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
- Jerry Bergman, mayor of Rainier, resigned his position, according to records of the Town Council, but no action had been taken on the matter. Bergman handed in his resignation citing personal problems and the crush of town business as his main reasons.
- Jerry Hadfield, David Gillespie and Clifton Bryant were sworn in as Yelm town councilors Jan. 16, 1980. Bryant was beginning his first elected term after being appointed to fill a vacancy.
- Steve Eastman, 22, a resident of Longview on his way to Fort Lewis, ran off the road and over a steep bank due to black ice on Highway 507 between Yelm and Rainier. He received a minor head injury.
- The Yelm High School girls basketball team won its second game of the season with a 58-23 victory over Elma to bring its record to 2-6 for the Black Hills League.
A Look Back at This Week,
35 Years Ago
- The Pierce County Fire Protection District 17 Board of Commissioners meeting held in the Roy fire station Jan. 11, 1990, was a seething cauldron of bitter dissatisfaction. A group of approximately 120 local citizens and volunteer firefighters faced commissioners. A “no confidence” petition that circulated throughout the bustling assembly was a mute testimonial to the discontentment and opposition of the commissioners’ desire to purchase the Lacamas school property as a site for a fire station.
- O. Jay Goodwin, of Rainier, celebrated his 100th birthday Jan. 20, 1990. Goodwin said it had been “nothing but hard work” that was responsible for his long life. He worked until his 77th birthday, retiring only to keep active with gardening, canning and hunting.
- Martha Parsons returned to the Yelm City Council after she was appointed to fill new Mayor Bob Sanders’ seat. Parsons previously served on the council from 1984 to 1987.
- Thurston County received over $700,000 in claims for flood damages and got more “by the minute,” according to the county’s emergency management coordinator. The greatest amount of damage was in Bucoda, Tenino and Rochester areas. Due to the careful monitoring and draining of Alder Dam, the Nisqually River was spared much of the damage that hit other areas.
A Look Back at This Week,
25 Years Ago
- Heavy wind gusts and freezing overnight temperatures gave residents a difficult holiday weekend. Massive gusts of wind downed trees, blew off roofs and downed power lines locally and across western Washington Jan. 16, 2000. One man, Lacey resident Hien Nguyen, was killed when a tree toppled onto his car.
- The Rainier Town Council gave its nod to a local code change that levied heavy fines against junked vehicle owners and “nuisance” homes. Rainier Mayor William “Mike” Elliott asked the council if it would support an ordinance similar to the recently passed county law ordering all nuisance properties to build a 6-foot-high fence blocking public view or risk potential $500 fines.
- Art VanVeen, a Yelm Middle School social studies teacher, received a $2,500 grant from the Michael Jordan foundation to help him explain human rights to local students. VanVeen won the grant because of his work in developing new curricula at the middle school.
- Aly Wriglesworth finished with a career-high 36 points, including 20 points in the first half, in the Rainier girls basketball team win over Toledo 64-57 in overtime. She hit two game-tying free throws with seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime.
A Look Back at This Week,
15 Years Ago
- A couple sought damages of more than $460,000 from the City of Yelm because they were being prevented from moving into a home they purchased in the Palisades West Subdivision. Andy and Cynthia Smith claimed the city wrongfully issued a building permit for their home in the 24-lot subdivision.
- Tremicka Williams, a senior at Yelm High School, filmed all day Jan. 12 and Jan. 13, 2010, as a trial for MTV’s reality television show “MADE.” Out of 36 YHS students who auditioned in December, Williams was the lone participant chosen.
- Police and SWAT teams surrounded a Yelm home Jan. 13, 2010, after a man refused to cooperate. The 32-year-old Yelm man allegedly assaulted a family member and had a history of violence against the sheriff’s office, officials said.
- New Yelm council member Tracey Wood was sworn into office Jan. 12, 2010, along with returning council members and the mayor. Wood replaced council member Pat Fetterly, who opted not to run for reelection. He beat opponent Jen Littlefield in the area’s only contested race.
