Democratic candidates Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton
Milwaukee, WI., Feb. 11, 2016
Photo credit: Democratic National Committee/PBS Debate

– Saturday, March 26 Democratic Caucuses to be held
From the the Thurston Democrats:
“Washington state’s Democratic voters cast their candidate preference at Precinct Caucuses to be held at various locations throughout Thurston County.
All Democratic Caucuses will be held at 10am on March 26th.

PLEASE LOCATE YOUR PRECINCT NUMBER, REGISTER & COMPLETE THE FORM, BRING THAT WITH YOU!
Click here to register.

Registered voters choosing their Democrat Party candidate are urged to participate in the American process of electing a President, PLEASE VOTE – this is our right!”


Yelm Democratic Precincts Caucus
Area Caucus Coordinator, Steve Klein
Saturday, March 26, 2016
10am-1:30pm
Yelm Middle School
402 Yelm Ave. W.
Yelm, WA. 98597
Caucus here for precinct numbers in Yelm and vicinity that include the Yelm city limits, Four Corners, Bald Hills, Lackamas, Clearwood, Lake Lawrence, and SW Pierce County (McKenna & rural Roy):
028,030,031,032,046,060,074,124,125,126,130,179,193,701,702,703,704.
You must arrive by 10:30am to be able to select delegates. If your precinct has adjourned prior to your arrival, your vote will not be included.


Rainier Democratic Precincts Caucus
Area Caucus Coordinator, John Marley
Saturday, March 26, 2016
10am-1:30pm
Rainier High School
308 2nd St W
Rainier WA 98576
Caucus here for precinct numbers in Rainier and vicinity: 081,127,128,601,602.
You must arrive by 10:30am to be able to select delegates. If your precinct has adjourned prior to your arrival, your vote will not be included.

Click here to look-up your Precinct and Caucus site.


Read more from the Washington State Democrats.

Courtesy: Nisqually Valley News, used with permission.

Juan Martinez, Jr., sister Marcela, Juan Martinez, Sr., wife Eva.
Photo credit: Steve Bloom, The Olympian

– “Don Juan’s Mexican Kitchen is coming to west Olympia”
“Don Juan’s is expanding to west Olympia, with plans to open a second location off Harrison Avenue in a building shared by Blue Heron Bakery.

The second Don Juan’s is expected to open at the end of May or early June, said Juan Martinez Sr., who runs the business with his son, Juan Martinez Jr., daughter Marcela, and his wife, Eva.

Don Juan’s has built a reputation on authentic Mexican food, using fresh ingredients cooked in light oils — olive or peanut oil — and that emphasizes preparation, avoiding frozen foods and the microwave, Juan Martinez Sr. said,” quoiting Rolf Boone, The Olympian.
Read more


Don Juan’s Mexican Kitchen
639 Lincoln Ave. E.
Tenino, WA. 98789
Phone (360) 264-8226
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Lunch is from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; dinner is served 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Online: www.donjuanskitchen.com


TELL DON JUAN’S YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

“Within a decade, half the world’s population will be living in areas of water scarcity,
two-thirds in water-stressed conditions.” © Reuters

– “Soon, Water May Not Be As Easy To Come By In The US”
“The United Nations designates March 22 “World Water Day” and delivers startling news in advance: Within the decade, half the world’s population will be living in areas of water scarcity and two-thirds will be living in water-stressed conditions. Similarly, University of Twente researchers estimate 66 percent of the global population (or 4 billion people) already live under conditions of severe water scarcity at least one month of the year.

Think the United States is immune to the problem? Think again. According to the Dutch researchers, 130 million people in the U.S., mostly those in western states such as California and southern states such as Texas and Florida, face severe water scarcity at least part of the year. Meanwhile, the World Resources Institute suggests in little more than two decades the likelihood that the United States will face water stress is “high.”

