Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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“What’s going on?” Nate asked when I entered the little grocery store he manages. The grocery’s just down the block from my house. It was early Monday morning, and Nate was in the vegetable section, tending to the broccoli and carrots. “I’m escaping,” I answered him. “From what?” he asked, broccoli in hand. I had just left the coffee shop two businesses down from the grocery store. “Loud talkers,” I told him. Nate laughed. In the coffee shop I often write my column in that Olympia coffee shop....
Belfair road work Editor, the Journal, In response the letter to the editor regarding the freight corridor Belfair bypass on Oct 31. As we know the bypass is a long-sought state Department of Transportation project. Because some of the bypass if funded by federal monies is needed to be called the freight corridor, I know it’s confusing, but the government sometimes works in mysterious ways. DOT has been working together to plan the project and Mason County Public Works has been working with DOT on where to install additional connector roads w...
Last year around this time, the U.S. Census Bureau reported a little more than 16 million living military veterans were in the United States. I’m one of them. Like civilian society, what’s made so many of our contributions important is how ordinary they’ve been. It’s tempting to fixate on grand gestures, and make no mistake, plenty of veterans have made significant sacrifices to serve their country, even those who are still with us, but what’s just as essential is all the everyday work that so m...
The Shelton-Mason County Journal encourages original letters to the editor of local interest. Diverse and varied opinions are welcome. We will not publish letters that are deemed libelous or scurrilous in nature. We reserve the right to reject any letter for any reason. When submitting a letter, please observe the following guidelines: Writers are limited to one original letter plus one rebuttal or counter-rebuttal per calendar month; Letters should be no more than 300 words; Letters will be edited for grammar, spelling, style, clarity and... Full story
You often read or hear about a crowd or the appearance of someone’s hair being “unruly,” but you rarely encounter a “ruly crowd” or “ruly hair.” “Ruly” is an example of what’s called a “lost positive,” a word that has lost its use in our daily language. Other examples of lost positives are “couth,” “ept,” “whelmed” and “gruntled.” You can lead a cat to a scratching post, but you can’t make it itch. We have the word “reflection” — an image created by light being cast on another image — but we don...
In aisle 1 at Safeway, there are nearly 40 different types of toothpaste and at least two life lessons to be found. When I was in my early 20's, living in Alaska over 2,000 miles away from my parents, I called them. I was in love, again, and said to my dad, "This could be the one." He stated, "Don't get caught up on toothpaste issues." "What are toothpaste issues ?" I asked. First, there are several ways to discharge toothpaste from the tube. Just grab and squeeze, push from the bottom and...
When I was about 6 years old, my mother presented me with the Halloween costume she put together for me. It was a white shirt, a white apron and a tall white hat. And a pillow. “What is this?” I likely asked. “You’re going to be a French chef,” she likely said. “French chef” didn’t sound scary, or look scary, but what did I know? I went trick-or-treating that evening with the other kids in our suburban Spokane neighborhood, kids who were dressed as monsters or cartoon characters or vampires or w...
Ask permission Editor, the Journal, I feel the people that are placing signs in random yards should have to ask the property owner for permission. I had four signs placed around my mailbox. No one asked for permission. I took them down a short time later and discovered that my mailbox was bashed in. That's just not right! Ken Raymond, Shelton Appeal your property tax Editor, the Journal, I received my property valuation for 2024 a couple weeks ago. My valuation is up again despite the housing market crashing and real values going down. We must...
Oct. 19, 2024, marked my seventh anniversary filling this space in the Shelton-Mason County Journal, so let’s take time for me, shall we? That is, after all, what birthdays are for. Let’s start with a story. On Jan. 25th of this year, I published a column about stretching for seven straight hours. I wrote it up, decided it needed a little more, so I interviewed a yoga teacher I’ve taken classes from. I got a quote from her, included it toward the end of the column, and later dropped off a copy...
Vote local Editor, the Journal, Vote local, vote democracy, vote for affordable housing, vote public school funding, and of course, vote how you feel about woman’s right to choose. Look at your pamphlets; choose candidates who fall in line with what’s most important to you. Just vote! Andria Richardson, Lake Cushman Time for change Editor, the Journal, My family has been operating our business in Mason County for over a century and we are deeply committed to its success. I support local candidates because running for office is hard and expensiv...
Manny, an 11-year-old Mason County resident, was focused on his phone Saturday while longtime county resident Rob Wilson-Hoss briefed a gathering of 10 people on what was ahead on the trail, a roughly 2-mile hike that tracks Goldsborough Creek just west of downtown Shelton. As the narration continued, Manny took a position nearer his mother, leaning against her back and his arm slung over her shoulder so his cellphone screen could be visible in the shade provided by mom's head. It was 70...
Vote Beben Editor, the Journal, We’re voting for Tom Beben for county commissioner. Tom Beben’s purpose, work ethic and passion that earned him recent Mason County Citizen of the Year honors will continue full speed ahead if he’s elected our county commissioner. Tom is not a politician, owes no party loyalties, and is motivated only by doing what is best for all of Mason County. With Tom’s 17 years of tireless altruistic volunteering, he’s left a large wake of supporters from all walks of Mason County life, who relish the feeling of community...
