Local news
New Yelm Chamber executive director driven to help city grow
Tina Richardson believes she left her heart in Yelm when she moved away shortly after graduating from Yelm High School over two decades ago. She was a military child, living temporarily in Hawaii, …
Yelm Police Department recognizes officer with award, announces new hire
Yelm’s Police Department recently received a boost to its morale and to the number of officers the team has, as Yelm Police Officer Brian Bard received a Life Saving Award, and the department …
Candidate filing week begins May 6
The Nisqually Valley News The opportunity to formally declare candidacy for the 2024 elections opens at 8 a.m., Monday, May 6, online and at elections offices across the state. Mailed …
Yelm council approves jail services agreement with Nisqually Indian Tribe
Continuing a services agreement that’s been in place for over 20 years, the Yelm City Council unanimously authorized Mayor Joe DePinto to continue contracting with the Nisqually Tribal jail. …
Local fitness trainer to host online ‘summer shred competition’
Jamie Hawley, a local fitness trainer in the Yelm and Rainier area, is helping residents transform their lifestyle this summer with her inaugural “summer shred competition.” …
Rainier Elementary teacher in running for America’s Favorite Teacher competition
When Rainier Elementary fifth grade teacher Kelsey Mahan first stumbled upon an advertisement for the America’s Favorite Teacher competition on Facebook, she thought it was a scam. Far too good …
What's Happening: Spring Expo, Farmers Market, 5K Fundraiser
Saturday, April 27 Nisqually Valley Spring Expo The Nisqually Valley Spring Expo, previously named the Nisqually Valley Home & Garden Show, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. …
Student artists shine in inaugural YHS art walk
Yelm High School’s commons transformed into an art gallery, and its performing arts center (PAC) hosted a student talent showcase during the inaugural art walk on Friday, April 12. More …
Spending transparency hot topic at Yelm district forums
Yelm Community Schools Superintendent Chris Woods has described the failed first attempt at replacing the educational programs and operations (EP&O) levy a “blessing” since the …
Roy mayor condemns conduct by council members
Roy Mayor Kimber Ivy condemned recent and past behavior by members of the Roy City Council toward community members and staff, according to an open letter she wrote Monday, April 15. Ivy’s …
YHS automotive program receives first-ever vehicle donation from Ford
Dawn Kraves’ goal after being hired at Yelm High School as an automotive instructor was to provide every student with as many opportunities as possible. With a nationwide shortage of …
Learners Without Limits to host third annual 5K fundraiser
Learners Without Limits’ (LWL) 5K fundraiser is back for the third year after successful events in 2022 and 2023. The event is one of the organization’s two major fundraisers during the …
State & Regional News
From Tenino to Bend, Oregon, Love Covers looks to support nonprofits, build relationships through sewing
Sewing has always been a passion and a way to bring people together for Patti Ledesma, of Tenino, and Cathleen “Cat” Wallace, of Bend, Oregon, who have been friends for more than 30 years …
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office warns of increase in scammers
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) warned the community of an increase in scams in which scammers pretend to be members of the sheriff’s office. According to TCSO’s …
Yelm community raises $15K for Lacey woman fighting cancer
The week of March 9, 2024, was one of the toughest weeks of Edith Vanderwal’s life. While watching her son’s soccer game in Aberdeen, the Lacey woman fell down a few sets of bleachers, …
Residents speak out at TCSO forum after hiring of officer acquitted in Manuel Ellis’ death
The roughly 30 Thurston County residents who spoke at the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office’s public forum on Thursday, April 11, had differing opinions on the controversial hiring and …
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 …
Life

Yelms Lion Club here to serve

The motto of the Lions Club is “We Serve,” and the Yelm Lions Club has taken that to heart, working to empower volunteers and serve the community. Locally, the Yelm Lions are busy, …

Yelm district honors volunteers of the year

Yelm Community Schools awarded eight of its volunteers as the 2023-24 Volunteers of the Year during its Thursday, April 18, board meeting. Eight of the nine schools in the district chose one …

Christian country artist Luke Yates to perform in Rainier

While people can listen to many recordings of Christian music artist Luke Yates, nothing tops a live performance. On April 19, Yates will be performing at the Rainier Chapel in a free concert of …
A helicopter drops Easter eggs onto Vets Field at Yelm’s American Legion on Saturday, March 30, to celebrate the holiday.

