Yelm’s first Rotary Club established

“Local businessmen and women have added Yelm to the list of some 32,000 other Rotary Club locations in over 170 countries around the world.”

Yelm, WA July 7, 2009 – The first and oldest civic service organization, Rotary International, now has a club in Yelm. Established in the Fall of 2008 with the assistance of two sponsoring clubs, Lacey and Hawk’s Prairie, the club is now growing steadily.

Rotary began as a place for people of many different professions to meet, network and exchange ideas for community service projects. The Yelm club now has representatives from banking, insurance, real estate, building construction, pest control, graphics arts and financial services.

The club has chosen a goal of being a mentoring group, using the members’ vast experience in business and life, to help young people in the community as they find their way into the business and professional world. Following in the footsteps of Rotary International’s very successful Youth Exchange and Youth Leadership Awards Programs, the Yelm club will promote these as well as establish their own programs.
In addition, the club will be involved in other community service projects like the recent, very successful Community Food Raiser that raised tons of food for local foodbanks, assisting a local Scout with his Eagle Project and working with Overseas Coupon Project which provides coupons for our military families
stationed overseas.

Aside from the hundreds of thousands of community projects being done worldwide at any given time and the generous scholarships awarded to students and young adults around the world, Rotary International is perhaps best known for its decision in 1985 to work towards the eradication of polio worldwide. To
date, they have contributed over $750 million and countless volunteer hours to immunize over 2 billion children in 122 countries.

If you are interested in joining this world renowned organization and becoming a charter member, feel free to come by any of the weekly meetings. The Yelm Rotary Club meets Tuesdays from 7-8 a.m. at the Veteran’s Hall, Grove Street and 103rd Street. Breakfasts are available for a small contribution.
www.yelmrotary.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Contact:
info@yelmrotary.com
Christopher Haley – 360-790-4876
Or Tom Dewell – 360-894-8151

We will have an informational booth at McKenna Fest in August.

TELL YELM’S ROTARY CLUB YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

POSTED ON JULY 29TH ON JZ KNIGHT’S WEBSITE:

“Mayor Ron Harding stated in his July 17, 2009 monthly column in the Nisqually Valley News (NVN) that the City of Yelm is attempting to secure additional water rights though what he says is a difficult task, compounded by outside interests who would stymie our efforts and stop all progress.

Harding did not state what outside interests he was referring, yet the inference was clear. I took out a full-page paid-advertisement in the NVN July 8, 2009 to set the record straight about the Citys misleading comments and disparaging remarks about citizens who speak out against improper and unlawful conduct printed in copious amounts of space in the NVN May 22 and May 29. Interesting to note the citys and newspapers silence about my advertisement correcting their misinformation.

See that ad here.

What Mayor Harding needs reminding is that property owners inside city limits and owners peripheral to the city who are using the same aquifer as the city are all affected by the illegitimate use of local aquifer resources because the city has not been following procedures put in effect to preserve the use of those resources for private use, without impairment.

The City of Yelm has continued to maintain in their Draft Water System Plan, their MDNS & DNS that the huge increases in pumping water will have no environmental impact. The city has been relying on adding more water rights through the application to transfer the McMonigle water rights to the City of Yelm and has been using these requested but not approved additional water rights to justify they have enough water the last few years for increased city expansion. On July 20, 2009, Ecology REVERSES the decision of the Thurston County Conservancy Board and now says the City of Yelm is not approved to use the privately contracted water from the McMonigle water rights, leaving Yelm in a precarious position where their Draft Water System Plan may not be viable and the city could already be pumping more water than their allocated 796 acre feet per year.

The lack of regard for the environment by the City of Yelm has finally been noted in a landmark decision rendered by Ecology.”

Copyright 2009 JZ Knight. All Rights Reserved
used with permission.

