Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Sorted by date Results 1 - 21 of 21
A “reverse” parade, Christmas karaoke, photos with Santa Claus, and performances by the Shel-Town Strummers are among the highlights of the Holiday Magic event staged from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 3 and 4 in downtown Shelton. The Kristmas Town Kiwanis Club hosts the event on a stretch of West Railroad Avenue, which will be closed to vehicle traffic. That will allow a “reverse” parade, where the floats and performers are stationary and patrons walk amongst them. “We’re excited to put on an old favorite with a twist,” said Julie Wren, the event organizer...
The City of Shelton is moving forward on plans to transform its eastern Civic Center parking lot, including adding a basketball and pickle ball court, benches, garbage cans and landscaping. At its Nov. 16 meeting, the Shelton City Council voted to extend a contract with Transpo Group to complete the design of the project, on West Cota Street between Fourth and Fifth streets. The city also added another $37,480 to the contract. “Our partners will agree this is a well-loved project and something everyone is looking forward to seeing completed,” s...
Mason County Fire District 12 addressed public concerns that the district has violated state law that turned heated during public comment before the state Auditor’s office spoke to the fire district commissioners Nov. 18 at the fire station in Matlock. The meeting was held as people are growing frustrated with the department’s lack of communication and transparency with the public, according to several people at the meeting. Members of the state Auditor’s office were in attendance and spoke...
COVID cases declining in Mason County Mason County recorded 230 COVID-19 cases in the past 13 days and the case rates have dropped in recent weeks. According to the Mason County Emergency Management data, the county has seen four additional deaths in the past 13 days, including women in their 40’s, 60’s and 80’s and a man in his 60’s, bringing the pandemic total to 72. The 14-day case rate per 100,000 is 288 and the seven-day case rate is 108. The county is 53.8% vaccinated. The U.S. authorized COVID booster shots for all adults Nov. 19 and...
The Shelton City Council on Nov. 16 approved a new art exhibit for display from Nov. 30 through Feb. 28 at the Rotating Art Gallery in the Shelton Civic Center. The council followed the recommendation of its Shelton Arts Commission to exhibit wood creations by Steve Charles, acrylics on canvas by Fen Hsu, works in acrylic dustman pour by Heather Rosborough, and photography by Deborah Chava Singer....
On Nov. 30, Shelton High School students eying careers in engineering, electronics and robotics will take their first steps into the campus' new Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology (MET) building. The 3,400-square-foot building, constructed on the site of the former employees' parking lot, was completed in time for the beginning of the second trimester of the school year. "It's exciting to see it finished and the signage going on," said Robert Herron, the district's director of facilities...
Have you ever wondered how an old growth forest can maintain such stupendous productivity without any inputs? Maybe you've tried to figure out how even younger forests have such resilience when the rains withhold their blessings. On a bigger scale, you might think there are some radical carbon sequestration plans that don't get serious consideration, or even mention. The answer to all of the above is, I am learning, the soil food web. I have been a compost enthusiast for decades. Whether I produ...
Miguel Gutierrez holds a five-vote lead over George W. Blush for a seat on the Shelton City Council following the final Nov. 2 general election ballot count released on Monday, triggering a recount by the Mason County Auditor’s Office. Gutierrez had 728 votes for 49.59% and Blush 723 votes for 49.25% in their race for a four-year seat as council member No. 7. Write-in candidates had received 17 votes. The results released on Nov. 4 had Gutierrez with a three-vote lead. A couple weeks ago, Mason County Auditor Paddy McGuire told the Journal t...
The North Mason School Board levy is passing by 34 votes as of the Nov. 22 count. In Mason County, the levy is passing by 28 votes, 2,561 to 2,533. In Kitsap County, the levy is passing by six votes, 64 to 58. The election results were scheduled to be certified Tuesday. North Mason tried to pass levies in February and April of 2020 but was unsuccessful. The projected tax rate per $1,000 assessed property value is estimated to be $1.32 in 2022, meaning a home worth $300,000 would pay $396 in...
