Jan. 2, 2025
Rainier resident and fiancé have trip of a lifetime on ‘Beast Games’
Tiffany Weaver and Steven England were two of the 1,000 contestants competing for a $5 million cash prize on the new Amazon Prime reality competition show “Beast Games,” hosted by YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast.
While the couple didn’t win the largest money show prize in reality TV history, they came home with a sweet prize regardless: They got engaged during the filming of the show.
As England was in the midst of being eliminated from the show during the first episode, which aired Dec. 19, 2024, he spontaneously proposed to Weaver, a Rainier resident who made it through to the third episode before being eliminated.
“I knew I wanted to marry her eventually, but being up there on the stage, realizing that she’s going to be there and I’m going to be leaving and I don’t get to say goodbye to her, this was a huge opportunity to make a big display of how much I love her,” England said.
Jan. 9, 2025
Mayor DePinto reflects on term in office, goals for 2025
As Joe DePinto entered his final year in his first term as Yelm’s mayor, he said he’s continue to prioritize transportation and public safety as his two major points of emphasis — with road projects slated and sustainable police growth expected.
DePinto told the Nisqually Valley News on Monday, Jan. 6, that his time as Yelm’s mayor has gone by “pretty quickly” since being elected in 2021.
“I think my term has been going pretty well. We took huge strides in recreational opportunities for youth and adults, but we’ve also done a lot with increasing public safety. We’re heading in the right direction right now. I support our police officers 100%, and I know our community does as well,” DePinto said. “All of these goals are going to be transportation related. We’ve done a lot in terms of public safety over the years, and you’re going to see that come up this year, too. We’ve obviously seen a lot of recreational opportunities for youth and adults. Line [Roy] has been doing a great job over these last couple of years with a little budget. We had two events the city was doing right when I took office, and last year, we had over 100. It’s nuts,” DePinto said.
Jan. 16, 2025
Growth, change highlighted at annual State of the Community Address
Even with future budget constraints a concern for many Thurston County municipalities in 2025, the mood at the annual State of the Community Address was largely optimistic as area leaders recounted the challenges and progress made in their communities in 2024.
Area municipal leaders from throughout the county addressed the business owners, county leaders and community members at the annual event by the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Saint Martin’s University. County Commissioner Tye Menser, Yelm Mayor Joe DePinto, Tenino Mayor Dave Watterson, Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder, Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne and Tumwater City Councilor Angela Jefferson all spoke.
In his address, Thurston County Commissioner Tye Menser said the word for 2024 in Thurston County was “change.” He highlighted the board’s expansion to five commissioners in 2023 as well as the changes to the county administration as well.
Jan. 23, 2025
One Net Yelm receives grant to fund wheelchair-accessible swing at Yelm City Park
One Net Yelm, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Yelm, received a $38,619 grant to fund the purchase and installation of a wheelchair-accessible swing at Yelm City Park.
The grant, awarded by the Nisqually Indian Tribe, helped enable One Net Yelm to provide a much-needed resource for children and families with mobility challenges. The total project cost was over $75,000, and One Net Yelm continued fundraising throughout the year to reach its goals. The organization followed through with its plans, as the swing was installed earlier this year.
Jan. 30, 2025
First Finishers celebrating 20 years of business in Yelm
When brothers Tim and Kai Fyrst set out to create their own construction business in 2005 after years of working for multiple contractors, they wanted to create a company for which they would want to work.
Twenty years later and after countless projects and a shelf full of awards, the Fyrst brothers believe they have accomplished that with First Finishers in Yelm. The remodeling contractor company celebrated its 20-year anniversary in 2025, a milestone that was the culmination of a roller coaster journey for the Fyrst duo.
“It’s crazy to think about it because I feel very young, and we started really young. It’s a little surreal in a sense to think that we’ve been doing this for 20 years,” Tim Fyrst, the younger of the brothers, said. “That’s older than my kids.”
Feb. 6, 2025
Yelm’s Josh Crossman talks balance between owning a business and serving as city councilor
While beginning his new venture with PTL Flooring in 2004, Crossman said he never envisioned himself serving on Yelm City Council. After developing and growing his business for 15 years, Crossman put his name in the hat to be appointed to council in 2019. Though he wasn’t appointed then, he ran to be elected two years later and ultimately won to become a Yelm city councilor.
While operating PTL Flooring and serving on Yelm City Council, Crossman said there’s been challenges along the way, but he’s proud to serve his community in multiple facets.
“It’s not easy. It’s not all roses and rainbows. Some people think we make a ton of money, but it actually costs us money to be on council. At least for me it does. Our current makeup, the majority of our councilors are business owners. There’s a lot of business owners in Yelm that serve the community a lot,” Crossman said.
Feb. 13, 2025
Election results show Yelm’s education levy failing
Unofficial initial results for the Tuesday, Feb. 11, special election showed the Yelm Community Schools levy failing. Immediately following the initial results of the levy, YCS Superintendent Chris Woods told the Nisqually Valley News that despite the fact there was still a fair amount of votes to count — it’s a “big gap to overcome.”
“I think part of what we heard is that people are feeling overwhelmed with taxes,” Woods said. “This is a very challenging time to ask taxpayers to continue to pay taxes, especially with all of the conversations going on at the state level. It’s a really challenging time for people, and I think that was the biggest piece of feedback that we got. People don’t want to pay more taxes.”
The levy failed. Then it failed again in November in revised form.
Feb. 20, 2025
Poler Strong: RHS boys basketball team honors late teacher with warmup shirts
The Rainier High School boys basketball team’s motto was typically confined to its play on the court as it continued its historic run into the 2B District 4 Tournament in the winter. But the three-word mantra took on a meaning far greater than the game of basketball.
