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 Eight unopposed Thurston County candidates secure elected office
Eight candidates running unopposed for local office in Thurston County were on track to secure their sought-after elected positions as of election night.  Three of those candidates, Tillie …
Washington initiative to protect girls sports passing, two other initiatives failing
Tuesday night saw a mixed bag of results for three initiatives on the Nov. 3 ballot that consumed a great deal of public debate leading up to election day.  An initiative to keep biological …
Rough election night for Republicans in Washington state Legislature
Buoyant Democrats were on course Tuesday to strengthen their grip on power in the Washington state House. But the caucus is poised to lose its longest-serving member, and a series of intraparty …
Washington state voters embracing income tax on high earners
Voters on Tuesday were upholding Washington’s new income tax on households earning more than a million dollars a year, a threshold opponents argued would eventually be lowered to apply to everyone. …
Voters lean towards approving Timberland Regional Library levy lid lift
Timberland Regional Library’s (TRL) levy lid lift proposal, which library leaders and supporters say is essential to avoiding further staff layoffs and service cuts, was passing as of election …
Miller narrowly leads over Cady in race to become Thurston County Clerk
With the current Thurston County Clerk Linda Enlow set to retire at the conclusion of 2026, both challengers Nicole Miller, a Democrat, and Garrett Cady, an independent, set their sights on becoming …
JJ Olson up 9,000 votes over Lynda Nashed Zeman in Thurston County Assessor race
As preliminary results from the Thurston County general election begin to arrive, JJ Olson leads opponent Lynda Nashed Zeman by over 15 percent in the race to become Thurston County Assessor.  …
Thurston County Realtor’s Association leads opposition of countywide Home Energy Score program
The Thurston County Realtors Association is doubling down on its opposition to a countrywide mandated regional Home Energy Score (HES) program by dedicating thousands of dollars to oppose one of the …
Tuesday’s election in Washington is packed with big decisions for voters
Washington’s massive midterm election on Tuesday is nearly here. Voters are weighing in on initiatives to repeal a statewide income tax on high earners and bar transgender girls from competing …
Wolf Haven International in Tenino enjoys "Howl-o-ween" enrichment
The wolves and wolfdogs at Wolf Haven International in Tenino enjoyed some Halloween enrichment this weekend, thanks to Rutledge Family Farm and the South Sound Eco-Network.  Rutledge …
Olympia bicyclist struck by car while crossing I-5 in Cowlitz County
A car struck a bicyclist who was crossing northbound Interstate 5 near Castle Rock on Sunday, Nov. 1.  The bicyclist, identified by the Washington State Patrol as Andre J. Hubbard, 59, of …
Deputy shoots at suspect following pursuit in Thurston County
A Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) deputy shot at a suspect during a pursuit on northbound Interstate 5 on Sunday, Nov. 1.  The suspect was not injured by gunfire, according to a …

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State & Regional News
 Election underway in Washington with strong early ballot turnout
Election Day has arrived, and officials in Yakima County report that ballots have poured in faster than expected leading into Washington’s Nov. 3 general election. Kathy Fisher, elections …
In a tight battle for a Washington legislative seat, a PAC tries influencers to reach voters
Tiffany knows fashion. Lita opines on the outdoors. Their online content creations draw thousands of views from those seeking their advice and recommendations. Recently Tiffany and Lita veered …
These purple Washington state districts are trending blue — what changed?
This is the story of how Democrats came to win over (most of) Washington’s suburbs. Over the past decade, Democrats have amassed power in Olympia through areas further and further from their …
As Washington open enrollment begins, far fewer than expected have lost coverage
Starting Sunday, Washingtonians who need to buy health insurance through the state’s online marketplace can enroll in or change their plans, but they face another major cost increase to maintain …
Backlash grows over Seattle mayor's ‘same old’ homeless drug strategy
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is taking sharp criticism over the plan she unveiled last week to address the homeless and drug crisis in the city, using the same partnerships with organizations that have …
Schools need more air filtration to protect youth from wildfire smoke, OSU study finds
Children are breathing in unhealthy air for longer periods of time as wildfires worsen across the country, according to a new study by researchers at Oregon State University’s College of …
Two Dans, three Bobs: Alaska Senate controversy mirrors 2024 Washington fiasco
The pivotal U.S. Senate race in Alaska is now embroiled in threats from the president and probes from the state’s governor over a candidate appearing on the ballot with the same name as the …
Idled TransAlta Centralia coal power plant generates a natural gas fight
The owner of the only remaining coal power plant in the Pacific Northwest is doggedly proceeding with a plan to extend its life by converting to natural gas fuel over the next two years. TransAlta …
Trump administration to send election monitors to Idaho’s largest county
The Trump administration is sending election monitors to Idaho’s largest county on Election Day next week, the state’s top election official confirmed Wednesday. The decision comes as the …

