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Local news
 Thurston County commissioners approve $3.2 million grant for Morris Road upgrades
Morris Road Southeast between 143rd Avenue Southeast to 133rd Avenue Southeast will soon undergo a major makeover thanks to the approval of a $3.2 million grant by the Thurston County Board of County …
Sirens
Local authorities prevent individual from jumping off Rainier bridge Thurston County and Yelm police convinced an individual who was threatening to jump off a bridge in Rainier to step off the …
Yelm’s mayor talks importance of voting in local elections
Every vote in a local election matters. Just ask Yelm Mayor Joe DePinto, elected in 2021, but who narrowly lost a mayoral election in 2017 to JW Foster by just 14 votes. With the Nov. 5 2024 …
Sheriff Derek Sanders to host town hall event at Yelm Community Center on Oct. 2
While campaigning in 2022 for Thurston County sheriff, Derek Sanders promised he’d provide public transparency if elected. Nearly two years into the job, Sanders is set to host his second …
History of Yelm documentary set for Dec. 9 release
The City of Yelm has been working with Part One Media, a production company located in Yelm, on a documentary about the history of the city to celebrate its centennial this year. The film will …
Nisqually Indian Tribe wins $5.4 million EPA grant to reduce greenhouse gas
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Nisqually Indian Tribe $5.4 million under the agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program. This grant will fund a major …
What's Happening: Final Yelm Farmers Market, Watershed Festival, Alpaca Days
Thursday, Sept. 26 Yelm Girls Soccer hosts Spanaway Lake In the Tornados’ second South Puget Sound League (SPSL) South matchup of the season, Yelm is set to host Spanaway Lake at 7 …
Rainier High School introduces inaugural marching band for football season
Rainier High School’s new marching band, composed of 25 students and led by director Adam Cornwall, made its debut performance at halftime of the football team’s home opener against …
Yelm student resource officers supporting schools despite reductions
Yelm Community Schools’ (YCS) two student resource officers, Averie Ford and Dustin Stephan, are working to support students in the district despite YCS cutting one position as a cost-saving …
Yelm district reveals early returns on class sizes, enrollment
Yelm Community Schools (YCS) announced a preliminary four-day count of 5,491 students across the district to begin the 2024-25 school year during its Thursday, Sept. 12, Board of Directors meeting. …
Yelm FFA Alumni hosts car show to raise money for students
Photo by Dylan Reubenking
New Yelm school transportation technology system causing headaches for district, parents
As the 2024-25 school year enters its third week, Yelm Community Schools (YCS) is once again dealing with transportation concerns. Parents and families have expressed frustration over buses running …
State & Regional News
 Parkwide fire ban lifted at Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park has lifted the parkwide fire ban after consultation with federal fire management officials, park officials announced Friday, Sept. 20. Campfires are now permitted at …
Effort to rename Bucoda’s post office after late mayor passes U.S. House committee
At the end of August, U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, introduced a new bipartisan U.S. House resolution — HR 9421 — that if approved will officially rename the U.S. Postal …
Washington State Patrol to conduct statewide ‘One More Stop’ patrol in honor of fallen Trooper Christopher Gadd
On Friday, Sept. 27, the Washington State Patrol (WSP) will conduct a statewide “One More Stop” emphasis patrol in honor of fallen Trooper Christopher Gadd. The statewide emphasis …
New cases of white-nose syndrome recorded in Washington bats this year
White-nose syndrome, an often-fatal disease of hibernating bats, continues to spread in Washington. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and research partners documented white-nose …
New Thurston County assistant manager looks forward to continuing to serve the community
Joshua Cummings believes the last 11 years of work in Thurston County have been a job interview for his new role as the county’s assistant manager. Cummings, the current Community Planning …
New Bucoda councilor, improvement club president joins effort to enhance South Thurston County town
As summer nears its end, many residents in Bucoda are looking toward the future with hope as they seek to improve their small South Thurston County community amid the appointment of a new mayor and …
Multiple local agencies launch free 'Wildfire Ready Neighbors' program for homeowners
In efforts to combat local property, structure and brush fires, several local agencies are offering free home visits to survey potential fire hazards and offer fire prevention methods to home and …
Southeast Thurston Fire stays busy this summer dispatching mobilization crews
Southeast Thurston Fire Authority (SETFA) has been active since the start of the summer season, dispatching several crews to combat non-local fires as part of the wildland mobilization team under the …
South Puget Sound Community College awarded best community college by Showcase Magazine
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) was recognized as the “Best Community College” in Showcase Magazine’s Best of 2024. According to a news release, this award reflects …
Life

Red Baron replica jazzes up music sign

Photo by Dylan Reubenking

Mount Rainier sunrise sets off fall equinox

Courtesy photo
Chelsea Weimer displays some of her floral skull displays at her home on Sept. 15.

