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 weeks ago, 12 cats in a box were dumped in front of Kitten Rescue of Mason County's gate on state Route 3 in Shelton. That brought the cat and kitten population at the nonprofit organization to 92 felines. Add to that the 110 cats at local foster homes, and the agency has 202 cats without permanent homes. The after-hours abandonment of unwanted cats, a drop in adoptions and a shaky economy have combined to create "horrendous" and "deplorable" problems for the nonprofit, said Dee Sigmond,...
The McEwan Fire that ignited July 4 near East McEwan Prairie Road is still burning, but has been moved to "patrol status" by the state Department of Natural Resources as of Monday, according to Central Mason Fire & EMS. According to the CMFE Facebook page, DNR will continue to monitor the fire to ensure the fire remains inactive and within its footprint. People might continue to see fire crews coming and going from the fire area during that time. It will remain in patrol status until a "season-e...
Motorcyclists and campers in the Tahuya State Forest, coho salmon and winter trout in Kennedy Creek, and summer chum in the Tahuya River will benefit from almost $6.3 million in state grants awarded in Mason County. The state Recreation and Conservation Office last week announced the award of almost $190 million in grants to communities statewide to improve outdoor recreation and conserve important wildlife habitat. "These grants advance our priority to protect Washington's world-class outdoor r...
Habitat for Humanity of Mason County last week celebrated the groundbreaking for its 37th house, the second of three structures that will house families in need on Park Street in Shelton. Kendra Martinsen and her two sons, 6-year-old Wyatt and 9-year-old Ryan, will live at 531 Park St., just down the road from the City of Shelton's Kneeland Park. The nonprofit organization hosted a ceremony for the family July 19. Habitat for Humanity of Mason County is a faith-based housing ministry partnered w...
I've bought 10 cars in life, starting at age 17. All were used, save one, and only two had any dollar value when I finished with them. All, however, have story value. No. 1, 1977: A 1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle, which I bought for $1,200 from a used car lot in the Spokane Valley called Christian Brothers Automotive. At some point in the transaction, one of the brothers asked whether I was a Christian. Yes, I replied. "Good," he said, "we like to keep sales in the family." I asked what the car's...
After years of struggling with health issues, Bob Herr, 72, passed peacefully away on January 14, 2023. Bob was born in No. Attleboro, Massachusetts and was raised in South Seattle. Growing up he excelled in pole vaulting, football (playing alongside Terry Metcalf at Franklin High School), and spent endless hours on Lake Washington in his homemade hydroplane. After graduating from Washington State and the University of Washington, he spent the majority of his career as a dentist serving in the... Full story
Dale Lee Bracy passed away July 4, 2023, in Olympia, Washington. He was born in Shelton, Washington, on March 1, 1954, to Teddie Ray Bracy and Catherine Lorraine Bracy. Dale attended Southside Grade School and graduated from Shelton High School in 1972. He started his truck driving career right after high school and became a skilled truck driver who won numerous competition awards at Shelton Forest Festivals. He hauled logs for Manke Lumber and then decided to become an independent truck... Full story
Randy Chapman, a 76 year old resident of Shelton, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, July 9, 2023. His nephew Rick, and his niece Connie, were at his side when he took his last breath. The youngest of three children, Randy was born in San Jose, California on August 10, 1946, to Ken and Jerry (Haggerty) Chapman. Due to a traumatic birth, Randy was developmentally disabled. His family relocated to the Chapman Family home on Hood Canal when Randy was only six years old. In 1955, Randy and ni... Full story
John "Jack" Hardaway Connolly passed away peacefully at the age of 94. He was born in Olympia, Washington, and graduated high school from St. Martins in Olympia and attended St. Martins College and the State College of Washington. Jack was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the 562nd Medical Ambulance Company. Among his many endeavors, he co-owned Shelton Meatpacking Company, was a founder of Romac Industries (manufacturer of pipe products), and farmed coffee in Quatemala. He is... Full story
The youngest of four, Ward was born to William and Carol Villines. After graduating Olympia High School he joined the U.S. Air Force and served two tours in Vietnam. The same year, he graduated from Georgia State he married his first wife, Judy McKinnon. Years later, Ward married his second wife, Debra Keravich. At the time of his passing the couple had spent 32 years together. Ward was the owner and manager of Characters Corner Tavern in the community of Steamboat Island. In total, he had worked 44 years at Characters before selling it in... Full story
Christopher Joseph Gordon passed away suddenly of heart complications on July 20th, 2023. Chris was born on May 20th, 1966 to Robert and Eloise Gordon of Shelton, Washington, the ninth of ten children. Chris worked at the top of his field as a drywall installer, widely known for his dedicated work ethic and quality craftsmanship. Chris was blessed with two families over his lifetime. He married Shelley Thompson in 1991 who he had two children with, Chase and Shaylie. Years later, he met and marr... Full story
Richard Peterson, 73, a resident of Shelton, passed away June 26, 2023, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Daniel Zabresky, 46, a resident of Olympia, passed away July 12, 2023, in Olympia. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Rosemarie Valda, 91, a resident of Olympia, passed away July 17, 2023, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Charles Edwin Noddin, 83, a resident of Centralia, passed away July 18, 2023, at home.... Full story
Good Samaritans Editor, the Journal, Perhaps the city authorities – particularly those who attend church – could speak to their church pastor asking them to accommodate the homeless just like Jesus said to do. I might surmise that a few church pastors and priests are aware of Shelton’s park “tent city.” I suspect Shelton pastors have sometime in their long list of religious sermons preached about the good Samaritan story where it’s recommended to stop and help a man in trouble when others wouldn’t. Have not these Shelton pastors read the scri...
