“Army reportedly blocking military access to Guardian coverage of NSA leaks”
By M. Alex Johnson, staff writer, NBC News:
“The Army is blocking all access to The Guardian newspaper’s reports about the National Security Agency’s sweeping collection of data about Americans’ email and phone communications, an Army spokesman said Thursday [June 27].”

“Late Thursday, an Army spokesman told The [Monterey, CA] Herald by email that the newspaper’s NSA reports were, in fact, being blocked across the entire Army. He wrote that it’s routine for the Defense Department to take “network hygiene” action to prevent disclosure of classified information, The Herald reported”.
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Yelm’s Farmers’ Market 2nd year, Sundays to end of October
next to Stewart’s Meats near McKenna

‘The goal of this day is to give the local leaders a snapshot of the tremendous asset our county has recently gained and see why its good for South Thurston County,’ said market manager Kayla Mahnke.

Mahnke said the day will also be a great opportunity to connect with other business leaders, food related organizations and the media in a beautiful and scenic setting,” quoting the Nisqually Valley News.
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WHAT:
Yelm’s Farmer’s Market

WHEN:
Every Sunday through the end of October, from 10am-2pm.

WHERE:
Nisqually Springs Farms (Schorno Agri-Business, 17835 State Route 507 SE), adjacent Stewarts Meats.

Suzie Kyle’s March, 2013 Greenhouse,
a vendor at the Yelm Farmer’s Market.

“New polling numbers suggest that United States citizens are on average more afraid of their own government then the threat of another terrorist attack.”

Just one day after the April 15 Boston Marathon bombing, pollsters with Fox News asked a sample of Americans, Would you be willing to give up some of your personal freedom in order to reduce the threat of terrorism? Forty-three percent of the respondents said they would, while 45 percent said no. Comparatively, 71 percent of Americans asked a similar question in October 2001 said theyd be willing to give up personal freedoms, while only 20 percent opposed at the time.

In the dozen years since 9/11, frequent polling conducted by Fox has suggests that the majority of Americans have all the while said theyd give up their freedoms for the sake of security. Only with the latest inquiry though are those answers reversed: the last time a majority of Americans opposed giving up privacy for security was May 2001,” quoting RT.
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JZ Knight, President, JZK, Inc.
Copyright 2013 JZ Knight.

From JZ Knight.com, used with permission:
“Judge Tabor heard motions for summary judgment by both parties today [Friday, June 28, 2013]. Both JZK, Inc. and Virginia Coverdale submitted pleadings arguing that the case could be settled as a matter of law rather than proceed to trial.

Judge Tabor agreed, noting that the relevant facts were not in dispute. In his ruling, Judge Tabor noted that the defendant had not sufficiently established the points of law in their favor, while also noting that JZK, Inc. had more than adequately done so. He found the Conditions of Participation to be reasonable. He stated that protecting ones proprietary information is an important concern that may be addressed in a contract and that RSEs contract was sufficient to prevent this type of disclosure.

Since it was undisputed that Coverdale had agreed not to disclose such information when she signed the contract, and then later did so, Judge Tabor granted JZK, Inc.s motion for summary judgment, ending the case. There will be no trial.

I am elated that the Court saw this was a simple case of a breach of contract, said JZ Knight, President of JZK, Inc.

Under the Conditions of Participation she signed, Coverdale promised to pay JZK, Inc. their attorneys fees and the court costs. And while she may appeal Judge Tabors decision within the next 30 days, there are a number of high hurdles she must face if she chooses to do so.”
Read more

UPDATE: July 2, 2013
“Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment Wins Ruling in Court Case”
“Judge finds RSE’s Conditions of Participation legally binding”
Read more from PR Newswire.

Wilcox Farm tractor & antique fire engine show
Date: Sunday, June 30, 2013
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Other dates and times
Venue: Wilcox Family Farms, Roy, WA
June 29-30, 2013
Pacific NW SPAAMFAA & Wilcox Farms presents a display & pump-in of antique fire engines, including a 1899 American Steam Fire Engine, which will be operating. There will also be a tractor display & pulling contest.

Address: 40400 Harts Lake Valley Rd. South,Roy,WA, 98580
Website: http://www.wilcoxfarms.com

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View from Fossil Rock looking east
By Jake Luplow

“Yelms Fossil RockBeyond Frozen Food”
“I have called Yelm home for the last two years. And for two years Ive been window shopping for food I know I cannot eat. Too often I find myself in Wal-Mart perusing the frozen food isle when I am boredand whats tragic is that I am allergic to wheat, soy, and dairy. There just isnt much else to do here.

It wasnt until recently that I learned of an awesome hike to Fossil Rock. Located in the outskirts of Yelm, just beyond the Clearwood Living Community, Fossil Rock makes for an enjoyable hike for all skill levels. Its adequate for the seasoned hiker and for the kids (though, you may have to carry them part of the way). Additionally, if you are into rock climbing, youll find many like yourself who climb the big Fossil Rock!” by Jake Luplow on ThurstonTalk.
Read more

Editor’s Note:
This writer recently had the pleasure to be invited on a hike to Fossil Rock with an experienced guide. Beginning August 1st, Weyerhaeuser requires a permit to hike to Fossil Rock, which is on public lands under their domain – go figure – this IS public land!
Permits sold on-line starting today.
Click here for permit info.

Tuesday night [June 25], the Yelm City Council approved a $299,778 contract for “pavement preservation projects” for Bald Hill, Cullens and Burnett roads.

