– These were the top Yelm Community Blog stories during each month in 2017:

– January
A new era begins today in Yelm’s City Hall – City Administrator Michael Grayum takes the helm,
Debuts City of Yelm Government Facebook page
Read more

Rainier Historical School House ribbon-cutting Saturday, Jan. 7th, 2017
Read more

The Seattle Times investigation: Yelm Police jail arrangement with Nisqually Tribe under scrutiny after death of Andrew Westling, age 19
Read more

National Wrestling Hall of Fame to induct YHS Coach Gaylord Strand
Read more

Thurston County utility studying prescription medications in wastewater –
Yelm was warned about this issue over a decade ago
Read more

Nisqually Tribal Chair, Farron McCloud, first interviewee in “Who’s Who in the Nisqually Watershed”
Read more


– February
AlertSense emergency notification system activated – Sign-up for Yelm or Thurston County residents
Read more

JBLM Commander Colonel Daniel S. Morgan spoke in Yelm
Read more

JZ Knight’s remarkable 40th anniversary with Ramtha – Begins 5th decade channeling Ramtha for the world
Read more

State Auditor issues Yelm 3rd “historic” deficiency finding – All 3 reports from Harding’s lack of management skills, Interim Mayor Foster to enact new procedures
Read more

Yelm High’s Girls Wrestling Team achieve first State Title
Read more


– March
Ed Bergh passes away, 2014 Washington History Teacher of the Year
Read more

Rainier Mayor Randy Schleis dies – Was set to deliver State of City, Tuesday, March 14
Read more

Bald Hills Rd. flooding within Yelm’s city limits creates public safety issue
Read more

Are elected officials’ endorsements of Foster appropriate this early?
Is this REALLY in Yelm’s public interest, before May’s Filing Week?
Read more

Yelm Town Hall conducted on Public Safety
Read more

Rainier’s Phoenix Rising School has UW’s Drawing Contest Winner
Read more


– April
Rainier Education Foundation receives $50,000 from JZ Knight
Read more

Councilor Joe DePinto announces Yelm mayor candidacy, Yelm voters get first contested mayoral ballot in 12 years
Read more

Previously unopposed Councilor Russ Hendrickson’s Pos. 7 seat gets challenger James Blair – Hendrickson subsequently decides to vacate Pos. 7, runs for Pos. 3
Read more

Yelm Habitat for Humanity relocates store for the future
Read more

RSE draws hundreds of worldwide visitors to Yelm
Read more

Yelm Food Co-op recognized for 10 year anniversary here
Read more


– May
YHS 2008 Co-Valedictorian Akel Hashim accepted into UC–Berkeley PhD program
Read more

Yelm-based PCI Pest Control awarded Small Business of the Year
Read more

Nisqually Tribe’s Red Wind Casino celebrates 20 years of service
Read more

Oly VCB’s new branding unveiled: “Experience Olympia & Beyond” – New website highlights Yelm area attractions
Read more

Standing Room Only (SRO) Theater Group dazzles Yelm stage with 12 Angry Men
Read more

3 new candidates step-up to serve Yelm City Council, yet 3 incumbents have no challenger to garner public debate!
Read more

Yelm Farmers Market opens 7th season
Read more


– June
The Seattle Times investigation: Yelm settles tribal jail death for $375,000– June
Read more

Rainier HS Valedictorian Jess Nubbe awarded $20,000 Scholarship – JZ Knight’s Humanities Foundation donated the REF scholarship
Read more

Yelm’s council adopts YBA’s Food Truck regulations proposal
Read more

Harding & his city councils’ growth policies now coming home to roost – Taxes, fees, bonds considered for Yelm taxpayers in budget talks
Read more

Cows From Northwest To Vietnam make quarantine stop near Yelm
Read more

Seattle P-I’s Blog ‘The Military Wire’ on The BluRoom® – invented in Yelm
Read more

Councilor Carmody gets STP Bicycle Classic stop moved to Yelm
Read more

Yelm’s water tower receives Washington Heritage Register designation
Read more


– July
“Who’s Who in the Nisqually” guest JZ Knight garners standing room only crowd and newspaper reporters
Read more

YHS coaches’ summer camp behavior puts YCS in cross-hairs
Yelm leaders continue to show lapses in “appearances of conflicts of interest”
Overshadows good new about YCS feeding students during summer
Read more

Yelm Public Works infrastructure reaching critical point – Millions of dollars needed for water/sewer upgrades – residents to bear much of the cost
Read more

Washington’s distracted driving law takes effect
Read more

Yelm holds first annual UFO Fest & Symposium
Read more

Thurston Commissioners FINALLY get it! County drops Convention Center proposal to tax residents
Read more


