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 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...
Sharon Johnston remembers playing in the field at her grandparents' Peste Farm in Shelton before the U.S. government in 1941 exercised eminent domain and acquired the property for use by the U.S. Navy, which planned to build a Naval Air Station on the property and adjoining land. Now 86, Johnston on Aug. 19 stood on the property for the dedication of a plaque and two benches that celebrates it as the former site of the G. Peste Farm, established in 1909. In February 2023, the Port of Shelton...
“Three wars back we called sauerkraut ‘liberty cabbage’ and we called liberty cabbage ‘super slaw’ and back then a suitcase was known as a ‘Swedish lunchbox.’ Of course, nobody knew that but me. Anyway, long story short ... is a phrase whose origins are complicated and rambling …” — Grandpa Simpson, “The Simpsons” When I’m talking to someone and I hear, “Anyway, long story short …” I try to kill my impulse to interrupt. “It’s too late to make this story shorter,” I think, but try not to s...
The greater good Editor, the Journal, I would like to compliment R. Lee Olsen for his homeless suggestion in the Aug. 22 issue of the Journal. An excellent idea. I have driven past the Shelton School District building next to Tozier Bros. frequently over the years. During the week, there is generally one car parked in the building lot, rarely two cars are parked there. For such a large building, it appears to be mostly unused. There must be many offices that could be converted to homeless housing, in addition to many available bathrooms. Kudos...
By the time you read this, the manual recount for the Commissioner of Public Lands race will be well under way. The last time there was a statewide manual recount in a primary election race was 1960. This recount was triggered by a 51-vote margin between the second-place candidate in the primary, Dave Upthegrove, and the third-place candidate, Sue Kuehl Pederson. This is a 0.0064% difference in vote totals, less than the 0.25% threshold required in RCW 29A.64.021. The winner will face the top...
James Hodkinson was born in Matlock, Derbyshire, England, in 1833. He emigrated to America in 1882 and was one of the earliest settlers in the Satsop Valley. When he became the area's first postmaster, he gave it the name of Matlock, after his hometown. A 1901 supplement to the Mason County Journal included two pages about "the thriving and prosperous town of Matlock, situated about 17 miles from Shelton in the midst of the great timber district." Matlock was 3 miles from the railroad line that...
The City of Shelton is working to improve pedestrian and vehicular safety at some of the city's most dangerous crossings. At its Aug. 20 meeting, the Shelton City Council gave preliminary approval to accepting a federal grant of almost $1.3 million for the design and construction of four Systemic Pedestrian Improvement Projects. The council can make the move official at its meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Shelton Civic Center. If passed, the grant will be used at four intersections. At the...
James Dale, the executive pastor at Shelton First Baptist Church, is the newest member of the Shelton School Board. On Tuesday evening, the Shelton School Board appointed Dale to represent District 1 on the five-member board during its regular meeting in the Mountain View Elementary School cafeteria. He replaces Karla Knudsen-Johnston, who announced her resignation at the June 25 board meeting. Dale's appointment extends to the November 2025 election, when the position will appear on the ballot...
The railroad tracks from the former Simpson Lumber Co.'s yard in Dayton and its mill on the Shelton waterfront used to rumble with activity. Simpson is gone and the rails are no longer used, except by the Vance Creek Railriders in the woods west of Shelton. Blackberry bushes, shrubs and small trees are sprouting through the tracks. At its Aug. 20 regular meeting, the Shelton City Council gave preliminary approval to accepting a $679,000 grant to remove the rails from three crossings. The...
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...
Market on the Hill Saturdays in Hoodsport St. Germain Episcopal Church hosts its Market on the Hill from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 14 and 28 at 600 Lake Cushman Road, Hoodsport. Learn about meteorites at mineral meeting The Shelton Rock and Mineral Society sponsors Tom Prang’s talk about meteorites at its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Friday at Shelton Christian Church, 115 Arcadia Road. Prang will talk about the origins, composition and identification of meteorites and where they might be found in Washington. If you have what you believe is a m...