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Life

“Nineteenth Century Mail to Olympia”: Schmidt House History Talk to cover stamps, mail

History Talks continue at the Schmidt House in Tumwater, with the next one set to be held at noon Thursday, Nov. 5. In this history talk, stamp collector Gerry Smith will present a program on …
Contestants and scholarship winners who participated in the Miss Thurston County Scholarship Organization's 52nd annual competition at South Puget Sound Community College on Sunday, Oct. 25, pose for a photo.

Miss Thurston County Scholarship Organization crowns four new titleholders for the new year

The Miss Thurston County Scholarship Organization crowned four new titleholders on Sunday, Oct. 25. Sophina Wheeler, a 17-year-old senior at Olympia High School, is Miss Capital City 2027. …
The sun sets at Mount Rainier National Park as seen from the Skyline Loop Trail on Monday, Sept. 22.

Mount Rainier National Park voted Washington’s No.1 ‘Spiritual Home’

“Where is your natural spiritual home? Some places have a way of putting a bad week in perspective. A mountain makes the office politics seem smaller. A familiar stretch of water brings back …
Bonnie and Jordan Burt's 11-year-old son, Nathan, has been diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare form of cancer that currently has no cure. 

Support sought for Thurston County boy, 11, diagnosed with aggressive cancer 

An 11-year-old Yelm boy was recently diagnosed with a terminal and aggressive form of cancer, and his family is now seeking support from the community to assist with medical costs, missed wages and …

Providence Swedish Mobile Health Clinic brings care to residents displaced by Tumwater apartment blaze

When an apartment fire in Tumwater occurred Oct. 15, it left dozens of residents unable to return home. Some of the residents also lost access to essentials like oxygen, insulin and heart medications …

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  • Nisqually Valley News Bites Ep. 4: Ashley Brooks and Jesse Kellems talk levy efforts
  • Nisqually Valley News Bites Ep. 3: Yelm Mayor Joe DePinto talks journey to office, upcoming projects

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Business
A preview of the front news and sports pages for the first print edition of the Thurston Chronicle, printing Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. Visit ThurstonChronicle.com to subscribe and see a growing list of locations where the weekly newspaper will be available for purchase. Call 360-245-6737 or 360-736-3311 for more details.
In January 2021, Lewis County-based CT Publishing entered the world of journalism, purchasing The Chronicle in Centralia, the Nisqually Valley News in Yelm, and The Reflector in Clark County. …
Spooner Berry Farms has operated a stand on Yelm Highway for the last 43 years. The stand is located on land currently slated to become part of Jolene Unsoeld Community Park, construction for which is scheduled to start later this fall.
With construction of Jolene Unsoeld Community Park set to begin this fall, the Olympia community is raising concerns about what the development means to a longstanding berry stand on the property. …
Talent turnover is accelerating, technology is reshaping roles, and the gap between what workers expect and what employers are offering is widening. These challenges, and the opportunities they …
The TransAlta Centralia plant is pictured on Thursday, March 12.
TransAlta Centralia is expected to begin operations generating power through burning natural gas by 2028 and cease all burning of fossil fuels by a state deadline of 2044. The Washington state …
Providence St. Peter Hospital’s heart care program recently enhanced its outpatient cardiology services as well as hospital-based interventional, electrophysiology, structural heart, cardiothoracic …

