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 One dead, two injured in two-car collision near McCleary
Two Yelm residents were injured and a Port Angeles man is dead following a two-vehicle collision near McCleary at around noon, Friday, July 19, according to a Washington State Patrol news release. …
Two Yelm residents injured after motorcycle crosses centerline, strikes semi near Packwood
A man and woman from Yelm were both injured and transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after their motorcycle crossed the centerline on U.S. Highway 12 northeast of Packwood and struck a …
Roy resident dies after being struck by semi on Highway 702
A Roy woman died after being struck by a semi-truck on state Route 702 near 40th Avenue South, last week. Dae S. Hwang, a 79-year-old Roy resident, died on Thursday, July 18, after being struck …
Yelm’s $36 million water reclamation facility project nearing completion
One of the City of Yelm’s most expensive projects ever is nearing completion, as Cody Colt, Yelm’s Public Works director, anticipates the $36 million water reclamation facility (WRF) …
Roy author writing three-book series helping parents with addicted loved ones
By Dylan Reubenking dylan@yelmonline.com When Roy resident James Baumann’s son was attacked by a dog, he became addicted to OxyContin. That was when Baumann noticed a lack of …
County Commission candidates feature diverse backgrounds, priorities
With the Aug. 6 Thurston County Primary Election quickly approaching, the county has released an official local voters’ pamphlet, which provides detailed statements and information about the …
District 2 legislative races feature packed slate
With the Thurston County Aug. 6 Primary Election just weeks away, the county has officially released and delivered voters’ pamphlets containing …
Voter registration deadlines set for Aug. 6 primary election
With the Aug. 6 Thurston County primary election approaching, voters must register prior to the following deadlines to vote. Monday, July 29, is the last day for remote registrations and updates …
Yelm district teams up with Olympia Federal Savings to fund scholarships, programs
Yelm Community Schools will partner with Olympia Federal Savings to create an account to fund student scholarships and potentially restore programs on the chopping block.  Superintendent …
Yelm natives raising money for daughter battling lung condition
Isabella Rearden, the 2-year-old daughter of Devin and Casey Rearden, has been sick for all but three months of her life.  Isabella, who turns 3 soon, suffers from bronchomalacia, …
What's Happening: Farmers Market, BBQ Rally, Paint and Sip
Saturday, July 27 Yelm Farmers Market  The 2024 Yelm Farmers Market will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, July 27, at 206 McKenzie Ave., near City Park. The event will …
Roy Mayor condemns councilor’s alleged Nazi salute during council meeting
Roy Mayor Kimber Ivy hoped to close out the Roy City Council’s July 8 meeting with a simple vote for an adjournment. As she gathered favoring votes from each council member, she was unable to …
State & Regional News
 JBLM’s DuPont gate set to close from July 29 – Aug. 5 for road construction
Beginning 5 a.m. Monday, July 29, the Joint Base Lewis-McChord DuPont gate will close to all travelers. The gate will reopen 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5 The closure of this gate allows crews to …
Thurston County Fair accepting entries for foods, art, hobbies and crafts
The Thurston County Fair is accepting open class entries from July 22 through July 29 at the Thurston County Fairgrounds. Categories include open class photography, foods, hobbies and crafts, art and …
Thurston County Voter Services opening in new location
Voter services are now available at a new location in Tumwater, at 2915 29th Ave. SW. Thurston County residents can register to vote and receive other voting services at this new location. …
Thurston County initiates countywide fire safety burn ban
Effective last week, the Thurston County fire marshal has initiated a countywide outdoor burn ban from now through September. According to a Thurston County press release, the decision was made …
Man who dived on his family to protect them killed at Trump rally shooting
Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old man from Buffalo Township, Pa., died after a gunman opened fire during a rally for former President Donald Trump on Saturday evening. The former volunteer fire …
Trump assassination attempt: Washington state politicians respond after former president bloodied by shooter
Responses from Washington state politicians poured in following the attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Trump suffered …
WSU professor says assassination attempt is stark reminder that heated political rhetoric must cool
Saturday's assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump could be a moment of unity, for partisan politicians to ease back toward civility. Or it could just make things worse, said Cornell …
Trump calls for unity, vows to move forward morning after attempted assassination
Former President Donald Trump said Sunday morning that it was "God alone who prevented" his death after he survived a Saturday evening assassination attempt at a campaign rally north of Pittsburgh. …
Aug. 6 primary election local voters’ pamphlets mailed
The Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division mailed local voters’ pamphlets for the Aug. 6 primary election to all households in Thurston County Monday, July 8. For residents …
Life
Mother 2 Many provides food to youth experiencing homelessness in a number of communities, including Yelm.

