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 Thurston County Emergency Management Council to present free emergency preparedness expo
In light of September being National Preparedness Month, the Thurston County Emergency Management Council will host a free emergency preparedness expo on Saturday, Sept. 28. The expo will take …
Washington State Patrol to conduct statewide ‘One More Stop’ patrol in honor of fallen Trooper Christopher Gadd
On Friday, Sept. 27, the Washington State Patrol (WSP) will conduct a statewide “One More Stop” emphasis patrol in honor of fallen Trooper Christopher Gadd. The statewide emphasis …
Arrest warrant was briefly issued for Thurston County Commissioner Emily Clouse over Lewis County driving infraction
Amid ongoing conflict with seatmates on the Thurston County Board of Commissioners as they have thus far refused to reinstate her to boards and committees during a workplace investigation, …
YHS Connects raises over $4,000 to fully fund band program
Just three days after launching a fundraiser to allow Yelm High School’s band program to return to a full schedule, booster club YHS Connects successfully raised over $4,200 to donate to Yelm …
Roy engineers provide update on water plan
Skillings, the City of Roy’s engineering firm, is making the necessary steps to address Roy’s contaminated well water, and a timeline for the project is becoming clearer. During the …
Live to Ride: Yelm community rallying for owner of area pizza shop injured in motorcycle crash
Seven Bertoglio, owner of Bertoglio’s Pizza in Yelm, was seriously injured in a motorcycle collision on Aug. 25 and has undergone three surgeries at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. …
Organization supporting local girls and women with essential items
I Support The Girls (ISTG), a non-profit organization that collects and distributes essential items including bras, underwear and menstrual hygiene products for women and girls experiencing …
Bounty for Families gearing up for 2024 ‘Gift of Gobble’ program
A local non-profit that aims to provide holiday season meals to local families, appealed to Yelm City Councilors on Tuesday, Sept. 3, as it looked to secure funds for the program in 2025. Bounty …
Rebuilding Together Thurston County requests $100,000 from city for local operations
Rebuilding Together Thurston County, a non-profit organization active in the community for 21 years, requested $100,000 in city funding for 2025 to continue serving area residents during a Yelm City …
Yelm Senior Center seeks increase in city funding next year for operations
During the Yelm City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3, Yelm Senior Center’s executive director requested an increase in city-issued funding to $21,000 next year as volunteers run all the …
Yelm police takes local shooting suspect into custody
Yelm Police Department detained a man on Sept. 4 who law enforcement were seeking in the shooting of a woman near the 16900 block of 148th Avenue Southeast. According to Thurston County …
Total Sports Development goes to council for financial support from city
Phillip Ogle, Total Sports Development (TSD) president and Thurston County Youth Football League’s (TCYFL) Yelm Tornados franchise head coach, went before Yelm City Council members on Tuesday, …
State & Regional News
 New cases of white-nose syndrome recorded in Washington bats this year
White-nose syndrome, an often-fatal disease of hibernating bats, continues to spread in Washington. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and research partners documented white-nose …
New Thurston County assistant manager looks forward to continuing to serve the community
Joshua Cummings believes the last 11 years of work in Thurston County have been a job interview for his new role as the county’s assistant manager. Cummings, the current Community Planning …
New Bucoda councilor, improvement club president joins effort to enhance South Thurston County town
As summer nears its end, many residents in Bucoda are looking toward the future with hope as they seek to improve their small South Thurston County community amid the appointment of a new mayor and …
Multiple local agencies launch free 'Wildfire Ready Neighbors' program for homeowners
In efforts to combat local property, structure and brush fires, several local agencies are offering free home visits to survey potential fire hazards and offer fire prevention methods to home and …
Southeast Thurston Fire stays busy this summer dispatching mobilization crews
Southeast Thurston Fire Authority (SETFA) has been active since the start of the summer season, dispatching several crews to combat non-local fires as part of the wildland mobilization team under the …
South Puget Sound Community College awarded best community college by Showcase Magazine
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) was recognized as the “Best Community College” in Showcase Magazine’s Best of 2024. According to a news release, this award reflects …
Thurston County assistant manager announces retirement, replacement set
Robin Campbell, Thurston County assistant county manager, announced her retirement Friday, Aug. 23, after 41 years of public service with the state of Washington and the county. She will end her …
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge celebrates 50 years
Community members gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge in a commemoration Thursday, Aug. 15. The event honored partnerships …
Local fire trucks struggling to serve Yelm residents across Centralia Canal bridges
Yelm residents living across the Centralia Canal have expressed concerns after the Southeast Thurston Fire Authority sent them a letter regarding its reduced ability to combat fires across the …
Life

