Local news
The WET Science Center’s fall lineup brings the outdoors inside
With rain in the forecast and cooler temperatures, it’s time to find affordable ways to have fun inside.  The WET Science Center is ready to help!  Most middle schoolers in …
Pumpkin patches open across Thurston County for the 2026 Halloween season
Pumpkin patches throughout Thurston County are now open for the Halloween season, offering a wide variety of gourds and themed activities to celebrate. The best selection of pumpkins is available …
Superintendent Woods presents levy information to Yelm City Council ahead of Nov. 3 election
Less than a month ahead of Thurston County’s general election, which is set for Tuesday, Nov. 3, Chris Woods, Superintendent of Yelm Community Schools (YCS) attended a Yelm City Council study …
Yelm Kids First treasurer highlights boots-on-ground efforts to promote upcoming levy measure
During a Yelm Community Schools (YCS) Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, Oct. 8, Kathryn Cullum, Yelm Kids First treasurer, highlighted some of the citizen group’s boots-on-ground efforts to …
Yelm superintendent appears on podcast, highlights levy conversation opportunities
Yelm Community Schools (YCS) Superintendent Chris Woods gave the audience of a YCS Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, Oct. 8, an update on the district’s approach to campaign for its proposed …
Mayor DePinto provides updates on 640-acre community; acknowledges criticisms of project
Ahead of Yelm City Council’s scheduled vote on the development agreement between the City of Yelm and Blue Fern Development, Mayor Joe DePinto went online to notify the community about the progress …
Voting underway in Washington in the midterm election
The wait is over in Washington. Washington’s 5.1 million registered voters are starting to cast ballots for the Nov. 3 general election, which could see Democrats strengthen their grip on …
Cedar Creek Corrections Center inmate escapes from work crew in Lakewood
The Department of Corrections (DOC) and local law enforcement are searching for minimum-security incarcerated individual Zaquai Zekia McCray after he walked away from a facility work crew in Lakewood …
Public comment period open about proposed changes to WDFW’s listing and recovery planning processes for at-risk species
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is now accepting public comments on proposed rule changes to update or clarify the department’s process for listing and developing recovery …
WDFW: The rut is on; watch for deer on the move
Try using a little less pressure on the accelerator this fall when driving; deer are especially active in November as the rut (mating season) is at its peak. Additionally, many animals from each …
Vehicle strikes pedestrian walking on state Route 507 in Thurston County
A vehicle struck a pedestrian walking on the highway in Thurston County between Yelm and McKenna on Thursday, Oct. 8. The pedestrian, identified by the Washington State Patrol as Jonathan M. …
JJ Olson says he has the experience to change the Thurston County Assessor’s Office for the better
With longtime Thurston County Assessor Steven Drew retiring at the end of the year, JJ Olson thinks his 11 years of experience within the Thurston County Assessor’s Office makes him the most …
State & Regional News
A ‘constitutional sheriff’ divided this Washington county. Will the next sheriff keep his ideas alive?
Beneath a wide-brimmed, black cowboy hat, Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer warned in a Facebook video earlier this year that state lawmakers planned to strip voters of the freedom to elect their …
Seattle transportation eyes $63.5M interfund loan amid massive cash flow issue
The Seattle City Council appeared reluctant on Wednesday to sign off on Mayor Katie Wilson’s proposal to “bail out” the transportation department with a $63.5 million interfund loan.​ …
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador sues OpenAI for alleged harms of ChatGPT
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador on Wednesday joined seven other states in announcing separate lawsuits against OpenAI, alleging the company’s chatbot ChatGPT harm.  The 107-page …
Voting rights groups say Idaho laws from 2023 create hurdles to register and vote
A pair of local nonprofit organizations that promote voting rights say Idaho’s voting laws make it more difficult to hold voter registration drives and make it harder for some eligible voters to …
Washington AG will not pursue youth online protection legislation in wake of Meta settlement
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown will not ask state lawmakers again to pass a sweeping bill to limit social media for youths, saying a recent court settlement with a social media giant is …
Report: Public safety concerns rise following World Cup, Bite of Seattle shooting
Concerns around public safety are growing among Seattle voters who feel that the city is losing momentum following the World Cup, a Seattle Metro Chamber report found Tuesday. The organization …
Oregon governor orders pause on environmental permits to build or expand data centers
Oregon’s governor has effectively issued a moratorium on new data centers and data center expansions in the state by ordering environmental regulators to pause approving new state and federal air …
Judge sides with 3 news outlets banned by White House, allowing access for now
A federal judge late Tuesday extended a block on a Trump administration ban of press passes for three news organizations, which will allow them to continue to enter the White House grounds while a …
Washington DCYF defends redacting daycare names but lawmaker calls it "unbelievable"
The Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) is defending a decision to redact the names of home preschool and daycare providers receiving taxpayer subsidies as part of an …
Life
Creativity, innovation and community will come together as Lacey MakerSpace opens its doors for the Festival of Sparks, its annual fundraiser, from 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. The event is free and open to all.

