Annie the horse
Photo credit: Thurston County Sheriff


– Editor’s note:
Whatever occurred, this highlighted Pasado’s Safe Haven, a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization dedicated to animal cruelty prevention.
Donate here


– “Who cut out the horse’s tongue? Nobody. Sheriff’s Office now says it was an accident”
“‘After considerable deliberation and several expert opinions, this injury is determined to be an accident,’ the sheriff’s office said in a post on social media Tuesday [June 26] morning.”

“Sgt. Carla Carter, citing a report about the injury, said the horse’s tongue might have become lacerated on its lower front teeth. After the tongue became lacerated, the horse might have pulled its head back, or panicked in such a way that caused the horse to drop her tongue in the field,” by Rolf Boone, The Olympian.
Read more

Credit: City of Yelm Gov’t FB


– Editor’s Note:
As the first owner of a Nissan Leaf registered in the 98597 zip code beginning in 2011 and a long-time electric vehicle (EV) owner, I am very proud our town invested in EV charging stations.


– From City of Yelm Government Facebook:
“Beautiful day [June 12] installing our first solar panels! The energy from the sun will charge two electric vehicle charging stations and the lights at the Community Center – home of the Farmers Market, Yelm Jazz Festival, and the new stop of the Cascade Bicycle Club for the Seattle to Portland bike ride. We are grateful for our partners at Puget Sound Solar, Johnson Controls, Puget Sound Energy, ClipperCreek, and especially the Port of Olympia who provided the grant to pay for this sustainable resource for residents and visitors to enjoy!”
Read more

– “How to combat the opioid epidemic in our community”
“Today, I want to tell you about a simple step you can take to reduce the risk of opioid abuse in our community. I’m talking about properly disposing of old or expired opioid medications in your medicine cabinet. Maybe it’s the painkillers you were prescribed after getting wisdom teeth removed. Or the drugs that you held onto when caring for a loved one recovering from surgery. Regardless of where you got them, chances are if you can find these drugs in your medicine cabinet, your children, a friend, or a family member can stumble onto them just as easily.

Why it matters:
“The opioid epidemic has claimed the lives of thousands of Washingtonians, and nearly half of those deaths are due to overdoses involving prescription opioids. I’m sure many of you reading this e-newsletter can point to a friend or family member who has been touched by opioid addiction in some way. This epidemic doesn’t discriminate based on age, race, ethnicity, or economic status. It affects all of us, and so we all need to be part of the solution.

What to do:
1. Track down expired or unwanted medication lying around the house.
2. Find your nearest prescription take back location, which can be found at participating pharmacies, city halls, and law enforcement offices. Click here to find a location near you.
3. Drop off your old medications.
Read more

Photo credit: Google, Inc. street view, Oct. 2015


– Event Description:
“The Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce is moving into our new location! Come celebrate with us on June 28th at 5 pm! We will have a ribbon cutting, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, beer, and wine.”


Yelm Chamber’s Grand Opening Thursday, June 28, 5-8pm.
608 Yelm Ave. East
Yelm, WA.


– UPDATE: August 6, 2018
“Chamber of Commerce Moves to Heart of Yelm”
By Heidi Smith.
Read more

Credit: Yelm Rotary


– From Yelm Rotary:
Read more

Charles Krauthammer, March 31, 2015.
Photo credit: Gabe Hernandez, AP


– Editor’s note:
“On June 8, Krauthammer revealed he had only a few weeks to live due to cancer in his abdomen, which returned after surgery to remove a tumor last year.”

Krauthammer wrote at the time:
“I leave this life with no regrets. It was a wonderful life — full and complete with the great loves and great endeavors that make it worth living. I am sad to leave, but I leave with the knowledge that I lived the life that I intended,” quoting the UPI.
Read more


What a brilliant epitaph to a being who had full-awareness of a life well-lived!
This world was a better place because of a writer such as Charles Krauthammer.
Blessings to his family and all who will miss his columns.


– “Commentary: A world without Charles Krauthammer”
“Columnist George Will writes a tribute to his colleague, Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer. who died of cancer Thursday, June 21.”

“Charles died Thursday at 68, as did, 19 years ago, Meg Greenfield, the editor of The Washington Post’s editorial page. For many years, Meg, Charles and this columnist met for Saturday lunches with a guest — usually someone then newsworthy; now completely forgotten — at a Washington greasy spoon whose name, the Chevy Chase Lounge, was grander than the place. Like Meg, Charles was one of those vanishingly rare Washingtonians who could be both likable and logical. This is not easy in a town where the local industry, politics — unlike, say, engineering; get things wrong and the bridges buckle — thrives on unrefuted errors.”

“The health problems that would end Charles’ life removed him from the national conversation nine months ago, so his legion of admirers already know that he validated this axiom: Some people are such a large presence while living that they still occupy space even when they are gone,” by George Will, Washington Post columnist, Washington Post Writers Group.
Read more

WA Atty. Gen. Bob Ferguson
Photo Credit: WA Office of the Atty. Gen.


– Editor’s note:
I support Attorney General Ferguson standing up to the federal government in support of Washington state’s rights! Interesting that the Republican Party always formerly stood for state’s rights and decentralized government.


