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Local news
 ‘We Love Rainier WA’ to donate dictionaries to local third graders
In its continuous efforts to give back to the community, “We Love Rainier WA,” a local community enrichment organization, has provided local third graders with dictionaries for three …
Yelm Community Schools superintendent discusses current state of the district
Newly appointed Yelm Community Schools Superintendent Chris Woods wants to give every student within the school district the opportunity to succeed. He expressed that goal on Sept. 12 at Yelm …
What's Happening: Nisqually Watershed Festival, class reunion, Halloween
Thursday, Sept. 21 Family Storytime Join the Yelm Timberland Library from 10:30 to 11 a.m. every Thursday for family storytime. The event includes music, movement, books and activities for …
Boo-Coda set to return to Thurston County during October
The leaves are changing, and the “Boo!” is back. With October just around the corner, the south Thurston County town of Bucoda is again getting into the Halloween spirit by …
National Voter Registration Day receives proclamation at City Council meeting
The City of Yelm is making efforts to encourage residents to be involved with local government, which includes registering to vote. At the Sept. 12 City Council meeting, Mayor Joe DePinto issued …
Yelm district enrollment figures nearing pre-pandemic numbers
Yelm Community Schools counted 5,549 full-time equivalent students enrolled for the 2023-24 school year, 81 students higher than the district anticipated in its budget. The district also tallied a …
Yelm district debuts new peer-model developmental preschool program
Yelm Community Schools has added peer models into its developmental preschool program for the 2023-24 school year. The district aims to educate children ages 3 to 5 years old with and without …
Local ranch owners are finding new ways to distribute their products
James and Kelsey Davis first started Green Branch Ranch when they moved to Eastern Washington on 17 acres of land. Their focus has been sustainable food-growing practices and preserving them. …
Thurston Regional Planning Council updates trails plan
The Thurston Regional Planning Council has unveiled the updated draft to the Thurston Regional Trails Plan and is seeking public comment until Oct. 9. This update comes more than two years after …
Nisqually River Foundation to host 34th annual Nisqually Watershed Festival
The Nisqually River Foundation is hosting the 34th annual Nisqually Watershed Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. The …
Rosemont Round-Up offers fun for people of all ages
The moos of a highland cow, smooth country music and joyous laughter energized Prestige Senior Living Rosemont’s Rosemont Round-Up in Yelm on Friday, Sept. 8. Faintly, George Brown strummed …
Annual Norse West Viking Festival emulates, honors Norse culture and tradition
Yelm’s Cochrane Park transformed into eighth century Scandinavia as Viking emulators from all throughout the region celebrated the traditions, culture and lifestyle of the Norse. The Norse …
State & Regional News
 Day-use fees to be waived for Saturday, Sept. 23 for National Public Lands Day
Visits to most day-use land managed by the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. Forest Service will be free on Saturday, Sept. 23 to celebrate the 30th annual National Public Lands Day. The day …
Application window opens for wildfire defense grant
Local governments, nonprofits and tribes face an Oct. 31 deadline to apply for a Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The …
SPSCC welcomes five full-time faculty members
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) kicked off its 2023-24 academic year by welcoming five new full-time tenure-track faculty members to the college. Megan Connell, nursing professor …
Nisqually Tribe receives funding for expanded internet access
The Nisqually Tribe is one of three recipients awarded grants from the Washington State Department of Commerce to expand access to the internet through digital navigator services. The tribe will …
Tenino sculptor’s book to feature 15-year struggle to place 9/11 memorial
Wherever you were on Sept. 11, 2001, Americans from coast to coast were affected by the terrorist attacks unleashed on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, even if they had no personal connection. …
News in brief: Fire, state parks
Twin Firs fire contained in Mount Rainier National Park Nisqually Valley News staff Mount Rainier National Park officials announced that the Twin Firs Fire has been successfully contained. …
Dolly Parton celebrates Imagination Library going statewide
Growing up in the mountains of east Tennessee with a father who couldn’t read or write, Dolly Parton’s most valuable possession was the “coat of many colors” her mother sewed …
New smoke management plan approved for Washington state, allowing more freedom for controlled burns
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved Washington State’s smoke management plan, allowing for more planning time and a longer burning season for controlled burns to prevent …
State has safe portal for people to donate to Maui wildfire relief
The Washington Office of Secretary of State has a secure portal so all   Washington residents can donate to Maui relief efforts. The Disaster Relief Center, a special project of the …
Life

Student honors: Nisqually Valley residents earn SNHU honors

Ten Nisqually Valley residents were named to Southern New Hampshire University’s Summer 2023 President’s List. Another, Tanya DeVore of McKenna, was named to the Dean’s List. …

Finding Reason: God never ‘shows up’ but is already always with us

Recently, I had to fill out a typical application to volunteer for a Christian camp I’ve been serving for some 20 years. The past couple of years it has included a question like this, …

Finding Reason: If you're feeling overwhelmed, this just might be what you need to read

Everybody messes up. Sometimes it makes little difference to hear encouraging words when we’ve messed up so badly, and anticipate more bad consequences. We keep things to ourselves out of …

