52° F
Clear
Observed from
Olympia
Log in
Top Stories
Local news
 Providence Caring for Record Number of COVID-19 Patients, But Fewer Require Critical Care
The number of patients receiving care at Providence Southwest Washington hospitals in Olympia and Centralia has more than doubled over the last two weeks, according to a hospital …
State Senate Approves Bill Elevating Harassment of Election Workers to a Felony
Election officials will get more protection from harassment if SB 5148 becomes law. The bill was approved in the state Senate Jan. 12 with 48 yeas and no nays. It will be up to the House to …
Pedestrian Struck, Killed on Interstate 5 in Lewis County 
A 46-year-old Olympia man was struck and killed on Interstate 5 near Exit 72 late Tuesday night, according to the Washington State Patrol.  The man, who is not being identified pending …
Online Open House to be Held on State Route 702 Roundabouts
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is running an online open house until Wednesday, Jan. 19 so people can weigh in on potential roundabouts slated for state Route 702 near …
Verification of Land Trust’s First Carbon Project Beats Projections
The reverification processes of the Nisqually Land Trust’s first carbon-credit project showed the land trust’s trees are pulling carbon out of the air faster than what was originally …
Yelm Community Rallies Around Businesses Destroyed in Fire at Fundraiser
The community of Yelm came together in support of three businesses destroyed in a December fire at a fundraising event on Saturday, Jan. 8. Three separate community dinners were held at 5 p.m., 6 …
Auditor’s Office Mails Ballots to Military, Overseas Voters for Feb. 8 Election
The Thurston County Auditor’s Elections Division mailed over 2,200 special election ballots to military and overseas voters registered in Thurston County. Ballot envelopes must be signed …
State Suspends Licenses of Massage Therapist, Certified Nursing Assistant
The Washington State Department of Health has suspended the licenses of a massage therapist in Pierce County and a certified nursing assistant in Thurston County. In October, the Massage Therapist …
Councilmembers Meet In-Person to Discuss Water Reclamation Facility, Water Main Program
The Yelm City Council opened the year with a Jan. 4 study session, marking Mayor Joe DePinto’s first public meeting in the role. Items the council studied include initiatives regarding the …
Take a Trip Through Our Community’s Rich History
Enjoy these snapshots of articles written in past issues of the Nisqually Valley News from 45, 35, 25 and 15 years ago, respectively. A Look Back at This Week, 45 Years Ago - A request for …
Girl From Roy Wins International Horse Championship
Mackenzie Merkel, a 9-year-old student at Roy Elementary School, has earned the title of reserve world grand champion through her competitive horse agility skills. Mackenzie is trained by Kathy …
Roy Resident and Horse Receive National Recognition
Kathy Richardson, a resident of Roy, was recently recognized as the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) Instructor of the Year for Washington state, while one of her horses was also nominated …
Thurston County Reports 3,713 COVID-19 Cases, Six Deaths
Thurston County experienced a significant spike in COVID-19 cases during the period of Jan. 3 through Jan. 9 as the health department tallied 3,713 new cases, which broke another record for the …
Washington State Legislative Session Gets Underway
The 2022 session of the Washington State Legislature opened Jan. 10 with legislators saying they want to help strengthen economic well being, manage COVID-19 risks, provide help with child care, …
Nisqually Valley Happenings: Community Calendar for Jan. 13
Thursday, Jan. 13 Senior Lunches The Yelm Adult Community Center will hold its weekly lunches at 11:30 a.m. to noon Wednesdays through Fridays. Senior Services for the South Sound operates the …
Scouts Hold Christmas Tree Recycling Event to Raise Funds for Organization
Local Boy Scout Troop 603 held a Christmas tree recycling fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 8 at the front gate of the Clearwood Community, garnering about $400. The proceeds of the event will help the …
Yelm Book Club Celebrates 100 Years
Betty Wilcox, one of the founders of Wilcox Farms, started a book club with friends and neighbors in Yelm in 1921.  In those years before televisions, books were very important to people. …
