Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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Republican Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, appears to have made it through the 6th Congressional District primary and will face Democrat Emily Randall in November’s general election. “I am very pleased with tonight’s returns. After my opponents outspent our campaign by 8 to 1, the results show voters desire steady and tested leadership in Congress during these tumultuous times. We have clear momentum heading into November and will continue to unite the Olympic Peninsula to bring real change to Congress,” MacEwen said in a statement. “Throug...
The Squaxin Island kelp bed is the last major kelp bed in South Puget Sound and has declined 97% since 2013, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. The Squaxin Island Tribe and DNR plan to conserve the kelp bed and create a "priority habitat zone" to protect and restore the bed, according to a DNR news release. "Squaxin people have been stewarding these waters and lands for thousands of years. Kelp beds have also been stewarding these waters for thousands of years, providing nou...
The passing of Linda "Blondie" Jones on July 18 saddened a community that went to Blondie's restaurant for homestyle cooking and socializing with "family" they had in fellow customers, staff and especially Linda. "She treated her customers like family," longtime patron Bill Lopez said. "She'd come up to the table and check on you," he said, even though Jones hadn't performed official waitress duties in years. Lopez said no matter what happens to the restaurant, a Shelton staple for 23 years,...
Photographer Shawna Whelan took a day hike on Mount Washington on Tuesday and captured these images....
For you that have been reading Mary's Memoirs for the past 19½ years, I received several emails last week when they ended. Mary Theler was killed July 27, 1950, in an auto accident in which she was burned alive. It all started 20 years ago when we had a hard winter with snow. It snowed March 7 and people who lived in Belfair had said it never snowed that late in the year. I was working on restoring Theler's 16mm home movies for an independent study to get my degree at The Evergreen State...
Friday Fun Night at senior center "Beach and Fun in the Sun" is the theme of Fun Night at 6 p.m. Friday at the Mason County Senior Activities Center, 190 W. Sentry Drive in Shelton. The Mason County Senior Activities Association hosts the event the second Friday of each month. Patrons must be at least 21 years old to attend. Pizza is served from 6 to 7 p.m. Wine, beer and soda is available. The event includes couples dancing, line dancing, cards, dominoes and Dungeons and Dragons. Donations are...
Back-to-School Festival for Shelton families Families in the Shelton School District can pick up free lunch and resources at the district's Back to School Festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 26 at Olympic Middle School, 800 E. K St. Vaccines are also offered at the event. Open position on Shelton School Board The deadline is 5 p.m. Aug. 16 to apply for an open position representing District 1 on the Shelton School Board. The appointment to the five-member board extends to the November 2025...
Joe Schmit, who resigned from the Shelton City Council in April, on Tuesday was appointed executive director of the MACECOM Board of Directors. MACECOM is the primary public safety answering point for Mason County and operates around the clock. It is overseen by a board of directors of leaders from city, county and tribal governments, and emergency responders. “Joe brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to MACECOM and, coupled with his deep commitment to serving our community, will ensure the public and first responders have access to l...
Applications being accepted for tourism money The City of Shelton is accepting applications for tourism funding grants, allocated through the city’s lodging tax fund. Grant criteria and applications are on the city’s website. Completed applications should be submitted in person at the Shelton Civic Center, 515 West Cota St. Aug. 31 is the deadline to apply. The City’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee will review applications before submitting its recommendations to the Shelton City Council. Applicants can also present their requests to the LTAC....
Fire District 12 has obtained insurance, commissioners announced Aug. 1, moving the embattled district one step closer to normal operations. In May, Fire 12 lost insurance coverage, was declared a disaster area and saw all three of its commissioners resign. The district’s insurer canceled the policy May 17 due to mismanagement and several steps were required for reinstatement. That happened last Thursday. “We have a long way to go but it sure feels good to get over this mandatory hurdle,” Commissioner Dave Persell told the Journal. “We still h...