The projects are:
1. Bald Hill Road from SR 507 (Yelm Ave. E) to the Thurston County line,
2. Cullens Road from SR 510 (Yelm Ave. W) to Coates Road (Inner Loop),
3. Burnett Road from SR 510 (Yelm Ave. W) to the SR 510 Alternate Loop (Yelm Bypass).

Bids for the project opened May 31 with the engineers estimate at $383,836. Lakeside Industries was the lowest of five bids.

As this writer has told the Yelm City Council previously, asphalting or chip sealing to “preserve” Bald Hill Road from SR 507 (Five Corners) to the Thurston County line, from where Thurston County has county standard lane widths and shoulders all the way out to Smith Prairie Road, is nothing more than a “band-aid” approach and NOT SAFE!
With tens of school buses coming each way daily from an excellent Thurston County Bald Hill Road section and entering the Yelm city limits on a below-par road with no shoulders, tight lane size and usual potholes, is dangerous, at best. And, this section of road is the lowest priority annually on the city’s Six-Year Transportation Plan (STIP).

Former Yelm Mayor Adam Rivas
Photo credit: Mills & Mills Funeral Home

From the Mills & Mills Funeral Home website:
“Adam Roy Rivas passed away the morning of June 19th with his family at his side.”

“Adam served as the Mayor of Yelm from 2001 to 2005, leading the community during one of its largest and most prosperous periods of growth. In that time he accomplished a multitude of projects for which the city is still benefiting. Adam was passionate about improving the city’s infrastructure and many key projects that we enjoy today were completed under this great man’s watch.”

“A memorial and celebration of his life will be held for Adam at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June the 29th at the Performing Arts Center in Yelm High School. A reception will be held immediately following in the adjacent commons.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation “In Memory of Adam Rivas” to the following either online or by mail at:
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
www.lls.org
PO Box 4072
Pittsfield, MA 01202

Or to:
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
www.fhcrc.org
PO Box 19024
Seattle, WA 98109

Or to:
Yelm Dollars for Scholars
360-458-6608
Read more

Editor’s Note:
I got to know Adam Rivas in my years leading up to running for Mayor of Yelm in 2005 while attending almost every City Council session. In 2005, there was a noticeable shift in the behavior of the Yelm City Council towards the public that occurred under Mayor Rivas’s watch, especially from then council members Mayor Pro-tem Ron Harding and Bob Isom. Rivas addressed the national media via the AP about the Council’s decision to forbid the public’s use of the words “Big-Box” and “Wal-Mart” in any public Council session, along with Council member Isom’s “moratorium on moratoriums” vote, which led to the ACLU and others calling this city’s behavior one of the most oppressive for small town governments at the time. This led to the city receiving the egregious 2006 Jefferson Muzzle Award.

Rivas called my wife and I into his mayor’s chambers late in the 2005 mayoral campaign, as he was not seeking re-election, rather Mayor Pro-tem Ron Harding would be running for mayor. Rivas indicated to us he was getting no support by what was then termed the “Yelm Cabal.” I will always honor and respect this man for giving us the “lay of the land” about the nuances of the Yelm political scene, counsel that is still pertinent to this day. He advised us on several issues regarding city hall and the personalities controlling and involved in the Yelm Cabal AND their agendas

After he left office and moved to Lacey (early 2006), my wife and I had the very good fortune to meet Adam again, as we were all traveling on the same plane to Newark in April, 2007. We had a long conversation on all that each of the three of us had learned about Yelm poli-tics. Rivas had clearly garnered much clarity about his time in office, describing his reflections to us of that experience, as we chatted in baggage claim, the last time we saw him.

However, when I met his son Dominic last year when he took the reigns as Yelm Cinema’s manager, I wrote Adam and Gail about what a fine young man they had raised, receiving a very poignant response from a man who had clearly gained alot of wisdom in his life, a man of character, IMHO!
I saved that letter, which I treasure to this day.

While I feel sadness today that Rivas succumbed at the young age 50, the legacy of Adam Rivas will continue in so many lives he touched here and his desire to make Yelm a better place for all.
Blessings to Adam on his next adventures and my heart goes out to his family…

Deputy Thurston County Auditor
& Yelm Mayor Ron Harding

The question being pondered by Yelm voters these days is this:

As his campaign signs now appear in Yelm more than a month and a half after Thurston County Auditor candidate Mary Hall positioned her signs here, IF Rep. Gary Alexander resigns his WA State Legislature position to fully commit to an election for Thurston County Auditor, will his Deputy County Auditor Ron Harding:
1. resign as Mayor of Yelm
OR
2. give-up his $70,000 a-year + benefits job as Thurston County Deputy Auditor?

If Harding keeps both jobs, his “double dipping” with two public salaries ($30,000 as Yelm’s Mayor and $70,000+ benefits as Deputy County Auditor) will be an issue for candidate Alexander to address!

And this Blog WILL raise this as an issue!

“Is Harding weighing down Alexander’s Auditor run?”
Read more from May 29, 2013.

Yelm Prairie days events:

– Thursday, June 27: Prairie Days Parade – 7pm. Sponsored by: Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce.

Click here for the story of Parade Grand Marshals Barrie & Susan Wilcox, by NVN Editor/Publisher Michael Wagar..

– Thursday – Saturday, June 27 – 29: Prairie Days at Yelm City Park. Sponsored by: Yelm Lions Club.