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Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012
Week 48-- The Voice of Mason County since 1886-- Published for Mason County and Owen Craighead of Grapeview D $1
take to the
County staff
says goodbye to
Bloomfield
His experience as county
commissioner 'a privilege'
By NATALIE JOHNSON
nahdie@masoncounty.com
About a dozen county employees and community
members gathered Monday afterr~oon to say thank
you and goodbye to Mason County Commissioner
Steve Bloomfield.
"It's been truly a privilege and an honor to sit here
and work with you guys," he said.
Bloomfield was appointed to the commission for
District 3 on Oct. 4, 2011, about two months after
commissioner Jerry Lingle died unexpectedly only a
year into his term.
Commissioners Lynda Ring Er-
ickson and Tim Sheldon appointed
Bloomfield after he volunteered to
fill the position, along with 16 other
residents of District 3, which in-
cludes Shelton, Agate, Oakland Bay
and the Timberlakes areas.
"I did what I felt was what I
should do. I'd do it again," he said. "I
don't have any regrets."
Steve Bloomfield could not run for re-
election in district 3, because the
Bloomfield
county commission voted to reorga-
nize voting districts in 2011, which
placed Bloomfield over the line and in District 2.
To run for reelection, Bloomfield would have had
to compete against incumbent Tim Sheldon, and com-
mit to a four-year term, both things he said he didn't
want to do.
"My own personal preference was I didn't want to
do a full four-year term. Two years would have been
fine," he said.
Earlier this month, Terri Jeffreys was elected to fill
the rest of the unexpired term, which ends in 2015.
She took office on Tuesday. •
When asked, Bloomfield gave a few words of advice
to incoming county commissioners.
"Do what's in your heart -- you know if it's right or
not," he said. "Don't be afraid to change your mind."
Bloomfield said his time on the commission also
gave him a new perspective on county employees,
many of whom came to the reception to thank him for
his year of service.
"When you're on the inside looking out you see a
different picture," he said. "These guys need proper
support. It's not too much to ask."
See Bloomfield on page A-7
JOURNAL SPECIAL REPORT
Journal photos by Gordon Weeks
Mason County native Beau Nugent, mt inmate at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton,
listens to advice from Mason County Re-Entry Coalition volunteer Joyee Lingle at a meeting of
the Washington Re-Entry Club inside the prison. Nugent is scheduled to be released in March,
and is seeking advice and resources to succeed on the outside.
Re-entry coalition provides
resources for inmates'
transition into s iety
By GORDON WEEKS
gordonCa~nasoncounty.com
County native Beau
Nugent has been in trouble
with the law since his teens, Prisoners at the Washington Corrections
and stealing a car is one of Center in Shelton attend a meeting of the
the reasons he's incarcerat- Washington Re-Entry Club, which works to
ed at the Washington Corrections Center
in Shelton. He's scheduled to be released
next March, and says he wants to serve as
a good example to his nieces, nephews and
his 1-year-old son.
give them the tools to succeed and avoid
recidivism when they are released. They are
aided by volunteers and mentors from the
organization Mason County Re-Entry
Coalition.
"When I'm done, Iql have %verwhelmed" about"re-en-
13 years served," Nugent tering society and being able
said. "I don't want to do this to co-exist." He adds, "I've
anymore ... I want to break been behind bars so long
the cycle and give back to I'm going to have to start
the world I've taken so much again." However, Bellisle
from." has the incentive to make
Vincent Bellisle has been good decisions in the lives
a prisoner for 22 years; his of his 19-year-old daughter
crimes include assault, kid- and 17-year'old son, "my
napping and attempting to biggest inspirations and big-
allude. He also plans to live gest advocates."
in Shelton when he's re- Jacob Anderson started
leased in August 2021. taking drugs at age 7, and
Although Bellisle won'twill return to his native
walk out the prison gates Shelton when he's released
for nine years, he says he's from his third stint in prison
"I don't want to fall
back into the same
life I was living."
Washington Corrections Center
inmate Jacob Anderson
in August 2017. receiving guidance from
"I don't want to fall back members of the volunteer
into the same life I was liv- organization Mason County
ing," he said.
All three prisoners are See Inmates on page A-7
Journal, 40 et 8 fund
continues to grow
STAFF REPORT ymous donor gave $250 in
p~C.m~soncou~Jly.com memory of Mary Johnson.
.......................... Walter and Loureen Hor-
ton donated $50, Cabane
The 66th annual 40 et 135 gave $500 and The Olt-
8/Shelton-Mason County mans donated $100.
Journal Christmas basketBob and Melanie Appel
program has raised $14,211 contributed $50, Richard
as of Wednesday. and Barbara Childs gave
Thomas Nelson donated $10, and Miles and Roxanne
$50 and Michael ConnollySilverton contributed $200.
donated another $100. The Puget Sound Enduro
Megan Millard gave $100 Riders donated $750, Mi-
to the program and an anon- chael and Jeannette Sar-
gent gave $250, Mariano's
II1[!!I!1!!11!!!1[!![1[11 Fine Jewelry contributed
$300 and Clipperz Barber
8 2 See Fund on page A-7
Shelton Creek dredging project passes first major test
No residential flooding
during Nov. 19
downpour, high tide
By GORDON WEEKS
gordonC oncounty.com
The afternoon of Nov. 19 pre-
sented a perfect storm of conditions
that typically would have flooded an
area of downtown Shelton: abotlt
two inches of torrential rain, an un-
usually high tide and a dead deer
caught on a trash rack that signifi-
cantly clogged a culvert as Shelton
Creek flowed under Northcliff Road.
Although a temporary lake
See Dredging on page A-7
Journal photo by Gordon Weeks
The 1,000-foot section of Shelton Creek recently dredged to
prevent flooding downtown passed its first major test Nov.
19 as the creek withstood about two inches of rainfall, an
unusually high and a dead deer that clogged a culvert
upstream.