A caisson entering Arlington National Cemetery across the Potomac River from Washington, DC
Photo from Arlington National Cemetery website,
Courtesy of Andrew V. McMaster, May 2006

Dear Readers;

This weekend is our Memorial Day holiday when America pauses to honor those that have given their lives in service to their country. The Yelm Community Blog host & Kleiners Korner editor/publisher appreciates and honors all of those who have served to defend, protect, and preserve our country from outside invaders. Memorial Day was first called Decoration Day to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it expanded to include those who died in any war or military action, quoting Wikipedia.

On this Memorial Day, this writers thoughts and prayers are with the families that have had to endure monumental suffering at the hands of American Presidents & Congress by losing sons and daughters in deceptive wars that had little or nothing to do with defending this country and where THEY get swept aside in the fog of war.” These are families like Pat Tillmans mother, who explained her story for CBS News 60 Minutes May 4, 2008. Mr. Tillman was an NFL football great who was inspired to enlist to serve his country after 9/11 and was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan, with the Pentagon covering-up the truth and using Tillmans name to fabricate more deceptions.

Locally, I would like to acknowledge the work and commitment of people like Tad Stillwell. Tad owns Yelm’s Farmers Insurance Agency and has returned to Yelm-life after serving our country in Iraq for almost a year. I am so glad to see Tad “back-in-the-saddle” in his office!

The Nisqually Valley has endured quite a sacrifice with fallen soldiers that include:

Photo of Rainier’s fallen son, Justin Norton

This writer wishes to remind the Community of the
Justin Norton Scholarship Fund
honoring Rainier, Washington’s fallen soldier in Iraq.
About Sgt. Norton

Donations can be mailed to:
Justin Norton Scholarship Fund
c/o Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 444
Yelm, Wa 98597

And this recent, distressing story from The Olympian:
“Top enlisted soldier’s cause of death a mystery”
“Searchers discovered the body of Sgt. Maj. Michael S. Kurtz, 52, of Yelm, near the edge of the Deschutes River on Friday night [May 14], more than a day after his wife reported him missing.

Investigators for the Thurston County Sheriffs Office, which led the search-and-rescue operation, said foul play is not suspected.”

And, “VJ Day, Honolulu Hawaii, August 14, 1945”
Amazing video footage:
CLICK HERE

See this fabulous slide show “Women in Uniform” from 1778 – today.
From TODAY on NBC.

Michael Knight has been a journalist/documentary maker and Editor since 1960. He moved from New Zealand to Yelm in 1990 and recently directed the documentary “Contact Has Begun”. Now he is Publisher and Editor of “New Earth News.”

Knight told the Yelm Community Blog that New Earth News and its regular feature “2020 Vision”, while looking in depth at current earth changes, “has a primary focus on creating something far better, beyond today’s chaos.”

“‘2020 Vision’ means that we see very clearly what’s currently going on – but we also have a vision of the future; by the year 2020, if not before we live in a world in which we finally respect each other, teach our incoming children the great knowledge of why they are here, and are actually an evolving species worthy of Contact with more advanced civilizations.”

“It’s a vision we have to start creating today if we want to live it tomorrow,” Knight said.

CLICK HERE to subscribe.

2012: Time for Change presents an optimistic alternative to apocalyptic doom and gloom.
Directed by Emmy Award nominee Joo Amorim, the film follows journalist Daniel Pinchbeck, author of the bestselling 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl, on a quest for a new paradigm that integrates the archaic wisdom of tribal cultures with the scientific method. As conscious agents of evolution, we can redesign post-industrial society on ecological principles to make a world that works for all. Rather than breakdown and barbarism, 2012 heralds the birth of a regenerative planetary culture where collaboration replaces competition, where exploration of psyche and spirit becomes the new cutting edge, replacing the sterile materialism that has pushed our world to the brink.

2012: Time for Change
“From Conscious Evolution to Practical Solutions”
CLICK HERE for the film’s website.

Yelm-based Intention Media’s Betsy Chasse tells the Yelm Community Blog her firm will be releasing this film in Seattle June 4-10 at Seattle’s Landmark Varsity Theater.

“Betsy Chasse is listed in Variety’s top 50 Independent Producers of 2004 & has helped produce over 30 feature films, and runs her own production and distribution company, Intention Media, which is currently releasing 4 films either in theaters or on dvd.

Chasse was the co-creator and is credited with co-writing, co-directing and producing, What The Bleep Do We Know?! “BLEEP” is the 4th highest grossing documentary in U.S history and still enjoys a strong presence on DVD,” quoting Intention Media’s site.