Community turns out for Easter fun Saturday at egg drop in Yelm

Business
After a weeks-long search, the Yelm Chamber of Commerce hired Tina Richardson as its next executive director. Richardson replaces Amanda Muñoz, who stepped down last month after more than a …
Customers can have their picks of locally grown fruits and vegetables, baked goods and locally crafted items as the annual farmers market returns to Yelm beginning on Saturday, May 4, at 206 McKenzie …
For years, the Nisqually Valley Home & Garden Show was Yelm’s premier home improvement trade show, kicking off the spring season with local businesses, activities and a car show. The …
Wild Heart Beauty, a family-owned business, opened its doors on Feb. 19 and aims to build strong relationships with community members and clientele as the four family members have set up shop in the …
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 …
Sports

Nisqually Basin Youth Baseball welcomes big crowd on opening day

Yelm's team celebrates after a grand slam during Nisqually Basin Youth Baseball's opening day on April 20.
Longmire Community Park in Yelm was alive with the sounds of baseball: the crack of the metal bats, ecstatic umpires calling balls and strikes, and the buzz of hundreds of Nisqually Basin Youth …

Yelm boys and girls track programs pick up steam as postseason nears

Yelm’s boys and girls track teams have competed in a busy, yet fruitful season, including recent competitions throughout the South Sound Conference at home and at Capital High School. The …

Yelm softball sits atop SSC with six conference games remaining

Yelm High School’s softball program has seen an abundance of offensive successes throughout the season, as the midway point of the season shrinks in the rearview mirror. Sitting 9-2 overall and …
Sophomore Parker Myers takes a swing on Saturday, April 20 inside Cheney Stadium against the Spanaway Lake Sentinels.

Yelm baseball defeats Spanaway Lake at Cheney Stadium behind five-run fourth inning

Underneath clear blue skies on April 20 at Cheney Stadium, the Yelm Tornados baseball program handled business against the Spanaway Lake Sentinels, picking up a 9-5 win in non-conference action. …
Jared Sprouffske gets to his feet after sliding safely into third base against Toutle Lake on April 22.

Mountaineers overwhelmed by Ducks’ power in doubleheader loss

Through the first 15 games of the season, the Rainier High School baseball team had yet to face an opponent with the slugging ability of the Toutle Lake Ducks. The Ducks proved why they are the …
Gracie Lantz throws a pitch to an Elma batter on April 16.

Mountaineers shut out in non-league contest by Elma

The falling hail wasn’t the only sharp pain in the Rainier High School softball team’s neck in its non-league contest against Elma on Tuesday, April 16. Earning three outs in a single …

Oblivion Wrestling to debut May 25 at Thurston County Fairgrounds

Fans of professional wrestling in Thurston County and surrounding regions will finally have their fix of local action as Oblivion Wrestling is set to debut on Saturday, May 25, at the Thurston County …

Mountaineer bats struggling to find consistency with tough stretch ahead

Olivia Earsley slides safely into third base after Brooklynn Swenson's single in the first inning against Elma on April 16.

When the Rainier High School softball team’s bats are cooking, the Mountaineers are a difficult team to beat. When their bats go cold, things seem to fall apart around them. This trend has …

Mountaineers have eyes on state titles halfway through regular season

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

A buzz is beginning to build around the Rainier High School track and field teams at the halfway mark of the regular season. Both the girls and boys boast complete, deep rosters capable of making …

Tornados cruising through conference schedule

Junior first baseman Caylee Roberts puts her bat’s barrel onto the ball against Ellensburg earlier this season at Bellevue College.

The Yelm High School softball team has a winning recipe this season: score double-digit runs. The Tornados have not lost a game in which they score 10 or more runs and have not won a game in which …

Opinion

Celebrating 120 years of employer advocacy

In 1904, the ice cream cone was invented, the United States began construction of the Panama Canal, and a group of employers came together in Seattle to form the Citizens’ Alliance, which later …
Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, takes part in a news conference Nov., 29, 2022.

Braun: When it comes to dodging constitution, Democrats are habitual offenders

Republicans see absolutely no need for an income tax in Washington. Thanks to unanimous support from Republican legislators, Initiative 2111 was passed on March 4. It outlaws any income tax at any …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

Passing EP&O levy necessary to providing comprehensive education to students

Passing EP&O levy necessary to providing comprehensive education to students   Editor, As a dedicated member of the Yelm community, I am writing to express my enthusiastic …
Early day Sisters of Providence supported the construction and operation of their works of charity through begging tours. These fund-raising journeys to distant logging camps and mines were made by boat, by stagecoach and on horseback, circa 1890.

Mother Joseph and Sisters of Providence opened schools, hospitals, orphanages

Today marks the 201st birthday of a Canadian woman whose loving selfless acts of service saved many lives throughout the Pacific Northwest. Esther Pariseau was born April 16, 1823, on a farm …
Members of the Yelm Community Schools district show their support for the replacement levy in this provided photo prior to the February 2024 special election.

Our Views: Upcoming YCS levy vote has long-term implications for students

Residents throughout the Yelm Community Schools (YCS) district will have an important decision to make in the April 23 special election when they vote to approve or reject the educational programs …
Obituaries
Death Notice: Timothy Rarick
Timothy Rarick, 71, of Yelm, died April 8 at his home in Yelm. Services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 20, at Heritage Baptist Church, Tenino. Arrangements were under the care of Funeral …
In Loving Memory of Barbara Jean Kiourkas 6/17/57 ~ 2/17/24
Barbara Jean Kiourkas, of Yelm, Washington, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on February 17, 2024.  She was born in Tacoma, Washington on June 17, 1957 to Happy John Ryan …
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 …