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  • Parents arrested for manslaughter

    June Williams|Mar 21, 2024

    Parents of a 4-month-old girl have been arrested for manslaughter after the infant was found unresponsive and could not be revived at the couple’s home in Shelton on March 6. Stevie Kadoun, 30, the child’s mother, was arrested at the scene. The father, Damion Giacchino, 31, fled, according to police, and was apprehended March 14. According to the probable cause document, Kadoun called 911 to report her child wasn’t breathing and her husband was attempting CPR. “I recalled going to this address several times in the past. I knew the property to b...

  • News Briefs

    Compiled by reporter June Williams|Mar 21, 2024

    Local animal shelters at capacity The Shelton Animal Shelter announced March 7 it was at capacity and no longer accepting strays or surrendered pets. A technician working at the shelter, who did not wish to be identified, said it was unusual to have so many pets at the facility and the shelter doesn’t know when it will be able to accept new animals. “I’ve never seen it this crowded,” the employee told the Journal. Adoptable pets from the Shelton facility are available on Petfinder.com. People who have safety concerns about animals can call 91...

  • Shelton School District sued

    June Williams|Mar 14, 2024

    Two Shelton High School female students claim the school allowed a guidance counselor to “systematically groom and sexually prey” on them, according to a complaint originally filed March 6 in Mason County Superior Court and withdrawn March 8 due to a captioning error. Lesley O’Neill, one of the attorneys representing the defendants, told the Journal on Monday her firm, Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala in Seattle, plans to refile the complaint as soon as possible. The girls and their parents are identified by their initials in the complaint. The J...

  • Union property owners fined $250K

    June Williams|Mar 14, 2024

    Two Union family members and their business must pay $250,000 in fines and $33,492 for mitigation after their illegal bulkhead caused the death of Chinook salmon. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced in January that Joan and Phillip Bayley, mother and son, and their business Big D’s Beach Cabin LLC would pay penalties for killing the endangered fish. The EPA sued the Bayleys and the LLC, which is on the Hood Canal in Union, in 2020 for Clean Water Act violations. Philip Bayley planned to build a bulkhead and a house 10 feet l...

  • Seattle attorney sues after Mason County appointment

    June Williams|Mar 14, 2024

    A Seattle attorney who says he was unlawfully “conscripted” into being a Mason County public defender has sued Mason County District Court and Judge George Steele to reverse the appointment. Jonathan Lewis, who has a legal practice in Seattle, filed a writ of mandamus in Mason County Superior Court on Feb. 27. The writ is used when government officials have allegedly taken a legally prohibited action. Steele assigned Lewis to defend a man charged in district court with DUI whose primary language is Kanjobal. Lewis immediately “re...

  • Crime & Courts

    Compiled by reporter June Williams|Mar 14, 2024

    Alleged drunken driver causes 3-car collision A woman who allegedly caused a three-car collision March 3 on state Route 3 has been arrested for vehicular assault. Charges are pending for Shelton resident Suzan Rolland, 57, after a trooper at the scene found Rolland “smelled heavily of alcohol,” according to a probable cause document. Rolland was traveling north in a Ford Explorer of milepost 5 just north of Shelton when she crossed over the center line and sideswiped a Toyota Tacoma driven by Mario Lucas, 57, of Shelton. She then hit a Hon...

  • Commission Briefs

    Compiled by reporter June Williams|Mar 14, 2024

    Owners can opt out of spraying Herbicide spraying will start in April, the Mason County Department of Public Works announced. Property owners who want to opt out can enroll in Public Work’s Owner Will Maintain program by calling 360-427-9670 Ext. 450. Property owners who have already enrolled and designated their land “no spray” do not need to contact Public Works. A detailed list of roads being sprayed is available on the Public Works Herbicide Spray Program webpage at www.masoncountywa.gov. Harstine timber sale postponed The state Depar...

  • Citizen initiatives become law

    June Williams|Mar 7, 2024

    The Washington Legislature passed three citizen initiatives in the waning days of the session — I-2111, which prohibits the state, counties, cities and other local jurisdictions from imposing or collecting income taxes, I-2081, a parental bill of rights relating to their children’s public school education and I-2113, which lifts restrictions on police pursuits. Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, celebrated the “historic victories,” in a post on the social media site X. While he was happy about the outcome, Couture was frustrated about the limited...