MAJOR DEPT. OF ECOLOGY ACTION NOTED
And this in the July 17th Seattle Times:
Well drilling banned in western Kittitas County
“Washington state water regulators on Thursday banned all well drilling in western Kittitas County, effectively halting most new development in a favorite dry-side oasis for Seattleites.

The emergency ban announced by the state Department of Ecology is effective for 120 days, but the agency signaled it could extend the ban unless Kittitas County agrees to more limits on water usage.

Ecology Director Jay Manning acknowledged the potential economic impact, but said negotiations with Kittitas County commissioners had broken down.”

IS YELM NEXT FOR SHOWDOWN WITH ECOLOGY?
STAY TUNED!

Olympia Regional Airport

Excessive Heat Warning for Southwest Interior, WA
The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning though Friday

The Olympian reports,
“The high temperature topped the century mark this afternoon [Tuesday, July 28], according to the monitoring station at the Olympia Regional Airport, breaking the record set in 1998…

The National Weather Service in Seattle forecasts Wednesdays high temperature will reach 102 degrees, two degrees below the all-time record set on Aug. 9, 1981, and Thursday’s high will also threaten to reach triple digits. It hit 101 degreess at the Olympia Regional Airport shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday.”

KING-5 TV in Seattle reports,
“The National Weather Service reported the temperature at Portland International Airport reached a record 106 degrees, well past the previous airport record of 101 set in 1998, but still short of the 107 all-time mark for the Portland area set in 1981.

At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, it was a tie with 1998 when the temperature climbed to 97 degrees on Tuesday.

Wednesday “looks brutal,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Jay Albrecht.

“We’re looking at a heat wave of potentially historic proportions,” KING 5 Meteorologist Jeff Renner said.

Sea-Tac Airport could reach 101 degrees Wednesday, which would break the all-time record set July 16, 1941, in downtown Seattle and tied July 20, 1994, at the airport. The average high for Seattle in late July is 76 or 77.”

UPDATE: 2:53pm July 29th
SEATTLE BREAKS ALL-TIME HEAT RECORD
“Residents of Seattle entered uncharted territory Wednesday when the official temperature reached 101 degrees.

The weather station at Sea-Tac Airport, where the official record comes from, hit the mark at 2:53 p.m….

The previous record was set July 16, 1941 in downtown Seattle and July 20, 1994 at the airport. The average high for Seattle in late July is 76 or 77,” quoting KING-5 TV.

We tied the ALL-TIME record high temperature today officially at Olympia Regional Airport of 104 degrees.

ALL WEYERHAEUSER LANDS CLOSED
From the Pierce County Business Examiner.

“Residents often ask about what to do with unwanted medications – both Rx and over-the-counter drugs…

Protect your family.
Returning unwanted medications makes your home safer. Return unwanted medicines for free and safe disposal – learn how!…

The … flyer has a wealth of information addressing the problems associated with flushing medications down the drain or placing in the trash.

In Thurston County, we currently have one free drop off location:

Group Health Cooperative
Olympia Medical Center Pharmacy
(box is located right across from where you take a number for the pharmacy line)
http://www.ghc.org/locations/index.jhtml
700 Lilly Road NE
Olympia, WA 98506
360-923-7600

Terri Thomas
Education and Outreach Specialist
Thurston County Solid Waste

Visit our FREE materials exchange at
www.2good2toss.com“

Yelm Public Safety Building & City Council Chambers

MAYOR HARDING’S & THE YELM CITY COUNCIL’S LACK OF ACTION ON CUTTING CITY EXPENSES TO BE IN-LINE WITH LOWER REVENUES REQUIRES LAYOFFS!

This is an “I TOLD YOU SO” ENTRY!

From this week’s NVN,
“Responding to a tight economy, the City of Yelm is eliminating half a dozen positions, a move expected to save more than $820,000.

A six-month review of the citys financial status showed revenue projections are on target. However, when preparing the budget, the city estimated low, hoping revenue would actually be higher than projected, said Mayor Ron Harding.

