Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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The Port of Allyn reviewed several technical matters during the port commissioners’ May 2 meeting. Port Executive Director Lary Coppola said he sent a letter to Mason County commissioners to say the port was reducing its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy request for its water system project from $500,000 to $100,000. “However, there is a new set of hoops we have to jump through for the federal government, and we are just now navigating that maze,” Coppola said. “We should have the bid...
North Mason School District Superintendent Dana Rosenbach spoke out at the school board’s April 21 meeting about how the decade-old McCleary v. Washington decision has affected funding for smaller school districts. Rosenbach criticized the effect of “regionalization” on the legal funding mechanisms for school salaries and compensation. “A group will present the 2023 Legislature with a report on how it’s working, with some recommendations for adjustments,” Rosenbach said. “The committee is...
Mendy Harlow, executive director of the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, provided an update to the Mason County commissioners on the Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel Park project at the April 18 commissioner briefing. The park is planned for the Schindelheim property, which is south of Belfair Elementary School off state Route 3 and across from the Early Childhood Learning Center. The plan for the park is to have a freshwater fishing pond, public restroom, picnic shelter and a natural play area...
7 p.m. on May 13 marks the first of North Mason High School’s six presentations of its spring musical production “The Addams Family,” which NMHS Drama Club Adviser Hilary Gennaro noted is long overdue. “We were set to produce this two years ago, right before COVID hit,” Gennaro said. “It’s been a long and winding road to get to this point. Some of the same students who were cast two years ago as sophomores now have the chance to play these characters as seniors, right before they graduate.” “The Addams Family” was a production Gennaro...
Port of Grapeview officials received a monthly update last month on the work of the Case Inlet Fishery Task Force from task force facilitator Brad Pomroy. The task force is supported by the Grapeview and Allyn ports, with Grapeview Commissioner Art Whitson and Allyn Commissioner Ted Jackson representing their ports. Pomroy said the task force has spent the better part of the past year getting up to speed on salmon matters in Case Inlet and working to understand who stakeholders are. Pomroy cited...
The Port of Grapeview agreed to put property up for sale for a minimum price of $100,000 after a public hearing at the port’s March 15 meeting didn’t draw any negative reactions. The 1.74-acre parcel designated as 12108-21-90041 is zoned commercial residential and sits on Grapeview Loop Road on the corner of Okonek Road. It was previously part of the port’s industrial development district before the port commissioners unanimously voted to remove it from the district March 15. The removal of property from the industrial district required commi...
The Port of Dewatto closed out its regular meetings for the winter with an update from port campground coordinator Joe Newman, who said he visited the campground several times during the winter to clean up debris. Newman told port commissioners Feb. 9 that a "large amount of debris" remains scattered through the campground and predicted it would take "quite some time" to get it removed. Newman pledged to do as much cleaning as he could before the March 26 cleanup of the campground. The...
Port of Allyn commissioners initially agreed last month that they were ready to move forward with a comprehensive scheme update before two of the three commissioners reacted favorably to a suggestion on how to solicit more public comment before taking action. But in spite of posting the community survey for its comprehensive scheme update on its website and Facebook page, plus adding links to it on every Facebook group covering Mason County and contacting local media, Port Executive Director Lary Coppola said only “a small number” of sur...
The Belfair sewer public hearing March 1 went into more detail about how the project will affect Belfair residents. County Administrator Mark Neary highlighted the ways the county can pay for sewer debt. Neary talked about the rural county public facilities 0.09% sales tax, which is used for overall economic development. He also talked about the Real Estate Excise Tax, specifically the first quarter percent, which is 0.25% upon all real estate sales within unincorporated areas of the count. The...
As the North Mason Regional Fire Authority's headquarters building at Fire Station 21 nears completion, the district aims to make it a place where they can get business done while also providing a place the public can enjoy. The fire district is seeking proposals for public art to be displayed inside the under-construction new headquarters at 490 NE Old Belfair Highway. According to North Mason RFA Fire Chief Beau Bakken, the goals of this project are to increase the community's interest in...
The HUB Center for Seniors in Belfair on Friday hosted a fundraiser for Belfair resident Cindy Signal, who lost her home in a fire in January and is staying at a motel. The spaghetti dinner and silent auction and other donations totalled $2,900. To make a donation, call the HUB at 360-275-0535....
