Take a trip through our area’s rich history for May 1, 2025

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
• Reverend David E. Monsen was to become pastor of Emanuel Lutheran Church on Tuesday, May 6. Reverend Monsen, who was born and raised in Illinois, received his ordination in Sumner at Christ the King Lutheran Church on April 29.
• George Coulter stepped down as the secretary and manager of the Nisqually Valley Moose Lodge after a 10-year stint. Coulter, along with his wife, were the honored guests at a special retirement party at the lodge.
• Firemen responded to a fire at the wrecking yard of Woodruff Auto Wrecking on Graybill Road last week. The fire was found blazing in old tires and among junked auto bodies, with gas tanks nearby. There was no one else present in the yard.
• Specialist Four Nile Bisher, a Rainier High School graduate, received a nine-year pin in recognition of his accomplishments as an adult Boy Scout leader at Fork Polk, Louisiana. Bisher had 22 years of scouting experience at the time.

A look back at this week, 35 years ago
• A Yelm man named Greg Franz, 26, was arrested in Roy for carrying 25 gallons of methylamide, a chemical used to make methamphetamine. Officers seized enough of the chemical to make 170 pounds of methamphetamine, then valued at $1.7 million, according to Chief Criminal Deputy Ray Hansen of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
• A spring cleanup was held Saturday in Yelm City Park. Volunteers indicated a steady stream of cars, trucks and pickups visited the site shortly after 8 a.m. and continued until all three 50-yard containers were filled.
• Local FFA Alumni held a successful auction last Saturday, raising $3,500 for Yelm and Rainier FFA. The auction was held at Cattlemen’s Livestock Exchange with Larry Schorno as auctioneer.
• The Economic Development Corporation of the Port of Olympia approved a $60,500,000 bond issue for development of a refuse collection center in Bucoda. WIDCO Waste Services, Inc., the firm in charge of the development, expected to begin construction in late 1991.

A look back at this week, 25 years ago
• Police arrested a 16-year-old boy on two charges of making threats to bomb. The student had left threatening notes in the Yelm High School vice principal’s office on two separate occasions. Yelm police were still investigating bomb threats written at the middle school, though they had been identified as a hoax.
• Rainier’s city council debated whether to adopt a fire code and mandate fire inspections of local buildings. At the time, the council wasn’t sure who should be responsible for providing the inspections, or who should pay.
• The Yelm High School baseball team defeated North Mason to clinch the Pierce County League title. The victory put them one win away from a state tournament berth.
• Opening day of general fishing kicked off at area spots like Clear Lake, McIntosh Lake and Lawrence Lake. Young anglers Nick and Cody Hinkle of Rochester caught their limits at McIntosh Lake within just one hour of fishing.

A look back at this week, 15 years ago
• The Rainier School Board took no vote last Thursday to accept the resignation of its chairman, Patrick Barrett, which ran contrary to its own published policy. Superintendent Dennis Friedrich said that the board’s acknowledgement of the resignation was all that was needed to finalize it.
• The City of Yelm temporarily suspended the processing of building permits, as city officials waited to hear back from the state Department of Health about its water conservation program. The city had expected to be issued a number of connections for its water system.
• Yelm police arrested four people on two separate occasions last week on suspicion of selling marijuana. One alleged transaction happened in front of Yelm’s chief of police, Todd Stancil, when he was sitting in his car in the City Hall parking lot near the Yelm-Tenino Trail head.
• The Rainier Senior Center enjoyed a comprehensive makeover thanks to generous donations from area businesses. The renovation included new siding, three new doors, new windows, new back steps and a new paint job.