Year in Review - Belfair

JANUARY

Port of Allyn Commissioner Ted Jackson unexpectedly resigned Jan. 19.

Commissioner Judy Scott read Jackson's terse resignation letter at a Jan. 23 special meeting.

The port was already facing challenges after Executive Director Lary Coppola died Sept. 30, 2023, Interim Executive Director LeAnn Dennis died on Christmas Day, 2023 and Patty Noel, who was appointed interim executive assistant Jan. 1, quit less than three weeks later.

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North Mason School Board members met James A. Taylor High School's new Mascot, the Sasquatch, on Jan. 22.

"I think it looks strong right before it gets scary," District 2 Director Leanna Krotzer said.

The logo features a stern bigfoot face popping out of evergreen trees and holding "JTHS" with its claws.

Superintendent Dana Rosenbach said staff used artificial intelligence to design the logo so that it's "totally original" and students approved it.

FEBRUARY

The Mason County Sheriff's Office celebrated its new North Precinct location in Belfair with an open house that allowed community members to inspect a SWAT vehicle, tour a mobile command center and partake of free food and drinks while listening to folk duo The Angel and the Outlaw on Feb. 2.

The building, at 460 NE Old Belfair Highway, is the former home of North Mason Regional Fire Authority.

The move took almost eight years and involved planning with county officials and putting the 2019 Fire District bond before voters, North Mason Fire Chief Beau Bakken said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"We didn't sell the concept of a structure. What sold our bond opportunity was the partnership we were putting together," Bakken said.

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The state Department of Transportation had a public drop-in Feb. 13 at North Mason High School to present the latest information about the Belfair Bypass, officially known as the Highway 3 Freight Corridor.

The event featured 24 display boards about the purpose and need for the project, the environmental assessment and the traffic study.

The 6.5-mile corridor will provide an alternative for highway users to travel around, and not through, Belfair. The existing segment of state Route 3 through downtown Belfair would become a business loop with connections to state Route 106, state Route 300 and Old Belfair Highway.

MARCH

The HUB Center for Seniors in Belfair hosted an Easter event, The Hoppining, giving away thousands of eggs and many prizes.

Inside the center, there was a glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunt, themed activity booths and Easter baskets for sale.

North Mason Rotary Club sponsored the event.

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North Mason Food Bank announced it received relocation money to move to a larger building.

The nonprofit secured $47,000 in state money to help fund its purchase of property at 24131 NE state Route 3, Belfair, in the old HD's Pub's building.

"For more than 20 years we have been operating out of a small, converted house on a main highway. Parking is extremely limited, and our clients have to back out onto the busy road. In addition, we are very small, so our folks wait outside in the weather or in their cars to be served," the food bank said in a news release.

APRIL

Parents of a 5-year-old kindergartner sued North Mason School District, claiming the child was "sexually and physically abused" by a fifth-grade student during a bus ride home, according to the complaint filed April 1 in Mason County Superior Court.

"The health, safety and welfare of students is always the paramount concern of North Mason School District. Any harm or injury to a student is therefore always troubling to us. We are aware of the pending lawsuit, which is being defended by counsel appointed by North Mason School District's insurer. We have been instructed by counsel not to provide any further comment on the pending litigation," North Mason School District Superintendent Dana Rosenbach said in an emailed statement to the Herald.

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Mason County Sheriff's Office deputies seized more than 60 dogs and one horse from a woman in Grapeview during an animal cruelty investigation, according to deputies.

The animals were confiscated on the property April 14, with support from the Humane Society of Mason County volunteers.

Animal rescue groups from around Western Washington, including Thurston, Pierce, Kitsap and King counties mobilized to help, according to HSMC President Katherine Johnson said.

MAY

Port of Allyn commissioners discussed ways to get sea lions to leave the port's dock at the May 7 meeting.

The sea lions destroyed all six of the power and water pedestals that supply vessels with utilities at the Allyn dock, then Interim Executive Director Travis Merrill told the Herald.

Replacements will cost more than $28,000, Merrill said.

With no consistent natural predators, the sea lions just linger in the North Bay until the orcas return to push them to other areas, according to Merrill.

JUNE

Belfair lost its primary care clinic when Belfair Clinic, operated by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in collaboration with Mason County Public Hospital District No. 2, stopped primary care services June 28.

"Due to ongoing staffing and recruitment challenges, we made the difficult decision to no longer offer primary care services here at the Franciscan Medical Clinic – Belfair after June 28, 2024," Chad Melton, President, St. Michael Medical Center, said in a statement to the Herald.