As the Mountaineers kicked off the postseason Feb. 8 against Winlock, they took the court during pregame warmups donning shirts that read “Poler Strong” to honor Peyton Poler, a Rainier Elementary School second grade teacher battling cholangiocarcinoma, a rare type of bile duct cancer.
Poler died at the age of 24 on the morning of Sunday, Feb. 16, following more than three months of battling cancer. As of Friday, Feb. 14, she had been home in Olympia since getting out of the hospital on Dec. 18 after a 10-day stay filled with tests, scans and procedures, according to her mother, Hillary. Peyton’s sickness had progressed so much since her hospital stint that it was discovered that her body wasn’t healthy enough for treatment yet.
Feb. 27, 2025
Yelm SITE House continuing to help special needs adults excel under new leadership
When Emily McIntire was a student teacher for Nora Sutherland eight years ago, she jokingly asked the since-retired Yelm High School special education teacher if she could have the program she started.
The program is the SITE House, which stands for Supporting Independence Through Employment, and it helps special-needs students find employment and find independence after high school. Sutherland was the mastermind of the program, and McIntire fell in love with it and lovingly pestered her to hand over the keys once she was ready.
“Obviously I still had to apply and everything, but I was eager to interview because I already had experienced the program firsthand and fell in love with it eight years ago,” McIntire said.
March 6, 2025
YHS sports med students headed to California for competition
For the first time in five years, students with the Yelm High School sports medicine program traveled to Northridge, California, for the 23rd annual California Regional High School Sports Medicine Competition, which was held on Sunday, March 16.
All participants in the regional event compete in two events, including a medical specialty test and a mini-quiz knowledge bowl, and a team of the students compete in an anatomage anatomy challenge.
The 12 Tornados making the trip to Southern California are Sydney Chamberlain, Kyara Fitzpatrick, Kyla Hall, Janessa Holbrook, Sophie Hurschler, Trissani Madigan, Destiny Mathews, Sophia Minnick, Lucy Mohrweis, Kijika Rosen, Maddy Sapegin and Rio Slevin.
“It’s a great opportunity for the kids to be able to compete and take their knowledge and skills, which are incredibly well-rounded, to a location besides our state competition,” Gary Clinton, YHS sports medicine teacher and instructor, said.
March 13, 2025
SRO Theater holds successful first showing of ‘Forgotten Yelms’ roleplay game
Standing Room Only (SRO) Theater has continued efforts to bring art through drama to Yelm and surrounding areas as the community-based theater club hosted its first ever showing of “Forgotten Yelms” on Saturday, March 8, inside The Outpost Church.
Steve Harshfield, SRO Theater president, told the Nisqually Valley News following the inaugural showing of “Forgotten Yelms” that there was an amazing turnout for the Saturday night show. He said over 125 people showed up and that there were “lots of laughs and tons of audience participation.”
Charles Phillips, director of “Forgotten Yelms,” told the NVN during SRO Theater’s final rehearsal for the event that the organization had never presented a production like this one before.
“Basically it’s Dungeons and Dragons. Dungeons and Dragons published a document that was public domain. You can use anything that’s in the public domain to make presentations, shows, things like that,” Phillips said prior to rehearsals on March 7.
March 20, 2025
City working to secure funding for a veterans memorial park in Yelm
Cody Colt, Yelm’s public works director, was working diligently to secure funding to bring a Veterans Memorial Park into the city in order to honor the area’s veterans who’ve served for the United States of America in a war.
According to Colt, the park would include a reflection walk, which intends to honor and highlight veterans of the Korean, Vietnam, Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan wars as well as World War I, World War II and smaller conflicts.
Each war and conflict would feature three pillars, with the center pillar providing a description of the war, how the United States became involved and more. The pillars on the left and right would honor local veterans, prisoners of war missing in action and those killed in action who served in each specific war. Colt said previously he would like to make half the memorial a marble wall and the other half granite.
“This is going to be a major project,” Colt said during a community conversations event on Wednesday, March 12.
March 27, 2025
U.S. Rep. Strickland tells DOGE, Republicans to ‘grow a spine’
U.S. Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, a Democrat representing Washington’s 10th Congressional District, had strong criticism for the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Presidential Senior Adviser Elon Musk during her appearance at the Yelm town hall event on Thursday, March 20.
One community member asked the congresswoman “what she’s doing to rein in DOGE,” which led to strong remarks from Strickland.
“So what are we doing right now? We’re doing three things. We’re informing the public exactly how DOGE is going to affect you, and I just gave you a very small menu of how it will affect you in the daily life. No 2, we are doing what we can to pass rules to rein this in. There’s a bill right now that has the support of every single Democrat. All we need are three Republicans to grow a spine and do the right thing and vote to protect our private data and information,” Strickland said.
April 3, 2025
Thurston County team conducts trench rescue drill
Thurston County’s Special Operations Rescue Team (SORT) conducted a “detail oriented” trench rescue drill on Wednesday, March 26, at the Lake Lawrence Fire Station just off Vail Road in order for members to fine tune their skills and techniques.
Andy Speier, battalion chief and SORT Operations Team leader, said the trench rescue drill simulates a worker or an individual who is injured or buried by a collapse.
He noted Thurston County SORT has 46 participating members and is made up of seven different agencies, including McLane-Black Lake, Tumwater, Olympia, Lacey Fire District 3, East Olympia Fire Department, Southeast Thurston Fire Authority and West Thurston Regional Fire Authority.
“The training is important because there’s a lot of equipment and a lot of moving parts. It’s very detail oriented,” Speier said.
