Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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Adverse winter weather conditions, including an ice storm a couple of weeks ago, has pushed the estimated completion date of the City of Shelton's $2.6-million Western Gateway Project from Feb. 14 to early April. That new forecast is "weather-dependent," City Manager Jeff Niten wrote in an email Tuesday responding to questions from the Journal. "We can't lay down asphalt unless the temperature is 40 degrees and rising, among other things," he wrote. That also means an extension of traffic...
On Monday, Union resident Drew MacEwen arrived at the 105-day legislative session in Olympia as a state senator, while Allyn resident Travis Couture took a seat as his replacement as a state representative representing District 35, Position 2. Along with fellow 35th District Rep. Dan Griffey of Allyn (Position 1), the trio of Republicans are members of the minority party in both the state House and Senate. "This delegation is not going to be able to make policy changes in the makeup of this...
Four people have been arrested in the Jan. 4 slaying of a Kitsap County man whose body was found near Camp Lyle McLeod on the Tahuya Peninsula, about 5 miles west of Belfair. The suspects have been charged in the shooting death Alejandro Rodriguez, 27, a Kitsap County resident. Brenda Maja Hudson-Culp, 27, Breanna Lynn Stewart, 24, Crystal Marie Dodson, 45, and Jacob Elijah Joe Ualika, 23, were all arrested in connection to the slaying. All four were charged with one count of murder in the...
The City of Shelton is considering changing its jail contract with Mason County so it no longer pays for empty beds. The city has been contracting with the Mason County Sheriff's Office for jail services, and currently pays for seven guaranteed beds per day. Five of the beds are reserved for arrestees who are being charged with violations that would be adjudicated in Municipal Court. Inmates are being booked for Class A and B felonies, and now the occasional Class C felony, but not for lesser ch...
When our society finds a better way to archive public records for the people, it will have the full support of this newspaper. Public notices (legals) are the surest way to let citizens know how their tax dollars are being spent. They also create a permanent and secure record of the business of your government and they have run in these pages for decades. That won’t always be the case. Publishing online has been a boon to getting news into the hands of more people, and in getting government information to its citizens. But online d...
This is a tale of two Houses: One in Washington, D.C., the other in Olympia. Let’s start with the frat House. On the evening of Jan. 6, I sat with Mary Young, my 95-year-old mother-in-law, watching Republicans’ 14th effort to appoint a speaker of the U.S. House. Mary and I watched the spectacle on C-SPAN — the news channel for people with library cards — so our own opinions could fill in the silent stretches. Mary and I have similar political opinions, though hers tend to be wiser and more ch...
Thank your school board Editor, the Journal, January is School Board Appreciation Month. Please join me in celebrating the work of our volunteer school board members and honoring their commitment to the students, staff and community in which they serve. The Pioneer School District No. 402 is thankful to have a school board that truly cares about our students, their academic achievements, as well as their social and emotional well-being. Our board is committed to providing our staff of 137...
Mason County Fire District 17 based in Lilliwaup, and Brinnon Fire appear to be at odds with each other over a recent proposal for the two fire districts to merge. According to a Dec. 31 letter to the community, Brinnon Fire Chief Tim Manly submitted a merger proposal for the two districts to “streamline resources and provide even better patient services. A merger would have increased Mason County levy rates proportional to Jefferson County residents.” The two fire districts had been wor...
Resource Fair in Hoodsport Jan. 18 A Rural Community Resource Fair is hosted from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 18 at 331 N. Finch Creek Road, Hoodsport. General support services are available regarding mental health, physical and oral health, vaccinations, rental and utility assistance, veterans’ assistance, food benefits and meals, transportation assistance, insurance navigation, housing assistance, educational support, financial fitness, free civil law aid, and more. Participating agencies include Behavioral Health Resources, Big Brothers Big S...
Mason County Community Concert Association's annual performance series continues with the Nashville-based band Vinyl Radio at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 in the Shelton High School Performing Arts Center. Single-concert tickets are $30 for adults, with children under age 18 admitted free. Ticket packages for the remaining season are $50. For more information, check out www.masoncountyconcerts.org. The four members of Vinyl Radio play music popular in the 1970s, including The Eagles, America, The Doobie...
Meet Rhodes, Duenkel The group Take Back Mason County is hosting a meet-and-greet at 6 p.m. Jan. 19 at The Beginnings Christian Church at 123 W C St. in Shelton with newly elected county clerk Charles Rhodes and county auditor Steve Duenkel slated to be in attendance. Refreshments will be provided. Contact Rebecca Bechtolt at 360-490-3239. Temporary promotion extended An extension of the temporary promotion of Corrections Support Officer Brad McQuade to alternative sentencing unit coordinator until March 16 was approved by county...
Writer-director Brion Rockwell knows film, and he knows the Northwest, so he's hoping the next year or two will help him launch his latest in-progress feature films, set in the Northwest, to an audience of his fellow residents, and possibly beyond, starting with a select screening at the Roxy Theatre in Bremerton on Jan. 21. Rockwell boasts a bicoastal film and writing education pedigree, with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from The Evergreen State College in 1990, a Trustee Scholarship...