Lacey MakerSpace invites the community to Festival of Sparks

Creativity, innovation and community will come together as Lacey MakerSpace opens its doors for the Festival of Sparks, its annual fundraiser, from 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. The event is free …
People loading onto the North Thurston Public School Buses at the Hawks Prairie Park & Ride on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, during the Nisqually Watershed Festival.

Poster contest draws hundreds of children to the 37th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival

A vibrant crowd of young nature enthusiasts and families flooded the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, Sept. 26, for the 37th annual Nisqually Watershed Festival, …
Tenino High School’s new backlit aluminum sign hangs in front of the school on Monday. Sept. 28.

Tenino High School unveils new sign made by its students

Five years ago, Tenino High School took down its historic wooden sign for refurbishment, and discovered it was damaged beyond repair. Instead of simply ordering a replacement, the school decided …
Durrell Bell carries a cross in his hands as it rests upon his shoulder at Harrison Avenue in Centralia on Friday, Sept. 25.

“Jesus loves ‘em”: Man with cross offers a simple message

Wind ripped through the air picking up any ungrounded objects in its path as a storm hit Lewis County on Friday, but Durrell Bell stayed anchored to the ground from the weight of the nearly 6-foot-5 …
Rob Richards, sheriff candidate Kevin Burton-Crow’s campaign manager, delivers a statement in place of Burton-Crow during the Thurston Chronicle candidate forum at the Thurston County Expo Center in Lacey on Monday, Sept. 21. Burton-Crow was unavailable to attend as he was at a law enforcement conference as part of his duties with the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

Candidates highlight policies at Thurston Chronicle forum

Thurston County will undergo tremendous leadership changes this coming year, as the longtime elected heads of four county departments decided to open the door to newcomers rather than run for …

  • Nisqually Valley News Bites Ep. 4: Ashley Brooks and Jesse Kellems talk levy efforts
  • Nisqually Valley News Bites Ep. 3: Yelm Mayor Joe DePinto talks journey to office, upcoming projects
Business
In January 2021, Lewis County-based CT Publishing entered the world of journalism, purchasing The Chronicle in Centralia, the Nisqually Valley News in Yelm, and The Reflector in Clark County. …
With construction of Jolene Unsoeld Community Park set to begin this fall, the Olympia community is raising concerns about what the development means to a longstanding berry stand on the property. …
Talent turnover is accelerating, technology is reshaping roles, and the gap between what workers expect and what employers are offering is widening. These challenges, and the opportunities they …
TransAlta Centralia is expected to begin operations generating power through burning natural gas by 2028 and cease all burning of fossil fuels by a state deadline of 2044. The Washington state …
Providence St. Peter Hospital’s heart care program recently enhanced its outpatient cardiology services as well as hospital-based interventional, electrophysiology, structural heart, cardiothoracic …
Sports

Yelm seniors Taylor, Andujar dominate in final home meet at Yelm Tornado 5K

Yelm's Deejay Taylor and Rainier's Komaire Robles compete in the Yelm Tornado 5K at Yelm High School on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
YELM — Marcos Andujar and Deejay Taylor are shining examples of how the Yelm cross country program’s culture is working. Yelm’s two top senior runners are barreling toward postseason …
Napavine’s Makayla Brett (9) sets the ball overhead during a game against Rainier at Napavine High School on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Mountaineers sweep Tigers for second league win

The Rainier volleyball team picked up its second league win of the year on Tuesday, sweeping Napavine on the road 25-13, 25-11, 25-15. Allyson Ooms was a force on both sides of the ball, as she …
Yelm's Quinten Loomis carries the ball against Bonney Lake at Yelm High School on Friday, Oct. 9.

Yelm crushed by Bonney Lake in head coach Tutu Tamaalevea’s debut

YELM — In Tutu Tamaalevea’s quest to rebuild the Yelm football program in his first season as the head coach, he knew some changes needed to be made within the roots of the organization. …
Rochester's Owen Simpkins (1) dives across the goal line for a touchdown during a game against Tenino at Tenino High School on Friday, Oct. 9.

Warriors land final blow, outlast Beavers to win Scatter Creek Showdown

TENINO — Last year, Rochester rolled to a dominant victory over Tenino, regaining control of the Scatter Creek Showdown trophy.  Through 40 minutes in Tenino in this year’s matchup, …

Rainier captures first C2BL win, sweeps Mossyrock

The Mountaineers bounced back from a five-set heartbreaker earlier in the week to cruise by the Vikings 25-16, 25-8, 25-12 at home on Thursday night to claim their first league win of the fall. …

Northwest Christian holds its own in loss to Tenino

The Northwest Christian volleyball team went toe to toe with Tenino in a 3-1 home loss on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Northwest Christian made an early statement with a dominant first-set victory 25-13. …
Rainier’s Alexis Myers competes in the 800-meter run during the final day of the state track and field championships at Zaepfel Stadium in Yakima on Saturday, May 30.

