Toys for Tots in Mason County is gearing up for a busy December, and the need is higher than usual. Jeff talks with Marcus Kennedy, one of the local coordinators, about how many kids rely on the program each year, how the donations stay local, and why teens are often the most overlooked age group when it comes to gifts.

Marcus shares how he and his wife got involved back in 2017–18, how the program has grown, and what the donation process looks like from collection day to distribution at Mountain View.

This Saturday, Toys for Tots volunteers will be downtown at First and Railroad from 10–2 during the Christmastown events, taking toy and cash donations. They’ll also appear in the parade, and drop-boxes are available at many Mason County businesses including OCCU and Walmart.

If you’re able, consider adding an extra toy to your shopping list this weekend—especially something suited for teens. Every donation stays in Mason County and goes straight to local families.

Links and ways to donate or request assistance are in the show notes.

https://shelton-wa.toysfortots.org/

#MasonCounty #SheltonWA #ToysForTots #HolidayGiving #ChristmastownWA #SupportLocalKids #CommunityMatters #KMASRadio #MasonCountyStrong

This is the full uncut recording of the 2026 Legislative Send-Off hosted jointly by the Shelton-Mason County Chamber, the North Mason Chamber, and the EDC of Mason County. Senator Drew MacEwen, Representative Travis Couture, and Representative Dan Griffey sit down with moderator Jeff Slakey to walk through the issues that will shape the upcoming short session in Olympia.

The conversation covers taxes, the regulatory environment, business competitiveness, housing pressures, permitting timelines, infrastructure investments, public safety, apprenticeships, and how state-level decisions land on Mason County employers.

You’ll hear direct remarks from the Chambers and EDC, a breakdown of the unified 2026 legislative priorities, and a wide-ranging Q&A that touches on workforce, inflation, public safety staffing, copper theft, and challenges local governments face with shrinking revenue and rising costs.

If you’re a business leader, local government partner, or anyone trying to understand how the 2026 session could affect Mason County, this conversation gives useful context straight from your elected officials.

Image: “LD 35 – 2024” by Washington State Redistricting Commission, used under CC BY 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

#MasonCounty #WALeg #WA35th #OlympiaSession #SheltonWA #NorthMason #MasonEDC #PublicPolicy #BusinessCommunity #InfrastructureWA #HousingWA #WorkforceDevelopment #CTE #LocalGovernment

Superintendent Wyeth Jessee joins Jeff for a Thanksgiving-week check-in on what’s happening across the Shelton School District. They talk about the installation of new board member Andrew Wilford, how the district brings a new director up to speed, and ongoing community feedback around the Mountain View situation.

Wyeth also digs into how the district stays focused heading into winter break — from strategic plan priorities like literacy and safe, welcoming schools to keeping politics out of the classroom.

Jeff and Wyeth spend time on the value of the community forums, what families really want to know about their schools, and why gratitude has been a big theme for Wyeth this year. He also shares a couple great stories — including students reading Everest stories at OBJH and a fun exchange about cufflinks at Olympic Middle School.

#SheltonSchoolDistrict #SheltonWA #MasonCountyWA #SheltonSchools #EducationUpdate #SchoolBoard #CommunityForum #SheltonCommunity #ThanksgivingWeek #PublicSchools #OBJH #OlympicMiddleSchool #SheltonHighclimbers

Shelton’s beloved Mistletoe Mile is back!
Jeff talks with organizer Matt Lowe about bringing this community fun run back to downtown Shelton right before the Christmastown parade. It’s one mile, all ages, tons of holiday spirit, costumes, dogs, strollers — and yes, hot chocolate at the finish.

Matt also shares the race history, how to register online, and a little about his new coaching business, PPRC Running.

Event Details:
• Saturday, December 6
• Day-of registration: 3:00–3:45 PM
• Kids 100m dash: 3:50 PM
• Mile race: 4:00 PM
• Route: Railroad Ave — the full Christmastown parade route lit up for the season

Register: RunSignUp → Shelton Mistletoe Mile
Coaching Info: PPRCRunning.com

#SheltonWA #Christmastown #MistletoeMile #MasonCounty #FunRun #HolidayRun #SheltonParade #RunWA #CommunityRun #ExploreHoodCanal

In this episode, we’re at Mountain View Elementary for another community forum in the Shelton School District. Superintendent Wyeth Jessee joins Principal Lysandra Ness, kindergarten teacher JoAnna Bielec, and school board director James Dale for an open conversation about what’s happening on campus, how students are learning, and how the school supports families.