Rainier’s CSE Auction June, 2009,
Steve Klein, State Legislature Candidate Rep. Tom Campbell and his wife Lynn
Photo courtesy of the Children’s School of Excellence (CSE)

Dear Yelm Community Blog readers,

I received the letter below from 2nd Legislative District Rep. Tom Campbell in response to a published article by Pierce County Dispatch reporter Bruce Smith. I was dismayed at some of the things that have been said about Rep. Campbell, whom I have found to be a committed listener on any topic, even on those we may disagree. What can be said about Tom Campbell is that his allegiance has always been first to his constituents, ALL constituents & not to area elected officials & corporate maneuverings.

Tom has been an independent voice in representing this district, and says what he believes and feels is right. I consider this man a state legislator of integrity, one who will make the tough call to vote against his party on issues in the best interest of the public he was elected to serve.
As Smith points out, there “is the unprecedented number of endorsements that Wilcox (Campbell’s opponent) has received from Republican Party leaders and office holders.” …
“It’s poor etiquette,” said Matt Hamilton. “Usually, endorsements are given after the primary.”

What is interesting is that the Republican leadership seems to be dumping their incumbent candidate.
WHY?
Tom votes for the people, not the party.
Is the Republican Party dumping their incumbent before the Primary because Campbell doesn’t vote party line, rather what is best for his district’s hard working families & individuals?
As one writer to the Dispatch wrote, “To criticize him for standing up for all of us on issues he believes to be just is a cowardly way to win votes. Hopefully the people will realize that choosing a candidate who simply conforms to party lines is not a decision that would benefit us all the most.”

While the Wilcox family & their work here throughout several generations are recognized for excellence, voters would be wise to observe the names, city officials and corporate entities already lining-up behind Campbell’s opponent Wilcox, indicative of some very cozy relationship building already underway, that may not be in the public’s best interest.
As Tom said, “This is a nasty campaign… already.”

Here is Representative Campbell’s letter, in his own words:

Please look at the linked article in the Dispatch and the comments attached to it. I am particularly displeased with the comment by Phil Dyer who said I broke my word on healthcare, which is a lie. I have fought hard to increase access and control costs in every way possible, no change in that ever. I also made law strong provisions to punish and remove incompetent and dangerous health care practitioners. I created a Hospital Acquired Infection Reporting System with the CDC that tracks and publicly reports infection in our States hospitals. It should be noted that Mr. Dyer supported LeMay in his dump efforts when I passed the Bill banning dumps over aquifers like ours in 1999!

I voted against the 960 bust and did not support any new taxes that passed this year. The referenced Furlough Bill SB 6503 was not supported by any Republican I know in the HOUSE, it was a bad bill! I suggested that if we want to cut government payroll that we the elected should lead by example. I proposed that all of us, from the Governor, legislature, judges and ALL states employees, including the Washington Management Service take a 3% pay cut. The bill only affects about 24% of the State Employees, mainly the line workers not the managers and directors. It hit that 24% at 5-15% of their pay. It was unfair and just a simple political ploy. I am more than willing to share the pain, EQUALLY.

I have been very effective in protecting my district and returning tax dollars to my district not shipping them to Seattle. I lead the way in last years transportation budget securing 1.4Billion dollars in transportation projects in Pierce County. I obtained 10.5 M dollars to begin the Bethel Skills Center, giving kids a trade and a reason to not drop out and secure family wage jobs. I passed laws to reduce the massive numbers of meth labs in our community, a full 80% drop in labs in the year following the passage of the first bill in 2005 and now its follow on in 2010, the electronic pseudo ephedrine tracking bill. I have successfully helped pass the Toxic Toys bill eliminating toys made with dangerous chemicals and heavy metals, mostly from China. I have supported and secured funds to build the Bridge for Kids in Orting. Someday that Lahar will come, I am determined to prepare so people will not die from our inaction. I assisted the town of Orting in building their new Public Safety building for their Police and Fire Officers. I have supported funds for Eatonvilles water system and road projects. I have worked to build the Yelm Loop Project, now it has begun in the southern portion. I will stick with it until it is complete. I have supported the restoration of the Historical School Building in Rainier, providing a community center for the town with a new HVAC system, roof and other improvements. I have supported the Soldiers Home for our Veterans in every year that I have been in office, most recently the project to restore the Garfield Barracks. I have been mentioned many times in the Tacoma News Tribune as one of Pierce Counties most effective legislators. I never shy away from a fight when I believe it is necessary to protect and advance the interests of my neighbors. I am definitely not a go along Get along type. I am forthright, direct and honest to a flaw. Most politicians hate that and as you see will stab me in the back at any turn. I am proud of my work for the people who have trusted me in each election and I have never let them down.

This is a nasty campaign that is already falsely maligning me. I need my friends to speak out on my behalf.

We will be having a debate on Wed. June 2nd, 7PM at the Dryer Friendship hall in Parkland. Please come if you can.

