Photo credit: Yelm’s 2018 Jazz in the Park


– Yelm’s 2019 Jazz Fest dates set
Yelm’s 2019 Jazz Fest co-hosts Pizzeria LaGitana co-owners Marian Licxandru, Alin Stanciu and their team of awesome volunteers, along with the city of Yelm, invite you to mark your calendars for a spectacular 2-day “Yelm 2019 Jazz Fest in the Park”
DATES: August 2 and 3, 2019!


– From Yelm – Jazz in the Park
Good news for everyone!!! ❤️😁

The dates for the new Jazz in The Park events are set [August 2 and 3, 2019]. The lessons from this year are learned. And the event is going to be a 2 days event in 2019.

See you at a Bigger, Brighter & even Better community “Jazz In The Park” event. 🥁🎉

Join us @ Yelm City Park for the 3rd annual edition of “Jazz in the Park” Festival. Prepare to enjoy a relaxing evening, taking in the breathtaking view of Mount Rainier while serenaded by live jazz bands. FREE admission!

Bring your family and friends, picnic basket and blankets, or maybe enjoy the food supplies offered on site. Regardless of what you bring with you, be prepared to be transported to a vacation state of mind.

A beer and wine garden will also be featured, and for our guests visiting from out of town, the local Prairie Hotel is an upscale accommodation option. We look forward to seeing you there!”
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Photo credit: Laura Carlin, NRDC e-letter


– “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Most of All, Reduce.”
“Try incorporating these small tweaks into your routine. You’ll throw out less trash, and help fight climate change at the same time.”

“About 4.5 pounds. That’s the amount of trash—banana peels, frayed toothbrushes, busted electronics, plastic wrappers, greasy pizza boxes—that the average American generates every day. And it adds up quickly: In 2014 alone, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s most recent available data, we collectively tossed 258.5 million tons of stuff.

“Fortunately, not all the items we discard end up in landfills; we recycle or compost more than one-third of our trash. In 2014 this saved carbon emissions equivalent to the yearly output of 38 million passenger cars. But we could be doing so much more. For example, we recycle only 14 percent of all plastic packaging. And we toss about 40 percent of all our food, composting only about 5 percent of that load, according to the EPA.

“Although even recycling comes with environmental costs, NRDC’s Senior Resource Specialist Darby Hoover says that “compared to landfilling, recycling is the clear environmental winner. However, waste prevention is even better,'” by Melissa Denchak, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Click here for the list of incorporating small tweaks into your routine to throw out less trash.


– “Cities scramble to rewrite rules on recycling after China stops taking ‘foreign garbage'”
“‘The Chinese waste import restrictions have disrupted recycling programs throughout the United States, and affected tens of millions of tons of scrap and recyclables since they were imposed,’ said David Biderman, executive director of the Solid Waste Association of North America. ‘They are the most important change to these programs in at least a decade.’

“Americans recycle around 66 million tons of material each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Washington has some of the highest solid waste recovery rates — the percentage of usable material recovered from trash in a certain area — in the country. Of the nearly 8 million tons of solid waste recovered in Washington in 2015, nearly 4 million was recycled. More than 3.6 million tons were diverted for other purposes, according to the state Department of Ecology,” by David Goldstein, McClatchy Newspapers.
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Yelm Timberland Regional Library
Photo credit: Yelm Community Blog


– Editor’s Note:
* TRL to accept public input on facilities plan cut-back proposals,
* On Sept. 4, Mayor Foster said TRL talking with Yelm about old city hall,
* Unknown if TRL’s Board will have any interest now.
* Councilor Stillwell asked for council & TRL to meet, yet received no answer from Foster.
* Stllwell’s request for a TRL staff/Yelm councilors meeting is now imperative.


– “Sweeping changes — including library closures — proposed in Timberland facilities plan”
“Timberland Regional Library system released a 2018 Capital Facilities Plan this week that proposes sweeping changes to the five-county system, including closing and consolidating some branches.

“Board members will take their time digesting the report before taking any action, said TRL communications manager Jeff Kleingartner.”

