Week of December 4, 2025
Week of December 4, 2025
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 editor@masoncounty.com (preferred)...
The Journal of Record is produced using 911 call information Mason County Emergency Communications, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, the Shelton Police Department and tribal police provide. MACECOM does not provide the Shelton-Mason County Journal with specific details about each call. For more information about MACECOM, call 360-426-4441. NOV. 23 A runaway was reported on Southeast Bayview Road in Shelton. Alarm activity was reported on Northeast Old Belfair Highway in Belfair. Disorderly conduct was reported on North 13th Street in...
The Christmas parade, four Mistletoe Mile races and spiraling Fire Dancers are among the offerings at the annual Holiday Magic event hosted Friday and Saturday by Kristmas Town Kiwanis and the Shelton Downtown Merchants. A Christmas movie will be screened at 4 p.m. Friday at Shelton Cinemas. Admission is free with the donation of nonperishable food to help feed local people in need. The tree-lighting ceremony begins at 6 p.m. at Post Office Park. Local school choirs will perform. After the...
Commissioners failed to approve the proposed 2026 county budget in a tense hearing Monday with Commissioners Randy Neatherlin and Pat Tarzwell voting to continue debate Dec. 9 over Commissioner Sharon Trask’s objection. Neatherlin motioned to table the discussion because he has reservations about proposed spending and has suggested cuts. Tarzwell supported the motion but wished Neatherlin had spoken up sooner. “We can keep talking about this because I agree, there’s something we need to talk about. I wish we’d have brought this...
The Mason County results of the Nov. 4 general election were certified on Nov. 25. Of the 47,829 registered voters in Mason County, 18,300 cast ballots for an overall turnout of 38.26%. The North Mason School District levy failed with 50.10% “no” votes. All four members of the Shelton City Council seeking re-election won another term. Sharon Schirman received 53.95% of the vote to beat Kenneth G. Mobley for Member 3; Shelton Mayor Eric Onisko got 50.53% to beat Holly Cahoon for Member 4; Lyndsey Sapp received 58.73% to beat Shaena...
The Shelton-Mason and North Mason chambers of commerce, and Economic Development Council of Mason County sponsored a sendoff at Alderbrook Resort & Spa Monday for the 35th delegation, sharing small business priorities with the legislators, who will be working during the short session from Jan. 12 to March 12. Bills in the long session get automatically reintroduced in the short session starting Dec. 1. "We recognize the value local employers bring to our economy, and it is our mission to...
Little Skookum Shellfish Growers, OceanMade LLC and Mason Conservation District are among the local businesses and organizations lending their expertise and equipment to help Pioneer Middle School students launch research projects, all the way to the state competition. The results of the partnerships were showcased at the inaugural South Sound STEM Catalyst event Tuesday at Pioneer Middle School. The mentors were alongside the students at the event. The Pioneer Kiwanis Club and the Pickering...
Final election results show the district’s replacement levy failed by 18 votes, North Mason Superintendent Kristine Michael said at the school board’s Nov. 24 regular meeting. The “yes” votes were 2,679, the “no” votes were 2,697, she said. “Very, very close. Obviously, we as a group will have some hard decisions that will have to be made, as well as some hard work to make sure that we can get the support of the community going forward in the future,” Michael said. The community group formed to promote the levy will continue...
Greer gets new term City of Shelton Municipal Court Judge Stephen Greer on Tuesday received another four-year term. The Shelton City Council voted to confirm Greer for the new term that begins Jan. 1 and ends Dec. 31, 2029. According to the resolution, Greer “has served with distinction as Municipal Court Judge, demonstrating professionalism, fairness, and dedication to the administration of justice; and whereas the City Council of Shelton recognizes the importance of continuity and stability in the judicial branch of city government....
State funding to design a roundabout at Wallace Kneeland Boulevard and Shelton Springs Road, a preliminary study to help salmon spawn on Shelton Creek and a new reservoir in the Mountainview Pressure Zone are on the City of Shelton’s wish list for the 2026 legislative session. The Shelton City Council on Tuesday approved a list of capital requests for funding through earmarks in the state capital or transportation budgets. The council sent the list to the members of the 35th Legislative District: state Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, and...
Snacks withSanta Saturday at Grapeview station: Santa Claus arrives on a firetruck at the “Snacks with Santa” event at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Grapeview Fire Hall. Children will sing and cookies and punch will be served. Celebrate 111th year of Harstine Island Community Hall: Harstine Island Community Club celebrates 111 years of its community hall with a live and silent auction, food and a birthday cake from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Harstine Island Community Hall. Tickets are $30 at the door. Women of Note perform concerts: The...
PEO Chapter B awards scholarship The Philanthropic Education Organization (PEO) Chapter B Shelton presented its $1,000 Mary M. Knight Achievement Award scholarship to Ellen Hageman, a student at Olympic College pursuing a degree in nursing. The PEO is a nonprofit women’s group dedicated to helping women achieve their educational goals. The Mary M. Knight Achievement Award honors a Mason County educator who was a member of Chapter B. The award has supported women’s education in Mason County since 1936. For information, email...