Thank you for your consideration,

Rep. Tom Campbell

http://www.facebook.com/l/4d910;www.dispatchnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&ArticleID=2663&TM=53795.27

Meet the gang at Cozy Valley Farms, Tenino

“Cozy Valley Farm is located on 76 acres in the hills of Tenino, WA. We are a licensed Grade A Raw Milk Dairy. At our micro dairy, we milk several different breeds of milk cows that we find are more suitable to thriving on grass pastures. Jersey’s, Milking Shorthorns, Ayrshire’s & Brown Swiss cows graze lush pastures all year long .

Whole Raw Milk that is not homogenized or pasteurized has many heath benefits that are now being recognized. Cream waits to be skimmed from the top, children love this milk, and grandparents remember the fresh tasting milk from their childhood. Our cows are fed mainly pasture & grass hay grown on our own fields. We follow all natural practices with our animals and do not feed antibiotics or hormones…

Milk is available at the farm in Tenino, and Olympia Food Co-ops, Yelm Food Co-op, Mega Foods and Smart Nutrition in Tumwater, and Dave’s Thriftway in Tenino. Shop N Kart, Fullers, Good Health in Chehalis. And IGA in Rochester…

Our Milk makes wonderful cheese. Currently, we are making cheddar’s, parmesan, yoghurt cheese and ricotta.

Cozy Valley Farms is a family-owned small farming enterprise located in Tenino, Washington. The farm produces a variety of agricultural products including, grade A raw cows milk, USDA grass fed meats (angus steer, katahdin lamb). The family is dedicated to the humane treatment of animals and strive to be responsible stewards of the land.

Frankly, we love animals. We love our land. Our food comes from happy animals, and we think that this makes the difference. We care.

Cozy Valley Farms
7018 Churchill Rd
Tenino, WA 98589
360-481-4010

Schedule and Location:
At the farm, self serve, reasonable hours of the day

This writer & his wife recently visited Cozy Valley farms & had a tour with owner Laurie Barta.
We found a truly unique local business that serves quality dairy products.
The milk & cheeses are absolutely superb.
Take a weekend outing and visit Laurie and the gang at Cozy valley!
Be sure to get your fresh, raw milk at the Yelm Food Co-op.

TELL COZY VALLEY FARMS YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON TH YELM, COMMUNITY BLOG!

Dear Friends,

This season, I invite you to an exclusive trunk show featuring Fall Collections from…

Lourdes Chavez, Trixi Schober, Raffinalla and Kevan Hall

Thursday, May 27th 10 – 6

Friday, May 28th 10 – 6

Saturday, May 29th 10 – 4

This Trunk Show is a special event to show off styles from the upcoming Fall season, featuring new arrivals in coats, suits, sweaters, dresses, cashmere, scarves and more.

Giorda E offers a private setting for you to consult with Giorda and the designers, view their entire lines, and order clothes made to your measurements that you know will fit. This is an opportunity to lookout for that next special item to add to your wardrobe.

View Trunk Show details: CLICK HERE

All of the collections in my boutique are truly gorgeous and I look forward to sharing them with you ~

Giorda E.
………………………………………

GIORDA E.
Designer & Owner
301 Yelm Avenue East I Yelm Washington 98597
TEL: 360.400.1125 I E: giorda@giordae.com
WEBSITE: http://www.giordae.com

SEATTLE’S NBC AFFILIATE KING-5 TV REPORTS:
Olympia 4-year-old Mensa member loves math, chess

“Most four year olds like watching cartoons.

Not Livvy Coverdale. She’d rather watch Jeopardy, and play along at home.

Last year, she was admitted into Mensa, the “High I.Q. Society”, after testing in the top two percent in an I.Q. test. She was three at the time.

At four, she’s the youngest kindergarten student at Rainier’s Children’s School of Excellence.

Livvy, short for Olivia, likes the typical kid things, coloring and playing outside. But she likes so much more, including math and playing chess.

‘It’s the only game I seem to play,’ said Livvy.

Livvy’s mom got her into Mensa partly to give the family access to the organization’s support groups for kids and parents.

‘It sounds like a cup of tea, and it’s not,’ said Virginia Coverdale.

Virginia said she has enjoyed meeting with parents who can relate to raising children like Livvy.

‘They don’t sleep. They’re always wired,” said Coverdale, ‘You’re always trying to keep them calm and let them just be kids. These parents really understood.'”

CLICK HERE for information about Rainier’s Children’s School of Excellence.

Livvy’s CSE teacher in the clip is Audrey Arpin.

CLICK HERE for information about Mensa.

“Thurston unemployment rate falls to 7.5%”
“Thurston County job creation helped to lower the county’s unemployment rate to 7.5 percent in April from 8.7 percent in March, yet another sign that the South Sound economy continues to improve, according to unemployment data released today by the state Employment Security Department,” quoting The Olympian.