‘Water stress’ simply means either the demand for water exceeds its availability or poor quality restricts its use. (Think Flint, Michigan, where H2O is on hand, but isn’t clean enough to drink.) When stress occurs, according to the European Environmental Agency, the deterioration of freshwater resources soon follows and this can lead to illness,” by Susan Scutti, Medical Daily.
Read more

“Love thy Nature” – The movie

Love Thy Nature is an acclaimed 2014 documentary film directed by Sylvie Rokab and narrated by Liam Neeson which has been screened in many film festivals, earned 17 awards, and is now in limited theatrical release in the United States.

“Narrated by Liam Neeson, Love Thy Nature is a cinematic immersion into the beauty and intimacy of our relationship with the natural world. And while our environmental crisis threatens the survival of our species, a renewed connection with nature holds the key to a highly advanced new era, quoting Yelm Cinemas.

CAST: Liam Neeson, Elijah Ahmadi, Zach Allen
DIRECTOR: Sylvie Rokab
WHEN: Saturday, April 16, 2016, Special screening: 6:15pm only
WHERE: Yelm Cinemas


Click here for the trailer.

Seattle’s Pioneer Square district after Feb. 28, 2001 quake.
Photo credit: Elaine Thompson AP file, 2001

– “Nearly 6,000 emergency, military personnel to conduct PNW megaquake exercise”
“Called ‘Cascadia Rising,’ the exercise will be the biggest ever conducted in the Pacific Northwest. Which is fitting, because a rupture on the offshore fault called the Cascadia Subduction Zone could be the biggest natural disaster in U.S. history.

‘It’s really going to require the entire nation to respond to an event like this,’ said Kenneth Murphy, regional director for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is coordinating the exercise,” quoting The Seattle Times.
Read more


– “Earthquake warning system for West Coast gets lift in Obama budget”
“In the past 150 years, Washington has experienced 15 major earthquakes, and scientists say it is just a matter of time before the next one strikes.

To get ready, President Barack Obama’s budget proposal includes $8 million to help bring an early earthquake warning system online.

It is an idea that has strong backing from many members of the state congressional delegation, who argue that people would be much safer if they could download a mobile app on their smartphones and get a warning before the shaking begins.”

“The Obama administration is advancing the plan, hosting the first-ever White House summit on earthquake resilience last week [Feb. 2, 2016] and highlighting the plan again this week in the president’s budget for 2017.

While the warning system has been in the works since 2005, the heightened concern comes after The New Yorker magazine attracted national attention in July by publishing a story titled “The Really Big One.”

The story quoted a Federal Emergency Management Agency director who said the government’s assumption was “everything west of Interstate 5 will be toast” if a large earthquake and tsunami hit the Pacific Northwest in a worst-case scenario,” quoting Rob Hotakainen, McClatchey Newspapers.
Read more


– Eatonville-based Internet Journalist Bruce Smith noted Pierce Co. earthquake preparedness
“There [was] a public meeting to discuss earthquake preparedness … Thursday, March 17, at the Graham Library at 6:30 pm. It is free, and is hosted by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management. The topic will be preparing for a 9.0 earthquake, which is estimated to be 2,000 times more powerful than the 7.2 Nisqually quake about ten years ago.

Apparently, several governmental agencies are having a regional, mega-disaster drill in June, mobilizing up to 4,000 employees in simulations, and these public meetings are a prelude. Besides the gathering in Graham, there are several more scheduled throughout the county this month.”
Read more

Spring Equinox, not to scale
Photo credit: timeanddate.com

WHEN: Saturday, March 19 at 9:30 PM PDT
Read more

Republican Gubernatorial candidate Bill Bryant,
Yelm Mayor Ron Harding (looking on) given Lifetime Achievement Award.
Thurston Republicans Lincoln Dinner.
February 12, 2016, Olympia.

