Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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Members of the Shelton City Council on Tuesday evening officially received their assignments representing the city on boards and committees. The assignments are made each January. They were last updated June 4. The council devoted a study session Jan. 14 to talk about the assignments. Mayor Eric Onisko will represent the council on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. The mayor is required to be a member of that group. He has been representing the city on the Mason Transit Authority Board, but at the council’s Jan. 14 study session, traded that...
Twenty-five years after it debuted, the Shop and Hop in downtown Shelton is still drawing curious new customers and regulars who on a recent day could find boxless bags of Reese's Puffs cereal for 99 cents, Mac'n'Cheese cups three for a dollar and cans of sweet potato Pringles for $1.59. "I think a little [of the appeal] is the surprise element," said owner Susan Pollard, whose parents Gerald and Joan Elsberry opened the store in 2000. The customers include "people who like to save money,...
North Mason School District Superintendent Dana Rosenbach spoke to community members about the education programs and operations replacement levy on the Feb. 11 ballot at an information meeting at Hawkins Middle School on Jan. 14. Rosenbach began by talking about the McCleary decision, a ruling by the state Supreme Court ordering the state to fully fund K-12 public education. "Didn't the McCleary decision mean the state would fully fund basic education? The short answer is no," she said. Washing...
Three appointments to advisory boards The Shelton City Council on Tuesday evening approved appointing three residents to two city advisory groups. The city filled one of three openings on the Shelton Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Kathy McDowell, a former member of the Shelton City Commission and the Shelton City Council, was fulfilling a partial term on the group. She submitted a letter volunteering for another three-year term. Two other positions remain open. At the end of 2024, the...
Mason County firefighters helping with the Los Angeles area fires continue to work long days and have remained safe so far, according to recent Facebook posts from Central Mason Fire & EMS. CMFE sent an engine Jan. 9 with three firefighters from CMFE and one crew member from North Mason Regional Fire Authority. Firefighter and EMT Beau Ward, Capt. Mark Frazier and Lt. Brandon Heggie are the crew from Central Mason Fire, and firefighter and paramedic Kyle Severance is from North Mason Fire, CMFE...
As they were cheered from the gallery by friends and family and treated to a ukulele version of “America the Beautiful,” legislators gathered Jan. 15 for the opening of the 2025 state Legislature. “As long as we stay focused on making sure people are better off by our decisions, we will get through our challenges and we will keep moving this state forward,” said Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, who was elected as speaker of the House for the sixth time. In the Senate, students from the American Sign Language program at River Ridge High School...
Mason County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Belfair shooting suspect Michael Beyer, 45, collaring him as a passenger after a police pursuit and spike strip deployment stopped a fleeing vehicle Jan. 9 near Allyn. Beyer had an outstanding warrant for first-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with a Belfair shooting Jan. 6, according to MCSO. “This incident underscores the importance of recent updates to Washington State law allowing law enforcement to pursue vehicles in specific situations. Without the abi...
Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council CEO William Westmoreland presented the group’s annual report to commissioners at a briefing Jan. 13. PacMtn is a regional Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act administrator and directs programs and activities using WIOA funding. In 2014, President Barack Obama signed the act into law as the first major reform of the public workforce system in 15 years, creating a streamlined workforce training and employment program, according to PacMtn’s website. When residents collect unemployment, they are r...
Soup & Salad Benefit helps families in need Love INC of Mason County hosts its annual Soup & Salad Benefit Concert and Dessert Auction at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at Shelton Presbyterian Church, 1430 E. Shelton Springs Road, Shelton. Proceeds from the event benefit hundreds of families in need in Mason County. Attendees can enjoy seven homemade soups, salads, rolls and desserts and in a live auction bid on 25 homemade desserts. Three themed baskets will also be auctioned. Local musician Paul Barber...
Hood Canal basketball team is undefeated champ The Hood Canal Schools boys basketball team Jan. 10 placed first at the fourth annual Evergreen Classic Tournament, capping off an undefeated season. Tommy Gouley was named the tournament's most valuable player. Teammate Tiger Tinaza was named one of the top five players. Brian Howell and Patty Gouley coach the team. A news release from the school stated the undefeated season "showcased the team's relentless defense, swift transitions and precision...
Mike Gettle has worked for five local law enforcement agencies and one prison. He said he found his "niche" as a detective with the Shelton Police Department. "Being a detective is what I always wanted to do," he said. On Tuesday evening, Gettle was awarded the department's Officer of the Year award at the meeting of the Shelton City Council in the Shelton Civic Center. Friends and family watched as Capt. Dan Patton presented the award. An audience member handed him a blackberry pie. "It's very...
Mason County is in one of 46 of the 49 of Washington's legislative districts represented either by three Republicans or three Democrats. In that system, "almost half of the voters have no real representation," Kit Muehlman of the League of Women Voters of Whatcom County on Tuesday told members of the League of Women Voters of Mason County in the Olympic College Shelton library meeting room. Also, there are "no third-party representatives in any district," she added. Establishing proportional...