Yelm multimedia artist ‘bringing the creepy and pretty together’ with business

Chelsea Weimer has always had a hard time calling herself an artist because, in her mind, nature is the creator. The Yelm resident and owner of The Crystal Chronicles Company uses findings from …
Bill Wilson's

‘Centennial Bloom’ sculpture placed at Yelm-Rainier-Tenino trailhead in honor of anniversary

To celebrate the City of Yelm’s centennial anniversary, or 100 years since official incorporation, Centralia artist Bill Wilson donated a sculpture, titled “Centennial Bloom,” to …
Standing Room Only Theater's Yell Manor will feature two different escape rooms at the location in Gordon's Garden Center in Yelm.

‘Yell Manor’ haunted house preparing for Halloween season at Gordon’s Garden Center

As the fall season quickly approaches, Standing Room Only (SRO) Theater’s tradition of providing frights to Yelm residents and members of surrounding communities is set to return on Friday, …
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  • Nisqually Valley News Bites Ep. 1: Chris Woods previews Yelm school year
  • Nisqually Valley News Bites Ep. 1: Chris Woods previews Yelm school year

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Business
Joe DePinto, donning his mayor top hat and sash, cuts the ribbon to mark the grand opening of Quark & Odo's Escape Room Experience on Aug. 16.
Joe DePinto is now serving the City of Yelm’s mayor in two capacities. Aside from leading the city’s government, he also acts as the fabricated mayor and game master of Yelm’s new …
Holly Kappert (left) and Terry Kaminski (right) smile on Thursday, Aug. 15, at Windermere Real Estate's ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Yelm’s Windermere Real Estate celebrated a new chapter in the business’s history on Thursday, Aug. 15, as community members and leaders joined Terry Kaminski and Holly Kappert to …
Yelm High School coaches and Dinsmore Auto Group representatives pose for a photo at YHS at Yelm High School Tuesday, Aug. 13, after donating $20,000 in the fundraiser to save C-sports.
Just one week after Total Sports Development (TSD) announced a $50,000 fundraiser to help to save C-team sports at Yelm High School, the organization not only reached its goal but surpassed it by …
A conceptual design displays what the downtown activated alleyway may look like. Designs are subject to change, however.
In efforts to enhance the downtown experience behind businesses near First, Second and Third streets through the activated alleyway project, the City of Yelm is currently in the right-of-way …
Noah Aden, Yelm Cinemas general manager, was recently honored on South Sound Business 40 Under 40 list.
Noah Aden, general manager of Yelm Cinemas, earned a spot on the South Sound Business annual 40 Under 40 list, which highlights the top young business people in the region. He is the lone honoree on …

The Nisqually Valley News - July 11, 2024

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Sports

Mountaineers score early and often in win over T-Wolves

Rainier’s Thomas Roland holds his hand over his heart during the National Anthem during a week one football game at Rainier High School on Friday, Sept. 6.
The Rainier football team started league play off on a high note on Friday, as the Mountaineers toppled Morton-White Pass, 64-34, in Morton. The Mountaineers had no problem scoring throughout …
Yelm volleyball head coach Heidi DeFord watches on as her team plays Emerald Ridge on Monday, Sept. 23.

Yelm volleyball handed first loss of season in 3-0 sweep by Emerald Ridge

After a hot start to the season by the Yelm’s volleyball program, which included a pair of wins against Stadium and WF West along with a 4-0 record in the Fort Vancouver tournament, Emerald …
Yelm football players celebrate the Tornados' 52-48 win over Kamiakin on Sept. 20.

Myers, Ford lead Tornados to 52-48 marathon win over Kamiakin

Yelm High School junior wide receiver/defensive back Jacob Ford hadn’t played a game without his older brother, senior running back/linebacker Nathan, in years. Nathan sat out due to a broken …
Pirate cheerleaders perform a stunt during Tenino’s 22-19 win over Adna at Adna High School on Friday, Sept. 20.

Tenino escapes Adna with a close victory

The Tenino football team trailed early at Adna on Friday, but the Beavers battled back and returned home with a 22-19 win. Adna took a 12-0 lead in the first, but Tenino bounced back with a …
Zander Peck runs down the hill at the Central 2B Kickoff event at Rainier Elementary School on Sept. 19.

