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
November 19, 2020     Shelton Mason County Journal
PAGE 12     (12 of 40 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
 
PAGE 12     (12 of 40 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
November 19, 2020
 
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




[___________.___ Page A-12 Shelton-Mason Journal — Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020 MacEwen, Sheldon stress need for special session by Jush'n’ Johnson,” just/n@masoncounty com State Rep. Drew MacEwen, R- Union, has been calling for a spe- cial session of the Legislature since June to help Washingtonians deal with the fallout of the pandemic. MacEwen, in a Monday email to the Shelton—Mason County Journal, re- iterated that call in the wake of Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-19 restrictions an- nounced Sunday. V “Once again the governor refuses to include the Legislature,” MacEwen wrote. “He did not give any heads—up notice and doesn’t provide an opportu- nity to give relief ideas for employers and employees. Instead, he is heavy- handed and imposes restrictions with no'avenue for relief.” State Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, agreed with MacEwen that a special session is needed immediately to deal with health and financial matters, in- cluding help for small businesses. Sheldon, in his 31st year represent— ing the 35th Legislative District — a span that includes working with five governors, wrote in an email to the Journal that he doesn’t expect Inslee to call a special session before the Leg— islature reconvenes in January. “Several other governors have had special sessions during this period af— ter the general election and before we convene on the second Monday in J an- uary,” Sheldon wrote. “It would not be unusual to have a special session in cases of emergency, especially a public health emergency. “I’ve been to Olympia over 30 times for special sessions regarding issues such as the (Seattle) Mariners base— ball team, Boeing and a variety of other reasons. This pandemic and the fiscal ramifications are certainly more important and pressing than the other two special sessions I mentioned.” MacEwen wrote that the sooner the state deals with budget issues and re- lief measures, the more effective it will be. State budget forecasts from the Washington Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released in late September project a budget shortfall of more than $4 billion. The number was down from a projected shortfall of nearly $9 billion earlier in the year, but with businesses once again grap- pling with restrictions, that number is expected to grow again. The latest restrictions that went into effect at midnight Tuesday for most businesses and Wednesday for restaurants ban indoor dining and cap retail stores at 25 percent of building occupancy. “Businesses are rightfully worried if they will survive the next four weeks,” MacEwen wrote. “I encourage the gov- ernor to engage with the Legislature immediately.” MacEwen wrote that he has four bills nearly ready to go that would as— sist small businesses over the next few months as they deal with the fallout from the governor’s orders. Among the bills are a proposal to suspend business and operations tax collection for COVID-19-affected busi- nesses until April 1, and then not levy interest or penalties as payments are made over three months. MacEwen’s other proposals would provide a COVID-19 B&O tax credit for fourth quarter 2020 liability to COVID-affected businesses, assure no rate increases for unemployment in- surance for businesses affected by the pandemic and allow business license renewals to be deferred to June 1. MacEwen also wrote the Legisla- ture needs to look at immediate prop- erty tax relief. “I- think that Rep. MacEwen has outlined a very reasonable package of bills that could be addressed im— mediately,” Sheldon wrote. “Here in Mason County, we need to adhere to the principle of wearing masks when around the public and disinfecting es- pecially our hands. I don’t go out much right now, but in severalstores I have been visited locally I still see people not wearing masks. This is not accept- able. We can all get through this if we stick together and work hard, I know a few friends who have contracted CO-‘ VID—19 and they have been severely impacted.” - ; Impact: Ownersexpress gratitude for community suppOrt Blondie’s Restaurant is one of numerous businesses affected by new COVID-19 restrictions. Journal photo by Lloyd Mullen continued from page A-1 my wife and I now, We won’t have to do any layoffs, because we already let go of everyone. We had four full-time people who are all unemployed, and I don’t know what theYll do when their unemployment runs out.” Leilani Turner reported that Sisters Res- taurant is shifting from in-person dining to takeout “and some delivery” between a.m. to 2 p.m., with its banquet room finally re- opening to serve espresso to go. “I haven’t been able to use my banquet room since this whole thing started, but I _ was still paying rent on it,” Turner said. “I just pray this won’t end us. I’ve never been so stressed out in all of my life. This has hurt me, emotionally and money-wise.” Turner described herself as “very upset” with Gov. Jay Inslee and “very angry” with the process and the fallout of his COVID-19 response so far. “I feel like our voices were not heard,” Turner said of herself and her fellow res- taurateurs, adding that she expects the lat- est restrictions to be extended. “We’re just trying to survive. Especially since I’ve got a seven-year lease, it’s very scary.” Linda Jones of Blondie’s Restaurant takes pride not only in having such loyal customers that a number of them have their own plaques, but also in providing one of the few social outlets during this pandemic, p especially to relatively isolated groups such as seniors. “We’ve had folks come to town to buy groceries, and this is where they came for breakfast and lunch,” Jones said. “Every- body knows everybody here.” Jones hasn’t been able to rehire the em- ployees she’s lost in the wake of the state’s first round of COVID restrictions, and her remaining staff has had to learn to do each other’s jobs so they can ring up customers and bus tables. But like her fellow restaurateurs, Jones must meet her monthly obligations in rent, water, sewer and garbage expenses, in ad- dition to paying for security cameras. “And we do everything right, from wear— ing our masks to disinfecting all our sur- faces to taking all our employees’ temper- atures in the morning,” said Jones, who echoed a statistic cited by Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce CEO Heidi McCutcheon: Restaurants have appar- ently contributed only one-half of 1% to the spread of COVID. While Jones offered a less-than-favor— able assessment of the governor’s response, she praised Mason County and its residents for supporting each other through this pan- demic. Jodi Pittman of the Cabin Tavern Bar & Grill is also shifting from indoor dining to takeout, but will also offer outdoor dining. ' “This has just been devastating to our local businesses,” Pittman said. “We’re just hanging on by a thread. I’ve got people help- ing out here on a volunteer basis.” Like Jones, Pittman’s concern over her fi- nancial outlook is leavened by- her gratitude toward the “amazing” surrounding commu- nity, whom she commended for “pulling to- gether in a time of need.” COVID: New restrictions scheduled to last until Dec. 14 continued from page A-1 sess ongoing coronavirus transmission. museums are required to close. “A temporary pause on certain activ— ities is difficult, particularly around the holidays, which are already a stressful time. My wife, a nurse, and I are do—v ing our part by spending Thanksgiving alone, even though we would rather celebrate with our family. These sacri- fices are hard, but can be meaningful.” In a 4 pm. Tuesday email release from Mason County Public Health, the county had six newly confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. As of Tuesday, four people were .hospitalized and 10 people have died from COVID-19 in the county. . In the past 14 days, 94 cases have been reported, giving the county a rate of 145 cases per 100,000 residents. Cas- es per 100,000 is key indicator used by the state Department of Health to as- According to the department, Mason County has a population of 64,980 resi- dents. Other new restrictions included in Inslee’s orders require that profession- al services close offices to the public and require that employees work from home when possible. Those remaining open are restricted to 25% of building capacity. Business meetings are pro- hibited. Religious services are limited to the lesser of 200 people or 25% indoor ca- pacity, and attendees must wear facial coverings at all times. Singing, choir, band and ensemble are prohibited. Wedding and funerals are limited to no more than 30 people, and receptions, wakes or similar gatherings in conjunc- tion with the ceremony are prohibited. Movie theaters, bowling alleys and Sporting activities, including youth school and club sports, are limited to outdoor training for intrasquad prac- tices only. Masks are required for ath- letes, coaches ' and volunteers. “The commission, Public Health and our community partners stand ready to assist businesses and individuals im- pacted by the freeze and will continue to provide relief through our available CARES Act funding,” Shutty wrote. “It is time for state and federal elected officials to put politics aside, provide needed relief and join us in this fight we cannot afford to lose. Working to- gether, we can control the virus, final- ize and distribute a vaccine, and recov- er economically.” Primary, secondary and higher ed- ucation schools are exempt from the new restrictions and will follow cur- rent guidance. Nearly all are already instructing remotely. In response to the restrictions, the City of Shelton announced Monday that it would close the Shelton Civic Center to the public and all nonessen- tial city employees would begin work- ing from home through at least Dec. 14, when Inslee’s order is set to expire. On Friday, Inslee issued a COVID—19 travel advisory recommending that all persons arriving in Washington from other states and countries, including returning residents, self-quarantine for 14 days. The advisory does not apply to individuals who cross state or country borders for essential travel. The state encourages residents to stay home and in their region and avoid nonessential travel. The full order can be found at coronavirus.wa.gov.