Local news
Olympia man who attacked area religious buildings sentenced to 11 years in prison
An Olympia man was recently sentenced to over 10 years in prison for a series of offenses in 2018 that included attacking religious buildings. Mikey Diamond Starrett, also known as Michael Jason …
Thurston County approves interlocal agreement with City of Yelm for sale of anti-icing materials
The City of Yelm will soon vote on an interlocal agreement with Thurston County for the sale of anti-icing materials for road operations after the Board of County Commissioners moved to approve the …
Acting Roy city clerk-treasurer finds lost revenue in building permits, unpaid bills
City of Roy acting Clerk-Treasurer Beth King and city staff discovered a series of lost revenues for the city from the past couple of years that were not addressed by previous staff. In a review …
Thurston County voter registration deadlines set for Nov. 5 general election
Monday, Oct. 28, is the last day for remote registrations and updates to existing registrations online at VoteWA.gov, by mail or at voter registration drives, etc. Registration must be received by an …
Blue Star Marker ceremony to be hosted at Tim’s Pharmacy
With the intention of honoring the servicemen and women that call Yelm and surrounding areas home, a Blue Star Marker plaque will be unveiled at Tim’s Pharmacy to allow community members to pay …
Thurston County commissioner District No. 4 candidate talks upcoming general election
Wayne Fournier, Democrat and current Thurston County commissioner for District No. 4, is seeking re-election for the position on Nov. 5 and is running against Rob Laymon. District No. 4 covers …
What's Happening: Football, Scare Trail, Trunk or Treat
Thursday, Oct. 24 Yelm football hosts Olympia Yelm football will host 4A South Puget Sound League south division opponent Olympia at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, at Yelm High School. The …
YHS admin, student leaders reveal budget cut impacts
As Yelm High School finishes its seventh week of the 2024-25 school year, students and staff are feeling the impacts from the failure of the educational programs and operations levy and resulting …
Additional officers, vehicles among YPD requests in 2025-26 budget
Should the City Council approve its budget requests, the Yelm Police Department (YPD) could benefit from additional vehicles, technology and manpower over the next couple years. During a Yelm …
Yelm officials begin preliminary 2025-26 budget discussions
While a finalized budget won’t be approved until later this year, city officials began preliminary discussions about the 2025/26 biennial budget at last week’s City Council meeting, with …
Notorious Yelm porch pirate detained by police
For several weeks, Yelm residents have played a high-stakes game of “Where’s Waldo?” with a porch pirate driving a white Lexus. The female suspect, whose identity has not been made …
Yelm Municipal Court requests funds for additional clerk, scanners
Over the next several years, Yelm’s Municipal Court could see multiple additions to the department in staff and equipment. At a City Council meeting last week, Yelm Court Administrator …
State & Regional News
County commissioners delay vote for Deschutes Estuary restoration agreement for further legal review
The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners will hold off on voting to approve an interlocal agreement (ILA) for the Deschutes Estuary restoration project while further legal review is being …
Legislative District 2 candidates talk race for state representative position No. 2
As JT Wilcox will retire from his position in the state Legislature at the end of his term, two local Republican candidates are on the ballot to replace the longtime politician in the state …
‘Back in the game’: Thurston County tourism promoter has successful kidney transplant
While still recovering from transplant surgery after fighting stage 5 kidney failure for more than a year, George Sharp, rural program manager for the Thurston Economic Development Council’s …
Database: More than 13,000 gender reassignment procedures on minors between 2019 and 2023
Sex reassignment procedures and surgeries on children have gained national prominence in recent years, and half of U.S. states now have laws passed either restricting or banning them. Newly …
Gluesenkamp Perez, Kent spar during first debate ahead of general election
If there was any question of the interest in the Third Congressional District, the collection of state and national media who traveled to Longview Wednesday for a debate between freshman Democratic …
National campaign committees unveil latest ads in Third Congressional District race ahead of debate
As Third Congressional District candidates U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, the Democratic incumbent, and Joe Kent, her Republican challenger, prepare to face each other in a debate at Lower …
Thurston County Commissioner District No. 2 candidates talk upcoming general election
With Gary Edwards set to retire from the Thurston County Commission following the conclusion of his second term, two new local candidates are seeking to replace the independent on the board of …
Thurston County closing in on purchase of new sheriff’s office facility
Thurston County took the first step toward enhancing its sheriff’s office services with the potential purchase of a building at 1111 Israel Road SW in Tumwater, valued at $14,250,000. The Board …
Parkwide fire ban lifted at Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park has lifted the parkwide fire ban after consultation with federal fire management officials, park officials announced Friday, Sept. 20. Campfires are now permitted at …
Life
The Thurston County Economic Development Council team races its casket to the finish line during the annual Boo-coda casket races in Bucoda on Saturday, Oct. 19.