April 10, 2025
Handyman identified as person of interest in disappearance of woman
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office identified a handyman who was working for 82-year-old Marcia Norman at the time she went missing as a person of interest in her disappearance.
Norman was reported missing by family on April 4, with family noting that they had not heard from Norman since April 1 and both of her vehicles were parked at her residence near McIntosh Lake, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
“Deputies responded to the home and discovered suspicious circumstances surrounding her disappearance,” the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release on Tuesday, noting that “the condition of the home suggested Marcia may have left abruptly — household tasks such as dishes appeared to have been left mid-process.”
Detectives soon began a formal investigation, during which they reportedly learned that Norman had dinner the evening of April 1 with her handyman, identified as Jeffrey Kian Zizz, 47.
Detectives reportedly spoke with Zizz “multiple times and seized items of interest” during their investigation, but “at this time, there is not probable cause for an arrest related to Marcia’s disappearance,” the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office stated in a release.
Zizz has since been charged with murder. He remains jailed.
April 17, 2025
State Rep. Matt Marshall reflects on first session
State Rep. Matt Marshall welcomes differing opinions; they’re easy to come by when you’re a first-year Republican representative in a Democrat-led state Legislature.
“I am not somebody looking to surround myself with people that just agree with me,” Marshall, 40, told the Nisqually Valley News during a phone conversation Tuesday, April 8.
He was heading toward the end of his first legislative session in a seat long held by former state Rep. and House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox, who retired in 2024. He beat out former Sheriff John Snaza to earn the position.
“The way I learned, the way that I help refine my perspective on politics and the world and life in general, is by having opposing opinions and really internalizing that, digesting that and modifying my own world viewpoint, ” he said.
In his first session, at least, Marshall’s core politics remained conservative.
As one of two Republican representatives serving the largely rural Washington Legislative District 2 — with the other being Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia — Marshall is outspoken against new taxes. He believes soft-on-crime policies, not lawful gun ownership, are the primary reasons for gun violence. And he laments the state Democratic Party’s “stripping away” of provisions related to Initiative 2081, known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights, which granted parents and guardians the right to review school materials and records and opt out of activities like sexual-health education.
April 24, 2025
Thurston County officials detail ongoing investigation of Tenino woman’s murder
Hours after Jeffrey Kian Zizz, 47, was officially charged with the murder of Marcia Norman, 82, of Tenino, Thurston County officials during a press conference described how Zizz, her handyman, carried out an alleged premeditated plan to kidnap, murder and dispose of Norman’s remains.
County Sheriff Derek Sanders, Coroner Gary Warnock and Prosecuting Attorney Jon Tunheim each noted the macabre and complexity of the investigation, which Warnock described as the “worst case I’ve witnessed” in his 25 years working in the office.
The coroner confirmed that Norman’s cause of death was combined blunt force and penetrating sharp force injuries to the head. Other significant conditions contributing to her death included multiple blunt force injuries to her torso and extremities, and the autopsy found that her injuries were inflicted while she was alive. It is unknown at which location the murder occurred, Warnock said.
Warnock said that there was no pattern for a possible weapon that caused the blunt force trauma but that the penetrating sharp force injuries were caused by a pneumatic nailer.
“Her onset from injury to death was not instant. It was hours. These injuries compounded and reoccurred while she was still alive,” Warnock said, adding that Norman was deceased when she was placed in the 18-inch-deep grave under a shed at an unrelated property in Olympia.
May 1, 2025
Full funding for Yelm Loop and roundabouts included on final budget on last day of Legislative session
On sine die, the last day of the Legislative session in Washington state, a major victory was achieved for the City of Yelm, its residents and those who commute through the region.
State Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, and Yelm Mayor Joe DePinto took to Facebook on Sunday, April 27, to announce full funding for the Yelm Loop, also known as the Yelm bypass, and critical roundabouts were included in the final proposed transportation budget for the 2025-27 biennium.
“The budget we will vote on here in a couple of hours includes fully funding the Yelm Loop and completing that project finally. It could go out to bid and construction could start as early as this fall if we get everything lined up. I think this is a critical, critical step,” Barkis said.
“We are ready. All the environmental is done. The work with the Nisqually Tribe is done. Everything is ready to go there.”
May 8, 2025
Rotary’s ‘10 Weeks of Summer’ enters ninth year of offering meals for students
Rotary Club of Yelm President-Elect Derrick Platt and Club Treasurer Sandi Hanson know the importance of giving back to the local community and providing for less privileged students in the area.
For the ninth year in the organization’s history, the Rotary Club of Yelm will host its “10 Weeks of Summer” food program, which provided 400 bags of food each week throughout the summer of 2024.
This year, Hanson said the club has a goal of providing 4,000 bags of food to less privileged students within the Nisqually Valley region.
Providing 4,000 bags of food doesn’t come easy or cheap, which led the Rotary Club of Yelm to reach out to the community for donations in the form of canned tuna or canned chili.
Hanson said those are two of the more expensive food items in its “10 Weeks of Summer” program.
Rotary Club of Yelm is also accepting monetary donations toward the summer food program, as there is a $15,000 deficit as the annual project kicks into gear for 2025.
“This year, we need about $58,000 to run our summer food program, and right now we’re sitting at $45,000 collected,” Platt told the Nisqually Valley News on Saturday, May 3.
May 15, 2025
Beyond the greenhouse: Rainier FFA’s annual plant sale provides service to community
Under the direction of Angie Karnes, the agriculture department at Rainier High School keeps on growing.
Now in her 30th year in the district, the environmental science teacher has developed a curriculum that extends well beyond the classroom, impacting the lives of her students and the community at large.
