Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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Dean Jewett, who owns Radio Fryer with his wife, Jackie, told Mason County commissioners illegal homeless camping is increasing in Shelton's woods. "I want to talk about the railroad camps," Jewett said at the Sept. 24 regular commission meeting. The camps sprawl on either side of the tracks that wind by Sierra Pacific Industries' lumber mill up behind the Shelton Yacht Club and beyond. Jewett said the county manager told him a 5-gallon bucket of human feces can contaminate 13 acres of...
A derelict vessel has been at the Port of Allyn and the owner owes $816 in moorage fees as of Sept. 20, according to Executive Director Travis Merrill's report presented at a special meeting Sept. 25. Since then, the owner has made "small payments," but has not paid off the debt, Merrill told the Herald. Vessel WN 1504 SA has phone numbers and email addresses "clearly listed on the vessel," Merrill wrote in his report, so the port was able to make contact. Merrill said he left messages throughou...
If freshmen start the school year with good grades and regular attendance, success will follow, North Mason High School Assistant Principal Steve Hackett said at the Sept. 23 monthly board meeting. “We all know the data for freshmen. It’s the biggest year. If that year can be successful, the rest of their high school — everything is set up really well,” Hackett said. North Mason wants to “get kids on the right track early,” he said. Last September, 24% of freshmen were failing one class. By June, the number dropped to 14%, according t...
A private camp once used exclusively by timber workers could become a county park. Mason County commissioners approved a feasibility study at Tuesday's regular meeting for the purchase of Mason Lake Camp from Green Diamond Resource Co. The detailed analysis will "assess the viability of purchasing and operating the property," according to the Request for Qualifications. Commissioner Randy Neatherlin said the county would investigate how to keep the camp, located on Mason Lake at 1052 East Mason...
Hood Canal summer chum have returned to the Union River in record-breaking numbers, with 12,021 as of Monday morning. There are still three weeks left in the count. "It is amazing," Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group Executive Director Mendy Harlow told the Journal. The previous record of 11,916 in 2003 was due to hatchery supplementation, which ended that year, according to HCSEG. Harlow credited this year's healthy run to improving ocean conditions and HCSEG's 2013 habitat restoration...
Mason County Fire District 12 Fire Association 7.0 has a few things to celebrate. On Saturday, the association hosted a free barbecue at the Matlock Grange that was "one of the largest events ever held in our community, other than the Old Timers [Fair]," Association President Dave Persell told the Journal, with more than 250 people attending. Then on Tuesday, Mason County commissioners ended the State of Disaster for the district, which had been in effect since May 17. "The disaster is...
The trial for accused murderer William Williams, 41, continued this week with the prosecution calling witnesses. Williams has claimed self-defense in the death of Janus Afo on Sept. 28 in downtown Shelton, according to court filings from Williams’ attorney Justus Kandoll. “The defendant is asserting Self Defense-justifiable homicide and will likely testify to his knowledge about specific acts committed by Mr. Afo that created a reasonable apprehension of danger for Mr. Williams. Several officers are familiar with Mr. Afo and his reputation in...
PUD 1 hopes to partially fund a new substation at Lilliwaup and bury overhead lines at Seal Rock in Brinnon using grants from the state Department of Commerce. Both projects are eligible for up to $3 million each under the Grid Resilience Program. Awards are given to “efforts that generate the greatest community benefit by providing clean, affordable, and reliable energy, and reducing the frequency and duration of power outages,” according to the DOC. The Jorstad substation, planned for Lilliwaup, will let PUD switch power feeds between Hoo...
Shelton can’t use the courts to solve its homeless problem. At least not now. That’s the opinion of city officials and the city’s insurer, Washington Cities Insurance Authority. Shelton City Manager Mark Ziegler, speaking with the Journal in August, said while some may see a solution in a recent Supreme Court decision overturning Martin v. Boise and allowing camping bans on public land, he is wary. “It’s not necessarily the fix,” he said. Ziegler and other municipal officials throughout the state rely on WCIA’s advice and right now the insur...
A Fire 12 Labor and Industries inspection in April has resulted in $4,500 in fines, according to state officials. Three serious safety violations, including no annual hose test, no annual pump test and no training or ongoing education and development and were assessed at $1,500 each, L & I’s Dina Lorraine told the Journal in an email. Chief Mike Brown said the fines were around $45,000 at Fire 12’s regular meeting. Aug. 28. Brown clarified in an email to the Journal he hadn’t received a final letter from L & I when he announced the fines...
Grill coverings have come off at Twanoh State Park now that a burn ban was lifted on Monday. Washington State Department of Natural Resources rescinded the ban and Mason County immediately followed suit allowing recreational fires throughout the county not under DNR jurisdiction, according to the Fire Marshal's Office. Clearing and residential burning are still restricted. DNR made the change dur to improving atmospheric conditions....
A Portland man who allegedly threatened to kill a Shelton woman in online postings is wanted for felony harassment. Judge Monty Cobb issued a warrant for Steven Ray Smith, 35, on Sept. 12 after the most recent alleged threat was posted on LinkedIn, a business and employment social media platform. An abuse and content enforcement employee at LinkedIn contacted police about “threats of violence and imminent danger,” according to a Shelton Police Department probable cause document. An account under the name “Dead Ninja,” posted numerous threats...