Sirens: Stolen Vehicle Recovered; Assault Reported; Shoplifting Takes Place at Rite-Aid; Yelm Church Broken Into; Hit-and-Run Occurs at Safeway
Sirens - Yelm Police Department  Stolen Vehicle Recovered in Yelm Yelm police officers observed somebody driving a truck on Canal Road as the vehicle dragged metal underneath it and caused …
Trial Date Set for Olympia Man Arrested Last Year for 2018 Yelm Jehovah’s Witness Attacks
Federal law enforcement officials connected an Olympia man as the prime suspect in the 2018 attacks on the Yelm Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall, which included acts of arson and a shooting …
Auditor’s Office Mails Ballots to Military, Overseas Voters for Feb. 8 Election 
The Thurston County Auditor’s Elections Division mailed over 2,200 special election ballots to military and overseas voters registered in Thurston County.  Ballot envelopes must be …
State & Regional News
 New State House Bill Would Make Oil Owners Financially Liable for Oil Spills
The financial responsibility for an oil spill will fall on those who own the facilities and vessels that produce and transport oil under proposed House Bill 1691. “The goal is to minimize …
Chemicals in Cosmetics Targeted in Proposed New Washington Law
For a large portion of Washingtonians, the use of cosmetic products is a part of their everyday routine, but some of those same household products often contain harmful chemicals that cause a variety …
House Panel Votes to Delay Washington's Long-Term Care Tax to 2023
OLYMPIA — A House panel has voted to delay the long-term care tax until 2023. On a 31-2 vote, a House committee approved a bill Thursday to delay the implementation of the tax. On a 23-10 …
'Take Action This Day': Inslee Pushes Legislature to Pass Laws on Climate, Housing, Education, Transportation
OLYMPIA — The Legislature must act this session on climate change, housing and transportation, Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday. In his annual State of the State address, Inslee again pushed the …
'Battle Royale': Cannabis Regulation Bills Pit Regulatory Agency Against Some Marijuana Businesses
An effort by state regulators to rein in sale of intoxicating cannabis that can be produced with materials outside their authority has some major business interests crying foul. The Washington …
WDFW Manager Accused of Poaching in Eastern Washington
A Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife employee has been accused of poaching. The Ferry County prosecutor accused Brock Hoenes, the director for WDFW's north-central region, with unlawful …
As the 2022 Legislature Starts This Week, Here's What to Look Out for in the 60-Day Session
OLYMPIA — The Washington Legislature will open its 2022 session Monday. It will be mostly virtual — the second year the COVID-19 pandemic has forced lawmakers to convene behind their …
Inslee Focus Turns to Testing, Masks, Away From Restrictions, as Omicron Surges
OLYMPIA — Almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic and Washington is still in a state of emergency — though most restrictions have eased — and Gov. Jay Inslee intends to keep it …
One Year After Jan. 6 Riots, Inslee Proposes Making False Claims About Election Results a Crime
OLYMPIA — One year after rioters attacked the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and breached the gate at the governor's mansion in Olympia, Gov. Jay Inslee wants to make spreading election …
Facebook
Business
Preparing a house to go on the market for sale can be daunting. What needs to be done? How much will it cost?  While every house and home seller are different, there is a fairly basic …
Some homebuyers have actually become hesitant to buy a home because of mixed signals from their employers. Will they be able to work from home or will they need to work from an office? How much …
Both Pierce County and Thurston County continue to see strong sales despite low inventory.  This crazy ride that the real estate market has seen over the last couple years will likely carry into …
People didn’t have to look far to find the perfect toy to give this holiday season as Funtime Toys and Gifts in Yelm experienced a rush of customers before Christmas. Heather Ekland, the …
The statement “a picture says a thousand words” has been out there for a long time and for good reason. Video says even more than that. Our world has changed a lot in the past couple …
Sports

