Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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Mason County Public Works discovers loss of funds The Mason County Public Works and Utilities department discovered a loss of funds relating to refuse transfer stations. According to a news release from County Administrator Mark Neary, the county has notified the state Auditor’s Office and are working with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office on an investigation. Full details will be released when the investigation is complete. Mason County Sheriff’s Office tracks down truck responsible for damage The Mason County Sheriff’s Office tracked down a...
After 16 years of service to the Shelton-based nonprofit Community Lifeline, longtime Executive Director Barb Weza will serve as the group's development director. Instead of filling the executive position, Community Lifeline has instead hired Athena Ayes as the new shelter manager. Weza will be working from her home office. As development director, Weza said her duties include networking in the community, speaking to groups, writing grant proposals and overseeing fundraising. She is reaching...
In updated election results released by Mason County at 1:18 p.m. Thursday, Miguel Gutierrez took a three-vote lead over George W. Blush in the Shelton City Council Position No. 7 race. Blush led Gutierrez in Tuesday’s first vote count by 23 votes. The lead shrank to a single vote in Wednesday’s second count. After Thursday’s count, which is the last scheduled until 4 p.m. Wednesday, Gutierrez led 714-711. In North Mason, the North Mason School District levy is now passing by 43 votes. In Mason County, the levy has 2,516 “yes” votes and 2,479... Full story
Despite fears about mass layoffs, six of the seven school districts in Mason County did not fire any employees for not meeting the state mandate to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. In the Shelton School District, six teachers and 25 classified employees were dismissed effective Oct. 19. The Shelton School Board made that move official with a 3-2 vote at its meeting Tuesday evening following impassioned words from parents, district administrators, and former and current board members. According to Katie Diamond, the district’s communications s...
The City of Shelton will pay consultant an additional $100,000 to finish the design for the city's Western Gateway Project on Railroad Avenue from Eighth Street west to the city limits. The Shelton City Council on Oct. 19 voted unanimously to make its third supplemental change in its agreement with Gray & Osborne to complete the design. That brings the total to $306,500, and extends the contract to April 20, 2022. "Western Gateway is our big street project for 2022," Public Works Director Jay...
Two women intimate with the lives of homeless people in Shelton oppose a proposed city law to criminalize camping on city right of ways. Barb Weza, executive director of Community Lifeline in downtown Shelton, and Wendy Petty, the executive director of Crazy Love Ministries in downtown Shelton, both wrote letters to the Shelton City Council saying struggling homeless people will only suffer more from the proposed ordinance, which received preliminary approval with a 5-2 vote at the council's...
A rising graduation rate is amongst the strengths of the Shelton School District, while the disproportionate discipline of Native American students is a weakness. Keeping the schools open during the pandemic, and approaching a month without a classroom closure, is an ongoing accomplishment. Those are among the findings in a report Superintendent Wyatt Jessee presented Tuesday to the Shelton School Board. The report was designed to look at the last five years in the district, and set goals. The district increased the graduation rate from 75.1%...
Shelton City Manager Jeff Niten opened the State of the City address for the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 21 by reviewing how the pandemic continues to affect the city. Shelton is receiving what Niten deemed “significant amounts” of state and federal money in 2021, which he pledged would be used for projects such as Western Gateway, Safe Routes to School, a new reclaimed water tank, and replacing pipes from Well 1 to the high school water tank. The money includes $2.9 mil...
One injured in two-car accident near Hoodsport A 61-year-old Seattle man was injured in a two-car accident Sunday near Hoodsport. According to a news release, the Seattle man was driving south and crossed the center line and struck a car with a 42-year-old Raymond man driving north. The Seattle man was taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital while the Raymond man was not injured. The road was blocked for 3.5 hours. Car rollover on state Route 300 injures one A car rolled over Saturday on state Route 300 near Belfair and injured a passenger....
The City of Shelton is one step away from outlawing camping on city right-of-ways, a measure designed to persuade homeless people to either accept official shelter and other services and or move along. The Shelton City Council on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to the ordinance, which would make it a misdemeanor to stay overnight in a tent, hut, lean-to or other temporary shelter or structure on city land "which is reserved for any public purpose, including city-owned rights-of-way, parks, pub...
Siblings Christopher Floe and Caroline Harris were arrested in connection with the Oct. 7 shooting in the 500 block of North 4th Street in downtown Shelton. Floe, who was the victim of the shooting, was booked into Mason County Jail for first-degree assault, first-degree criminal conspiracy assault, false reporting and criminal conspiracy to commit a drive-by shooting. Harris was arrested for first-degree assault, first-degree criminal conspiracy assault, and criminal conspiracy to commit a...
The North Mason School Board is hoping that the third time is the charm for passing a levy on the Nov. 2 ballot. North Mason tried to pass levies in February and April of 2020, but was unsuccessful, which prompted the formation of a levy committee to allow for community input to produce the best levy for the community. “Our levy committee is an outstanding group of individuals that represent all different facets of our community,” North Mason School District Superintendent Dana Rosenbach sai...