As the primary adviser for the Rainier High School FFA, Karnes has grown the program’s annual plant sale at the Rainier greenhouses into a local institution, one that has faced setbacks and challenges and turned them into opportunities.
Take this latest sale, which started online April 22 and finished in person the weekend of May 3. In the leadup to the sale, Karnes oversaw the concreting of one of the greenhouses. During this time, students were planting the plugs they received from a local grower in Tenino. Karnes also brought in new tables.
May 22, 2025
Blue Star Marker dedication ceremony honors Yelm’s veterans
Around 30 local residents, including a number of veterans, gathered outside Tim’s Pharmacy in Yelm on a breezy late Saturday morning to witness the unveiling of the new Blue Star Memorial by-way marker.
Dee Smith, Blue Star Marker chair for the Black Hills District of Garden Clubs, led the effort to order the new marker after learning that the previous one had gone missing during renovations to the pharmacy’s garden area.
Pastor Georgie Brown of Living Water Church in Yelm led the opening invocation before Judy Swortz, Blue Star Memorials chair for the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs, spoke about the history of the markers.
“The Blue Star, Gold Star concept has been around for well over 100 years now,” Swortz said. “People put blue stars in their windows to signify that they had someone serving. Gold stars went in if you lost a family member.”
May 29, 2025
Community gathers to honor service members on Memorial Day
Nearly 100 community members gathered to pay their respects to friends, family, loved ones and strangers who paid the ultimate sacrifice by dying while serving in the United States military during a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 26, at Yelm City Park.
The City of Yelm, in collaboration with VFW Post 5580 and American Legion Joseph Redberg Hall, hosted the event outdoors at Yelm City Park. Mayor Joe DePinto, state Rep. Matt Marshall and VFW Post 5580 Commander Steven Slater spoke to community members in attendance, all showing their gratitude for servicemen and servicewomen who’ve lost their lives serving the United States.
“Today, as we gather, as communities across our nation do, we’re gathering to remember the men and women who didn’t just sacrifice, but gave all to this great nation that we love,” Marshall said.
June 5, 2025
Sgt. Justin Norton mural restoration completed on Memorial Day
The next time you head southwest into Rainier along state Route 507, drive a little slower than you normally would. If it’s safe — and no other cars are behind you — consider slowing to a crawl.
You’ll see the mural of Sgt. Justin Norton as soon as you make the last bend before the road straightens in front of the train trestle. If you make the drive regularly, you’ve seen the mural countless times.
But since May 26, the mural has looked a little different. In fact, it’s been completely restored. And, if not reimagined, then updated and enhanced with rich shades of color, detail and depth.
You’ll need some extra time to take it all in.
Norton’s image remains the focal point, but his face is larger now, more photorealistic. An American flag waves and folds behind him, patches of shadow and light catching it in different places. Behind the flag, in the top right corner, heavenly sunbeams break through thick layers of clouds.
June 12, 2025
YHS sports medicine team competes in national tournament
Four Yelm High School sports medicine students recently took a trip to Las Vegas and competed in the 2025 National Anatomage Tournament with their instructor, Gary Clinton, after qualifying for the event in December.
The 2024-25 YHS national qualifying anatomage team included junior team captain Sofie Miera, senior Brilee Baker, junior Cali Stein and junior Ally Kincaid. They were accompanied on the trip to Las Vegas by their sports medicine instructor, Clinton. The Tornados’ trip spanned from Wednesday, May 28, through Saturday, May 31, with the competition portion itself taking place on May 30 and May 31.
“We had a great trip. It was a great group of students who worked really hard all year,” Clinton said. “Because of the work they put in all year, they made it really easy for themselves to not only have a great time, but have great results and have fun along the way.”
After six months of hard work, studying and preparing for the national competition in Sin City, the Tornados would breeze through the preliminary round — which featured 84 total teams — and found themselves seeded 10th entering the round of 32.
June 19, 2025
45 parade floats cruise down Yelm Avenue in annual Prairie Days Parade
Yelm community members took to the sidewalks and shoulders of Yelm Avenue in full force during the morning hours of Saturday, June 14, to celebrate one of the community’s most beloved events: the Prairie Days Parade.
Yelm Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tina Richardson told the Nisqually Valley News at the conclusion of the event that since COVID-19 swept the globe in 2020, the organization has focused on rebuilding the traditional Prairie Days Parade. She noted this year’s event featured the highest registration numbers in five years, leading the chamber one step closer to its goal of rebuilding the event to its previous strength and size.
Forty-five total businesses, organizations and community members participated in this year’s event with floats, according to the executive director.
June 26, 2025
Former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland talks PNW roots, historic three-year run
Since Swerve Strickland signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and made his debut at AEW Revolution, a pay-per-view on March 6, 2022, he’s quickly climbed the ranks of the promotion and become one of the top professional wrestlers in the world.
The former AEW World Heavyweight Champion, alongside his manager Prince Nana, sat down with the Nisqually Valley News just one day ahead of the live taping of AEW’s weekly Collision show on Saturday, June 21, at the ShoWare Center in Kent, and just five days before the live taping of another AEW weekly show, Dynamite, on Wednesday, June 25, in the same venue. Fans can watch AEW Collision every Saturday night on TNT. AEW Dynamite can be viewed every Wednesday night on TBS.
Ahead of his return to the Evergreen State, Strickland, 34, said he feels an added sense of pride each time he gets to compete in his home state of Washington.