Hundreds attend Boo-coda Casket Races

While the 2024 Boo-coda Spook-tacular Casket Races didn’t have the speed or star-power of last weekend’s Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix, hundreds of people still descended on Boo-coda — …

13th annual Crossroads Community Covenant Church pumpkin patch to benefit local students

One of the community pillars in the Nisqually Valley region, the Crossroads Community Covenant Church, is continuing to give back to local students in a big way. The Yelm-based church, located …

YHS senior crowned Miss Thurston County 2025, 50th recipient of title

Marlee Sell, a Yelm High School senior, couldn’t believe it when she heard her name announced as the 50th annual Miss Thurston County recipient on Saturday, Oct. 12. Sell said, moments …

Numerous fall activities planned for October throughout the Nisqually Valley

As the warm weather begins to cool and leaves start to fall off trees, leaving the once green scenery barren, numerous people and businesses throughout the Nisqually Valley are set to celebrate the …
Student artwork celebrating Lackamas Elementary School's 110-year anniversary are displayed in a classroom on Oct. 3.

Lackamas Elementary celebrates 110 years

Photos by Dylan Reubenking

  • Nisqually Valley News Bites Ep. 2: Steve Harshfield talks Standing Room Only Theater
  • Nisqually Valley News Bites Ep. 1: Chris Woods previews Yelm school year
  • Nisqually Valley News Bites Ep. 1: Chris Woods previews Yelm school year
Business
Just down Vail Road in Yelm, slightly beyond the “Mackey’s” convenience store, more than 40 alpacas spend their days grazing, playing and having their fibers turned into luxurious …
Joe DePinto is now serving the City of Yelm’s mayor in two capacities. Aside from leading the city’s government, he also acts as the fabricated mayor and game master of Yelm’s new …
Yelm’s Windermere Real Estate celebrated a new chapter in the business’s history on Thursday, Aug. 15, as community members and leaders joined Terry Kaminski and Holly Kappert to …
Just one week after Total Sports Development (TSD) announced a $50,000 fundraiser to help to save C-team sports at Yelm High School, the organization not only reached its goal but surpassed it by …
In efforts to enhance the downtown experience behind businesses near First, Second and Third streets through the activated alleyway project, the City of Yelm is currently in the right-of-way …
Sports

NyaStrong Warriors Academy preparing for 5-on-5 season

All five members of the NyaStrong Warriors Academy basketball program pose for a photo.
The NyaStrong Warriors Academy (NWA), a local fifth grade basketball organization, is gearing up for its 5-on-5 season in Tumwater’s Parks and Recreation 5th Grade Competitive League, with the …

Yelm soccer ties contest with South Kitsap, ‘not out of it’ entering final week

Entering its final week of regular season action, Yelm High School’s girls soccer team sits with a 5-5-1 record (1-5-1 SPSL) with just three contests remaining. Despite winning and tying …

Rainier football out-guns Toutle Lake in 60-56 C2BL shootout victory

Despite trailing by several scores early in the C2BL contest against Toutle Lake, the Rainier Mountaineers (4-3) out-gunned the Fighting Ducks (2-5) in a 60-56 shootout victory. Mountaineers …

Two YHS athletes nominated for Thurston County Sports Awards

Two Yelm High School student athletes and two Yelm sports moments were nominated for awards in the seventh annual Thurston County Sports Awards, hosted by the Olympia & Beyond Sports Commission. …
Zach Hamilton approaches the finish line at the league meet at Castle Rock High School on Oct. 16.

Mountaineer girls triumph again in meet at Castle Rock

The Rainier High School girls cross country team racked up one final victory before the postseason begins next week. Their victory at the 1B/2B/1A meet at Castle Rock High School marked their fifth …
Rochester's Wesley Dahl lines up a putt on the green during the 1A Evergreen League Championships at Tumwater Valley on Oct. 16.