– Yelm Mayor Ron Harding appoints Bill Brandon as interim City Administrator Bill Brandon.
On Monday, March 14, Mayor Harding introduced his selection for interim City Administrator, Bill Brandon, to staff and councilors at the Yelm Community Center, who began in this post on March 15th. With no public introduction or welcoming from Mayor Harding, as is done elsewhere, the front-page, top-of-fold story in the Nisqually Valley News (NVN) today quoting Harding raised many questions requiring Yelm Councilors to address, as they have a fiduciary responsibility to ask the tough questions about Brandon’s role here:


* The NVN subtitle requires Councilors to address this issue:
“Fircrest Reportedly Fired Bill Brandon in 2011; Mayor Says Turnover Common in Industry”
The Tacoma News Tribune reported that “The Fircrest City Council has fired its city manager. The council voted unanimously to accept a termination, release and settlement agreement with Bill Brandon at a Jan. 14 [2011] meeting.” The public deserves to know why.
YELM CITIZENS DESERVE TO KNOW WHY MAYOR HARDING IS TAKING THIS ACTION!


* Brandon was one of four finalists for the Tumwater City Administrator position in 2009:
The Olympian reported December 24, 2009 that Bill Brandon was not selected as Tumwater City Administrator. The public deserves to know why Brandon was not selected.
YELM CITIZENS DESERVE TO KNOW WHY MAYOR HARDING IS TAKING THIS ACTION!


* The NVN states, “Harding said Brandon’s firing is irrelevant, and he is a temporary employee.”
That is totally ridiculous. Background on anyone hired in the city’s top paying job, on an interim or full-time basis, is VERY relevant!
YELM CITIZENS DESERVE TO KNOW WHY MAYOR HARDING IS TAKING THIS ACTION!


* The NVN reports Harding “did not do an extensive background check on Brandon.”
That is totally ridiculous. Anyone hired in the city’s top paying job, on an interim or full-time basis, should be required to have an extensive background check conducted!
Mr. Harding touts his business training from University of Washington on his Facebook page, yet as a BBA & MBA graduate, I can assure anyone that a lack of due diligence in hiring a replacement in such a demanding position is not taught at any business school.
YELM CITIZENS DESERVE TO KNOW WHY MAYOR HARDING IS TAKING THIS ACTION!!


* The NVN reports Harding said “bringing Brandon on as interim administrator will help ease the city’s workload.”
How can an interim City Administrator ease the workload being employed on an “‘as needed’ basis until a new City Administrator is selected?”
Yelm needs a City Administrator on-the-job daily, so the Department Heads can exchange ideas, views, and dialogue with a hands-on City Administrator to effectively do their jobs, and to be more free to bring up issues, suggestions and recommendations without the mayor’s intimidation, whether outright or implied.
YELM CITIZENS DESERVE TO KNOW WHY MAYOR HARDING IS TAKING THIS ACTION!


* Harding hired Brandon while he “searches for a permanent person to fill the position.”
If such were the case, Harding would have immediately hired an interim city administrator when Shelly Badger announced her departure early last June, to work with her during her 3 months transition out of the position between June 5-September 1, 2015. Harding has shared nothing on acquiring a professional executive recruitment firm to hire a permanent city administrator, now almost 10 months after Badger gave her notice. Where IS Harding’s intent to appoint a full-time city administrator, if he has any intent to do so at all, required by city ordinance? Harding needs to explain clearly his target date and process for hiring a full-time City Administrator?
YELM CITIZENS DESERVE TO KNOW WHY MAYOR HARDING IS TAKING THIS ACTION!!


* Harding said an interim city administrator is needed “to free me up….to help with that relief”
Mr. Harding previously told this Blog that he has not taken any additional salary to also perform the duties of city administrator for almost 7 months. The Yelm Municipal Code is clear that a full-time Yelm City Administrator needs to be in this position, not the mayor operating in this role. The Yelm City Council has a fiduciary responsibility to grill Mayor Harding extensively why he is in this function and without pay for 7 months. His answers are not sufficient.
YELM CITIZENS DESERVE TO KNOW WHY MAYOR HARDING IS TAKING THIS ACTION!!