Santa Claus in Grapeview Grapeview Community Association hosts Snacks With Santa at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Grapeview Fire Hall, 4350 Grapeview Loop Road, Grapeview. Meet Santa and share holiday wishes. Snacks and treats will be served and there will be crafts and activities for all ages. Friends of Library meet The North Mason Friends of the Library meet from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. Dec. 9 at the library, 23081 Northeast state Route 3, Belfair. The meeting will be in the large meeting room. “Get involved by using your talents to support the...
Forest Christmas tree permits available: Christmas tree permits for cutting trees in the Olympic National Forest are available online at recreation. gov, in person at National Forest offices in Quilcene, Quinault, and Forks and the supervisor’s office in Olympia, or through local vendors. For a list of local vendors, go to www.fs.usda.gov/r06/olympic/passes/ vendors. Fourth graders with an Every Kid Outdoors pass can get a free Christmas tree permit online or at forest service offices. A $2.50 reservation fee applies. Septic rebates...
All League awards The 1B Coastal League, 2A Olympic League, 2A Evergreen League and 3A Greater St. Helen's League recently announced their All-League awards for the fall 2025 seasons. In 1B Coastal League volleyball, Mary M. Knight's Cloey Fletcher was named First Team All-League. The Owls' Mae Nygaard and Brooke Mirka each earned Second Team honors and Hayden Hughes and Bella Buck were named Honorable Mention. In 1B Coastal League 6-man football, the Owls' Jordan Wood was named Co-Defensive...
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...
Support Shelton schools Editor, the Journal, I proudly support the Shelton School District because this community helped shape who I am. I graduated from Shelton, and after completing my military career, the district welcomed me back and gave me the opportunity to serve the community that raised me. I earned a Bronze Star while deployed to Afghanistan, and that achievement is largely attributed to the mentorship and encouragement I received from the teachers and coaches who guided me as a three-sport athlete. Some of them are still people I...
You would think people who are bored with life might get bored of being bored. A new phrase in the year 2025: A twenty something man was telling me about a worker at an Olympia butcher shop who was abducted by U.S. immigration agents. “He got iced,” he told me. A dream I had last week: I was standing with about 50 other journalists in a metropolitan paper newsroom when a guy walked to the front of the room to address us. Maybe he was the top editor. “I want to know,” he said, “which...
Even surrounded by toys, Milos is bored. But once he's transported by the Phantom Toll Booth to the Land of Wisdom, Milos is thrust into adventure when he's told Princesses Rhyme and Reason need to be rescued to create peace between two kings. Connection Street Theatre stages the musical "Phantom Toll Booth" at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at Faith Lutheran Church, 1212 Connection St., Shelton. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door and online at...
The first four episodes of the fifth and final season of "Stranger Things" began streaming on Netflix the day before Thanksgiving, with the next three episodes slated to start streaming on Christmas Day, and the last episode of the series expected to go online on New Year's Eve. Each season of "Stranger Things" has been set during a different consecutive year of the 1980s, from 1983 in Season 1 to 1987 in Season 5, but in real life, Season 1 premiered during the summer of 2016, more than nine...
Madeline Jean McMath, 89, a resident of Shelton, passed away November 2, 2025, at Alpine Way Continuing Care in Shelton, WA. Arrangements are by Huckleberry Creek Cremation Co. in Olympia, WA Nathan Eric Larson, 21, a resident of Allyn, passed away November 19, 2025 in Grapeview, WA. Arrangements are by Cedar Cremation and Funeral Services in Shelton, WA. Roger William Gingrich, 82, a resident of Hoodsport, (U.S. Marine) passed away November 24, 2025, at home. Arrangements are by Cedar...
Stacy was born on July 12, 1979, in Seattle, WA, to Dawn Marie (René) Hicks, of Olympia, WA, and Michael Hicks of Gardenville, NV. She passed away on November 14, 2025 in Olympia. She was 46 years old. A memorial service has been planned for December 2, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia, WA, 98501-1330. Stacy is survived by her son, Caine Pickett, and partner, Matt Wohletz both of Olympia, a sister, Keri M. Hicks and a niece and...
Robert "Robbie" Duane Albright, 41, of Shelton, Washington, passed away on November 15, 2025. Born and raised in Shelton, Robbie built a life rooted in family, curiosity and the simple joys of the outdoors. Robbie was happiest with a fishing pole in hand, surrounded by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and especially when his sons were by his side. He had a natural curiosity and a deep desire to understand how things worked. Robbie was never afraid to take things apart, explore the unknown...
Carol Frances Carpenter, 80, former Satsop, WA resident, died Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at Heritage House in Buckley, WA. Carol was born on December 17, 1944 in Shelton, WA, to Frederick Thomas and Georgia Frances (Bliss) Smith. She attended Port Angeles High School after her family moved to Sequim, WA. Carol married Edward A. Carpenter on August 17, 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. He passed away on October 13, 1985. She worked as a waitress for many years in Sequim and Shelton, WA, and as a meat...
To submit a Public Notice/Legal advertisement, please email a Word file to legals@masoncounty.com, along with your phone number, and someone will contact you for payment. Thank you, Shelton-Mason County...
Shelton Christmas Parade is Saturday, December 6th at 5...