The Port of Shelton settled a lawsuit against a former tenant after it agreed to pay the port $2,600 in damages to a building at the Port’s industrial park next to Sanderson Field. The Port of Shelton Commission met in a closed executive session July 29, and then emerged to vote unanimously to accept the settlement. It was filed that day in Mason County Superior Court. The settlement states that Flower Power USA in October 2011 signed a lease agreement with the Port of Shelton to lease half of a 5,000-square-foot building at 153 Henry T...
Starting Monday, fish barrier removal work on U.S. Highway 101 at the Thurston/Mason County border will reduce lanes and increase travel times, according to the state Department of Transportation. Both directions of U.S. 101 will be reduced to one lane in each direction at the county line. Between milepost 356.62 and 357.89, the speed limit will be reduced from 60 mph to 45 mph and the median at Old Olympic Highway will close. There will be no access to U.S. 101 from Old Olympic Highway near the work zone. West Old Olympic Highway, farther...
Monte Ritter told Mason County commissioners he lives in the Shelton Urban Growth Area “just outside the city limits” and has had trouble for years with his neighbors’ illegal burning. People who live in an urban growth area “have to abide by the fire code as if you were in the city, not in the county,” Ritter said. Shelton Fire Marshal Keith Reitz told the Journal outdoor burn bans in UGAs are state mandated “from a smoke management standpoint.” Burning woody debris from cleared land is not allowed in UGAs, Reitz said. The Olympic Regional Cle...
The 2025 Legislature doesn't gather until January, but the City of Shelton is already working on a wish list for state money to present to local legislators. At a study session July 23, the Shelton City Council and the city's lobbyist, Troy Nichols, talked about the city's funding needs. Expanded water storage, intersection improvements on Wallace Kneeland Boulevard, a homeless mitigation site, affordable housing and behavioral health resources were among the suggestions. City Manager Mark Ziegl...
Mason County commissioners unanimously approved raising building height limits in the Airport Industrial Zone from 36 feet to 45 feet at their July 30 regular meeting. The Port of Shelton applied for the ordinance amendment so it can replace a building that burned down in April 2021. The 32,000-square-foot building was being used as a marijuana manufacturing facility when it burned in a three-alarm blaze. The building was originally used for metal fabrication by an aerospace company and the port hopes to bring back similar manufacturing to the...
In October 1870, Eva Kiddell was three months short of being 5 years old, living with her grandmother in Chicago, when her family decided she should be the one to accompany her Aunt Sara Shepherd to the "wilderness of Mason County," where Sara was to become the bride of Captain Ed Miller. The two made the long journey by train to San Francisco, then by boat to Victoria, and on to Hammersley Inlet. In 1950, Eva wrote some of her memories for the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington (which she...
All campfires, including charcoal, are now banned in Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, including coastal areas of the national park. The restrictions started July 26, according to a news release from Olympic National Park. Anything that produces ash is banned. Visitors can use pressurized or bottled liquid fuel stoves that have an on-off switch or valve capable of immediately extinguishing the flame, lanterns or heating devices in campgrounds and wilderness areas, if no flammable materials are within 3 feet of the devices, the...
School surplus sale includes desks, books The Shelton School District hosts a surplus sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 7 in the Old Mountain View Elementary School gym, 530 E. K St. At its June 25 meeting, the Shelton School Board voted to declare many items surplus. They include books, desks, bookshelves, storage units, cabinets and chairs. Open position on Shelton School Board The deadline is 5 p.m. Aug. 16 to apply for an open position representing District 1 on the Shelton School Board. The appointment to the five-member board extends to...
Name the city’s new patch truck The City of Shelton is conducting a contest to name its new patch truck. The city’s Public Works Department recently purchased the patch truck, which it uses to fill potholes and other routine street maintenance. The city reports it has more than 118 lane miles of paved streets that require maintenance. The city’s Transportation Benefit District partially paid for the purchase of the truck. Monday is the deadline to suggest a name for the patch truck. The city will review the suggestions, choose favorites and a...
Jim Morrell, the president and CEO of Peninsula Credit Union, was appointed to the World Council of Credit Unions board of directors. WOCCU is a global trade association and development agency for nonprofit financial institutions. According to a news release from Peninsula Credit Union, it promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world, empowering people and communities through access to high-quality and affordable financial services....
