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11-year-old steals car from Yelm apartment complex Yelm police officers responded to a report of auto theft around 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 1 near Vancil Road. The vehicle stolen was a white 2003 …
City of Yelm to host several Christmas-themed events
As December continues to set in and the winter season approaches, the City of Yelm has several Christmas-themed activities for community members. According to Line Roy, the City of Yelm’s …
Yelm City Council unanimously approves early roundabout designs
The city of Yelm is one step closer to installing a roundabout at a busy intersection. During a meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28, the Yelm City Council unanimously approved the preliminary design of …
City Council approves mid-biennium budget amendment for 2023-24
Yelm City Council unanimously approved amendments to the city’s mid-biennium budget for 2023-24 after Yelm Financial Director Stephanie Nanavich led a discussion on Nov. 28 to inform councilors …
Mayor, councilors thank former Yelm council members as they depart
Members of the Yelm City Council took the opening minutes of its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28 to thank former councilors Ashley Brooks and Amanda Johnstone as they departed the council. Their …
Yelm community kicks off holiday season with Christmas parade
Rainier's Holiday Park brightens community
What's Happening: Holiday tree lighting, Christmas store, Cookies for Santa, Christmas concert
Thursday, Dec. 7 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 …
Yelm’s ‘free-range Santa’ aims to bring more joy to the community during the holiday season
By Jacob Dimond jake@yelmonline.com For the last four Christmas seasons in Yelm, Harry Miller, also known locally as Santa, has tried to bring more holiday joy to the community and …
City of Roy declares financial discrepancy allegations are unfounded
Roy city officials have determined that allegations of a $40,000 deficit and a number of other issues raised during the March 27 City Council meeting were unfounded. The issues stemmed from …
Mayor DePinto hopeful for future of Yelm YMCA, potential bond in January
Discussions for a potential YMCA in Yelm are heating up. Mayor Joe DePinto met with Kyle Cronk, CEO of South Sound YMCA, on Nov. 16 to view different renderings of what a Yelm YMCA could look …
Roy council shoots down proposed 1% property tax increase
The Roy City Council adopted a resolution setting the property tax levy for the 2024 fiscal year without a proposed 1%   tax levy increase. The increase would have created $875.88 for the city …
State & Regional News
 Judge sides with lawmakers in public records case
Washington lawmakers can now withhold records pertaining to individuals with whom they have corresponded when drafting laws following a Thurston County judge’s ruling last week. Judge Anna …
WSDOT offers travel charts for ‘drama-free’ Thanksgiving travels
Travelers with plans of long trips throughout Thanksgiving and the winter holiday season can now plan their routes by using Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) holiday travel charts …
Thurston County joins list of elections offices to receive ‘suspicious’ envelope
Thanks to advance notice by the U.S. Postal Service, on Monday morning, Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall intercepted an envelope that matched the description of those sent to other county elections …
Unclaimed remains of four veterans in Lewis County laid to rest in Tahoma National Cemetery 
Frederick A. Clough III, Robert E. Larsen, Michael E. Damis and Russel L. Welk.  Those are the names of four veterans whose remains were left unclaimed in Lewis County after their deaths. …
Application period for Thurston WSU Master Gardener Program open
The application period for the 2024 Washington State University Master Gardener Volunteer Training is now open. The 2024 training course has 79 hours of comprehensive virtual, classroom and …
‘Home for the Holidays’ traffic safety campaign underway
The Washington State Patrol (WSP), in partnership with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) and law enforcement agencies across the state, began the “Home for the Holidays” …
Public comment and review on Highway System Plan available through Dec. 18
A Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) draft plan that outlines investment recommendations for preserving, maintaining, improving and operating state highways for the next 20 years …
U.S. Forest Service accepting applications for 2024 seasonal positions
The U.S. Forest Service is now accepting applications for more than 1,000 seasonal spring and summer jobs in Washington and Oregon, according to a news release last week. Positions for the 2024 …
State funds projects to provide outdoor learning opportunities for area children
The state of Washington will fund $3.7 million in projects across the state in the coming years to provide students with additional outdoor learning opportunities. The grant funding, …
Life

Do you want to have a positive impact on others this holiday season?

The man and his boys were dressed very sharply, but the little boys were not behaving well on the crowded subway. The father wasn’t paying attention to his children much at all, while they were …

Can we rethink things this Thanksgiving for the sake of others?

This week many of us will be getting together for what most call Thanksgiving. For some it is about football. For others it’s about food and family. I’d like to suggest each of us spend a …

Consider connecting with a local church family to navigate these crazy times

The other day I was praying and reflecting on all the people I’ve lost since the COVID pandemic. When numbers climbed over 20, I realized it was a little much. Then, I decided to jot down those …

Finding Reason: What can we do for the forgotten ones?

It was nearly three years ago when I first visited Washington State’s incarceration facility for women in Purdy. I was there to work alongside a fellow chaplain for a couple of days. This was …
Facebbok
Business
The Rusty Kettle Espresso crew smiles in front of the stand on Nov. 30.
Not every family can celebrate the holidays with a warm, home-cooked meal. That’s why Rusty Kettle Espresso, a coffee stand in McKenna, is collecting canned goods from now until Dec. 15. …
An exterior look at Wentworth Marriage & Family Therapy's new space on 313 W. Yelm Ave.
Jennifer Wentworth has seen the Nisqually Valley area grow in her 20 years of residence, with the addition of numerous businesses and schools. During that time, however, she also noticed the need for …
Massage therapist Brooklyn Cutler smiles while sitting on her massage table.
Yelm community members with aches, pains and soreness have another option in town with Brooklyn Cutler, a licensed massage therapist. She began her practice back in September and is happy to serve in …
Brian Anderson works on a dovetail in his garage on Oct. 20.
Yelm has always been in the background for Brian Anderson, a one-man furniture maker and owner of Anderson Woodworks. He worked in the city briefly before serving in the United States Army for …
The expanded YARD facility, 305 Creek St., in Yelm will feature two indoor tunnels, a pitching mound and baseball cage.
Youth Athletics Recreation Development (YARD) has opened its second space on 305 Creek St. in Yelm. The organization has run its baseball practices, classes and other events in Unit A, but has now …