July 3, 2025
Yelm School Board unanimously approves raises for administrators
After more than 40 minutes of deliberations with Yelm Community Schools Superintendent Chris Woods, the Yelm School Board unanimously approved raises for YCS classified and certificated administration employees during a school board meeting on Thursday, June 26,
The district’s administrative employees will receive a 2.5% pay increase, in addition to potential increases based on a step scale. The employees begin their tenure at step one and progress through steps two through seven based on experience. Each step increase presents a 3% pay raise. If the YCS employees are already at step seven, they would just receive the new 2.5% pay increase.
Woods said his position will receive a raise of 2%, while all other certificated and classified positions would receive 2.5% pay increases. Four other positions, which Woods said are “way out of balance” in pay while compared against similar districts such as Clover Park, Franklin Pierce, Bethel, Kelso, Longview, North Thurston, Olympia, Tumwater and University Place, will receive raises of 3.5% in addition to a potential raise if they moved up a step on the tenure scale. Those four positions were not specified during the meeting.
July 10, 2025
City of Rainier takes steps to curb vandalism at Wilkowski Park
In a city council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, Rainier Mayor Robert Shaw and Public Works Supervisor Theron Perry discussed the steps they’ve taken to stop the vandalism at Wilkowski Park.
The two previously discussed the problem at the last council meeting on June 10.
Perry said the public works department has completed repainting at the park’s shelter following the recent vandalism, and is working with the mayor to get more lights and cameras in the area.
“We have purchased the lights, we have one of them installed right now, and that generated a complaint from a local resident,” Perry said. “But since then, we’ve also talked with two other residents on Volesky (Drive) who have talked about the amount of people that are walking around back in the park, and back under the shelter and spend the night. (Clerk-Treasurer Tami Justice) has some video footage of people who are turning the benches over, and spending the night there.”
Perry said the plan was to finish the week working with the electrician to get more lights installed.
July 17, 2025
Tenino’s own Adam Craig rocks in first concerts at new Stone City Event Center
Adam Craig has checked off plenty of boxes from his bucket list since moving to Nashville from his hometown of Tenino in 2004.
Write a radio hit? Check. Perform at the iconic Grand Ole Opry? Check. Write songs for country music greats like George Strait, Jason Aldean and Tim McGraw, among many others? Check.
But this past weekend, Craig had the opportunity to ingrain his name even deeper into Tenino’s history as he headlined the first two concerts at the Stone City Event Center, part of the Tenino Agricultural Innovation Park. The country music singer and songwriter performed in front of sizable crowds Friday and Saturday, performing his own recorded tracks along with songs he’s written for other country stars and covers of 1980s and 1990s classics. Craig succeeded Olympia band Oly Mountain Boys on Friday and Whiskey Strut, another Olympia group, on Saturday.
July 24, 2025
‘The Nordstrom’s of fireworks’
They come from Oregon and California. Colorado and Canada. One family traveled all the way from Hawaii. Another from Japan. Naturally, most come from within the state of Washington.
Their destination: Boomtown, an annual collection of some 50 fireworks stands located on the Nisqually Indian Reservation. In a time when fireworks sales are heavily controlled and confined to a limited time period, both within Washington state and outside its borders, many fans of pyrotechnic amusement come to Indian Country to buy their goods, where regulations are less strict, and supply is plentiful.
Organized by the Nisqually Indian Tribe, the outdoor market known as Boomtown is a place where tribal vendors set up their fireworks stands side by side along a long, open and grassy stretch of land off Yelm Highway. Other vendors sell food ranging from barbecue to various types of fry bread.
July 31, 2025
Yelm Community Schools to make fourth attempt at passing levy
For the fourth time since Feb. 13, 2024, Yelm Community Schools (YCS) is asking the community to pass an educational programs and operations (EP&O) levy.
This time, the district has trimmed down its request considerably at a rate of $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The Yelm School Board approved the levy request during a meeting on Thursday, July 31, with a unanimous vote. Board members Bill Hauss, Denise Hendrickson, Casey Shaw and Debbie Edwards voted to pass the levy measure in person, while Frank King made his vote via Zoom.
The school district has attempted three previous levies on Feb. 13, 2024, April 23, 2024, and Feb. 11, 2025, at a proposed rate of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
“We know that is not going to restore our ending fund balance. This was a very, very difficult decision and recommendation because we knew even if we went up to even $1.40, we could restore the ending fund balance. We also want to acknowledge what our community has said about feeling the pinch of taxes, particularly after this last legislative session,” Yelm Superintendent Chris Woods said on Thursday night via Zoom. “I just want to acknowledge this does not restore the ending fund balance, and that would still be a challenge we have ahead of us. However, this would get us to a place of being balanced with some additional cuts at the end of the year, but not nearly as extreme as it would need to be without this levy.”
Aug. 7, 2025
Summer fires highlight need for prevention education
It was a busy month for the Southeast Thurston Fire Authority. After responding to 12 wildfires from January of this year through June, the department responded to an additional 34 in July alone.
These numbers include natural vegetation and/or brush fires and go up to July 30.
The season is far from over. Kelly Corey, the department’s wildland coordinator, says the chances of wildfires could increase heading into August.
“Now we’re getting into the spontaneous weather,” Corey said in a conversation with the Nisqually Valley News on July 30. “For the next month, we’ll see heavy winds, cooler mornings, but hotter afternoons with different winds because different weather patterns are going to happen. So, bigger, larger brush fires tend to happen now because all of our fuels are all dried out. So, you add the wind and the dry fuels, now we have larger brush fires if all the right ingredients are there for that.”
Corey added that August and September are crucial months for fire growth and behavior — and it all depends on the weather. Relative humidity will play a large factor, as will wind. The local season typically goes into October.
Aug. 14, 2025
11th annual Movies in the Park has been Yelm Lions Club’s ‘best season yet’
One of the longest running community activities in Yelm, Movies in the Park, has reached new heights during the summer of 2025.
