“The Patriot Guard Riders is a 100% Volunteer, Federally registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization which ensures dignity and respect at memorial services honoring Fallen Military Heroes, First Responders and honorably discharged Veterans.”

– Yelm Car Show Saturday, September 3rd
“Yelm Wounded Warrior car show in Yelm (at the park) this Saturday, 8:00 – 3:00; 50% of proceeds go to JBLM wounded warrior programs.”
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Read more about the Yelm Wounded Warrior car show.

“Yelm Superintendent Brian Wharton shows where a large, pre-fab classroom
building specifically designated for freshmen will be located on the school campus.”
Photo credit: Steve Bloom, The Olympian.

– “Message from New Superintendent Brian Wharton”
“I am honored to serve as the Superintendent of Yelm Community Schools. My six years, so far, in the district have been the most rewarding of my career. The support this community bestows on its students and staff is amazing and I am committed to leading our continued success. We have important work ahead of us and I know the Yelm community wants the best education possible for our students.”

“When the new school year begins, there are three major issues that our district will have to manage:
* Responding to increased enrollment throughout the district that is significantly impacting our elementary school facilities
* Preparing for the reconfiguration of our schools to K-5 elementary schools, 6-8 middle schools, and a 9-12 comprehensive high school
* Successfully implementing two major curriculum programs in elementary literacy and secondary math.”
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– “Yelm, North Thurston and Olympia schools prepare for more kids”
“The fastest growing district is Yelm, which spills into a small portion of Pierce County, and has grown by about 1,340 students, or a whopping 30.7 percent, since 2000.

‘We’re growing like crazy,’ said Yelm superintendent Brian Wharton.

The largely rural district is a popular bedroom community for JBLM’s military families and people who commute to jobs in Olympia, Tacoma and Puyallup, Wharton said.

‘There’s a lot of houses being built right now,’ he said. ‘And we know we’re an attractive community, and we’ll take all of the kids.’

But the district has experienced growing pains, too,” quoting Lisa Pemberton, The Olympian.
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– “Online auction set for Thurston County computers”
“Need some hardware? Thurston County is holding an online auction for desktops and laptops.

The auction will be open for bids starting Thursday, Sept. 1 at 9 a.m. and closing Thursday, Sept. 15 at 9 a.m.”

“Those interested in viewing or bidding on the auction items must register for free as a bidder here.”

“For questions, call Thurston County Central Services at 360-786-5598,” quoting the Pierce County Business Examiner.
Click here

– “Providence St. Peter named top three hospital in WA”
“Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia has been recognized as a top three hospital in the state of Washington by U.S. News & World Report.

The publication ranked 153 hospitals in at least one specialty, while 1,628 received a ‘high performing’ rating in one or more specialties, procedures or conditions. Providence St. Peter was one of just 44 hospitals in the United States ranked “high performing” in eight specific treatment areas, ranging from colon cancer surgery to heart bypass surgery to hip replacement.”
Read more from the Pierce County Business Examiner.


– Providence Hospitals making a difference in our communities
By Providence Mt. St. Vincent’s Hospital in Seattle
“Present Perfect Film Trailer”
“Present Perfect explores the very real experience of aging in America- both growing up, and growing old. Help us bring this incredible story to life.”
Editor’s note: Expect to be moved!
Click here

Don’t Text & Drive – This sums-up why!
54 Million views – Repost to save a life. Tag someone.
Click here

“A train leaves Spokane, Wash., a funnel for rail traffic to the Pacific Coast.
Energy firms want to move more raw materials through the region.”
Photo credit: Rajah Bose for The New York Times.

– “Washington responders to get notice of oil train shipments”
“Emergency responders in communities along oil train routes in Washington state will start receiving advance notice of the shipments this fall.”

“The Spokesman-Review reports (http://goo.gl/i7M9Ui ) that terminals, refineries and other facilities that receive crude oil by rail must begin notifying the state Department of Ecology in advance of shipments under a new rule adopted this week. The state will relay the information to local emergency responders.

Gov. Jay Insless says that following recent oil train disasters, the state is trying to improve public safety and protect the environment,” quoting the Associated Press.
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– Editor’s Note:
This is especially pertinent for Thurston County, as the Port of Olympia may be used for these shipments, and trains pass through Thurston destined for other Washington ports.