The Nisqually Valley News - December 7, 2023

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Sports

Schow, Gonia lead shorthanded Beavers over Wolves

Entering Friday’s game against Black Hills, the Tenino boys basketball team was down three starters, and they ended up playing just five players. Noah Schow and Austin Gonia did enough to …
Haleigh Hanson goes up for a bucket in the paint during the second half of Rainier's 52-49 win at Adna on Dec. 8.

Rainier holds off Adna in early-season showdown of contenders

ADNA — The Rainier girls basketball team made its wish list in the offseason, and when the schedule came out, the Mountaineers found out they’d be getting one of their presents early. …

Vikings top Beavers for second straight win

For the second straight night, the Mossyrock girls basketball team came away with a big win, as the Vikings topped Tenino 57-20. Renzy Marshall led the Vikings (2-3) with 18 points, and she also …

Beavers struggle from jump in loss

The Tenino girls basketball team fell to 0-3 on the season with 63-23 loss to 2B Toutle Lake on Tuesday. “They outrebounded us, they outworked us,” Tenino coach Scott Ashmore said. …

Beavers lose in Toutle despite big night for Schow

The Tenino boys basketball team led late but couldn’t close things out down the stretch on the road, losing to 2B Toutle Lake 54-49. The Beavers (1-3) led 49-48 with 90 seconds left in the …
Brooklynn Swenson (3) celebrates Bryn Beckman's (24) 3-pointer in the second half of Rainier's 36-41 win over Neah Bay on Dec. 5.

Mountaineers get rolling, down defending 1B champs

RAINIER — The Rainier girls basketball team came away with a marquee non-league win Tuesday at home, welcoming Neah Bay to the Nisqually Valley and promptly sending the defending 1B state …

Senior-heavy Yelm boys basketball sets sights on top-two SSC finish

With the 2023 boys basketball season just around the corner, the Tornados, led by a senior-heavy class, prepare for a South Sound Conference schedule described by Yelm’s head coach Dave …

Mountaineers hot from deep, cook Winlock 77-39

Rainier's Joshua Meldrum (3) attempts a three-point jumper while Winlock's James Cusson (5) contests on Dec. 7.

Despite a scoreless first half of the opening quarter, the Rainier High School boys basketball team enjoyed its best offensive night of the young season in a 77-39 win over Winlock on Thursday, Dec. …

Updated: Yelm shut out in 3A state championship

Senior Brayden Platt loses his helmet while getting tackled in the 3A state football championship game, Friday, Dec. 1 at Husky Stadium.

It wasn’t supposed to end like that. Yelm, which won its first state title last season in the most storybook of fashions, came around a year later on an even grander stage, trying to …

Mountaineers wrestling sports largest roster in team history

Ryleigh Cruse (top) wrestles Keira Anderson in practice on Nov. 30.

Chris Holterman is in his 30th year at Rainier High School as the wrestling coach, and the 2023-24 team will be the largest group of wrestlers he has coached yet. A total of 47 wrestlers — …

Opinion
Send letters to the editor to yelmnews@yelmonline.com

Letter to the Editor: Discuss policy with civility

Editor, Civility in public discourse is in short supply. The bipartisan Project for Civic Health refers to a 2018 poll, in which 93% of Americans said incivility is a problem in the United …

Importance of open government laws on display with shocking stories

Strong open government laws are critical to a well-functioning republic and ensuring public accountability. Two recent shocking stories, one in Washington and one in Idaho, however, sadly illustrate …
Bill Murdock

Navy veteran, career forester recalls early days of World War II

By Julie McDonald For The Nisqually Valley News Thirteen-year-old Bill Murdock’s district sales manager called on a Sunday in early December. The Oregon Journal printed a special …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

Letter to the Editor: Something should be done about gas prices

I just returned from visiting family in western Massachusetts. I was in awe of the price of gasoline. I wish I had a pipeline so I could fill up from their pump to my car. At Costco, gas price for …

Being Frank: Successful co-management requires renewed commitment

As the 50th anniversary of the Boldt decision nears, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has room to improve as co-managers with treaty tribes. Judge Boldt’s 1974 ruling in U.S. v. …

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Obituaries
In loving memory of Jeffrey Lee Stone 1952-2023
Jeffrey Lee Stone, born on May 16, 1952, in San Francisco, California, at the Presidio Army installation, passed away on Nov. 3, 2023.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and June …
In Loving Memory of Linda Robbins 11/30/1945 ~ 10/26/2023
Our sweet Linda Lois Robbins (Whited) passed away peacefully on Oct. 26 in Kennewick after a long battle with dementia. She was a kind and gentle lady who was loved by everyone. Linda did many …
In Loving Memory Of Glenda Bednar 1946 ~ 2023
Glenda E. (Decker) Bednar passed away on Sept. 19, 2023, at Providence St. Peter Hospital at the age of 77. Born in Seattle on Aug. 17, 1946, she was adopted at the age of 3 weeks by the late Glen …
Let's Remember Tractor Bob Rumsey 9/16/1928 - 8/15/2023
Drop in and reminisce on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Rainier Chapel, 206 Binghamton Street, Rainier, Washington 98576.98576.
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 …

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