Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886

Articles from the July 25, 2024 edition


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  • Expo & Bite of Mason County

    Jul 25, 2024

    The Shelton-Mason Chamber of Commerce had its annual Expo & Bite of Mason County street fair Friday along West Railroad Avenue in downtown Shelton. The annual event drew over 1,000 people....

  • Inaugural Shelton Art Walk Saturday

    Gordon Weeks|Jul 25, 2024

    The inaugural Shelton Art Walk will feature more than 80 vendors and artists, live music and crafts from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday in downtown Shelton. The event hosted by the City of Shelton, the Creative District Committee and the Shelton Downtown Merchants is designed to commemorate the effort to establish the Downtown Shelton Creative District, and organizers hope to make it an annual event. An outdoor Evening Market on Cota Street will include artists, crafters and food trucks. The city has been sprucing up Cota Street as the event...

  • Shelton enacts complete burn ban

    Staff report|Jul 25, 2024

    On Monday, the City of Shelton enacted a complete burn ban in city limits, according to a news release. “All burning, including recreational fires and charcoal, will be banned in the City of Shelton until further notice. Propane-fueled equipment and pellet grills will remain legal during this time,” the release says. The National Fire Rating System changed to Very High Fire Danger, prompting the ban. The rating system uses current and preceding weather conditions, fuel types, and live and dead fuel moisture to decide the dangers. The Dep...

  • City looks at temporary sign rules

    Gordon Weeks|Jul 25, 2024

    The City of Shelton is considering changing its code on temporary signs, which now allow for a size of 16 square feet. At the Shelton City Council meeting July 16, the council voted 5-1 to re-examine the city’s code on temporary signs. Sharon Schirman cast the dissenting vote. The motion will now go before a city committee, then be explored at a council study session before a public hearing and a council vote. Council member George Blush introduced a motion to suspend the city’s code on temporary signs until Dec. 31. “The reason I am bring...

  • Correction

    Jul 25, 2024

    In an article in the July 18 issue of the Journal, a story on the July 16 Shelton City Council meeting incorrectly quoted Jackie Jewett saying City Council member Miguel Gutierrez “winked” at her when she actually said “waved.” Reporter Gordon Weeks misheard the quote. The Journal regrets the error and apologizes to all affected....

  • Credit union reps from Africa tour Shelton

    Gordon Weeks|Jul 25, 2024

    What led to 30 credit union representatives from eastern Africa dancing and creating letters with their arms to the Village People tune "YMCA" July 16 at the Shelton Family YMCA? The 30 people from Kenya and Malawi visited the Puget Sound region July 13-20, including stays in Olympia and Seattle, and a day in Shelton. The Learn and Share trip was organized by the African Confederation of Cooperative Savings and Credit Association that supports Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations in 29 c...

  • These Times

    Kirk Ericson|Jul 25, 2024

    3:30 a.m., July 21, 2024, Gile Blueberry Farm, Thurston County: “Shhh,” said our youngest son, Ryan, using his chin to motion over his shoulder. “There’s one right there.” Ahh. The thing we came to see. An animal emerged from tall brush to our right, maybe 30 yards from where the two of us were sitting in the northwest corner of Ken Gile’s 18-acre blueberry farm. The animal was under the light of a full moon on a cloudless night, and I tested a cliche. I shined the flashlight on the thing,...

  • Letters to the Editor

    Jul 25, 2024

    Apology accepted Editor, the Journal and Mr. Gordon Weeks, I accept your multiple apologies via email, voicemail and personal phone call. Not only did I read the tone of your words, but also I discerned your sincerity with the tone of your voice. Additionally, I forgive you for any anguish your misquote has caused me. Finally, I expect the Shelton-Mason County Journal to keep its promise: a front-page correction and a “most sincere” apology along with admitting, “It is 100% our mistake.” When your paper has used my words or quoted me in the...

  • Schafer State Park celebrates centennial

    June Williams|Jul 25, 2024
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    Schafer State Park celebrated its centennial Saturday, July 20, with food, games, storytelling and discussions about the past and future of the park. Around 700 people attended the event, according to Shafer Park Ranger Angela Galli, who told the Journal it was "a great turnout." Galli said officials originally planned for 300 attendees. Trina Young, president of the Friends of Schafer and Lake Sylvia State Parks (FOSLS), put attendance at around 800, and said more than 50 Schafer family...