– “AG Ferguson Announces Lawsuit Against Trump Administration”
On June 21, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that he will lead a multistate lawsuit challenging the policy allowing the separation of families at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Washington State’s Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced yesterday [June 21] that he will file his 27th lawsuit against the Trump Administration — this one challenging the policy that families can be separated at the United States-Mexico border. Ferguson described the practice as a “rogue, cruel, and unconstitutional policy.”

Washington is one of eight states suing the Trump administration for the policy despite Trump’s recent executive order to halt the separation of families. Ferguson believes the order to be flawed and essentially meaningless thanks to its many caveats; its failure to reunite families already separated; and an earlier statement made by Trump that an executive order could not reverse the separation of families.

“We have no way to predict from one day to the next what this president’s policies or intentions are,” Governor Jay Inslee said. “But one thing we know for sure is Washington state will always be among the first to stand up for the people and the values that make our state and our nation an enduring beacon of hope and opportunity,” by South Sound Business.
Read more


– “Rep. Mark Takano Trump’s family separation policy echoes my family’s World War II internment. That damage lasted decades.”
“It took 40 years for our nation to admit the horrors we inflicted on innocent Japanese-Americans”
By NBC, Think.
Read more

Annie the horse
Photo credit: Thurston County Sheriff


– Editor’s Note:
I continue to be shocked and dismayed at the horrific crimes that have been a plague on our area in the last decade and which make international news. This is kind of attention stains the good name of this town and the perpetrator must be found!

“Pasado’s Safe Haven and Washington’s Most Wanted Host David Rose are offering a $2,000 reward to anyone who can help Thurston County sheriff’s deputies solve what could be a horrendous case of animal abuse in Annie’s case. Additionally, Crime Stoppers of the South Sound is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for tips leading to an arrest in the case.”
Click here to contribute.


– “Preliminary Necropsy results confirm horse’s tongue was intentionally cut off”
“Preliminary necropsy results indicated Thursday that someone intentionally cut off the tongue of a privately owned horse in Yelm, Thurston County sheriff’s deputies said.

The 28-year-old horse named Annie had to be euthanized Wednesday night because she wouldn’t have been able to eat or drink without its tongue.”

“The Necropsy performed by forensic veterinarian Victoria Smith, of the Steamboat Animal Hospital, showed it was no accident.”

“Anyone with information on a possible suspect can remain anonymous. Submit a tip at nastanc@co.thurston.wa.us or by calling Thurston County Sheriff’s dispatch at 360-704-2740. You can also submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of the South Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS, via the P3 Tips App on your phone, or at www.P3Tips.com,” by David Rose and KCPQ-TV 13 (FOX) Seattle staff.
Read more

“Ralph W. Johnson awardees & CELP Board members. R to L: Eric Hirst, Wendy Harris,
Jean Melious, Laura Leigh Brakke, David Stalheim, Sara Foster and Patrick Williams.”
Photo credit: CELP


– Editor’s Note:
Sara Foster shared her experience with the Yelm Community Blog in receiving her award:
“This year I was honored with a Water Hero Award from CELP (The Center for Environmental Law & Policy, Seattle). These were the folks that assisted me in the development of my initial appeal after fighting for 5 years and losing in 2 lesser courts. Thus came into my life Patrick Williams, [CELP] attorney extraordinaire, and with his partnership and inspiration, we eventually won in the Supreme Court of the State of Washington.

“That is how it all came about. I just stood up for something that I knew was not right. I always kept my focus, never doubted, and saw my case victorious.“


From CELP on Sara Foster’s award:
“We were thrilled to honor Sara Foster, Laura Leigh Brakke, David Stalheim, Eric Hirst and Wendy Harris with the Ralph W. Johnson Water Hero Award for their activism in the Hirst and Foster Supreme Court Cases. Their diligence ultimately resulted in improved protections and management of Washington’s rivers and streams by the Department of Ecology. Our honorees began as concerned citizens, and the wins they secured in the Washington Supreme Court would not have been possible with the collective dedication and involvement of these five individuals. Thank you, again, to our five honorees for their contributions towards ensuring future generations have access to clean and flowing water in Washington!”
Read more


Blogger Klein is a CELP contributor.

Photo credit: Bearfoot Gypsy Goats Milk Soap


– Editor’s note:
I met Shayna Gallegas Cara at the Yelm Farmers Market opening on May 26th with her spectacular display of hand made soaps. She gave me her business card with a very creative soap sample, a nice touch. Check-out the Bearfoot Gypsy Goats Milk Soap booth Saturdays at the Yelm Farmers Market.


– Locally-made Bearfoot Gypsy Goats Milk Soap:
“Each soap is cut and hand beveled – Nature’s Goodness in your Shower”

“Handmade Goats Milk Soap and Natural Bath Products. From Happy Healthy Goats, who live together on a small 5 acre farm in Washington. Baby goats stay with their mothers and nurse as they please. Milk is only taken after the kids are done nursing.

“All oils and butters are natural, unrefined, organic & high quality. Colored only with natural plant based colorants, clays & minerals.

“These soaps are made to be extra gentle and nourishing to your skin. Free of palm oil, pharabens, sls, & dyes. No nasty ingredients here! Only the goodness that nature provides.”


Bearfoot Gypsy Goats Milk Soap
Shayna Gallegas Cara
www.BearfootGypsy.etsy.com


Tell Bearfoot Gypsy you read about her on the Yelm Community Blog!