Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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Jerry Upson has been sentenced to life without parole for murdering Kenneth Simmons on Oct. 28, 2023. A jury found Upson guilty of first-degree murder Nov. 8. At a hearing Dec. 17, Judge Daniel Goodell handed down the mandatory sentence for Upson under the state Persistent Offenders Accountability Act, or “three strikes” law. The law, passed by a voter initiative in 1994, requires life without parole for those convicted of three serious felonies. Upson immediately appealed the verdict and sentence. Upson was seen on surveillance video with a ha...
In 1980, Karen Everett was a substitute teacher at Pioneer School when her husband died, leaving her to raise their two children ages 3 and 9. Pioneer students conducted a food drive for Everett for the three and staff gave her money to help her through the tough times. "I'm sure it changed us forever," Everett said. "Pioneer School became like a family." She added, "It was unheard of to have so much generosity shown to someone who wasn't really a full staff member." Everett became a full-time...
Simpson Lumber rail crossings last year were removed on Cota Street, 10th Street and Railroad Avenues in downtown Shelton in preparation for a 2.5-mile crosstown trail, and railroad tracks, ties and switches will be removed next year. But that doesn't mean every remnant of the historic line will disappear, Capital Projects Manager Aaron Nix told the Shelton City Council at a study session Dec. 10 on capital projects. "One of the things we are going to do is the remaining rail components - there...
Taylor Shellfish’s proposed floating oyster bag farm in Oakland Bay is closer to operation after the Shorelines Hearings Board ruled on an appeal that aquaculture development is a preferred use and the company adequately addressed possible environmental impacts. Friends of Oakland Bay and Taylor Shellfish both appealed Mason County’s decision last year to approve the farm. Friends claimed the farm is inconsistent with public access policies, doesn’t comply with views and aesthetics policies and said the county examiner failed to impose reaso...
I talked to Santa Claus on the telephone Sunday morning. After spending 40 minutes with Santa, I was left with a feeling of joy and optimism, which is always nice. You know what else is nice? Interviewing someone who gives you more usable quotes than you can use. It makes this job so much easier. Bob Partlow is a former newspaperman I worked with at The Olympian. He was the political reporter for the paper, stationed on the Capitol Campus, and I often copy-edited his stories. He quit the paper...
JANUARY Melissa Stearns, George Blush and Tom Gilmore on Jan. 2 were sworn in as new members of the Shelton City Council, followed by the seven-member council unanimously reelecting Eric Onisko as mayor. Joe Schmit was re-elected deputy mayor. Stearns, a local Realtor and lifelong Shelton resident, defeated eight-year incumbent Kathy McDowell with 60.63% for a four-year term as council member 2. Blush, the owner of Nita's Koffee Shop and the nonprofit 5XL Shelton Food Bank that provides pet...
The line dancers and the chorus at the Mason County Senior Activities Association senior center in Shelton on Dec. 17 performed at the members-only Christmas in the Islands party and luncheon. Many attendees wore Hawaiian shirts, despite the cold downpour outside....
As we approach the close of 2024, the year in entertainment seems to be a story of emerging media gaining breakout successes, in the midst of existing media either treading water or stalling out, capped off by the loss of far too many familiar faces who'd been stalwart presences in the entertainment industry. Musically, this was another banner year for Taylor Swift. She became the first artist to win album of the year four times from the Grammy awards, before releasing "The Tortured Poets...
A trio of athletes claiming state titles highlighted 2024 for sports in Mason County. In late February, North Mason's Sadie Evans won the 1B-2A girls 155-pound wrestling title, and then in May, the Bulldogs' Adrianna Tupolo won the 2A state girls discus title and Mary M. Knight's Logan Green won the 1B high jump title....
North Mason girls basketball The North Mason High School girls basketball team knocked off Kingston 49-41 on Dec. 27 in their final pre-Christmas break game. The Bulldogs improved to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in Olympic League action with the road win, and face Lakes in a nonconference matchup Satuday before returning to Olympic League play on Jan. 7. North Mason boys basketball The Bulldog boys basketball team won three games in five days at home last week, knocking off Ocosta 71-42 on Dec. 16,...