  • Two open doors at Recovery Cafe Mason County

    Gordon Weeks|Jul 25, 2024

    In February 2023, Recovery Cafe opened at the Community Lifeline shelter in downtown Shelton as a place to support people on their journey out of homelessness and addiction. In January, as the new nonprofit Recovery Cafe Mason County it reopened in side-by-side buildings at 208 and 210 S. 2nd St., formerly the home to The Saints' Pantry food bank, which moved across the street. Recovery Cafe Mason County is part of a network of 66 Recovery Cafes, the first one opened in Seattle. The guiding...

  • Cranberry Lake

    Jul 25, 2024

    Clouds reflect off the still waters of Cranberry Lake in central Mason County on Tuesday morning....

  • Crime & Courts

    Compiled by reporter June Williams|Jul 25, 2024

    Drunk driver crashes, thinks he’s home Police say an intoxicated Seabeck man drove into a ditch near Allyn and thought he was in his driveway. Shawn Ferguson, 29, drove off state Route 302 near the intersection of East Coulter Creek Road around 10 p.m. July 9 and his car landed “with its nose within the south bound ditch and the rear bumper of the vehicle was just outside of the southbound fog line,” Mason County Sheriff’s Deputy J. Ogden wrote in a probable cause document. Ferguson allegedly exited the crashed vehicle with a bottle in his han...

  • Community Briefs

    Compiled by reporter Gordon Weeks|Jul 25, 2024

    Love INC golf tournament fundraiser Registration is open for the 13th annual Love INC (In the Name of Christ) charity golf tournament hosted Aug. 19 at the Alderbrook Golf and Yacht Club in Union, and tickets are also available for the golf ball drop from a helicopter following the tournament. This is the primary source of financial support for the mission of Love INC, a Shelton-based nonprofit whose 25 partner churches work together connecting people in need to Jesus Christ while providing goods and services such as clothing, blankets,...

  • Education Briefs

    Compiled by reporter Gordon Weeks|Jul 25, 2024

    Donate supplies to Pioneer students The Pioneer School District hosts a “Stuff the Bus” event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 2, 3 and 4 at the Shelton Walmart. People can donate school supplies and place them on a bus. The supplies go directly to the district’s students for use in their classrooms. A list of suggested donation items is at www.psd402.org. Money donations for additional school supplies can be made through the Pioneer Community Kiwanis Foundation by contacting Pam Harrell at 360-490-0954 and [email protected]. Shelton stude...

  • Route 108 road closures

    Staff report|Jul 25, 2024

    Roadwork continues this week on state Route 108 west of Kamilche and travelers should expect periodic closures, according to the state Department of Transportation. Crews will be removing and replacing culverts to allow for fish passage. During each closure, drivers will be detoured to U.S. Highway 101 via Mud Bay and state Route 8 to McCleary. Times, dates and locations are: ■ 8 a.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Aug. 9: Just west of Eich Road. ■ 8 a.m. Aug. 14, to 8 a.m. Aug. 28: Just west of Eich Road. Travelers can sign up for email updates about maj...

  • Grapeview Water & Art Festival coming Saturday

    Gordon Weeks|Jul 25, 2024

    The Grapeview Community Association hosts the 29th annual Grapeview Water & Art Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Fair Harbor Marina on the Grapeview Loop Road off state Route 3. Fifty-one Northwest artists will display and sell their wares, including watercolor and oil paintings, jewelry, sculpture, wood, glass, photography, fabric arts, and more. Children can enjoy such free activities as boat building and decorating, crafts, face painting and the Kids Fishing Derby. The food inc...

  • Allyn Days

    Jul 25, 2024

    The annual three-day Allyn Days Salmon Bake & Geoduck Festival was Friday to Sunday at Allyn Waterfront Park. The event on the shores of North Bay features music, food, games and vendors....