Mother 2 Many: Couple feeds local youth at skate parks

Joann Wittler heard God’s voice, crystal clear, say to her at church in 2013 that she “will be the mother to many.” She had raised four children of her own, but she had no idea what …
Terry Smith and his mother Lola Smith smile for a photo at Prestige Senior Living Rosemont's art walk on May 10.

Prestige Senior Living Rosemont hosts resident art walk

Eleven residents of Prestige Senior Living Rosemont in Yelm displayed their talents on Friday, May 10 as the assisted living facility hosted an art show. The displays featured oil paintings, …
Aurora Decker, pictured at Yelm City Park on May 8, will travel to Dallas, Texas, in July for the International Cinderella Scholarship Pageant.

Yelm student named 2024 Washington Cinderella Teen Queen

Aurora Decker has competed in pageants since she was 6 weeks old. She recalls her mother, Anna Farley, standing behind her at the competitions and making her wave and blow kisses to the audience at a …

Yelms Lion Club here to serve

The motto of the Lions Club is “We Serve,” and the Yelm Lions Club has taken that to heart, working to empower volunteers and serve the community. Locally, the Yelm Lions are busy, …
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Business
Behavior Connections LLC serves youth and their families in the western Washington region.
Behavior Connections LLC, an applied behavior analysis (ABA) company based in Roy, has begun hosting summer social groups for neurodivergent children on Tuesdays at Yelm Timberland Library. …
Kayla Walker, center, cuts the ribbon celebrating The Riot's grand opening on May 30.
Business is booming for The Riot Fitness in Yelm less than three months after it opened in March. Fitness and dance classes are filling up daily, and the salon is as busy as ever for owner Kayla …
Kaos Dance Elite dancers pose for a photo in front of the new studio location.
Kaos Dance Elite (KDE), a children’s dance school in Yelm, is moving into a larger studio location in town ahead of its summer sessions, Monday, June 17. The business, currently located at …
Andrea Levanti and Diego Fleitas, surrounded by members of the InGenius! community, cut the ribbon marking the grand opening of InGenius! Artventures on May 11.
As InGenius! Gallery & Boutique celebrates its third anniversary this summer, the Yelm business opened a new space dedicated to its arts program called InGenius! Artventures on Saturday, May 11. …
Cyndi Doud, the new owner of The Shiplap Shop & Coffee House in Yelm, poses for a photo at the front of the store on April 19.
Cyndi Doud never envisioned herself as a business owner. She is no stranger to leadership roles in the professional sphere, but when she purchased The Shiplap Shop & Coffee House in April, she …

The Nisqually Valley News - July 11, 2024

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Sports

Three Yelm graduates featured in EA Sports “College Football 25” video game

Brayden Platt, a former Yelm Tornado football player, is featured in EA Sports
By Jacob Dimond jake@yelmonline.com When EA Sports last released a college football video game, “NCAA 14,” on July 9, 2013, Yelm was not represented as no Yelm High School …
Courtney Hickman shoots photos for sports teams for promotional use and in-game action shots.