Port of Allyn Executive Director Lary Coppola presented updates on the port's finances, a community survey, the well project and the status of the Oyster House. Coppola said Feb. 7 that the port received its staging area expense reimbursements from the state Recreation and Conservation Office, but only the construction cost portion, which was slightly more than $41,000. "We have not yet gotten the amount we spent for staff payroll, which is approximately $9,000," Coppola said. "They seem to...
The North Mason School Board hosted a public hearing Feb. 17 to discuss the proposed transfer of surplus Theler Wetlands property to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Board member Leanna Krotzer read an opening statement for the public hearing, stating that any land transfer, the district will retain the right to use the classroom space and use the exhibit center for school-related purposes. It would also be subject to the public's continued use of the trails and property. There was no...
The North Mason Regional Fire Authority wants residents to know about a new program that might reduce the strain on the 911 system. According to fire district Executive Assistant Renee Wassenaar, data suggest 1% of the population generates about 20% of emergency medical calls and that "chronic" 911 use is often an indication of "a health or social vulnerability." "Frequent users typically suffer from combinations of chronic medical diseases, psychiatric disorders, drug and alcohol dependence,...
The Port of Dewatto began the year by reviewing its storm damage and revisiting online payments and reservations. As of the port commissioners’ Jan. 12 meeting, Campground Coordinator Joe Newman said he hadn’t been to the campground since the December snowstorm because the snow was piled high in front of the gates. He told commissioners he’d go there after the snow melted. Port Commissioner David Haugen had been there and discovered many branches and limbs had come down during the storm. At le...
The Port of Dewatto’s monthly voucher total for December was once again lower than the previous month’s, which allowed the port to move into the new year with enough cash to close out its December warrants and prepare for the first quarter of 2022. During the port commissioners’ regular meeting Dec. 8, port volunteer Kris Tompkins reported the port had received another $4,000 in state Department of Natural Resources timber trust money since its commissioners’ November meeting, for a 2021 to...
Port of Allyn Executive Director Lary Coppola addressed the port's damage claims and security measures during the board of commissioners' Jan. 3 regular meeting. Coppola had previously conferred with the commissioners regarding the "severe damage" to the finger pier on the dock during an Oct. 25 storm, with waves so strong they fractured the 4-inch galvanized brackets holding the finger pier to the main dock and tore 4-inch lag bolts out of the beams holding the brackets to the pier. Coppola...
Port of Allyn Executive Director Lary Coppola gave progress reports on several projects and expenditures, including the port’s upcoming update to its comprehensive to-do list, at the port’s Jan. 3 board of commissioners meeting. Coppola noted the port posted a community survey on its website and its Facebook page, and included a copy of the survey in its meeting packet. “I posted it in every Facebook group that I can identify for Mason County,” Coppola said. “There’s about 10 of them.” The...
The Port of Dewatto adopted a 2022 budget of $119,500 after commissioners conducted a public hearing on its revenue sources prior to the winter holidays. Port of Dewatto Commission Chair Ray Mow oversaw the November meeting, which didn’t draw any members of the public, while port volunteer Kris Tompkins reviewed the specifics of the port’s proposed budget and its revenue sources. According to Tompkins, the port received $16,427 more in state Department of Natural Resources timber trust fun...
The Port of Allyn received a recap of what to expect from its upcoming legislative session during its board of commissioners’ Jan. 3 regular meeting, thanks to a presentation by port governmental affairs consultant Holly Cocci. The session began Monday. It’s the second year of the legislative biennium, or the shorter legislative session of the two, so it’s scheduled to last 60 days. “Legislators attempted to lower expectations for the forthcoming short session,” Cocci said. “However,...
The Port of Grapeview’s final regular meeting of the year Dec. 21 was an evening of farewells. District 2 Commissioner Glenn Carlson read aloud from his letter of resignation, which takes effect Jan. 18, that referenced several accomplishments over the past nine years, from rebuilding the boat ramp to adding a dock, gangway and restroom, for which he credited “the help of able colleagues.” “I’ve got many wonderful memories of fine friends and working relationships developed over these past year...
It's 1946 and a fall week in Belfair. Mary is putting away summer clothes and cleaning the dressers and Sam goes out duck and deer hunting. There were two house fires in and near Belfair. Butter is a dollar a pound. Friday, Oct. 25, 1946 Today I went to Seattle on the 9:25 a.m. boat. Got all my work done before I left. Wrote six letters on the ferry. Went to Antique Shop and got my pitcher and four glasses. They are lovely too. Went downtown and sent Mama a vase for her birthday. Got myself...