Current patients were referred to other local care providers.

Urgent care is still provided at the location.

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A memorial service for LeAnn Dennis, the Port of Allyn's interim executive director who died in December, was June 22 at the port.

There was food, refreshments and "a time for sharing," according to Commissioner Judy Scott.

Dennis replaced Executive Director Lary Coppola, who also died in 2023.

JULY

The annual Tahuya Day Festival was July 6. Temperatures climbed into the 90s as festivalgoers were doused by water guns from the passing floats. North Shore Road closed for the parade from 1-2 p.m. at Kay's Corner to Saint Nicholas Church.

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Allyn Days Salmon Bake and Geoduck Festival kicked off July 19 with Music in the Park, a free event on the main stage at Port of Allyn Waterfront Park.

The three-day festival featured an oyster shucking competition, an all-ages 100-plus-yard dash in the low-tide mud, food and music.

AUGUST

North Mason School District Superintendent Dana Rosenbach announced her retirement at the Aug. 26 board meeting.

Rosenbach has been the North Mason School District superintendent since 2014.

"I am confident that the district is well-positioned for success. Our dedicated staff, engaged community, and talented students will undoubtedly carry forward the mission and vision we have collectively established. I look forward to the coming year as we continue to learn and grow together," Rosenbach said in a statement.

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Voters overwhelmingly approved a North Mason Fire levy restoration proposal Aug. 6 with 64.54%.

The additional money allows the district to add two firefighters, according to the department's statement about the levy.

Passage means a new rate of $1.11 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

North Mason Fire Chief Beau Bakken told the Herald in an email that he appreciates "the community support that North Mason continues to provide for its emergency services."

SEPTEMBER

"Beyond 911: Transforming Rural Healthcare," a documentary highlighting North Mason Regional Fire Authority's Mobile Integrated Health Program, premiered Sept. 4 at SEEFilm Cinema in Bremerton.

The short film, made in partnership with Kitsap Strong, presents NMFD efforts to "revolutionize health care delivery in rural communities," according to the film's description.

Mason County Commissioner Kevin Shutty, who attended the premier, said it was an incredible evening.

"The vision of Chief Bakken and the hard work of Abe Gardner, Adam Boyd, Kristi Eilers and the whole team at North Mason Fire to pull this off is inspiring," Shutty said.

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The ports of Grapeview and Allyn voted to end the Case Inlet Fisheries Task Force.

The task force formed by joint resolution in 2021 as an advisory group for the two ports to study ways to increase salmon in Case Inlet.

Commissioners from both ports said the task force met its goals and by disbanding the group, members would be able to form a separate organization to seek funds for a salmon net pen at Fair Harbor Marina. Former task force members and the North Mason School District plan to use the net pen to teach students aquaculture.

OCTOBER

Salmon leaped into a record-breaking year with 12,698 returning to the Union River, according to the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group.

The group released final numbers Oct. 16, after removing a fish trap on the Union River just outside of Belfair.

Volunteers checked the trap 24 hours a day from mid-August through mid-October.

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Mason County Public Health monitored a Halloween "trick" that could have potentially sickened children with salmonella.

The Panhandle Lake 4-H Camp Kids Haunted Halloween event Oct. 26 provided candy treats, but an individual at one cabin also gave away real chicken feet as a trick, according to MCPH.

Health officials urged anyone attending the event to throw out all candy that could have been in contact with a chicken foot and clean or throw out trick or treat bags and clean costumes, masks or gloves that may have touched the feet.

NOVEMBER

County and state officials celebrated the Belfair pump station in a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The state Department of Commerce commended Mason County on the completion and cited the project as an example for others.

The project used approximately $2.8 million of allotted $8 million loan funds.

"This freed up $5.2 million to be used for critical infrastructure projects elsewhere in Washington state," Mason County Public Works Director Loretta Swanson told the Herald.

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A man was shot in the head near the Belfair QFC Nov. 15.

Paul Cichocki, 49, survived his injuries and was treated and released from the hospital the same day, according to the Mason County Sheriff's Office. Johnathan Coccia, 44, was arrested Nov. 19 for first-degree assault/firearm and second-degree unlawful firearm possession in connection with the shooting.

DECEMBER

Port of Allyn commissioners appointed a four-member water systems subcommittee that will review the port's current water system operations and recommend areas of improvement, ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations, develop strategies for sustainable and cost-effective water system management and make recommendations to commissioners about the water system.

The committee includes Travis Merrill, the port's executive director, and three community members, Jeff Carey, Jim Freeman and Scott Gordon.