Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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Two years after the first case of COVID-19 was identified in Washington, Mason General Hospital is the lone facility in the county handling the medical treatment of hospitalized COVID patients. With the omicron wave, Mason Health and Mason General Hospital is seeing more patients than ever. In August, Dr. Dean Gushee, Mason Health chief medical officer, said the hospital was bursting at the seams. He said little has changed since then. “Early in the pandemic, we were seeing very occasional C...
A surge of COVID-19 cases primarily related to the omicron variant is putting additional pressure on hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care centers and 911 emergency medical services systems, North Mason Regional Fire Authority Chief Beau Bakken told the Shelton-Mason County Journal in an email statement Friday. “Here at the NMRFA we are experiencing a lot of 911 calls for mild to moderate symptoms that are related to a COVID infection,” Bakken wrote. “Mild to moderate symptoms includes dehydra...
Residents in the Hood Canal School District as early as tomorrow could receive ballots for the district's replacement levy and a building bond that would create a new junior high school building, additional classrooms for early learning programs, a more accessible playground and a new transportation maintenance building. Voters have until 8 p.m. Feb. 8 to cast ballots. The proposed tax rate for the replacement levy is an estimated $1.04 per $1,000 of assessed home value. The estimated cost for...
In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt won the first of four elections for president of the United States. Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean. Zippo lighters, Skippy peanut butter and a gasoline tax all debuted. "Night & Day" sung by Fred Astaire and Leo Reisman and Bing Crosby's "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" were the two best-selling songs. That's the same year the steel-and-concrete U.S. Highway 101 bridge over the Skokomish River was built. Ninety year...
Of the 16 fatal and serious vehicle accidents that occurred in Shelton from 2016 to 2020, 10 involved pedestrians and bicyclists. “This was a startling percentage of the crashes,” consultant Ryan Shea of SCJ Alliance of Lacey on Tuesday told the Shelton City Council. The council voted unanimously to give final approval to a Road Safety Plan developed by the city and SCJ Alliance. The council gave preliminary approval at its Jan. 4 meeting. The city will use the plan to apply for a share of $35 million of federal Highway Safety Improvement Pro...
For about the next six weeks, drivers can expect daytime lane closures on state Route 3 north of Shelton from Bell Road to about a mile north. Mason PUD 3 crews are replacing aging underground facilities. The work began Monday. Flaggers are directing traffic through the work zone, and lane closures can be expected from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays until Feb. 18....
Donate Blood today or Friday in Shelton Winter weather conditions have caused canceled appointments to donate blood, and Bloodworks Northwest is accepting blood donations today and Friday at the Shelton Church of Nazarene, 1331 E. Shelton Springs Road. To make an appointment, call 1-800-398-7888, sponsor code 443B, or go to: BloodworksNW.org. Al-Anon Family Group meets Serenity in Shelton Al-Anon Family Group meets at noon today at 1900 King St. in Shelton. Polar Bear Plunge for EMS The Hood Canal Lions Club hosts the 12th annual Polar Bear Plu...
Once upon a time, two aardvarks named Donny and Danny lived and hunted in the scrubland of their native territory. They were the best of friends, sharing their food and happiness equally. Sometimes they argued about whether ants or termites were tastier, but they always were kind to each other when they disagreed. While wandering through the scrub one evening, our main characters had become especially hungry because they couldn’t find insects to eat. Their stomachs growled as they trolled for fo...
Support our kids Editor, the Journal, Ballots will soon arrive by mail for the renewal of the Hood Canal School District’s educational programs and operations levy and approving a capital bond. I know it sounds bureaucratic, but it’s important that we support the education of our next leaders. The EP&O levy is replacing a levy that is expiring in 2022. It is a three-year levy that will pay for counselors, a nurse, special education professionals, field trips, after-school sports and robotic teams, an activity bus, and nonhigh fees. Nonhigh fee...
Last year, I wrote in these pages about making compost tea. This water extraction of compost, combined with foods to fuel the procreation of its beneficial organisms, is but one way to make the most of your microbiologically complete compost; it's the bacchanalia of compost infusions. Tea season is spring and summer. By then, I will have refined my process greatly and plan to share the photos of my new invisible (to the naked eye) friends. For now, I could make a batch of 21-24 day compost, if...
Chief Stephen Gonczi provided an update on the NJROTC program to the Shelton School Board at the Jan. 11 meeting. Gonczi, in his first year at Shelton High, said the program is doing well. He's in his fourth year as a naval science instructor and used to work in Spanaway. "I'm glad to be back home. I live six minutes from the school," Gonczi said. He has three sons, two whom graduated from Shelton and both participated in the NJROTC program. His ninth-grade son participates in the NJROTC...
Pioneer School Board meets Tuesday The Pioneer School Board will meet for its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday. A virtual link will be included in the board agenda on the district’s website 24 hours before the meeting. According to School Board President Soosi Day, the board voted to hire Paula Akerlund to conduct a comprehensive review of the district. Akerlund is a retired school district superintendent who conducts district reviews. The report will be presented in mid-February and will provide a baseline to develop the district’s str...
Commissioners approve Homeland Security Program contract amendment Mason County commissioners approved a contract amendment with a state Homeland Security Program from the Washington State Military Department through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. According to the information packet, Mason County Emergency Management Division is part of Homeland Security Region 3 with Lewis, Thurston, Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. The contract pertains to an annual grant through the Homeland Security region. The grant money is distributed...