Your financial services team published the Mason County Annual Report for 2023 per RCW 36.22.010(4) and submitted the preliminary budget for 2025 to the Board of County Commissioners per RCW 36.40.040. Both documents are available on the auditor’s Financial Services Department webpage. There will be public hearings in early December on the 2025 budget prior to formal adoption by the commissioners where you can provide comments and input. Next, we have started work with our certified public a...
“Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, Brown paper packages tied up with strings. These are a few of my favorite things. — “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music” Somebody last week asked whether I have favorite things. “You mean, single things I like above other similar things?” I asked. “Yes.” Long pause. “I guess my favorite author is Kurt Vonnegut,” I said. The Kinks have been my favorite band, and Ray Davies my favorite musician,...
Voters’ pamphlet Editor, the Journal, Reply to Dianna Timm Dryden’s letter from Oct. 3 Dear Ms. Dryden, In addition to the Mason County Voters’ Pamphlet, you should have received a second pamphlet from the Secretary of State for the federal races, statewide races and measures, and judicial races. If you don’t receive a copy, please let me know. We have plenty of extras available at the Vote Center in Shelton. Copies will also be available at the temporary Vote Center in Belfair located at the Sheriff’s Office on Old Belfair Highway. To recap...
We are not necessarily born to our people. ■■■ Friend of column Arthur Rohlik of Shelton shared a wonderful example of an English language oddity that popped up during a recent conversation: The words “extra ordinary” are an antonym of “extraordinary.” ■■■ You often hear about people dying while doing something stupid. The Darwin Awards website is dedicated to such stories. But you can’t find a website dedicated to people dying while doing something smart. Here’s a possible example of suc...
No conflict Editor, The Journal, As an introduction, I am chair of the Mason County Planning Advisory Commission. The PAC reviews citizens’ requests provided to us by county employees, along with their recommendation. With a thorough discussion among the PAC members and input from the public present, online and written comments, the PAC votes on forwarding an acceptance or a rejection recommendation to the Mason County Board of County Commissioners. Note the term “advisory” in the PAC acronym. It is the BOCC that makes the actual legal decis...
Two weeks ago, I saw a couple in their 60s or 70s park their gear-laden bicycles on the sidewalk in front of a business near the Journal. I hurried outside and asked where they were bicycling to. “Patagonia,” the man said. “Patagonia?” I replied. Do you mean the Patagonia that’s at the tip of South America? “Yes,” he replied. “We started in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska,” the woman said. The two had mischievous and adventuresome smiles. It hadn’t occurred to me that if you’re biking from Prudhoe Bay to P...
Please go vote Editor, the Journal, Christians, are you satisfied in the way our country is leaning? Many Christians don’t bother to vote. The state of our country is at risk, our children are at risk. Please go vote! It is crucial to get our country back on the right track. “God Bless.” Arline Goldsby, Shelton Vote Neatherlin Editor, the Journal, This affects all of us in Mason County. Candidate for Mason County commissioner, William Harris, just did something disgusting, and everyone should be aware of it. Mr. Harris sits on the plann...
“We seek to disagree accurately, avoiding exaggeration and stereotypes.” — from Braver Angels website By Kirk Ericson Here are some comments made at this week’s membership meeting of the Mason County League of Women Voters: “Wish I had these skills so I wouldn’t be afraid to talk to the neighbors.” “I tend to just get angry when I’m interacting with someone [I disagree with politically]. I just stop. I don’t like getting that angry. It’s not good. It’s not healthy.” “I have neighbors I know that...
To the Editor: School Board Accountability Recently, the Journal had an article where several local school districts lamented the fact their costs are exceeding their income. The State of Washington and the legislature, eg taxpayers, were of course blamed for the district’s woes. Let me offer a different perspective, at least in the case of the Shelton School District (SSD). First, the skyrocketing cost of insurance was mentioned by several districts. Part of this is what all of us are experiencing; however, in the case of SSD, could the i...
Editor, the Shelton-Mason County Journal Vote – But beware. A vote for Bob Ferguson will be a continuation of Gov. Jay Inslee’s agenda. John Ervin Shelton...
In preparing for the November 5, 2024, General Election, your Elections team has taken steps to improve the security of the election system and worked with local, state, and federal agencies to prepare for many contingencies. We also focused additional effort on voter registration database maintenance. Your vote matters and can shape history at the local, state, and federal level, including determining the slate of Washington State’s electors to the Electoral College. Some say our nation is ...
I enjoy driving up to crowded four-way stops. It illustrates how Americans can still cooperate with one another. ■■■ You know that feeling you get when a cop car is trailing your car and then turns off in another direction? I really, really enjoy that feeling. ■■■ “The best apology is changed behavior.” — Abe Gardner, a volunteer for Overdose Awareness Day, quoted in the Aug. 22 edition of the Journal. ■■■ I miss that time in my life when I’d walk around in public with my babies in my arms. Whe...
Loneliness and isolation are silent epidemics in our society, exacerbated by modern lifestyles and the pervasive influence of technology. This growing crisis calls for immediate action to foster individual well-being, social connection and stronger community. As leaders of key community organizations— Senior Services for South Sound, United Way of Thurston County, Timberland Regional Library and the South Sound YMCA — we are committed to addressing these issues head-on. The evidence is clear: we are better together! The epidemic of lon...
