Suspect Zachary A. Altona arrested
Photo credit: Thurston County Sheriff


– “Police seize meth, arrest fugitive after Yelm standoff”
“Authorities from Yelm, Thurston County, State Patrol and other agencies were serving search and arrest warrants at a home in the 9300 block of Prairie Wind Street Southeast in Yelm Thursday when the wanted man refused to come out.

“After the Thurston County SWAT team was called in and tear gas was pumped into the attic, [Zachary A.] Altona came out, and after a brief struggle, was taken into custody.

“Detectives from the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force searched the home and seized about 3 ½ pounds of methamphetamine, packaging material and scales. Also found near the attic entrance was a loaded Colt .45 pistol and about $2,000 cash,” by KIRO TV 7 News, Seattle.
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– “SWAT team ends Yelm standoff by deploying chemical agents, arresting man in attic”
“A 24-year-old man was arrested after authorities say he barricaded himself inside the home. After multiple attempts to contact him, authorities released ‘chemical agents’ into the home and the SWAT team was able to locate the man in the attic, according to a Thurston County Narcotics Task Force news release,” by Danielle Derrickson, The Olympian.
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Josey Howard, National High School Rodeo Assn. competitor
Photo credit: Jaelyn Sleeman


– “Yelm’s Josey Howard Finishes 15th at National High School Rodeo Championships”
“A western-style rodeo competition, cutting sees a rider and horse work as team to demonstrate their ability to manage cattle during a 2 1/2 minute performance.

“[Josey] Howard, who will be a sophomore at Yelm High School this fall, and Taylor Hansen, who will be a junior at Tenino High School, finished in the top 15 in the cutting horse division at the 2018 National High School Rodeo Association National Finals.

“Held in Rock Springs, Wyoming, July 15-21, Hansen finished 13th in the nation in girls’ cutting, while Howard, one of only three freshmen among the nearly 100 participants to compete in the event, finished 15th overall, making Washington one of only four states to have multiple placers in the top 15,” by Grant Clark, in Thurston Talk.
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Most expensive property ever listed in Thurston County
Photo credit: South Sound Business


– “De Beers diamond heiress lists spaceship-inspired estate near Yelm for $11 million”
“A futuristic showstopper mansion, owned by diamond mining company heiress Rebecca Oppenheimer, the granddaughter of former De Beers Consolidated Mines Chairman Harry Oppenheimer, is the most expensive house to ever come on the market in Pierce, Kitsap or Thurston counties, according to Morrison House Sotheby’s International Realty Owner and Founding Broker Michael Morrison. Morrison has the $11 million listing.

“Oppenheimer spoke to me by cellphone from Cape Town, South Africa where she now lives with her two children, who are 13 and 10 years old.”

“Rebecca Oppenheimer is a very holistic person and her manse in the Tenino/Yelm area of Thurston County, which she designed as her dream home, reflects that,” Patti Payne, Puget Sound Business Journal.
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– “Diamond Heiress’ $11 Million Home for Sale in Tenino”
“High upon a hill in Tenino stands an out-of-this-world custom home built by the heiress to the De Beers diamond fortune. It can be yours for $11 million — the most expensive property for sale in Pierce, Thurston, or Mason counties,” by South Sound Business.
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Photo credit: Kevin Siers, McClathchy’s Charlotte [NC] Observer.


– Editor’s note:
Today, “nearly all of McClatchy’s 30 daily newspapers, “which almost never speak with one voice, are doing so now. That’s why we’re joining with fellow journalists across the country in calling for an end to the president’s war of words against our free press.” This includes our own daily newspaper, The Olympian, an op-ed that should be read by every American!


– “President Trump, we’re not ‘enemies of the people.’ End your war on our free press.”
By McClatchy Opinion Staff

“In our business, we know how much words matter. We know, too, that Trump’s references to us as the “enemy of the American People” are no less dangerous because they happen to be strategic. That is what Nazis called Jews. It’s how Joseph Stalin’s critics were marked for execution.

Every reporter who has ever covered a Trump rally knows the scratch of a threat that’s conveyed during that ritual moment when he aims the attention of the crowd to reporters. And as real as the threat of physical violence is, especially after the murder of our colleagues in Annapolis, Maryland, Trump’s aggressive posture toward the First Amendment worries us even more.”

