KMAS Radio

Shelton is growing, and the city wants to make sure the community has a voice in what that looks like. City Manager Mark Ziegler joins Jeff Slakey on Focus on Shelton to break down the strategic planning work underway at City Hall, what the City Council identified as Shelton's strengths and challenges, and how residents can weigh in at a public open house on June 23rd at Shelton's Civic Center.

They cover what the council worked on like, new housing developments near Olympic College, water infrastructure and storage capacity, walkability standards being built into new subdivisions, the...

If you check out this week's Shelton Mason County Journal, you will see Isaac Dorcy on the front page. Isaac just graduated from Whitworth University in Spokane with a degree in music composition, and for his senior recital, he composed an original piece for brass quintet called "Ode to Paul Bunyan."

The piece is rooted in Pacific Northwest Paul Bunyan lore, including the first-ever Paul Bunyan storybook set in the Pacific Northwest, written by James Stevens in 1925. Isaac pulled one quote per movement to shape each section of the music, which takes listeners from the wintry first...

Shelton School District Superintendent Wyeth Jessee joins Jeff Slakey for an end-of-year conversation covering what families in Mason County and need to know about local education heading into summer.

This week: the Class of 2025 earned nearly half a million dollars in scholarships. Third-grade reading scores have doubled in four years. And the district just completed 100 work-experience placements through its Career & Technical Education program.

But Superintendent Jessee also shares what keeps him up at night: seniors who shrug when you ask them about their plan. He talks about what the district, and parents, can do differently...

Mason County Sheriff Ryan Spurling joins Jeff Slakey for their monthly conversation, recorded at the Fjord Oyster Bank ahead of the Sheriff's Luncheon. This episode covers the full range of what's on the Sheriff's radar heading into summer 2026.

Topics include: the leadership transition at the Shelton Police Department as a new chief takes over following Chief Kostad's departure; wildfire preparedness and the Forest Service's determination that the Bear Gulch Fire near Lake Cushman was likely caused by fireworks; how the Sheriff's Office handles the 4th of July surge with limited resources (up to 250 calls, six deputies, a...

One of the top 100 disc golf courses in the entire United States is tucked into the forest on Shelton Springs Road in Shelton, Washington, and unlike almost every other top-ranked course in the country, you can play it for free, any day of the year, on the same pads the pros throw.

This weekend (May 29–31, 2026), the world's best disc golfers come to Mason County for the Discraft Cascade Challenge — the West Coast debut of the brand-new JomezPro Series on the Disc Golf Pro Tour. The number one men's and number one women's competitors in the world will both...

Mason County is sitting in the lowest quartile in Washington state for community health — and Mason Matters, the local 501(c)(3) that quieted down during COVID, has come back online with a plan to move that number twenty percent.

In this conversation, host Jeff Slakey sits down at the Economic Development Council building in downtown Shelton with Julie Knott, the director of Mason Matters. They cover where the organization came from (the steering committee behind Blue Zones Activate Mason County), where it’s going (a refreshed health-equity agenda built around food, the built environment, and child care), and the...

Amber Anderson from South Mason Fire & Rescue joins Jeff Slakey to preview a Mother's Day weekend full of community events on Arcadia Road in Shelton, Washington.

First up: a FREE car seat checkup event Friday, May 8, from 11 AM to 2 PM at the South Mason Fire station on Arcadia. Certified car seat installers — being trained across multiple counties — will check your car seat is installed correctly, walk you through which seats fit your vehicle, and answer the question every parent eventually asks: when does my kid graduate to a booster, and when can they age out? No appointment need...

In this conversation, host Jeff Slakey sits down with Katie Arnold, treasurer of the Karen Hilburn Cancer Fund, to talk about the second annual Mother's Day Dash — a 4-mile run/walk that supports cancer screenings and treatment for uninsured and underinsured women right here in Mason County.

For more than two decades, the Karen Hilburn Cancer Fund has helped over 600 Mason County residents access the screenings and care they need through partnerships with Mason Health. The Mother's Day Dash, alongside the fund's Denim and Diamonds auction, is one of the ways the all-volunteer board keeps that work go...

In a national climate where political divides feel impossible to bridge, something different is happening in Shelton. The Mason County Peacemakers — six women from the Mason County Republican Women's Club and six from the Mason County Democrat Women — have been meeting since last fall to do one thing: get community work done together.

