– “Are You Swimming in Poop?”
If you’re planning to visit a public pool this summer, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) annual report may make you think twice.1 More than 48,600 public pools, hot tubs and water playgrounds were tested, and close to 80 percent had at least one safety or hygiene violation.”

“Most Common Violations at U.S. Public Pools”
“About one-third of local health departments do not monitor or inspect public pool facilities, so virtually anything could be lurking in the water. Most often, violations were related to:
* Improper pH (15 percent)
* Safety equipment (13 percent) — especially in order to prevent drowning
* Disinfectant concentration (12 percent) — especially too little disinfectant”

“How to Safely Enjoy Swimming This Summer”
[Editor’s note: This section is a must-read.]
From Dr. Mercola.
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An oil train snaking its way through downtown Seattle
PHOTO CREDIT: Marcus R. Donner/Puget Sound Business Journal

– From Gov. Jay Inslee
“Stop Dangerous Oil Trains!

The oil train derailment in the Columbia River Gorge recently highlighted the tremendous dangers of transporting crude oil by rail. It’s a moment for action.

Our country needs stronger safety standards, and we can’t afford to wait until it’s too late to enact those standards. Will you sign my petition demanding stronger oil train safety standards today?
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– “Inslee meets with federal railroad authorities, calls for halt to Bakken crude oil trains until new safety measures enacted”
June 24, 2016 on the Governor’s media release.
Read more


– “High-stakes battle over oil terminal unfolds in Northwest”
“Two companies proposing to build what would be the nation’s largest oil-by-rail marine terminal along the Columbia River in Washington see it as an opportunity to link domestic crude oil from the interior to a West Coast port, quoting the Associated Press, KING 5 TV News.
Read more

– “Thurston County approves fireworks restrictions during burn bans”
* New regulations begin in 2017
* Commissioner Wolfe proposed ban on all consumer fireworks
* Opponents say ban will hurt nonprofits and American traditions

“The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted 3-0 Monday night to approve regulations that will allow officials to prohibit consumer fireworks in unincorporated areas during periods of extreme fire danger.

The new ordinance won’t take effect until 2017.

‘It’s the fire danger that makes me so nervous,’ Commission chair Sandra Romero said,” by Lisa Pemberton, The Olympian.
Read more

Read more from KING 5 TV.


– “Fire leaders urge caution as fireworks sales begin”
“‘99% of our fires are human caused fires, less than 1% are lightning fires so as people are looking at what they’re doing with the campfires, the fireworks, even mowing the lawn in a hot dry afternoon, those things can start a fire,’ [King County] Fire Unit Manager Charley Burns said,” quoting Alex Rosier, KING 5 TV News.
Read more


Editor’s Note:
This is a prudent and wise move. With hotter, drier summers and trees tinder-dry, the fire danger is of chief concern. Burn bans begin in mid-July, so will not affect 4th of July fireworks sales, nor “hurt nonprofits and American traditions.”

– “Thurston County law enforcement to visit dispensaries this week”
* Sheriff John Snaza wants to visit all of the medical marijuana dispensaries during the week of 6/27
* He’ll hand out a letter outlining changes in the law
* Snaza, county prosecutor Jon Tunheim hope there will be few arrests, prosecutions

“Snaza won’t just be visiting dispensaries in unincorporated Thurston County, the area served by the Sheriff’s Office. He’ll also go to medical marijuana dispensaries in the county’s cities — including Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Yelm.

While there, he’ll pass out a letter signed by himself, Prosecutor Jon Tunheim, Lacey Police Chief Dusty Pierpoint, Tumwater Police Chief John Stines, Olympia Police Chief Ronnie Roberts, and Yelm Police Chief Todd Stancil.

The letter explains the Cannabis Patient Protection Act, enacted in April 2015 by the state Legislature,” quoting Amelia Dickson, The Olympian.
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Photo credit: Nisqually River Council

– “Nisqually Stream Stewards – Now Recruiting 2016 Class Participants!”
“Nisqually Stream Stewards is a program of the Nisqually River Council and Nisqually Indian Tribe’s Natural Resources Department that trains participants to be effective citizen scientists. The class introduces participants to a network of natural resources professionals in the South Puget Sound region and promotes community engagement through hands-on learning.

Participants receive 40 hours of class time, which includes field experiences at Mount Rainier National Park, UW Pack Forest, the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge and many other locations. In exchange, participants commit to giving 40 hours of volunteer time in the Nisqually over the next year.”

“The Nisqually Stream Stewards class is free, but limited to the first 30 participants. It is open to people of all ages and abilities, especially those wanting to learn more about their communities, meet new people, and become a more effective volunteer for the watershed. However, those under 16 should plan to attend with an adult chaperone.

Classes are held on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings beginning July 26, 2016 and continuing through September 24, 2016,” quoting the Nisqually River Council & Nisqually Indian Tribe.
Read more

Nisqually Stream Stewards: Open for Enrollment

Now open at their new location!

Subway – Yelm
Creek Street Plaza (next to Kinja’s)
1304 Yelm Ave East
Suite A-101
Yelm, WA 98597
Phone ahead for your order: 360-458-1171.

Soon to open at their location!

Mariachi Alegre Mexican Restaurant
16605 106th Ave SE
Suite A 4-6 (next to Yelm Liquor and Beverage)
Yelm, WA. 98597
Phone ahead for reservations: 360-400-8226.
Proudly serving Yelm, Roy, McKenna, Rainier, Tenino, WA, and surroundings.

Hours of Business:
Sunday – Thursday: 11:00am to 9:30pm
Friday – Saturday: 11:00am to 10:30pm

Mary Hall
Photo courtesy: Thurston County Auditor

– “Thurston County Auditor’s Office Wins Award for Voter Outreach Efforts”
“The Thurston County Auditor’s Office is the recipient of the 2016 Washington Secretary of State’s voter outreach award. This annual award recognizes a county’s elections division for excellence in efforts to increase voter participation and improve voter education.

