Local news
Homeless sex-crime offenders eligible for Thurston County court alternative program
Thurston County will soon launch a court alternative pilot program for homeless people who commit offenses, including domestic violence and sex crimes. Thurston County’s court alternative …
Yelm district votes to place levy measure on February ballot
Yelm Community Schools (YCS) will ask the community once again to pass its educational programs and operations (EP&O) levy as the Board of Directors approved a resolution to place the levy …
YMS staffer who denied restroom access to menstruating student placed on administrative leave
A Yelm Middle School staff member involved in a recent incident in which an eighth grade student was denied permission to use the restroom after having her period in class has been placed on …
City may not implement property tax increase next year
Yelm taxpayers will likely not see a 1% increase in property tax in 2025 as Yelm Finance Director Stephanie Nanavich recommended against the slight hike in money collected from residents during a …
Yelm City Council declares potholes a public nuisance by 5-2 vote
The City of Yelm can officially repair potholes and bill property owners where the pothole resides after city councilors voted 5-2 in favor of declaring potholes a public nuisance. Councilors …
Public speaks against YMCA taking over Tahoma Valley Golf Course
Prior to Yelm city councilors voting 4-3 against the city purchasing the Tahoma Valley Golf Course from the South Sound YMCA on Tuesday, Oct. 22, several residents of the Nisqually Valley community …
Council votes no to golf course purchase, sales agreement with YMCA
By a decision of 4-3 during Oct. 22’s meeting, Yelm City Council voted against the City of Yelm from buying the Tahoma Valley Golf Course, 15425 Mosman Ave., from the South Sound YMCA through a …
Yelm parks, roads set to receive upgrades based on early 2025-26 capital budget
Yelm residents will soon have an idea of how the city’s capital budget will shape up, as Yelm Finance Director Stephanie Nanavich and Public Works Director Cody Colt gave specifics behind the …
What's Happening: Trick or Treat, Blue Star Marker ceremony, Silent Auction
Thursday, Oct. 31 City of Yelm trick-or-treat Several City of Yelm buildings will be on their spookiest behavior from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, as Yelm City Hall, 106 Second St. …
Donald Trump to host telephone town hall for congressional candidate Joe Kent
Former President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will host a telephone town hall for congressional candidate Joe Kent Tuesday evening. The call, scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., …
State lawmaker to make another push to ‘Ditch the Switch’
State lawmakers will make another push to end daylight savings time when the Legislature reconvenes in January. On Sunday, state Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, announced he would introduce …
Rainier Rail receives $1.7 million in federal grants to improve four bridges, Washington senators announce
The Rainier Rail company will receive $1.7 million in federal funds to improve four bridges in Western Washington, including the Minnesota St. Bridge in Rainier, according to a joint announcement …
State & Regional News
Thurston County issues algae danger alert for Lake Lawrence
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services reported an algae danger alert for Lake Lawrence, Friday, Oct. 25. Lab results taken from Lake Lawrence on Oct. 22 detected microcystins toxin …
Thurston County set to introduce new court alternative program
Thurston County law and justice stakeholders announced on Monday, Oct. 21, the upcoming launch of the Thurston County Court Alternative Program (TC-CAP) on Dec. 1, 2024. The program will take an …
Mask requirement at Washington county’s auditor's office produces standoff
An Island County elections observer was escorted out of the Auditor’s Office on Monday for refusing to wear a facemask. The masking requirement came from Island County Auditor Sheilah …
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 …
Life
The Ridgeline and Yelm middle school fastpitch teams pose for a photo with Brandi Abramoski, right, on Oct. 22.

Yelm middle school fastpitch teams raise money for family with breast cancer

“In this family, no one fights alone.” The seven-word message featured on the shirts of the Yelm and Ridgeline middle schools fastpitch teams was as widespread as the smiles and pink …
From the left, Communications Specialist Emily Evans, Sanctuary Director Pamela Maciel and Sanctuary Executive Director Geoff Willard smile for a photo while Hodari the wolf rolls inside his enclosure at Wolf Haven International in Tenino on Thursday, Oct. 24.

Wolf Haven in Tenino receives global federation’s Outstanding Wildlife Sanctuary Award

When Wolf Haven International was first established in Tenino in 1982, it operated under a philosophy that, while standard for the times, put the interests of humans over the interests of the animals …
A service dog takes in the breezy weather outside Worthy Coffee Co. on Oct. 19.

