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
• Members of the Washington State Future Business Leaders of America executive board met with Gov. Dixie Lee Ray in her office in Olympia. At the meeting, Ray signed a proclamation indicating that Feb. 11 to Feb. 17 was FBLA week.
• Local and state fire officials differed in opinion on what caused a fire in the Yelm school maintenance shop. State officials indicated that the fire started because a circuit breaker had been tripped and wiring showed signs of being overloaded, while local officials said a faulty wall switch was the culprit.
• School administrations in Yelm and Rainier heaved a collective sigh of relief as the voters in their districts passed their annual school levy. Yelm voters approved the measure, 64.7% favorable to 35.2% against. Rainier voters approved their levy, 86.2% in favor and 13.7% opposed.
• A deputy was called to a residence near Clearwood on a report of attempted burglary. A homeowner had returned to find suspects had removed screens from a window in an attempt to gain entry. The intruders were frightened off by the man’s return.
A Look Back at This Week, 35 Years Ago
• James Mason, 28, of Wilkenson Road, Yelm, was arrested for endangering property with explosives. Mason had buried a 3 1/2-inch blast simulator in the snow near the St. Columban Church at 105 Highway 507 SE. The device was strong enough to blow off a man’s arm, Yelm police said. The Washington State Patrol bomb division rewired it to prevent it from exploding.
• The Yelm Police Department arrested a man the Thurston County Deputy Prosecutor considered a “prime suspect” for arson fires in April 1988. The suspect was apprehended driving away from the arson scene.
• A fire at 11903 Vail Road SE on the morning of Feb. 1, 1989, was caused by a short circuit in a television set. Resident Diana Brosco said she left her television set on while she had gone to work. When she arrived home, she fell asleep and woke up with the television set on fire.
• Yelm High School’s Ted Riddall accepted a full scholarship to play football at the University of Montana. Riddall, a three-time All-Pierce County League running back, expected to redshirt his freshman year while he built up both his size and his grades.
A Look Back at This Week, 25 Years Ago
• A windstorm that swept through western Washington left a local family homeless after a tree snapped and fell onto their mobile home. The tree trunk hit the home with such force that locked doors blew open and windows were blown out of the frame.
• Nearly 300 dead rabbits were discovered locked in their cages on an abandoned farm in the 15000 block of Bald Hill Road. Whether the animals were left behind to starve to death was unknown, but the number of dead animals suggested they didn’t die of natural causes.
• A second sign welcoming travelers to the Town of Rainier was completed. Artist Monty Montoya was commissioned to create the Lions Club-coordinated project. The sign took three years to plan and complete.
• The Rainier High School wrestling team dominated the 1A Southwest district tournament at Adna on Feb. 6, 1999, beating closest competitor White Pass, 281-211, and sending a school-record 12 wrestlers to regionals.
A Look Back at This Week, 15 Years Ago
• The Timberland Regional Library System looked past its failed levy and moved forward with tight planning and service cuts. Voters rejected the library’s levy lid lift by 54.16% during the Feb. 3, 2009, special election.
• Yelm Community Schools shut down its computer account system, Skyward, after a student discovered a potential security breach.
• Yelm High School junior Katie Schnieder became the third bowler in the program’s seven-year history to advance to the state tournament. She bowled a 450-pin, three-game series Jan. 31, 2009, at the West Central 3 District Tournament.
• Average monthly water rates in Roy were slated to jump $11.72 after the council approved the hike. The new rate was likely to be implemented in March, as Roy Mayor Natalie Banks was confident that the motion would pass.
