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Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023
SHELTON-MASON COUNTY
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The Voice of Mason County Since 1886 _- Vol. 137, No.36
Bringing Old Glory
Caleb Brown, with Shelton—based Skydive Kapowsin, parachutes into Phil
Pugh Stadium in Belfair
_during pregame festivities for the Mason County Cup football game between
Shelton and North
Mason on Friday. The Climbers defeated the Bulldogs 35—19. See more
photos from the game on
pages 17, 18, 37 and 38. Journal photo by Shawna Whe/an
"None of Us are immune’
By Gordon Weeks
gordon@masoncounty.oom
Amber Carlson, director of be-'
havioral health services for Mason
Health, grew up in a family of al-
coholics and drug addicts. .
Her mother and brother died
of overdoses. Her father was also
an addict. “It’s hard to have hope,”
she said.
Yet there was Carlson’s father,
marching alOngside his daughter
Friday evening at the seventh an-
nual OverdoseAwareness March
from Kneeland Park through
downtown Shelton. He got .clean
20 years ago and now counsels
others, Carlson told a crowd of
more than 100 at the park.
“I never expected that man to
get clean,” Carlson said. She add-
ed, “He’s still clean. He’s still tak-
ing it one day at a time.”
Such an inspiring story of re—
covery was dampened by the an-
nouncement of 41 overdose deaths
— mostly from fentanyl .— in Mason
County since August of last year.
Jamie Ellertsen organized the
event and has participated in all
seven Shelton marches. She shed
tears as she addressed the crowd.
“I think the event is different
this year because a lot of people
are missing,” Ellertsen said. She
added, “This event is a- reminder
, llllllllllllllllllllll,
53263 00111
Attendees opsewe a moment of silence for Mason County resi-
dents who have died of drug overdoses. More photos from the
event on page 3. Journal photo by Gordon Weeks
every year that you’re not alone.”
For two hours before the march,
attendees strolled three rows of re—
source fair booths hosted by sup—
port groups, nonprofits and other
agencies, including Northwest
Resources, Olympic Health & Re-
covery Services, Narcotics Anonyi
mous, National Alliance on Men-
tal Illness Thurston/Mason, Ma—
son’Transit Authority. Crossroads
Housing, Timberland Regional Li-
brary, Sound Learning and Habi-
tat for Humanity of Mason County.
Mason County Commissioner
Kevin Shutty said that “as an
elected official, I don’t have a 15—
step plan.” The county’s health
department staff and community
partners can team together on so-
lutions, he said, ,
The 41 local overdose deaths in
the past year show “why it’s so im—
portant for us to gather so we
can show support‘for loved ones
and make a difference,” said Abe
Gardner, an emergency preven~
tion specialist for the North Mason
Fire District who overcame drug
addiction.
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County sends property ‘ High school
valuation notices
9.
sports schedules
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$2
Bullying has
gone online
in schools '
By Gordon Weeks
gordon@masoncounty com
The classic image of school bullying has
Big Billy beating up Little Bobby for his lunch
money has mostly been replaced by online bul—
lying on social media, including Mason County
students.
The National Center for Education Studies
reports that in 2019, about 22% of students ages
12 to 18 reported being bullied during the school
year. That‘s a 10% drop from 2009.
Of the students who reported bullying in
2019, about 15% reported being the subject of
rumors; 14‘22-reported being made fun of, called
names or insulted; 6% reported being excluded
from activities on purpose; and 5% reported be
ing pushed, shoved, tripped or spit on. Addition—
ally, 4% of students reported being threatened
with harm, and 4% repmted thatbthers tried to
make them do acts that they did not want to do
or that their property was destroyed by others
on purpose;
Matt Maller , superintendent of the Mary
M. Knight School District, said he doesn’t see
much bullying on the Matlock campus. “It's more
of the online bullying through some form of
social bullying,” he said.
Kids spread information on Snapchat, Discord
and other platforms, Mallery said.
“It’s usually about some type of personal in-
formation, like who they’re dating and not dat-
ing,” he said.
Online bullying has increased “because it’s
anonymous, to some extent,” Mallery said. “It
can be more hurtful because it goes to multiple
forms of people.”
When a student tells an administrator they
see BULLYING, page 8
District-by—District
look ahead at 2023-24
Shelton
North Mason
Pioneer
Southside .
Mary M. Knight
Hood Canal
Grapeview
Port of Grapeview
7
9
10.
.11
12
13
14
commissoner joins study
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