Ramtha teaching at Spinello, Italy, August 2013
Photo Copyright © 2013, 2015 JZ Knight, used with permission.

Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment (RSE) has published their 2016 event schedule to-date which reflects that while Ramtha chaneller JZ Knight is semi-retired in her Emeritus status, she has a robust timetable engaged with sessions on 4 continents:
– Asia: Taiwan in March
– South America: Argentina in June
– Europe: Italy in August
– North America: Yelm sessions throughout the year.


Locally-based Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment (RSE) attracts more visitors annually to Yelm than any single cause or organization, contributing to the Yelm area economy in their support of local businesses. Additionally, since the school’s 1988 founding, for almost 28 years Yelm has derived more international notoriety from the enduring legacy of Knight and RSE than from any other source.

Click here to learn more about Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment (RSE).


– UPDATE: December 17, 2015
“RSE Announces 2016 World Tour”
“JZ Knight and Team Will Travel to Taiwan, Ecuador, Argentina and Italy”
Read more from the Nisqually Valley News.





Blogger Klein is a retired employee of RSE, celebrating his 30th year as a continual student of Ramtha on November 23, 2015.

Credit: Petfinder.com

– “November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month”
“Think of all the reasons why a senior pet is the perfect fit:
• He’s a lot calmer than a rambunctious puppy or kitten
• He may have had experience living with someone…and may adjust to children and other pets more readily.
• He’s likely housetrained, so you won’t be getting up in the middle of the night to take him out…or find puddles on your carpet when you get home.
• He probably knows basic obedience commands, so if you accidentally drop a glass, he’ll may know to “stay” and not cut himself.
• He’ll be less destructive. The days of chewing shoes and swallowing socks are far behind him.”
By Heather Loenser, DVM on WTVJ TV 6 (NBC) in Miami.
Read more


– “12 Reasons to Adopt the Least Adoptable Shelter Pet”
By Dr. Becker, Healthy Pets.
Click here for the story and video.

– Yelm Animal Alliance President Elizabeth Felix shared this with the Yelm Community Blog:
“Give an older dog a second chance and they will forever thank you. Raising a puppy if done correctly is a full time job that many do not have to time to do. With a senior dog they are more laid back and generally make great companions. if you are interested in fostering for Yelm Animal Alliance please contact me at efelix1130@yahoo.com.”

The Yelm Animal Alliance meets at the Rosemont Retirement Center in the private dining room on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month at 6:00 pm. Visitors are always welcome.
Click here for more information, to join and contribute to the Yelm Animal Alliance.


Blogger Klein is a founding member of the Yelm Animal Alliance and donor.

Credit: Nisqually Valley News

With the November 13, 2015 Nisqually Valley News edition of the Best of Nisqually survey results, I recommend these changes, which I shared with newspaper officials as voting was getting underway:

1. Best Elected Official could be changed to Best City Official
The NVN says on page 31 of the Best of Nisqually insert that Police Chief Todd Stancil will not be allowed to qualify for this category next year, since he is not an elected official. Why DID the newspaper qualify him for the category this year, when his is an appointed position? And if the newspaper’s error, why did they not admit such? hmmm.


2. A new category Best City Leader could be added
Unknown why the NVN kept Chief Stancil in the Elected Officials category when the submissions were tallied, even after I brought this to their attention as voting began, when they could have changed the title to Best City Official. However, to exclude him next year in either the Law Enforcement category or if not a re-titled Best City Official category, is unfair, yet he is really a city official. Interesting the NVN did not include votes for Chief Stancil to be under the Law Enforcement category this year. hmmm.


3. Best Doctor should be changed to Best Medical Professional
Kathy May is a well known and beloved professional in our community, yet is trained as a certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and not an M. D., therefore should not have been permitted in the Best Doctor category this year. She should be allowed to be recognized as the Best of Nisqually and a change to Best Medical Professional is the way to accomplish this.
or a new

These recent news stories are pertinent to Nisqually Valley residents:

1. “Report: Neglected Railways Increase Risk of Exploding Oil ‘Bomb Trains'”
“According to a new report out this week from Waterkeeper Alliance, ForestEthics and Riverkeeper, since 2008, oil train traffic has increased more than 5,000 percent along routes ‘leading from oil fields in central Canada, the Great Plains and the Rockies to refineries and crude oil hubs along our nation’s coasts.’ The environmental advocacy groups’ report describes the significant threat posed by explosive crude oil “bomb trains” traveling across aging and neglected US rail infrastructure.”

“More oil has spilled from tank car trains in 2013 than in the previous 40 years combined,” quoting Candice Bernd, Truthout.
Read more


2. “Survey shows JBLM is loved, but nearby residents want less noise, traffic”
“* Most Pierce and Thurston County residents worry that troop cuts would hurt economy
* Lawmakers preparing to buy private land that conflicts with military uses
* Residents want more communication about military operations”

What South Sound residents think about JBLM
▪ 77 percent of respondents say JBLM has a positive impact on the South Sound’s economy
▪ 63 percent said the base has an overall positive effect on the region’s quality of life
▪ 51 percent said the base has a negative impact on traffic congestion
▪ 62 percent believe civilian organizations should do more to help veterans find jobs
▪ 46 percent want to see more military appreciation events
▪ 73 percent worry that troop cuts would hurt the region’s economy
▪ 23 percent cited noise as the biggest drawback to living near JBLM
▪ 37 percent want the base to better publicize military operations
Source: South Sound Military and Communities Partnership survey of Pierce and Thurston County residents
By Adam Ashton, Tacoma News Tribune.
Read more


3. “Navy Expands Domestic War Games, Despite Public Concern Over Alleged Illegalities”
“In an act of ongoing domestic military expansion, the US Navy is disregarding federal and state laws that require it to adhere to consultations with state historic and archeological (sic) preservation groups during the run-up to its war games across western Washington State.”

