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 incumbents on the Shelton School Board were winning big on the first ballot count Tuesday night, while a third incumbent was holding a solid lead. The results of the second ballot count were released by the Mason County Auditor’s Office at 5 p.m. Wednesday, after the Journal went to press. School Board President Keri Davidson, in her bid to retain Director Position 2, received 1,895 votes for 66.58%. Challenger Tommy Stearns received 936 votes for 32.80%. “I am very thankful and appreciative of all the voters,” Davidson wrote to the Journ...
A second ballot count by the Mason County elections office on Wednesday afternoon saw no significant changes from Tuesday’s initial count. Aside from a few minor percentage point shifts, no candidate leads changed from the initial count. The closest race involves the Shelton City Council Position 5 race between Tom Gilmore and Mark Frazier. Gilmore leads 592 (51.08%) to 557 (48.06). There were 10 write-in votes. Gilmore led by 28 votes in the initial count. Other close races include: Shelton School Board Director District No. 2 where i...
In three Shelton City Council races on Tuesday's ballot, the longest-serving member was handily defeated by a fellow lifelong Shelton resident, a downtown businessman was elected after losing a council race two years ago by five votes, and a third contest was too close to call on the initial count. Results from the second ballot count were released by the Mason County Auditor's Office at 5 p.m. Wednesday, after the Journal went to press. Updates are available on the Journal's website. Melissa...
Challenger David Stevens appears to be the new Mason County Superior Court Judge, if early election results hold. Stevens, Mason County senior deputy felony prosecutor, is beating his opponent, Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown, in the first ballot count after polls closed Tuesday with 6,194 votes for 57.24% to Ferguson-Brown's 4,595 votes for 42.46%. There were also 33 write-in votes for 0.3% and 10,822 total votes in the first tabulation. "I feel bad for her. I wish her the best," Stevens told the...
Mason PUD 1 and Hood Canal Communications have partnered to provide broadband service to customers on the west side of the Hood Canal from near the Hamma Hamma River to Brinnon. The Hood Canal-101 Broadband Project affects 117 residents and businesses who have not had access to broadband services, even with cellular devices. The only options have been satellite or Verizon. The Hood Canal-101 Broadband Project was made possible when the Community Economic Revitalization Board in September 2021...
I’ve made a promise to myself. If I ever see a homeless person sporting a sign that reads “Need $ for cellphone bill,” I’ll surrender $20 right there. There was a short period when I carried single-wrapped slices of Velveeta cheese in my back pocket to give out when someone asked for change. The cheese was left over from a Halloween when I gave cheese to trick-or-treaters who came to our house. One visitor asked for two slices, maybe because he wanted two cheese sandwiches. But mostly, I don’t...
Speed dating Editor, the Journal, Thank you, Mason County League of Women Voters for organizing Speed Dating with the Candidates. Candidates moved from table to table with five minutes at each table. Being able to question the candidates directly was invaluable. I learned about the Port of Shelton and how it affects Shelton, I heard about recent issues with curriculum at the school district, and I was able to put a face to candidates. It was a great experience. I was sorry that a significant num...
As of Sept. 30, $24 billion in child care stabilization funding passed as part of the American Rescue Plan has expired. The unintended consequences of allowing child care funding to lapse could have a long-term ripple effect on our economy, workforce, and the well-being of children in our community. This is why President Joe Biden requested $16 billion in child care funding in a supplemental budget to continue the stabilization of the child care industry. Here's where you come in. We have a...
Florence Waldrip was born in November 1893, in her Aunt Mary's house at the head of Oyster Bay. Her father, Joe Waldrip, owned the Olympia Oyster Company in partnership with W. H. Kneeland. In an interview with the Journal in October 1976, Florence recalled her early life at Oyster Bay and New Kamilche. For several years, Joe and his wife, Zora, raised their family on a houseboat in the middle of Oyster Bay. "There were three children and no railing on the porch, so we had to learn to mind our...
Shelton resident Brandon L. Adams, 34, remains missing, according to the Mason County Sheriff’s Office. Search operations were suspended Oct. 25 for Adams, who was last seen Oct. 20. Ground and air units “exhaustively searched” the last known location of Adams’ cellphone in the Browns Creek area in Mason County, Deputy Matt Colbenson told the Journal in an email. The Sheriff’s Office is monitoring Adams’ phone and bank accounts for any activity and asks the public to call police if they have any information about Adams’ whereabouts o...
Suspects in Afo homicide case back in Washington Homicide suspects William Williams, 40, and Kennedy Karpf, 24, are back in Shelton in sheriff’s custody. The pair were sought in connection with the shooting death of Janus Afo on Sept. 28 and apprehended in Oregon Oct. 11. Williams’ arraignment on second-degree murder and felony possession of a firearm Monday was at Mason County Superior Court before Judge Monty Cobb. Williams is being held on $1 million bail. Karpf pleaded not guilty to first-degree rendering criminal assistance at her ini...
Speed limits lowered on three county roads Lower speed limits were approved for three county roads. Sunnyslope Road from milepost 0.0000-0.5510 will change to 25 mph, Kelly Hall Road from milepost 0.0000-1.9460 will change to 25 mph and Brockdale Road from milepost 1.9730-2.0800 will change to 30 mph. Community Lifeline funding reduced Mason County commissioners reduced funding by $40,860 for Community Lifeline, an organization that provides emergency shelter and homeless services, for noncompliance with its contract. “Community Lifeline is n...
Belfair Sheriff’s Office moving this month The Belfair office of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office is make its long-planned move to the former North Mason Regional Fire Authority headquarter sbuilding, 460 NE Old Belfair Highway, Nov. 22. The move should be completed by Dec. 5, officials said. During this time, the Belfair office will be closed for walk-ins and people needing assistance should call the main office at 360-427-9670, ext. 313, according to the sheriff’s department. Recovery court gets grant The Mason County Family Recovery Court r...
The Hood Canal School District’s proposed $33.5-million building bond to create space for preschool classrooms, an American With Disabilities Act-accessible playground, arts, music and science, and replace a 70-year-old transportation facility was falling short on the first ballot count Tuesday evening. The bond received 955 “yes” votes for 57.22%, and 714 “no” votes for 42.78%. A 60% majority is required for the bond to pass. A similar bond proposal failed by 80 votes in February 2020. “We’re grateful for our community’s support for our...
Riley Benjamin Hightower, beloved son, brother, and friend, of Shelton, WA, unexpectedly passed on October 12, 2023. Riley was a lifelong Shelton resident, born at Mason General on June 8th, 2000. Riley was the second child born to Jean Foxx. He grew up attending Bordeaux elementary and was a Choice High School graduate. Riley had many jobs in the community and beyond throughout his life. Riley worked at the Shelton Les Schwab for several years during high school. After leaving Les Schwab,... Full story
Bruce Cowan was born January 6, 1944, in Shelton, WA. He lived all his life in the Shelton-Union area and attended Shelton High School graduating in 1962. Bruce was an avid hunter and trap shooter, but most of all he loved his black labs, especially his dog Rock. Bruce served in the United States Air Force from 1964-1969. He was a disabled Vietnam Veteran. Bruce worked several jobs including the Union Garage, and as a welder supervisor at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. He also had a small welding... Full story
A rundown of all other races in Mason County: Fire Protection Dist. 3 Fire Commissioner Position No. 2 Nancy A. Montgomery has 424 votes for 97.25% and write-in candidates have 12 votes for 2.75% with a total of 436 votes. Fire Protection Dist. 4 Fire Commissioner Position No. 1 Dean Hirschi has 961 votes for 98.06% and write-in candidates have 19 votes for 1.94% with a total of 980 votes. Fire Protection Dist. 4 Fire Commissioner Position No. 3 Greg Sypnicki has 982 votes for 98.5% and write-in candidates have 15 votes for 1.5% with a total...
John C. Pelkey, 74, of Allyn, Washington, died on November 5, 2023. He was born in Bremerton, Washington on January 18, 1949, to David and Maxine Pelkey (Nordquist). John graduated from Central Kitsap High School in 1967. After high school, he attended Lutheran Bible Institute in Seattle, Washington where he met his wife of 54 years, Cheryl. He spent six years in the U.S. Navy and then 30 years working for the State of Washington, several of which were in Olympia. Later in life, he earned a... Full story
Mason General Foundation fundraiser set for Nov. 17 The Mason General Hospital Foundation hosts its Business Luncheon and Confections Auction from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Ridge Motorsports Park at 1060 West Eels Hill Road, Shelton. Tickets are $60, or $525 for a table of 10. The doors open at 11 a.m. and a buffet lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. by local chefs Tom Beben and Monica Carvajal-Beben, followed by an auction of desserts from noon to 1 p.m. The money raised will fund a...
Josephine Ann Lusignan January 17, 1935 ~ October 22, 2023 Born to Rupert and Anna (West) Ravsten in Logan, UT, and was joined by brother Layne, arriving four years later. Mom's early childhood was spent in Grand Coulee, WA, as her father was a welder and worked on the Grand Coulee Dam. Her family moved to Spokane in her mid-grade school years. She graduated from West Valley High School in 1952 and headed to the University of Washington. This is where she met her match, Guy Lusignan. She graduat... Full story
Judy Moon, 78, a resident of Aberdeen, passed away October 29, 2023, at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Ms. Stormy, 72, a resident of Grapeview, passed away November 1, 2023, at Mason General Hospital. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Deanna Rae Kilmer, 84, a resident of Shelton, passed away November 1, 2023, at Alpine Way Assisted Living. Arrangements are by Forest Funeral Home and Crematory. Billie Ballard, 91, a resident of... Full story
Veterans of the armed forces can celebrate, and be celebrated, at three Veterans Day events in Mason County. Disabled American Veterans Chapter 60 of Shelton hosts a breakfast and Veterans Day ceremony from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at Memorial Hall, 210 W. Franklin St., downtown Shelton. Trevor Severance of the Mason County Sheriff's Office is the guest speaker, and members of the Shelton NJROTC will participate in the ceremony. Veterans will be honored at a ceremony from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m....
It's the most influential television show that multiple generations of TV viewers have never seen, and it ended an entire season of simmering sexual tension with a free-for-all food fight. Because I'm faced with slim pickings for recent theatrical releases, I'll try an experiment by reviewing the first season of a show that made its streaming debut on Hulu in October, after originally airing from 1985-89. You can tell me if you want me to continue. "Moonlighting" wasn't the first romantic...
