– Winter Weather Advisory for Southwest Interior, Washington (includes Thurston County)
Issuing Office: Seattle/Tacoma
Source: National.Weather.Service

3:02am PST, Fri Dec 23
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– Editor’s note:
Yelm’s altitude is 354′ above sea level, the Lackamas/Clearwood area’s altitude is between 500′-600′ –
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… WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 3 AM PST SATURDAY… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 3 AM PST SATURDAY. * TIMING… THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. * SNOW LEVEL… FALLING TO NEAR 500 FEET THIS AFTERNOON… THEN 200 FEET THIS EVENING. RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW ON HILLS AND OVER ELEVATED TERRAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS THE SNOW LEVEL DROPS. * MAIN IMPACT… UP TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED… ESPECIALLY ABOVE 200 FEET ELEVATION. LOCATIONS NEAR SEA LEVEL… SUCH AS NEAR THE SHORES OF PUGET SOUND… WILL GET LITTLE IF ANY ACCUMULATION. * OTHER IMPACTS… TRAVEL ON SNOW COVERED ROADS WILL BE CHALLENGING. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES, AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
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– “What is 2Good2Toss?”
“2good2toss.com is Washington’s online exchange for reusable building materials and household items. The objective of the site is to facilitate the recycling and repurposing of materials and items that would otherwise be disposed at Washington state landfills and waste to energy facilities, in addition to promoting an important environmental ethic.

You can post listings of items and materials you wish to get rid of or browse for those currently available in your area. Each listing contains a description of the materials along with a name and telephone number and any cost or delivery information. The actual exchange transactions are carried out directly between the interested parties.

Keep in mind, since there is a limit to the length of time a material listing can be posted, it pays to visit the site often. Help spread the word!”
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JZ Knight
Photo © 2016 JZ Knight, used with permission.

– Editor’s Note:
The December 2011 Washington Supreme Court decision in JZ Knight’s landmark case in Yelm set precedent for water law in this state. Knight successfully argued that municipalities must ensure water availability PRIOR to developments’ plat approval.
Read more

Click here for the case analysis from Court Listener.

– JZ Knight’s 2011 Supreme Court victory is affecting WA water law
By Phuong Le, The Associated Press:
“Some home building halted as counties react to water-rights case”
“As counties across Washington respond to a far-reaching state Supreme Court decision involving water rights, angry and frustrated property owners are finding they cannot depend on groundwater wells to build new homes as they have in the past.

In October, the court sided with four residents and the group Futurewise who argued that Whatcom County failed to protect water resources by allowing new wells to reduce flow in streams for fish and other uses. The court said counties must independently ensure water is legally available before granting new building permits. Futurewise’s Tim Trohimovich called the decision a common-sense interpretation of state law.

‘Requiring new lots and new buildings to have legally and physically available water is just basic consumer protection,’ he said.’Many counties plan and zone for way more lots than there’s water to support.'”
Click here for the full story published in The Seattle Times.

– UPDATE: December 23, 2016 print edition
“Being Frank By Lorraine Loomis, Nisqaully Valley News:
“State Water Quality Standards Are Finally Updated”
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Councilor Molly Carmody
Photo credit: City of Yelm

– Editor’s Note:
As this blogger highlighted here last Monday, the Nisqually Valley News (NVN) has recently developed some troubling signs through the use of omissions in conveying facts in some of their reports. The NVN has especially taken aim at two outspoken Yelm city council members, Molly Carmody and Joe DePinto. Carmody brought to the attention of this Blog information she addressed via e-mail to NVN reporter Graham Perednia was abridged and the sentence sequence changed in his December 8th front-page report titled: “Emails Reveal Rift Within Yelm Council.” While the newspaper takes editorial license in their stories, what has become troubling is the overuse of omissions to express the newspaper’s agenda.
The NVN’s commitment to balance and fairness took a back seat to selling newspapers.


– Councilor Carmody’s e-mail to the reporter below is unabridged.
Yellow highlights what was abridged. Used with permission.
[used with permission]:
From: Molly Carmody
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2016 7:21 PM
To: Gperednia@yelmonline.com
Subject: Email

Graham,

That being said, I applaud Mayor Foster for working to improve transparency both internally and externally. We have to work to undo years of neglect in staffing and funding and years of Harding’s abuse of his power as mayor. In 2017, Yelm needs to vote out the people who very nearly destroyed the city’s government by their inattentive non-actions.

