Steve Klein addresses current issues impacting Yelm and vicinity and provides a meeting place for anyone with an interest in this area to provide their ideas and opinions
Wednesday, Oct. 28 2026 Waste Reduction Series
Thurston County Solid Waste and the City of Yelm will collaborate from 6 p.m. to 7 on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Yelm Community Center, for its 2026 Waste Reduction Series with an event called “Can This Be Recycled?” You can register for the event online at https://fs23.formsite.com/wg80xb/ece5uk6tjx/index.
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Thurston County is partnering with LeMay Pacific Disposal to help residents and businesses reduce their landfill waste.
Recycling 101:
Join us to learn the basics of recycling! Thurston County’s recycling & waste reduction specialists will break down how your waste flows through the county, how recycling markets work, and bust common misconceptions. Don’t miss this chance to boost your recycling knowledge and contribute to a more sustainable Thurston County!
Register online at community.thurstonsolidwaste.org or by calling (360) 867-2491. A virtual video conference link will be sent to you once you register.
Fall is here and farms all over Thurston County are ready for visitors to pick their perfect pumpkins, get lost in corn mazes, enjoy kids activities, and bite into fresh corn on the cob.
* Editor’s note: I applaud Auditor Mary Hall’s acceptance of state National Guard resources to support election security during the General Election. Enough of Trump Administration threats and bluster about election intimidation!
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Thurston County Auditor’s Statement on State National Guard Resources
The Thurston County Auditor’s Office has accepted Governor Ferguson’s offer of state National Guard resources to support election security during the General Election.
National Guard personnel will serve in a purely supportive role to enhance our election infrastructure security. Members will be unarmed, out of uniform, and will operate directly under the Thurston County Auditor in coordination with local law enforcement. They will not serve as law enforcement, nor will they touch, handle, or participate in the processing of ballots in any capacity.
The annual Crossroads Pumpkin Patch has returned to Yelm for the 15th year, and will run through Saturday, Oct. 31, this halloween season. Credit: Crossroads Pumpkin Patch via NVN.
The annual Crossroads Pumpkin Patch has returned for its 15th year, inviting families to enjoy fall activities, pick out seasonal decorations and support local students pursuing higher education.
The Crossroads Community Covenant Church is located near Four Corners at 11520 Bald Hill Road SE. The annual pumpkin patch will remain open through Saturday, Oct. 31. Proceeds benefit Yelm Dollars for Scholars (YDFS) and the Rainier Education Foundation (REF), helping provide scholarships for local graduates.
The pumpkins, gourds and decorative corn stalks are grown locally at Nisqually Springs Farm in McKenna, keeping the fundraiser rooted in the community.
Last year, 97 Yelm High School graduates received a combined $179,000 in scholarships, according to Yelm Dollars for Scholars. More than $8,000 was raised through the pumpkin patch, demonstrating how a local fall tradition can make a meaningful difference for students.
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Families are encouraged to make the Crossroads Pumpkin Patch part of their fall plans before it closes on Saturday, Oct. 31. Bring the kids, find the perfect pumpkin, enjoy the activities and help local graduates take the next step in their education. Every visit supports a community effort to make higher education more accessible for local students.
The pumpkin patch is open from 3 to 6 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays; and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.
An iconic show like this demands incredible attention to detail, love, care, a splash of crazy, and a team of delightfully quirky and eccentric people working behind the scenes. With all these ingredients and a good dose of community spirit, Yelm’s Standing Room Only (SRO) Theater created an outstanding, high-quality adaptation of this beloved musical.
The review
Skid Row has so many shining stars, but one that deserves an extra round of applause is the set design.
Community theater often works on a limited budget, but the team at SRO proved creativity can go a long way. Their work was so impressive that I could easily imagine myself sitting in the audience of a high-end professional production. Director Charles Phillips and his team have a lot to be proud of.
Speaking of things I’d expect in a high-end production, the cast’s overall vocal quality was outstanding, and Music Director Heather Matthews deserves plenty of credit for it!
Every cast member maintained a consistent accent throughout the show, which matters more than you might think. And those belts? Absolutely incredible! I’m especially glad Matthews allowed the music to soar naturally rather than trying to rein it in. The result gave me semi-permanent goosebumps.