Beverly Fuller Taylor Wallace, passed away January 10, 2022, in Walla Walla, WA. She was born November 26, 1934, in McCleary, WA, to Howard and Ruth Fuller. Beverly was born and raised in Shelton but lived most of her adult life in and around the Walla Walla Valley. She had recently been living in Vancouver with her daughter and son-in-law for the past four years. Beverly attended Kamilche and Shelton schools and graduated from Auburn Adventist Academy. Her enjoyment in life was her horses,... Full story
David Lee Ledbetter, a resident of Shelton, passed away peacefully, with his wife and family by his side, on January 8, 2022. He was born in Decatur, IL, on January 28, 1963, to Ronald and Carolyn Ledbetter. David graduated High School and attended college. He was known for being a 'Master Tile Setter' for 35 years, and loved teaching the younger generation his tile craft. He enjoyed the outdoors; motorcycle riding, camping, hiking, fishing, and spending time with his family and friends. David... Full story
Michael, known to his friends and family as Mike, was born in Aberdeen, WA, and raised in Grapeview, WA. As a long time resident of Mason County, Mike spent his childhood fishing at Mason Lake, and fixing anything that had a motor. He gained his entrepreneurial spirit by picking baby's breath in eastern Washington during summer breaks, and then later owned and operated a successful excavation business. Mike is survived by his mother, Ruth Hill and a large immediate and extended... Full story
Catherine (Cathie) L. Rhodes was surrounded by family when she was called home by the Lord on January 12, 2022. She was 89 years old. Cathie was born and raised in Olympia, Washington and graduated from Olympia High School in 1951. She attended Central Washington College of Education (CWU) graduating in 1955 with a degree in education. She married Lee Rhodes on August 16, 1958. They had 6 children, Jana, Patrick, Teri, Cami, Juli, and Todd. Jana and Pat preceded her in death in 1964 and 2019, re... Full story
Robert Allen, Sr., was born September 29, 1940, in Shelton, WA, to William and Rosie Allen (Pulsifer). Robert passed away on January 7, 2022, in Shelton, WA. Robert married Gracie A. Bean, January 15, 1983, at the Mud Bay Shaker Church. Robert worked as a Logger, tree topper and a fisherman. He enjoyed his hobbies; fishing, hunting, bingo, visiting casinos and playing cribbage, and was enrolled at the Skokomish Indian Tribe and affiliated with the Skokomish Shaker Church. He is survived by... Full story
Alice Marie Coffin, 71, of Belfair, went to Heaven on Sunday, January 9th, 2022, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, WA. She was born May 7, 1950 in Salem, OR, to Alfred and Elnora Wyatt. She is survived by her husband Paul Coffin, whom she married on September 23, 1984. Also surviving are her two daughters, Lisa Kless of Temecula, CA, and Trina (Ken) Miller of Keller, TX; three step-sons, Charles (Susanna) Coffin of Belfair, Walter Coffin of Tacoma and Stuart Coffin of Kent; two sisters... Full story
Stephen passed away unexpectedly of a pulmonary embolism. He was much loved and leaves behind his partner of more than 21 years (John Trow-Smith of London), his sister (Kim Neff of Bremerton), his brother (Shane Mclean of Belfair) his sister (Kendralynn Gibbons of Port Orchard) also survived by his uncle Brian Baldwin and grandmother Bonnie Baldwin, both of Belfair. His nephews and niece; Justin Solene, Gavin and Kennesy Reidt and Christian and Hayden Stanley, to whom he was the best uncle a kid... Full story
Rosemarie Olson, 77, a resident of Shelton, passed away January 6, 2022, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Gail L. Ryan, 64, a resident of Olympia, passed away January 12, 2022, at Mason General Hospital in Shelton. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Robert L. Roberts, Jr., 74, a resident of Belfair, passed away January 12, 2022, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Leona Irean Adkisson, 94, a resident of Shelton, passed... Full story
North Mason High School has hired Rob Thomas as its new head football coach, athletic director Lexi Hadfield announced in a Friday news release. Thomas was the Bulldogs' defensive coordinated and associate head coach during the past two seasons. Thomas is also North Mason's head bowling and baseball coach. Thomas replaces Thomas Mosby, who resigned after two seasons with the Bulldogs. Check out next week's Journal for more information....
Part 1 of a two-part series. This story was discovered in a notebook titled "Irene S. Reed Class of 1953 Essays on Growing Up in Mason County." Several members of the class submitted stories, written in 2006-07, and they are all fascinating. Roberta Wilcox Welch wrote 31 pages of memories of her life in Shelton in the 1940s and '50s, providing the most detailed look into the past. Billie Howard, "director emeritus" of the Mason County Historical Society and herself a 1953 Shelton High graduate,...
Midwinter is known for its rainy and cold days, with darkness descending by late afternoon. But amid the dark, there is light. It is a good time to pull back, go within and plan your 2022 garden. I used to think gardens were for growing vegetables, but after five years as a WSU Mason County Master Gardener, I've learned a garden is so much more. Now is the time many of us are browsing plant catalogs looking for plants to enhance our gardens. As you select plants, you have an opportunity to go a...
Griffey introduces bills on crime, transportation The 2022 legislative session began Jan. 10, and state Rep. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, has introduced bills to address crime and transportation in the state. According to a news release, Griffey introduced five bills. House Bill 1656 would include concealment under the definition of theft in retail stores. House Bill 1292 would criminalize the act of knowingly providing pornographic and other harmful materials to a minor by anyone 18 or older. If passed, a person who provides harmful material to a...
