KMAS Radio

Shelton School District Superintendent Wyeth Jessee joins Jeff Slakey for a deep dive into what’s new in Shelton schools — from recognizing student athletes and improving graduation readiness to major gains in student behavior and engagement. They discuss how career and technical education programs , internships with Mason County and Mason Health , and strong community partnerships are shaping the...

Shelton’s own Cuppiecakes Queen is celebrating two years—and Cally’s story is as sweet as her bakes. She shares how a home hobby became a destination bakery, why real-deal ingredients matter (butter, sour cream, scratch-made fillings), the fan-favorite flavors (hello, oatmeal cream pies , Tropical Escape , and those viral-worthy Dubai brownies ), how she collaborates on custom cakes, and what to k...

Downtown Shelton is getting ready for one of its most anticipated events of the year — the Halloween Spooktacular! Jeff Slakey sits down with Amy Cooper from the Shelton Downtown Merchants to talk about what’s new for 2025, how the event keeps growing, and how families and businesses can join in. From safe trick-or-treating on Railroad Avenue to the free Corpse Bride movie at Shelton Cinemas, this...

Join KMAS Radio’s Jeff Slakey for a special community forum at Olympic Middle School in the Shelton School District , featuring Principal Mary Johnson , Counselor Grace Reneker , and Superintendent Wyeth Jessee . This in-depth conversation explores how Olympic supports Shelton’s 5th and 6th-graders through positive relationships, structured learning, and a strong culture of care. Hear about the sc...

Shelton School District Superintendent Wyeth Jessee joins Jeff Slakey with a candid update one month into the new school year. From tackling discipline challenges and supporting student mental health, to empowering kids through hands-on projects and leadership opportunities, Jessee shares why this year feels smoother than ever. The conversation also dives into the district’s new cell phone policy,...

The Oysterfest fun doesn’t stop at the fairgrounds—just down the road, the Shuck & Share 5K +1 Run/Walk brings the community together to support Project Share. Jeff talks with Sheila Corson from Mason PUD 3 about the event’s 11-year tradition, how it helps local families with power bills, and why participants get more than just a race—swag bags, gift card drawings, and a flat, fun course aroun...

He’s visited all 3,086 U.S. counties , published a six-language travel magazine that sold the American dream overseas, and now he’s slinging unforgettable pies on the Hood Canal. Jeff sits down at Hood Canalé with John DeLeva to talk about choosing Union on purpose, what international travelers really want (parks, open roads, icons), how phones changed trip-planning—and the fine art of sharing loc...

Bordeaux Elementary kicks off Shelton School District’s new community forum series with a candid, feel-good conversation about what’s working—and what’s next. Host Jeff Slakey sits down with Principal Kyle O’Neil , 3rd-grade teacher Bree West , Superintendent Wyeth Jessee , and school board members James Dale and Lauren Gilmore to unpack a fast start to the year, the power of consistent routines,...

WSU Extension’s Tessa Halloran joins Jeff to cover three timely topics for Mason County: (1) Septic Smart maintenance and the Oct 23 workshop in Hoodsport, (2) “Cultivating Coexistence: Farming for Salmon Health” at the Salmon Center on Oct 21, and (3) the statewide online Whole Farm Planning course (Sep 22–Nov 3) with flexible, recorded sessions and optional field trips. We dig into real costs, D...

In a phone call on September 17, Shelton School District Superintendent Wyeth Jessee joins Jeff Slakey to reflect on the district’s new community forums, the success story at Bordeaux Elementary, and how aligning learning across schools helps students thrive. They celebrate Shelton High School’s vibrant clubs and football victory, discuss national recognition for early literacy, and invite the com...

Shelton’s port is buzzing. Executive Director Wendy Smith and Engineering Manager Brandon Palmer join Jeff to walk through what listeners are seeing right now: the Bear Gulch Fire incident base camp at Sanderson Field, an airport-wide taxiway paving and LED lighting project (~$4.3M) , and a major rebuild of the former Sawtooth site—engineered for heavy steel fabrication with two 15-ton bridge cran...

Hear directly from the candidates before you cast your ballot! Recorded live on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at the PUD 3 Auditorium , this full-length Shelton City Council Candidates Debate features those running for Seats 3, 4, 6, and 7 : Lindsay Sapp (incumbent, Seat 6) Shaena Garberich (challenger, Seat 6) Kenneth G. Mobley (Seat 3 candidate) Sharon Schirman (Deputy Mayor, Seat 3 incumbent) Da...

