NEWS BRIEFS

Still no sign of missing man

There is still no sign of Brandon Adams after authorities found his Jeep and some personal belongings off a logging road Nov. 12. The Shelton man was last seen Oct. 20.

Several rescue groups combed the steep terrain Saturday, including Mason County Search and Rescue and Washington Explorer Search and Rescue – Kitsap Unit.

Police blocked off the area around Camp Govey, close to where Adams’ vehicle was recovered, to use as a staging area and only admitted certified search and rescue personnel, according to a Friday statement by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office.

“Please we ask that you respect the fact that all personnel involved in efforts to bring closure to the family are volunteers providing a service to our community on their own time,” the statement said.

Sheriff urges community watch

Sheriff Ryan Spurling and the Mason County Sheriff’s Office are “reigniting” the community watch program and asking residents to get involved.

“If you have a community or a homeowners association, you want to get involved in the neighborhood watch. Be involved. Because we need the information that you’re seeing,” Spurling said in a Facebook video address.

Crime rates in Washington are going up in comparison to the rest of the United States, according to Spurling.

Washington has the lowest number of officers per thousand citizens of any other state, with 1.3 officers per thousand compared with the average U.S. state at 2.3 officers per thousand, he said.

Mason County is even lower at 0.8 officers per thousand residents, according to Spurling.

“We cannot do it ourselves,” he said. “People are tired of being victimized.”

Community members who want to learn about neighborhood watches and get resources can email the sheriff’s office at [email protected] for more information.

Governor candidate to visit Shelton

Semi Bird, a Republican candidate for governor, will visit Shelton at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Railroad Tap Station at 221 W. Railroad Ave.

The event is sponsored by Take Back Mason County, a political action committee based in Shelton.

For more information, contact Rebecca Bechtolt at [email protected].