  • Leap Day babies

    June Williams|Mar 7, 2024

    Two Leap Day babies were born at Mason General Hospital, Braxton Krippelcz and Jackson Turner Hageman. Feb. 29 is the rarest birthday, occurring only every four years. Braxton's parents, Madison Crossan and Quinnton Krippelcz, plan on celebrating his birthday March 1. "And then a bigger party every four years," Crossan told the Journal. Jackson's mom, Alyssa Brooks, said his birthday celebration will be the Feb. 28 and March 1. "It adds up to 29!" she said....

  • Belfair Clinic future uncertain

    June Williams|Mar 7, 2024

    Belfair Clinic’s primary care patients are struggling with the loss of their doctor while the clinic’s future is being debated by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. Belfair resident Monna Haugen told the Journal her partner had an appointment with Dr. Raul Dominguiano on Jan. 6, but received a call the morning of the visit saying “Dr. D was gone,” Haugen said. They had no notice Dominguiano was leaving. Now the only option for primary care at the clinic is Dawn Galvez, ARNP, according to the clinic’s website. Haugen said her and her partner w...

  • Sen. MacEwen holds town hall call to discuss session

    June Williams|Feb 29, 2024

    State Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, had a telephone town hall Feb. 22 for 35th District constituents. MacEwen was eager to have a live community conversation and said the town hall calls were “an effective way” to communicate. He told callers the short legislative session, which ends March 7, “is down to the wire,” but should end on time. MacEwen was eager to talk about the six public initiatives that garnered enough signatures to be certified by the Secretary of State. The six initiatives are: ■ I-2109 Repeals the state’s capital gains tax. ...

  • Griffey calls session 'mixed bag,' Couture disappointed

    June Williams|Feb 29, 2024

    Reps. Travis Couture and Dan Griffey, both Republicans from Allyn, had a telephone town hall Feb. 20 for 35th District residents to discuss the legislative session. The state Legislature’s short session ends March 7. “It’s a mixed bag for me this year,” Griffey said. He was disappointed that criminals’ rights continue to be prioritized over victims’ rights, but happy to see a bill he introduced allowing 10 Washington counties a six-month extension on the state-required comprehensive plan deadline passed by the House. Couture said a lot was goi...

  • WIC returns with Shelton YMCA office

    June Williams|Feb 29, 2024

    After a two-year absence, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, will be providing services to the community through a three-way partnership with Mason County Public Health, Mason General Hospital and the Shelton Family YMCA, Mason County Public Health Director Dave Windom said. A ribbon-cutting was Feb. 23 at the Shelton Family YMCA, where the clinic will operate. The WIC program provides supplemental food, health care referrals and nutrition...

  • Commission Briefs

    Compiled by reporter June Williams|Feb 29, 2024

    Commissioners lower gambling tax Commissioners approved 2-1 lowering the county gambling tax rate from 5% to 3% at the Feb. 26 meeting, with Commissioners Sharon Trask and Randy Neatherlin voting “yes” and Commissioner Kevin Shutty voting “no.” The change will mean about $35,000 less annually for the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, according to Mason County Treasurer Lisa Frazier. The sheriff’s office gets the revenue collected from the tax, Frazier said. Mason County’s gambling tax rate will now match Kitsap’s at 3%. Three businesses in B...

  • North Mason School board gets midyear update

    June Williams|Feb 29, 2024

    District students are making progress towards year-end academic goals, but most have a long way to go, according to midyear presentations given at the North Mason School Board Feb. 26. The district’s academic goals for 2023-2024 are to have 100% of third-graders reading on grade level, 100% of seventh-graders meeting state standard on ELA (English Language Arts) and math SBA (Smarter Balanced Assessment), 100% of ninth-graders on track (0% failures in core classes), 100% graduation rate (85% on time) and 100% of graduates complete CTE (...

  • Grapeview port gets new webmasters, supports study

    June Williams|Feb 29, 2024

    Port of Grapeview commissioners announced webmaster Bob Pastore’s resignation at the regular meeting. “We greatly appreciate his time and effort,” Commissioner Mike Blaisdell said. Blaisdell and Managing Official Amanda Montgomery will take over the website duties. Commissioners also discussed forest fire protection assessments on seven parcels donated by Pastore to the port. The Department of Natural Resources “uncombined” the parcels after the donation and billed each separately, Blaisdell said. Commissioners voted to apply for a refund an...