“The Navy has established a pattern of bellicose actions, and the outcry against it is intensifying.”

“The Navy does not wish to be transparent on what it is doing in its training activities in our public waters.”
By Dahr Jamail, Truthout.
Read more

Photo credit: KING 5 TV News (NBC)

– “Space Needle flies the French flag”
“Seattle sent its thoughts and prayers to the people of Paris by hoisting a giant French flag from the Space Needle.

Space Needle spokesman Dave Mandapat said the attacks in Paris on Friday night were so tragic that flying the French flag was the least they could do to show their support. Officials had a special flag made on Saturday morning so it could be raised by the afternoon. It measured 25 feet by 35 feet,” quoting KING 5 News and Associated Press.
Read more


Editor’s Note:
This writer loves France and spends time there annually, especially the Languedoc region, having recently returned from Paris in September. Delta Airlines offers the only daily nonstop service from Seattle to France serving Charles de Gaulle Airport outside Paris in their joint-venture hub with Air France, a route I take often. Delta has continually operated their daily flight throughout this conflagration, providing an air bridge between the peoples of France and Puget Sound.

The National Weather Service alerts from their Seattle/Tacoma, WA office has pre-empted today’s originally planned Yelm Community Blog segment.

– “High Wind Watch for Southwest Interior, WA (includes, Yelm, Olympia and vicinity)”
“HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING..”
Click here

– “Flood watch for Thurston County, WA (includes, Yelm, Olympia and vicinity)”
“FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT…”
Read more

– “Special Weather Statement for Southwest Interior, WA (includes, Yelm, Olympia and vicinity)”
“HEAVY RAINFALL MONDAY AND TUESDAY WILL LEAD TO AN INCREASED THREAT OF LANDSLIDES IN WESTERN WASHINGTON…”
Read more

– Sea-Tac Int’l Airport receives major rainfall for first half of month
“The National Weather Service says Sea-Tac Airport received 6.57 inches of rain for the first 15 days of November. That’s the average for the entire month of November at Sea-Tac,” quoting KING 5 TV News (NBC).
Read more

– Yelm area Arts and Crafts Show rescheduled
The Yelm Business Association (YBA) in conjunction with Yelm’s Triad Arts Theater have announced the rescheduling of the community arts and crafts show. This open-to-the-public event will be held on Saturday, December 12th from 11am – 4pm in the landmark Masonic Lodge (Crowe Law Building) adjacent Gordon’s Garden Center and the Yelm Food Co-op. This is an opportunity to showcase the wide variety of artistic talent residing in the Yelm area.

Steve Craig, chair of YBA’s Beautification Committee said, “Though a fundraiser, the emphasis is on supporting and featuring local artists,” with a minimal arts and crafts participants’ entry fee of $25.

The Masonic Lodge (new Crowe Law Building)
Yelm Ave. E. at 3rd St.
Yelm, WA. 98597

For more information and participants registration, e-mail Steve Craig, YBA Beautification Committee Chair.

Yelm Blogger Steve Klein is a Yelm Business Assn. founding Board member.

​YARG display at the 2015 Yelm Emergency Preparedness Expo​.
Gary Hurnblad (KG7KVL, YARG Vice-President and first YARG member),
Kit Mattice, Herman Christian

– From the Yelm Amateur Radio Group (YARG) website:
“This is the new web site of the Yelm Amateur Radio Group, serving Yelm, Rainier, Tenino, and eastern Thurston county in the state of Washington, USA.”

“The Yelm Amateur Radio Group was proud to participate in the 2015 Yelm Emergency Preparedness Expo at the Yelm High School 26SEP15. We interfaced with many emergency agencies to emphasize emergency communications in our future goals.”
Read more


– Editor’s Note:
The Yelm Community Blog acknowledges the work of the Yelm Amateur Radio Group (YARG), as they will be one of our community’s assets for news, information and communication in an emergency. This group is now even more important in light of the Paris attacks yesterday, the recent Chile earthquake where a similar-type event prediction has been made for our area, and significant weather impacts, as with last summer’s record fire season.

Tina Maggio
Photo courtesy: Yelm Food Co-op, Used with permission.

– From the Yelm Cooperative:
“When you drive by the Yelm Food Co-op, probably the first thing that catches your eye is a sign – a beautifully lettered, colorful, hand-drawn creation advertising produce and wine. That sign and others like it, including the blackboard menu at Garden to Gourmet and posters for Standing Room Only productions at the Triad Theater, all come from one person: local artist Tina Maggio. Tina regularly volunteers her time and talent at the Co-op.”

“Tina also volunteers for the annual Gift of Gobble project, which provides over 100 Thanksgiving meals to families in need. ‘It’s my favorite thing to help with, because it’s the same people who started the project and they’re still there every year. We make it a fun day,’ she says. Fun, she adds, is critical for volunteers. ‘I have to be honest; If it weren’t for the people I enjoyed being with, I wouldn’t do it. We’re giving the time, so we might as well have a good time,’ quoting the Yelm Food Co-op.
Read more

Click here to nominate a family or make a financial contribution to the 6th annual Gift of Gobble.

Blogger Klein is a founding Yelm Food Co-op member and founding Gift of Gobble contributor.

Tad Stillwell

Tad Stillwell now leads Jennifer Littlefield for City of Yelm City Council, Position No. 4 by 9 votes: 460-451. All votes received to date have been counted. Next update form the Auditor will be Nov. 19th.
Read more from Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall’s office.