Prior to the Yelm Lions Club’s showing of “Moana 2” on Saturday, Aug. 2, club president Christina Garcia and vice presidents Griselda Arias and Melissa Hoffman said the 2025 Movies in the Park series has been the organization’s “best season yet.”
“This has been my favorite season so far, hands down. I think it’s gone top notch,” Garcia said. “It’s been slowly growing, but this year has been the most fun. We got the library involved this year. They’ve been bringing great games, and our scoutmaster has always helped with games before the movies. This year, even moreso. We’ve got the scouts out there doing games. We’ve got the library out there doing games. We’ve got Outpost Church out there doing games and cotton candy. We’ve had a nice combination of different things going on.”
The final rendition of Movies in the Park for 2025 will be on Saturday, Aug. 23, when “Wicked” is played on the big screen. The movie will begin at 8:25 p.m., but activities will begin at the park around 5 p.m.
Aug. 21, 2025
Fires scorch Nisqually Valley region on consecutive days
Local fire agencies and emergency responders were busy during the late afternoon hours of Wednesday, Aug. 13, and Thursday, Aug. 14, as two separate fires blazed in the Nisqually Valley region in Yelm and Rainier.
The first fire occurred in Rainier on Aug. 13 and 26 acres of land was burned during the incident. Due to the fire, a level three evacuation warning was issued for residents within the perimeter of Military Road Southeast, Rainier Road Southeast and 138th Avenue. A level two evacuation warning was issued east of Rainier Road Southeast to Rainier Acres Road Southeast, and south of 128th Avenue Southeast, and south of 138th Avenue to Finian Road.
“The 138th fire started in the backyard of a home and spread about 26 acres,” Southeast Thurston Fire Authority Fire Chief Mark King said. “There were initially multiple homes threatened; however, when it was all said and done, we had just one shop or barn that was damaged on the property where the fire originated. There was some fence damage and stuff like that, but no home damage. No injuries to report on that one.”
Aug. 28, 2025
88th annual Lacamas Community Fair deemed a ‘great weekend’
The 88th annual Lacamas Community Fair, which was hosted on Saturday, Aug. 23, and Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Lacamas Community Center in Roy, welcomed attendees from all throughout the Western Washington region for a weekend of free and family-friendly activities.
Holly Wood, Lacamas Community Fair manager, had her first experience at the annual event roughly 50 years ago when she showed animals as a young child. Later in life, she brought her children to the event to participate in the same 4-H and FFA activities at the Roy-based community center.
“When I was a kid, we came out here and I showed. I’m 60, and that would’ve been when I was 10 or 12 years old,” Wood said. “I showed here, and later in life I brought my kids here, and they showed too. Now, my grandkids are showing here. Back in 2008, somewhere in there, I decided to come back and help out.”
She originally began volunteering in the petting zoo area, and eventually took over baking. Now, she’s in charge of the event and serves a leadership role for the Lacamas Community Fair. Wood said the organization has been focused on rebuilding the annual event after consecutive years of closure in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19.
Sept. 4, 2025
Yelm Community Schools four- year budget forecast ‘not sustainable’ without levy dollars
Yelm Community Schools Superintendent Chris Woods and Chief of Finance Jennifer Carrougher were very direct about the ramifications of a fourth consecutive levy failure in the upcoming November general election during a school board meeting on Thursday, Aug. 28.
Carrougher first highlighted several budget datapoints, including a four-year history of ending fund balances from the last four school years, and a projection of the upcoming school year.
“If you look at the end of the four years, we’d have a negative $44,587,156 fund balance. That obviously shows it’s not sustainable to operate without a levy,” Carrougher said. “It’s very important to know we’re constantly, continuously monitoring our fund balance. Additionally cuts will need to be made. Even at the $1.30, we know that’s not sustainable. We are going to have to make additional cuts.”
Sept. 11, 2025
Yelm Timberland Library celebrates Stefan Abuan in final storytime, looks ahead at next chapter
Stefan Abuan served the local community at Yelm Timberland Library for over two decades, and ahead of his final day before retirement, he was celebrated by library members who have grown to love him in “Mr. Stefan’s Last Storytime.”
Surrounded by over 170 community members in attendance, Abuan presented his final storytime and mingled with attendees once the reading was concluded. Abuan served the role of public service specialist for roughly the last three years but has been a part of the local library community since 2001.
Tonya Edwards, who will work as Yelm Timberland Library’s public service specialist alongside Wendy Stout following Abuan’s retirement, said the event to celebrate the retiree was special for everyone in attendance.
“The event was very large. We counted roughly 175 or so people. We went through all of the cake, all of the bubbles’ solution. It was an awesome time,” Edwards told the Nisqually Valley News on Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Sept. 18, 2025
Residents gather in Rainier to honor Charlie Kirk with candlelight vigil
Roughly 60 people gathered in the evening hours of Friday, Sept. 12, at Holiday Park in Rainier to honor the life of Charlie Kirk with a candlelight vigil — just two days after he was assassinated at Utah Valley University.
Kirk, a conservative political activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, toured the United States and visited an abundance of universities with a goal of hosting effective and respectful open forums.
During a stop at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday, Sept. 10, Kirk was hosting another open forum with students at the college and was assassinated in an act of political violence. The alleged shooter was identified as Tyler Robinson, but only after his father turned him in. Robinson is being held in Utah County Jail without bail.
The candlelight vigil was organized by Rainier resident Peyton Henry, who told the Nisqually Valley News prior to the event that Kirk’s online videos and discussions about religion and morality inspired her to strengthen her relationship with Jesus Christ.