  • Citizen police academy begins

    June Williams|Feb 22, 2024

    “When you leave here in eight weeks, our hope is you will know the truth of how the criminal justice system works,” Shelton Police Captain Daniel Patton told members Feb. 15 at the first class of the Citizens Academy. The goal of the academy is to strengthen relationships with the community through education. “You live here, you work here, you own a business here,” Patton said. Understanding the department can help residents and police come together to find solutions to complex problems affecting our community, according to Patton. One of the...

  • WSDOT shares bypass information

    June Williams|Feb 22, 2024

    Community members can find the latest information about the Belfair Bypass, officially known as the Highway 3 Freight Corridor, and leave comments about the project through Feb. 28 at engage.wsdot.wa.gov/sr-3-freight-corridor. The state Department of Transportation prepared the online open house to present information in the recently completed supplemental environmental assessment, WSDOT spokesperson Mark Krulish told the Journal. A Feb. 13 public drop-in at North Mason High School featured 24...

  • Crime & Courts

    Compiled by reporter June Williams|Feb 22, 2024

    Police: Drunken driver rips up Shorecrest farmers’ hayfield James and Nancy Hancharik, who raise cattle in the Shorecrest area of Shelton, called police after seeing a pickup truck drive into their pasture, “ripping it up” and “doing donuts,” on Feb. 9, according to a Mason County Sheriff’s probable cause document. Deputies found John Gardenhire, 33, standing beside a Chevrolet pickup truck stuck in a muddy pasture waving his cellphone, the document says. “Initially I bypassed the truck and went straight to the residence where I was able to c...

  • Port of Allyn approves access to safe deposit box

    June Williams|Feb 22, 2024

    Port of Allyn commissioners removed former Executive Director Lary Coppola and former Interim Executive Director LeAnn Dennis, who are deceased, and former commissioner Scott Cooper from the safe deposit box contract with Kitsap Bank at a special meeting Feb. 16. “So we can get this resolved soon, by the advice of the bank,” Commissioner Judy Scott said. Commissioner John Sheridan will inspect the contents of the box, accompanied by Mason County Commissioner Randy Neatherlin. Scott said they will “discover what’s in there,” make a record of...

  • Mason County Republicans host county convention

    June Williams|Feb 15, 2024

    Mason County Republicans elected 29 delegates and seven alternates at the county convention Feb 10 in the Shelton Civic Center. State Sen. Drew MacEwen served as chairman and Pastor Bill Baker from Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Shelton gave opening remarks and a prayer. "If I can quote a Democrat, Kennedy said, 'Ask what you can do for your country,' " Baker said. "What do we choose to do with this day?" he asked. Delegates will attend the Washington State Republican Convention in Spokane...

  • Attempted ballot box theft

    June Williams|Feb 8, 2024

    Someone unsuccessfully tried to steal a ballot drop box at the Belfair North Timberland Library parking lot late Thursday, Feb. 1 or early Friday, Feb. 2, Mason County Auditor Steve Duenkel told the Journal. Vandals tried to dig up or pull out the box, which is fixed to a cement block. Library staff phoned Election Administrator Marie Stevenson about the incident "reporting that someone attempted to remove the ballot drop box located in the library parking lot," according to a news release....

  • Short-term rental rules are coming

    June Williams|Feb 8, 2024

    Short-term rental regulations are coming to Mason County. The extent of new rules and fees for owners will be hammered out in the coming months by county commissioners and members of the Planning Department. “The Planning Department has been directed by the Mason County Board of Commissioners to review the short-term vacation rental (Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway, etc.) situation in Mason County. The county has never regulated, nor does it currently regulate short-term rentals. The state, however, enacted certain statutes, RCW 64.37, regarding s...

  • Report gives MCSO mostly clear mark

    June Williams|Feb 8, 2024

    A required investigation following the March 24, 2020, fatal shooting of Kathryn Hale by Mason County Sheriff’s Deputy Dylan Helser largely complied with state laws, but the investigating team failed to document certain communications and properly restrict access to the case file, according to a Feb. 1 report by the Washington State Auditor’s office. The report says the Mason County Sheriff’s Office and Region 3 Critical Investigation Team, led by investigators from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Grays Harbor...

  • Sheriff's Office celebrates new Belfair location

    June Williams|Feb 8, 2024

    The Mason County Sheriff's Office celebrated its new North Precinct location in Belfair with an open house that allowed community members to inspect a SWAT vehicle, tour a mobile command center and partake of free food and drinks while listening to folk duo The Angel and the Outlaw on Feb. 2. The building, at 460 NE Old Belfair Highway, is the former home of North Mason Regional Fire Authority. It moved to a new building next door with hopes of creating an emergency management campus, according...

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