The Journal encourages Announcements and News Releases of local, timely interest to our readers. Local photo submissions are also welcome. Include information on the who, what, when, where, why and how of your news lead. Deadline is each Monday by 5 PM. All submissions should include the sender's name, address and daytime phone number which will be used for verification purposes only. Submissions are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. To submit your Announcement or News Release: • Email [email protected] (preferred)...
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 a MCSO news release. Deputies confiscated animals on the property Sunday, April 14, with support from the Humane Society of Mason County volunteers. "This incident occurred in the Grapeview area. We are currently serving a search warrant at the location and working with outside agencies, including the Humane Society, to ensure these animals...
Fire District 12 Commissioner Nick Jones accused Chief Brian Walsworth of “dereliction of duty” at the April 9 commission meeting after Jones saw the state of disrepair in fire station 12-3, on Beeville Loop Road, he said. Community members told him April 3 that the station was left open, so Jones went to take a look with three witnesses. Jones said they went inside the open building after notifying the sheriff. “All I could smell was mouse feces and urine,” he said. There was a dead mouse in a fire engine compartment, rodent nests,...
Mason County Commissioner Kevin Shutty will be the new executive director of the Economic Development Council of Mason County. Shutty replaces Jennifer Baria. He assumes his position May 1 and will continue in his role with the County Commission until his term expires at the end of this year. The Shelton-based organization provides consultation to businesses establishing or relocating in Mason County. The agency states that its mission is "to expand and diversify the economy throughout Mason...
City moves forward on new police car The Shelton City Council on Tuesday evening gave preliminary approval to buying a new police patrol car for $86,000. The move can become official with a second vote at the council's May 7 meeting. The police department requested the vehicle in its 2024 budget to replace a 2013 Dodge Charger police vehicle with 117,000 miles on it. The new 2024 model Ford Interceptor SUV AWD vehicle is priced at $70,212, and it will be fitted to become a police vehicle. May 3...
Couple sue Harstine Island HOA over wheelchair modifications A Grays Harbor County couple is suing the Harstene Pointe Maintenance Association for improperly denying them a building permit that includes Americans with Disabilities Act modifications, according to a complaint filed in Mason County Superior Court April 9. Daniel and Jolene Tupper want to add wheelchair access features to their home on Harstine Island that’s subject to the nonprofit homeowners association covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs). The Tuppers submitted...
In the Olympia School District, 65% of students a year out of high school are attending colleges. In the Shelton School District, it's 31%. That's the statistic quoted by Sandra Kaiser, director for government relations with The Evergreen State College, at the League of Women Voters of Mason County's forum "Why College? Challenges to Seeking a College Education for Mason County Youth" on Tuesday in the Olympic College Shelton library meeting room. The other speakers were Riva Villa, director of...
Ten-year-old Lin Spichiger of Shelton is the winner of the state Department of Health's 2024 Northwest Radon Poster Contest. According to a news release, the contest is an opportunity for youths ages 9 to 14 to creatively raise awareness of the harmful effects of elevated indoor radon levels and promote testing and mitigation of radon gas. "We appreciate each student who participated," Gary Garrety, the radon program director for DOH, said in the release. "Special thanks to the teachers, youth...
Tuesday is the deadline to cast votes for two fire district measures in Mason County on the special election ballot. Grapeview Fire District 3 is proposing to merge with Central Mason Fire District 5 to provide fire and emergency medical services to areas served by the two districts. West Mason Fire District 16 is proposing a property tax levy of 50 cents or less per $1,000 of assessed valuation for six years, beginning this year, for emergency medical services. Both need a simple majority to pass. Ballot drop boxes for the special election...
Free Healthy Kids Day at Shelton YMCA The South Sound YMCA is hosting its annual Healthy Kids Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Shelton YMCA. The free event offers activities that encourage good health. Events include face painting, yard games, swimming, a demonstration in synchronized swimming, slime making and photo opportunities. Information: Claudia Suastegui at 360-918-0304 or [email protected]. Help plant a garden at Shelton Veterans Village Everyone is invited to celebrate Earth Day by joining members of the Mason...
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...
Since the first edition of the Shelton-Mason County Journal rolled off the press in 1886, three years before the state of Washington joined the union, the Journal has been dedicated to covering the news and events that affect the City of Shelton and Mason County at large. From cover to cover, the newspaper our readers pick up is written by people who live in the area about things that happen here. Whether it's the Shelton City Council, the Board of Mason County Commissioners, one of our...
What is nice? Editor, The Journal, I must wonder, does the Journal’s editorial cartoon artist even read your paper or research his chosen topic? Based on last week’s cartoon, I would have to say no. The cartoon depicted a citizen complaining to the school board about free speech. That has happened recently; however, the cartoonist’s point was that the complaint was about being asked to be “be nice” while the citizen wanted to “name call, insult.” I assume the cartoonist was referring to recent public comments at the Shelton...
“In 1858, three days after the first Atlantic [telegraph] Cable connected New York and London, The New York Times asked if the news would become ‘too fast for the truth.’ ” — From the book “Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington” “Too fast for the truth.” That phrase should be stamped on every cellphone, tablet and laptop sold in this country. It could read like this: “Warning: This product is too fast for the truth. Wait before forming an opinion on information...
To submit a Public Notice/Legal advertisement, please email a Word file to [email protected], along with your phone number, and someone will contact you for payment. Thank you, Shelton-Mason County...