Take a trip through our area’s rich history for April 17

Enjoy these snapshots of articles written in past issues of the Nisqually Valley News from 45, 35, 25 and 15 years ago.

A look back at this week, 45 years ago
• Pat Bryne, the Yelm town engineer, presented a $3 million, six-year street program for consideration by the town council that called for the gradual improvement of the town’s streets.
• Roy resident Charles Flowers showed improvement since being pinned between his tractor and the front loader after a hose broke while he was checking the battery last Wednesday afternoon. His son, Chuck, had quickly used another tractor to release Flowers.
• Olympia resident Marsha A. Brinkman, 27, underwent surgery for over 12 hours following her fall from the McKenna bridge over the Milwaukee Railroad tracks between Yelm and Mckenna early Saturday morning. Brinkman had leapt from the bridge after escaping her burning automobile, which had slammed into the concrete bridge approach on the left side of the highway before spinning around and bursting into flames.
• Senior Bryan Enlow and sophomore Jim Enlow, of Yelm High School, were awarded trophies for placing first in the “A” doubles division with a handicapped score of 688 at the Olympia City Junior Bowling tournament.

A look back at this week, 35 years ago
• The Nisqually Indian Tribe filed a suit against Centralia City Light to prevent the alleged killing of salmon. The tribe claimed that thousands of fish were killed each year at the Centralia City Light Dam on the Nisqually Valley River due to poor screens on the dam’s fish ladder.
• Private John R. Holder, a 1988 Yelm High School graduate, arrived for duty at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Holder was an assistant dragon gunner with the 502nd Infantry Regiment.
• The new, 2,800-square foot Rainier Post Office, completed April 4, announced an open house for the afternoon of May 5. The new building boasted 16 parking places plus one handicapped space.
• The Yelm area was among several potential sites for a private Japanese school, said Tacoma Community College President Carl Opgaard. The school would have enrolled about 100 Japanese students in the first year and up to 300 students by the third year.

A look back at this week, 25 years ago
• Roy Deputy Fire Chief Bill C. Hansen resigned last Friday, citing childishness and ongoing feuds within the department and on the board of commissioners. The resignation ended a 20-year career with Pierce County Fire District No. 17.
• The Rainier School District practiced a school lock down last week in a progressive step to prepare its staff and students for the possibility of an armed intruder on campus.
• Yelm Community Schools curriculum director Lois Baker received an award for educator excellence from the Intel Foundation. Last month, Baker was chosen as the state’s outstanding school administrator by an association of Washington school employees.
• Yelm police responded to a burglary Monday night at Southern Comfort, the Yelm liquor store. Police didn’t believe much had been stolen — other than a few bottles of whiskey.

A look back at this week, 15 years ago
• Rainier School District Superintendent Dennis Friedrich feared district consolidation in anticipation of the statewide school district reorganization commission’s plan, set to be delivered to the Legislature by Dec. 1, 2012.
• Yelm City Council approved an agreement with Golder and Associates for consulting and well drilling for Southwest Well No. 2 in the amount of $615,223, with drilling to begin in the summer.
• Yelm Mayor Ron Harding used a tower of trash cans to represent the average utility customer’s usage while speaking to community business leaders Tuesday regarding the city’s new water conservation efforts.
• The Washington State Patrol matched state laws for non-police that prohibited troopers from texting and driving. The WSP policy required troopers to use hands-free devices if speaking on a cell phone while driving.