In this conversation, Jeff Slakey sits down with four of them at The Alibi Room at Wild Irish for a wide-ranging conversation about the group's origins, the blood drive that drew 33 pints on its first run, their partnership with the local Veterans Stand Down, a cu...

Mason County Sheriff Ryan Spurling joined Jeff Slakey at The Fjord Oyster Bank in Hoodsport for the monthly sit-down just before he met with the community for the monthly luncheon.

Spurling walks through the Sheriff's Office's Neighborhood Watch revival under Deputy Matt Colbenson, why Mason County is again Washington's lowest-staffed sheriff's office per 1,000 residents (a point he traces back through department records to 1980), and what that means for rural communities like Hoodsport, Lake Cushman, Spencer Lake, and Allyn.

He discusses the internal audit his office conducted in the wake of last month's double homicide, what...

Shelton School District Superintendent Wyeth Jesse joins Jeff Slakey for a wide-ranging conversation about what's happening in Mason County classrooms — and what's coming next.

On this episode: a look back at the latest school board meeting and the marimba performance from Mountain View Elementary; the federal funding cuts threatening multilingual education programs; the departures of two longtime Shelton High School administrators, Ed Stewart and Bruce Kipper; how today's seniors — who started high school during COVID — are finishing strong; and the district's bold goal of having more than 50% of third graders meeting state reading standards.

Plus, Wyeth...

In this conversation, Jeff Slakey is on the line with Amber Anderson of South Mason Fire as the department prepares for a rare double push-in ceremony on Arcadia Road. Two new pieces of apparatus — a new fire engine and a new water tender — are heading into service tonight, and the community is invited to literally help push them into the bay.

Amber walks us through the origin of the push-in tradition (it goes all the way back to the horse-and-buggy days), the moment in the ceremony when the new rigs are officially called into service, and the back...

The Shelton Farmers Market is back in downtown Shelton for the 2026 season, opening Saturday, May 2 in the Civic Center parking lot and running every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October. Market manager Tammy Ramsey joined Jeff Slakey on Focus on Shelton to preview what's new this year, including an expanded push to bring small farms and backyard growers to market, a returning partnership with anchor vendor Skokomish Farms, and the market's SNAP and Market Match program that helps families stretch their food dollars on fresh, local produce.

In this conversation, Tammy talks about why...

Downtown Shelton is about to get loud, full, and fired-up for a good cause. On Saturday at 2 p.m., the Mason Hotel parking lot at 111 East Railroad Avenue becomes home to a food truck rodeo, a silent auction that runs all afternoon, and a live auction starting at 6 p.m. — all benefiting the Shelton High School Class of 2026 Safe & Sober Graduation Party.

In this interview, Jeff Slakey talks with Jessica and Allyson from the parent committee about everything on the books: the food truck lineup (Radio Fryer, Sweet Lila's, the Filipino Food Truck, Hood Cow Eats, Sweet Li...

In this month's check-in, Jeff Slakey sits down with Mason County Sheriff Ryan Spurling for a wide-ranging conversation covering some of the most significant issues facing local law enforcement and the Mason County community right now. Governor Ferguson has signed the controversial law enforcement decertification bill into law — and sheriffs across Washington state are pushing back. Spurling breaks down what the 'may decertify' provision actually says, why he believes it threatens voters' rights to choose their elected officials, and what the upcoming constitutional challenge in the courts could mean for elected sheriffs statewide. On a brighter note: the 35th Le...

One day after Governor Ferguson signed Washington's new 9.9% income tax into law, State Senator Drew MacEwen and Representatives Dan Griffey and Travis Couture sat down with KMAS Radio's Jeff Slakey at the annual 35th District Legislative Wrap-Up breakfast in Shelton. 

In this candid hour-long conversation, the three Republican legislators discuss the longest floor debate in Washington House history (24.5 hours), the $880 million rainy day fund withdrawal, cuts to child care and rural school funding, the Belfair Bypass, federal Medicaid and SNAP changes, and what they say has become a "structural deficit" in Olympia.

Hosted by the E...

