Take a trip through our area’s rich history for May 15

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
• A birthday party at Deschutes Falls took an unfortunate turn when Debra J. Hoyland, 27, collapsed after tussling with her husband. Medics indicated that the Tumwater woman had suffered an aneurysm in her head from natural causes. No charges were filed.
• The Yelm Tornados boys track team tied for first in the Black Hills League along with Shelton and Capital. The title came as the Tornados upset host Timberline, 97-48.
• John Driebeck of Olympia, a member of the Thurston County planning commission, said that Yelm would be one of the last areas to receive the subarea land treatment and if residents were not vigilant, they would not receive what they wanted when the final county plan was adopted. Driebeck indicated the days of the individual home — and personal property — were passing by.
• Secretaries of Yelm School District paid tribute to their bosses Tuesday by presenting them with a sheet cake that included the legend, “To Our Great Bosses.” The tribute was in observance of National Boss’s Week.

A look back at this week, 35 years ago
• A proposal for a 1,200-acre parcel development near Yelm was scheduled for the Yelm City Council meeting next Wednesday, May 23. The 1,610-home development included homes, golf courses, and “light” commercial businesses.
• Nisqually Valley Care Center in McKenna received certification under the quality validation program of the Washington Health Care Association. The program was an effort by the association to establish a high standard for the state’s nursing home care.
• A letter was received by the Yelm City Council from a Yelm citizen who was concerned about the use of blowers to clean privately-owned parking lots. The citizen was worried the blowers were creating a dust health hazard.
• Robert L. Brown, a senior at Yelm High School, enlisted in the Navy for guaranteed training in the fireman apprentice program. Following basic, Brown was to begin four weeks of schooling in San Diego in the fireman field with a basic course in engineering and mechanical skills.

A look back at this week, 25 years ago
• A Nisqually Pines boy was rushed to a Tacoma hospital after suffering a devastating attack by a friend’s pit bull terrier. The boy and his mother had stopped by a friend’s home after fishing at a nearby creek when the terrier, who was on a line, chased and overtook the boy, biting him on the head.
• A group of Yelm residents opposed a possible mobile home park development next to their neighborhood. Debbie Stillwell, member of the Huntington Green Community Association, said that most residents didn’t know of the bid to develop the neighboring site until the night before a period of city public comment closed.
• Joseph D. Kraut, Jr., 17, a senior at Yelm High School, died after a collision off Railway Road. According to the Washington State Patrol, Kraut was driving north on Railway Road about 10 p.m., when he struck a bridge abutment. The Dodge Shadow rolled into the Centralia canal, coming to rest upside down in the water.
• Construction on Prairie Park, location of Prairie Cinema, was in full swing. The eight-screen multiplex theater was to be managed by Prairie Development Co., rather than a corporate group, and was scheduled to open by the holiday season.

A look back at this week, 15 years ago
• Master Sgt. Mark W. Coleman, 40, of Yelm, died May 2 at Khakrez, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Coleman, his wife and his daughter had lived in Yelm for the previous two years.
• A Tenino police sergeant was put on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation into allegations of professional misconduct involving a 15-year-old girl. The sergeant had previously been in charge of a second-degree rape, child molestation and incest case where the girl was an alleged victim.
• Yelm High School’s FFA club was named the state’s top chapter for the 11th time in 13 years. There were 137 chapters in the state at the time.
• A Yelm home caught fire Tuesday evening due to a yellow bucket full of cigarette butts near the house. Not all the butts were out and the entire bucket ignited. Crews put the fire out in 10 minutes.