We cover a wide range of topics: how Mountain View builds strong reading foundations starting in kindergarten, why the staff leans heavily on data to understand student needs, and how attendance plays a big role in student growth. You’ll hear stories about student leadership, day-to-day moments in classrooms, and how simple routines help build a positive school culture.

The team also talks about parent volunteers, student jobs, literacy events, and the push to build independence and confidence across grade levels. Wyeth breaks down levy dollars and the impact they have on the basics like staffing, athletics, utilities, and classroom support. Listeners get a look at how academic goals are set, why consistency across elementary schools matters, and how early skills carry students through middle school and beyond.

Community questions touch on everything from teachers managing multiple responsibilities to how testing can feel less stressful, and even how groups like Shelton FC can partner with schools to keep kids active.

If you want a clear picture of the work happening inside Mountain View Elementary and the direction the district is moving, this conversation gives you that view straight from the people doing the work every day.

#SheltonSchools #MountainViewElementary #SheltonWA #EducationPodcast #CTE #SheltonCommunity #PublicSchools #StudentSuccess #EarlyLearning #SchoolCulture

Mason County Sheriff Ryan Spurling joins Jeff in his office for a wide-ranging sit-down on youth outreach, crime trends, and what’s new at the sheriff’s office. They talk about the return of the DARE program in local schools, how it’s been updated for today’s kids, and why decision-making and mental health are at the center of the curriculum.

Sheriff Spurling explains how a donated 2024 Mustang GT is about to become the new DARE patrol car, why community partners stepped up to make it happen, and how students will see it at parades and events across Mason County. He also breaks down the sheriff’s new enforcement team (SET), recent felony arrests, work around local encampments, and how state law guides the office’s response to immigration and ICE concerns.

The conversation wraps up with an update on jail staffing, the hiring of a new jail chief, and what it means to build a culture of service in a rural county that covers more than a thousand square miles.

#MasonCounty

#SheltonWA

#MasonCountySheriff

#DAREProgram

#YouthSafety

#CommunityPolicing

#PublicSafety

#FentanylAwareness

#KMASRadio

#OurCommunityCreditUnion

Shelton, Washington turns into Christmas Town every December, and this year brings even more ways to celebrate. Amy Cooper joins Jeff to talk through everything happening downtown — Shop Shelton First, Best Friends Friday, tree lighting night, the return of the Mistletoe Mile, and the annual nighttime Christmas Parade.

They also cover the expanded Festival of the Firs, the 12 Ways of Christmas across Mason County, and the third annual Cookie Stroll featuring local bakers and the Shelton High School culinary program.

If you’re planning a visit to Shelton, Union, Hoodsport, or Belfair this holiday season, this conversation is your roadmap for events, shopping, live music, downtown lights, and family traditions that make Christmas Town Washington a destination.

#SheltonWA
#ChristmasTownWA
#MasonCountyWA
#HolidayEvents
#ShopLocalShelton
#FestivalOfTheFirs
#12WaysOfChristmas
#CookieStroll
#SheltonParade
#HoodsportWA
#UnionWA

Singer-songwriter Mel Dalton is back on KMAS after more than a decade, and she’s got a lot of stories to tell. In this conversation from the North Mason Chamber of Commerce office, Mel shares how she went from growing up in Bremerton to playing full-time in Coeur d’Alene, why she keeps coming back every year for the Healing Hearts Fund fundraiser, and how everyday moments—a lottery billboard, a long drive, a season of grief—turn into songs.

Mel talks about her new single “Chameleon,” a song about dropping the disguise and finally being yourself, and gives a powerful live performance in the room. She also opens up about “Key of H,” written years after losing her fiancé, and the moment another musician quietly recognized the loss hidden in the lyrics.

We wrap with where to find Mel online, details on her upcoming love-songs EP, and how fans can catch her weekly Monday morning livestream. If you love heartfelt Americana, honest storytelling, and supporting music that gives back to the community, this one’s for you.

https://meldaltonmusic.com/
https://www.patreon.com/MelDaltonMusic
https://www.youtube.com/MelDaltonMusic
https://www.facebook.com/TheMidnightJuliets

#MelDaltonMusic

#AmericanaMusic

#CountryFolk

#CoeurDAlene

#PNWMusic

#IndependentArtist

#WomenInMusic

#SupportLiveMusic