Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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Whether you need help with the pets you have or are looking for a new furry friend to add to your family, the Humane Society of Mason County can help you. There are some new things happening at HSMC, including the purchasing of a new van from Pierce County animal control for transporting animals. "We asked the community here in Belfair and Mason County put out for donations and said we were going to try to purchase this van," Humane Society of Mason County vice president Scott Gordon told the Jo...
The Mason Transit Authority has plenty to look forward to and challenges before the calendar flips to 2022. MTA General Manager Amy Asher started in July and she’s getting more comfortable in the position, even though there’s still a lot to learn. “A big part of that is getting to know the community and getting to know staff and getting to know our board members,” Asher said. “I’ve spent quite a bit of time doing that. Earlier today, I had a meeting with a board member, a 1-on-1 meeting and...
The Shelton girls soccer team won a pair of games against Aberdeen and Rochester last week in Evergreen Conference matches. The Highclimbers took down Aberdeen 2-1 in a shootout last Thursday, its first game in more than two weeks. Senior Sarah Jacoby booted home the game-winning penalty kick and freshman goalkeeper Cassie Muenchow made a big save to secure the win for Shelton. Shelton hit the road last Friday to take on Rochester and boarded the bus home after a 2-0 victory. Junior Delfina...
Shelton locked up a district playoff spot with a 36-6 win against Black Hills last Friday in an Evergreen Conference football game at Highclimber Stadium. The Highclimbers are guaranteed a district playoff game with the win, either against the No. 1 or No. 2 team out of the Greater St. Helens League. "It's a lot better to qualify for a play-in game, knowing that you have a chance to get into the field of 16," Shelton head coach Mark Smith said. Mason Goos returned this week after missing last...
Shelton Boys Tennis Shelton hosted Tumwater last Wednesday and traveled to Centralia last Thursday to end the regular season, but no results were posted. Volleyball The Highclimbers traveled to Aberdeen last Thursday and earned a 3-0 win in an Evergreen Conference match. Shelton faced Centralia on the road Tuesday and hosted Rochester in a doubleheader Wednesday in EvCo contests. Girls swimming Shelton earned a 110-43 win against Centralia-Rochester-W.F. West in an Evergreen Conference dual meet...
The Mason County Sheriff’s Office released its annual report for 2020. According to the report, the traffic enforcement division made 5,370 traffic stops and contacts compared to 5,458 in 2019. There were more citations issued in 2020, with 649 compared to 646 in 2019. DUI arrests were down in 2020 to 16 compared to 23 in 2019. Mason County Sheriff’s Office Chief Ryan Spurling attributes the 2020 traffic numbers to COVID-19. There was a decrease in collision investigations, property damage and...
The Oct. 18 deadline for Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate is fast approaching, but Central Mason Fire and EMS and the North Mason Regional Fire Authority are prepared. CMFEMS Chief Mike Patti said that no one is planning on leaving and the department is in full compliance with the mandate. He reported the fire district has had no occupational related exposures to COVID in the last 20 months, attributing the PPE the team has and sanitizing equipment after each use. NMRFA Chief Beau Bakk...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses to learn how to adapt, and almost 18 months later, those pandemic changes keep coming and businesses are getting used to having to adjust at a moment’s notice. As of Sept. 28, the state has an indoor mask mandate regardless of vaccination status, unless you are eating or drinking at certain businesses. President Joe Biden announced in mid-September a vaccine requirement for all businesses with more than 100 employees. The Economic Development C...
Mason County recorded 124 in the past week, a decrease of 11 cases from the previous week. The county recorded two more deaths, bringing the total in Mason County to 55. As of Tuesday, there are six people hospitalized in Mason County and one hospitalized outside of Mason County. Director of Community Services Dave Windom said at Tuesday’s Mason County Board of Health meeting that the hospital has more available beds now then they have had in the past couple of weeks. The county has had 259 c...
Rep. Kilmer encourages students to apply for military service academy nominations U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, encourages students in Washington’s 5th Congressional District to apply for the nation’s military service academies. According to a news release, Kilmer can nominate students to the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a nomination. “It’s an honor to consider students for service academy nominat...
Candi Hilyard named September 2021 Mason Health employee of the month Candi Hilyard has been named the Mason Health employee of the month for September 2021. Hilyard, a technician with environmental services at Mason Health, joined Mason Health in 2015. “I wanted to find the best place to work in my area and Mason Health sounded like a good place,” she said. “I love working here. It’s fantastic. Everyone is really friendly.” Hilyard grew up in Bremerton and graduated from Bremerton High School in 1988. She graduated from Olympic College i...
Washington State Patrol’s Eric Gunderson died of COVID-19 on Sunday morning in Olympia. According to a news release, Gunderson contracted COVID while in service to the state of Washington. He was 38 and had served the patrol for almost 16 years. He is survived by his wife and two sons. “Eric Gunderson was a respected trooper and public servant,” Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste said in a news release. “His is the first line of duty death since we commemorated our first century of service to this state just a few weeks ago. How I h...
