Local news
Lacey driver injured in crash on I-5 in Thurston County
A driver was injured when he struck a ditch and a sign on southbound Interstate 5 in Lacey on Friday, Oct. 23.  The driver, identified by the Washington State Patrol as Cameron C. Grunberg, …
FESS seeks community partners to bring holiday hope to local families
For many families, the holiday season is a time of excitement, traditions and making memories together. “But for families facing financial hardship, the holidays can also bring a painful …
Derek Sanders commits to continuing to improve the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office
Derek Sanders has spent the last four years rebuilding the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, and the community’s trust in the department, from the ground up. “We have seen historic …
Pettit says he has the experience to handle water affordability crisis at Thurston PUD
The cost of providing safe and reliable drinking water in Thurston County is steadily increasing. Inflation, construction costs, and necessary treatment costs to address PFAS “forever …
Jeff Curry looks to provide fair, reliable and affordable water for Thurston PUD customers
Jeff Curry seeks to ensure that Thurston County’s utility services remain fair, reliable and affordable for every resident. To do so, Curry is running for Position 3 on the Thurston PUD Board …
Providence Swedish Mobile Health Clinic brings care to residents displaced by Tumwater apartment blaze
When an apartment fire in Tumwater occurred Oct. 15, it left dozens of residents unable to return home. Some of the residents also lost access to essentials like oxygen, insulin and heart medications …
Emily Clouse looks to apply compassion, experience to another term as Thurston County commissioner
Emily Clouse has spent her first term on the Thurston County Board of Commissioners integrating herself into the work the county does in the community and gaining a deeper understanding of the …
In Focus: Fire and Ice charity basketball game pits the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office against local firefighters
On Saturday night, a matchup between Thurston County Sheriff's Office employees and local firefighters — better known as the Fire and Ice charity basketball game — was held at Tumwater High …
Let’s Go WA founder Brian Heywood appearance canceled in Olympia following ‘threats of violent protest’
The Thurston County Mainstream Republicans was set to have its regular Wednesday luncheon meeting in Olympia on Wednesday, Oct. 21, when the group was unexpectedly forced to cancel. The reason …
FEMA launches option to buy national flood insurance policy online
It is now easier than ever for Washington residents to prepare for the devastating financial consequences of flooding, a news release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stated this …
“Help is on its way”: Marilyn Strickland addresses impact federal cuts have had on local food security
John Ficker became the executive director of the Thurston County Food Bank on July 1, 2025. By the end of his first week, the U.S. federal government had passed H.R. 1. Among other things, …
Yelm superintendent warns of drastic consequences for the district if levy fails for a fifth time
Yelm Community Schools is on its fifth attempt to pass an educational programs and operations maintenance levy.  The levy is necessary for the financial stability of the school district, …
State & Regional News
Soccer team, security scrutinized after Brandi Kruse, group removed over t-shirts
Pressure is increasing on Providence Park Stadium and the Portland Thorns soccer team following an incident Friday night in which Seattle podcaster Brandi Kruse and several others said they were …
These measures on Washington ballots could shake up local government
Voters may evict the sheriff from office in Pierce County, make Snohomish County Council seats nonpartisan and bar residents from serving on the Everett City Council and in the Legislature, even …
NFIB warns of small business exodus unless voters repeal Washington income tax
The National Federation for Independent Business is sounding the alarm about impacts on small businesses in Washington if the recently passed income tax remains in place. Washington State …
More than 700,000 Washington state voters have cast ballots
Washington state voters are getting the message: Don’t wait to turn in your ballots. As of Friday afternoon, 705,231 ballots had been returned with 66.4% arriving via drop boxes, a sign early …
DOJ sending election monitors to Washington’s King County
It’s unclear what role federal election monitors will play or how many there will be in King County on Election Day. The U.S. Department of Justice informed King County Elections Director …
New lawsuit challenges I-5 bridge design, citing navigation issues
A lawsuit has been filed to block the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s current fixed-span design, with the litigants arguing the 116-foot vertical navigation clearance would restrict …
Washington state officials urge leaders not to spend $51 million Meta fine yet
Meta has paid Washington state a record-setting fine of more than $51 million for violating campaign finance laws, but lawmakers are being cautioned not to get too excited about the money.  …
Largest gas pipeline network in Northwest could grow as Oklahoma-based owners pursue expansion
The Oklahoma-based company that owns one of the largest gas pipeline networks in the Northwest is beginning to pursue permits to expand that network, and to pump more gas to the region to meet rising …
House Speaker makes case for unseating MGP in Washington’s heated congressional race
House Speaker Mike Johnson returned to Washington state on Wednesday to campaign alongside Republican John Braun, a sign of how important the state senator’s bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. …
Life
Rory Aldana drives into the lane against Tony Dominguez during the Fire and Ice charity basketball game at Tumwater High School on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Sheriff's Office v. Firefighters: Fire and Ice charity basketball game is Oct. 24

Local firefighters and Thurston County Sheriff’s Office employees will hit the hardwood on Saturday, Oct. 24, for the fourth annual Fire and Ice charity basketball game at Tumwater High School. …

The WET Science Center’s fall lineup brings the outdoors inside

With rain in the forecast and cooler temperatures, it’s time to find affordable ways to have fun inside.  The WET Science Center is ready to help!  Most middle schoolers in …
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Detective Hannah Ritter, and one of the newer recruits to the department, Gus, arrive at Yelm Community Center — where the K9 was introduced to the community at a town hall meeting with Sheriff Derek Sanders on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Meet Gus: Thurston County Sheriff’s Office introduces newest K9 member

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders, accompanied by his executive staff and senior officers, held a town hall at the Yelm Community Center on Wednesday, Oct. 7.  Setting aside the usual …
Creativity, innovation and community will come together as Lacey MakerSpace opens its doors for the Festival of Sparks, its annual fundraiser, from 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. The event is free and open to all.