The city was also drawing from its financial reserves to maintain its current level of service.

Reserves have decreased by $250,283 this year.

As of June 30, the citys operating cash and investments fund has about $900,000.

‘We cant continue to budget that way,’ Harding said. ‘Weve got to cut expenses…’

The city anticipated some staff cuts, but thought it wouldnt be until the end of 2009, Harding said.”

THIS WRITER WARNED MAYOR HARDING & THE CITY COUNCIL ON-THE-RECORD NOVEMBER 25, 2008 THAT THEIR REVENUE PROJECTION FORECASTS WERE NOT STEEP ENOUGH – TO TAKE A LOOK AT THURSTON COUNTY’S SEVERE BUDGET DEFICIT AND START TO CUT EXPENSES THEN.

OF COURSE, MY EFFORTS FELL ON DEAF EARS AT CITY HALL, AS PER USUAL AND NOW THEY ARE FORCED INTO A MAJOR LAYOFF MODE, CUTTING 2 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT POSITIONS, THE COMMUNITY & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COORDINATOR (WHOM I EXPECT TO SEE BACK AT THE NVN AS A REPORTER, FROM WHERE SHE CAME), TWO POSITIONS IN PUBLIC WORKS, ONE POLICE OFFICER AND ANOTHER VACANT POLICE OFFICER POSITION THAT WILL NOT BE FILLED.

Quoting the Yelm Community Blog entry of December 6, 2008:
“6. The City of Yelm 2009-2010 budget hearing is still open until Dec. 9th for public input. I told the Council on Nov. 25th that a revenue reduction of the General Fund of 15% is not enough with a contracting economy that has a long way to go before hitting bottom with home prices, home sales, sales tax revenue, building permit starts, home assessments and property taxes all falling through the floor. They should be looking at a 25% reduction or more to protect their ability to provide services in the future to Yelm residents.

These are serious matters that require the Mayor and City Council to be up-front with the taxpayers of Yelm and vicinity as we all navigate increasingly stormy waters.”

Quoting the Yelm Community Blog entry of March 3, 2009:
“As reported here on February 10th, Mayor Ron Harding told the Yelm Chamber Forum in his State of the City Address,
‘If the economy continues a decline, we’ll have to assess service cuts by year’s end.
Revenues were up only 3% in 2008; we expected higher.
We did fall quite a bit short with revenue last year
We are expecting a continuing economic decline.'”

WHY DID THE MAYOR NOT THEN RECOMMEND ADJUSTMENTS TO THE LOWER REVENUE PROJECTIONS?

From the Yelm Community Blog entry of April 27, 2009:
“Now, with the $400,000 authorized by the State Legislature for new Longmire Park toilets added to the $408,800 previously appropriated by the city, do you think this is a good time to be spending almost $1,000,000 in taxpayer money for water and toilets at a ballpark that might get used 3 months out of a year?

While I applaud the efforts of Rep. Campbell and our State Legislature, is this REALLY a wise appropriation when we’re laying off state workers and cutting essential medical and elderly care programs, as an example? …

While maybe not occurring in Yelm as of yet, how would you like to be employed by the city and told that your job is to be cut, yet we’re going to spend a million bucks to have flush toilets at the Ball Park? That is where this is heading, and sooner rather than later!”

ALL OF THIS WAS EXPECTED AND ON-THE-RECORD 9 MONTHS AGO, WHILE THE CITY DID NOTHING UNTIL A CASH CRISIS WAS ALMOST AT-HAND!

Look for more taxes & less services, with two less police officers, less staff at Public Works & the Community Relations job cut (after just completing a new office for her).
As Mayor Harding told the NVN,
“The city is also looking at increasing its B&O tax on utilities, which affects the tax of cable television, electricity, gas and telephone.

Currently residents are taxed 4 percent, but could be taxed up to 6 percent.”

