Local news
Sirens: Police determine collision resulting in death not homicide
Following an investigation, local law enforcement concluded the collision that took place in the 9900 block of Bridge Road Southeast in Yelm around 11 a.m. on March 9 and killed a 27-year-old woman …
Plethora of Easter events scheduled for Nisqually Valley region
The Nisqually Valley region will see the Easter Bunny make its rounds through the area on Saturday, March 30, as a plethora of Easter egg hunts and events are scheduled in honor of the holiday. …
InGenius! to host first monthly community art show
InGenius! Gallery & Boutique in Yelm is celebrating Arbor Day and the Pacific Northwest with its first ever community art show from Saturday, April 13 to Saturday, April 27. The business, …
School zone safety a hot topic at first Roy town hall
The Roy City Council listened to concerns about the school sign signage and lights outside Roy Elementary School during its inaugural town hall meeting at the Roy Community Center on Monday, March …
Yelm Chamber of Commerce executive director steps down
Amanda Muñoz, executive director of the Yelm Chamber of Commerce, has stepped down from her role. She departed to assume the position of development director at the Thurston County Food Bank. …
Christian singer Luke Yates to perform in Rainier next month
Spokane native and nationally recognized Christian recording artist Luke Yates will perform a free concert at 7 p.m., Friday, April 19, at Rainier Chapel. The event is a non-ticketed, …
What's Happening: School levy open houses, Charcuterie workshop, Christian country concert
Tuesday, April 9 Yelm Community Schools levy open house Yelm Community Schools is hosting a series of informational open houses about the replacement levy included on the April 23 special …
Yelm High School hosts annual FFA District Leadership Contest
Several Yelm High School FFA program members punched their tickets to the FFA state convention in Pullman, Washington, after YHS hosted the annual district leadership contest on Wednesday, March 20. …
YHS scholar named Athletic Training Student of the Year at California competition
Yelm High School student Rio Slevin recently received an accolade that encapsulates all the hard work they have put into the sports medicine program at the school. During the California Regional …
Yelm residents passing on generations of fiber arts knowledgeYelm Needleworks meets twice a week
Megan Tomlinson always enjoyed crocheting by herself at a coffee shop every Saturday morning in Bend, Oregon. After moving to Yelm last April, she longed for a community with whom to share her craft. …
Yelm district makes staffing changes to prep for budget cuts
Yelm Community Schools   (YCS) has begun its preparations for the upcoming budget reduction.   During the district’s school board meeting on March 14, Superintendent Chris Woods …
Yelm sports medicine team returns from regional California competition
Yelm High School’s sports medicine program returned home from its trip to the 23rd annual California Regional High School Sports Medicine Competition on Sunday, March 17, full of pride, …
State & Regional News
Area runner after bigfoot report: ‘That Sasquatch running was me’
A recent Sasquatch sighting near Grand Mound, investigated by the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO), may have been debunked by a Rochester cross country and track athlete. The …
Inslee signs Rep. Wilcox’s bill to study avian salmon predation
Gov. Jay Inslee has signed legislation to study the effect of avian predation on salmon populations in the state. House Bill 2293, sponsored by Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, establishes an Avian …
American Revolution Experience opening at Schmidt House in Tumwater
The Daughters of the American Revolution is hosting the opening of the American Revolution Experience at the Schmidt House in Tumwater, beginning on April 5. The pop-up exhibition includes display …
Ahead of spring, gas prices on the rise in Washington state
Washington state drivers may have noticed an increase in the price at the pump recently. On Monday, the average cost for a gallon of gas in the Evergreen State increased to nearly $4.31 per …
Salmon recovery proponents say several bills got away this legislative session
Supporters of salmon recovery efforts in Washington state were optimistic going into this year's short 60-day legislative session. There was bipartisan support for habitat restoration, with …
Battle begins over three revenue-cutting initiatives on the ballot this November
Less than eight months from now, Washington state voters will – in addition to casting a ballot for president in November’s general election – decide the fate of three initiatives …
Gov. Inslee signs bill allowing hate crime charges for defacing public property
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee has signed into law a bill that classifies certain types of public defacement as a felony if it's perceived to be an act of "hate." Senate Bill 5917 amends …
Concerns remain about passage of a bill that paves way for natural gas ban in Washington
One of the most controversial bills passed by the Washington State Legislature this session has yet to be signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1589 , dubbed by …
Local farm growing new crops, fighting climate change
Taking on climate change isn’t too big of a challenge for Warren Neth, owner of Cosmic Carrot Farm in Yelm.   In 2020, he lobbied for the grant monies from the Washington State …
Life
Participants at Worthy Coffee Co.'s Sunday Worship event on Feb. 25 hold their arms high as they praise Jesus during a song by Parkland's Crossover Ministries.

