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
• Rep. Phyllis Erickson was the principal speaker at the Yelm Business Association meeting when it gathered in the Moose Hall. She explained that some measures that had not been completed were slated to be covered in the special session to begin March 21, 1979.
• An audit of the town of Rainier books turned up several errors in paper shuffling, but no missing funds or serious improprieties were discovered. Some of the errors were known in 1978 and corrected, others were mistakes on the town clerk’s part, and some were changes in the law.
• Nineteen Yelm school buses received deceleration alert systems (DAS), a new set of three lights, in a pilot program for the state. The Yelm district received a grant of $1,600 for the program to determine if the system should be applied to all buses in the state.
• Rosie Knowles left Bald Hill Road about two miles east of Five Corners while traveling east. Her auto struck down a traffic control sign after leaving the highway on the right side. She was not injured after her auto stopped in the ditch and received extensive damage.
A Look Back at This Week,
35 Years Ago
• Yelm Mayor Ron Lawton relieved Police Chief Ralph Wyman from his position, citing “different management philosophies.” Wyman came to Yelm from Rainier in July 1986, when Bill Steele resigned to accept a position with the state.
• Yelm High School presented its wrestling team with awards at a meeting in the cafeteria. Wrestlers receiving special awards were Shane Chance, co-captain; Duane DeChaux, co-captain; and Matt Westmark.
• James A. Goodman, 28, Lawrence Lake Road, Yelm, was sentenced to 43 days work release and 240 hours community service following a trial in Thurston County Superior Court. Goodman pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful possession of cocaine.
• Yelm Middle School held its fourth annual Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser on March 9, 1989. For four years in a row, the students were able to maintain continuous jumping through the entire school day. The highest consecutive double-Dutch jumps were 491 by eighth grader Allen Rygg.
A Look Back at This Week,
25 Years Ago
• For the second time in a month, a Yelm student was expelled for bringing what looked like a handgun onto a school campus. This time, however, threats were issued, which caused Yelm Middle School to go into lockdown.
• A single-wide mobile home on 154th Avenue was destroyed by fire. Officials said a blaze was reported at about 12:30 a.m. on March 17, 1999. The home was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. The fire destroyed the home, but no injuries were reported.
• Mi Mi Beach of McKenna was recently selected into the 1999 DO-IT Scholars Program at the University of Washington. Beach, 16, was selected because of her aptitude, interest in pursuing a college degree, leadership potential and motivation to participate in the program.
• The Yelm boys sixth grade team joined a growing list of local YMCA basketball champions when it wrapped up the 1999 South Sound YMCA crown on March 6, 1999.
A Look Back at This Week,
15 Years Ago
• A defiant Thurston County Sheriff Dan Kimball came out guns blazing against proposed budget cuts that he said would endanger public safety. In a public statement, Kimball called the Thurston County commissioners “irresponsible” for proposing the massive cuts. He was asked by commissioners to lop $1.9 million from his already threadbare 2009 budget.
• Yelm Community Schools was another domino set to fall amid the economic downturn. Though Yelm school officials said they didn’t know the full impact the state budget would have on their own budget, the district trimmed some administrative positions.
• A student with autism at Fort Stevens Elementary wandered off campus and was found by a construction worker in a nearby pool. The 11-year-old boy left a gated area near his classroom and walked across the street, jumping into a pool in someone’s backyard.
• People flocked to the Yelm Dollars for Scholars annual auction, raising more than $140,000 for scholarships. For $1 per ticket, attendees tasted various foods from local restaurants in the Taste of the Prairie.