‘Our elections team has achieved a lot of firsts in the state and even the country. It’s nice to be recognized by Washington State as being the best,’ said Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall. ‘Our voter outreach efforts use technological and creative tools – a trend we’re seeing particularly with our millennial voters, who are the largest voting bloc in the nation. Additionally, most of our outreach efforts are free, which saves taxpayers money. We’re getting a big bang for our buck on our voter outreach efforts.’

The Secretary of State’s Office chose Thurston County specifically for its innovative communications campaigns…,” quoting the Thurston County Auditor.
Read more


– Editor’s note:
I remind Yelm Community Blog readers that then-candidate for Auditor Mary Hall ran on a platform of reaching out to millennials to get them in the voting process, so has fulfilled her campaign pledge with an acknowledgement such as this. Congratulations to Mary Hall and her fine team.

Sandra Romero

On Monday, June 27, join Commissioner Romero and her guest, SSMCP Program Manager Col. Bill Adamson, for coffee and conversation about local issues that impact veterans and civilians alike.

Col. Adamson is a career Army officer with 30+ years of broad military, industry and interagency experience. Adamson joined the SSMCP as their Program Manager in January 2016. In the short time he has been with the agency, Adamson has already successfully applied to get the South Sound recognized as a Great American Defense Community. Prior to his work for the SSMCP, Adamson served as Director of Joint Planning and Strategic Land Power Analysis for Systems Planning and Analysis Inc. in Alexandria, Virgina. Col. Adamson’s military career also includes multiple combat deployments and joint tours at the Pentagon.

SSMCP is committed to bringing military and community members together on a regular basis to share information about current and future projects and to seek funding for infrastructure and other needed regional improvements. Their projects include producing documents such as the 2010 JBLM Growth Coordination Plan (published Dec. 2010) and the JBLM Joint Land Use Study (JLUS).


Commissioner Romero meets once a month with community members for informal coffee chats on a wide variety of local issues. At the end of the guest presentation you will have an opportunity to talk about issues of concern, ask her questions about the county, and share ideas. Romero is the representative of District 2, which includes Yelm, Lacey, and Rainier.


What: Citizen meeting with second district County Commissioner Sandra Romero
When: Monday, June 27, 2016
Where:
Rainier: 9:30am – 10:30am, Rainier City Hall, 102 Rochester Street West
Yelm: 11:00am – 12:00pm, Pizzeria La Gitana, 309 Yelm Ave E

The Pride of the Southeast Thurston Fire Authority Fleet
Photo courtesy: Southeast Thurston Fire Authority

– “2016 Levy Lid Lift on ballot to Restore 2007 Levy Rate”
“From 2011 to 2013 S.E. Thurston Fire Authority experienced an unprecedented loss in revenue exceeding $700,000. In response the Fire Authority eliminated five positions, froze all base wage and cost of living increases, successfully applied for, and received, 1.2 million in federal grants, as well as established partnerships with neighboring jurisdictions to share cost. The prior levy lid lift, which was approved by the voters, expired in 2013. Your board of commissioners made a conscious decision to wait three years before re-running the proposition. It was our intention to help citizens recover from the downturn in the economy.

The fire commissioners and Chief King’s decision to ask the community to restore our prior funding levels is not a decision that your department leadership takes lightly.
Although S.E. Thurston Fire Authority has been able to maintain service levels, call volume has increased 17%, over the past 5 years, we have exhausted all cost cutting and revenue generating measures, and in addition our federal grant for staffing is set to expire in 2017. Consequently S.E. Thurston Fire Commissioners are placing a multi-year lid lift proposition before the voters on August 2, 2016. This levy, if passed, will restore the 2007 regular property tax levy which expired in 2013 to the maximum statutory rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. If passed, this levy will allow the authority to maintain our current levels of service.”
Read more

Won’t you consider casting your vote FOR the Levy Lid on the Aug. 2nd ballot?


– “SE Thurston Fire Authority Accepting Volunteer Applications”
Must:
• Be at least 21 years old
• Have a high school diploma (or equivalent)
• Have a good driving record
• Pass a criminal background check
Must pass tests:
• Board interview
• Oral
• Written
• Physical agility
• Medical evaluation by doctor
For questions, email m.fogarty@setfa.org or volcor@setfa.org, or call (360) 458-2799.

Photo credit: Robert Piras/Shutterstock

– “‘Game-Changing’ Study Links Cellphone Radiation to Cancer”
* An increased incidence of brain and heart tumors was seen in rats.

“It’s the moment we’ve all been dreading. Initial findings from a massive federal study, released on Thursday [May 26, 2016], suggest that radio-frequency (RF) radiation, the type emitted by cellphones, can cause cancer.”

“The findings should be a wake-up call for the scientific establishment, according to Portier [Chris Portier, a former associate director of the NTP who commissioned the study.], who is now a contributing scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund. ‘I think this is a game changer,’ he said. ‘We seriously have to look at this issue again in considerable detail,'” quoting Josh Harkinson, Mother Jones.
Read more


– “Latest Radio Frequency Study Adds Credibility to Concerns About Cell Phone Hazards”
* Latest Radiofrequency Study — A Wake Up Call for Cell Phone Hazard Deniers?
* Heart and Brain Tumors Found in Rats Exposed to Cell Phone Radiation
* Electromagnetic Fields Can Damage Cells and DNA Via Cellular Stress Responses
* Epidemiologist Calls for Revised Cell Phone Standards
* 1 in 4 Car Accidents Caused by Cell Phones
* How to Protect Your Health From Cell Phone Radiation
By Dr. Mercola.
Read more