  • Timberlakes duo performs folk, poetry Sunday

    Gordon Weeks|Jul 25, 2024

    The folk duo The Angel & The Outlaw combine harmonious folk tunes and original motorcycle poetry at 3 p.m. Sunday at a house party in Hoodsport. Admission is a suggested donation of $15 to $20 per person. For reservations and the location of the show on Lake Cushman Road, call 360-877-5862. Bring a dish for the potluck. The duo of Kathy Jonas and Craig Gurney met at a table at an open mic in Belfair in 2019 and began their musical and personal partnership. The couple married in 2020 and live in...

  • In the Dark Reviews

    Kirk Boxleitner|Jul 25, 2024

    The first third of the sixth and final season of "Cobra Kai" started streaming on Netflix on July 18, and the seams are showing in this latest version of the 40-year-old "Karate Kid" franchise. Considering that this all started with a rousing but unambitious young-adult riff on "Rocky" in 1984, it's amazing "The Karate Kid" sustained five feature films, and an animated series, even before "Cobra Kai" launched, originally on YouTube, in 2018. While "Cobra Kai" hasn't been flawless, it's a...

  • Sports & Outdoors

    June Williams|Jul 25, 2024

    Mason County has miles of hiking paths for feet and hooves. Horse riders have many options for a day on the trail or a night in the backcountry. Local Backcountry Horsemen of Washington member Traci Koch told the Journal camping with a horse is a great experience if you "do your homework." It's important to know your needs and your horse's needs as well, she said. The U.S. Forest Service recommends you get your animal used to highlines, rope stretched between two trees used for tying stock,...

  • Two state park beaches issue swim advisory

    June Williams|Jul 25, 2024

    Twanoh State Park and Belfair State Park beaches have posted swimming warnings after Mason County Public Health and Human Services found high levels of enterococci bacteria. J.J. Stepan, with Mason County Environmental Health, told the Journal he is optimistic the warnings will be lifted before the weekend. "Most likely" the bacteria level will come down, Stepan said. A second sample of the water was tested yesterday or will be tested today, he said. The bacteria indicate the presence of fecal...

  • Mary's Memoirs

    Clydene Hostetler|Jul 25, 2024

    It was pretty hot, and Mary and Sam concentrated on getting the pump house done. They made a trip to Long Beach and spent the night and attended a meeting. They took the dogs. Mary's mother has an incredible garden. Was a nice week. Monday, July 17, 1950 Today I went up to Ruth Small's a little after 9 a.m. and made a lot of phone calls. Ordered the fern for McCallum. Then I drove to town and delivered the fern but only the housekeeper was at home. To town and did some shopping. It was terribly...

  • Linda J. "Blondie" Jones

    Jul 25, 2024

    Linda J. "Blondie" Jones passed away July 18, 2024 of an aortic aneurysm at the age of 70, and thankfully didn't suffer! She was born in Ironwood, Michigan, to Jean White and Kenneth Bergstrom. Linda was raised in Mellen, Wisconsin and attended Mellen Public School. In the 1970s, she married Maurice "Rocky" Bone in Mellen and they had three children, twins Maurice ("Rocky, Jr.") and Naomi, and later, brother Shawn Bone was born. Linda worked most of her adult life in the hospitality industry,...

  • Alberta "Bert" Naff

    Jul 25, 2024

    Alberta "Bert" Naff, age 80, of Olympia passed away at home on Monday, July 15, 2024, in the care of her family after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Bert was born on March 4, 1944, to Nick and Bertha Schaff Doll in Mandan, North Dakota. On November 7, 1960, then Alberta Doll married Donald Stanton in Glen Ullin, North Dakota and they went on to welcome three children, Ted, Jodene, and Kelly. Later Bert met the love of her life Edward Naff in Missoula, Montana. Upon moving to Washington,...

  • Harold J. Ambauen

    Jul 25, 2024

    Harold J. Ambauen, age 95, formerly of South Shore and Alderbrook in Mason County, died suddenly July 17, 2024. He is survived by his wife Colleen, six children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Services to be held August 2, 10:30 a.m. mass followed by celebration of life at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 630 7th Ave N, Edmonds, WA 98020. Link provides access to obituary and memories section: www.legacy.com/obituaries Donations can be made in his honor to St. Jude Children's...

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