What occurs to me first, after having watched a sampling of four films by Brion Rockwell, is that some of the best film footage of the Pacific Northwest comes from those who spend just enough time elsewhere to appreciate this region more deeply. David Lynch's childhood began in Missoula, Montana, Sandpoint, Idaho, and Spokane (one of my own early hometowns) before the rest of his youth was spent in the South and Northeast, and he captured this region's flavor flawlessly in "Twin Peaks."...
Danyka Squire is officially set to compete at the next level. Squire, a senior multisport athlete at Shelton High School, has signed a letter of intent to compete in softball at Clark College in Vancouver, beginning in the fall. "I'm really excited," said Squire, who plays catcher. "It wasn't something that I always planned on my entire life because I do struggle with anxiety, but proving to myself that I can do it and sticking with it over the years is super exciting to me and the one thing I...
Shelton girls bowling The Shelton girls bowling team lost narrowly to Aberdeen 1,482 to 1,447 in an Evergreen Conference match Jan. 5 at Rainier Lanes in Aberdeen. Ezra Winslow bowled her high game of 100 and the varsity bowled its high game of 146. All nine bowlers increased their match averages and Kylee Moore increased her average to 121.75. Shelton competed in senior night on Tuesday against Black Hills at Westside Lanes in Olympia and wrap up the regular season today against W.F. West at Fairway Lanes in Centralia. Shelton boys basketball...
Ray Bonnell is in his first year as athletic director at North Mason High School. His journey to Belfair took him around the world with American football. Bonnell was born in Cincinnati. His family moved to Kent while his uncle, Barry Bonnell, played baseball for the Seattle Mariners from 1984 to 1986. He attended Kentwood High School and played football, which got him recruited to play linebacker at Washington State University from 2000 to 2003. The Cougars had three 10-win seasons while Bonnel...
The Port of Allyn addressed the damage its dock sustained over the holidays and heard about the latest progress on the Sargent Oyster House at its Jan. 4 meeting. The king tides between Christmas and New Year’s severely damaged the Hood Canal Marina dock. Port of Allyn Executive Director Lary Coppola said port insurer Enduris had hired a consultant and marine surveyor to assess the damage. The consultant has already inspected the dock, and Coppola is waiting for a report to see how Enduris w... Full story
Mary and Sam are still in Arizona. It seems they know people everywhere they go, and it also seems they are looking at property to buy. Maybe they want to be snowbirds? Friday, Jan. 7, 1949 We got up early and ate at our favorite restaurant. Got my hair done and went through a few stores. Then I met Sam at 2 o’clock and we ate a sandwich. Out to see a piece of land Sam saw with a real estate woman in the morning. It is a lovely spot with cactus on it and “above the dust.” There would be a fine view of the city there and the hills and no one wou...
Thomas Lee Ferguson, a four-year resident of Shelton, Washington passed away peacefully on December 23, 2022, he was 69. Tom was born October 22, 1953 to Donald and Abby Ferguson in Casper, Wyoming. He was the oldest of four siblings. His family moved to Eureka, Montana when Tom's dad began his teaching career. They eventually settled in Billings, Montana where Tom graduated from Billings West High School. Tom joined the U.S. Air Force in 1974 and became a fuel specialist at Elmendorf Air Force... Full story
(Thelma) Joan Munsey, 88, of Portland, OR, passed away on Tuesday, October 25, 2022. She was born in the Skokomish Valley of Shelton, WA, on December 2, 1933. Joan graduated from Shelton High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from Linfield College. In 1961, Joan married Hugh Shivers, eight months later she was widowed and five months pregnant. In 1965, she married Harold Munsey. They were married for 37 years, until she was widowed again in 2002. Joan worked as... Full story
Christine G. Bennett was born September 13, 1963, to John K. and Peggy M. (Slater) Bennett in Shelton, WA and she passed away December 20, 2022 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Christe graduated from Shelton High School in 1982 and later attended Trend College in Olympia, where she made the Dean's list. Christe's career included working in Christmas trees, caring for the elderly, archiving for MC Sheriff's office and MC Prosecutor's office, working for MC District Court and finally... Full story
Shirley Blackstad left this world and went home to Jesus, her Lord and Savior, September 26, 2022. Born to Luverne and Grace (Morfitt) McNeil in an old farmhouse near Harris, Iowa, October 5, 1932, she attended one-room schoolhouses both in Iowa and Minnesota until grade 8. After graduating from Windom High School in 1950, she worked at the Windom State Bank. Shirley married her best friend's brother, James Blackstad, July 25, 1952, and they made their first home in Texas where James was... Full story
Christine G. Bennett, 59, a resident of Lacey, WA passed away December 20, 2022, at Villa Adult Family Home in Lacey, WA. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Jerry Shumate, Jr., 37, a resident of Elma, WA passed away December 28, 2022, at Mason General Hospital. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Laurie J. Ell, 68, a resident of Shelton, WA passed away December 29, 2022, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family... Full story