The New Horizons Communities - Shelton Veterans Village, the Marmo Caffe & Gallery and KMAS Radio were among the winners at the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce's annual Awards Gala on Jan. 17 at the Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton. KMAS Radio was named Business of the Year and Kendall Lowe of Exceptional Foresters Inc. was named Boss of the Year. Marmo Caffe & Gallery was honored as the Rookie of the Year and the New Horizons Communities - Shelton Veterans Village the Nonprofit of...
A new 20-minute seated lunch proposal from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction falls short on details, according to North Mason superintendents. North Mason Superintendent Dana Rosenbach and Grapeview School District Superintendent Gerry Grubbs both like the sentiment behind the proposal but say the execution will be challenging. In April, OSPI issued a bulletin about the possible changes. "The State Auditor's Office conducted a Child Nutrition Performance Audit,...
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)...
A Shelton High School graduate serving in the U.S. Space Force will have an out-of-this-world assignment at Monday's presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. Sgt. Nicholas Ames "will make history by bearing the Space Force flag in its inaugural debut as part of the Joint Service Colorguard," according to a military news release. Ames, 24, joined the Air Force after his graduation from SHS in 2019 and has served in the Space Force for five years. Space Force was established as a branch of U....
A group of Mason County firefighters is in Los Angeles helping battle wildfires. Central Mason Fire & EMS sent an engine Jan. 9 with three firefighters from CMFE and one crew member from North Mason Regional Fire Authority, CMFE Chief Jeff Snyder told the Journal in an email. They will be deployed for 14 days, along with travel time, and the total deployment will be 18 days, Snyder said. "Central Mason Fire & EMS Engine 57 has been assigned to a five-engine strike team out of Central Region...
On Tuesday evening, the Shelton School Board voted to reduce the number of classified and nonrepresented employees to help erase a $2.3 million budget deficit. In a 4-1 vote, the board authorized Superintendent Wyeth Jessee to prepare a plan to reduce employees to save the district about $750,000 this school year. Becky Cronquist cast the dissenting vote. In the resolution, the district states it doesn’t yet know how many vacancies will be created by retirements, resignations, leaves and discharges. The number of available certified positions f...
Three reappointed to advisory boards The Shelton City Council on Jan. 7 gave preliminary approval to reappointing three residents to two city advisory groups. The appointments can be made official with a vote by the council at its meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Shelton Civic Center. The city filled one of three openings on the Shelton Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Kathy McDowell, a former member of the Shelton City Commission and the Shelton City Council, was fulfilling a partial...
On March 28, 1985, the Shelton-Mason County Journal published a special edition celebrating Shelton's first 100 years. This story is from the section of that paper that covered the years 1955 to 1964. In early 1957, Shelton's downtown area was getting used to its new dimensions. Evergreen Square, which had replaced the old railroad yards, was finally completed and included a large parking lot. Businesses included Sprouse-Reitz variety store, McConkey's Drugs, Heinie's Broiler, Mode O'Day...
The Shelton City Council on Jan. 7 gave preliminary agreement to a revised agreement with the WSU Cooperative Extension of Mason County on its Catalyst Garden. No one from the public or council commented on the proposal. The council can make the move official at its meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Shelton Civic Center. In its report, the city states that the revised agreement "is to clearly state the responsibilities of both parties regarding use of the property and operations." The proposed agreement would stay in effect "until terminated by...
Port of Allyn commissioners approved a settlement agreement with a developer at Tuesday’s regular meeting after a brief consultation in executive session with the port’s attorney. Details of the agreement between Cedarland Homes, LLC and the port are confidential, but an exchange between developer Joseph Cedarland, who operates Batjack Holdings, J & J Development and Cedarland Homes, and the commissioners at a November meeting could shed some light on the dispute. At that meeting, the port refused to sign a water connection agreement with MTT...
Free Christmas tree recycling extended Free Christmas tree recycling at the Belfair solid waste drop off, at 1611 NE Sand Hill Road in Belfair, has been extended through Jan. 25 from Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mason County Garbage and Recycling curbside service customers can also cut up their trees and place them in their cart as part of their regular pickup, according to a county news release. The Shelton Transfer Station, at 501 West Eells Hill Road in Shelton, is also providing free tree recycling Monday through Sunday...
League plans discussion on multimember districts The League of Women Voters of Mason County host a discussion on multimember electoral districts and how they work from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Olympic College Shelton library meeting room at 937 Alpine Way, Shelton. The group’s business meeting will be conducted from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Everyone is welcome. Multimember districts elect multiple representatives — usually three, five or seven — instead of one. The group states that this approach is at the heart of redistricting refor...
