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 - 25 of 2423
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...
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....
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...
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)... Full story
Wild overnight weather left a quarter of Mason County without power at one point early Wednesday morning, closed roads due to downed power lines and felled trees, flooded roads and delayed schools. At 6:45 a.m. Wednesday, almost 25% of PUD 3 customers lacked service, according to the utility’s website. As of 11 a.m., that number had dropped to 4,419 customers (12.45%) throughout the county, PUD 3’s outage tracker showed. Roads were slower to recover. As of 9 a.m., Purdy Cutoff Road was closed due to multiple downed trees, Skokomish Valley Roa...
By a 4-3 vote, the Shelton City Council on Tuesday evening rejected passing a sales tax increase of 0.01% on taxable goods in the city, designed to collect about $310,000 per year to help house the homeless and provide them services. Mayor Eric Onisko and council members Tom Gilmore and Miguel Guttierez voted for the tax. Deputy Mayor Sharon Schirman and council members Melissa Stearns, Lyndsey Sapp and George Blush voted against it. Eleven residents stepped up to the microphone during the public hearing — six of them said they favored the t...
Mason County commissioners adopted the 2025 county budget at a special hearing Dec. 2 and next year is looking good financially. The total amount is $184,439,408, with the general fund at $70,816,717 and total other county funds at $113,622,691. The beginning fund balance of $26.6 million plus revenues of $44,216,717, equals the total revenue and beginning fund balance of $70,816,717. Salaries and benefits are $37,566,883, operating expenditures $19,037,321, ending fund balance $14,212,513 for a total of expenditures and ending fund balance of...
The Shelton City Council on Tuesday evening gave preliminary agreement to extend MACECOM's lease through 2025 at the Shelton Civic Center. The council can make the move official with a vote at its Jan. 7 meeting. The agency that operates as a 911 center would rent a 2,472-square-foot space. In the new proposed agreement, MACECOM would pay $1,085 per month for rent and $3,936 per month for other expenses such as utilities, building maintenance, custodial services, supplies and communications. The...
Items from the December issues of the 1959 Shelton-Mason County Journal: On Dec. 3, Police chief Paul Hinton reminded local merchants that "this is the time of year when shoplifting, bum check passing, and till tapping are at their peak. A gang of hoodlums who tapped tills here for $1,100 about a year ago are still active and may be in this area any time." The Washington State Employment Security Service announced there was a shortage of experienced Christmas tree bundlers in local yards....
Shelton Memorial Park hosted Wreaths Across America, a nationwide program honoring military veterans, on Saturday. Local military members led a tribute and Boy Scout Troop 110 placed wreaths on veterans' graves....
William Williams has been sentenced to 35 years for the murder of Janus Afo. Judge Daniel Goodell imposed the state’s recommendation Dec. 12 after hearing from six of Afo’s friends and relatives and Williams’ mother. A jury convicted Williams of second-degree murder Oct. 4. During the trial, jurors heard testimony from Williams, who said Afo was the aggressor on Sept. 28. Williams said he was sleeping in his car with Kennedy Karpf, his girlfriend, when Afo showed up looking to collect an alleged debt Karpf owed to Afo’s friend. Williams testifi...
A Christmas swing dance was Dec. 12 as part of the Festival of Firs at the downtown tree maze at 425 W. Cota St. in Shelton. Another dance is scheduled tonight. Journal photos by Shawna Whelan...
Appraisers visiting properties throughout county for 2025 Throughout December, county appraisers will be visiting property in Area 2, which includes the Shelton city limits and Shelton Matlock Road to Dayton, Shelton Valley Road, Brockdale Road to just before McEwan Prairie Road, Shelton Springs Road, Johns Prairie Road and state Route 3 out to Bayshore, Arcadia out to Totten Shores, a portion of the beginning of Cole Road and the Mill Creek area. Inspections will be used for the 2025 assessment year/2026 tax year, according to a news release... Full story
Connection Street Theatre stages a play based on the movie "A Christmas Story" at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Faith Lutheran Church, 1212 Connection St. in Shelton. Admission is $10 at the door. The doors open 30 minutes before the show. Set in the 1940s and based on a book by Jean Shephard - who also narrated the movie - the story chronicles young Ralphie's attempts to convince his parents, teacher and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas...
Regular attendees of Shelton's Holiday Magic Christmas Parade know there's a big chance they will be standing in freezing rain. That was not the case Saturday on West Railroad Avenue in downtown Shelton. The skies were clear for the event hosted by Kristmas Town Kiwanis and Peninsula Credit Union. "I've been joking with club members that I've never had my prayers answered by the weather gods," Kiwanis member Julie Rowan, co-chair of Holiday Magic, said with a laugh. "It was beautiful." The...
The Shelton School District is facing a $2.3-million budget deficit. “Our picture has shifted to a negative fund balance,” Clinton Sherman, the district’s new executive director of financial services, told the Shelton School Board on Tuesday evening at its regular meeting at Mountain View Elementary School. Sherman replaced Brenda Trogstad, who also served as assistant superintendent and is retiring effective Dec. 31. The district’s 2024-25 budget had a beginning fund balance of $1 million. The district is now projected to end the school year w...
A transient who failed to register as a sex offender and was wanted on a felony Department of Corrections warrant stabbed a Shelton Police officer in the hand when the officer attempted to arrest him Dec. 5, according to the SPD. SPD Officer Whitley was treated at the scene and transported to Mason General Hospital for further evaluation, SPD said in a statement. “The officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery,” according to the statement. Aaron E. Martinez, 39, was arrested for first-degree ass...
