture but was called to ministry in the Episcopal Church. He helped found St....

  • Barbara Elaine Harrington

    Barbara Elaine Harrington, a resident of Shelton for 27 years, died Saturday November 2, 2024 at Shelton Health and Rehabilitation, she was 83. Barb, the youngest of three sisters, was born November 14, 1940, in Seattle, Washington, to Ben and Emma Satre. She graduated from Ballard High School in 1959. She was voted Queen of the Halibut Fleet1959-1960 and a Seafair princess that same year. Barbara married the "love of her life," William (Bill) Harrington on August 25, 1967, in Seattle. Together...

  • Ian Elwood 'Woody' Ellis

    It is with great sadness that the family of Ian ‘Woody’ Ellis announce his passing. Born April 5, 1935 and died October 24, 2024. Preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Marcia J Ellis (nee Settle) born October 9, 1940 and died September 20, 2023. Ian will be fondly remembered by loving family and friends for his wonderful smile and sense of humor. In lieu of flowers please donate in his honor to the charity of your...