Local news
Union Votes No-Confidence in School District’s Transportation Director
Members of the Yelm Association of Public Schools Employees “overwhelmingly” voted they have no confidence in the leadership of Yelm Community Schools’ Transportation Director Dawn …
Registration Opens for Prairie Days Parade Participants
The Yelm Chamber of Commerce has opened registration for its 2023 Prairie Days Parade, which is scheduled to take place at 9 a.m. on June 24.   The parade has been a Yelm tradition for …
24 Washington Residents Indicted in Bust of Drug Ring Tied to Aryan Gang
A year-and-a-half-long investigation into a drug trafficking organization with ties to a white supremacist prison gang resulted in 24 federal arrests in Washington and Arizona last week, the U.S. …
Two Bald Hills Fire District Volunteers Honored by VFW
Two volunteers with Bald Hills Fire District No. 17 were honored by VFW Post 5580’s Commander Brandi Smith for their efforts with the department last year.  Steven Slater, the …
Tenino Farmers Market to Open for 19th Season on May 6
The Tenino Farmers Market will open its 19th season on Saturday, May 6.  It will be located in the city’s downtown historic district on Olympia Street South.  “This …
‘Everything Is Just Part of the Adventure’: Former Bucoda Mayor and Army First Sergeant Reflects on Life of Service
Though he was only the town’s mayor for less than a year, Steve Purcell spent 20 years as one of Bucoda’s city council members. That was after spending 20 years in the U.S. …
‘Lady L’ Takes Trip to Oscars to Promote Rainbow Candy Chips
LaDonna Shea-Hockaday, otherwise known as “Lady L,” took a trip to California to celebrate the 95th annual Academy Awards ceremony and to promote her Rainbow Candy Chips.  At the …
Animal Owners Invited to WSU Grazing School
The Thurston County Washington State University extension program is offering a multi-day intensive grazing school from April 21 to April 23 at the Skookumchuck Grange in Tenino. The school will run …
Yelm Drama Club’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ Recognized at Yelm School Board Meeting
The Yelm High School Drama Club was recognized at the school board meeting on Thursday, March 23, following six showings of “The Little Mermaid” at the school’s Performing Arts …
Nisqually Valley Happenings: Community Calendar for March 30
Thursday, March 30 Community Resource Fair Love Abounds Here will host its monthly Community Resource Fair at the Yelm Community Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 30. Those who …
Take a Trip Through Our Area’s Rich History
Enjoy these snapshots of articles written in past issues of the Nisqually Valley News from 45, 35, 25 and 15 years ago, respectively.  A Look Back at This Week, 45 Years Ago • A …
Sirens: Violation of No Contact Order Reported ; Honda Civic Stolen, Later Recovered 
Violation of No Contact Order Reported  Yelm police officers responded to a call at around 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, after a person reported her ex-boyfriend broke his no-contact …
State & Regional News
State House Passes Bills to Ban Assault Weapons and Require Background Checks, Safety Training for Gun Purchases
After years of attempts, Democrats in the Washington House of Representatives passed a ban on assault weapons late Wednesday. The measure was approved one day after the House voted 52-44 requiring …
Washington Wolf Bill Likely Dead in Legislature
A bill that would have given local governments in Eastern Washington more authority to kill and move wolves is likely dead. House Bill 1674 was introduced to the Washington Legislature earlier …
Washington May Make It Easier to Build Backyard Cottages in a Bid to Ease the Housing Crisis
OLYMPIA — More backyard cottages could soon pop up across Washington. So-called accessory dwelling units, often referred to as in-law suites, provide independent living  on the same lot …
Washington Legislature Looks to Bar Qualified Immunity for Police
OLYMPIA — Law enforcement officers in Washington may soon have less legal protection if they engage in unconstitutional behavior. A bill making its way through the Legislature aims to tackle …
State Senate Unanimously Approves Bill Making State Nickname Official
The state Senate on Monday approved Senate Bill 5595, officially making “The Evergreen State” Washington’s nickname. The nickname had already been the state’s unofficial …
Legislature Moves to Tighten Drunk Driving Laws
Ashley Bonus said she began her fight against impaired driving after her sister, Stacy Gammons-Ankerfelt, died in an accident in 2012.  Now, she wants a new law that lowers the blood alcohol …
New Nickname, Same as the Old Nickname, Proposed in State Legislature
Washington state might have an official nickname if a bill that passed a Senate committee becomes law, but it’s not really “new.” You’ve seen it on everything from license …
Legalizing Fentanyl Test Strips Proposed in State Legislature
Allisone McClanahan suffered from severe chronic pain and fibromyalgia. To ease her pain, the 26-year-old took a pain pill from a friend she thought contained oxycodone. Instead, she died of a drug …
Washington Bill Would Lead to Standards for Police Dogs to Be Trained to Find Fentanyl
The war against the use of illegal fentanyl will get some extra help in the future from drug sniffing dogs trained to detect the substance. That’s the intent of House Bill 1635, introduced …
Life