Alida Johanna (Bakker) Mak was born in Voorhout, Holland on April 2, 1932. Her parents, Cornelius and Cornelia (Van Stijn) Bakker later welcomed her first four siblings into the family: Neal, Maap, Dick, and Corrie. Following her mother's death and her father's new marriage, three more sisters were born into the family: Anja, Elly, and Paula. Raised in Holland during two major events of the 20th century – the Depression and World War II – Alida learned to live with resilience, frugality, gen... Full story
Carl Bradley "Joe" Ison of Bremerton died on August 15th, 2024 at St Michael's Medical Center. He was born in Auburn California on January 1, 1950, to Carl and Virginia Ison. He lived in many small towns in northern California before moving to Sacramento. In 1966, he moved with his parents to Washington and completed high school in 1968 at North Mason High School in Belfair. He joined the United States Air Force shortly after graduation and was stationed in Thailand for one year during the... Full story
Betty Jane Easley was born November 9th, 1958 in Mason City, Iowa. She grew up in Martinez, California. She liked arts and crafts, picnics, church, the beach, gardening, parks, and family. Betty Jane had a long career as a cook, chef, and caterer for pretty much every restaurant in Mason County and beyond. Unfortunately, we lost her beautiful soul June 5th 2024. She's now with her family and friends in Heaven, who have passed. She is survived by her sister Judy Ewing, brother Clifford Easley,... Full story
Have you ever met a guy who... Rescued a stranded couple, lost for six days, off a rock in the narrow Wynoochee River canyon in the Olympic National Forest, landing his helicopter where no one dared fly. Was fond of creating nicknames for everyone - his wife is Burrito, his father was Howard, one son is Scooter, his sister is Puker, his long-time fishing friends are Al Capone and Perry Mason, and he himself is labeled by everyone as Bardo. Told his three-year old nephew to jump into a deep,... Full story
Michelle Ann Wittenberg, 36, of Washoe Valley, NV passed away unexpectedly in Reno, August 10, 2024. Michelle was born March 8, 1988, to Robin (Wittenberg) Oakes and Tom Wittenberg (deceased) in Olympia Washington. After graduating from Capital High School in 2006, she attended WSU. She was on the Crimson Girls Dance Team at WSU. After college, she was a SeaGal for the Seattle Seahawks for one year. Michelle was the light in any room and the epitome of beauty inside and out. Her laughter, her ge... Full story
Lawrence Ramsey, born July 29, 1947, passed away June 11, 2024. He is survived by his wife Kathy, daughter Dena (Andrew) Roy, son Christopher (Cami) Ramsey, granddaughters, Monique Ramsey and Vanessa Ramsey; brothers Pierre (Lym) Spycher and Patrick Spycher; sisters Vickie Wilson and Barbara Cosgrove, brother-in-law Lowell Cosgrove, brother (cousins) David Ramsey, brothers Marty Ramsey and John Ramsey, and many nieces and nephews, and several cousins. His memorial service will be held Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at the Seventh Day... Full story
Lester Marshall Johnson, born May 3, 1948, in Breckenridge, MN to Armand (deceased) Cora (Heideman) Johnson (deceased). Les passed away on Monday, June 17, 2024 with Sandy by his side. Lester was raised on his family farm in Doran, MN with his siblings, Karen, Dennis, Janelle, Dale and Daniel. He attended school in Breckenridge, MN. He was awarded a basketball scholarship to State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND. Les moved to Shelton, WA in 1969, where he trained in carpentry and started Johnson Construction in the early 80’s, employing f... Full story
Barbara Ann Keyt passed away peacefully at the age of 95 on July 24, 2024, at Alpine Way Retirement Home in Shelton, WA. She is survived by her daughters Kari Cluney, Jessie Keyt, Edith (Dee) Nichols and her son Edwin Keyt, IV. She was preceded in death by Edwin, her husband of 46 years, her brother William, and her son John. She was the biological mother of five, with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, a few great-greats and was also a surrogate mother and grandmother to numerous... Full story
Donald Breneman, 79, a resident of Hoodsport, passed away August 14, 2024, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Michael Yost, 77, a resident of Shelton, passed away August 18, 2024, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Marty Richard Fehl, 59, a resident of Belfair, passed away August 19, 2024, at home. Arrangements are by Forest Funeral Home and Crematory. Ronald Bergman, 67, a resident of Shelton, passed away August 20, 2024, at Providence St. Peter Hospital...