Worthy Coffee Co.’s Sunday worship aims to build community

On Sundays, Worthy Coffee Co. in Roy offers more than just caffeinated beverages and treats. Instead, co-owners Brandy and Josh Worthy offer the Holy Spirit and prayer. Over 50 attendants …
Alex Goodrich (center), playing the role of the Cat in the Hat, and his hunches rehearse a scene from

YHS Drama Club brings classic Dr. Seuss stories to the stage

The Yelm High School Drama Club’s spring musical explores a journey from the Jungle of Nool near the River Waloo to the town of Whoville.   The club’s first production of the …

Adult Easter egg hunt to take place at Cochrane Park

Adults over the age of 21 should mark their calendars for Saturday, March 16, as the City of Yelm Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a “Midnight Eggstravaganza,” an adult Easter …

What’s happening: Nisqually Valley community calendar

Thursday, Feb. 15 Family Storytime Join the Yelm Timberland Library from 10:30 to 11 a.m. every Thursday for family storytime. The event includes music, movement, books and activities for …
Business
When Kayla Walker moved from San Diego, California, to Yelm in 2022, she knew that it could be a home for her business. She owned a couple of salons in San Diego but had to close due to the COVID-19 …
For six weeks, Youth Athletics Recreation Development (YARD) will transform into the “Prairie Old West” for the return of its summer program. The organization is meshing the 100-year …
Karin and Sverre Ange wanted to combine their passions to create a new business in Yelm. Karin served for more than 18 years in the U.S. Army National Guard as a supply sergeant, and Sverre owned his …
What started with a “Little Einsteins” spaceship cake for Dee Ragsdale’s daughter’s first birthday has turned into a full-time cake business. Ragsdale, a Clearwood resident, …
It’s a new year, and Yelm business Funtime Toys and Gifts is ready for it. Heather Ekland founded the business on the internet in 2006 as freedomdaysales.com and became a brick-and-mortar …
Sports

Mountaineers comeback halted in loss to Tenino

Ryleigh Cruse tosses a pitch in the third inning against Tenino on March 26.
Rainier High School softball head coach Katie Qualls described the non-league contest against Tenino on Tuesday, March 26 as a test to see how her young players are coming along. In the process, …

Tenino tops Montesano to stay unbeaten

The Tenino baseball team topped Montesano 10-6 on Tuesday to stay unbeaten and improve to 4-0. It was back-and-forth early on, as both teams scored in the first and Tenino took a 2-1 lead in the …

Early scoring outburst helps Tenino top Rainier

The Tenino softball team put together another impressive offensive performance on Tuesday, topping Rainier 11-9. As the designated road team, the Beavers (2-4) didn’t score in the first …
Sophomore pitcher Mallory Hoke delivers a pitch against Ellensburg on Saturday, March 23 at Bellevue College.

Yelm softball sees offensive explosion in 18-3 victory over Ellensburg

Yelm High School’s softball team is riding a three-game winning streak after victories this past week over Peninsula High School, Prairie High School and, most recently, Ellensburg High School. …
Sophomore Wesley Thompson stands in the batters box, ready to swing while the rain pours down on Saturday, March 23, against Port Angeles.