“I’ve seen Charlie’s videos for years now, and as someone who wasn’t quite a follower of Christ, or religious by any means, I have always felt pulled toward something bigger than me,” Henry said.
Sept. 25, 2025
Four soldiers killed in helicopter crash in Thurston County identified
Following a crash near Olympia’s Summit Lake on Wednesday, Sept. 17, the four soldiers killed in the aircraft incident while conducting routine flight training on a U.S. Army MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter have been identified.
The deceased are Andrew Cully, a 35-year-old U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three from Sparta, Missouri; Andrew Kraus, a 39-year-old U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three from Sanibel, Florida; Donavon Scott, a 25-year-old U.S. Army Sergeant from Tacoma; and Jadalyn Good, a 23-year-old U.S. Army Sergeant from Mount Vernon.
Oct. 2, 2025
Community members voice concerns, ask questions during OSPI presentation at YHS
During a Yelm Community Schools (YCS) board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25, TJ Kelly, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (OSPI) chief financial officer (CFO), highlighted the process of binding conditions, financial oversight and enhanced financial oversight to over 100 community members and YCS representatives.
The presentation centered on the impacts of three school levy failures, with a fourth vote on the November ballot.
Kelly, who has been with OSPI for well over a decade, now financially is insurance and utility cost. It’s a true statement that those are not solely with the control, or I can argue almost zero control over school districts. The fact those costs are increasing at a factor significantly higher than what the state’s funding formula has assumed is a problem for all districts right now.”
Oct. 9, 2025
Yelm athletic director details rocky road ahead with potential cuts to sports looming
With less than a month until the Tuesday, Nov. 4, general election in Thurston County, many athletes and their families have been wondering what the future of athletics in Yelm Community Schools will look like if an educational programs and operations levy fails for a fourth consecutive try.
On Monday, Oct. 6, Yelm High School Athletic Director Matt Mounts detailed what could be at hand with a quadruple levy failure in YCS. He said the cutting of all sports, with the option of self-funding for each athletic program, is a very real possibility.
“I’ve heard through multiple sources that I’ve talked to that it is a consideration. If the levy doesn’t pass, there’s very few cuts left to make,” Mounts said. “Sports at Yelm High School are on the table as something that could go. There’s been a lot of questions asked as to how the WIAA approaches this and what they do — and on all fronts, I haven’t gotten a lot of answers.”
Oct. 16, 2025
Sheriff Sanders says TCSO will follow Washington state immigration enforcement laws
In front of a modest crowd at the Yelm Community Center on Wednesday, Oct. 8, Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders told attendees of his town hall event that the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) will follow Washington state law and protocol in relation to immigration enforcement.
During a Q&A segment of the sheriff’s second of five town hall events, an audience member asked Sanders what the law enforcement agency’s protocol is in regards to illegal immigrants in Thurston County.
“We follow state law. State law says that we will not participate in any kind of immigration enforcement, period,” Sanders said. “They just go through the normal criminal justice system. All of the jail information is public. I’d think ICE, with their $9 billion budget, has someone who is sitting there going, ‘that guy.’ That’s just the reality of it.
Oct. 23, 2025
A trip to Mount Rainier National Park as it remains open during shutdown
While visitors are still plentiful at Mount Rainier National Park during the current federal shutdown, spotting a park ranger or National Parks Service vehicle feels similar to the excitement of spotting a wild deer or other wildlife.
As of Thursday, Mount Rainier National Park remained completely open to the public despite the more than two-week long government shutdown, with some exceptions for seasonal closures.
While entrance gates remain open, the buildings nearby that are usually filled with staff are dark. The usual welcoming doors to visitor centers are closed with not a soul inside.
The U.S. federal government entered into a partial shutdown Oct. 1. As the money has stopped flowing, federal employees have been furloughed and federal agencies from air traffic control to national parks management are operated by skeleton crews. Ahead of the shutdown, advocates for the county’s national parks urged the government to shut the gates during the funding shortage over concerns of increased risks and damage due to understaffing.
Oct. 30, 2025
One dead, several injured after tree falls at McKenna Park during ‘Haunted Witches Market’
What started out as a fun and family-oriented Halloween-themed market on Saturday, Oct. 25, at McKenna Park quickly turned tragic.
During the early afternoon hours, an oak tree fell, killing one person and injuring several others.
The “Haunted Witches Market,” hosted by Centaur Sisters of the Moon Events, occurred at the Pierce County-based park on Saturday and was set to occur from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Along with numerous vendor booths set up at the park, activities such as face painting, henna tattoos and trick-or-treating were set for the event.
Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Carly Cappetto, who serves as public information officer for the agency, told the Nisqually Valley News that a 31-year-old man was killed after being struck by a branch from the fallen tree.
“It was just an awful event — totally unexpected. It was totally a freak accident, something I don’t think anyone would have thought of,” Cappetto said.
Nov. 6, 2025
Initial results show DePinto leading mayoral race, YCS levy failing for fourth time
Following the 8 p.m. release of the first batch of 2025 Thurston County general election data, initial results project Joe DePinto, current Yelm mayor, to retain his position and Yelm Community Schools’ levy measure failing for a fourth consecutive attempt.
Incumbent Joe DePinto led over JW Foster as results began to pour in after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, in the 2025 Thurston County general election. DePinto received 451 votes, or 53.63% of the count, while Foster received 388 votes — good for 46.14%.
For the fourth consecutive time, a Yelm Community Schools levy measure has been failed by voters within the district. A total of 2,411 people, or 55.12%, voted against the tax while 1,963 YCS residents voted to approve the measure.