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The Nisqually Valley News - October 29, 2026

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Sports

Prep football: Crossover week is upon us, ladies and gentlemen

Tenino's Parker Minerich (45) carries the ball during a game against Rochester at Tenino High School on Friday, Oct. 9.
November football is finally here. And the sprint to Husky Stadium is officially underway. Week 10 unveiled the “unofficial” seeds for the top four classifications and in Class 2B and 1B, a …
Rainier's Alexis Myers (left) compete in the Yelm Tornado 5K at Yelm High School on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Robles, Myers fuel Mountaineers to another district championship

The 1-2 punch of Komaire Robles and Alexis Myers proved to be exactly what the Rainier High School girls cross country team needed on Saturday afternoon. On their home course and in a dogfight …
The Olympia girls cross country team poses for a photo with its district championship trophy at the Westside Classic at Chambers Creek in University Place on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Olympia girls cross country claims district title at Westside Classic

UNIVERSITY PLACE — There’s not much you can throw at Cris Violette that he hasn’t already seen in the world of prep cross country. In his 37 years of coaching at Olympia High School, with …
Rainier's Ellie Pringle (2), Lexi Beckman (12), and Jessica Adamski (21) celebrate after a point during Day 1 of the 2B District 4 Tournament in Toledo on Oct. 31.

Rainier sweeps Mossyrock to advance to district semis

TOLEDO — Rainier started its postseason run on a positive note on Saturday in Toledo, where the Mountaineers swept Mossyrock 25-15, 25-17, 25-17 in a 2B District 4 Quarterfinal. “It’s a …

Yelm scores season-high in points again, but falls to Rogers in SPSL crossover

For the second week in a row, the Yelm football team earned a season-high on the scoreboard in a losing effort, falling to Rogers 49-34 at Sparks Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 29 in a South Puget Sound …
Yelm's Deejay Taylor competes at the South Puget Sound League Championships at Fort Steilacoom Park on Thursday, Oct. 22.

Yelm boys cross country team finishes in fourth place at SPSL championship race

Quenton Lanese accomplished the first of what he hopes is three consecutive championships in his sophomore postseason. The Olympia cross country phenom earned his first career South Puget Sound …

Yelm blows out Bethel for David Temple’s first win as head coach

The Yelm girls soccer team finished its regular season with a bang, routing Bethel 7-1 at home on Tuesday, Oct. 28 to give first-year head coach David Temple his first victory. Yelm had scored …

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Yelm swept by Puyallup in season finale

Yelm

The Yelm volleyball team was swept by Puyallup 25-13, 25-19, 25-11, at home in its regular season finale on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Yelm celebrated its six seniors on senior night: Riley Smith, …

Mountaineers sweep Pirates to cap regular season

The Rainier volleyball team picked up a victory on its Senior Night on Monday night, as the Mountaineers swept Adna 25-8, 25-17, 25-11. “They played great as a team and we finished our season …

In Focus: Fire and Ice charity basketball game pits the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office against local firefighters

On Saturday night, a matchup between Thurston County Sheriff's Office employees and local firefighters — better known as the Fire and Ice charity basketball game — was held at Tumwater High …

Opinion
Thurston County Commissioner Wayne Fournier waves to attendees during the Oregon Trail Days parade in Tenino on Saturday, July 25.

Wayne Fournier: After election season, a question — who would sign up for this?

Well, another election season is behind us, more or less. Thankfully. I'm still getting political text messages from candidates as far away as Maine and Texas, so apparently somebody hasn't …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to news@thurstonchronicle.com.

Timberland Regional Library services make our region stronger and a better place to call home

My first memory of a library is from when I was maybe 3 years old. My hometown library was small, and I remember one particular shelf — it was low to the ground, and the books had yellow spines, …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to news@thurstonchronicle.com.