Brad and Heidi McCutcheon from Bradley Air Company join Jeff to talk fall prep, why modern variable-speed systems feel better and cost less, and how PUD-3 rebates—even for tenants—are helping Mason County families upgrade to whole-home comfort. We dig into service timelines (next-day residential service, ~two-week installs), airflow myths (don’t close those vents), and the “first freeze” surge tha...

Mason County Sheriff Ryan Spurling joins Jeff Slakey with a September update packed with news and context. Sheriff Spurling reflects on Jail Chief Kevin Hanson’s tenure and the years-long push that led to jail accreditation. He introduces new Jail Chief Shane Schoeneberg and explains how a recent wave of qualified applicants—and a 10-week Corrections Officer Academy—will help restore staffing and...

School’s back—and Shelton’s first week is humming. Superintendent Wyeth Jessee joins Jeff Slakey to take you behind the scenes: the maintenance and custodial crews who flipped spaces after the Bear Gulch response, the transportation team that kept routes moving, and why the district put English Language Arts instruction front-and-center on day one.  You’ll also hear a fresh Social and Emotional Le...

Why do rural communities face higher risks of Alzheimer’s and dementia? Dr. Justin Miller from the University of Washington joins Jeff Slakey to talk about the new Northwest Rural Brain Health Initiative launching in partnership with Mason Health. The project brings free education sessions, brain health conversations, and clinical testing directly to Mason County. Learn how you or a loved one can...

Shelton School District Superintendent Wyeth Jessee joins Jeff Slakey to talk about the excitement of a new school year, how the district is helping students with everything from backpacks to career readiness, and what parents can do to support their kids at every stage — from kindergarten drop-offs to high school transitions. #SheltonSchools #BackToSchool #MasonCounty #EducationMatters #ParentTip...

After seven years as Shelton’s City Clerk, Donna Nault is retiring — but not before sharing a behind-the-scenes look at one of the city’s most important (and least understood) jobs. In this "exit interview", Donna explains what a city clerk really does, how Shelton transitioned from a three-person commission to a seven-member council, and the challenges of keeping government transparent and neutra...

This year marks the 9th Annual Mason County Overdose Awareness Marches and Fairs . Jeff Slakey sits down with organizers Jamie Ellertson and Abe Gardner to talk about the two-day event in Belfair and Shelton, the growth of resources and sponsors, and why community support and conversations around recovery matter more than ever. Hear about new locations, the importance of Narcan, and how these marc...

School budgets can seem complicated; they affect every family, taxpayer, and student in the community. In this episode, Jeff sits down with Shelton School District’s new Executive Director of Finance, Clinton Sherman , for a candid, plain-spoken conversation about how education funding works in Washington state. Clinton shares his journey from small-town Eastern Washington to Shelton and why he wa...

Hoodstock was electric—and local favorite Chris Eakes tells us why. Fresh off a buzzworthy set with the “Union supergroup,” 5 Guys & A Flute , Chris breaks down the band’s chemistry, what makes the Hood Canal audience different, and how that energy shapes the sound you’ll hear at his solo performance during Shuck & Strum this Thursday, August 21,  at 6 pm on the Finch Creek Stage (plus liv...

Shelton School District is starting the year with momentum—and a headline win: No. 1 in Washington for early-literacy growth . Superintendent Wyeth Jessee walks through what that means for third-grade readers, how attendance climbed from 81% to 86%, that’s about 215 fewer chronically absent students, and why suspensions dropped from 865 to 200 by focusing on relationships, routines, and engaging i...

We’re taking a trip down memory lane with Robert Poole — a musician, storyteller, and the man behind the beloved Songwriter’s Stage on KMAS. In this reflective, reintroduction interview, Poole shares how his musical spark ignited in his teens, from playing in a Beatles-inspired band in Tacoma to rubbing elbows with rock legends like The Kinks and The Byrds. Along the way, he opens up about his dee...

🏌️‍♂️ Helicopters, golf balls, and giving back—what more could you ask for? In this special episode, Jeff Slakey chats with longtime Love INC supporter and board member Dan Partridge about the annual Love INC Golf Tournament at Alderbrook. Hear how this community-powered event supports hundreds of families in Mason County, and why the famous “Golf Balls from Heaven” helicopter drop is the highligh...

In this episode, Shelton School District Superintendent Wyeth Jessee talks with Jeff Slakey for a candid conversation on the district’s financial outlook, record-setting literacy growth, and the exciting programs launching this school year. From budget pressures to preparing classrooms, we unpack the realities facing public education today. Plus, learn more about the August 22nd Back-to-School Fes...