– August
Yelm’s historic first annual Jazz in the Park Festival enacted
Read more

Yelm’s City Hall should begin motor vehicles crack down, though first in their own backyard!
Read more

Candidate/Interim Mayor Foster can and should stop ‘fostering’ campaign divisiveness – Allowing disparaging remarks about a city councilor are not qualities of an effective leader!
Read more

Family of Yelm’s hit/killed bicyclist speaks-out to honor him
Read more

Yelm’s Eclipse maximum occlusion was at 94%
Read more


– September
Thurston County re-opens Deschutes Falls Park to the public after September 1
Read more

Nisqually Land Trust making a difference for Yelm area – Creating “a regional jewel.”
Read more

County Sheriff John Snaza reflects on wisdom gained from accident
Read more

Forest fires smoke blows into Yelm
Read more

Yelm’s past poor decisions now come home to roost – Water, sewer rate increases proposed, storm-water increases approved on property owners’ backs
Read more


– October
Thanks to Councilor Stillwell’s suggestion, public comment restrictions in Yelm council meetings are lifted
Read more

FAKE NEWS: NVN publishes “rumored” info about 2005 mayoral candidate Steve Klein,
NVN never contacted Blogger Klein nor verified inaccurate Oct. 6th headline story.
Read more

Special Report: Yelm’s water allocation is almost fully used – How does Yelm move to the future to develop revenue if unable to issue more residential/business permits because they lack water?
Read more

City of Yelm voter Brian Hess publishes Interim Mayor Foster-approved Q & A –
Foster blames Public Works personnel for council’s $5M well vote,
Denounces DOE on Yelm H2O rights: “arbitrary and obviously inaccurate estimate.”
Read more


– November
Yelm to be designated a “Purple Heart City”
Read more

Yelm Business Assn. & Chamber hosts 2nd annual Yelm Winter Lights Program
Read more

Yelm Farmers Market returns to city center in 2018
Read more

“Young Frankenstein the Musical” breaks records in Yelm!
Read more

Councilors Littlefield and Hendrickson thanked for their service as they both retire
Read more

Yelm’s ‘Ice Chips Candy® Grannies’ featured on Seattle’s KOMO-TV 4
Read more

Yelm’s Community Center continues operating in red ink
Read more

JW Foster sworn-in November 28th as Yelm’s elected mayor, is now in a different position than as an appointed, interim mayor. New council is no longer comprised by a majority of complicit “slam-dunk” councilors voting for the mayor’s policies, rather are expected to be aggressively involved in asking questions of city leaders. Foster has a big job to unify Yelm with half of voters wanting change, especially almost losing to Councilor DePinto in defeating him by only 14 votes! Foster was heavily endorsed by elected officials from the South Sound and while considered a “shoe-in” as the incumbent, this race was so close, yet proved he was not elected until officially certified.
Read more

Port of Olympia approves higher property tax levy in 2018
Read more


– December
Amtrak Cascades acquiring new locomotives with Positive Train Control safety equipment
Read more

Yelm Business Assn. (YBA) announces their dissolution – lack of business participation cited
Read more

Yelm city council post-election gifts to taxpayers – vote on sewer/water rate increases
Read more

Thurston’s visitor bureau “Experience Olympia and Beyond” awarded –
Website recognized for excellence from among small agencies worldwide,
Yelm featured in prominent sections on bureau’s website.
Read more

Yelm in the AP and national media spotlight yet again!
YHS student investigated for groping female choir member
Read more

Yelm continues to be gridlock impacted by I-5 incidents – 4 in 2017,
Local businesses and commerce disrupted during busy Christmas week,
Train derailment reveals our town’s Achilles Heal
Read more

Yelm’s Senior Center receives surplussed Intercity Transit vehicle
Read more

Central/South Puget Sound awakens to the 3rd White Christmas in 100 years
Read more

Coverdale used bankruptcy to absolve loss/debt in JZK, Inc. case –
Said using bankruptcy to avoid court-ordered debt a “victory” – How absurd!
Read more

A Yelm Community Blog Exclusive:
Yelm’s Crowe Law acquires the Law Offices of Bernard Perez
Read more

Virginia Coverdale used bankruptcy to absolve court debt
Photo credit: Scott Roberts/Freedom Foundation.


– Editor’s note:
I do not call using bankruptcy to avoid court-mandated debt a “victory.”
I was taught by my banker father and my mother as well as in Business Schools that bankruptcy was a stain on one’s credit record and community standing, to be avoided at all costs. Today, bankruptcy is not uncommon and someone like Coverdale that uses bankruptcy as a means to an end to discharge her court case’s debt burden by calling this a victory is absurd! I call Coverdale’s misuse of the term “bankruptcy” as a “victory” FAKE NEWS or like Doublepseak from Orwell’s book 1984!


– Virginia Coverdale filed for bankruptcy to absolve Court debt
Subsequent to Coverdale filing for bankruptcy, JZK, Inc. filed a lawsuit against Coverdale’s alleged “abuse of process” possibly forming the basis of a “willful and malicious” injury. The court found Coverdale did not have improper motive in her defense and that JZK, Inc. did not prove Coverdale caused willful and malicious injury.
“Coverdale declared victory following the court ruling” rang-out the NVN headline.


– Introduction from the Bankruptcy Court document:
“JZK sued Coverdale in Thurston County Superior Court for violating the terms of a confidentiality provision in a contract, and Coverdale mounted an ultimately unsuccessful defense, raising counterclaims and affirmative defenses. JZK prevailed in its lawsuit against Coverdale and was awarded $600,021.00 in attorney’s fees and costs pursuant to an attorney’s fees provision in its contract [her debt was over $800,000 when accrued interest is considered]. When Coverdale filed a voluntary Ch. 7 petition for bankruptcy relief, JZK’s entire debt stood to be discharged pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §727.
In an effort to avoid the discharge of its attorney’s fee award, JZK has attempted to recast Coverdale’s conduct during its lawsuit as an “abuse of process,” which could potentially form the basis of a “willful and malicious” injury pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(6).”
Read more


– JZK, Inc.’s Legal Affairs Manager responded with this to the Yelm Community Blog
“Ms. Coverdale filing for bankruptcy is hardly a victory.

“It is an admission that she got in way over her head and accumulated debts that she felt she was unable to repay at present or in the years ahead without intervention by the court. It is the financial equivalent of calling 911.”


Blogger Klein is a retired employee, current consultant to JZK, Inc., in 32nd year as a student of Ramtha.

– From the Thurston County Board of Commissioners:
When the holidays wind down and the decorations get packed away, it’s time to figure out what to do with the Christmas tree. This season, free tree collection and drop-off opportunities are available county-wide.

To prepare your tree for recycling, please remove all ornaments, lights, stands, nails, and tinsel prior to drop off. Flocked trees are accepted.

Drop-off Locations
All Thurston County residents: Trees are accepted at the Waste and Recovery Center located at 2420 Hogum Bay Road NE in Lacey from December 26 – January 14 (closed January 1). Open Monday – Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; entrance gates close at 4:45 p.m. daily.

Rainier residents: Take trees to the Rainier Drop Box Facility at 13010 Rainier Acres Road from December 29 – January 14. The facility is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Rochester residents: Take trees to the Rochester Drop Box Facility at 16500 Sargent Road from December 26 – January 14. The facility is open Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Tenino residents: Trees are accepted at 418 S. Wichman Street from December 26 – January 15.

Yelm residents: Place trees in the designated tree dumpsters at Yelm City Park located at SR 507 and Mosman Avenue anytime from December 29 – January 15, or until the dumpsters are full.
Read more

Walter Reichel
Photo credit: Tony Overman, The Olympian


– “‘Hopefully, my story saves somebody else,’ says Yelm logger who was crushed by a tree”
“Yelm logger Walter Reichel was crushed by a tree on June 2.

He was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he underwent two surgeries. He had broken eight ribs and his sternum. His pelvis was busted into numerous pieces.

Given that, people are usually pretty surprised to see him up and about — without the assistance of a wheelchair or walker.

‘My life is up to almost pretty much normal,’ Reichel said during a recent interview. ‘…It’s a struggle, you know, but I’m grateful,'” by Lisa Pemberton, The Olympian.
Read more of this inspiring story.

Yelm awakens to a White Christmas morning.
Photo credit: Yelm’s award-winning photographer, Rory Sagner Photography & Fine Art


The Yelm Community Blog has published an annual Christmas message since 2006.
In the Christmas Spirit:

– The Polar Express – “I Believe” scene
This except reminds us that the true spirit of Christmas lies in each of our hearts.
Watch here


“Christmas in the Northwest – Brenda Kutz White”
“Post production opening clip taken from The Christmas in the Northwest Christmas special that aired on KOMO TV [Channel 4] in Seattle back in December of 1987 featuring Brenda Kutz White’s song “Christmas in the Northwest.”

All proceeds from the Christmas in the Northwest project go to Children’s Hospital in Seattle, Washington.”
Copyright © 1987 Fisher Broadcasting, Inc.
Click here for the video.


– 10,000 singing Beethoven’s – Ode an die Freude (Ode to Joy)
Worth hearing and seeing, from 2012.
Click here


– Michael W. Smith – Christmastime (Live From Portland, Oregon, On November 20, 2016)
Click here for this moving song.


– “Do You Hear What I Hear? (Home Free) (Christmas A Cappella)” 2015
“Originally written during the Cuban missile crisis [Oct. 1962], a parallel can be drawn to any time when the world needs a reminder to love not hate.”
Click here for the video.


– “Christmas Gift Suggestions”
By Oren Arnold
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.


– “Interesting Facts About Christmas”
“No matter how many Christmases you’ve celebrated, you may not know how five of the most common Christmas traditions came about. Let’s begin with a few interesting facts about Christmas from History.com:
* Christmas was declared a U.S. federal holiday on June 26, 1870
* Every year, 30 to 35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the U.S., most of them cultivated by one of the nation’s 21,000 Christmas tree growers
* Poinsettias are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico, who brought the plant to America from Mexico in 1828
* The Salvation Army has been collecting Christmas donations on the streets across the U.S. since the 1890s
* “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was written in 1939 by copywriter Robert L. May as a marketing piece to attract customers to the Montgomery Ward department store2
* Construction workers initiated the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition in New York City in 1931
* The first eggnog made in the U.S. was consumed at the Jamestown settlement in 1607
By Dr. Mercola.
Read more

Yelm roads this afternoon
Photo credit: Steve Bloom, The Olympian, via the AP, on FOX News.com


– Winter Weather Advisory for Southwest Interior, Washington
Issuing Office: Seattle/Tacoma
Source: National.Weather.Service
10:14am PST, Sun Dec 24

… WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING… * WHAT… SNOW EXPECTED. PLAN ON SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO TWO INCHES ARE EXPECTED. SPOTTY ICING FROM LIGHT FREEZING RAIN IS POSSIBLE.

* WHERE… LOWLANDS OF THURSTON COUNTY, … INCLUDING OLYMPIA, CENTRALIA, CHEHALIS,….
* WHEN… UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS… BE PREPARED FOR REDUCED VISIBILITIES AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES, AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING. THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS FOR THE STATE YOU ARE CALLING FROM CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING 5 1 1.
Read more

Norad’s Santa trackers
Photo credit NORAD

– “Ready to track Santa’s Christmas Eve flight?”
“While all eyes will be on the skies searching for Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve, the men and women of NORAD know exactly where the jolly old elf is – and they’ll tell you if you ask!

Where is Santa now?

Starting Sunday at 6 a.m. EST, anyone can check Santa’s location through NORAD, which uses advanced technology to track everything in space and the skies around us. The joint US-Canadian command is based at Petersen Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. A live webcast of Santa’s preparations begins at 2:01 a.m. EST on Christmas Eve, and then NORAD’s “Santa Cams” will stream videos as Santa flies around the world,” by Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY.
Read more

– “Land Trust Acquires Two Wild Nisqually Shoreline Properties“

* “Wilcox Reach: The River at its Most Dynamic”
“In November, the Land Trust acquired 9.86 acres and one-third mile of salmon-producing shoreline at the confluence of the Nisqually River and Toboton Creek. And we were hustling to remove a small log cabin before winter floods washed it into the river. The property is located in the Wilcox Reach, one of the most dynamic stretches of the Nisqually River.

Two years ago, just upstream, the river blasted away a hundred horizontal feet of riverbank in a matter of months and destroyed a family home.”
Read more


– “Whitewater Reach: HIgh-Quality Shoreline Habitat”
“The Land Trust has purchased 13 acres of exceptionally high-quality shoreline habitat in the Whitewater Reach of the Nisqually River, near Yelm, which is rated highest priority for recovery of threatened Chinook salmon and steelhead trout.

“‘This property’s a jewel,’ said Executive Director Joe Kane. Permanently protecting the property also keeps alive the vision of a shoreline trail along the Whitewater Reach. ‘This property would be in the heart of that trail,’ said Kane.”
Read more


– “We Need Your Support”
“In the Nisqually River Watershed, we’re blessed with abundant “natural capital” – our rivers and streams, our mountains and forests, our marine waters and shoreline. Please help us protect this rich natural legacy – now and for generations to come – with a year-end gift. You can easily make your donation online with the Give link below, or call us at 360.489.3400 for more information. Thanks!”
Read more


Blogger Klein is a long-time annual Land trust contributor.

Intercity Transit General Manager Ann Freeman Manzanares,
hands over the keys to a van recipient.
Photo courtesy: Intercity Transit


– “Surplus Vehicles Awarded to Area Agencies”
“Intercity Transit has selected seven organizations to receive retired vans through a competitive application and review process. The organizations will provide vital transportation services to their clients. Intercity Transit Authority Chair Debbie Sullivan said, ‘Our surplus Van Grant program extends our mission at Intercity Transit to help Thurston County residents with their transportation needs. Giving these vans a new life with non-profits makes good sense.'”

* Yelm Senior Center will provide transportation for seniors to vital social services, supporting senior’s health, dignity and independence. The service will allow seniors to participate in events that enhance physical and mental health of participants.”

“Now in its 14th year, Intercity Transit’s Van Grant program has awarded 48 former vanpool vehicles to community organizations to provide transportation services to clients in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm and their urban growth areas. The vehicles are retired due to miles and time in service, and would otherwise be sold as surplus. Vanpool Manager Carolyn Newsome says, ‘This year’s van grantees will use these vehicles to serve some of our most vulnerable members of our community. We’re proud to be a part of that,'” by Intercity Transit.
Read more

– Editor’s Note:
To hasten passing of a poorly designed Tax Bill in order to provide President Trump with a first year triumph is terrible way to legislate on behalf of the American people. Corporations and the wealthy are the primary beneficiaries, with a debt burden left to our children!


– “AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s ‘middle-class miracle’ favors wealthy”
“You wouldn’t know it from President Donald Trump’s rhetoric, but the tax overhaul coming into effect is heavily tilted to the rich. It also leaves “Obamacare” in place, despite his assertion that the tax plan repeals the health care law. Nothing about the plan provides the fuel to achieve economic growth at the levels he’s predicted.

Trump’s penchant for exaggeration and sometimes pure fiction has clouded the realities of the overhaul as it has shaped up over months. As for Democrats, you wouldn’t know to hear them talk that middle-class people are getting a tax cut out of the deal, too.”

TRUMP: “It’s the largest tax cut in the history of our country.” — remarks Wednesday.

THE FACTS: It isn’t.”
Read more of the AP Fact Check!


– “This week [Rep. Denny Heck] voted NO on the irresponsible, deficit-exploding tax scam.”
“These gaps in our tax code may be good for the wealthy and the large corporations who have dedicated experts to do their taxes, but for most families, these loopholes and deductions do not provide tax relief they need and deserve.”

“Unfortunately, the bill that came up for a vote this week in the House is not tax reform; it is a government payout to the wealthy. Tax reform is difficult because it is budget-neutral, and for every give (usually lower rates), there is a take (usually closing loopholes). That process means some changes are welcomed by those who benefit while strongly opposed by others who may be negatively affected. The authors of this bill set out to do tax reform, but the hard choices were too tough. Instead of closing loopholes, this bill finances its tax cuts by borrowing $1.7 trillion.”

Experts are still working to understand and model the economic impact of this law, so I’m sure that there will be more revelations in the weeks to come, but there are already more than enough reasons to reject this approach. This bill also:

* forces $25 billion in annual cuts to Medicare because it violates the “pay-as-you-go” budget neutrality law that governs major legislation;

* eliminates tax benefits for the working and middle-class taxpayers after a few short years, even though tax breaks for the largest corporations are made permanent;

* repeals important provisions of the Affordable Care Act, which could result in 13 million fewer Americans having health care coverage and put Americans with pre-existing conditions at risk of losing their health care due to skyrocketing health insurance premiums (like what happened in our state in 1993); and

* opens up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling.
Click here to read more from Rep. Heck’s letter.


– “GOP Tax Bill Would Set Up Years of Challenges”
“Congress will need to make substantive and technical corrections as problems arise, said Martin Sullivan, chief economist at Tax Analysts, a nonprofit publisher of tax notes.

“‘It’s just the beginning. It’s a whole new chapter,’ he said. ‘It’s built on unstable financial foundations and on unstable political foundations. And it was built in great haste,” by Richard Rubin, Wall Street Journal.
Read more


– “President cites a Tenino family as a potential winner under GOP tax plan”
“A Thurston County family was among those invited to the White House on Wednesday for a tax speech by President Trump.

The Howard family from Tenino — or as Trump called it, “Ten-ee-no” — owns an espresso machine service company. The President said the GOP tax plan would wipe out their $2,500 tax bill and may even get them a refund,” by Abby Spegman, The Olympian.
Read more


– “This Tax Bill May Do Some Good”
“But a dignified celebration would have been better than the embarrassing White House rally.”
By Peggy Noonan.
Read more