Thank you, Shelton. Thank you for this opportunity to serve my hometown and the place I call home. There are many people who have had a role in why I am here today serving as the next city manager. Teachers and coaches like Dann Gagnon, Terry Gregg, Harlan Buitenveld, Brian Brickert, Dave Niehl, Mark Jensen (all basketball junkies like me) and many more, instilled work ethic and teamwork principles that carry over from the gym to the office. Community leaders like Mike Byrne, who hired me for...
Jail cameras replaced Mason County commissioners approved replacement of the Mason County jail camera system at the Tuesday meeting. According to the information packet, information technology was informed by the camera system vendor, Corrections Technology Group, that replacement parts for the existing system are no longer in production or available. If another hardware failure occurred, there would be no way to fix it. The county asked the vendor, CTG, to provide a quote for a full system replacement, which includes a non-proprietary...
David Hamilton peered at a piece of apple wood and saw a face. That was four months ago, before the Shelton resident had ever carved anything from wood. Today, motorists who pass his Hillcrest house are stopping to admire and buy his finely chisled creations. He has been commissioned to carve silver steelhead, bottleneck dolphin, beavers, bears, sea turtles, otters and a cross bearing the image of Jesus. Hamilton's creative way with wood didn't emerge from nowhere - he's been a welder for 30...
Hoodsport Port commissioners Cody Morris and Terry Brazil approved an agreement July 19 with Integrated NW Construction to satisfy the conditions for renewing the lease on the port’s dock. During the commissioners’ most recent meeting, Port Executive Director Kathleen Wyatt said the port has $3,500 available for a professional services agreement, which she said is the first step required for any progress in inspecting and renovating the docks. Wyatt said the next steps would be a “desktop revie...
Special filing period Aug. 8-10 The Mason County Auditor’s Elections Department announced a special three-day filing period Aug. 8 to 10 for any challengers to the incumbent. There’s no filing fee. According to a news release, candidates for the positions of Mason County Cemetery District Positions No. 1, 2 and 3; Fire Protection District 18 commissioner position 1 and 4; Public Hospital District No. 2 commissioner position No. 4; Port of Dewatto commissioner district 2; North Mason School District school board director district No. 4; and Tah...
Pancakes in the Park Sunday at Kneeland supports youths The Shelton Kiwanis Club hosts its 72nd annual Pancakes in the Park from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Kneeland Park in Shelton. For $7, you'll get pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee. Proceeds support local youth programs. The event includes free books and live music. Create botanical print at library workshop Textile artist April Sproule offers a talk and a hands-on botanical printing workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Shelton...
I devoted the latter half of last Friday to what has been christened the "Barbenheimer" double-feature, screening Christopher Nolan's three-hour "Oppenheimer" that afternoon, before going to dinner for an hour, then taking in Greta Gerwig's two-hour "Barbie" that evening. Nolan and several "Oppenheimer" actors have praised "Barbenheimer" in the press, touting it as proof of a healthy cinematic marketplace, and indeed, watching those two films back-to-back made me feel like I'd gazed into the...
Superintendent Dana Rosenbach talked about North Mason’s summer school program, the upcoming renaming ceremony for the east addition of the community gym, and the wrap-up of the Theler property transition, at the school board’s most recent meeting. “We’re very excited for the students who are registered,” Rosenbach said of the summer school at the July 20 meeting. “Our rising fourth-through-seventh-graders will be engaging in their developing video work. On the last day, we’ll get to see what t...
Mason County Climate Justice, the Legacy Forest Defense Coalition and the state Department of Natural Resources will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Mason County Superior Court. According to Jennifer Calkins, a lawyer who represents the local environmental activist groups, MCCJ filed a notice to withdraw its motion to dismiss and filed a second motion for a preliminary injunction with the intervenor corporation Tacoma-based Stella-Jones Corp., which came in with the highest bid for the 94 acres...
As of Wednesday, the Port of Dewatto has not filled the vacancy on its three-member board of commissioners, left open by the April 8 death of Ray Mow. The port is still running ads in the Shelton-Mason County Journal to solicit applicants for the port’s District 2 Commissioner position. Acting Port Commission Chair Dave Haugen has asked Kris Tompkins, the port’s volunteer who lives in the Haven Lake area, to provide any updates she on anyone who might be interested in filling the position. Tom...
This week was really a fun week. Mary and Sam took their boat past Dewatto, camped for several days and went sole fishing. Sunday, July 17, 1949 Today we ate early, and I washed clothes so we could go on our trip Monday. Cleaned house and put in fresh flowers. They surely look nice. Sam went to Belfair to empty garbage and got sidetracked so was gone most of the day. A very warm day and a light breeze. Leonard, his wife and mother-in-law stopped by and saw the flowers and the house. We had a...