Mountaineer girls dominate Central 2B League Kickoff race

The Rainier High School girls cross country team proved it is the fastest squad in the Central 2B League during the league’s kickoff 5,000-meter event at Rainier Elementary School on Thursday, …
Katelyn Eckroth smiles after Rainier scores a point against Hoquiam on Sept. 17.

Mountaineers remain undefeated with win over Hoquiam for third straight sweep

The Rainier High School volleyball team is steamrolling its opponents to begin the 2024 campaign, earning its fourth straight win and third consecutive by sweep against Hoquiam on Tuesday, Sept. 17. …
Zach Malhiot carries his daughter Amelia out of her boat after a race at Lake Lawrence on Sept. 15.

Three generations of boat racers creating legacy at Lake Lawrence record run

Dozens of boat racers from around the country gathered for a three-day weekend of record-setting races at the annual Lake Lawrence regatta in Yelm from Sept. 13 through Sept. 15. Testing took …

Clam digging returns: WDFW announces 42 tentative days of coastal digging opportunities

A woman searches for razor clams at Grayland Beach on Friday, March 8.

Shellfish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have announced 42 tentative days of razor clam digs at four coastal beaches from Oct. 3 through Dec. 31. “The …

South Sound Rugby Club proud of effort, growth in fall 15s season opener

Sage Pavey, a member of the Steller Rugby Club, squeezes past a Tacoma Sirens defender at Portland Avenue Park in Tacoma on Sept. 14.

The Steller Sea Lions Rugby Club, a women’s rugby team in the South Sound, kicked off its inaugural fall 15-on-15 season with a match against the Tacoma Sirens at Portland Avenue Park in Tacoma …

Rainier football back on track with 43-34 victory over Raymond-South Bend

Rainier quarterback Jake Meldrum scans the field in the team's season opener against Tenino on Sept. 6.

Facing adversity in the team’s second matchup of the regular season, the Rainier Mountaineers football team prevailed against Raymond-South Bend with a 43-34 victory over the Ravens on the …

Opinion

Capping food prices will not fix grocery bills

The current election cycle made a headline out of price gouging in grocery stores and setting caps on certain staple foods. Contrary to insinuation that farmers and others in agriculture are …
Sen. John Braun in Olympia from the Capitol on Friday, Feb. 15, 2024.

As students return, campuses must prevent return of antisemitic behavior

Eighty years ago, a lawyer who had fled to the United States from Poland a few years earlier combined an ancient Greek word and a Latin word to make a new term: genocide. The word was coined …
Rep. Peter Abbarno speaks at the East Lewis County Candidate Forum at the Mossyrock Community Center on Wednesday, July 24.

Commentary: ‘Yes’ for long-term care choice in Washington

This year, Washington state voters will have the historic opportunity to vote on four initiatives at the top of their ballot. One of those initiatives, Initiative 2124, would give workers the ability …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

Student despair comes in classrooms first

Editor, One of the skills we’ve lost as a nation is the ability to have an evidence-based discussion.  Why? It involves math, and by current estimates, only about 9% of the U.S. …

Tribes to receive direct funding to maintain hatchery programs

September 13, 2024 The Biden-Harris Administration has awarded an unprecedented $240 million to support the hatcheries that preserve salmon and steelhead runs in the Pacific Northwest and …

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Obituaries
In Loving Memory Of Leslie "Earl" Bachus: June 1, 1957 ~ Aug. 5, 2024
Leslie “Earl” Bachus, 67, passed away on August 5, 2024, at his home in Tenino, Washington. He was born in Arkansas on June 1, 1957, to Lois Wixson and John Bachus. He was a beloved …
In loving memory of Delbert Lyle Lazelle April 16, 1934- July 10, 2024
Delbert Lyle Lazelle, 90, passed away peacefully at home July 10, 2024. He was born April 16, 1934, in Olympia, Washington.  He is survived by his daughters, Terese’ …
Death Notice: Mary Page
Mary Page, 93, of Olympia, died March 30 at Brich Creek Post Acute & and Rehabilitation.
In loving memory of Kristi Marie Cichon Spark
Kristi Marie Cichon Spark (nee Bircher) passed away on May 22, 2024, in Olympia, Washington, at the age of 50. She was born on Dec. 6, 1973, in Tacoma, Washington, to Vern and Linda Bircher. Kristi …
In loving memory of John Reeves: Feb. 3, 1947 - May 17, 2024
It is with great sadness that we announce John “Papa” Reeves, of Yelm, passed away peacefully on May 17, 2024, at his home in Lake Lawrence, exactly as he wished it to be. He joins …

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