Arla Shephard Bull leads Michael Curtin by 22 votes in the race for Mason School Board Director No. 5 in Monday’s tally. In Mason County, Shephard Bull leads by 34 votes, 2,242 to 2,208, with 64 votes for write-in candidates. In Kitsap County, Curtin leads by 12 votes, 53 to 41, with one vote for a write-in candidate. In the Nov. 10 tally, Shephard Bull led by 21 votes, 2,259 to 2,238. On Nov. 2, Shephard Bull led by 66 votes, 1,836 to 1,770. There were 49 votes for write-in candidates for a t...
In mid-summer, 1985, as demolition was about to begin on the Irene S. Reed High School building at Seventh and Alder Streets, the Mason County Historical Society (MCHS) put forth a proposal to save symbolic parts of the building. MCHS wanted to preserve the lintel above the front door that featured the name of the school and the year it was built, plus ornamental blocks, to eventually build a memorial wall somewhere on school district property. The high school had been a gift to the town in...
County awarded Public Services community development block grant Mason County commissioners signed a sub-recipient agreement with Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason and Thurston counties at the Nov. 8 commissioner’s meeting. According to the information packet, the county was awarded a public services community block development grant through the state Department of Commerce, and it will allow the county to provide referrals or direct client services to eligible participants through the partnership with Community Action Council. The contr...
Gerald Leon Salisbury passed away from cancer on October 25, 2021, at the age of 84. He was born in Dodge City, Kansas, to Lucy and Loren Salisbury. Jerry grew up in Puyallup, Washington and graduated from Puyallup High School. There he met Bonnie, the love of his life and his wife for 66+ years. Jerry loved his country and served in the United States Army with a tour in Alaska. Upon completion of his military enlistment, he attended the University of Puget Sound. He graduated from UPS with a...
You can brighten the lives of 16 Mason County residents in need by donating money to the Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging. The agency connects older and disabled adults with social and health services to help them remain in their homes. Most clients have modest means and health conditions. The donations can help them fulfill their wishes. Donations are tax deductible and will be accepted through Dec. 17. For more information, call Brandon Humphries at 360-664-2168, ext. 251. Checks and gift cards can be mailed to LMTAAA, 2404 Heritage...
Bernie Dorcy, age 95, passed away on November 18, 2021, after suffering a recent stroke. He was a man of abiding faith, devoted to his family, and the service of others. He is survived by his five children: Marcia Echols (Michael), Lane (Barb), Kevin (Kathy), Barb Smith (Jack), Bruce (Laura), 13 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, four sisters, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Charlene, parents, a brother and two sisters. Bernie was born in...
Timberland Regional Libraries in Belfair, Shelton and Hoodsport are welcoming patrons back to the building and there are more programs offered than ever. "We are all now fully open, which we love," North Mason Timberland Library Manager Mary Halterman said. "We get to see folks come in now that we missed seeing for a year." Even though the buildings are open, the libraries are still not offering in-person programs. The pandemic forced the adaptation of virtual and take-home programs, including T...
Daryl White was a teenage guitarist when he saw Elvis Presley play a ukulele in the movie "Blue Hawaii." He bought a cigar box ukulele for $90 at an outdoor bazaar in Olympia. "I learned the ukulele in about five minutes," he said. Barbara Gomez mastered her first three chords on a $26 soprano ukulele. Joel Myer grew frustrated with his first model, but became hooked with a better model and now owns 26. "It's an accessible instrument, but it's also an accessible sound ... It's not threatening...
The last time we got an attempted big-screen resurrection of the "Ghostbusters" franchise, back in 2016, online trolls started review-bombing it for sexist reasons before the film even premiered in theaters, because director Paul Feig had the temerity to cast all four members of the team as women. This was unfair and unhelpful, because while the film did not deserve such abuse, neither was it actually any good, but the online trolls undermined their own cause by ensuring any substantive...