Letter to the Editor: Ratepayers need a watchdog, not another utility insider

This March, my aunt, a senior on a fixed income, handed me her Thurston PUD water bill. The mandatory base charges and fees on her statement were 14 times the cost of the actual water she consumed. …
The Washington state Capitol is pictured from Heritage Park in Olympia on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Opinion: How to get Washington’s business climate back on track

The check engine light for Washington’s business climate is flashing. In July, the Association of Washington Businesses (AWB) held a summit with small businesses, policymakers, and …
Wayne Fournier is a firefighter, Thurston County commissioner and former mayor who has spent more than three decades working in public safety.

Wayne Fournier: Considering the most important thing a law enforcement officer carries

When I first took office as a 32-year-old city council member, I immediately had a problem sitting on my desk that I didn't fully understand. It was 2012. We had a brash, unprepared new mayor …

Read more about: Opinion

Obituaries
In loving memory of Christine Schneider: 1957 - 2026
  The beloved daughter of Shirley Rodger, Christine Schneider, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. Christine was born Feb. 4, 1957, to Larry and Shirley Rodger in …
In loving memory of Garry James Brown: 1952-2026
Garry James Brown, D.O., born Sept. 22, 1952, in Olympia, Washington, passed away Sept. 19, 2026, at the age of 73 in Olympia after living with pancreatic cancer for two years. Garry lived a …
In Loving Memory of Robert Pape: 1939 - 2025
Robert A. Pape was born Oct. 11, 1939, and passed away Dec. 17, 2025. A celebration of life will be held Sept. 19, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. The service will be held at Mills & Mills Funeral …
In Loving Memory of Steven Demich: 1957 - 2026
Though he will be deeply missed, Steve’s spirit lives on in the countless lives he touched over the years. “A smile costs nothing, but gives so much.” Those who knew Steve know that he …
In loving memory of David Edwards: 1950 - 2025
Celebration of Life  David Edwards 11/9/1950 - 12/25/2025 Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 5 p.m. Yelm Moose Lodge

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Community
Community Calendar for Dec. 18: Worthy Coffee Co. Santa photos, Souper Sunday at Yelm Lions Club, YARD’s ‘Level Up Lounge’ grand opening
Friday, Dec. 19 Yelm boys basketball hosts Puyallup Yelm High School’s boys basketball team will host the 4A SPSL’s Puyallup High School at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, inside the YHS gymnasium. …
Community Calendar for Dec. 4: Free pictures with Santa, Christmas in the Park activities, 14th annual Yelm Lions Christmas Store, Santa Story and Ice Cream Social
Friday, Dec. 5 Free pictures with Santa The City of Yelm’s parks and recreation department will host free pictures with Santa from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, at the Yelm Community …
Community Calendar for November 27: Tenino Holiday Market, Christmas in the Park tree lighting ceremony, Free pictures with Santa
Friday, Nov. 28 to Sunday Nov. 30 Tenino Holiday Market The 2025 Tenino Holiday Market will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28, Saturday, Nov. 29, and Sunday, Nov. 30, at The Kodiak …
Community Calendar for November 20: Prestige Senior Living Rosemont’s Christmas Bazaar, Tenino Holiday Market, Christmas in the Park tree lighting ceremony
Saturday, Nov. 22 Prestige Senior Living Rosemont’s Christmas Bazaar Prestige Senior Living Rosemont, located 215 Killion Rd NW, will host its Christmas Bazaar event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on …
Community Calendar for November 13: Prestige Senior Living Rosemont’s Christmas Bazaar, Tenino Holiday Market, Christmas in the Park tree lighting ceremony, Free pictures with Santa
Saturday, Nov. 22 Prestige Senior Living Rosemont’s Christmas Bazaar Prestige Senior Living Rosemont, located 215 Killion Rd NW, will host its Christmas Bazaar event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on …
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