Murder suspect William Williams, 41, charged with first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and drive-by shooting in connection with the death of Janus Afo on Sept. 28 in downtown Shelton, could face trail this week. A decision on the trial’s opening day was made after the Journal’s press time. Prosecutors filed a pretrial request, known as a motion in limine, Sept. 12 to limit evidence during the trial. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tyler Bickerton asked Judge Daniel Goodell to exclude certain references to Afo’s chara...
Mason County Public Health routinely inspects food establishments once or twice a year. Inspectors look for critical violations, which can lead to food contamination or foodborne illness, and noncritical violations, which don’t directly lead to foodborne illness but could hinder operation of the restaurant. Red Points are given for critical violations and blue points are given for noncritical violations. Below is a list of food establishments with their red and blue scores and a summary of critical violations, according to the county’s Jul...
North Mason School District’s announced this year’s attendance campaign, “Showing up together,” in a news release Sept. 9. “This campaign will run throughout the school year, to highlight how attendance is critical to student success and how we must all work together to make attendance a priority,” according to the district. “This year, we will focus on this theme of showing up for ourselves and showing up for each other,” Superintendent Dana Rosenbach said in a video message. “Video takeovers” will happen throughout the school year to talk...
Free smoke alarms at HUB The North Mason Regional Fire Authority will be giving free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the HUB Center for Seniors in Belfair. Residents can also request free smoke alarms and an in-home check of existing smoke alarms, including battery replacement at northmasonrfa.com or calling 360-275-6711. New hours for North Precinct The Mason County Sheriff’s North Precinct office, at 460 NE Old Belfair Highway, is changing office hours. The office will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed F...
Port of Grapeview commissioners voted to sunset the Case Inlet Fisheries Task Force at the regular meeting Tuesday, joining the Port of Allyn, that agreed to disband the group Sept. 9. The task force formed by joint resolution in 2021 as an advisory group for the two ports to study ways to increase salmon in Case Inlet. “The core objectives established by the resolution have been successfully achieved. The task force was established with a clear mandate and through the hard work and collaboration of its members these goals have been met,” Com...
Mason County commissioners and Union residents agree that pedestrian safety improvements may be needed along state Route 106 in downtown Union by the Hood Canal Marina. "Continued growth and pedestrian traffic within the community of Union warrants a look at safety improvement options and the installation of low-cost safety solutions. Suggested solutions from the community include: improved signage, a pedestrian actuated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon, and speed read-out signs," the...
Mason County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of a “suspicious, unexploded device” in the 1000 block of West Star Lake Drive Aug. 31, Deputy Matt Colbenson told the Journal in an email. Police found the device near the roadway, he said, and it appeared to be a homemade explosive about 3 inches by 4 inches, wrapped in foil, with a partially burned fuse. The Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad safely detonated the device, according to Colbenson. Members of the bomb squad include personnel from the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobac...
Fire District 12 commissioners appointed Nick Jones, who was the only elected member of the previous board, for the position 3 vacancy at the Aug. 28 regular meeting. Commissioner Dave Persell resigned at the Aug. 14 meeting. In May, Fire 12 lost its insurance coverage due to mismanagement, was declared a disaster area by the county and saw commissioners Kelli Walsworth and Cinda Compton, who were appointed by the previously recalled board in 2023, resign along with Jones. “We received a total whopping number of one application for this open p...
Two people suffered injuries in a propane explosion Aug. 22 at the Alderbrook Resort & Spa maintenance building. One person was critically injured and airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and the other person was treated and released by Mason General Hospital, Union Fire Chief Clint Volk told the Journal. “A very large underground propane tank” ignited by static possibly caused the explosion, though that is not confirmed, according to Volk. “The investigation is ongoing for the cause,” Volk said. Union Fire, along with Central...
North Mason School District Superintendent Dana Rosenbach announced her retirement at Monday's board meeting. She will work throughout this school year and retire June 30.. "This will be my eleventh year at North Mason. This will be my last year," she said at the meeting. "I am looking forward to taking on new opportunities and I think it's a wonderful opportunity for the district as well to have new leadership," Rosenbach said. Board Member Erik Youngberg thanked Rosenbach for serving the distr...
A packed City Council meeting Aug. 6 might not have been a spontaneous uprising of downtown business owners fed up with crime and the homeless. A flyer posted on social media seemed to suggest the city was hosting a forum on the topic. “A City in CRISIS!” the flyer said. “If you would like to see positive change in our amazing city? Please attend the City of Shelton Council meeting held at City Hall Civic Center on Tuesday August 6, 2024 at 6:00pm,” the flyer reads. It then lists a Zoom meeting ID and password and states “For questions...
Three new Washington State Patrol Troopers in Shelton are part of the first lateral program that allows certified law enforcement officers to sign on with WSP after shortened training. Troopers Noah Cameron, Levi Gundacker and Daniel Osborn graduated with six other troopers in May. “We need more great people to join our agency who’ll help us continue to meet the needs of Washingtonians. The bottom line is we have to think outside the historical box and still maintain the high standards for which our agency is known. Each of these nine has alr...
