Notice: Undefined index: HTTP_REFERER in /home/stparch/public_html/headmid_temp_main.php on line 4394
Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
September 20, 2022     Shelton Mason County Journal
PAGE 1     (1 of 41 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
 
PAGE 1     (1 of 41 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
September 20, 2022
 
Newspaper Archive of Shelton Mason County Journal produced by SmallTownPapers, Inc.
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader




SINCE 1886 PVoL. 136, N0. 39 MASONCOUNTT, THURSDAY.;SEP‘T.V29,2‘oz’i ‘_ .r , ,, éq . ll-"irmlllilll'éillin-liil'Filmlllulllii'lili'lillflvllll ' . Qs‘zno ‘ "SMALLTOWMPAPERS ;-» _, _ lgflfiufil‘gfifiCAR4RT'L0T*?‘C:OOS .ergfisstiaoauavrfa . ' 4» ; , ;HEVLT0N._;WA~:’98584~3‘84V7 p.828 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 Hllllllll lllllllll ‘ “°'~‘-“”“‘°“"‘a“"’" dumpsaRochester» celebrates community 53263 00111 . page37' 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