* Harding says an interim city administrator appointment does not require a vote from the city council.
While technically correct, is Yelm going to have Dictator Harding run this city as both Mayor and City Administrator indefinitely and without Council oversight until the end of his term December 31, 2017? Is an interim city administrator who was reportedly in his last temp role as Carson City, Nevada’s Animal Services chief in late 2013-early 2014 suited for this position?
Yelm needs a City Administrator on-the-job daily, so the Department Heads can exchange ideas, views, and dialogue with a hands-on City Administrator to effectively do their jobs, and to be more free to bring up issues, suggestions and recommendations without the mayor’s intimidation, whether outright or implied.
YELM CITIZENS DESERVE TO KNOW WHY MAYOR HARDING IS TAKING THIS ACTION!!


Mayor Harding took an oath of office to uphold the laws and ordinances of the City of Yelm.
A full-time City Administrator is required by ordinance.
This Blogger challenges the Yelm City Council elected to fulfill their fiduciary responsibility to their citizens in asking these questions of Mayor Harding!

Steven Wyble, May 30, 2012
Photo credit: Tyler Huey, Nisqually Valley News

Steven Wyble, lead reporter for city issues of the Yelm-based Nisqually Valley News (NVN) will be leaving the newspaper to pursue other opportunities. Wyble was hired by former NVN Editor/Publisher Keven Graves and began his service on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Wyble earned a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in Africana studies from Eastern Washington University in 2010. Following graduation, his first job as a reporter was with the Moses Lake-based Columbia Basin Herald. Wyble was looking for a position closer to his Grapeview, WA home (NE of Shelton) when a position became available at the NVN in mid-2012.
Read more


Wyble’s role became more high-profile seven months later when Graves left the NVN in January 2013 to become the Executive Editor and Publisher for the Whidbey Newspaper Group, which included The Whidbey News-Times, the Whidbey Examiner and the South Whidbey Record. The NVN owners, Lafromboise Newspapers of Centralia , WA., brought to Yelm their former Executive Editor Michael Wagar of NVN sister paper, The Chronicle in Centralia, who began his new job here on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 as NVN Editor and Publisher. Wagar put Wyble on more high-profile assignments where he garnered excellent experience in working for two Editors and Publishers.


Wyble has been given some challenging and difficult coverage in his almost four years at the NVN. He is the only reporter that accepted JZ Knight’s invitation to participate in the techniques taught at Yelm-based Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment (RSE), reported extensively on the case of Virginia Coverdale vs. JZK, Inc., and covered Yelm citizen Sara Foster’s water case against Ecology and the City of Yelm through to the final decision by the WA Supreme Court. I recently have seen Wyble on the job at Mayor Harding’s State of the City Address and at Yelm City Council meetings reporting on the on-going changes with three new Councilors.


Wyble was recognized for excellence in reporting several times, including last year’s Washington Newspaper Publishers Association (WNPA) Third Place Award for the Best Crime and Court Story, Groups 1 & 2, “Canal Rescue.”
Click here to read Wyble’s award-winning story.


While I have not always agreed with the presentation of some stories for which I have made public comments, I know that no reader will always agree with a newspaper reporter. A newspaper’s role is to provide a mechanism to create a conversation and have readers think about issues, for which Wyble has done admirably well. We live in a Constitutional Republic where free speech is still protected, and I honor and respect Wyble for his handling of stories unique to our area.


Wyble said this to the Yelm Community Blog, “It’s a bit bittersweet to be leaving, because I really enjoy covering the city. But, I hadn’t even heard of Yelm before I took this job, and now I know all it has to offer.”


I will always remember Steven’s first interview with me in 2013 plus his accurately reporting my retirement from RSE in December 2014. Steven’s perspective, context, and viewpoint will be sorely missed by this reader. Whether at a Yelm Chamber Forum, City Council session or interview in his office, Steven always had a smile, warm handshake and openness towards me, for which I will always remember. His shoes will be difficult for Wagar to fill.


The Yelm Community Blog wishes Steven all the best in his future endeavors.
Wyble has left an indelible mark on Yelm for the better!