Local photographer providing ‘gift of photography’ to communities

Courtney Hickman is easy to pick out on the sidelines of a Yelm High School football game under the Friday night lights, operating his variety of photography equipment and donning colorful sneakers. …

Total Sports Development track program to host inaugural “Speed Night”

Total Sports Development (TSD) invites track athletes of all ages to the program’s first ever “Speed Night” at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at Yelm High School. Since TSD …
Socorro Scotto prepares to kick the ball during a City of Yelm Parks and Recreation summer kickball league contest at Longmire Park on July 10.

Yelm summer kickball league kicks off with six teams

The inaugural City of Yelm Parks and Recreation Department summer kickball league is the city’s latest offering for adults to indulge in recreational sports. The league began Monday, July …
Kaliber Kile prepares to throw a pass during a quarterback drill at a Total Sports Development football skills clinic on July 16.

Total Sports Development building strong foundation for youth in football clinic

The Total Sports Development (TSD) football skills clinic is underway in Yelm as hundreds of incoming third to eighth graders from around the region are flocking to Yelm High School to enhance their …
Jacob Tracy will continue his academic and athletic career at Boise State University.

YHS offensive lineman commits to Boise State ahead of senior season

Jacob Tracy, a rising Yelm High School senior offensive lineman, announced July 4 his verbal commitment to Boise State University to continue his academic and athletic career. Tracy also …
The Prairie Soccer Club Boys U-16 Tigers pose for a photo after a win in December 2023.

Prairie Soccer Club providing competition amid YCS athletics uncertainty

Prairie Soccer Club (PSC), based in Yelm, is gearing up for a fall season that may feature more students than usual. The club, which has served the Yelm community for nearly 40 years, has …

YHS graduate commits to McPherson College for bowling

Miranda Hunt poses for a photo while at the state championships in Tukwila in February.

Miranda Hunt, a recent Yelm High School graduate and former Tornados varsity bowler, was handed a split and was tasked with turning it into a spare when it came to her college decision. She had …

NyaStrong Warriors win fourth grade Hoopfest championship in Spokane

The NyaStrong Warriors pose after winning the fourth grade Hoopfest tournament in Spokane last month.

The Tenino- and Nisqually Valley-based NyaStrong Warriors basketball program continued its winning ways in late June as the team defeated five other programs en route to becoming the fourth grade …

11-U Tornados fall short in Cal Ripken state tournament

The Nisqually Basin Youth Baseball 11-U Tornados huddle after losing to the FCA 11-U Lumberjacks in the Cal Ripken state tournament at the Regional Athletic Complex on July 5.

The Nisqually Basin Youth Baseball 11-U Tornados bounced back from a loss in the Cal Ripken state tournament opener by putting together a dazzling display of offensive and defensive fireworks on …

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

Nick Brown best qualified to be attorney general

Editor, Please vote in the Aug. 6 primary for Nick Brown for attorney general of Washington state. As a retired attorney who has worked for 40 years under five attorneys general in two states, I …

Malcolm Muggeridge, Grandma Red and timeless truisms, buster

Have you ever heard of Malcolm Muggeridge? Neither had I until a book I just finished mentioned his name.    Malcolm was born in Sanderstead, Surrey, England, in March 1903. …
A helicopter flies to a drop point during the DNR aviation exercise in the Capitol State Forest on Wednesday, April 17.

Proposal to shut down public working forests threatens critical state services and jobs

Washington faces significant social and economic risks if anti-forestry groups succeed in persuading the Board of Natural Resources and candidates for commissioner of public lands to close an …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

Nick Brown best candidate for AG

Editor, I am writing to encourage you to vote in the Aug. 6 primary for Nick Brown for attorney general. Your vote is important this year, not only for national elections but also for state …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

Dreon best candidate for District 2 commissioner

Editor, As a resident of Yelm deeply invested in the future of Thurston County, I write to urge my fellow community members to consider Rachel Dreon for Thurston County commissioner District 2 …

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Obituaries
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 …
In Loving Memory of Gary Henslee
Gary Henslee left to join his savior on April 27, 2024.   He was born in Spokane, Washington, to Paul and Garaldine Henslee on May 23, 1939. After graduating from North Central High …

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