Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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Voters in the Hood Canal School District will vote Nov. 7 on a proposed $33.5-million building bond that would create space for preschool classrooms, an ADA-accessible playground, arts, music and science, and replace a 70-year-old transportation facility. The district states voters should start receiving their ballots about Oct. 12. A 60% majority is required for the bond to pass. A similar bond proposal failed by 80 votes in February 2020. Passage of the bond would add a tax of $1.05 per...
The Port of Hoodsport temporarily closed the public pier and dock in downtown Hoodsport. According to Port of Hoodsport Commissioner Lori Kincannon, the port has been awaiting the results of a new site inspection report before beginning the bid process for needed repairs. “The port has not yet received the contractor’s inspection report, or the engineers’ letter on their findings,” port Executive Director Kathleen Wyatt said. On Sept. 16, representatives of Hoodsport-based Integrated Northwe...
Commissioners approve purchases for Sheriff’s Office Mason County commissioners approved three separate purchases for the Sheriff’s Office at Tuesday’s meeting. According to the information packet, the Sheriff’s Office was approved to buy a scanner and accessories from FARO Technologies. The scanner is the primary tool used to measure and document evidence at crime scenes. It is used to investigate fatality accidents, homicides and is important in preserving and documenting a scene. The office’s current FARO scanner is outdated and has been rep...
League hosts school candidate discussion The League of Women Voters of Mason County is hosting an informational panel discussion on the work of school boards while at the same time providing the opportunity to learn about 2023 school director incumbents and new candidates. Candidates from North Mason, Grapeview, Hood Canal and Elma school districts have been invited to participate in a Zoom panel discussion at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4. The public is invited to attend. The Zoom link to the meeting can be found at www.masoncountylwv.org or by contacting...
People using state Route 3 will soon see a pair of changes while traveling through Belfair. Beginning Monday, left-hand turns from Northeast Ridgepoint Boulevard onto Route 3 will be restricted. Drivers will need to use the roundabout at Log Yard Road in order to travel south. The state Department of Transportation plans to install signs on the roadways Monday. Also, beginning in October, the speed limit on Route 3 from mileposts 25.4 to 26.9 will be reduced to 30 mph. A release from the state...
The Shelton City Council voted Tuesday evening to raise basic monthly water service rates from $46 to almost $75 by 2029 and basic monthly sewer rates 4.5% in each of the next three years to meet operating expenses and pay back loans. The council unanimously gave preliminary agreement to the rates at its Sept. 5 regular meeting. They were recommended by the consulting firm of FCS Group. No one spoke Tuesday during the public comment period on the rate increases. The basic rate for monthly water...
Chris Kostad, who has worked for the Shelton Police Department since 2002, will become the city’s new police chief in November. The city last week announced Kostad will replace Carole Beason, who recently announced her intention to retire. She has been in that position since January 2021. Kostad is a captain, a position he has had since 2021. He has also been a corporal, sergeant and lieutenant in the department. A news release from the city states that as captain, Kostad manages the department’s daily operations, including hiring, sta...
The Shelton City Council is slated to vote Tuesday evening to raise basic monthly water service rates from $46 to almost $75 by 2029 to meet operating expenses and pay back loans. The council unanimously gave preliminary agreement to the proposed rates at its Sept. 5 regular meeting. They were recommended by the consulting firm of FCS Group. The proposed basic rate for monthly water service, before any water is used, would rise 14% from $46.09 currently to $52.54 in 2024; increase 14% again in 2025 to $59.90; another 14% in 2026 to $68.28; 3%...
Turning Pointe Survivor Advocacy Center in Shelton recently completed redesigning and renovating its kitchen that serves adults and children who are victims or witnesses of domestic violence. The project was funded by $130,000 in private donations, including money from the Ben B. Cheney Foundation, Mary Kay Ash Foundation, Sampson Family Foundation and Forest Foundation. The kitchen was closed to clients for three months while staff and volunteers prepared meals for them. "The idea was to...
League hosting schools discussion The League of Women Voters of Mason County is hosting a panel discussion on the governance role of school directors at noon Tuesday at Olympic College Shelton library, located at 937 Alpine Way. Representatives from the Washington State School Directors Association and Washington Association of School Administrators will be joined by six school directors and superintendents from across Washington. This civics education program is designed to increase the understanding of the roles and responsibilities of...
MCSO buys drone system The Mason County Sheriff’s Office agreed with county commissioners to an annual contract with Brinc Safeguard LEMUR Tactical Drone system, and to provide supplemental funding to the 2024 budget and allow the office to purchase two drones this month. According to the information packet, the drones will be used by the SWAT team for calls and to assist patrol when appropriate. The LEMUR is a purpose-used drone “specifically designed to be flown into buildings in order to clear rooms ahead of deputies, to identify pot...