Everyone in the cast deserves applause, but today I would like to celebrate my personal favorites from the cast.
Understudy James Dover took the stage as Seymour in the performance I attended, and I’m so grateful I got to see him in a leading role! Remember when I chatted with Dover earlier this year? You can read our conversation here.
As he demonstrated in this production, Dover is a talented singer, an emotionally dynamic performer, and a wonderfully responsive actor. He’s often found working behind the scenes, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw him on stage more often. Production companies and audiences alike would be lucky to have him.
Haley Paine’s vocal chops are straight out of Broadway! I’ve seen her in other shows, but I was especially delighted to see her take on a leading role that truly lets her talents shine.
Paine’s Audrey could bring you to tears in the best possible ways, whether through laughter, pure sweetness, or sheer vocal power! Local directors, take note: Paine is a rising star, and I sincerely hope we’ll have the pleasure of seeing her on stage more often.
Luke Foster Kosbab’s Dentist role made me laugh so much that he almost made the slimy, masochistic medical provider likable! Was I still satisfied when Audrey II ate him? Absolutely, but I thoroughly enjoyed every moment he spent on stage.
Speaking of Audrey II, Gregory Conn’s voice is truly rare yet delightful — and exactly what a show like this needs. His voice has the perfect mix of grit, irony, and power, and his evil cackle is out of this world! The sparkly suit he wore at the end of the show has officially earned my award for the best costume of the year. Bravo costume designer Meg Long!
My final round of applause goes to Brooke Upton, who played Crystal, one of Skid Row’s fabulous gal pals. Upton has a Broadway-quality voice that knows exactly when to stand out and when to blend seamlessly with the ensemble.
Her joy on stage was contagious, which is saying something, given how evident everyone’s passion for their craft was throughout the production. Upton was a delight to watch, adding another layer of talent and energy to an already outstanding cast!
While we are seeing some concerning trends with ballots returned by mail, I want to start by recognizing the great job Thurston County voters are doing by using official ballot drop boxes.
During the recent primary election, Thurston County voters did a great job. About 76% of voters used official ballot drop boxes, which is up from 66% in 2022. Because so many people used drop boxes, almost all ballots arrived on time to be counted.
However, we are seeing serious problems with mail delivery through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Voters are following all the rules, but mail delays are causing many ballots to arrive way too late.
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The Problem with Mail Delivery
By law, we must certify the election by a specific deadline. For the primary, that date was August 18, 2026, two weeks after Election Day. Any ballot that arrives after this date cannot be counted, even if it was mailed on time.
We are seeing two main problems with the post office:
Slow Mail: Many people mailed their ballots well before Election Day, but the ballots sat in post office sorting centers for weeks. In one case, a ballot was mailed in late July but didn’t reach our office until after the August 18 deadline. It took 19 days to arrive, so it could not be counted.
Ballots sent Between Counties: In Washington State, you can drop your ballot into any official drop box in the state. Other counties collect those ballots and mail them back to us using USPS Priority Mail. In the past, this worked well. But this year, mail sent on August 5 didn’t reach us until August 24, six days after the deadline.
So far, our office has received 70 valid ballots that arrived after the certification deadline. This has never happened before, and it means those votes could not be counted. One ballot took 19 days to reach us.
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What We Are Doing for November
No voter should lose their vote when they’ve followed every rule.
To fix this for the November election, we will no longer rely on the post office to send ballots between counties. Instead, our team will personally drive to neighboring counties to pick up and hand-deliver these ballots ourselves. Even though this costs extra money and time, it is necessary to make sure every vote counts.
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How You Can Help & Helpful Resources
The safest way to make sure your vote is counted is to use an official ballot drop box instead of putting your ballot in the mail.
Visit VoteWA.gov to check your voter registration, track your ballot, or find a drop box near you.
Commissioners eye transfer of Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail
The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners is proposing to transfer ownership of a section of the 14.5-mile Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail to the City of Yelm.
A public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 20, when the board will unveil plans to have the City of Yelm act as a secondary sponsor, allowing it to operate, upgrade and maintain a 1.6-mile portion of the paved, multi-use rail trail, which consists of five parcels of land.
The plots up for transfer are located along State Route 507 and situated within Yelm’s Urban Growth Area.