Department of Ecology will hold a Reclaimed Water Workshop in Lacey tomorrow:

May 26, 2010 1:00 p.m.
Department of Ecology
300 Desmond Drive – Lacey
Room ROA-34

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) proposes to adopt rules for reclaimed water use by December 2010.

The goal is to develop a Reclaimed Water Program encouraging the use of reclaimed water; assure the
health and safety of Washington citizens; protect the environment; and allow us to use our precious water resources wisely.
The Department of Health will participate with Ecology at the workshops.

For additional information, contact Ecologys Tim Gaffney at tim.gaffney@ecy.wa.gov.

At the May 11th Yelm City Council meeting, Mayor Pro-tem Isom reported he attended a presentation of the LOTT Alliance and he stated:
“The Department of Ecology is messing with the regulations for reclaimed water & there are some great concerns about what the outcome is going to be.”

The Department of Ecology released the Draft of Reclaimed Water Rules on May 12, 2010.
CLICK HERE to access.

The Nisqually Valley News has a front-page story this week titled
“DOE responds to inquiries into 47 well hook-ups”
which has a major error.
DOH is the respondent to the 47 additional hook-ups, not DOE.

Yelm’s Achilles Heel seems to be the roles of Health vs. Ecology regarding Yelm’s water issues that this error would have happened.

Since my letter to Bonnie Waybright of the office of drinking water was quoted in their story, they could see that Ms. Waybright’s office was with the Dept. of Heath (DOH), NOT DOE (Ecology).
And, the 47 additional hook-ups are for connections to the city’s water system approved by DOH, not “well hook-ups”.

To date, neither Health or Ecology have approved the City of Yelm’s draft Water System Plan AND Yelm has been operating without an approved Water System Plan since Sept, 2008.

The timeline for all of this correspondence was covered on the Yelm Community Blog on May 8th:
CLICK HERE for that story.
DOH contacts were also linked here on May 8th.

The NVN referenced Pam Paiz’s letter to DOH, which was published here on May 10th. DOH limiting connections to the city’s water system was enacted exactly because, as the NVN story quoted Ms. Waybright saying to Ms. Paiz,
“our concern is to protect the health of the residents of Yelm and other communities by ensuring they have safe & reliable drinking water.”

Regarding this comment in the NVN story:
“He [Klein] also criticized recent comments made by city officials to the Nisqually Valley News and another regional daily newspaper.

The officials failed to mention the city over-pumped its alloted water in previous years, he said.”

Ed. NOTE: DOE allocates Yelm’s annual allocation of water to be pumped.

YES, I HAVE CRITICIZED CITY OFFICIALS’ ACTIONS & COMMENTS!
However, to put my comments these last 6 years in context,
I quote NBC’s Lisa Myer’s report of May 21st titled:
“Deepwater Horizon rig: What went wrong?
Independent investigator says accident was preventable; safety compromised”

where she interviewed independent researcher Dr. Robert Bea investigating the Deepwater Horizon oil rig accident who said,
“…all the companies involved in the Deepwater Horizon accident probably bear some responsibility, but that most of the blame rests with BP and the federal government, because they failed to properly oversee the project.

‘These are not bad people,’ Bea says emphatically. ‘We’re just doing dumb things.’

Lisa Myers: ‘This report is damning.”

I SAY THE EXACT SAME THING ABOUT ACTIONS & COMMENTS FROM YELM’S CITY HALL ON THE WATER ISSUES HERE:
‘These are not bad people,’
‘We’re just doing dumb things.’

However, DOE & DOH are finally providing oversight to Yelm’s water maximum annual allocation & connections respectively, in that a set number for each (pumped acre feet/year & maximum allowable connections to the city’s water system) has been established that the city must adhere.
THAT is a story for the NVN’s front-page in and of itself.

In other Yelm water news, the City Council will approve a $101,605 measure for design & engineering services for the downtown well rehabilitation project Tuesday evening.

UPDATE: Monday, May 24th, 6pm
To the NVN’s credit, they corrected their website edition –

DOH responds to inquiries into 47 water hookups

By Megan Hansen
Nisqually Valley News
Published: Monday, May 24, 2010 2:02 PM PDT
Department of Health received several letters after granting the City of Yelm 47 additional connections to its water system.

Uncouth?
Who is uncouth?
As one astute Blog reader pointed out, for a newspaper that touts their quality to make such an error on their front-page was glaring.
Yet, to not quote the source of their story shows lack of professional journalistic standards. The NVN knows where they got this story & from where they quoted the material, whether or not they asked DOH for the letters they read on the Yelm Community Blog on May 10th.