Amber Carlson, director of behavioral health services for Mason Health, grew up in a family of alcoholics and drug addicts. Her mother and brother died of overdoses. Her father was also an addict. "It's hard to have hope," she said. Yet there was Carlson's father, marching alongside his daughter Friday evening at the seventh annual Overdose Awareness March from Kneeland Park through downtown Shelton. He got clean 20 years ago and now counsels others, Carlson told a crowd of more than 100 at the...
Sept. 25 is the deadline to challenge property values The Mason County Assessor's Office states notices of values for property owners were mailed on Aug. 23, and the last day to file an appeal if an owner disagrees with the new value is Sept. 25. The new values are based on sales of similar properties prior to Jan. 1, 2023. All sales occurring in 2023 will not be used to set assessed values until next year. Sales and statistical data are available at www.masoncountywa.gov/assessor/sales-data.php...
A former office manager for Shelton Memorial Park has been arrested and charged with financial crimes related to the cemetery dating to at least 2017. According to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by the Journal, Shelton Police arrested Dustee Sage Munro, 45, Aug. 16 on charges of first-degree theft and money laundering. Munro’s initial arraignment before Judge Monty Cobb was Monday in Mason County Superior Court, where she pled not guilty. The pretrial is scheduled for Oct. 23 and the t...
Shellfish timeline pushed back Mason County Hearing Examiner Phil Olbrechts issued an order to extend the post-hearing comment period on Taylor Shellfish’s proposed project in Oakland Bay. According to an email from Mason County Community Services planner Luke Viscusi, Taylor Shellfish had until Wednesday at 3 p.m. to submit responses to public comment and information requests. Today, the county will post the new materials submitted by Taylor Shellfish on the project website. Public comment will reopen in regards to the Aug. 16 presentation a...
Beeville Loop Road closure Sept. 21 Mason County commissioners approved the county road closure of Beeville Loop Road at milepost 5.19, Dry Bed Creek, on Sept. 21 until further notice. According to the information packet, the Dry Bed Creek corrugated metal culvert has lost its “structural integrity.” County crews will remove the culvert and close the road until a replacement analysis is complete and money is secured for the preferred alternative. Alternatives range from not replacing the culvert to an anticipated bridge at a cost of more tha...
The City of Shelton is awash in water matters. At its Aug. 15 meeting, the Shelton City Council gave preliminary approval to a wastewater facility plan and a water plan. The updated plans, required by the state, can receive final approval at the council meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 5. At that meeting, the council will have public hearings on adopting proposed water and sewer rates. Information on the proposed ordinances can be viewed at sheltonwa.gov/UtilityRates. Residents can comment at the...
If you live in the West Mason Fire District, fire chief Matt Welander wants to talk to you. The district’s August EMS levy failed despite getting a simple majority, with 436 votes or 54.5% of the votes voting “yes,” but it needed 60% to pass. The levy measure failed to get a majority with 423 “no” votes for 53.07%. Welander said he was sad to see the results of the election and wants some answers on what he needs to do to get some help from residents. “I’ve obviously not done a good enough job of explaining the realities of the position of t...
The Shelton Civic Center will get a facelift. The Shelton City Council on Aug. 15 gave preliminary approval to awarding a $55,357 contract to Rhizor's Painting to prepare and repaint exterior surfaces on the building at 525 West Cota St. The council can make it official with approval at its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 5. Jordanne Krumpols - the city's director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities - told the council the project is budgeted at $90,000. The city received bids from six companies...
After a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Mason County Historical Society's annual Cruisin' Through Time Car Show returns from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday on West Railroad Avenue from First to Seventh streets in downtown Shelton. The group Shelton Downtown Merchants is teaming with the nonprofit to host the event. The owners of the vehicles register from 8 to 10 a.m., and the judging begins at 10 a.m. The entry fee is $20. More than 25 awards will be given. The car show has traditionally...
Justice Center design study Mason County commissioners approved a request for qualifications for a community justice center design and development at its Aug. 15 meeting. According to the information packet, the county received $1,030,000 in grant money through the state Department of Commerce to study and design a Community Justice Center composed of a jail, mental health facility, and a substance use disorder facility. The Mason County Sheriff’s Office worked with experts in the county Public Health and Community Services Department to establ...
Central Mason crews douse fire sparked by burning vehicle Central Mason Fire & EMS extinguished a brush fire caused by a burning vehicle Friday on East Royce Road just north of Shelton. According to a news release, the fire was reported at 3:43 p.m. and crews arrived to find two vehicles on fire behind a residence. The fire spread to the surrounding brush and trees. CMFE crews deployed hand lines to attack the vehicle fires to protect nearby structures and upgraded the alarm. Multiple agencies...
Kids at Hope speaker Thursday at Shelton High Rick Miller, founder of Kids at Hope and a professor at Arizona State University, talks about the power of Hope as a youth and community development strategy from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Shelton High School Performing Arts Center, 3737 N. Shelton Springs Road. Everyone is welcome. According to Southside Superintendent Paul Wieneke, the seven local school districts wrote and received a competitive grant from the state to install Hope Frameworks. According to the organization, “Hope Square i...