Tornados lose non-conference matchup against Port Angeles despite comeback efforts

Despite going 1-2 in contests throughout the week, Yelm High School’s baseball program is building confidence after its recent matchups against Gig Harbor and Port Angeles.   The team …

Tenino downed by stoppage-time goal in Eatonville

Tenino and Eatonville seemed destined for a scoreless tie on Monday, but an Eatonville goal in the final minutes downed the Beavers in a 1-0 loss. The Cruisers briefly took a 1-0 lead in the …

Beavers top East Jefferson for first win

The Tenino softball team earned its first win of the season on Saturday, as the Beavers handled East Jefferson 13-3 in five innings. The win snapped a four-game losing streak. The Beavers (1-4) …

Mountaineers girls place first, boys third in league meet

Acacia Murphy attempts the high jump during Rainier's home meet on March 21. Murphy took first with a 4-foot-6-inch leap.

The Rainier High School track and field team dominated its competition on its home field in a 1B/2B/1A league meet on Thursday, March 21. Competing against Eatonville, Adna, Morton-White Pass and …

Mountaineers shut out by Riverhawks in soggy double-header

Ryder Cruse swings and misses at a Toledo pitch on March 23.

After a 2-0 start to the season, the Rainier High School baseball team is searching for answers amid a five-game losing streak. The skid continued after Toledo shut out the Mountaineers in a …

Mountaineers shut out by Riverhawks in soggy double-header

Ryder Cruse swings and misses at a Toledo pitch on March 23.

After a 2-0 start to the season, the Rainier High School baseball team is searching for answers amid a five-game losing streak. The skid continued after the Mountaineers were shut out in a …

Opinion

Being Frank: It’s time to warrior up for salmon

Billy Frank Jr. walked on almost 10 years ago, but one of his most powerful lessons lives on: If we want to recover salmon, we must work together. All of us. The Billy Frank Jr. Salmon Coalition …
Amy Grant performs at the Washington Center for Performing Arts in this photo by columnist Julie McDonald.

Guest Commentary: Amy Grant concert in Olympia takes me back to the 1980s

I’ve always been a fan of Amy Grant’s music, but I doubt I would have attended her concert last month if not for the movie “I Can Only Imagine.” When I saw an ad about …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to letters@chronline.com.

Area needs another bridge to decrease traffic

Editor, We need another bridge. When this Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) plan is completed, all the traffic will be gridlocked between Roy and Walmart. I drive this …

Back to Business: Cleansing sewage essential to supplying enough freshwater for growing world

In Washington this year, we hope to again escape the historic droughts plaguing other parts of the world. The Columbia River water system flowed at normal levels in recent years, which is good for …
The number of salmon killed by birds, seals and sea lions is an obstacle to salmon recovery. Here sea lions swim in the Cowlitz River.

Guest Commentary: A missed opportunity for salmon as Legislature does little for struggling species

The legislative session is over, and it had the potential to be very positive for salmon recovery in Washington state. There was bipartisan support for habitat restoration, with several bills being …
Obituaries
In loving memory of Eric Anton Heid 1961-2024
Eric A. Heid, 62, of Yelm, Washington, died peacefully at home on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. He was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1961 to Emil and Carita Heid, and he was raised in Milwaukee, …
In Loving Memory of Peggy Lucille Black April 2, 1944 - Jan. 17, 2024
In Memoriam of Peggy Black Peggy Lucille Black passed away on Jan. 17 from a brief illness. She is survived by husband, Brian Black, daughter Shelley Lucus, brother Wes Ament Jr., sister …
In loving memory of Grace M. Dvorak: March 20, 1940 - Jan. 13, 2024
Grace passed away into the arms of her Lord on Jan. 13, 2024, at her home in Yelm, Washington, surrounded by her husband and two sons. Grace was born on March 20, 1940, to Albert and Emma …
In Loving Memory of Janet L. Thompson
On Nov. 15, 2023, our sweet mama, Janet L. Thompson, left us to fly free with the angels. She was a mom, a wife, a grandma, a great-grandma and a friend to many.   She was a wonderful …
In loving memory of Jeffrey Lee Stone 1952-2023
Jeffrey Lee Stone, born on May 16, 1952, in San Francisco, California, at the Presidio Army installation, passed away on Nov. 3, 2023.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and June …