Pirates Down Mountaineers in Pivotal League Battle 

Adna senior sharpshooter Chase Collins drained five 3-pointers and scored a game-high 24 points as the Pirates fended off Rainier, 68-59, for a crucial Central 2B League victory at home on …

Tenino Softball Pitcher Signs With Dominican College

Tenino senior Emily Baxter, the Beaver softball team’s ace pitcher, signed her National Letter of Intent with Dominican College softball team on Thursday at Tenino High School. Baxter …

Missed Shots Sink Beavers in Loss to Grizzlies

Missed free throws and layups proved costly for Tenino as the Beavers were handed a 58-42 road loss to Hoquiam in a 1A Evergreen League game on Wednesday. “We played hard, we just shot …

Mountaineers Blow Past Bulldogs at Home

Faith Boesch led all scorers with 16 points and Rainier bashed visiting Stevenson for a 68-22 Central 2B League victory on Tuesday. “We came out and had a good-scoring first quarter,” …

Yelm Girls Win Streak Snapped, Boys Pick Up Back To Back Wins

The Lady Tornados continued their hot streak on Wednesday, Jan. 5 as they defeated the River Ridge Hawks 69-35 on the road, but later lost to North Thurston. At the end of the first quarter, the …

Mountaineers Hold Off Timberwolves

While all other Lewis County teams were forced to cancel or postpone their contests due to widespread flooding in the area, the Rainier girls basketball team safely made the journey to Randle to play …

Beavers Roll Bulldogs in League Opener

Tenino ripped off a 20-8 run in the fourth quarter and the Beavers withstood Montesano for a 43-30 win in their 1A Evergreen League opener Wednesday at home. “An ugly win still counts, …

The Nisqually Valley News - January 13, 2022

View this issue

Browse other issues

Life
On March 11, 2011 at 2:46 in the afternoon, the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan (and the fourth largest recorded in world history) lasted approximately six minutes. The epicenter was …
Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 4.3 million Americans, or 2.9% of the entire workforce, quit their jobs in August. That was a record-breaking month, piggybacking on …
We celebrate the Day of Epiphany on the 12th day of Christmas each year. Since we celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, the Day of Epiphany falls on Jan. 6, and for us that’s this Thursday. The Day …
Opinion
 Letter to the Editor: These Soldiers Made the Ultimate Sacrifice
I am seeking some help from the residents of the Yelm area. I am working with a group, Flags of Valor, from the St. Louis area that recently conducted a memorial to the soldiers who have given their …
Don Brunell Commentary: Time to Replace State’s Ill-Thought Long-Term Care Law
The first order of business as Washington’s Legislature convenes in Olympia is replacing the state’s new long-term care law. It is fatally flawed. Gov. Jay Inslee and Democrats who …
Julie McDonald Commentary: A Flooded Freeway? Not That I Could See
As rain pelted the roof Thursday night, I surfed the Internet for news about road closures due to flooding. Despite closure of the Rush Road interchange at Exit 72, I read assurances that closure of …
Letter to the Editor: Come Join our Car Parade for Jeren
Jeren has battled the effects of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy his entire life. He is an exceptional young man who is loved by everyone that spends time with him. He is one of the kindest people I know …
Kris Johnson Commentary: Washington State Should Seize Opportunity to Champion the Economy
After two years of COVID-19, many Washington families and small businesses could use a break. Fortunately, the Washington Legislature has the means to help. State lawmakers have more than $8.6 …
Richard Stride Commentary: Considering ‘All the Lonely People’ — and Ourselves
Two songs came to mind as I thought about the isolation we have all experienced in the last almost two years. One is the Beatles song “Eleanor Rigby” and the other is “Here” …
Obituaries
In Loving Memory of Ann Kahler: 1927-2021
Ann Carolyn Kahler, a longtime resident of Yelm and Tacoma, Washington, peacefully passed away from this life on Dec. 5, 2021, at the age of 94.  Ann was born in La Grande, Oregon, on Nov. …
In Loving Memory of Dennis Hugli: 1943-2021
Dennis L. Hugli passed away Dec. 25, 2021, at Regency Manor in Olympia, Washington. He died of blood cancer and dementia. He was born in Ohio on Sept. 7, 1943. He lived in Yelm, Washington, for …
In Loving Memory of Gracie Leigh Sudano: 1930-2021
Gracie Leigh Sudano, beloved sister, godmother, aunt, “extra mom” and friend, passed away peacefully Dec. 19, 2021. She will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched — and …
Death notices

Death Notices: March 27, 2021

• KAMI SUE SILVA, 51, Vancouver, died March 20 at the Ray Hickey Hospice House, Vancouver. Arrangements are under the care of Fir lawn Funeral Chapel. • EDWIN MAYNARD WALLACE, 73, …

© 2022 CT Publishing LLC yelmonline.com
Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions