Enjoy these snapshots of articles written in past issues of the Nisqually Valley News from 45, 35, 25 and 15 years ago, respectively.
A Look Back at This Week,
45 Years Ago
- The Yelm Town Council got close to the heart of all businessmen in its regular meeting as members talked about a stiffer business and occupation tax measure based on schedules used by Olympia and Lacey.
- A 17-year-old Yelm girl was confined to an Olympia hospital with extensive injuries as she escaped an attempted rape. She received multiple cuts on her head, feet and back plus internal injuries when she jumped from a moving auto.
- A shooting incident in a shopping center parking lot wounded two Yelm residents Aug. 11, 1979. Yelm police indicated they had uncovered 70 to 80 shotgun pellets lodged in the rear of Bob’s Tavern building, and both victims received pellets in the arms and body.
- The Stokers soccer team, composed of members aged 8 to 9, began its first season with two league victories against the Western Meat Warriers, 2-1, and Charley’s RV World, 0-0.
A Look Back at This Week,
35 Years Ago
- A fire of “mysterious” origin destroyed the home of Walter Faulkner on 93rd Avenue Aug. 13, 1989. The home was fully involved when firemen arrived shortly after 3 a.m. There was no one home when the blaze was reported by neighbors.
- Three vandals were caught after spray painting obscenities on the wall outside Messiah Stud Ranch Aug. 14, 1989. Yelm officers took two juveniles into custody at the scene, but the third escaped to the adjacent field, where he was later arrested.
- The manufactured home of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Agosto Jr. in Nisqually Pines was destroyed by fire Aug. 12, 1989. Yelm firemen were able to control the blaze shortly after their arrival using a new foam process adopted by the department. While the family was at home at the time, there were no injuries.
- Construction on Yelm’s fourth elementary school was slated to start within two weeks. The firm of C&T Construction of Tacoma was the lowest-bidding general contractor on the 36,000-square-foot school with a price of $2,608,000. The new school was set to be constructed on a 23-acre site off 100th Street and scheduled to be opened the following fall.
A Look Back at This Week,
25 Years Ago
- A black column of smoke just north of Yelm signaled the destruction of a woman’s home on Burnett Road Aug. 16, 1999. The cause of the blaze was listed as a possible shorted electrical wire and was believed to have originated near the home’s utility room.
- The Rainier Town Council was slated to decide whether to put the issue of Rainier annexing into Thurston County Fire District No. 4 to a public vote. A vote would have ended a years-long debate among town officials.
- The possibility of trying rape suspect Johnny J. Davis, 16, as an adult was discussed in Thurston County Juvenile Court. Davis was arrested by Yelm police in January for the alleged rape of a 4-year-old girl living in his neighborhood.
- Rainier Mayor William “Mike” Elliott was slated to meet with the Rainier School Board to hammer out a deal that would have transferred ownership of the old Rainier schoolhouse on Centre Street to the Rainier Historical Society.
A Look Back at This Week,
15 Years Ago
- The City of Yelm’s application for the McMonigle water rights transfer application was denied by the state Department of Ecology. Among the reasons cited for the denial were a procedural error and failure to analyze impacts to Thompson Creek.
- The phase one project for the Yelm Bypass was set to go to bid Nov. 9, 2009, and motorists were expected to be traveling down the first phase by 2011. Assistant project manager Jeffrey Petterson said construction was set to start in spring 2010 and should be functioning by January 2011.
- Yelm Police officers put their endurance to the test with a round of physical fitness testing. The testing was optional, and those who passed received a one-time sum of $300. This was the first year Yelm Police offered the testing, which was used as an incentive for officers to stay in shape.
- Charene Stovall, 13, and Cam’ron Stovall, 9, were two of the nation’s top athletes at the United States Track and Field Junior Olympics in Greensboro, North Carolina. Charene placed 15th in youth girls shot put, while Cam’ron placed 20th in high jump but could not advance.