“It’s an affront to the U.S. Constitution when President Trump threatens to eliminate the First Amendment protections the Supreme Court has built into our nation’s libel laws — or when he suggests revoking the FCC licenses of broadcast news organizations whose reporting he doesn’t like.”
Read more of the full op-ed.


– UPDATE: August 16, 2018
“‘The press is not the enemy of the people,’ Senate declares in resolution”

“The Senate unanimously passed a resolution by Democrats on Thursday condemning attacks on the free press and affirming that “the press is not the enemy of the people,” President Trump’s label for the media.

“The move came as more than 300 newspapers and other media outlets joined The Boston Globe in publishing editorials Thursday promoting freedom of the press and refuting Trump’s denouncements,” by Nicole Gaudiano, USA TODAY.
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24-hour avg. particulate concentration in the atmosphere
recorded at the Tacoma observing site.
Photo credit: Puget Sound Clean Air Agency


– “Onshore winds improve worst air quality in Puget Sound history”
“The past 24 hours [Tuesday to Wednesday] had the worst air quality on record in Western Washington, according to University of Washington professor of Atmospheric Sciences Cliff Mass. Last summer’s wildfire season holds the record for second worst.

The air quality in Western Washington was “unhealthy for everyone” at most air monitoring sites Wednesday. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says these are the highest particulate levels so far this summer,” Rich Marriott, KING 5 TV News, Seattle.
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– “Seattle’s air quality worse than India, China”
“The air quality around Puget Sound quickly degraded as smoke from surrounding wildfires blanketed the region. The air quality is now unhealthy for everyone,” Kipp Robertson, KING 5 TV News, Seattle.
Read more.

A fast-moving brush fire spread to a Yelm home
Wednesday evening, August 15, 2018.
Photo credit: Bill’s Towing, Yelm


– “Brush fire damages home in Yelm”
“Police said the fire started around 5:00 pm. in a hay field near 1st St. NE an Railroad Road SE.

“By the time firefighters arrived, the wind had fanned the flames to a nearby home,” by KOMO TV-4 News Staff, Seattle.
Click here for the story and video.


– From the City of Yelm Police Dept.
“As many residents are now aware the City of Yelm experienced a brush fire this afternoon in the area of 1st Street and Railway. The fire is now contained and no additional structures or people are in harms way. A detached garage was burned and a residential structure was partially damaged on Donovan Ct. along with several acres of dry field. SE Thurston Fire responded along with neighboring agencies to get and had the blaze contained within 20 minutes. The Police Department assisted by closing roads in that area which are all now back open. Please exercise great care during this time of extreme heat and dry conditions. Thank you for your patience in getting around this area for a period of time.”
Click here for the story and video.


– “A brush fire in Yelm destroyed a garage and damaged a home as it burned several acres”
“Kevin McManus, who is staying at a home next to the one that was damaged, said neighbors fought back the fire before crews arrived. At one point it was climbing the side of his house and burned the back porch and yard.

“McManus said wind helped carry the fire across the field toward the houses. He rushed back to make sure two dogs at the house he is staying at got out safe.

“‘That was horrifying, that moment right there, because I didn’t know how close it was to the house, and when I got there it was around the house,’ he said,” by Danielle Derrickson, The Olympian.
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– UPDATE: August 16, 2018
“Wildfire remains a danger in urban areas as fast-moving blaze burns home in Yelm”
By Steve Kiggins, KCPQ TV 13 News, Seattle.
Click here for the video.

– From Yelm RV & Boat Storage:
BOAT STORAGE
Keep your investment safe with our top of the line facilities. We offer completely paved lots in a fully fenced enclosure with security gates and 24 hr. security cameras. The size of our units means we can accommodate boats of any size.

R.V. STORAGE
Our expansive open and closed units, include pull throughs, top of the line security and convenient access hours so that your home away from home is safe secure and remains in pristine condition!

AMENITIES
At Yelm R.V. and Boat Storage, we pride ourselves on offering ready access, month to month leasing and ease of use for every part of your storage experience. Our locally owned and operated facility is here to serve the community.
YELM OFFERS THE BEST SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR STORAGE NEEDS

At Yelm, we are part of the community and make every effort to ensure we provide the highest level of customer service. We take great pride in our amenities and facilities. At Yelm, you’ll find a tidy, secure space for all your Boat and R.V. storage needs!


