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 Suspect in murder-suicide identified after standoff in Yelm
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, along with multiple agencies, responded to reports of potential human remains on Tuesday, May 21, found on an Old McKenna Road property by first responders …
SRO Theater to present multiple showings of “Nunsense” and “Murder Mystery”
Standing Room Only (SRO) Theater has aimed to become the hub of arts and entertainment in Yelm through live theater showings and different events in recent years. This summer, the non-profit …
Two Yelm Running Start students perform in SPSCC musical
Adrian Roberto and Alex “Allie” Goodrich, both Yelm High School juniors and South Puget Sound Community College Running Start students, dusted off their best French accents for the SPSCC …
Pickleball courts coming to Rainier this summer
The City of Rainier will soon be the hub of the area’s first community pickleball courts as four will be added to its new sports complex this summer. According to Mayor Robert Shaw, four …
38 YHS FFA members attend state convention in first trip since 2019
The Yelm High School FFA team made a good showing at the state competition with one team placing first and a Yelm senior selected to attend the national convention. For the first time since …
Governor candidate Semi Bird pledges to make Washington affordable
By Jacob Dimond jake@yelmonline.com Washington Republican governor-hopeful Semi Bird believes that big change is needed in the state of Washington, including affordable living and gas, …
Second wave of Yelm district reductions begins, recalls underway
Yelm Community Schools Superintendent Chris Woods said that it is “fair to say” the district is roughly halfway through its budget reductions as it looks to cut $15 million due to the …
What's Happening: Rodeo, Farmers Market, Saturday Market
Saturday, June 1 Roy Pioneer Rodeo The Roy Pioneer Rodeo will begin at 1:30 p.m., gates open at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 1, at the Roy Rodeo grounds, 8771 Higgins Greig Road, Roy. The event …
YHS resumes operations after threat from former student forces lockdown
Yelm High School was under lockdown in the afternoon hours of May 24 due to a “threat made by a former student.” In an email sent by Yelm Community Schools Superintendent Chris …
Sheriff’s office: Suspect dies by suicide amid standoff during investigation into possible human remains near Yelm 
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Mike Brooks confirmed that a male died by suicide on Tuesday night following a standoff while multiple agencies investigated potential human remains on a …
Roy city clerk-treasurer thankful for community as new opportunity awaits
Michael Malek’s career in municipal government began by complete accident. After graduating from the University of Washington-Tacoma in 2018 with a degree in public relations, he visited …
YCS shares education priorities survey results
As Yelm Community Schools navigates the double failure of its educational programs and operations (EP&O) levy, the district revealed the results from its reduced education plan budget priorities …
State & Regional News
 Timed-entry reservations begin at Mount National Park’s Paradise Corridor
Mount Rainier National Park timed-entry reservations for visits to the popular Paradise Corridor began Friday, May 24, and will run through Monday, Sept. 2. Many weekend and weekday advance-timed …
Billy Frank Jr. statue sculptor “honored” to work on project
Once the Billy Frank Jr. statue is installed in the National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol in Washington D.C., in 2025, sculptor Haiying Wu will be the first Chinese-American to have a …
Roy animal sanctuary takes in nearly 60 roosters rescue from cockfighting
Roy’s Heartwood Haven, a sanctuary that specializes with animals rescued from cruelty cases, recently rescued nearly 60 roosters, stemming from a cockfighting operation bust in eastern …
Braun calls for more legislative action after three infants exposed to fentanyl
Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, has called on the Legislature to take additional action to curb children’s access to fentanyl and other deadly narcotics. The call comes …
Candidate filing week begins May 6
The Nisqually Valley News The opportunity to formally declare candidacy for the 2024 elections opens at 8 a.m., Monday, May 6, online and at elections offices across the state. Mailed …
From Tenino to Bend, Oregon, Love Covers looks to support nonprofits, build relationships through sewing
Sewing has always been a passion and a way to bring people together for Patti Ledesma, of Tenino, and Cathleen “Cat” Wallace, of Bend, Oregon, who have been friends for more than 30 years …
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office warns of increase in scammers
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) warned the community of an increase in scams in which scammers pretend to be members of the sheriff’s office. According to TCSO’s …
Yelm community raises $15K for Lacey woman fighting cancer
The week of March 9, 2024, was one of the toughest weeks of Edith Vanderwal’s life. While watching her son’s soccer game in Aberdeen, the Lacey woman fell down a few sets of bleachers, …
Residents speak out at TCSO forum after hiring of officer acquitted in Manuel Ellis’ death
The roughly 30 Thurston County residents who spoke at the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office’s public forum on Thursday, April 11, had differing opinions on the controversial hiring and …
Life
Terry Smith and his mother Lola Smith smile for a photo at Prestige Senior Living Rosemont's art walk on May 10.