Local Cub Scouts hosting ‘Lego Pinewood Derby’

Break out your building blocks on Tuesday, Sept. 24, as local Cub Scout Pack 267 is set to host a free, community-based “Lego Pinewood Derby” event from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Yelm Moose …

Rainier Senior Center offering upcoming driver class

The Rainier Senior Center is hosting a senior driving class from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the Rainier Senior Center. The cost of the class is $15. Upon completing the …
Beckett Stock competes in the barrel race at the Roy Rodeo in June.

Roy barrel racer grows confidence through obstacles on and off track

As Beckett Stock prepared to compete in her seventh Roy Pioneer Rodeo on Saturday, Aug. 31, she gazed up at Roy Elementary School peeking over the hill from the arena. The 19-year-old barrel racer …
Boy scouts and cub scouts toss candy to spectators at the Rainier Round-Up Days Parade on Aug. 24.

Community ignores rain for Rainier Round-Up Days Parade

Photos by Dylan Reubenking/The Nisqually Valley News

Yelm’s parks and recreation department boasts lineup of fall activities

As city-hosted summer-time events have come to a conclusion, area residents won’t have to wait long as the City of Yelm’s Parks and Recreation Department will roll out a plethora of …
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  • Nisqually Valley News Bites Ep. 1: Chris Woods previews Yelm school year
  • Nisqually Valley News Bites Ep. 1: Chris Woods previews Yelm school year

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Business
Joe DePinto, donning his mayor top hat and sash, cuts the ribbon to mark the grand opening of Quark & Odo's Escape Room Experience on Aug. 16.
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 …
Holly Kappert (left) and Terry Kaminski (right) smile on Thursday, Aug. 15, at Windermere Real Estate's ribbon-cutting ceremony.
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 …
Yelm High School coaches and Dinsmore Auto Group representatives pose for a photo at YHS at Yelm High School Tuesday, Aug. 13, after donating $20,000 in the fundraiser to save C-sports.
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 …
A conceptual design displays what the downtown activated alleyway may look like. Designs are subject to change, however.
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 …
Noah Aden, Yelm Cinemas general manager, was recently honored on South Sound Business 40 Under 40 list.
Noah Aden, general manager of Yelm Cinemas, earned a spot on the South Sound Business annual 40 Under 40 list, which highlights the top young business people in the region. He is the lone honoree on …

The Nisqually Valley News - July 11, 2024

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Sports

Pickleball courts open in Rainier

Rainier Mayor Bob Shaw, center, cuts the ribbon for the new pickleball courts at Wilkowski Park surrounded by Public Works Director Ron Gibson, left, and Thurston County Commissioner Gary Edwards, right, on Sept. 6.
Photos by Dylan Reubenking/Nisqually Valley News

Second annual ‘Mayor’s Cup’ event to return Oct. 5 with tennis tournament

Yelm’s Mayor Joe DePinto, a former Yelm High School (YHS) tennis athlete, is issuing an open challenge to area residents as the second annual …

Young Yelm High School volleyball program excited for new opportunities in SPSL

Despite Yelm High School’s volleyball program returning just four starters for the 2024 campaign, the team is optimistic for new beginnings as it enters a new chapter by joining the 4A South …
Katelyn Eckroth tosses the ball up for a serve against the Seton Catholic Cougars on Sept. 9.

