Take a trip through our area’s rich history for April 10

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
• A group-therapy program to help people stop smoking was set to begin April 13, 1980, at 7:30 p.m. in the Yelm Middle School cafeteria, starting with a clinic, followed by five sessions on successive nights. The Five-Day Plan to Stop Smoking utilized a personal daily control booklet and a “buddy system.”
• Lt. Jeff Petersen spoke Monday night at the Yelm Lions Club meeting, where he discussed the workings of nuclear submarines and how they compared to their Russian counterparts. Petersen was home on leave before joining the nuclear attack submarine Tunny stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
• Egg hunters endured rain and hail on Easter Sunday at Yelm Community Park. Three divisions swept through the park collecting the 60 dozen eggs before receiving prizes. The Yelm Lions Club staged the event.
• Eva and Jim Dittbenner were surprised Saturday evening, April 5, on their 40th wedding anniversary by about 150 friends and family who had secretly gathered in the Yelm St. Columban Church social hall. The couple were presented with a red rose boutonniere and corsage. Cake was served, and a three-piece band played old favorites.

A look back at this week, 35 years ago
• The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with the Olympia Police Department, Tumwater Police Department and the Washington State Liquor Control Board, conducted a sting operation over the last weekend involving the purchase of alcoholic beverages by minors. Thirty-three businesses were contacted in the unincorporated areas of Thurston County, where 14 sold alcoholic beverages to the minors.
• The Yelm Community Schools Board of Directors prepared for a lengthy agenda in advance of the next public meeting scheduled for April 12, 1990, which included the introduction of Tom Vitale as Fort Stevens principal, along with a review of contracts for supplemental, extracurricular, and community education, plus multiple teaching contracts.
• Fort Lewis officials announced they would be continuing late-night artillery firing April 17 through 20. The required nighttime training could not be conducted during daylight hours, according to the officials.
• The South Thurston County Historical Society opened the Tenino Depot Museum for the season, featuring a display of sandstone and quarry tools set up by stone carver Keith Phillips. A collection of dolls, including Kewpie dolls of all sizes, and a collection of homemade jewelry were also on display.

A look back at this week, 25 years ago
• A Yelm water analysis conducted by the state Department of Health declared that the source of Well 3-A was ground water under the influence of surface water, which made it susceptible to giardia cysts, whose origin is the feces of warm-blooded animals. The city was required to provide a form of interim disinfection of the water from Well 3-A.
• Yelm mayor Kathy Wolf spoke about city growth during her annual State of the City address Tuesday at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon held at the Nisqually Valley Moose Family Center. Prairie Park, the new public works yard and the Rail-Trail were just a few of the projects mentioned by the mayor.
• Roy City Council members argued with a representative of Pierce County Fire Prevention Services over whether the city should pay for fire inspection services. Pierce County had previously paid for the inspections, but a gradual loss of taxpayers into unincorporated areas had cut back on its revenue. The contract would have cost Roy about $321, or 87 cents for every resident.
• The Yelm High School softball team shut out Clover Park 25-0 Tuesday, led by the pitching of Sarah Akin. First year coach Mike Carruth was confident his team could stay competitive in a league that featured undefeated Fife and Lakes.

A look back at this week, 15 years ago
• Pierce County Animal Control seized three horses last week at Carousel Stables, a boarding and training facility in Roy, after discovering the three horses standing in mounds of feces and urine-soaked straw. Darlene Wilson, owner of the horses, said she was hospitalized for three weeks in March, and that her horses were seized the day after she got out.
• Partners with the Yelm Medical Office Building celebrated the official groundbreaking of the new facility Saturday. The 36,000-square-foot medical facility was anticipated to take about 11 months to complete.
• A Shelton man was arrested in Yelm last Thursday after he allegedly became aggressive toward police. Yelm Police had responded to reports that the man, Adam Stroud, 30, was in the Safeway parking lot repeatedly ramming his car into another vehicle.
• Police responded to two possible arson cases last week near Lake Lawrence and in Clearwood. One of the victim’s barns appeared to be on fire, said Thurston County Sheriff Spokesperson Cheryl Stines. Police documented what appeared to be some kind of petroleum product on the wall.