[LIVE VIDEO] Watch the April 23, 2019 Mason County Commission meeting. There are three ways to watch live at 6 PM: hcc.net/news, MasonWebTV.com or Mason County’s website (co.mason.wa.us.) You can also watch on demand on hcc.net/news, MasonWebTV.com or Mason County’s website: co.mason.wa.us. Rebroadcasts on Hood Canal Communications’ local channel are Thursday at 6 PM, Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday at 9 AM.
Here is the meeting’s agenda:
After increases in November, December, January and February, Mason County’s unemployment rate dropped in March. According to the Washington State Employment Security Department, the County’s unemployment rate last month was 7.3 percent. That’s down seven-tenths of a percentage point from February’s revised rate of 8 percent but a half percent higher than the March 2018 rate of 6.8 percent.
[VIDEO] The Mason County Commission plans to increase the salaries of other county elected officials. The question is what is the best method to be fair and equitable especially when it comes to the Sheriff.
In 2016, the Auditor’s, Assessor’s, Clerk’s, Coroner’s and Treasurer’s salaries were amended to 95% of the highest paid Mason County Commissioner and the Sheriff’s salary was increased to 22% above the Elected Official’s salary.
North Mason‘s Brenden Kimball pitched a one-hitter Monday as the Bulldogs’ baseball team shutout Kingston 16 to 0. In seven innings, Kimball struck out 13 and walk two. Offensively, the boys from Belfair pounded out 16 hits and exploded for 10 runs in the top of the 7th inning. Preston Macomber led the way going 2 for 5 at the plate, batting in four runs. Mason Fisher was 2 for 4 with two RBI. Blake Heagele was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Troy McCormick and Jacob Stark batted in two runs each. Ethan Smith, Trevor Deardorff and Spencer Davis each had an RBI. North Mason improved to 9-and-8 on the season, 6-and-4 in the Olympic League. The Bulldogs host Olympic Wednesday.
The North Mason fast pitch softball team held off Kingston Monday 19 to 7. The Lady Bulldogs scored four runs in the 1st inning, six runs in the 2nd, three in the 3rd and 6 in the 4th. Taylor Hendrickson led the girls from Belfair, batting in five runs and hit a triple. Carlie Craig batted in four runs. Tuesday Palmer was 3 for 5 at the plate with a triple, two RBI and four runs scored. Natalie Mathews hit a triple and batted in two runs. Amber Johnson was 2 for 3 with a triple and three runs scored. Emma Crabtree went 2 for 4 with an RBI. And Kaylee Huffman had an RBI. North Mason improved to 6-and-7 on the season, 4-and-4 in the Olympic League. They host North Kitsap Friday.
The Shelton fast pitch softball team lost at South Sound Conference leading Yelm Monday 14 to 4. The Lady Highclimbers were led in the loss by Kamryn Hyland who was 2 for 3 at the plate with a double and three RBI. Kayla Zembas was 1 for 2 with a double and a run scored. Maleah Walsh walked three times and scored three runs. Shelton drops to 3-and-9 on the season, 1-and-7 in the SSC. The ‘Climbers travel to Gig Harbor Wednesday.
Weather has postponed today’s Yelm at Shelton baseball game. The South Sound Conference game between the Highclimbers and Tornados has been rescheduled for Thursday. MasonWebTV Powered by HCC will broadcast the rescheduled game beginning at 4 PM Thursday.
[VIDEO] The Mason County Commission is moving ahead with plans to ask voters to approve a three-tenths of a percent Public Safety Sales Tax. This increase in sales tax is estimated to general $1.3 Million in additional revenue for Criminal Justice purposes only. The funds would be split between the County and the City of Shelton. Under state law, 60 percent of the funds go the County and 40 percent goes to the City. During a briefing Monday morning, the County Commissioners voiced support with placing the measure on the August Primary Ballot.
Although not required, the County Commission will be scheduling a public hearing on placing the measure on the ballot for May 7th.
A reminder: The Mason County Auditor’s Office is holding a Candidate Workshop on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Elections Department at 411 N. 5th Street in Shelton.
This is a great opportunity for anyone who is thinking about running for office this year. The workshop will include information about: open positions, filing for office, election deadlines, candidate statements, sign regulations and requesting voter information.
A bill proposed by 5th graders from Shelton’s Bordeaux Elementary has passed both houses of the State Legislature. Substitute Senate Bill 5028 declares September as the Month of the Kindergartner, encouraging elementary schools to celebrate young students as they begin their lives in education.
The bill unanimously passed the Senate February 26th and unanimously passed the House on April 17th behind the efforts of Bordeaux students Ethan R., Graysen R., and Anthony P., with help from their teacher, Mary Clift.
Mary M. Knight’s Kaylee Sowle won four events and Austin Fries won two events at the Chehalis Activators Classic. Sowle won the girls’ 100 meters (with a season record time of 12.91 seconds), the high jump, the long jump and the triple jump (with a personal record distance of 36 feet, 3 inches). The Fries won the boys’ high jump with a personal record height of 5-foot-8 and took the triple jump with a season record distance of 39 feet, 3 inches. Fries also placed 2nd in the long jump with a person record distance of 19-feet 2.5 inches.
Also placing for the Owls were was Zack Thompson who finished 4th in the boys’ javelin and Isaiah Compton who was 7th in the discus.