Nov. 13, 2025
YHS graduate Sean Collins honored with mural in Yelm 15 years after his death
Acta non verba.
For some, it translates to “deeds not words,” but for fallen Yelm High School graduate Sean Collins, it was a way of life.
Now, when motorists traverse through Yelm and pass the local gun store, Long Shot, Collins’ personal motto of “acta non verba” is immortalized along with three portraits of the fallen serviceman in the form of a mural.
The mural was unveiled in a community gathering from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Nov. 9, at Long Shot in Yelm. Over 50 community members gathered to pay their respects to Collins and to celebrate the reveal of his honorary mural.
Collins, who served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army and was a 2004 YHS graduate, dreamt of serving in the military since kindergarten and later chased his dreams by enlisting. He initially served two deployments to Iraq, and during his third mission, this time in Afghanistan, Collins and five other servicemen died in a suicide bombing attack on Dec. 12, 2010, in Kandahar.
Nov. 20, 2025
Double homicide in Thurston County remains under investigation; support sought for victims’ families
The Lacey Police Department is asking the public for information that would aid their investigation into the double homicide of two teenage boys early Friday morning.
The teens have since been identified as brothers Alexander M. Borgen, 16, of Lacey, and Deven J. Borgen, 17, of Rainier.
“Investigation has determined this to have been a drive-by shooting,” the Lacey Police Department said in a social media post Friday afternoon.
Police confirmed on social media Friday afternoon that the incident occurred in the area of 24th and College streets at approximately 1:50 a.m. on Nov. 14.
Lacey police responded to reports of shots fired and two subjects down on the roadway at 24th Ave. SE and College St. SE. in the City of Lacey, according to information released by the department on social media Friday afternoon.
Officers responded and located two unresponsive males with apparent gunshot wounds. Officers rendered aid and summoned medics, who continued life saving efforts. However, both subjects died at the scene.
Nov. 27, 2025
Rainier mourns Deven Borgen with candlelight vigil
The Rainier community gathered in front of Rainier High School Friday night to mourn 17-year-old RHS senior Deven Borgen, who, along with his 16-year-old brother Alexander, was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Lacey on Nov. 14.
Deven’s grandparents, Kathy and Ken Borgen, spoke at the candlelight vigil and expressed their gratitude for the Rainier community’s support during the family’s difficult time. RHS students, parents, teachers and law enforcement, including Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders and Rainier High School student resource officer Deputy Andrew Hansen, were in attendance.
Dec. 4, 2025
Red Lantern Asian Fusion celebrates Olympia location with soft opening
One of Yelm’s most popular restaurants, Red Lantern Asian Fusion, celebrated a milestone accomplishment on Monday, Dec. 1, as the business hosted a soft opening at its second official location.
The new restaurant, located 120 Fifth Ave. SW in downtown Olympia, was open from noon to 8 p.m. during the location’s soft opening on Monday, and Tiffany Lin, co-owner, noted the restaurant will remain open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays through Sundays going forward.
Lin, who was assisting employees of the new restaurant in the kitchen during the soft opening, told the Nisqually Valley News that the Olympia-based business was particularly busy in its initial day downtown. After several months of hard work with family and colleagues in efforts to open the new restaurant, Lin was thrilled to finally be able to open the doors of the second Red Lantern Asian Fusion location.
Dec. 11, 2025
Nisqually Valley area Santa Claus talks magic behind serving his home community
In the Nisqually Valley region, the magic of Santa Claus is real.
Just ask Harry Miller, a longtime Yelm resident and Santa to many youngsters within the area over the past few years. Though he dons the warm red suit and hat in the winter time, the magic behind serving as Santa Claus in local communities is a 365-day job, and that’s a task that Miller is undoubtedly up for.
During an interview with the Nisqually Valley News on Friday, Dec. 5, just half an hour before he met with a sea of local children for photos with Santa inside of the Yelm Community Center, Miller handed out photos of himself, as Santa Claus, with the caption, “Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday, Jesus!”
For Miller, that simple message conveys exactly what Christmas means to him.
“Happy birthday, Jesus. Ultimately, we are here because of the best gift we ever got from our Father,” Miller said.
Dec. 18, 2025
Flock Safety cameras deemed successful, productive for Yelm Police Department
With Flock Safety cameras stirring up controversy statewide and the City of Olympia recently suspending use of the program, Rob Carlson, Yelm police chief, deemed use of the surveillance equipment as successful and productive for the Yelm Police Department (YPD) — but he understands concerns with it.
According to Carlson, YPD began using the Flock Safety system in 2024 with four initial cameras. He noted the use of the first four cameras in Yelm was “absolutely successful.”
“Right off the bat, we were seeing the positives — constantly getting hits,” Carlson said. “What the system is, is basically a stationary license plate reader. It takes pictures of cars as they drive away from the camera, so we get the back picture of the rear end of a vehicle. That license plate gets read by the system.”
Dec. 25, 2025
Yelm Public Services prepared for action if wind, rain causes emergency in city
With the state of Washington and the West Coast region recently experiencing a series of potent atmospheric rivers, the City of Yelm’s public services department is prepared to spring into action if wind or rain causes an emergency in the city.
Cody Colt, City of Yelm public services director, told the Nisqually Valley News on Monday, Dec. 22, that while there is a plan in place for snow-related emergencies in the city, there’s a general storm plan that goes into effect when there’s wind or rain activity or power losses.
“That’s what we’ve been in for the last few weeks with all of these wind and water related incidents,” Colt said. “We’ve been in that plan, which enables us to call in multiple staffing people if needed. We always have one street person on call that can respond any time of the day, 24 hours a day. We’re in that mode and normally in that mode all winter for safety purposes.”