Molly Carmody
Yelm City Council

– NVN reporter Perednia abridged Carmody’s letter, changed the sentence sequence to this striking difference, and thus the context:
“In a written statement she said she was disappointed with Foster’s decision to appoint Littlefield and she believes this is a continuation of the “old guard” families who have run Yelm for the better part of a decade,” quoting Perednia introducing Carmody’s e-mail:

“Previous Mayor Harding was one member of that old guard, and for many years, he controlled Yelm city government as a virtual demagogue, with the sitting council acting as his puppets.
They voted exactly how he wanted them to and approved his many grandiose and cost-overrun projects that the citizens repeatedly voted down.”

For too long, Yelm has been ruled by the same small number of elite families that have lived here for generations, and that don’t acknowledge that Yelm has changed dramatically even in the past eight years, when it has nearly doubled in size. They are content to run Yelm as it was run many years ago.”
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Courtesy: American Express

* American Express ‘Shop Small’ program supports Yelm local businesses and elsewhere
* Support small businesses in a big way – Let’s Shop Small®
* Maps lists location and name of Yelm business participants
* Shopping local gives to our community in huge ways
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– Shop Small® in Yelm area with an enrolled American Express® Card
Now thru 12/31, you could earn 2X rewards when you Shop Small® with an enrolled American Express® Card.*
[* Only the primary Card Member on the account can enroll. You will not earn 2X rewards on any bonus you already enjoy with your Card, such as when you spend on certain types of purchases or at certain merchants. Rewards Caps apply.]
Click here to enroll your American Express card.

“The North Pole is tilted furthest away from the Sun at the December solstice.”
(Not to scale) Photo credit: TimeandDate.com

– WINTER begins today at 2:44 AM PST
“It is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, where it is the shortest day of the year.
In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the summer solstice and the longest day of the year.
December Solstice in Yelm, Washington, U.S.A. is on Wednesday, December 21, 2015 at 2:44 AM PST,” quoting TimeandDate.com.
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– The Yelm Business Assn (YBA) YBA posted their 2016 accomplishments
Highlights include:
* ONLY organization that responded to the City of Yelm’s Comprehensive Plan updates.
* Created and enacted a Strategic Plan from citizen Town Hall forum suggestions.
* Co-hosted with The Triad Arts Theater the first annual Summer Arts and Crafts show, following last winter’s show.
* Submitted a Food Trucks regulations proposal to the Yelm council allowing food trucks to operate here.
* Presented to council a proposal naming the Community Center for the Wolf Family, who served Yelm with distinction for over 8 decades.
* Invited Yelm businesses to join in Winter Lights decorations.
* Appointed Scott Bradley to Board as Military/JBLM liaison.
* YBA Board of Directors invited and met with Interim Mayor Foster.
Read more from the YBA announcement.


Blogger Klein is a YBA Founding & Executive Board member and Secretary.

Photo: Delta Airlines, Inc.

– “Delta and Alaska Airlines will end partnership in May 2017”
“Delta will continue its commitment of investment and growth in the Pacific Northwest following a decision by Delta and Alaska Airlines to end their partnership. The decision is a positive milestone for both airlines as Alaska focuses on its merger integration with Virgin America and Delta focuses on creating more customer choice at its Seattle-Tacoma International Airport hub, where it now operates more than 150 peak-day flights to more than 40 destinations.

Effective May 1, 2017, Delta and Alaska will no longer have a codeshare agreement, and sales of flights under DL- and AS-coded flight numbers flown on Alaska and Delta aircraft respectively will cease. Additionally, customers of each airline will no longer be able to earn and redeem Delta miles or Mileage Plan miles on flights operated by the other carrier. The carriers will retain an interline agreement, allowing them to continue offering customers ticketing and baggage connectivity. Delta and Alaska today codeshare on only a small number of flights as Delta’s growth in Seattle has reduced the need for codeshare flying,” quoting the Delta Airlines News Hub Release. Click here

Read more from Alaska Air.



Photo: Alaska Air Group, Inc.

– “‘Frenemies’ no more? Alaska, Delta to terminate partnership”
“Now, the carriers have confirmed on Monday what many thought had become inevitable. Delta and Alaska airlines will officially terminate their frequent-flier and codeshare partnerships at the end of April.

The two airlines revealed the news in nearly simultaneous announcements Monday morning, saying their codesharing and frequent-flier partnerships would end April 30,” by Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY, KING.
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– Editor’s Note:
This concludes the unique and two decades-long partnership Alaska Air forged as a then-small regional airline with Northwest Airlines. Today, Northwest has been integrated into Delta and the Alaska/Virgin America merger has necessitated this evolution of their working relationship. Alaska Air will remain based in Seattle.

Michael Wagar, Executive Editor, Lafromboise Communications, Inc.
Photo courtesy: The [Centralia] Chronicle

* NVN taking aim at 2015’s elected councilors
* NVN wants Council reigned-in to have “measured” dissent
* While NVN Editor speaks of Camrody and DePinto’s remarks, Littlefield’s are omitted
* Council dissent and disagreement have been suppressed in Yelm far too long
* 2015’s elected councilors unafraid to speak their minds
* A breath of fresh air emerges with Carmody’s & DePinto’s stands
* And why did the NVN cut Pastor Sylvia Peterson’s Religious Column, without public explanation
* My online comments about the NVN column of Glen Morgan in being the recipient of a lawsuit for alleged illegal election robocalls against Democrats was not posted.
* If NVN Editor/Publisher Wagar says, “Revealing Cringeworthy Council Emails Has Value,” then why doesn’t publishing the facts about Glen Morgan NOT also have value?
* These are troubling signs from local newspaper who supposedly touts Freedom of Speech!



– Troubling signs from our local newspaper
Are recent signs indicative the Nisqually Valley News (NVN) is taking a stand to stifle dissent from the new councilors.
What the NVN considers Councilor Molly Carmody’s unrefined approach is being made the issue, rather than important issues she is bringing to light.
And Councilor DePinto challenged when proper process was not being followed since he took office.
Yet, the NVN takes aim at the delivery from these “messengers” and not their message.
Democracy calls for unbridled Freedom of Speech and sometimes truth can “bite.”


– Camrody “nailed it” and stands by her words to the NVN – How refreshing!
“I do stand by my words, I believe Yelm has been controlled by the same few families over the past few years.”
“My words may not have been elegant but they got my point across, that is what I believe.”

“Previous Mayor Harding was one member of that old guard, and for many years, he controlled Yelm city government as a virtual demagogue, with the sitting council acting as his puppets.”
“They voted exactly how he wanted them to and approved his many grandiose and cost-overrun projects that the citizens repeatedly voted down. For too long, Yelm has been ruled by the same small number of elite families that have lived here for generations, and that don’t acknowledge that Yelm has changed dramatically even in the past eight years, when it has nearly doubled in size. They are content to run Yelm as it was run many years ago.”


– Editor’s Note:
Interesting that NVN Publisher/Editor Wagar decided to pen Opinion pieces on Councilor Carmody and DePinto’s dissent, when he has not addressed the issue of the new councilors having been challenged almost every step in standing-up for the public’s interests. And they all won in 2015, including Councilor Stillwell, against city incumbents on platforms of open government, transparency, and public safety. When DePinto correctly stands his ground on process and Carmody dared to speak her opinion and calls out the closed-door manner in which the city council has operated for over a dozen years, does Mr. Wagar now take aim at them. Former Mayor Harding insured that most all dissent and/or disagreements on the previous councils were kept behind closed doors and Action items were simply routine “rubber-stamped” affairs. Now that the city council study sessions are video-recorded for the public, this last concealment barrier has been removed. Mr. Wagar, you are correct when you say, “It started last year when three new city councilors were voted into office.” EXACTLY, they were voted in because of their outspokenness to serve in the public’s interest and the public has overwhelmingly responded positively to them, even in your newspaper’s online and print editions.
The NVN’s commitment to balance and fairness took a back seat to selling newspapers.

Let’s not misconstrue being unrefined to reign-in councilors to be “measured,” as Wagar has called. Carmody got her point across, as she so aptly stated, and I am very proud of her. Former Mayor Harding reigned-in his councils far too long and Wagar suggests Yelm’s City Council return to that operation by saying, “voice displeasure when appropriate, but make it measured.” I have lived in cities ranging from areas in Miami, San Francisco, San Diego, Houston and New York where fierce public debate rages on many issues by councils, and comparatively have found the Yelm Council to have little public discourse and openness, until DePinto, Carmody, and Stillwell took office.
I salute them for their backbone! Keep it up – this forces the council to rise and be better for everyone.


Bottom line:
* Where was the NVN in reporting Councilor Littlefield’s deriding comments about Councilor DePinto after the November 22nd city council meeting, saying that she doesn’t support her school’s anti-bullying policy?
Littlefield said, “They have this orange day where everybody wears orange. I never do. I’m like, no, I support the bullies.”

* Where was the NVN in calling on Interim Mayor Foster and Councilor Littlefield to apologize to Councilor DePinto and “use this as a teaching moment to curb [such unprofessional] behavior” to quote Wagar? This “teaching moment” deserves a front-page, top-of-fold story!

* Cindy Teixeira’s column critical of Councilor Joe DePinto referencing the Open (sic) Public Records Act instead of the Open Public Meetings Act was merely a slip of the tongue, as anyone would have known who had seen DePinto’s 2017 council and study session comments on following proper procedures. With over 6 years experience working in the WA. State Legislature, this man KNOWS process, yet Teixeira decided to spin the story critical of this ONE oversight, while omitting all of the procedure qualities DePinto has brought to the council, under both former Mayor Harding and now Interim Mayor Foster.
And interesting that Teixeira failed to note that DePinto’s error was logical when he referenced the Open Public Records Act, which is actually titled the Public Records Act, clearly demonstrating DePinto meant to reference the Open Public Meetings Act!
Also, where was Teixeira in not reporting on Littlefield’s bullying comment, as one would think she would be outraged about a school teacher even jokingly voicing support for bullies, having sent her children to public school?
This kind of reporting has a “strangely familiar ring!”


– NVN entries
* December 1, 2016
“SEEKING PARITY Pastor Wonders Why Her Religious Column Gets Cut”
Bald Hill Community Church Pastor Sylvia Peterson’s Letter to the Editor questioned why her NVN religious column was again cut. There was no public response from NVN Publisher/Editor Michael Wagar. hmmm.
Read more

* December 1, 2016
Wagar says, “Yelm has a lot of hugging to do as our town is undergoing rampant change, from continued population growth (a lot of change is also going to come to the Yelm area as the direction of county government has completely flipped with the election of independents John Hutchings and Gary Edwards to the Board of Thurston County Commissioners), but perhaps paramount, from an overhaul of Yelm city government personnel.

It started last year when three new city councilors were voted into office. It was compounded when City Administrator Shelly Badger left, followed by Mayor Ron Harding.”

“There’s been some bad blood on the council when Foster was appointed as mayor, and when the two newest councilors were appointed to fill empty seats. This can all be resolved during next year’s elections.”
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* December 8, 2016
NVN Publisher/Editor Michael Wagar writes in his Opinion piece:
“Today on page one the Nisqually Valley News reports on a less than pleasant email emanating from Yelm City Councilor Molly Carmody. The words are cringeworthy. They also reveal a city council and mayor that have issues with each other.

My hope is that some good comes from this as well. Be polite. Be professional. Try not to let your work or leadership duties get personal. By all means voice displeasure when appropriate, but make it measured. This would be a boring world if we all agreed with each other.

Let’s all use this as a teaching moment to curb our behavior. There is too much good to be done, problems to be fixed and personalities to enjoy.”
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– Editor’s note:
Last Friday, Thurston County’s Commissioners in their Board of Health role, voted 2-1 to adopt a new annual flat-rate fee of $10 for property owners with septic systems. Many property owners anticipate, and indeed expect when all three “Independent” commissioners are seated in January, to reverse this vote. Yelm Community Blog readers have asked for my views on the County’s proposed septic fees, which dovetail exactly with The Olympian Editorial Board.

– “SEPTIC FEES AND FEARS”
“Many homeowners who use private wells or live along Thurston County’s waterways already know how important it is to have a well-functioning septic system. Seepage into the ground can taint a well. As a result, many home owners do not object to paying for a county permit every few years to operate these on-site systems.

But now a proposal to expand the county’s permit system to include all of Thurston County’s 53,000 septic systems [2nd highest county in the state] is running into resistance from some homeowners who don’t see a need for a change.

The permit system requires that the system be inspected periodically by a third party to ensure it is not damaged, and it ensures that tanks are pumped on a regular basis.

Indeed some who testified last week at a public hearing argued there is no evidence of failing systems. There is a logic to that, if systems are indeed not failing.

It’s fair, we think, to see their resistance as symptomatic of a deeper resentment toward government and environmental regulations that helped elect two more right-of-center candidates to the commission starting in 2017.

The fee proposal is backed by the two retiring Democratic commissioners, Sandra Romero and Cathy Wolfe, whose terms expire this year. The fees would be $19, $38 and $57 starting in 2018, if adopted.
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Editor’s note:
This is a good idea for the safety of private well owners and their neighbors who derive water from the same aquifer, to insure that the county’s water resources remain pristine with an ever burgeoning population.