With several noted economists warning of a further downturn this Fall, the City of Yelm is not in good shape to weather much more revenue drops without cutting back on city services. Look for more cuts by Christmas!

Olympia Regional Airport

The National Weather Service has issued a special weather bulletin for Western Washington for an “Extreme Heat Watch” all this week.

The nearest official National Weather Service reporting station is Olympia’s Regional Airport, 16 miles from Yelm.

From The Olympian,
“An excessive heat watch is in effect from Monday afternoon through Thursday afternoon.

Forecasters say high temperatures will be in the 90s across Western Washington this week, with warm nighttime temperatures in the mid-50s to lower 60s.

They say the prolonged period of hot temperatures could lead to poor air quality and possible heat-related illnesses.”

From The Weather Channel:

Excessive Heat Watch for Southwest Interior, WA
from 12 pm PDT, Mon., Jul. 27, 2009 until 6 pm PDT, Thu., Jul. 30, 2009

Prepare for Extreme Heat
Issued by The National Weather Service
Seattle/Tacoma, WA
3:37 am PDT, Sun., Jul. 26, 2009

… EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

KING-5 TV in Seattle reports the following 90 degree streak records:
5 days of 90’s August 7-11, 1981
4 days of 90’s July 16-19, 1979
3 days of 90’s 1965, 1971, 1977

UPDATE: From the July 27th Olympian

Look for more Blog entries on July 26th as the Blog Host takes a pause!

Wednesday, July 22nd Speakers addressing the students at Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment are:

– Ben Hammott – Rennes-le-Chateau Author and Researcher
CLICK HERE to read more from Mr. Hammott’s website.
&
CLICK HERE for information about Mr. Hammott’s book Lost Tomb of the Knights Templar.

– Bruce Burgess – Director of the movie Bloodline
CLICK HERE for the movie’s website.
Bloodline The Movie is the controversial documentary that rocked the 2008 Cannes Film Festival and came to Yelm Cinemas in July, 2008 at the request of JZ Knight.

“I know you are a dog lover!
Every year the Tacoma Humane Society has an annual sponsored walk – it is their biggest fund raiser, and I try to walk each year. Actually this year in the poster that is plastered everywhere, is a picture of Wesley and I from last year.
If you are interested in walking and want to join me – let me know!
If you want to sponsor or make a donation, to support the humane society,
I am collecting donations.

You can either stop by my office at Yelm Travel,
or mail in a donation made payable to
The Humane Society
to me at
PO Box 730
Yelm WA 98597

Thanks for taking the time to read this.”

Elizabeth Felix
Owner, Yelm Travel

TELL ELIZABETH YOU READ ABOUT HER & WESLEY ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

From the Pollution in People website:

The Pollution in People study is a project of the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition, a diverse state-wide coalition of more than 50 organizations.

Lead author of the Pollution in People report was Erika Schreder, Staff Scientist, Washington Toxics Coalition.
The study report and web site was approved by representatives of the steering committee organizations of the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition:
Breast Cancer Fund, Healthy Building Network, People For Puget Sound, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, Washington State Nurses Association, Washington Toxics Coalition, and WashPIRG.

Results:
In 2005, ten Washington residents agreed to testing of their hair, blood, and urine for the presence of toxic chemicals as part of an investigative study by the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition. The Coalition wanted to know which chemicals were getting into our bodies, and at what levels, to better understand the potential harm posed by poor regulation of chemicals, and to develop better solutions.

We tested ten Washington residents for six groups of chemicals:

* the plasticizing chemicals known as phthalates,
* the flame retardants PBDEs,
* the heavy metals: lead, arsenic, and mercury,
* perfluorinated chemicals like those used to make Teflon,
* pesticides, and
* banned, but persistent, PCBs and DDT.

Our study revealed that toxic chemicals have traveled to the worst possible destination:
our bodies.
New chemicals policies are needed today, to keep chemicals that can harm our health out of industries and out of everyday products.