Photo: Laboratory Glass via Shutterstock

– “Opponents of GMO Labeling Broke Washington’s Campaign Finance Law”
“In a summary judgment released on Friday [March 11], a judge found that the GMA failed to disclose the corporate donors in paperwork required by state law, with the intent of shielding the donors’ identities from public view and eliminating their campaign finance filing requirements.

The ruling points to internal GMA records revealing that the trade group set up a strategic ‘defense of brands’ account to collect anonymous donations from several major food firms while ‘shielding individual members’ from public ‘scrutiny.’ GMA staff also advised member companies on how to dodge questions from the media about the money,” quoting Mike Ludwig, Truthout.
Read more


Editor’s Note:
Interesting that if proven that the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) staff knew they were breaking the law when they attempted to hide the identities of processed food companies opposed to a ballot initiative requiring special labels for grocery items containing GMO ingredients, the GMA could face up to a $33 million fine. The aforementioned story lists donors such as PepsiCo, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, ConAgra, General Mills, Campbell Soup Company – paying millions of dollars to keep their customers in the dark about what is in their products.


– “The Defeat of the DARK Act is a Win for Consumers”
“In a major win for consumers [March 16, 2016], Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) failed to earn the votes he needed to stop debate on a bill known to opponents as the Deny Americans the Right to Know Act, or DARK Act.

According to EWG [Environmental Working Group], the defeat of the DARK Act offers Congress the opportunity to find a compromise for a national mandatory GMO labeling measure that consumers and industry can support.

Scott Faber, senior vice president for government affairs, said:

“Consumers have made their voices heard to their elected representatives in the Senate and they said clearly, ‘We want the right to know more about our food.’ We are pleased that the Senate made the right decision to stop the DARK Act, and we remain hopeful that Congressional leaders can craft a national mandatory compromise that works for consumers and the food industry. We applaud Senators Debbie Stabenow, Jeff Merkley, Jon Tester, Barbara Boxer and Pat Leahy for their efforts to defeat the DARK Act.”
Read more from EWG.

Democratic candidates Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton
Milwaukee, WI., Feb. 11, 2016
Photo credit: Democratic National Committee/PBS Debate

– Saturday, March 26 Democratic Caucuses to be held
From the the Thurston Democrats:
“Washington state’s Democratic voters cast their candidate preference at Precinct Caucuses to be held at various locations throughout Thurston County.
All Democratic Caucuses will be held at 10am on March 26th.

The caucuses vote tally will be given to the County Precinct & represented at the State Primary later this Spring.
This is how local voters’ voices can be heard and counted as this state nominates a democratic Presidential candidate.
Registered voters choosing their Democrat Party candidate are urged to participate in the American process of electing a President, PLEASE VOTE – this is our right!”


Yelm Democratic Precincts Caucus
Area Caucus Coordinator, Steve Klein
Saturday, March 26, 2016
10am-1:30pm
Yelm Middle School
402 Yelm Ave. W.
Yelm, WA. 98597
Caucus here for precinct numbers in Yelm and vicinity that include the Yelm city limits, Four Corners, Bald Hills, Lackamas, Clearwood, Lake Lawrence, and SW Pierce County (McKenna & rural Roy):
028,030,031,032,046,060,074,124,125,126,130,179,193,701,702,703,704.
You must arrive by 10:30am to be able to select delegates. If your precinct has adjourned prior to your arrival, your vote will not be included.


Rainier Democratic Precincts Caucus
Area Caucus Coordinator, John Marley
Saturday, March 26, 2016
10am-1:30pm
Rainier High School
308 2nd St W
Rainier WA 98576
Caucus here for precinct numbers in Rainier and vicinity: 081,127,128,601,602.
You must arrive by 10:30am to be able to select delegates. If your precinct has adjourned prior to your arrival, your vote will not be included.

Click here to look-up your Precinct and Caucus site.


Read more from the Washington State Democrats.