July 26, 2012 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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By NATALIE JOHNSON
natalie@masoncounty.com
On April 30. 2012, the Mason
County Transportation Authority
(MTA) launched a pilot program to
expand service past Hoodsport to
Lake Cushman.
Already, the extra service has
earned dedicated riders.
"The second month it started
picking up," said MTA Operations
Manager Mike Oliver. "The folks
are becoming dependent on it al-
ready."
The program is funded through
a Federal Transit Administra-
tion (FTA) grant obtained by the
Skokomish Tribe.
Since 2010, MTA and the
Skokomish Tribe have been trying
to find a way to form a partnership
to bring transit up to Lake Cush-
man, and tribal members there.
said Gordon Neilson, transporta-
tion planner and grant writer for
the Skokomish Tribe.
Early this year, the tribe learned
that it had received a one-year,
$73,000 grant to do a pilot pro-
gram, and both organizations ~ot
the opportunity td work toget'heE
On April 30, a special extended
MTA Route 8 traveled up to. stops
near Lake Cushman and picked up
six passengers.
In May that number grew to
183 and in June, it jumped again
to 357.
Normally, Oliver said it takes
about 18 months to establish a bus
route.
"To me I would say "they had
good insight that the need was for continued funding." shuttle from north of Brinnon on
there and that's bearing out," MTA Neilson said tribal members are U.S. Highway 106 to Olympia.
General Manager Brad Patterson making use of the new transporta-, This route could make it easier
said. "Planning for ridership and tion opportunity, for young tribal members to travel
route service is extremely difficult. "Tribal members need access to to The Evergreen State College,
It's hard to know how many people Shelton," he said. "I think that's a Neilson said.
are going to take advantage of the demand that's only going to grow." "That's what we'd like to see," he
service." Neilson said many of the tribal said. "What we're working toward
Now that the route is generating members using the new bus route is getting our kids in schools and
ridership, Oliver said MTA's goal need it to get to medical appoint- providing transportation."
is to smooth out any problems in ments in the Shelton area. For MTA, the added route could
the service, and find out what stops The tribe's community develop- take pressure off an already crowd-
have the most riders, ment office has already applied for ed Route 6, which runs from Shel-
Once the route becomes routine, an extension of the grant for an- ton south to Kamilche. Little Creek
Patterson believes a greater num- other year. The grants are awarded Casino and Olympia. This route
ber of people will take advantage on a year-to-year basis and do not regularly sees 120 percent capac-
of it. cover the cost of the buses,ity.
"Assuming service is safe and "These are operational dollars "It's an opportunity for the two
reliable, the drivers of getting rid- only," Neilson said tribes, the Skokomish and Squax-
ership are frequency and coverage. In the future, both the Skokom- in, to partner because both these
That hits right at what gets people ish Tribe and MTA hope to expand tribes would benefit from that ser-
on buses," he said. "This bodes well the service and create an express vice," Patterson said.
Union man drowns in Hood Canal
He was seen working on
his dock earlier that day
STAFF REPORT
pr@masoncounty.com
Union resident Robert S. Hoit, 91,
drowned in Hood Canal July 20 at ap-
proximately 2:30 p.m., according to a re-
port from Mason County Coroner Wes
Stockwell.
Hoit lived in the 9000 block of State
Route 106 on South Shore Road. He was
found floating in the canal by his neigh-
bors Friday afternoon.
First responders attempted CPR.
Hoit was transported to Mason Gen-
eral Hospital after he was pulled from
the water, and was pronounced dead at
3:30 p.m.
According to the coroner's report,
neighbors had noticed Hoit working on
his dock earlier on Friday.
A forensic pathologist confirmed Hoit
died as a result of drowning in saltwa-
ter, which may have been preceded by a
cardiac event.
Work scheduled for Hurricane
Ridge Road, minor delays expected
STAFF REPORT the intersection with ask the public for their
pKCmasoncounly.com Mount Angeles Road understanding and pa-
to the top of Hurricane tience," said Olympic
Ridge. Hurricane RidgeNational Park Acting
Delays are expected Road will remain open Superintendent Todd
on Hurricane Ridge throughout the work pe- Suess. "We urge people
Road while repair work riod, but traffic will be to use caution and to
is done. restricted to one lanecall our recorded hotline
Work was done July through work zones andfor current road condi-
24-26 to repair damaged delays of up to 20 rain- tions."
guardrails on the lower utes should be expected. The hotline number
five miles of Hurricane Work will only occur on is 565-3131.
Ridge Road between theweekdays; no holiday or Olympic National
intersection with Mount weekend work is sched- Park visitors can check
Angeles Road and Heartuled. on the status of park
O' the Hills. "We recognize the in-roads online by ac-
On Monday and Tues- convenience this workcessing nps.gov/olym/
day, workers will brush may represent to someplanyourvisit/current-
and stripe the road from of our visitors and we road-condtions.htm.
]ourtesy pnoto
Isaiah Cordero, 20 months old, the youngest cancer survivor at the
Shelton Relay for Life, cut the ribbon at the start of the relay on June 22
with some assistance from his mother Michelle Simpson while his father
Phil Cordero looked on and held his brother Tristan.
:on
lOOK
By EMILY HANSON p.m. luminary ceremony during which the
emily@masoncounty.com names of cancer victims and survivors are
read while the track is aglow with candle-
light from luminary bags decorated with the
The totals are not official yet, but the names of victims and survivors of cancer.
Shelton Relay for Life organization is well "The rest of the relay is entertainment
on its way to raising $100,000 for cancer re- with raffles and drawings." Gonzales said.
search this year. She said Masor~ County is a supportive
As of July 19, Shelton relay team devel- community when it comes to raising money
opment chair Vickie Gonzales said the orga- for this and other fundraisers.
nization had raised $99,609 and the money "We were blessed to have as many teams
is still coming in. and as much money as we raised," Gonzales
"We raise money until the end of Au- said. "It was pretty amazing and we're ex-
gust." Gonzales said. "The money we raise cited about that, especially with the state of
provides funds for advocacy at the state lev- the economy."
el and to improve the lives of Shelton cancer She said the organzation "absolutely"
victims." would break the $100,000 mark before the
Close to 200 survivors and caregivers at- end of August.
tended the 12tb annual Shelton Relay for "I'm pretty confident about that," she
Life on June 22 and 23 for the survivor lap said. "Then we start up again in September
with 42 teams at the Shelton High School planning next year's relay."
track. After the money is donated to the Ameriz
"The premise behind the 24-hour event can Cancer Society, Gonzales said the Shel-
is 'cancer never sleeps' so one team member ton total will be combined with the Belfair
is on the track at all times," Gonzales said. total for the Mason County total donations.
"This year's relay really was a success." "Mason County has been recognized in
The most powerful moment during thethe top 10 fundraisers several times," Gon-
relay every year, Gonzales said, is the 10 zales said.
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Page A-8 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, July 26, 2012
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