Finding Reason: Sometimes Life Seems Unfair, But Blessings can Still Come as a Result

It was good to see my friends who had dedicated so much of their lives to the mission field.  They lost their son in a tragic motorcycle accident just a few weeks ago, while they were here in …

In Focus: The Tenino Arts Spring Market

Nisqually Valley Happenings: Community Calendar for March 23

Thursday, March 23 Food Bank The Yelm Community Services food bank, at 624 Crystal Springs St. NW in Yelm, will hold a food giveaway from 1 to 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 23. Clients cannot …

Take a Trip Through Our Area’s Rich History

Enjoy these snapshots of articles written in past issues of the Nisqually Valley News from 45, 35, 25 and 15 years ago, respectively. A Look Back at This Week, 45 Years Ago • Royalty for …
Business
For Justin Vanwinkle, owning his own business is something he dreamed about since he started working in the construction field when he was 18 years old. Vanwinkle grew up in Yelm and has lived in …
After opening its doors in January, Mount Rainier Clock Repair has been off to a busy first month of business in Yelm. The new shop works on all sorts of clocks, which range from cuckoo to …
Mathis Bosch had a GMC truck and an idea, which he has since turned into a business. The Rainier High School student hasn’t graduated yet but Bosch has stayed busy transporting and hauling …
After opening their food truck for weekend take-out in November, Steele Barrel Barbecue has become a well-known staple for residents with a hankering for a smoky or saucy treat.  Selling …
Twenty-five years ago, someone made less than flattering comments about Jackie Wright’s painted portraits of her grandmother. As a result, she decided to focus on ceramics, which eventually …
Sports

Cruisers Beat Out Beavers

The Tenino boys soccer team found some offense but could never get in front Wednesday, falling 3-2 at Eatonville. “We felt really in control, kept pressure on super hard,” Tenino coach …

Rainier Downs Mossyrock in Non-League Battle

Paced by 13 hits and plenty of offense, the Rainier softball team defeated Mossyrock in a non-league contest in East Lewis County, 11-3, Tuesday afternoon.  The Mountaineers built up a big …

Beavers Pick Up Win at Home Against Rockets

Opening the floodgates early, the Tenino softball team hit up and down the lineup for 22 total base hits in a 23-8 five-inning win over Castle Rock in Stone City Tuesday afternoon. The Beavers …

Yelm Fastpitch Defeats Ellensburg at Bellevue College, Falls to Gig Harbor at Home

For the second consecutive season, Yelm traveled to Bellevue College for an invitational on Friday, March 24, as the softball team recorded a 13-4 victory over Ellensburg High …

Yelm Swept by Gig Harbor in First SSC Baseball Series of the Year

Yelm squared off against Gig Harbor for its first South Sound Conference matchups of the season and were outscored 23-2 during the two-game home-and-home series. During the Tuesday, March 21 game, …

