September 20, 2022 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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SINCE 1886 PVoL. 136, N0. 39
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Fire 12'
inquhy
continues
By Matt Baide
matt@masOncounty com
Mason County Fire District 12 in Mat-
lock says it is conducting an internal inves-
tigation into the allegations of fraud and
misappropriation of public money by the
state Auditor’s Office.
The accountability audit and the fraud
investigation reports Were released Sept.
20 at the fire commissioners’ regular
monthly meeting. The fraud investigation
repOrt alleges the district misappropriated
almost $70,000, and had‘$95,000 in ques-
tionable spending. A
Mason County Sheriff’s Office Chief
Criminal Deputy of Investigations Jason
Dracobly confirmed to the Journal that p
the department has received the auditor’s
reports and has started an investigation.
Dracobly said the investigation will take
some time because the allegations date to
2017.
The case also has-been referredto the
Mason County Prosecutor’s Office and the
Internal Revenue Service.
Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Mi-
chael Dorcy said he’s‘been inxccntact with
Special Investigations Program Manager
Stephanie Sullivan and the Mason County
Sheriffs Office, and all parties agreed that
a investigation is necessary before
any criminal charges are considered.
Fire Chief Kelli Walsworth and two
commissioners were interviewed in April
as part of the fraud investigation report,
but a request to interview former~ secretary
Brenda Wilder was never responded to. In-
vestigators attempted to contact volunteer
fire Captain Bryan Walsworth by emailing
Kelli Walsworth and a commissioner in
July, but the district did not provide con-
tact information. The third commissioner
was contacted by email in April but didn’t
respond.
The fraud investigation alleges nepo-
tism was part of the reason ‘for the non-
compliance with state laws and the alleged
lack of adequate monitoring.
The Journal emailed the fire commis-
sioners for comment about the reports.
Commissioner John Pais responded that
the fire district has retained an investiga—
tor to “conduct further investigation into
the auditor’s allegations and cannot com-
ment further until our investigation is
complete.”
Mason County Commissioner Kevin
Shutty, who represents Matlock and Fire
District 12, said the findings identify. 8.
concerning, yearslong pattern of behav-
' ior misusing taxpayer money for the per-
sonal gain of those in authority in thefire
district.
“That the district’s Board of Commis-
sioners failed to take-action, even after
SAO recommended they file a police re—
port, represents malfeasance and they
should resign,” Shutty said in an emailed
statement to the Journal. “The public loses
see FIRE 12, page 13
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Shelton football
Helping the homeless
Alanna Jinga paints the face of Silas Lewis of Shelton on Saturdayata
fundraiser for Community Lifer
line at Kneeland Park in Shelton. The nonprofit operates the homeless
shelter at 218 N. Third St. Journal
photo by Gordon Weeks
Space fer vulnerablechildren
By Gordon Weeks g
gordon@masoncounty. com
Children who are victims of or
have witnessed domestic violence
have more space to play, learn so-
cial—emotional skills, and connect
with their peers at the Turning
Pointe Survivor Advocacy Center
shelter in Shelton.
On Friday, the nonprofit organi-
zation celebrated the completion of
a 400—square-foot addition to accom-
modate its growing youth programs
with a ribbon-cutting ceremony
with employees, board, members,
donors and public officials. The two
new offices will be the focal point for
youth advocacy and prevention.
The building addition is phase
two of a proposed three-phase plan
to help youths, said Gina Finley,
the organization’s executive direc-
tor; At one‘point before the COVID
pandemic, a record 27 children were
staying at the shelter, she said.
Finley said the process began
three years ago when she'vtold lo-
cal architect and consultant Len
Williams she was having a diffi—
cult time creating a youth program
with no space. Williams lent his
services free of charge developing
phase one, the conversion of an ex-
isting office space into a designat-
edyouth activities room, with the
help of Green Diamond Resources,
I INSIDE TODAY
"Sharing the big scissors during a‘ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday
at Turning Pointe Survivor Advocacy Center are Executive Direc-
to'r Gina Finley, left, and Heidi McCutcheon, right. McCutcheon pre-
sided over her final ribbon-cutting as CEO and executive director
of the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce. The Shel-
ton-based nonprofit is celebrating the completion of a 400-square-
foot addition to accommodate its . groWing youth programs.
Journal photo by Gordon Weeks
in 2019-2020.-The proposed .third
phase is the creation of a build-'
ing for child care for clients, Finley
said. ‘
Child care is one of the biggest
challenges, because the mothers
can’t get. to job interviews and take
care of other business, she said. To
OysterFest is, back!
Special section inside
make a donation for the building,
callFinley at 360-426-1216.
Finley said the shelter didn’t have
youth programs when she Started
four years ago. At Friday’s ribbon—
cutting .. ceremony, she recalled
see CHILDREN, page
8 Section