Yelm resident makes dean’s list at Georgia Southwestern State University

Yelm resident Alec Kaasa made the summer 2023 dean’s list at Georgia Southwestern State University. He was among the 430 students recognized for scholastic achievement during the summer …
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Business
Yelm is quickly growing economically, with a variety of new businesses opening around the city within the last year alone. These businesses include The Local, Munchies Plus and 507 Auto …
Kona Ice is now serving shaved ice to the Yelm, Roy, and McKenna areas, with the goal of sharing its philanthropic culture in these communities. The mobile franchise, featuring its colorful …
For those intrigued by or in need of power equipment, J&I Power Equipment is hosting a Kubota-sponsored customer appreciation day from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 26 at the business, J&I …
By Jacob Dimond jake@yelmonline.com Located at 404 First St. in Yelm, Northwest Barber Lounge aims to create a fun and friendly environment with personable and friendly barbers. After …
Despite speculation to the contrary, Tim’s Pharmacy & Gift Shop in Yelm is not closing or changing ownership. Instead, owners began remodeling the business in late July to provide an …

The Nisqually Valley News - September 21, 2023

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Sports

Rainier bounces back with sweep at Toledo

TOLEDO — It took the Rainier volleyball team “a bit to get warmed up” on Tuesday, but once the Mountaineers were rolling, they were tough to stop.  In a bounce back effort …

Dallaire leads Tenino past KWC

The Tenino boys golf team beat King’s Way Christian by 18 strokes Tuesday at Tahoma Valley, 168-186. David Dallaire carded a 36 to earn medalist honors, beating out the field by seven …

Tornado tennis team shows improvement in 3-2 loss to Rams

The Yelm boys tennis team narrowly fell short of its first win of the 2023 season, falling to North Thurston 3-2 at home on Friday, Sept. 15. With the loss, the Tornados fell to 0-3 on the …

Beavers blanked by Kalama

The Tenino girls soccer team’s unbeaten run to open the regular season ended in Cowlitz County on Monday at six games, in a 5-0 loss to Kalama. The Beavers (5-1-1) went into the matchup …

Beavers sweep Warriors handily

ROCHESTER — The Tenino volleyball team got back above .500 in dominant fashion, sweeping Rochester 25-14, 25-9, 25-7 in a Scatter Creek Showdown. “It’s been a wonderful start …

Cross Country roundup: Local runners race at Steilacoom

Runners from W.F. West, Tumwater, Rochester, Tenino and Rainier joined a packed field in Pierce County for the BROOKS Fort Steilacoom Invitational on Saturday. Tumwater’s Alan Penrose III …

2Bs kick off in Rainier

Eleven B schools met up at Rainier Elementary School on Thursday for the Central 2B Kick-Off, starting the small-school cross country season in southwest Washington. Toledo’s Treyton Marty …

Loggers get going fast in win over Rainier Mountaineers

For the second straight week, the Onalaska football team got off to a hot start, and this time the Loggers just kept rolling, throwing 50 points on the scoreboard before halftime in a 50-6 win over …

Adna, Tenino settle for scoreless draw

TENINO — The Tenino soccer team’s home matchup against Adna on Thursday wasn’t so much a tale of two halves of one of 65 minutes, followed by a sequel of 15. No matter how exactly …

Tenino overcomes NWC in four

The Tenino volleyball team needed a bit to get going but figured things out in a four-set win over Northwest Christian (Lacey) on Wednesday, 17-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-19. “We started off …

Opinion

Letter to the editor: Green Hill School needs personnel, systemic reform

This letter is regarding the search warrant that was just executed on Green Hill School by the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET). Green Hill School is the state of Washington’s long-term …

Being Frank: Crabbers must be accountable for their share of the harvest

Our shared natural resources are our shared responsibility. Following federal Judge Edward Rafeedie’s 1994 ruling in U.S. v. Washington, state and tribal co-managers have a legal …

College-degree requirement can limit qualified applicants

In today’s economy, along with the high cost of college and changing social attitudes about a degree’s value in some fields, employers are increasingly questioning the need to require job …

Back to Business: Service to America to help students avoid going into debt

With students returning to college campuses, it is time to consider other ways for them to pay for tuition, books and living expenses. Too often, they resort to borrowing. Now, student loan …

Commentary: Reflections on a fellow lawmaker from former House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox

The newspaper recently allowed me to share my reflections as a former House Republican leader on two lawmakers who represent the 20th Legislative District, Sen. John Braun and Rep. Peter Abbarno. In …

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Obituaries
In Loving Memory Of Alexandria “Allie” Rose Pennington: Jan. 1, 1996-July 30, 2022
We’ve had a year to process the enormity of losing our dearest Allie. As we continue discovering all of the ways in which we miss her, the thing that we — her family — keeps …
In Loving Memory of Kazuko ‘Katy’ Hicks: 1975-2023
Kazuko “Katy” Elizabeth Hicks, passed away on June 15, 2023, at her home in Rainier. She was a wonderful mother, sister, daughter and friend to many. We will miss her so very much. She …
In Loving Memory of Cathryn ‘Katie’ Lenz: 1971 - 2023
Katie (Henderson Mires) Lenz passed away on May 22, 2023, to join the angels of heaven and to be with the Lord. Born April 4, 1971, she spent all of her school years in Yelm, graduating from …
In Loving Memory of John Heymann: Feb. 4,1943 — March 29, 2023
John W. Heymann moved on to his eternal rest on March 29, 2023 at 80 years old.  He was born and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from Archbishop Stepinac High School, he …
 In Loving Memory of Drew Kepner: 1981-2023
Drew DeAmicis Kepner was born in Lancaster, California on Oct. 5, 1981 to his mother, Sharon Kepner. He passed away on April 30, 2023, in Roy, Washington. Drew will forever be remembered by all who …

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