Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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Holiday events kick off in earnest this weekend. Kristmas Town Kiwanis and Peninsula Credit Union present the Holiday Magic Christmas Parade that begins at 5 p.m. Saturday on West Railroad Avenue in downtown Shelton. The KMAS Holiday Christmas Party at Christmastown is hosted from 3-8 p.m. Friday in the Shelton Civic Center, 525 W. Cota St. Admission is free. Deejay Jeff Slakey will spin holiday favorites for dancing. Attendees can create crafts, win prizes and visit with Santa Claus. Shelton...
The Shelton School District's strengths include improved student attendance, a large drop in disciplinary measures and a drastic increase in English Language Arts scores for third-grade students. A drop in the graduation rate, the elimination of six jobs in the district office, and struggles to cover decreasing state money for basic education are among the weaknesses. The district's opportunities include The Evergreen State College's Shelton Promise program offering free tuition for up to four...
The Shelton City Council wants local legislative representatives to pursue money for a homeless mitigation site, a roundabout, a crosstown trail and other capital projects when the Legislature convenes next month in Olympia. On Tuesday evening, the council gave preliminary approval to its wish list of capital projects at its regular meeting in the Shelton Civic Center. A final vote is Dec. 17. The requests include $2 million for a homeless mitigation site in partnership with local nonprofits, $2.5 million for a roundabout at Wallace Kneeland...
State legislators shared their priorities for the upcoming year at a sendoff breakfast at the Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club in Union Wednesday. The Shelton-Mason County Chamber, North Mason Chamber and Mason County Economic Development Council hosted the event featuring 35th District Reps. Travis Couture and Dan Griffey, both Republicans from Allyn, and state Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton. Chamber President and CEO Diedre Peterson said the new legislative budget will have long-term impacts for...
The City of Shelton will cover Mayor Eric Onisko’s legal expenses for a suit brought against him and the city for failing to issue a building permit to a marijuana production facility. The City Council voted at its regular Nov. 19 meeting to indemnify Onisko, who abstained. The city’s insurer, Washington Cities Insurance Authority, is covering the city’s defense costs. “The City Council agrees that legal representation and costs associated with the claims against the Mayor shall be borne by the City and covered, as appropriate, by WCIA,...
Kirk Ericson, a columnist with the Shelton Mason-County Journal for the past seven years, has a new book out that contains more than 100 of his favorite columns. “Great Writing!” is his second book, after “Disappointment Awaits,” which came out in 2019. His work runs every week on page 4 of the Journal. Kirk sat down with Kirk earlier this week for a Q&A about his latest book and matters related to producing a weekly newspaper column. Kirk: First of all, Kirk, how tall are you? Kirk: That’s...
A better approach Editor, the Journal, As letter writer Ardean Anvik mentioned in the Nov. 21 Journal, the 6th Congressional District is once again represented by a Democrat. Just as Democrats feel they lack representation in the 35th Legislative District, Republicans in the 6th Congressional District face the same issue. The partisan split in the 6th Congressional District is 57% Democrat and 43% Republican, mirroring the statewide partisan split. Once again, a slight majority of voters receive 100% of the representation, while the rest receiv...
There was much apprehension and anticipation going into the 2024 general election based on the experience from 2020. Your elections team was determined to make the Nov. 5, 2024, general election the best ever. We began formal preparation and planning in December 2023. I attended two tabletop exercises and led two more local exercises to address possible threats and disruptions to the election and develop mitigation plans with input from our sheriff, the Office of Secretary of State, State...
This story is from a memoir written by Walter Jerome Gordon that was donated to the Mason County Historical Society Museum in 1970. Walter was born near St. Cloud, Minnesota in March, 1889. When he was a year old, his family moved to Tacoma, Washington, and then took up a homestead and timber claim near a lake about 3 miles from Dewatto and 10 miles from Tahuya. The family lived on the homestead long enough to get full title, then moved down to Little Dewatto where Walter's father engaged in fis...
Visiting author discusses food, life at library Ame Gilbert — an artist, author and cook — presents “Cooking Memories” at 4 p.m. Monday at the Shelton Timberland Library at 710 W. Alder St. The resident of Brooklyn, New York, who is an artist-in-residence at Hypatia-in-the-Woods in Mason County, will read from the culinary memoir she is writing. She will also take questions from the audience. Gilbert is an independent food consultant and author. She is co-founder of Communal Table in New York City, where she developed and implemented themed...
Six Mason County dancers ages 7 to 17 perform a new opening scene during the overture to Centralia Ballet Academy's production of "The Nutcracker" ballet at 1 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday at the Shelton School District Performing Arts Center at Shelton High School. The students are performing as part of the group's outreach program. Admission is $17 in advance, $19 at the door. The seating is general admission. For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.centraliaballet.com or...
I took in two recently premiered streaming series over the Thanksgiving break, one very compelling indeed, and the other a bit of a disappointment given its pedigree. Recommended: "The Agency" on Paramount+ It's remarkable how relevant the international espionage genre has remained through the 20th and 21st centuries, even decades after the Cold War peak of John le Carre's literary career. "The Agency" is extremely up-to-the-minute, and thanks to the current real-world geopolitical climate, its...
Clarence Charles Hoefert died at the age of 86 on November 25th, 2024 in Lacey, WA. He is survived by his wife Marlys. They were married for 67 years. He is also survived by three children. Jeff, Brett and Teresa (husband Dan Birklid), seven grandchildren, Shaun Hoefert (wife Jera), Portland, OR, Shannon, Portland, OR, Chris, Portland, OR, Nick Birklid (wife Callie) Tumwater, WA, Nathan Birklid (wife Erin) Shelton, WA, Neal Birklid, Shoreline, WA. Five great-grandchildren, Brenton, Raylie, Ronan...
Carol Jo Lomas, lovingly known as "Coco," passed away peacefully on November 16, 2024, at the age of 91. Born Carol Lovell on April 19, 1933, in South Bend, Washington, she was the cherished daughter of Dr. Edwin and Mary Lovell and grew up in Shelton, Washington. Coco attended grade school in Shelton and graduated from Irene S. Reed High School before pursuing higher education at Washington State College, where she earned a degree in recreation. Her adventurous spirit led her to serve with the...
Melvin J. Weisgerber, 81, a resident of Fawn Lake in Shelton, passed away November 1, 2024, at home. Arrangements are by Emerald Cremations in Shelton, WA. Lavanda Finley-Baltzell, 66, a resident of Brier, WA, passed away November 21, 2024, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Suzanne Kahn, 71, a resident of Shelton, passed away November 21, 2024, at Fir Lane Health and Rehab in Shelton, WA. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Ronald Lorance Schaefer, 50, a resident...
North Mason High School's band performed at Phil Pugh Stadium for the televised Fox Local Halftime Show during the Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals game Nov. 24. The game was a win for the Seahawks and a win for NMHS Band Director Chris Drewry and student drum majors Athena Bautista and Carl Lewis, who all spoke with "Good Day Seattle" about the experience Nov. 27. "Today, our students got the chance to pull back the curtain and see the wizards behind a major television station, all while...
The North Mason School Board unanimously approved a superintendent recruitment flyer after a study session Nov. 25. The position is now open for applicants through Jan. 5. Search firm Ray & Associates presented results from stakeholders’ meetings and surveys at the workshop to identify qualities wanted by the community in a uperintendent to replace Dana Rosenbach, who will retire in June. “Stakeholders really emphasized the need for consistent, transparent communication and a leader who not only sets clear expectations but ensures fol...