Beavers Shut Out by Bulldogs

The Tenino boys soccer team couldn’t make its way onto the scoreboard Monday night, falling at home to Montesano 3-0. The Bulldogs made it 1-0 in the 25th minute, then came right back to …

Riverhawks Sweep Twin Bill With Mountaineers

Taking two dominant wins over Rainier at home, the Toledo baseball team won each of its doubleheader games against the Mountaineers, 10-0 and 9-0, Saturday afternoon.  The Riverhawks allowed …

Tigers Blank Beavers In Non-League Tilt

Controlling possession and pace from start to finish, the Centralia boys soccer team defeated Tenino at Tiger Stadium Saturday afternoon, 7-0.  The Tigers were led by Leo Perez’s hat …

Beavers Beat Cruisers on the Court

The Tenino girls tennis team came away with a 3-1 win over Eatonville in 1A Evergreen play Tuesday. Abagail Archibald won 6-2, 6-2 at first singles, with Amelia Hayes taking her match 6-2, 6-0 at …

Beavers Fall to Eagles

The Tenino boys soccer team started out its 1A Evergreen contest against Elma on the front foot, but gave up two goals in quick succession before ultimately losing 4-0 on the Black Top. “It …

Opinion

Brian Mittge Commentary: It’s Time to Take Charge of Screens for Our Kids and Ourselves

I’m going to start this “turn off your phones” column with a call to first spend 80 minutes watching your screen. A movie called “Childhood 2.0” is definitely worth …

Richard Stride Commentary: A Look Back at a Legend: Who Was the Real Lone Ranger

Do you like the show “Yellowstone” or its spinoffs, “1883” and “1923?”  If you have not seen them, you should give them a try. Western TV shows and movies …

Braun Commentary: Supreme Court’s Income-Tax Ruling Clouds Encouraging News About Budgets

The no-new-taxes operating-budget proposal introduced in the Senate this session is a welcome turnaround. To be clear, there is no more need for new taxes this year than there was in either 2019 …

Don Brunell Commentary: Skilled Worker Shortage Could Derail the ‘Electrify Everything’ Movement

In the race to “electrify everything,” there are glitches which may derail the plan over the next 20 years.  One is a shortage of skilled electrical workers needed to rewire homes, …

Richard Stride Commentary: Research Shows Forgiveness Can Lead to a Healthier and More Meaningful Life

“It’s much more agreeable to offend and later ask for forgiveness than to be offended and grant forgiveness,” Friedrich Nietzsche once said. I would agree, wouldn’t you? …
Obituaries
In Loving Memory of Casey Muxen: 1986-2023 
Casey David Muxen, 36, passed away Feb. 22, 2023, in Tenino, Washington, from a motorcycle accident. He was born Nov. 8, 1986, to Phil and Lorraine Muxen in Olympia, Washington.  Casey was …
In Loving Memory of Jason Edgington: 1982-2023 
Jason Robert Edgington was born on Sept. 21, 1982, and sadly left this earth on Jan. 22, 2023. He is and was so loved by many. Among the stars he’ll forever be, walking in the clouds his …
In Loving Memory of Harold Harding: 1957-2023 
Harold Arthur Harding, age 66, passed away Jan. 11, 2023, in Yelm, Washington, after a long battle with lung cancer and COPD. He was born on Nov. 29, 1957, in Youngstown, Ohio. His parents were Jim …
In Loving Memory of Nathan Farrell: 1983-2022
Beloved husband, son, father, brother, uncle and friend, Nathan Edward Farrell, passed into the presence of the Lord on Dec. 9, 2022, in Pace, Florida at the age of 39.  Nathan was born Nov. …
In Loving Memory of Mary Ann Graham: 1945-2022
Mary Ann Graham passed away Dec. 9, 2022, in Olympia, Washington. She was born Jan. 12, 1945, to Gertrude Wille and Duncan Chisholm in Jordan, Montana. Mary Ann was a 26-year resident of Yelm, …