Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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Establishing a mitigation site for a year where homeless people could erect tents would cost the City of Shelton about $35,000, while employing staff to oversee the encampment at night would cost about $100,000. The Shelton City Council discussed and ranked seven recommendations by its homelessness task force Nov. 22 at a study session at the Shelton Civic Center. “I’m hearing the mitigation site is the number one thing we should be working on,” said City Manager Jeff Niten. “I think a mitigation site is the most important start,” Mayor Eri...
Marty Best, the vice chairman of the Shelton School Board, died Nov. 20. He was 67. The Shelton resident joined the board in 2021 and represented District 2. The board and the district mourned his death at the Nov. 22 meeting in the Mountain View Elementary School cafeteria and honored him with a moment of silence. “Marty did a lot of work in public service, not just the school board,” said Superintendent Wyeth Jessee. Best was the administrative services manager for Grays Harbor Transit and president of Whirlwind Ministries Inc. He had bee...
The North Mason Regional Fire Authority is launching a physician’s assistant program in 2023, hoping to fill a need for medical services in the community. NMRFA Chief Beau Bakken said the authority was looking to start a similar program before COVID hit, but the logistics were too complicated at the time. The pandemic did allow time to plan on how to execute the program. The intention of the program is to fill a gray area in coverage. When NMRFA responds to a call for medical attention, it h...
A “reverse” parade, performances by school choirs, photos with Santa Claus and the lighting of the Christmas tree are among the highlights of the Holiday Magic events staged from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in downtown Shelton. The Kristmas Town Kiwanis Club and Shelton Downtown Merchants host the events on a stretch of West Railroad Avenue, which will be closed to vehicles. Friday’s offerings include the lighting of the Christmas tree at Post Office Park. Fire pits will be lit, and kids can enjoy a ride on the Kristmas Kiwanis’ tiny tr...
After a fall that included several months of lead-up to the midterm elections and a busy high school sports season, last week afforded me a chance to get away from the Journal's office for a few days to recharge. It felt good and allowed me an opportunity I haven't yet had during my four years here in the Evergreen State. My parents and much of my family are a 14-hour drive away in Idaho and Utah and with the general unpredictability of wintertime weather on Interstate 84 through eastern Oregon...
Here’s how we get people to stop using guns to kill people: We work on making people not want to kill people. An example of lazy object naming: The orange. People should use their baby photos in their obits — that’s when they looked their best. We have a lot of public art in Western Washington that depicts salmon, so much so that if anyone is around in 2,000 years to dig through what remains of our civilization, they’ll think we worshiped those swimming creatures. Imagine their shock, then, w...
Southside: Thanks Editor, the Journal, On behalf of the students, staff, families and directors of Southside School District I would like to thank voters for approving the Southside Educational Programs and Operations replacement levy. Southside is a great school with a 120-year history of family values and traditions. We appreciate all the community support for our independent public school district. Paul Wieneke, Superintendent, Southside School District Let’s thank Biden Editor, the Journal, Well, the election is over. We Democrats did n...
Love INC hosts workshops The Shelton-based nonprofit Love INC (In the Name of Christ) and its partner churches host free community workshops this month. Belfair resident Dilma Demartino teaches a tamale-making class from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 11 at Shelton First Baptist Church. Demartino owned a restaurant in Honduras, and will teach Mexican tamale cooking Sunday, and Central American tamales Dec. 11. A free tamale dinner will follow a Spanish-language worship service at 5 p.m. both Sundays at the church. A Christmas wreath-making...
Washington’s COVID state of emergency ended Oct. 31, but for Mason Health and General, not much has changed. “There’s a big health care exclusion. We have to continue masking … patients, visitors, staff — we all continue to mask,” Chief Nursing Officer Melissa Strong told the Journal. “That is a requirement. We have expanded our visitor hours, we went back to pretty much pre-pandemic visiting hours.” COVID is not over. Kimberly Cooper, program manager for infection prevention and employee health and safety, said Mason County is one of eight co...
Commission OKs budget public hearing County commissioners approved a public hearing for 9:15 a.m. Dec. 20 to consider approving the supplemental budget requests and budget transfers to the 2022 budget. According to the information packet, this is the first draft and final planned budget amendments for 2022. Field-use rates increase Mason County commissioners approved a 2023 rate increase for Parks & Trails field-use fees at their Nov. 22 meeting. According to the information packet, fees will be adjusted annually by using the Seattle Consumer...
Shelton gets grant for crisis responder The City of Shelton is implementing a pilot program for a crisis responder for Shelton and Mason County. According to a news release, the city was awarded a grant from the Association of Washington Cities and Washington State Healthcare Authority. The grant will allow a crisis responder to work with the Shelton Police Department to receive and respond to referrals from community members, service providers and law enforcement. The position was recommended by the city’s Homelessness Task Force, which met s...
Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" has been brought to life in many ways since its publication in 1843. Ebenezer Scrooge was immortalized by Mr. Magoo, voiced by Jim Carey, portrayed as "Ms. Scrooge" by Cicely Tyson, and depicted by Michael Caine playing opposite The Muppets. Versions have been set in the Wild West with Jack Palance, and in a TV studio with Bill Murray. Connection Street Theatre director Michelle Whittaker promises some new twists on the holiday perennial when the Shelton...
The rowdy Herdman children have taken over the major roles in the annual holiday show in the comedy play "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," staged by the Harstine Island Theater Club at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Harstine Island Community Club. Admission is free. Pam Mueller directs the play. The show "is a funny play with an important reminder for the Christmas season: love is messy, unpredictable, challenging, creative and comes to us in mysterious ways," she said....
Barbara "Bobbye" Fowler Childs On November 16, 2022, Barbara Fowler Childs "Bobbye" passed away peacefully of natural causes at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, WA. She was 92 years old and had lived a grand life full of love and adventure. Born in Danville, Virginia, March 18, 1930, Bobbye adored her southern roots. She traveled worldwide with her husband Richard whom she married December 23, 1951. In June of 1952, Bobbye graduated from Mary Washington College of the University of... Full story
Jeffrey Craig Watkins passed away November 22, 2022, due to complications of peripheral vascular disease. Jeff was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon June 3, 1945, to John and Hazel Watkins. Most of Jeff's childhood was spent on the family alfalfa farm outside Pasco, Washington. Shortly before his death Jeff would say," I've lived an interesting life" and "I did the best I could". As a young boy on a farm surrounded by desert Jeff dreamed and drew boats; and tugboats and the water later became his... Full story
James D. Bennett 5/15/57 – 11/5/22 James David Bennett, 65, passed away from heart failure. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Cindy Bennett, his brother David (Rhonda) Bennett and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Janice Bennett, brother Melvin Bennett, and sister Rita Williams. Jim was always self-employed. He owned and operated hair salons in Federal Way for 20 years. He and his wife, Cindy, owned and operated the Pinetree Restaurant in S... Full story
Theodore Willy Redmann, 74, a resident of Hoodsport, passed away November 16, 2022, in Olympia, WA. Arrangements are by Forest Funeral Home and Crematory. Troy Lee Bina, 53, a longtime Shelton resident, passed away November 18, 2022, in Lillington, NC. Services will be at a later date. Martin E. Best, 67, a resident of Shelton, passed away November 2022, at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Richard Dybeck, 89, a resident of Union, passed away November 21, 2022, at Mason... Full story