Jeff Slakey sits down with Tamra Ingwaldson, named the 2025 Citizen of the Year by the Shelton Mason County Chamber of Commerce. Over nearly 20 minutes, they explore what it means to truly serve a community — and what keeps Tamra showing up.

Tamra shares how growing up watching her parents coach sports she wasn't allowed to play planted the seed for a lifetime of civic engagement. As a single mother of two daughters in the mid-90s, she figured out how to model citizenship even when time and resources were thin — bringing her girls to board meetings with Happy Meal...

Jeff Slakey sits down at Shelton Veterans Village on North 13th with Executive Director Colleen Carmichael and Program Support Specialist Tamra Ingwaldson for a wide-ranging conversation about what's really happening inside this unique community of 30 veterans — and why the data says permanent supportive housing is one of the smartest investments a community can make.

In this episode:

•       Who lives at Shelton Veterans Village, how residents are selected, and what 'permanent supportive housing' actually means

•       Why 85% of homeless individuals in any area were born or raised there — and the data behind the misinformation

Mason Health and Mason General Hospital have several scholarship opportunities available for 2026 — including a brand-new $10,000 award from the Hospitalist Group designed to help Mason County students pursue careers in health care.  In this episode of Focus on Shelton, Jeff Slakey sits down with Dr. Doug Lindahl and Dr. Jacqueline Gorzynski from the Mason Health Hospitalist Group, along with Dr. Darren Cuevas and Jennifer Capps, to break down everything students and career-changers need to know.

Scholarships covered in this episode:
• Mason Health Hospitalist Group Scholarship — $10,000, deadline April 30, 2026 (NEW)
• Shelton High School Health Science Academy Nursing Scholarsh...

They started meeting in living rooms. Now they've been shaping civic life in Shelton and Mason County, Washington for more than 55 years.

In this Focus on Shelton conversation recorded at the historic Mason Hotel, Jeff Slakey sits down with Leslie Peterson, April Pooler, and Jayni Kamin of the Mason County Republican Women's Club to talk history, community, and what it actually looks like to build bridges across political lines in a small town.

From Peggy Johnson's grassroots campaigns and her trip to meet President Reagan, to candidate forums in the park that invited every party...

Shelton School District Superintendent Wyeth Jessee joins Jeff Slakey on Focus on Shelton for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about the state of public education in Mason County — and across Washington State.

Shelton voters delivered a resounding 62% approval on the district's levy — one of the strongest showings for any comparable school district in the February election cycle. But that win has been complicated by enrollment decline, rising costs, and a state legislature that just cut the levy equalization dollars that high-needs districts like Shelton depend on.

Jessee breaks down how every student lost equals $18,000 in revenue — and ho...

Jeff Slakey sits down with Molly Wheat Baker inside her studio at Graffiti Community Art Space in downtown Shelton, Washington—and what starts as a conversation about her library exhibit quickly turns into a window on everything that’s growing in the Shelton arts scene right now.

Molly’s work is everywhere in Shelton—murals on Cota Street, stickers and shirts, commission paintings, and now a solo show at the Shelton Timberland Library through the end of March 2025. She talks about what it’s been like to find her community here, how organizations like Mason County Blue Zones...

In this episode of Focus on Shelton on KMAS, host Jeff Slakey sits down with Jordanne Krumpols from the City of Shelton Parks & Recreation Department to talk about two exciting community initiatives.  First: the PROST Plan — Shelton's Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails six-year master plan is in the community input phase RIGHT NOW. The survey is live online and via QR code on posters throughout the city. Jordanne shares what the city is hoping to learn, what trends are emerging (spoiler: pickleball courts and a splash pad are leading the wishlist), and how you can get involved — including an in...

The Mountain View Café at Mason Health is officially reopened — and it’s better than ever.

Culinary Manager Ashlee Johnson joins Jeff Slakey on location to talk about:

• The 9-month remodel
 • Prime Rib Fridays ($12 plates, 4:30–7pm)
 • Healthy, locally sourced ingredients
 • Partnerships with Colvin Ranch and Skokomish Valley Farms
 • Blue Zones and Mason Matters collaboration
 • Community art and gathering space
 • Ashlee’s inspiring journey from GED to culinary manager

The café is open to the public and serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

📍 Located inside Mason Health in Shelton, Washington
 🔗 Week...