JANUARY Port of Allyn Commissioner Ted Jackson unexpectedly resigned Jan. 19. Commissioner Judy Scott read Jackson's terse resignation letter at a Jan. 23 special meeting. The port was already facing challenges after Executive Director Lary Coppola died Sept. 30, 2023, Interim Executive Director LeAnn Dennis died on Christmas Day, 2023 and Patty Noel, who was appointed interim executive assistant Jan. 1, quit less than three weeks later. ■ ■ ■ North Mason School Board members met James A. Taylo...
James Lenard Stewart was born October 31, 1942 in Watseka, Illinois to Mack Stewart and Nina Moake Stewart. He married Cheryl Schnitzer November 18, 1974. He passed away December 4, 2024 at home in Shelton, WA. He lived in Mason County for 80 years, growing up at Jorsted Creek. With the Olympic Mountains as his backyard along with elk, deer, bear and cougar, his youth is what young men dream of today. Out front was his father's oyster farm and the canal where the family harvested oysters and...
Joseph "Joe" Robert Nokes passed away peacefully at St. Josephs Hospital in Tacoma, Washington on December 4, 2024, at the age of 74, after a long battle with colon cancer. Affectionately called Joe, Joey, or Joe Bob, he was born a twin in Seattle, Washington May 28, 1950, to Della and George Nokes, Sr. Joe grew up in West Seattle and graduated from West Seattle High School in 1969. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers George, Jr., Jim and John. Joe worked for more than 30...
Daniel Joseph Hascall passed away on December 15, 2024, in Shelton, Washington, at the age of 30. Born on June 20, 1994, in Olympia, Washington, Daniel grew up in Shelton and graduated from Shelton High School in 2012. Daniel was a beloved member of the Ridge Motorsports Park community, where he worked and humorously referred to himself as "Kind of a Big Deal around here." His colleagues and the many people who frequented the park held him in high regard for his humor and warm personality. He...
On December 15, 2024, Cherrie Patricia Reitsch went home to be with Jesus. Cherrie was born in Ellensburg, WA in 1945 to Arthur Gregory and Bernice Hartzog (Gregory). She married Douglas John Reitsch in 1966. She was mom to five children, grandma to 16 grandchildren and great-grandma to four great-grandchildren. She was a pianist and organist and could sight read music. She was creative and shared her love of crafts and books with her family. After moving to Shelton in 1995, she owned and...
Dianne Whipple, 82, a resident of Shelton, passed away December 14, 2024, at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, WA. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Wayne McCord, 54, a resident of Bremerton, passed away December 15, 2024, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Michael Berry, 80, a resident of Tacoma, passed away December 19, 2024, at Tacoma General Hospital in Tacoma, WA. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. John Sheridan,...
Susan Eileen Giffin-Huey passed away suddenly on December 15, 2024, in Ocean Park, Washington, due to degenerative muscle disease. Sue was born and raised in Shelton, Washington, where she developed a deep love for family and the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She was a lifelong Seattle Seahawks fan, cheering passionately for her team through every season. Sue also found joy in painting rocks with her partner, Jim. Together, they would hide these colorful creations in public places,...
The North Mason High School boys basketball team routed Kingston 77-53 on Dec. 17 at Bulldog Gym in Belfair, giving the Bulldogs a 2-2 record in Olympic League play. North Mason then defeated Orting on Friday to improve to 5-3....
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The Journal encourages Announcements and News Releases of local, timely interest to our readers. Local photo submissions are also welcome. Include information on the who, what, when, where, why and how of your news lead. Deadline is each Monday by 5 PM. All submissions should include the sender's name, address and daytime phone number which will be used for verification purposes only. Submissions are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. To submit your Announcement or News Release: • Email [email protected] (preferred)...
The Shelton-Mason County Journal encourages original letters to the editor of local interest. Diverse and varied opinions are welcome. We will not publish letters that are deemed libelous or scurrilous in nature. We reserve the right to reject any letter for any reason. When submitting a letter, please observe the following guidelines: Writers are limited to one original letter plus one rebuttal or counter-rebuttal per calendar month; Letters should be no more than 300 words; Letters will be edited for grammar, spelling, style, clarity and...