* Bald Hill Community Church co-pastor Sylvia Peterson in her NVN religious column.

* “Finding Reason” should be Pastor Peterson’s column title, rather than Pastor Adams using this column’s title under the guise of religion for divisiveness and intolerance.


– “The ‘God Factor’: Science, Religion Can Coexist”
“Scientists continue to search for explanations for creation. If life began in a “big bang” cataclysmic explosion of energy, how did the energy get converted into matter? Specifically, how did planet Earth’s creatures with all their diverse characteristics come into being scientifically and not via the hand of a supreme creator?

Nearly 50 years ago a physicist named Peter Higgs postulated that there’s an atomic particle, nicknamed the “God Particle,” that presumably plays the creative role. No one has seen one, but Higgs mathematically determined that it must exist.

I don’t often read the science news, but a New York Times article posted this week [Aug. 18] reports that they almost have their answer. Scientists at the $10 billion Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland say ‘they might have seen traces’ of the Higgs boson, or God Particle.”

“[Renowned physicist Stephen] Hawking’s brother had a heart attack in October and was clinically dead for 43 minutes. When he was revived, Hawking says, ‘He came back a changed man. He has told me of the existence of a sentient being, of another world we mortals are unaware of, he has told me of God.’

I am excited to follow CERN’s research. By attempting to scientifically disprove the biblical version of creation, could they end up proving it? But I am even more excited that God, who created the universe, is deliberately showing himself to His skeptics.

‘For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible … And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist’ (Colossians 1:16-17),” quoting Sylvia Peterson, co-pastor for Bald Hill Community Church, in her weekly religious column in the Nisqually Valley News (NVN). Her column is the one that the NVN Editor/Publisher should appropriate title, “Finding Reason.”
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Jolene Unsoeld
Photo Courtesy: John Hughes

– “Jolene Unsoeld among outstanding Washingtonians to be honored”
“Olympia’s Jolene Unsoeld, a former state legislator and member of Congress, is included in a collection of Washingtonians in the profile series ‘Who are we? by Legacy Washington.
Legacy Washington began as an oral history program run by the secretary of state’s office, spokesman David Ammons said.”

“The exhibit featuring Unsoeld and other honorees launches at 3 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 25) in the State Reception Room on the third floor of the Capitol.

After the launch, attendees can view the exhibit in the front lobby of the secretary of state’s office on the second floor of the Capitol. The privately funded exhibit will be on display through July.”

“Unsoeld made a reputation for championing open government and environmental issues. In 1988, she was the third woman from Washington to be elected to Congress,” quoting Jerre Redecker, The Olympian.
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– Editor’s note:
Rep. Unsoeld was a hero of mine at the time, when she was a pathfinder for her stands on open government and environmental issues, when such was not fashionable nor popular in the day!
Congratulations to Jolene for this well-deserved recognition.

“The Yelm High School FFA chapter has been chosen as a finalist to compete for a
2016 Model of Excellence award, the highest honor awarded to a chapter by the National FFA Organization.
FFA Officers (from left) Thomas Pablo, Jozie Reid and Maggie Scotto with Advisor Lisa Todisco.”
Photo Courtesy: Yelm Community Schools

– “Yelm High School FFA Chapter Qualifies for Nationals”
“The Yelm HS FFA chapter has been chosen as a finalist to compete for a 2016 Model of Excellence award, the highest honor awarded to a chapter by the National FFA Organization. A Yelm team will compete in a presentation and interview process for the top honor at the 2016 National FFA Convention & Expo, October 19-22 in Indianapolis, IN.,” quoting Yelm Community Schools, ThurstonTalk.
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The green sign on the left is the official sign which is proudly displayed on every road entering Yelm.
The pink sign on the right was posted in front of City Hall last week for a few days.

These photos have been posted on several Facebook sites, however one point stands out, that Yelm is a town with a sense of humor, no intent to denigrate our former mayor’s daughter intended.

– Editor’s note:
Former Mayor Ron Harding was a judge (Miss Tahoma pageant in Puyallup when his daughter won) leading to the selection of Miss Washington 2008, where his daughter Janet was crowned.
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