The Shelton Timberland Library closed Monday until Oct. 18 for remodeling. The library will be providing “takeout” during the closure, which means the library can bring you’re your books, movies and print jobs. Other “takeout” services include scanning and faxing, grab bags, returns, Wi-Fi, reference help, and more. The library asks that you park in one of the designated spaces and call 360-426-1362 for all of your takeout needs....
An altercation between two students at Shelton High School on Monday afternoon resulted in one student being hospitalized with stab wounds, according to Shelton Police. A news release from Shelton Police said the department is conducting a criminal investigation into the incident. The victim is in stable condition at the hospital while the other student was arrested and booked into Mason County Juvenile Detention Center. The case is in preliminary stages and the department is working with...
You will soon be able to place a wager on professional and NCAA sports at Little Creek Casino. Gov. Jay Inslee signed a sports betting bill into law in March 2020 that permits sports wagering at Class III tribal casinos in the state. The Washington State Gambling Commission approved the sports wagering licensing rules July 28. "The goal was to get sports wagering in place for the tribal casinos in time for kickoff for the 2021 NFL season and that goal was accomplished," Washington State...
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, paid a visit to Mason County last Thursday to check-in on his constituents. Kilmer, who represents Washington's sixth congressional district that includes Mason County, started the day by touring Big Creek Campground at Lake Cushman. According to a news release, he visited the area to talk to state and regional leaders. He hit the road to Hoodsport to visit Hardware Distillery and Hoodsport Winery. While at the distillery, he spoke with owners Jan and Chuck...
Mason County commissioners amended a contract with Kennedy-Jenks for two projects extending sewer service to the Puget Sound Industrial Center at the Sept. 14 meeting. According to the information packet, the two projects are the sewer system pre-design report and general sewer plan amendment and the sewer system design. The contract had four previous amendments. The fifth amendment adds a construction inspection for the southern half of the Belfair sewer extension mainline. It also adds an inspection from the railroad crossing to the existing...
Mason County commissioners approved the purchase of two electronic reader boards. According to the information packet, Public Works authorized the purchase of two trailer-mounted electronic message reader boards in 2009. Both reader boards are no longer operable or repairable due to vandalism and Public Works asked to replace the two reader boards with new reader boards. The county will purchase the reader boards through a state contract for $35,630.51 for two reader boards. The money will come from the road fund budget....
Mason County Public Works has been authorized by the county commissioners to purchase a handheld sign retro-reflectometer with an extension pole. According to the information packet, the retro-reflectometer is designed to measure the retro-reflection of road signs and other material. The county’s road sign reflectively is measured visually at night and this purchase will allow technicians to achieve a more accurate reading to ensure the county’s signs are following the manual on traffic uniform control devices minimum requirements. The cos...
The Mason County commissioners approved the purchase of a 16.2-acre parcel of property from Mason PUD 3. According to the information packet, the property is on West Dayton Airport Road between the Washington Corrections Center and Shelton Auto Parts. The purpose of purchasing the property is for sorting county archive documents, possible facilities substation, possible evidence storage and a future location for a county jail. The parcel will be purchased through REET 1 money for $320,000....
Mason County commissioners approved a sole source agreement to purchase a keying system for the Mason County Jail from Morse Watchman. According to the information packet, the current system for tracking keys at the jail is a manual system that requires several hours of time, considering regular duties of the understaffed jail are time consuming. Research for an automatic keying system for the jail concluded there was one system that fulfilled the needs for the jail, which is the same system used in Kitsap County. The system would allow the...
County commissioners approved a sale of property to the Skokomish Tribe for $1,664. According to the information packet, the property is on U.S. Highway 101....
Mason County recorded 135 cases of COVID-19 last week, once again decreasing from the previous week. Five deaths occurred in the past week, an increase from one death the previous week, bringing the total in Mason County to 53. The most recent deaths were two men, between 50 and 69 years, two men in their 70s and an 83-year-old woman. The county has recorded 284 cases in the past 14 days and the case rate per 100,000 is down to 437. As of Tuesday, five people were hospitalized with COVID in...
State lands free day Saturday, Sept. 25 Free entrance to state lands will be permitted Saturday in recognition of National and Washington Public Lands Day. According to a news release, Washington State Parks, Washington Department of Natural Resources and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will offer free entrance to state lands without a Discover Pass. This applies to all DNR and WDFW lands and in day-use areas at state parks. In 1994, National Public Lands Day was established as the fourth Saturday in September, with the National...
Interagency fire managers announced the campfire ban in Olympic National Park, Olympic National Forest and North Cascades National Park Service Complex has been lifted. According to a news release, the ban was lifted last Thursday, and the decision was made due to the fire danger moderating with cooler, moist weather and rainfall in the upcoming forecast. Although the restrictions have been lifted, park visitors are reminded to take precautions to ensure fire safety. Washington and the nation remain at Preparedness Level 5, the highest level...