Tenino’s Gore earns top-5 finish at 1A Evergreen Championships

Tenino's Jaxson Gore was one of the best golfers on the course Tuesday in Tumwater Valley, as the senior finished tied for fourth at the 1A Evergreen Championships. Gore finished the day with an …
Ellie Pringle celebrates after recording the final point via ace as Rainier sweeps Toutle Lake on Oct. 15.

Rejuvenated Mountaineers roll past Ducks for season sweep

The Rainier High School volleyball team built on the momentum sparked from its Adna Invitational championship win with a sweep of Central 2B League foe Toutle Lake 25-18, 25-21, 25-20 Tuesday, Oct. …

Yelm cross country programs compete in inaugural meet at YHS course

Yelm High School cross country competitors run in the Tornados' inaugural home meet on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

The community- and team-driven efforts in creating and constructing a home cross country course at Yelm High School paid off as Yelm’s boys and girls cross country programs competed in their …

Tenino drops first set, but rallies to top Centralia in four

The Tenino and Centralia volleyball teams took a brief break from league action to face each other on Ron Brown Court on Monday, and the Beavers bounced back from an opening-set loss to win 19-25, …

Tornados bounce back, blast Panthers 44-7 in homecoming game

Lineman Chris Hauss dives into the end zone on a two-point conversion against Bonney Lake on Oct. 11.

It was a bad day to be standing in the way of the Yelm Tornados on homecoming night. After a 57-36 loss last week at home to Graham-Kapowsin, Yelm made the necessary adjustments and routed Bonney …

Opinion
Sheriff John Snaza speaks at a press conference outside the Thurston County Courthouse in Olympia.

With integrity and experience, Snaza is the right choice for LD2

John Snaza has dedicated his life to serving and protecting the public. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades in law enforcement and military service, Snaza has consistently …
Rep. Peter Abbarno speaks at the East Lewis County Candidate Forum at the Mossyrock Community Center on Wednesday, July 24.

Peter Abbarno’s leadership delivers for families, schools and safety

The CT Publishing Editorial Board enthusiastically endorses Peter Abbarno for re-election to represent Washington’s 20th Legislative District. As an experienced legislator with deep ties to the …

Vote yes on I-2066: Protect energy choice for Washington

The CT Publishing Editorial Board strongly endorses Initiative 2066, a critical measure on this year’s ballot that will protect natural gas as a viable, affordable energy option for …

Vote yes on I-2109 to repeal and stop punishing success

In 2021, politicians in Olympia introduced a new capital gains tax, claiming it would support public education and childcare programs. Unfortunately, this tax threatens to damage Washington’s …
Gov. Jay Inslee, centers, explains the longterm benefits of a push for green energy, during a roundtable at Centralia College on Friday, Jan. 19. To the right of Inslee is his wife, Trudi, and to his left is Lisa Grant, the superintendent of the Centralia School District.

Vote yes on 2117: Repeal the hidden gas tax and hold government accountable

This November, Washingtonians have a chance to save money and reject a policy that has not done what the governor promised for the environment. Initiative 2117, which aims to repeal the hidden gas …
Obituaries
In loving memory of Annette Ivey: 12/17/1943 - 10/1/2024
Annette Ivey, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, lost her short battle with lung cancer on the morning of Oct. 1, 2024. She was born to Glen and Esther Beymer in Klamath Falls, Oregon, …
In Loving Memory Of Duane Gore: 1939 ~ 2024
Duane Harold Gore passed away peacefully at home on Sept. 16, 2024, surrounded by his family.  He was born to Harold and Bernice Gore in Port Angeles, Washington, on May 11, 1939. He is …
In Loving Memory Of Leslie "Earl" Bachus: June 1, 1957 ~ Aug. 5, 2024
Leslie “Earl” Bachus, 67, passed away on August 5, 2024, at his home in Tenino, Washington. He was born in Arkansas on June 1, 1957, to Lois Wixson and John Bachus. He was a beloved …
In loving memory of Delbert Lyle Lazelle April 16, 1934- July 10, 2024
Delbert Lyle Lazelle, 90, passed away peacefully at home July 10, 2024. He was born April 16, 1934, in Olympia, Washington.  He is survived by his daughters, Terese’ …
Death Notice: Mary Page
Mary Page, 93, of Olympia, died March 30 at Brich Creek Post Acute & and Rehabilitation.