Shelton City Manager Mark Ziegler sits down to talk about being named “Boss of the Year” by the Shelton Mason County Chamber of Commerce, what leadership really looks like inside city hall, and where the City of Shelton is headed next.

In this conversation, we cover:

Peninsula Credit Union has been named the 2025 Business of the Year by the Shelton Mason County Chamber of Commerce, marking the second time the organization has received the honor.

In this conversation, CEO Jim Morrell and Shelton Branch Assistant Manager Charlie Allmendinger talk about what the award means to their team, their mission of listening, serving, educating, and caring, and how that mission shows up every day for members across Mason, Kitsap, and Jefferson counties.

The discussion covers Peninsula’s focus on community development, financial education, bilingual services and outreach to the Hispanic community, leadership de...

Local historian and author Don Trosper joins KMAS Radio to talk about his newest book, This Can’t Be History… Or Is It?, a collection of 100 short stories from across Southwest Washington. The conversation covers Tumwater, Thurston, Lewis, Grays Harbor, Pacific, and Mason counties, touching on early settlers, logging towns, railroads, Native trails, and the small, often overlooked moments that shaped the region. Trosper shares how he researches these stories, why short-form history works, and how places like Tumwater, the Deschutes River, and Old Highway 99 connect generations through lived experience and memory.

#Tumwater #SouthwestWashington #LocalHistory #WashingtonHistory #KMASRadio

Shelton School District Superintendent Wyeth Jessee joins Jeff Slakey to discuss the early results of the district’s three-year levy, currently passing with 61% of the vote.

The conversation covers what that level of community support means during challenging economic times, including how gas prices and financial pressure can impact levy outcomes across Washington State.

Jessee outlines measurable progress within the district, including being ranked number one in the state for early literacy growth, a 77% reduction in discipline incidents, and 53 students attending Evergreen State College tuition-free compared to just four the year prior.

The di...

The Great Bend Center for Music has been named Nonprofit of the Year by the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce, and its impact stretches far beyond Mason County. In this conversation, Jeff Slakey sits down with Matt Melendez to talk about how a locally rooted music nonprofit now serves young learners in nearly every U.S. state and multiple countries through its early learning programs.

They discuss Great Bend’s conservatory-style online music education for toddlers, plans to bring in-person programming back to Mason County, and new community-building efforts like the Lip Sync Battle fundraiser that supports mu...

Shelton School District Superintendent Wyeth Jesse joins KMAS Radio’s Jeff Slakey to recap recent school roundtables across the district, highlighting major changes at Shelton High School, Choice and Cedar, Evergreen Elementary, and Bordeaux Elementary. The conversation focuses on literacy improvements, student-centered learning, family involvement in reading, and why Shelton now leads the state in early literacy growth since COVID. Superintendent Jesse also addresses questions surrounding a recent student walkout at Shelton High School, explaining how the district prioritizes student safety while remaining nonpartisan. The discussion wraps with a reminder about the upcoming school levy and ballot drop-off deadlines in...

Mason County Sheriff Ryan Spurling joins Jeff Slakey at the Fjord Oyster Bank in Hoodsport to discuss proposed Washington State legislation that could impact how sheriffs are elected or removed from office. The conversation covers Senate Bill 5974, concerns from the Washington State Sheriffs Association, and what the bill could mean for voter authority. Sheriff Spurling also previews the upcoming Polar Plunge fundraiser at Alderbrook Resort and highlights 2025 life-saving and employee awards within the Mason County Sheriff’s Office.

#MasonCounty #HoodsportWA #KMASRadio #SheriffSpurling #WALeg #PublicSafety #CommunityConversation #PolarPlunge #LocalGovernment #LawEnforcement

FC Olympia is hosting its fourth annual Valentine’s Gala Dinner on February 13 at the Olympia Ballroom, bringing together live comedy, community support, and South Sound soccer. The event features headlining comedian Sam Miller, along with dinner, a bar, and a silent auction with items ranging from local dining experiences to signed Sounders memorabilia.

Proceeds from the gala support FC Olympia’s mission, including free ticketing for kids, scholarships for youth camps, and ongoing club operations. In this conversation, FC Olympia’s Ryan Perkins and Sam Miller talk about the purpose of the fundraiser, what makes the event...