The Shelton Police Department will receive $249,580 to purchase new body-worn and dash cameras for officers because its current cameras are no longer in production. The council gave Tuesday evening gave final approval to the purchase at its meeting. The council gave preliminary approval to the deal official at its Oct. 5 meeting. At the Oct. 5 meeting, Shelton Police Chief Carole Beason said the district’s body-worn and dash cameras were purchased in 2017. That company was purchased by another company, and “the model we have is no longer a via...
Seventeen candidates are running for school board positions on the Nov. 2 general election ballot, and only four of the races have more than one name on the ballot. Three positions are up for grabs on the Shelton School Board, with a single candidate on the ballot for each position. Marty Best, who was selected in September to complete Lynn Eaton’s unfinished term, is seeking to continue the two-year unexpired term representing District 2. Best works as the administrative services manager for Grays Harbor Transit. Matthew Welander is the o...
Mason County property owners have until Nov. 1 to pay their second half property taxes. According to a news release, Mason County Treasurer Lisa Frazier noted there are options to make property tax payments. There is a drive-up property tax payment drop box located in the alley next to 411 N 5th St., building 1. Taxpayers can mail their payments and it must be postmarked no later than Nov. 1 to avoid interest charges. Taxpayers can pay online or over the phone with a credit or debit card or an E-check. in-person property tax payment...
Travelers who use U.S. Highway 101 near Hoodsport may see a workzone in separate locations, possibly delaying travel. At milepost 331.4 in Hoodsport, there will be one-way alternating traffic during daylight hours each weekday until Friday, Oct. 29. Crews will be repairing a section of debris fence. For traffic updates, download the WSDOT app or visit the regional Twitter account....
Restrooms are closed in the day-use area at Potlatch State Park until further notice, according to the Washington State Parks Twitter account. Restrooms in the campground area are still available....
Port of Hoodsport commissioners heard about the transportation electrification movement when Tonia Buell of the state Department of Transportation gave a briefing on grant money for installing electric vehicle charging stations. Buell, who addressed the port during the commissioners’ Oct. 13 meeting on Zoom, said the Electrify America organization was created as a result of the Volkswagen Clean Air Act Civil Settlement of 2017. Buell said $2 billion is going to Electrify America, with $800 m...
Mason County saw a slight uptick in COVID-19 cases last week, increasing six cases to 207. There were five deaths in the last week, including three men, a 50-, 60- and 80-year old and two women, a 70- and 80-year old. The county death toll is 64. The state cases are dropping but Mason County cases are holding, according to Mason County Area Command. Director of Community Services Dave Windom said he is scratching his head about why this is occurring. "I'm wondering if we're a micropolitan...
Thelma Winger was found guilty on four counts of first-degree animal cruelty and one count of second-degree animal cruelty in Mason County Superior Court on Oct. 8. The sentencing trial is scheduled for Nov. 18. According to court documents, three first-degree counts are related to animal cruelty at dogs named Fred, Baby and Buddy. One first-degree count is related to a horse named Kissy and the second-degree count relates to a cat named Pearl. On April 17, 2018, Mason County Sheriff Deputy...
The Mason Transit Authority has plenty to look forward to and challenges before the calendar flips to 2022. MTA General Manager Amy Asher started in July and she’s getting more comfortable in the position, even though there’s still a lot to learn. “A big part of that is getting to know the community and getting to know staff and getting to know our board members,” Asher said. “I’ve spent quite a bit of time doing that. Earlier today, I had a meeting with a board member, a 1-on-1 meeting and...
Ninety-one percent of Shelton School District employees have received COVID vaccinations as the deadline for state’s mandate approaches on Monday. That’s the figure Superintendent Wyeth Jessee announced Tuesday evening at the Shelton School Board meeting. Fifty-two employees have applied for medical or religious exemptions, and 32 of them have been accommodated through exemptions or plans to get vaccinated, he said. Like all the other school districts in the state, the Shelton School District is obligated to follow Gov. Jay Inslee’s manda...
The Mason County Sheriff’s Office released its annual report for 2020. According to the report, the traffic enforcement division made 5,370 traffic stops and contacts compared to 5,458 in 2019. There were more citations issued in 2020, with 649 compared to 646 in 2019. DUI arrests were down in 2020 to 16 compared to 23 in 2019. Mason County Sheriff’s Office Chief Ryan Spurling attributes the 2020 traffic numbers to COVID-19. There was a decrease in collision investigations, property damage and...
The Oct. 18 deadline for Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate is fast approaching, but Central Mason Fire and EMS and the North Mason Regional Fire Authority are prepared. CMFEMS Chief Mike Patti said that no one is planning on leaving and the department is in full compliance with the mandate. He reported the fire district has had no occupational related exposures to COVID in the last 20 months, attributing the PPE the team has and sanitizing equipment after each use. NMRFA Chief Beau Bakk...