Mountaineers put away pesky Seton Catholic in four sets in season opener

Rainier High School volleyball head coach Carrie Ooms and the team’s seniors stressed the importance of communication on the court all offseason. In their season opener Monday, Sept. 9, …
Quarterback Parker Myers, left, hands off to Nathan Ford, right, against Mount Tahoma on Sept. 5.

Tornados locked in on season

By Dylan Reubenking dylan@yelmonline.com The Yelm High School football team earned its first victory of the season before the pads even came on. After hours of uncertainty swirled …
Katelyn Eckroth tosses the ball up for a serve against the Seton Catholic Cougars on Sept. 9.

Mountaineers put away pesky Seton Catholic in four sets in season opener

Rainier High School volleyball head coach Carrie Ooms and the team’s seniors stressed the importance of communication on the court all offseason. In their season opener Monday, Sept. 9 …
Tenino’s Mason Thompson attempts to block Rainier’s Jayden Alegarbes during a week one football game at Rainier High School on Friday, Sept. 6.

Beavers trounce Mountaineers 43-7 in contentious season opener

While the Route 507 Rivalry hasn’t seen a football contest in 11 years, the Rainier Mountaineers and the Tenino Beavers treated each other like bitter enemies during their Week 1 contest in …

Tornados storm back from 14-point deficit to defeat Mount Tahoma in season opener

Yelm defensive back Maurice Williams (1) stares down Mount Tahoma wide receiver Angel Urban after making a tackle on Sept. 5.

The Yelm High School football team’s season-opening contest against Mount Tahoma Thursday, Sept. 5, was comparable to the last several weeks in the Yelm education sphere. It began with anxiety, …

Prep football preview: Tenino's senior group ready for breakthrough campaign

Tenino's Jack Burkhardt catches a pass during the first week of football practice at Tenino High School on Friday, Aug. 23.

TENINO — Michael Vassar has circled the 2024 season on his calendar. He and the rest of the Tenino High School senior class have been playing football and all sports together since they …

Meldrum, Mountaineers looking to take another step forward

Rainier's Ryder Rice takes an end-around and turns upfield during a practice on Sept. 3.

Last season was a step in the right direction for the Rainier football team. After three straight seasons of two or fewer wins, the Mountaineers rattled off six wins in the regular season en …

Opinion
Sen. John Braun of Centralia serves the 20th Legislative District, which spans parts of four counties from Yelm to Vancouver. He became Senate Republican leader in 2020.

John Braun: Need more reasons to support I-2117 and end the hidden gas tax? Try these

Well, there they go again. Opponents of Initiative 2117, which would repeal Washington's costly cap-and-tax law, are repeating the lie that passing the initiative would put our state's roads and …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

Annual Rainier Pickin' Party a success

Editor, It's done. The 30th Rainier Pickin' Party is over. Who would have thought that such a hot and sunny festival season would have produced an honest-to-goodness, stereotypical Pacific …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

Levy naysayers significantly harmed district

Editor, We’re not in Boston, and this is not a tea party! Over the years, we have seen a greater revolt in our community over passing dollars needed to keep our Yelm Community Schools …

A lot is at stake for employers in this year’s election

We often hear that an upcoming election is the most important one in years, maybe even decades — possibly ever. It’s easy to dismiss this as election hype, but there are good reasons why …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

There are no Trump-proof Republicans running for public office

Editor, John Sununu, Republican governor of New Hampshire, is a guy I could vote for. In interviews he is likable, energetic and gives straight knowledgeable answers to questions — …

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Obituaries
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.
In loving memory of Kristi Marie Cichon Spark
Kristi Marie Cichon Spark (nee Bircher) passed away on May 22, 2024, in Olympia, Washington, at the age of 50. She was born on Dec. 6, 1973, in Tacoma, Washington, to Vern and Linda Bircher. Kristi …
In loving memory of John Reeves: Feb. 3, 1947 - May 17, 2024
It is with great sadness that we announce John “Papa” Reeves, of Yelm, passed away peacefully on May 17, 2024, at his home in Lake Lawrence, exactly as he wished it to be. He joins …

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