Lacey MakerSpace invites the community to Festival of Sparks

Creativity, innovation and community will come together as Lacey MakerSpace opens its doors for the Festival of Sparks, its annual fundraiser, from 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. The event is free …
People loading onto the North Thurston Public School Buses at the Hawks Prairie Park & Ride on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, during the Nisqually Watershed Festival.

Poster contest draws hundreds of children to the 37th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival

A vibrant crowd of young nature enthusiasts and families flooded the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, Sept. 26, for the 37th annual Nisqually Watershed Festival, …

  • Nisqually Valley News Bites Ep. 4: Ashley Brooks and Jesse Kellems talk levy efforts
  • Nisqually Valley News Bites Ep. 3: Yelm Mayor Joe DePinto talks journey to office, upcoming projects
Business
In January 2021, Lewis County-based CT Publishing entered the world of journalism, purchasing The Chronicle in Centralia, the Nisqually Valley News in Yelm, and The Reflector in Clark County. …
With construction of Jolene Unsoeld Community Park set to begin this fall, the Olympia community is raising concerns about what the development means to a longstanding berry stand on the property. …
Talent turnover is accelerating, technology is reshaping roles, and the gap between what workers expect and what employers are offering is widening. These challenges, and the opportunities they …
TransAlta Centralia is expected to begin operations generating power through burning natural gas by 2028 and cease all burning of fossil fuels by a state deadline of 2044. The Washington state …
Providence St. Peter Hospital’s heart care program recently enhanced its outpatient cardiology services as well as hospital-based interventional, electrophysiology, structural heart, cardiothoracic …
Sports

Mountaineers sweep Pirates to cap regular season

The Rainier volleyball team picked up a victory on its Senior Night on Monday night, as the Mountaineers swept Adna 25-8, 25-17, 25-11. “They played great as a team and we finished our season …

Rainier clinches crossover berth with win over Toutle Lake

The Rainier football team clinched a postseason berth on Saturday, when the Mountaineers defeated Toutle Lake 62-24. The Mountaineers were rolling on offense throughout the first half, as they …

Yelm can’t complete rally in loss to Spanaway Lake

The Yelm football team put forth its best effort of the season, falling just short on the road to Spanaway Lake 28-21 on Thursday, Oct. 22. After Spanaway Lake took a 14-0 lead in the second …

Yelm swept by Spanaway Lake

The Yelm volleyball team fell to Spanaway Lake in a sweep (25-19, 25-15, 25-21) in its penultimate game of the regular season. Yelm was led by Riley Smith with 11 digs and four aces, while Kora …
Rainier’s Komaire Robles competes in the 1600-meter run during day one of the state track and field championships at Zaepfel Stadium in Yakima on Thursday, May 28.

Toledo’s Hill, Rainier’s Robles triumph for second straight league titles

Two of the area’s biggest stars continued their quest for state hardware with some bragging rights amongst their C2BL competition. Conner Hill of Toledo and Komaire Robles from Rainier both …
Onalaska's Faith Hammer spikes the ball during a game against Rainier at Onalaska High School on Thursday, Oct. 22.

Loggers keep pace atop standings with sweep of Mountaineers

In one of the most highly anticipated C2BL contests this season, the Onalaska High School volleyball team brought out the brooms and posted a 25-15, 26-24, 25-20 sweep versus Rainier on Thursday …
Yelm's Deejay Taylor and Rainier's Komaire Robles compete in the Yelm Tornado 5K at Yelm High School on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Yelm seniors Taylor, Andujar dominate in final home meet at Yelm Tornado 5K

Marcos Andujar and Deejay Taylor are shining examples of how the Yelm cross country program’s culture is working. Yelm’s two top senior runners are barreling toward postseason success in the …

Tenino alum Takari Hickle continues to dominate as Beavers defeat Cougars

Oregon State edge Takari Hickle (44) runs for a block on Washington State tight end Jack Pederson (28) at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore., on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Tenino alum Takari Hickle is no stranger to getting after the quarterback. In his All-Area MVP campaign in 2021, the former Beaver shined as a two-way star, rushing for more than 2,000 yards, but he …

Youthful Yelm girls soccer making progress under first-year head coach Temple

Yelm

YELM — Dave Temple didn’t sugarcoat it. “It’s been a rough season,” he said. The first-year head coach of the Yelm girls soccer team made this declaration moments after the …

Rainier rolls to sweep of Raymond/South Bend

The Rainier volleyball team rolled to a victory on Monday night, sweeping Raymond/South Bend 25-22, 25-12, 25-12 on the road in Raymond. Allyson Ooms led the way with 18 kills and 16 digs, while …

Opinion
Wayne Fournier is a firefighter, Thurston County commissioner and former mayor who has spent more than three decades working in public safety.

