Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 1042
Editor’s note: A previous version of this brief incorrectly said that inspections were limited to December. The Journal apologizes for the error. Appraisers making visits 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 Highway 3 out to Bayshore, Arcadia out to Totten Shores, a portion of the beginning of Cole Road and the Mill Creek area. I...
Driver injured in wreck near Victor A single-car rollover Dec. 28 on state Route 302 south of Victor sent the driver to Mason General Hospital. Lacey resident Gideon Senono, 23, was eastbound at milepost 4 when he failed to negotiate a curve, lost control of his Toyota Corolla and crashed, according to the Washington State Patrol. Senono was speeding and charged with reckless driving, the WSP stated in a news release. Senono’s car was totaled. Goodell retires, Butler begins term Former Mason County Superior Court Commissioner Tirsa Butler began...
The Wild Felid Advocacy Center for big cats on Harstine Island suffered a devastating loss of at least 20 animals due to avian influenza. "We are heartbroken to share that animal health officials have confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among over half of our wild felids as of December 2024. This devastating viral infection, carried by wild birds, spreads primarily through respiratory secretions and bird-to-bird contact and can also be contracted by carnivorous...
The City of Shelton's wastewater treatment plant lost power during a major storm Dec. 18, which led to contaminants seeping into Hammersley Inlet and closing some shellfish growing areas. "The issue that occurred at the wastewater treatment plant (WTTP) was that an internal transfer switch did not engage our backup source (generator) when the power went out during the storm," Aaron Nix, the city's assistant public works director, wrote to the Journal on Monday. "The power was out at the main...
Last month's tsunami warning for the Northern California and Southern Oregon coasts, issued after a 7.0 earthquake struck west of Ferndale, California, saw panicked motorists lining the Pacific Coast Highway before the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration canceled the alarm. The devastating effects of a tsunami are easy to imagine on coastal communities, but what about Hood Canal? While Mason County doesn't have oceanfront land, our local fjord could face catastrophic flooding from a...
Kyle Lauderdale, the chief experience officer for Peninsula Credit Union, recently was honored as a "Patriotic Employer" by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. According to a news release, the award recognizes supervisors and employees who demonstrate exceptional support for employees serving in the National Guard or Reserve. The award was presented at PCU's headquarters branch, where Lauderdale was celebrated by his peers and members of the community. Lauderdale was nominated by...
Twanoh State Park subcontractor sues over lost equipment A subcontractor that worked on a culvert installation project at Twanoh State Park has sued the main contractor and Washington State Parks for failing to return equipment or pay the subcontractor for loss, according to a complaint filed in Mason County Superior Court Dec. 12. OMA Construction performed dewatering work for SEA Construction on the park project. “Upon completion of follow up work, it was agreed that the dewatering system would be returned to OMA,” the complaint states. SEA d...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
A kayaker who failed to return to Twanoh State Park on Saturday was found dead by the Coast Guard Sunday. Dustin Poe, 26, launched from the park Saturday afternoon and was late returning, Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Briana Carter and Mason County Coroner Jaime Taylor told the Journal. At approximately 7:18 p.m., the Coast Guard and Mason County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit began searching the area, but were thwarted by poor weather, Carter and Deputy Matt Colbenson said. A member of the Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles spotted P...
A Shelton man died in a car collision Dec. 5 on state Route 3 due to speeding, according to the Washington State Patrol. Levi Eaton, 39, was southbound in an Acura Integra on state Route 3, just north of Grapeview Loop Road South, when he crossed the centerline around 11 p.m. and struck a northbound Audi 8 driven by Belfair resident William Donals, 59, the WSP news release states. Eaton died at the scene and Donals and his passenger were transported to St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale, according to WSP. Both vehicles were totaled. WSP...
The newest Washington State Patrol trooper has a short commute. “There was only one spot in Shelton and I got the spot,” Trooper Isaiah Tandal told the Journal. Tandal lives in Belfair with his wife and five children. He requested the local assignment after leaving the WSP Academy in Shelton. Graduating cadets can be sent to posts throughout the state, but WSP asks their preferred location and considers family status. Tandal’s last job was at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton as a mem...
The Economic Development Administration announced the Port of Shelton will be awarded $100,000 to partner with Mason PUD 3 on the expansion of the substation at Sanderson Field. The funding will support a feasibility study and is provided through a 2023 Disaster Supplemental funding package designed to aid communities in economic recovery and revitalization following a presidential disaster declaration. “The Port of Shelton is excited to see this project move forward with funding from the Economic Development Administration,” Wendy Smith, exe...
Holiday events kick off in earnest this weekend. Kristmas Town Kiwanis and Peninsula Credit Union present the Holiday Magic Christmas Parade that begins at 5 p.m. Saturday on West Railroad Avenue in downtown Shelton. The KMAS Holiday Christmas Party at Christmastown is hosted from 3-8 p.m. Friday in the Shelton Civic Center, 525 W. Cota St. Admission is free. Deejay Jeff Slakey will spin holiday favorites for dancing. Attendees can create crafts, win prizes and visit with Santa Claus. Shelton...
The Shelton City Council wants local legislative representatives to pursue money for a homeless mitigation site, a roundabout, a crosstown trail and other capital projects when the Legislature convenes next month in Olympia. On Tuesday evening, the council gave preliminary approval to its wish list of capital projects at its regular meeting in the Shelton Civic Center. A final vote is Dec. 17. The requests include $2 million for a homeless mitigation site in partnership with local nonprofits, $2.5 million for a roundabout at Wallace Kneeland...
State legislators shared their priorities for the upcoming year at a sendoff breakfast at the Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club in Union Wednesday. The Shelton-Mason County Chamber, North Mason Chamber and Mason County Economic Development Council hosted the event featuring 35th District Reps. Travis Couture and Dan Griffey, both Republicans from Allyn, and state Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton. Chamber President and CEO Diedre Peterson said the new legislative budget will have long-term impacts for...
The City of Shelton will cover Mayor Eric Onisko’s legal expenses for a suit brought against him and the city for failing to issue a building permit to a marijuana production facility. The City Council voted at its regular Nov. 19 meeting to indemnify Onisko, who abstained. The city’s insurer, Washington Cities Insurance Authority, is covering the city’s defense costs. “The City Council agrees that legal representation and costs associated with the claims against the Mayor shall be borne by the City and covered, as appropriate, by WCIA,...
