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Local news
 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 …
Yelm district hires new transportation director
As Yelm Community Schools continues to find ways to address its bus driver shortage and bus cancellations, the district has hired a new transportation director. The school board unanimously voted to …
Sirens:
Shoplifting at Yelm’s Walmart leads to arrest Yelm police officers responded to a report of shoplifting around 8 p.m. at Yelm’s Walmart on Wednesday, Nov. 22 after reports that a …
We Love Rainier group brightens up town with Christmas lights, decorations and events
We Love Rainier WA, a community enrichment organization, brightened up downtown Rainier by decorating local businesses with Christmas lights and …
Yelm Lions Christmas Store ready to spread holiday cheer
Few things in this area feel more like the holidays than the Yelm Lions Christmas Store, which will take place again this year at 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 9. This community event allows children …
Annual Yelm Community Christmas Concert slated for Dec. 10
The 27th annual Yelm Community Christmas Concert will take place at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10. The event, hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 10423 Clark Road SE in Yelm, is …
What's Happening: State football, Christmas Parade, Tree lighting
Thursday, Nov. 30 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 …
Nisqually Valley Moose Lodge toy drive successful with help from YHS football team
The Nisqually Valley Moose Lodge in Yelm has hosted a toy drive each year to provide a memorable Christmas to less fortunate students in Yelm Community Schools for about 15 years, and perhaps had its …
‘Just kind of along for the ride’: Bucoda mayor Rob Gordon battling stomach cancer
Having taken over as the mayor of Bucoda at the end of 2022 following former Mayor Steven Purcell’s resignation due to his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma returning, 41-year-old Rob Gordon is now …
Former Yelm resident helping spacecraft land on moon in 2024
When the United States returns to the moon for the first time since 1972, a piece of Yelm will take part in the mission as well. David Johnson, a former Yelm resident and current ground software …
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

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 …

Yelm resident faces challenges with cat’s rare cancer diagnosis

Michelle Kroeger welcomed someone new into her life four years ago when a spontaneous visit to an animal shelter in Lacey led to an unexpected, life-changing encounter. “Iggy is the …
Facebbok
Business
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 …
Yelm resident Ronda Harris has been creating baby booties, coffee sleeves, ear warmers, plushies and many other crocheted products for people in the area to enjoy for over 10 years. But the …

The Nisqually Valley News - November 30, 2023

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Sports

Mountaineers hold off Beaver rally for first win

Josh Meldrum blocks a layup attempt during Rainier's win over the Tenino on Nov. 30.
TENINO — In their loss to Eatonville in its season opener on Tuesday, Rainier held a fourth-quarter lead, but couldn’t hold on and fell to 0-1. On Thursday in Tenino, the …
Ryah Stanley dribbles past multiple Tenino defenders during Toledo's win at Tenino on Nov. 29.

Fallon, swarming defense lead Riverhawks to opening win

The Toledo girls’ basketball team opened its season with a big win in Tenino on Wednesday night, defeating the Beavers 53-17. The Riverhawks had success and got out to a big lead early …

Mountaineers lose opener at Eatonville

The Rainier boys basketball team led late but couldn’t hold on Tuesday, dropping its season opener to Eatonville 64-59. “We played well enough to win for three and a half quarters, …

Beavers win dramatically on opening night

The Tenino boys basketball team got its winter started with a bang Tuesday at Brock Court, taking a close win over Bear Creek, 74-73. “I’ll tell you what,” Tenino coach Ryan …

Basketball does away with one-and-one in high school

Last spring, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) struck the traditional one-and-one foul shots from its basketball rule books. The move was made to speed up games and …
Yelm girls basketball senior Lilli Williams dials into a drill at practice on Nov. 24.

Yelm girls basketball aims for bounce-back season with postseason goals

After being riddled with adversity and injuries last season, Yelm High School’s girls basketball team is determined to get back on track during the 2023-24 campaign. While the Tornados totaled …

Mountaineers open season with win over Vikings

The Rainier girls’ basketball team opened its season with a win on Monday night, taking down Mossyrock 40-26 at home. Bryn Beckman got the scoring going early with two three-pointers in …

Tornados defeat Thunderbirds, 29-12, in 3A state quarterfinal matchup

Head coach Jason Ronquillo delivers a postgame message to the Tornados, who defeated Mount Tahoma, 29-12, in the 3A state quarterfinals on Nov. 17.

The Yelm Tornados punched their ticket to the 3A state semifinals after defeating the Mount Tahoma Thunderbirds, 29-12, in a contest filled with smash-mouth football on Nov. 17. With the victory, …

Longtime McKenna Elementary teacher inducted into Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame

George Goss, 23, takes the field for the Pierce County Bengals. Goss, a teacher in McKenna, was recently inducted in the Pacific Northwest Semi Pro Hall of Fame.

After delays, George Goss, physical education teacher of 22 years at McKenna Elementary, was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame on Nov. 11 in Federal Way. Goss played …

Mountaineers girls hoopers primed to take next step after deep postseason run last year

Brandon Eygabroad (left center) speaks with his team during practice at Rainier High School on Nov. 15.

As the Rainier High School girls basketball team prepares to open its 2023-24 season, the Mountaineers are hungry to prove that their 21-7 record and state tournament run last year weren’t a …

Opinion
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. …

Guest Commentary: What your favorite color says about you

I love the fall colors. Growing up in Colorado, fall was always my favorite time of year. The colors were so vivid, and the air was crisp. My favorite color has always been red.  …
Elizabeth Hovde

WA Cares Fund webinar outlines many reasons to be leery of wage-decreasing program

The folks running Washington state’s WA Cares Fund, which taxes low- and high-income workers 58 cents for every $100 they make, hosted a webinar recently talking about how people can plan for …
The battleship USS Arizona sinks after being hit by a Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7, 1941. Picture taken December 7, 1941.

As WWII soldiers fade away, we must not forget the sacrifices of our veterans and their families

While the last veterans who survived the “surprise” Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor are dwindling rapidly, we cannot let their sacrifices and the memories of that horrific day that …

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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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