Editor,
We went to the Yelm 100-year documentary at the theaters on Dec. 9. It was a special moment with my son to reflect on Yelm’s past, especially since I grew up with most of the folks who were interviewed. I always considered Gary and Debbie Edwards as surrogate parents. My family always had a tab with Gene Coulter for car parts at NAPA! Besides our GTO, we grew VW bugs like rabbits! I had the freedom in my younger years of camping, fishing, swimming, riding bikes and dirt bikes with Wayne McCarten and other friends. The Pines and canal were our sanctuary! One time, we came back from a snow camping trip at Mount St. Helens, the year before it blew, and on our return the old Methodist church was on fire! We had great views on May 18, 1980, and all the other times the mountain had hiccups. We bailed hay for each other. We helped each other put up firewood for the winter. Nothing like working at a chicken farm as a kid to exchange the chickens! Pulled tansy, picked strawberries and had a good time doing it! We either made it to the lake or the Deschutes trestle in Rainier to cool down after a long day of work. A great treat was going to Hutnicks’ where it was guaranteed you’d hear Pat Benatar or Rod Stewart on the jukebox. The old football wooden stadium was a classic. We were called cow pie high, rotten tomatoes on away games, since the dairy farms would fertilize their fields during Friday night lights while we played on a bog, ankle deep in mud! We had Gary Walker take a bunch of kids playing baseball in cow fields to kick booty over every team in middle school! There are so many icons in this town: Gaylord Strand, enough said! Yelm has always had great coaches. Wayne Christenson took me under his wing my freshman year to introduce me to track. I’m sure he regrets it since I cost the district some cash breaking poles, pole vaulting. No need to mention Mr. Bergh. Our history would likely be lost without him! There are so many teachers who made a difference in my life! I’m blessed that many of my kids’ teachers were classmates of mine. Nothing but quality!!
In the documentary, I only wished there was more about the old high school since it was an icon of the town for much of the town’s history. Teacher, donkey basketball games in the old gym! Priceless! It hit me that I’ve been here for 50 of the 100 years of history!
This is my “why” for passing the levy. Only this town can provide the experiences and memories our kids will cherish. Why ruin culture and history?
Doug Jaquez
Yelm