Prestige Senior Living Rosemont hosts resident art walk

Eleven residents of Prestige Senior Living Rosemont in Yelm displayed their talents on Friday, May 10 as the assisted living facility hosted an art show. The displays featured oil paintings, …
Aurora Decker, pictured at Yelm City Park on May 8, will travel to Dallas, Texas, in July for the International Cinderella Scholarship Pageant.

Yelm student named 2024 Washington Cinderella Teen Queen

Aurora Decker has competed in pageants since she was 6 weeks old. She recalls her mother, Anna Farley, standing behind her at the competitions and making her wave and blow kisses to the audience at a …

Yelms Lion Club here to serve

The motto of the Lions Club is “We Serve,” and the Yelm Lions Club has taken that to heart, working to empower volunteers and serve the community. Locally, the Yelm Lions are busy, …

Yelm district honors volunteers of the year

Yelm Community Schools awarded eight of its volunteers as the 2023-24 Volunteers of the Year during its Thursday, April 18, board meeting. Eight of the nine schools in the district chose one …
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Business
Andrea Levanti and Diego Fleitas, surrounded by members of the InGenius! community, cut the ribbon marking the grand opening of InGenius! Artventures on May 11.
As InGenius! Gallery & Boutique celebrates its third anniversary this summer, the Yelm business opened a new space dedicated to its arts program called InGenius! Artventures on Saturday, May 11. …
Cyndi Doud, the new owner of The Shiplap Shop & Coffee House in Yelm, poses for a photo at the front of the store on April 19.
Cyndi Doud never envisioned herself as a business owner. She is no stranger to leadership roles in the professional sphere, but when she purchased The Shiplap Shop & Coffee House in April, she …
Tina Richardson replaces Amanda Muñoz as the new executive director of the Yelm Chamber of Commerce.
After a weeks-long search, the Yelm Chamber of Commerce hired Tina Richardson as its next executive director. Richardson replaces Amanda Muñoz, who stepped down last month after more than a …
Customers walk throughout the Yelm Farmers Market on May 27, 2023. This year's farmers market season will kick off on May 4 at 206 McKenzie Ave., near City Park.
Customers can have their picks of locally grown fruits and vegetables, baked goods and locally crafted items as the annual farmers market returns to Yelm beginning on Saturday, May 4, at 206 McKenzie …
Worthy Coffee Co. and Steele Barrel BBQ set up shop outside Yelm High School in 2023's edition of the Nisqually Valley Spring Expo.
For years, the Nisqually Valley Home & Garden Show was Yelm’s premier home improvement trade show, kicking off the spring season with local businesses, activities and a car show. The …

The Nisqually Valley News - May 30, 2024

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Sports

Two Rainier senior student athletes sign letters of intent

Haleigh Hanson is surrounded by her family as she signs her national letter of intent with Umpqua Community College while John Kenney looks on during a signing day ceremony at Rainier High School on May 29.
Rainier High School seniors Haleigh Hanson and John Kenney signed their national letters of intent (NLI) to continue their athletic and academic careers in front of their friends, family and coaches …
Travis Williams delivers a standing vertical suplex to Lio Rush during their match in Oblivion Wrestling's main event on May 25.

Oblivion Wrestling rocks Heritage Hall in promotion’s debut show in Thurston County

Passionate fans of professional wrestling packed the Thurston County Fairgrounds Heritage Hall on Saturday, May 25, to experience Oblivion Wrestling’s debut show. Before the first match could …
Mister Rabang-Davis competes in the 300-meter hurdles preliminary competition on Friday, May 24 at Mount Tahoma High School.

Eight Tornados compete in WIAA’s 3A state track and field championships

Eight Tornados competed with the best athletes in the state of Washington, Thursday, May 23, through Saturday, May 25, at Mount Tahoma High School during the WIAA’s 2A/3A/4A track and field …

Three Tornados golfers compete in 3A state championships

To cap off its 2024 spring athletic season, Yelm High School’s girls golf team saw three Tornados, juniors Alexa Wasankari and Lucy Mohrweis and sophomore Melony Blankenship compete in the …
Rainier’s Josh Meldrum runs during the final day of state track and field at Zaepfel Stadium in Yakima on Saturday, May 25.

Two Mountaineers crowned state champions; girls take fourth place

The 2024 Rainier High School track and field season was one of perseverance and resilience. The Mountaineers faced a myriad of injuries throughout the season, but on the biggest stage at the 2B state …
Tenino poses with the 1A third-place trophy after defeating Cedar Park Christian on May 25 at Joe Martin Stadium.

Sweet victory: Beavers rally in sixth to third-place finish at state

The Tenino High School baseball team’s first trip to the 1A state tournament in 11 years was bittersweet as the Beavers allowed the tying and game-winning runs in the seventh inning in the …

Seven Tornados named to SSC all-league fastpitch team

Following the conclusion of the Yelm Tornados fastpitch team’s 2024 season, the South Sound Conference announced the members of its all league team for the spring season. Yelm’s senior …

Rainier golfer one of three freshmen in top 25 at state

Rainier's Joshua Peralta begins his swing for his tee shot during the second round of the Class 1B/2B state golf championships on May 22 at Tumwater Valley Golf Club.

Rainier High School freshman golfer Joshua Peralta was the school’s first representative at the 1B/2B state championships at Tumwater Valley Golf Course since the program became an official …

Yelm fastpitch season ends after 2-3 showing in district tournament

Junior Tornados catcher Layah Hicks squares up with the ball while swinging her bat against Silas High School on May 16.

After a 2-3 showing in the District 3/4 3A softball tournament at the Regional Athletic Complex (RAC) in Lacey, the Tornados’ season officially came to an end. Yelm was ultimately eliminated by …

Former Rainier grad, Army sergeant posthumously inducted into Wrestling Hall of Fame

Gary Warnock, Chris Warnock, Chris Holterman and Steve Fittinger pose for a photo with Sgt. Justin Norton's green jacket and Medal of Courage at the Washington Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame induction banquet on May 4.

As Rainier High School wrestling head coach Chris Holterman perused the Washington Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in the winter of 2022, he was …

Opinion

Good sleeping habits help promote overall good health

Do you sleep well? Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. After looking at articles about sleep, here’s what I found:  We all know that good sleep equals good health. We are …
Ed Johnstone is the chairman for the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.

Commentary: Washington fisheries managed using a conservation-first approach

This year marked the 40th anniversary of the partnership between treaty tribes and our state co-managers to establish salmon fisheries. Each spring since 1984, we’ve held a series of …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

Teens can ensure their voices are heard by pre-registering to vote

Editor, I am dismayed each time I see high school students protesting for something essential that earlier generations enjoyed and took for granted … and now deny to younger generations. …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

Support state funding for schools

Editor, It has been shocking to see the Yelm school district levy fail and the accompanying job losses. One positive thing we can do is elect representatives who will support state funding for …
Letters to the editor can be submitted to yelmnews@yelmonline.com.

Loss of teachers, staff will be detrimental in more than just classrooms

Editor, I am a freshman at Yelm High School, an honor roll student, who cares about the education system. Without the school, I wouldn't be here now. I am writing this to voice my concerns on …

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Obituaries
In Loving Memory of Gary Henslee
Gary Henslee left to join his savior on April 27, 2024.   He was born in Spokane, Washington, to Paul and Garaldine Henslee on May 23, 1939. After graduating from North Central High …
Death Notice: Edward Richard Bauer II
Edward Richard Bauer II, 69, of Yelm, died May 3. Arrangements are under the are of Funeral Alternatives of Washington — Lacey.
In Loving Memory of Alice Marjorie Smith 1935 ~ 2024
Marjorie Smith passed away peacefully on April 9, 2024, at her daughter’s home in Yelm, Washington, at the age of 88. She was born to Louis Barons and Nelsie Barons Foss on Oct. 1, 1935, in …
In Loving Memory Of Penny Kleine 1962 ~ 2024
On March 21, 2024, Penny Marie (Sherfey) Kleine passed away in Lubbock, Texas, at the age of 61 from pancreatic and ovarian cancer.  Penny was born on June 25, 1962, in Sacramento, …
In Loving Memory of “Frenchie” - Orval French 1937 - 2023 We regret to announce the passing of “Frenchie,” Orval D. French, 85, of Yelm, Washington. He died unexpectedly Aug. 31, 2024, of natural causes. Frenchie was born Sept. 13, 1937, to Orval E.
We regret to announce the passing of “Frenchie,” Orval D. French, 85, of Yelm, Washington. He died unexpectedly Aug. 31, 2023, of natural causes.  Frenchie was born Sept. 13, …

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