Wayne Fournier: Considering the most important thing a law enforcement officer carries

When I first took office as a 32-year-old city council member, I immediately had a problem sitting on my desk that I didn't fully understand. It was 2012. We had a brash, unprepared new mayor …
The possibility of removing four Snake River dams — Ice Harbor Dam, Lower Monumental Dam, Little Goose Dam and Lower Granite Dam — has long been a contentious one that has generally split along party lines. Shown is the Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, the first of four dams constructed as part of the Lower Snake River Project, authorized in the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1945. (Photo by Columbia River System Operations EIS)

Commentary: What people and computers say about the Northwest power supply

When you use an artificial intelligence system like ChatGPT, what it gives you depends on the prompt you enter. The answer is likely to be most useful if the prompt is carefully crafted. This …
Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal speaks during a Legislative Media Day at the Washington state Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Olympia.

Opinion: Washington Superintendent Reykdal advocates for politics over students

Will Washington state leave federal tax dollars on the table? It will if Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal gets his way. Governor Ferguson is currently just one of 16 Governors …
More than half of the Camas girls team — 13 of the 24 cross-country runners who took the starting line that day — refused to compete in their most recent race on Tuesday. They walked for the first 50 meters of the course, some with arms linked in solidarity, before leaving the race in protest. Another five girls from the Battle Ground team also refused to compete.

Brian Mittge: When walking off the playing field is the only move left

Something happened in Camas this week that was unsurprisingly bleak and yet also inspiringly hopeful. The story is the now all-too familiar tale of a boy competing in a girls’ sport, taking …

Opinion: Olympia must help schools live within their means

Last year, during difficult contract talks, Mead had to make a fair offer to staff without making promises our schools could not afford. That meant weighing costs, holding our ground, and saying no …
Obituaries
In loving memory of Garry James Brown: 1952-2026
Garry James Brown, D.O., born Sept. 22, 1952, in Olympia, Washington, passed away Sept. 19, 2026, at the age of 73 in Olympia after living with pancreatic cancer for two years. Garry lived a …
In Loving Memory of Robert Pape: 1939 - 2025
Robert A. Pape was born Oct. 11, 1939, and passed away Dec. 17, 2025. A celebration of life will be held Sept. 19, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. The service will be held at Mills & Mills Funeral …
In Loving Memory of Steven Demich: 1957 - 2026
Though he will be deeply missed, Steve’s spirit lives on in the countless lives he touched over the years. “A smile costs nothing, but gives so much.” Those who knew Steve know that he …
In loving memory of David Edwards: 1950 - 2025
Celebration of Life  David Edwards 11/9/1950 - 12/25/2025 Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 5 p.m. Yelm Moose Lodge
In loving memory of Mariel Lindblad: 1939-2026
Mariel Louise Lindblad (Price), 86, of Yelm, Washington, passed away on March 13, 2026. Born in Vancouver, Washington, Mariel spent most of her life in Humboldt County, California, before moving …
Community
Community Calendar for Dec. 18: Worthy Coffee Co. Santa photos, Souper Sunday at Yelm Lions Club, YARD’s ‘Level Up Lounge’ grand opening
Friday, Dec. 19 Yelm boys basketball hosts Puyallup Yelm High School’s boys basketball team will host the 4A SPSL’s Puyallup High School at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, inside the YHS gymnasium. …
Community Calendar for Dec. 4: Free pictures with Santa, Christmas in the Park activities, 14th annual Yelm Lions Christmas Store, Santa Story and Ice Cream Social
Friday, Dec. 5 Free pictures with Santa The City of Yelm’s parks and recreation department will host free pictures with Santa from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, at the Yelm Community …
Community Calendar for November 27: Tenino Holiday Market, Christmas in the Park tree lighting ceremony, Free pictures with Santa
Friday, Nov. 28 to Sunday Nov. 30 Tenino Holiday Market The 2025 Tenino Holiday Market will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28, Saturday, Nov. 29, and Sunday, Nov. 30, at The Kodiak …
Community Calendar for November 20: Prestige Senior Living Rosemont’s Christmas Bazaar, Tenino Holiday Market, Christmas in the Park tree lighting ceremony
Saturday, Nov. 22 Prestige Senior Living Rosemont’s Christmas Bazaar Prestige Senior Living Rosemont, located 215 Killion Rd NW, will host its Christmas Bazaar event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on …
Community Calendar for November 13: Prestige Senior Living Rosemont’s Christmas Bazaar, Tenino Holiday Market, Christmas in the Park tree lighting ceremony, Free pictures with Santa
Saturday, Nov. 22 Prestige Senior Living Rosemont’s Christmas Bazaar Prestige Senior Living Rosemont, located 215 Killion Rd NW, will host its Christmas Bazaar event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on …