Washington State Representatives Dan Griffey and Travis Couture join Jeff Slakey for a wide-ranging 35th District legislative update. The conversation focuses on newly proposed income tax legislation in Olympia, concerns over constitutionality, and how a so-called “millionaire tax” could impact households, small businesses, professional sports teams, and local industries like shellfish farming. The discussion also covers state spending priorities, economic growth projections, and several public safety bills, including changes related to stalking, domestic violence services, and sheriff oversight.

#35thDistrict #WALeg #WashingtonPolitics #MasonCounty #StateBudget #SmallBusiness #PublicSafety #Olympia

Newly selected Shelton Mayor Sharon Sherman sits down at Uracco Coffee to talk about how city government really works in Shelton.
In this conversation, Sherman explains the council-manager form of government, what the mayor’s role does—and doesn’t—include, and why progress often takes time. She shares her perspective as both a business owner and council member, touching on downtown vacancies, small business support, homelessness, public safety, and the balance between growth and city basics like infrastructure.
The discussion also looks at housing, zoning, walkability, and what Shelton can do to attract investment while staying within s...

Shelton School District Superintendent Wyeth Jessee shares what it looks like to be inside classrooms every week—and why those visits matter. From unannounced walkthroughs to coaching principals on school improvement plans, Jessee explains how leadership, data, and student engagement connect to real outcomes.

Recorded on site at Mountain View Elementary, the conversation also highlights how talking directly with students—about books, learning goals, and yes, even height—offers insight no report can provide. This episode gives a clear look at how district leadership supports schools while staying grounded in day-to-day classroom experience.

#SheltonSchools #EducationLeadership #Public...

Mason County Auditor Steve Duenkel and Deputy Auditor Marie Stevenson join KMAS to walk through several important election updates ahead of the February 10 special election and the April special election.

The conversation begins with a critical change in U.S. Postal Service postmarking policy that could affect whether ballots are counted if they are mailed too close to Election Day. Election officials explain why voters are now encouraged to mail ballots at least seven days early, use official ballot drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Election Day, or request a hand-stamped postmark at the post office.

In this community forum recorded at Shelton High School, KMAS Radio host Jeff Slakey sits down with school leaders to give families and community members a deeper look at how the high school operates and supports students.

Principal Bruce Kipper, Assistant Principal Jordan Stray, CTE teacher Katie Shrum, and Superintendent Wyeth Jessee discuss enrollment, staffing, extracurricular participation, and the academy-based model that guides students through career and college pathways.

The conversation explores the Freshman Seminar and High Climber Academy, including how students are oriented to high school life, supported academically and socially, and given space...

In this conversation, 35th District Representative Dan Griffey reflects on Survivor Advocacy Day in Olympia and the real-world impact of domestic violence legislation. Griffey shares personal perspective on why survivor services matter, highlights the role of organizations like Turning Pointe Survivor Advocacy Center, and explains how faster rape kit testing and legal resources can change outcomes for victims.

The discussion also shifts to broader state issues, including public defender shortages, forensic lab backlogs, Medicaid funding cuts, and growing concerns about Washington’s budget outlook. Griffey outlines why he’s worried about capital flight, small business pressures, and the...

Recorded at Urraco Coffee, this in-person conversation with Congresswoman Emily Randall focuses on the challenges and opportunities facing rural communities across Washington’s 6th Congressional District.

The discussion covers pressures on small and micro-businesses, rising costs tied to tariffs and supply chains, and how immigration policy is impacting local employers. Randall also addresses health care access in Mason County, why the area is considered a child care desert, and what federal and state roles look like in expanding child care availability in rural communities.

The conversation wraps with tourism and international visitor concerns ahead of ma...

Shelton School District Director of Finance Clinton Sherman breaks down the district’s recent financial turnaround, projecting a positive fund balance after years of deficit concerns. In this conversation, Sherman explains how quick budget recalibration, staffing reductions, and tighter operational spending helped stabilize finances — and why long-term sustainability is still the goal.

The discussion also clears up confusion around per-student state funding, how basic education dollars differ from state and federal grants, and how enrollment, special programs, and homeschooling impact district revenue. Sherman explains how funding flows through Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, why per-pupil numbers vary...