Yelm Boat and RV Storage LLC
We are a locally owned and operated business here to serve all your boat and R.V. storage needs.
557 Rhoton Road
Yelm, WA. 98597
Phone: (253) 465-6470
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Until 4:15pm PDT, Wed Aug 15
Action Recommended: Avoid the subject event as per the instructions
Issued by: Seattle/Tacoma – WA, US, National Weather Service

…SMOKE FROM WILDFIRES HAS RESULTED IN UNHEALTHY AIR…
…CLEANER AIR WILL BEGIN TO ARRIVE TONIGHT WITH A MARINE PUSH…
Air quality sensors in many locations across Western Washington are reporting unhealthy air quality and today will be another hazy warm day across most of the area. Air quality will begin to improve tonight as marine air pushes inland. Onshore flow will increase again Thursday and air quality will continue to improve through the end of the week. People with respiratory illnesses should limit time spent outdoors today.

For more information visit the following web sites:
Washington State Department of Ecology: www.ecy.wa.gov
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency: pscleanair.org
Southwest Clean Air Agency: swcleanair.org
Olympic Region Clean Air: orcaa.org
Northwest Clean Air Agency: nwcleanairwa.gov
Washington Smoke Blog: wasmoke.blogspot.com
Read more from the National Weather Service.

Yelm Community Center
Photo credit: Yelm Chamber of Commerce


– Story highlights:
* Town Hall public forums are a community investment, as we are all TEAM YELM!
* Prior to 2016, the previous Town Hall here was in 2004 for a proposed NASCAR track.
* Yelm’s first Town Hall in a dozen years was held Nov. 4, 2016.
* Two issues for discussion then: allowing marijuana retailers and food trucks in Yelm.
* A cross-section of the public attended and excellent comments were presented for both issues.
* So successful, Mayor Foster announced that regular public meetings would be returning to Yelm.
* The 2nd Town Hall/Community Meeting was conducted March 27, 2017, focused on Public Safety.
* Yelm’s Community Center has served as a perfect venue for the community’s public forums.
* With no further Town Halls since, Mayor Foster should resume these based on what he said Feb, 28, 2017, supporting “Open Government, best run government,”…reaching out to our community.”
* And Mayor Foster should have an interactive social media platform to interact with his constituents, as his Facebook page is merely for photo ops as if a campaign was underway. Councilors Camrody and DePinto have had interactive Facebook pages with their constituents for years.


– In conclusion:
Outside of political candidates Town Hall public forums, Yelm has not continued having these meetings, yet this is an excellent vehicle for Mayor Foster, councilors, and city staff to engage with the public on issues of mutual interest. The previous public meetings were specifically topic-driven and very successful. New food truck and marijuana regulations were enacted from ideas expressed by the public, in addition to a greater understanding about Public Safety issues exchanged at the 2nd forum.

Whether citizens live within the city limits or in the greater Yelm area, we’re all TEAM YELM, as we shop here, pay taxes here, property owners fund our community schools, library and cemetery, and have a stake in our community. Town Hall public forums led by the mayor with councilors and staff present are an investment in the constituents they serve.

Let’s bring back Town Hall public forums and engage in open and regular dialogue. After all, the sum of our parts is greater than the whole, which creates dynamic synergy for the future of our town.

Click here to express your support for regular Town Hall public forums with the mayor, councilors and city staff.

Fay Fuller
Photo credit: PBS via the City of Yelm


– From the City of Yelm Tweet:
“128 years ago [August 10th], a teacher and resident of Yelm, WA named Fay Fuller became the first woman known to summit Mount Rainier. She defied expectations, inspiring other women to pursue daring feats.”
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Click here for the Fay Fuller Day (Aug. 10th) Proclamation.


– “First woman to summit Mount Rainier reached peak 128 years ago [Aug. 10]”
“Fay Fuller accomplished a historic feat 128 years ago [Aug. 10], becoming the first recorded woman to summit Mount Rainier.”

“You may have seen Fay Peak in Mount Rainier National Park, but did you know it was named for the first recorded woman to summit Washington’s tallest mountain? That woman – Fay Fuller – is celebrated Friday on the 128th anniversary of her historic summit.

“In a Victorian era where women were expected to be corseted and stay in the home, historians say Fuller defied expectations, inspiring other women to pursue daring feats,” by Allison Sundell, KING 5-TV News, Seattle.
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