Local nonprofit pairing veterans with trained service dogs

Visitors to Worthy Coffee Co. in Roy on Saturday, Oct. 19, may have seen a new drink on the menu called “The Kona,” a white chocolate and English toffee latte topped with whipped cream, …
More information about a fundraiser for Jonny

JOHNNY BOY STRONG

The Yelm community is stepping up to the plate to help fundraise for 5-year-old Jonny Jennerjahn and his family, as he battles through a terminal diagnosis of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). …
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 — …

  • 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
The business paperwork for Kawaii Donut House may have Tiffany Lin’s name on it, but the mastermind behind the family-run business in Yelm is her 11-year-old son Brandon Pham. After all, …
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 …
Sports

DISTRICT CHAMPS: Mountaineer cross country girls secure fourth straight title with dominant performance

The Rainier Mountaineers girls cross country team hoists the trophy after winning the district title on Nov. 2.
The Rainier High School cross country program made history at the 1B/2B District 4 championships at Rainier Elementary School Saturday, Nov. 2 as both the boys and girls teams clinched a top four …
Allyson Ooms lifts off for a spike attempt over the net against Napavine on Oct. 30.

Mountaineers close regular season with gritty 3-1 win over Tigers

The Rainier High School volleyball team has clinched third place in the Central 2B League in the 2024 regular season thanks to a gritty 3-1 road victory over Napavine 25-19, 25-15, 25-27, 25-15 …
Bol Bol is introduced in the starting lineups before Yelm's game against Kamiakin on Sept. 20.

YHS defensive end commits to Boise State

Bol Bol, a Yelm High School senior defensive end, announced Oct. 19 his verbal commitment to Boise State University to further his athletic and academic career. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound exchange …
Yelm's Austin Hitchner commits to William Penn University while on her visit to the school in Iowa.

Yelm softball’s Hitchner commits to William Penn University in Iowa

Yelm softball’s Austin Hitchner, a senior shortstop, has found her next home following the conclusion of her senior season with the Tornados as she committed to William Penn University on …
Allyson Ooms chases down the ball against Morton-White Pass on Oct. 28.

Mountaineers celebrate seniors, sweep Timberwolves

On a night where the Rainier High School volleyball team celebrated five seniors, the Mountaineers clobbered Morton-White Pass in a convincing sweep Monday, Oct. 28. Rainier honored Janess …
Rainier's Komaire Robles (front) and Jazzlyn Shumate run during the C2BL Championships on Thursday, Oct. 24 in Onalaska.

Prep girls cross country: Rainier continues season-long dominance with clean sweep

ONALASKA — Of all the schools in the C2BL, only Rainier High School fields enough girls for a team score. What remains to be seen on a per meet basis is if it finishes 1-2-3-4-5 to total a …
Parker Myers throws Jameson Patin's way against Olympia on Oct. 24.

Tornados crush Bears 36-13 on senior night behind five interceptions

The Yelm High School football team’s defense had a field day against the Olympia Bears as the Tornados recorded five interceptions in a 36-13 win on senior night Thursday, Oct. 24. Four of …

Rainier football moves to 5-3 with blowout victory over Mossyrock on homecoming

Rainier's Hunter Howell carries the ball against Mossyrock on Oct. 25.

The Rainier Mountaineers offense is rolling — scoring a combined 102 points in its last two outings, including a 60-56 win against Toutle Lake on Friday, Oct. 18, and its most recent 42-14 …

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

Holly Dorhauer, number 15, competes in a Yelm High School soccer matchup.

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 …

Opinion
The Capitol building in Olympia, home to the Senate and House chambers, is lit up on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

John Braun: Make Washington better by voting Republican

While every election is consequential, it certainly feels like more is riding on this one. There’s the presidential election, of course, and the question of who leads Congress. But as …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

People should be careful before voting for Trump

Editor, I just learned that, out of all the donations made from the 98597 zip code, only seven more donations were made from Republicans than Democrats. What could happen in a second Trump …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

MGP has done nothing to benefit residents

Editor, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is a mud-slinger and has done nothing for us. Take a look at your bank accounts. Take a look at gas prices. When they claim they struck down price gouging, in …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

Citizens of Yelm aim to make schools better for kids

Editor, I want to invite all mothers, fathers, guardians and community members to join us in a movement we call the "Citizens of Yelm." We are focused on rallying support to pass the next ballot …

Restoring fish passage worth the price

Fish passage restoration is not just a treaty rights issue — it benefits the entire region. No matter the expense, culvert repair is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase the …
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.