County Briefs

North Mason, Bremerton issue statement about incident

The North Mason and Bremerton school districts issued a joint statement in regard to a Oct. 18 incident following a volleyball match at North Mason High School in Belfair.

According to the statement, the incident involving athletes, students and parents violated the standards and expectations of civil conduct.

“We believe that actions of a few are not representative of the values of our communities, nor do they define our school districts,” the statement reads. “However, we have the responsibility and moral obligation to address discriminatory harassment and racism in our communities — whether words and actions are intentional — or influenced by implicit bias. Leaders from both school districts met with the president and vice president of the Bremerton Chapter of the NAACP last week. The three organizations are going to work together moving forward on the important, ongoing work in our schools and communities to be anti-racist in our practices, policies, procedures and actions.”

Oakland Bay locked down for medical emergency

Oakland Bay Junior High School was put on a modified lockdown on Nov. 10 for a student to receive medical attention.

According to Shelton School District spokesperson Jeff Slakey, the student received medical attention and was released the same day. The modified lockdown is a standard procedure when a person needs medical attention.

Due to medical privacy, the school district is unable to share more information.

Ridge announces partnership with Smoking Mo’s

The Ridge Motorsports Park has announced a partnership with Shelton restaurant Smoking Mo’s.

According to a news release, Smoking Mo’s will begin to oversee and manage the Ridge Café and Ridge Catering department while incorporating its barbecue to the existing menu.

“We are extremely thrilled to be partnering with such an iconic staple of Mason County,” Ridge General Manager Tracie Schmitt said in a news release.

“The collaboration between both teams (Smoking Mo’s and the Ridge) will bring new creativity and energy, giving us the opportunity to focus on elevating and diversifying our programs. This will be a new chapter for both businesses that we can’t wait to get started on.”

The new Ridge Café will launch in the spring.

One dead in Nov. 4 crash on U.S. 101

A Shelton man died in a two-car accident in the afternoon on Nov. 4 on U.S. Highway 101 just south of Shelton.

According to a Washington State Patrol news release, Jon P. Martin, 36, was killed in the accident and the next of kin were notified.

The Shelton man was traveling east on Hurley Waldrip Road and attempted to cross U.S. 101. The second vehicle, traveling south on U.S. 101, struck the car on the driver’s side and both cars came to rest in the southbound lane.

Southbound lanes were blocked for almost three hours.

The driver of the second vehicle, a 28-year-old Shelton man, along with a 31-year-old female Shelton passenger and two others, were all transported by aid to Saint Peter’s Hospital in Olympia.