Rainier’s Robles, Myers earn top two spots at Rainier Invite

Rainier’s Komaire Robles and Alexis Myers impressed at the Rainier Invite on Wednesday in Rainier, as the two Mountaineers finished in first and second among all racers at the event. Robles …

Prep football capsules: Rivalries, top-10 showdowns expected to deliver the goods

Adna

Identities of programs are starting to become clearer, as are the contenders from the pretenders in District 4. It’s not quite rivalry week, but the contests on the docket for Week 6 are …

Olympia, Tumwater football teams raise awareness for addiction prevention and recovery

Two football programs in the Thurston County region are bringing awareness to addiction prevention and recovery by participating in the American Addiction Recovery Association (AARA) Purple Project. …

Olympia sweeps doubles matches in win over Yelm

The Olympia boys tennis team has now won seven of its last eight matches after a 4-1 triumph over Yelm at home Monday, Oct. 5. The Bears’ doubles teams were all victorious. In first doubles, …

Opinion
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

Letter to the editor: A levy lid lift 20 years overdue

I left the Olympia Timberland Regional Library earlier this year. The administration at the time broke our union contract in order to lay me off. I felt targeted. When community pressure forced them …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

Letter to the editor: Yelm’s school crisis started long before the levy

The conversation about Yelm Community Schools keeps stopping at the levy. But the levy is not where this story starts. It’s a snowball. When Congress passed the federal special education law in …
Alex Van Hine

Van Hine: A line is being drawn on the Chehalis, and it shouldn’t be between the tribe and fishermen

There is a line being drawn on the Chehalis River. But I don’t believe that line should be drawn between the Chehalis Tribe and recreational fishermen. The current dispute over recreational fishing …

Storms across the Columbia River: The Washington congressional race blanketing Oregon airwaves

When I sat down for a recent supper in a restaurant in Yamhill, the TV set on the side wall was showing Portland-area news. Campaign ads dominated the commercial breaks, as is normal for October of …
Let’s Go Washington supporters hold a sign with the total number of signatures received for a petition, 511,408, outside the Washington Secretary of State’s office building in Tumwater on Thursday, July 2.

Fact check: Washington's income tax initiative doesn't “cut” government programs

Washington voters will decide this November whether to keep the state's new 9.9% income tax . Politicians and the media are claiming approval of Initiative 645 will "cut funding" for public …
Obituaries
In loving memory of Garry James Brown: 1952-2026
Garry James Brown, D.O., born Sept. 22, 1952, in Olympia, Washington, passed away Sept. 19, 2026, at the age of 73 in Olympia after living with pancreatic cancer for two years. Garry lived a …
In Loving Memory of Robert Pape: 1939 - 2025
Robert A. Pape was born Oct. 11, 1939, and passed away Dec. 17, 2025. A celebration of life will be held Sept. 19, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. The service will be held at Mills & Mills Funeral …
In Loving Memory of Steven Demich: 1957 - 2026
Though he will be deeply missed, Steve’s spirit lives on in the countless lives he touched over the years. “A smile costs nothing, but gives so much.” Those who knew Steve know that he …
In loving memory of David Edwards: 1950 - 2025
Celebration of Life  David Edwards 11/9/1950 - 12/25/2025 Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 5 p.m. Yelm Moose Lodge
In loving memory of Mariel Lindblad: 1939-2026
Mariel Louise Lindblad (Price), 86, of Yelm, Washington, passed away on March 13, 2026. Born in Vancouver, Washington, Mariel spent most of her life in Humboldt County, California, before moving …
Community
Community Calendar for Dec. 18: Worthy Coffee Co. Santa photos, Souper Sunday at Yelm Lions Club, YARD’s ‘Level Up Lounge’ grand opening
Friday, Dec. 19 Yelm boys basketball hosts Puyallup Yelm High School’s boys basketball team will host the 4A SPSL’s Puyallup High School at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, inside the YHS gymnasium. …
Community Calendar for Dec. 4: Free pictures with Santa, Christmas in the Park activities, 14th annual Yelm Lions Christmas Store, Santa Story and Ice Cream Social
Friday, Dec. 5 Free pictures with Santa The City of Yelm’s parks and recreation department will host free pictures with Santa from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, at the Yelm Community …
Community Calendar for November 27: Tenino Holiday Market, Christmas in the Park tree lighting ceremony, Free pictures with Santa
Friday, Nov. 28 to Sunday Nov. 30 Tenino Holiday Market The 2025 Tenino Holiday Market will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28, Saturday, Nov. 29, and Sunday, Nov. 30, at The Kodiak …
Community Calendar for November 20: Prestige Senior Living Rosemont’s Christmas Bazaar, Tenino Holiday Market, Christmas in the Park tree lighting ceremony
Saturday, Nov. 22 Prestige Senior Living Rosemont’s Christmas Bazaar Prestige Senior Living Rosemont, located 215 Killion Rd NW, will host its Christmas Bazaar event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on …
Community Calendar for November 13: Prestige Senior Living Rosemont’s Christmas Bazaar, Tenino Holiday Market, Christmas in the Park tree lighting ceremony, Free pictures with Santa
Saturday, Nov. 22 Prestige Senior Living Rosemont’s Christmas Bazaar Prestige Senior Living Rosemont, located 215 Killion Rd NW, will host its Christmas Bazaar event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on …