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 development from within, and real-world examples of how credit unions help members during difficult financial moments. It’s a look at how a locally rooted financial institution balances growth, inclusion, and hands-on community support.

#PeninsulaCreditUnion
 #BusinessOfTheYear
 #MasonCounty
 #SheltonWA
 #CommunityBanking

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 discussion also explores what would have happened if the levy had failed, including potential cuts to more than 100 employees and programs such as mental health supports, arts, athletics, and student leadership opportunities.

The episode closes with leadership news at Shelton High School, as Assistant Principal Jordan Stray is announced as the incoming principal, and what that transition means for the future of SHS.

#SheltonWA
#MasonCounty
#SheltonSchools
#LocalEducation
#kmasradio 

KMAS is the local radio station in Mason County Washington.

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 multiple local nonprofits. Matt also breaks down the science behind group singing, how music builds connection and reduces stress, and why community-based music matters now more than ever.

The conversation also previews Great Bend’s full post-pandemic concert season, including upcoming performances tied to Black History Month and American composers, along with the launch of a new CTE music and sound production pathway in partnership with Shelton School District. It’s a wide-ranging look at how music, education, and community come together in Mason County—and why Great Bend Center for Music earned statewide recognition.

#GreatBendCenterForMusic
 #MasonCounty
 #SheltonWA
 #NonprofitOfTheYear
 #CommunityMusic
 #ArtsInEducation
 #LocalImpactGlobalReach
 #KMASRadio

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.

#SheltonSchools #MasonCounty #PublicEducation #LiteracyMatters #KMASRadio

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 unique, and what’s ahead for FC Olympia’s upcoming season as global attention turns toward soccer with the World Cup approaching the Pacific Northwest.

The Valentine’s Gala takes place February 13 at 6:30 pm at the Olympia Ballroom in downtown Olympia and serves as an early kickoff to another busy and growing season for FC Olympia.

#FCOlympia
#OlympiaWA
#ValentinesGala
#SouthSound
#OlympiaEvents
#SupportLocalSports
#LiveComedy

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 state law.

#SheltonWA #CityGovernment #LocalLeadership #SmallBusiness #MasonCounty

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 #PublicEducation #StudentSuccess #KMAS