Take a trip through our area’s rich history for May 8

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
• Valerie M. Thurston, 18, a Yelm High School senior, died instantly Sunday afternoon when she was thrown from her vehicle while traveling on Bald Hill Road. Tracks indicated the vehicle swerved to the right, then left and back right again, before flipping over and rolling four times.
• Yelm marshals observed National Police Week as Mayor Lora B. Coates and Chief Bill Ruddell proclaimed May 15 Police Memorial Day. In the official proclamation, Coates indicated law enforcement officers were the guardians of life and property, defenders of the individual right to be free men, warriors in the war against crime and dedicated to the preservation of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
• Charlie Flowers, the Roy resident who suffered injury after being pinned between his tractor and the front loader, was said to be recovering. He hoped to return home soon.
• The Yelm boys track team earned one of their biggest victories in years, defeating visiting Elma 122-23. Standouts included Jim Walker with a high jump of 5 feet, 4 inches and Dave Lazelle with a 100-meter time of 11.8.

A look back at this week, 35 years ago
• Thurston County Sheriff’s and Yelm police officers teamed up to arrest Gerald LaFavor, 33, on May 6. U.S. Marshal and Customs officers had issued an arrest warrant for LaFavor in connection with drug smuggling in California and Texas. LaFavor was staying at a Yelm area residence.
• Twelve street signs were pulled up in Rainier sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The signs included a stop sign, a children at play sign and a railroad crossing sign. Vandals had left the signs in the back of a parked pickup truck and poured beer over them.
• Thurston County Health Department and the Olympia AIDS Task Force recognized Yelm High School students Laura Deckard and Jennifer Heinselman for their prizewinning posters in the responsible sexual decision-making contest. All contest entries were on display in the lobby of the health department.
• Yelm senior Ian McIntosh received an honorable mention in “Sassy” Magazine for his short story about a guy trying to forget an argument with his girlfriend while hanging out with friends. McIntosh was among ten high school students nationwide to win.

A look back at this week, 25 years ago
• A bill signed into law by Gov. Gary Locke required that medical prescriptions be legible. Yelm family practitioner William Elledge said that, while he was opposed to this new forced legislation, there was no doubt that clearly written prescriptions would improve accuracy and eliminate errors.
• Yelm Police Chief Glenn Dunnam was set to retire May 31, 2000, after leading the department for 11 years. Dunnam said he inherited a department held in poor esteem by the city. Under his direction, the force grew to eight full-time officers and six reserves, and Dunnam was lauded for his commitment to training.
• Local fire crews rushed to an empty, boarded-up house on Longmire Street after a neighbor reported seeing heavy smoke from the attic. No one was injured in the fire, but investigators found caches of cigarettes.
• Two teenagers pleaded innocent to charges of making threats to bomb at Yelm High School and Yelm Middle School last week. One boy was arrested after the second note was found in the high school; meanwhile, a 13-year-old girl appeared in court of her own volition after charges were filed against her related to threats made at the middle school.

A look back at this week, 15 years ago
• Yelm Councilman Russ Hendrickson and his wife, Yelm school board member Denise Hendrickson, did not have to face trial on assault charges, though charges of fourth-degree assault against the couple and their daughter were continued for two years with stipulations. The three had to pay a $250 fine and complete anger management treatment.
• Yelm police shut down three downtown bars early Sunday morning after officers responded to three separate fights outside Wayne’s Pub, Willoughby’s and the Pit Stop.
• The City of Yelm lifted its suspension of building permits after learning they would receive 47 additional water connections from the state Department of Health.
• Pending school board approval, Brian Wharton was to be named the new principal of Yelm High School. Wharton had worked 21 years in the North Thurston School District as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent.