– “Bail set at $150,000 for Yelm man accused of attempting to kill his wife”
“Bail was set at $150,000 Monday for a Yelm man and active-duty soldier at Joint Base Lewis-McChord who allegedly attempted to kill his wife Sunday morning [covered here previously].

“Jermaine F. McKenney, 31, made his preliminary appearance in Thurston County Superior Court before Commissioner Nathan Kortokrax.

“McKenney was arrested on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder, but after review by the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office, the state sought attempted murder in the first degree/domestic violence,” by Rolf Boone, The Olympian.
Read more


– “Thurston County firefighter placed on paid leave after fight”
“A Thurston County firefighter has been placed on paid leave after he was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault Friday night [Sept. 21].”

“SE Thurston Fire Chief Mark King [based in Yelm] said Monday [Sept. 24] that the man, who he described as a career firefighter with 10 years’ experience, was immediately place on paid administrative leave,” by Rolf Boone, The Olympian.
Read more

– Editor’s note:
After a Yelm active-duty military resident fired shots at his wife in a domestic dispute in a neighborhood with children, this should be a warning that Yelm may have a health crisis, as has been noted in other Thurston cities and in the county.

This blog has covered the rapid rise of health issues that have overtaken our community, such as and not limited to: rising crime, domestic/spousal abuse, homelessness, addiction/substance abuse, poverty, & PTSD.

Doing nothing is no longer an option!
Yelm is no longer a small town- growth here requires a big city response!
We have a mayor that has years of service seeing these issues as an emergency responder, retiring from his last post at the Tumwater Fire Department in 2013, a much larger city with varied health issues to which he was exposed.

Mayor Foster should bring his experience to Yelm’s council to address the facts that his city may be in engulfed in a health crisis!
________________________________________________

– “Yelm man arrested after allegedly firing shot at his wife, police say”
“A 31-year-old Yelm man was booked on Sunday [Sept. 23] into the Thurston County Jail on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder and two counts of reckless endangerment, according to Yelm police.

“Officers responded about 4:40 a.m. to a report of shots fired during a domestic dispute in the 16000 block of Prairie Heights Road [off Vancil near Safeway].”

“In addition to police, a member of the man’s chain of command responded to the incident because he is active-duty military, police Sgt. Adam Wood said Sunday [Sept. 23],” by Rolf Boone, The Olympian.
Read more


– UPDATE: September 24, 2018, 1pm
– “Thurston County firefighter placed on paid leave after fight”
“A Thurston County firefighter has been placed on paid leave after he was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault Friday night.

“He was booked into jail early Saturday and is set to appear in court Monday afternoon, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.”

“SE Thurston Fire Chief Mark King [based in Yelm] said Monday [Sept. 24] that the man, who he described as a career firefighter with 10 years’ experience, was immediately place on paid administrative leave,” by Rolf Boone, The Olympian.
Read more

credit: WSDOT


– From the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
OPEN HOUSE: SR 510 – Yelm Loop – New Alignment Phase 2
* Save the date: Community members are invited to view the proposed design for this project.
* WSDOT will host an open house to discuss the latest project details and answer questions.
* The open house will be held 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, Yelm Community Center.


Next steps:
WSDOT is undertaking a Practical Solutions process to move forward on this project. WSDOT has re-engaged stakeholders and is taking a fresh look at previous project plans. The fresh look will include reviewing the project’s purpose and need to ensure the proposed design is still appropriate and will provide intended benefits. The process includes evaluating traffic control at each intersection along the proposed alignment, and updating the project’s environmental documents.

The End Result:
In this project, crews will build the 3 remaining miles of SR 510 between Cullens Road and 170th Street Southeast. The new connection, like the previously built Phase 1, is proposed to be a two-lane highway with bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Read more

Check out the updates at yelmloop.com!

Pizzeria LaGitana
Photo credit: Pizzeria La Gitana


– “Pizzeria La Gitana Fundraiser for Young Life HWY 507”
Hosted by Pizzeria La Gitana of Yelm and Young Life Hwy 507

WHEN:
Wednesday, September 26 at 11:30 AM – 8:30 PM

WHERE:
Pizzeria La Gitana
309 Yelm Ave E
Yelm, WA 98597

WHAT:
“Support our mission while enjoying Delicious foods!
Eat at Pizzeria La Gitana Wednesday, September 26th between 11:30am – 8:30pm.
HWY 507 Young Life will receive 20% of each order total when you WRITE “Young Life” on the tip receipt.
Bring your friends and family, eat some great authentic Italian Pizza & Pasta !! YUM!!”
Read more

Equinox alignment, not to scale.
Photo credit: timeanddate.com


WHEN: Saturday, September 22 at 6:54 PM PDT
Read more


– Yelm’s Equinox is September 22
“The September equinox arrives on September 23, 2018 at 1:54 UTC. Although the equinox happens at the same moment worldwide, your clock times will depend on your time zone. For time zones in the continental U.S., this equinox comes at …6:54 p.m. PDT.,” by Deborah Byrd in Astronomy Essentials.
Read more

Equinoxes and solstices
Photo credit: NASA Earth Observatory.

Blogger Steve Klein


Thirty years ago today, September 21, 1988, I arrived in Yelm after purchasing a home here and moving from San Francisco, in my mid-thirties, excited about my life’s new direction and being here in the Pacific Northwest. I never looked back and have now called Yelm home for 30 years after living coast-to-coast-to-coast, as this is my treasured place on the planet.

My wife and I have invested in this community by buying and currently owning multiple properties both within the Yelm city limits and in rural Yelm.

THANK YOU to all of you who so have enriched and been a part of the fabric of my life!
Onward to the next 3 decades and more from right here…

Photo credit: Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office


– Editor’s note:
The first challenger this century to the incumbent in the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is on the November ballot, Victor Minjares.


– “Thurston County Prosecutor Candidates’ Forum”
Open to the Public · Hosted by Victor for Thurston County Prosecutor
Tuesday, September 25 at 7 PM – 9 PM
Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
2315 Division St NW, Olympia, Washington 98502
Read more


– Three short and informative videos from the ACLU!
“The Power of Prosecutors: An Overview”
“Prosecutors have the power to flood jails and prisons, ruin lives, and deepen racial disparities with the stroke of a pen. But they also have the discretion to do the opposite. This video explores the power of prosecutors to continue to drive mass incarceration — or end it.”
Click here for the video.

– “The Power of Prosecutors: Charging”
“Prosecutors are the gatekeepers of the criminal legal system. They decide whether to prosecute and what to charge. Their harsh and discriminatory practices have fueled a vast expansion of incarceration as the answer to societal ills over the last several decades. This video exposes how basic charging decisions can reduce our reliance on incarceration and lead to healthier communities.”
Click here for the video.

– “The Power of Prosecutors: Plea Bargains”
“Did you know that more than nine out of 10 cases are resolved by plea bargain? That’s in large measure because the laws, like harsh mandatory minimum sentences, have stripped judges of much of their discretion and have instead given prosecutors all the negotiating power. The result: Overwhelmingly, people plead guilty, even when innocent, out of fear of a negative outcome at trial.”
Click here for the video.


Blogger Klein us a support Victor for Thurston County Prosecutor campaign supporter.

– “Free Entrance Days in the National Parks”
Come experience the national parks! On four days in 2018, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2018:
* January 15: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
* April 21: First day of National Park Week
* September 22: National Public Lands Day
* November 11: Veterans Day


Includes these Washington Parks:
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Lewis & Clark National Historical Park
Mount Rainier National Park
Olympic National Park

Read more from the National Park Service.

Credit: Yelm Chamber


Premier Collision Carstar
103 1st St. N.
Yelm, WA 98597

Photo credit: Yelm Food Co-op


– Form the Yelm Food Co-op
“Join Us for the 2018 Annual General Meeting at the Co-Op!”
“It’s that time of year again – This year we will have our meeting at the store.
“Enjoy wine tasting in our Wine Cellar along with some tasty foods to sample.
“Please come in and support your co-op. Voting will be open all day.”


Annual Membership Meeting
Saturday, September 22nd
2 pm – 4 pm
Yelm Food Coop

“Voting will be required before the wine tasting!
“Your Participation Matters. See You There!”
Read more


Blogger Klein is a Yelm Food Co-op founding member.