The plots were originally bought using a recreation and conservation grant, as well as funding from the Washington State Department of Transportation. The remaining portion of the trail not subject to transfer will remain under the supervision of the county.
Under the interlocal agreement that the two parties have hammered out, the City of Yelm will continue to preserve the properties for public use as an interim trail for nonmotorized travel and recreational purposes. The city may not sell or transfer the properties without authorization from the county.
Completed in 2005, the Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail traced the old railroad track that was last functional in the mid-1980s.
The agreement also stipulates that the county will be entitled to compensation should any of the properties be used for the establishment of a new rail service.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has long hosted two major carriers that once maintained a closer partnership. Delta Air Lines now shares the facility with Alaska Airlines, the larger operator there by flight volume. Chief Executive Ed Bastian addressed the dynamic directly during the airline’s recent earnings call, stating that the market can accommodate both carriers without conflict. ([1])
Public Tone Differs From Past Rivalry
Bastian described Alaska’s expansion moves as smart and emphasized that Seattle represents a large enough market for both airlines to coexist. He noted that Delta does not need to dominate every city it serves. The measured language contrasts with the carrier’s more assertive positioning at Los Angeles International Airport, where it has highlighted its leading status.
Former partnership ties between the two carriers have given way to direct competition on routes, amenities, and passenger loyalty. Both airlines see growth potential in Pacific routes to Asia, with Delta citing its West Coast hubs as strong launch points and Alaska viewing the region as its primary international opportunity.
Travelers Stand to Gain From Added Options
The parallel investments in new routes and upgraded facilities are expanding choices for passengers flying through Seattle. Additional international service and improved lounges represent tangible benefits that arise when carriers vie for the same customer base. Industry observers note that sustained competition often leads to better schedules and service levels over time.
Whether the relationship remains cooperative or grows more intense, the outcome for travelers appears positive in the near term. Seattle residents and visitors now have two established airlines actively courting their business on both domestic and international itineraries.
Alaska Airlines is launching two new long haul routes from Seattle: Osaka, Japan (KIX), and Papeete, French Polynesia (PPT). Credit: One Mike at a time.
* Editor’s note: I formerly worked in airline management. I watched airlines with ego-driven leaders sink their airlines with expansion costs, labor increases, and diminishing reserves from higher fuel prices. Alaska Air is making the same error as so many previous airlines that have not survived.
What makes Alaska Air think they will make money flying SEA-Tahiti when their own partner Air Tahiti did not do so and pulled out in January 2026? And Air Tahihi Nui fed their Seattle-Tahiti flight with a Paris-Seattle tag, plus Alaska Air’s feed. And Delta Airlines flew to Tahiti from their mega-hub at LAX and dropped Tahiti service in June 2025. And Air Tahiti Nui flew SEA-Tahiti with a 787, which has lower operating costs than Hawaiian Air’s A-330 flying SEA-Tahiti.
Delta dropped their Seattle-Osaka flights in 2020 when COVID spread, and has chosen to not restart this route. That speaks volumes. And with the Delta/Northwest Airlines merger in 2008, they inherited name recognition and brand identity across Japan even to this day. Alaska does not have that, as their OneWorld partner Japan Airlines has the identity in Japan for Seattle-bound fliers.
As I have written here previously, watch Alaska Air’s cash flow. I would not be buying stock in the Alaska Air Group with their wildly spending money with unbridled expansionary plans; and costly aircraft interior overhauls coupled with record jet fuel prices. Alaska Air is taking a huge gamble walking on a razor’s edge of perilous issues.
Osaka, Japan and Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia, become the eighth and ninth long-haul intercontinental routes added to Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines’ growing global network from Seattle and advance Alaska Accelerate, the company’s mission to connect the Pacific Northwest with more destinations around the world.
The combined airline will offer the only nonstop service between Seattle and Osaka and Papeete, with Hawaiian Airlines serving the routes beginning next spring.
Guests traveling aboard Hawaiian Airlines Airbus’ A330 fleet will enjoy the signature Hawaiian hospitality they know and love, paired with a premium experience, including free Starlink Wi-Fi for Atmos™ Rewards members, thanks to T-Mobile.
To celebrate the two new routes, the airline is offering special introductory round-trip Main Cabin fares to both destinations, subject to availability.
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