“Among those proposals are that the Tenino branch would close down and combine services with the Tumwater location. Some services at the e-Library in Yelm would be discontinued as well.”

“‘Over the past few years, TRL has reached the point where revenues are not keeping up with expenditures,’ the plan reads. ‘If we were to make no changes, TRL anticipates a deficit approximating $700,000 for 2019 and 2020,'” by Logan Stanley, The Olympian.
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Blogger Klein is a former member and chair of the Yelm Library Citizens Advisory Board.


– UPDATE: October 2, 2018
Yelm Councilor Molly Carmody reported the ofllowing on her Facebook page
“[At the study session tonight] Tad Stillwell expressed his dismay that we haven’t decided what to do with the future ex-City Hall building yet. He suggested that we move the library from the condo that we own (its current location) to the City Hall building, sell the condo back to the building owner, and save that much more money on condo fees that we pay. We’ve heard from Boys and Girls Club, and the Veterans folks, but we haven’t actually heard from the library folks. We decided to fast track that discussion to November’s study session. We also asked that the City provide us with the contract that we have with the library, so that we may review it.”


– UPDATE: October 3, 2018
“Timberland Library committee will recommend that capital facilities plan be rejected”
By Rolf Boone, The Olympian.
Read more


– UPDATE: October 10, 2018
“Timberland Regional Library board votes to hit pause on branch-closing capital facilities proposal”
By Rolf Boone, The Olympian.
Read more

Nisqually River Council


– “Nisqually Watershed Festival” – Sat. Sept. 29
“Join us for a FREE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY celebration of the Nisqually Watershed community!
Saturday, September 29th, 2018
10am to 4pm
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

“The 29th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival is an annual celebration of nature featuring art, discovery, music and family fun. This year’s festival will include a number of displays from local organizations, walking tours, the Insect Extravaganza, a salmon barbecue and other great coffee and food options. Be sure to bring your own t-shirt to the festival to make a fish print with a Nisqually salmon!”

Join us for these family friendly activities:

* Paint a wood fish to decorate next year’s festival
* Make a salmon lifecycle keychain
* Paint a salmon to make a paper print or a t-shirt (bring your own or buy one at the festival!)
* See a live raptor show
* Learn about hiking do’s and don’ts from the Olympia Mountaineers
* See a real eagle’s nest
* Tour the Insect Extravaganza hall to learn about the fascinating world of bugs
* Take a tour of the Nisqually nearshore
* And much, much more!!

“Festival parking will be at River Ridge High School, 350 River Ridge Drive, Lacey, with a free shuttle to the Refuge running every 15 minutes.”
Read more


– UPDATE: September 29, 2018
“Nisqually Watershed Festival draws colorful animals and painted fish.”
“Dress as your favorite animal for the wildlife costume parade at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge’s annual Watershed Festival.”
By Tony Overman, The Olympian.
Click here for the video.

Photo credit: Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment (RSE)
Copyright © 2018 JZ Knight. Used with permission.


Click here for more information and to order.


– From JZ Knight’s “A STATE OF MIND” – ABRIDGED AUDIO BOOK
“JZ Knight is the unique channel of Ramtha and author of the best-selling autobiography, A State of Mind, My Story. In this abridged edition recorded in her own voice in 1987, hear JZ Knight share the fascinating story of her early life and spiritual odyssey.

“JZ Knight and Ramtha have captivated and inspired audiences worldwide for over four decades, bridging ancient wisdom and the power of consciousness together with the latest discoveries in science.”

An abridgement of A State of Mind, My Story.
Copyright © 1987 and 2018 by JZ Knight
Total playing time: Approximately 120 minutes.
Click here to order yours!

Credit: Thurston County Emergency Management


– Thurston County Emergency Preparedness Expo
Disasters Happen #Preparenow!
Saturday, September 29, 2018
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Baptist Church
1315 Sussex Ave. E, Tenino
Click here for the activities and vendor list.


– “Presidential Proclamation on National Preparedness Month, 2018”
“National Preparedness Month is a time to focus our attention on the importance of preparing our families, homes, businesses, and communities for disasters that threaten our lives, property, and homeland. During this time, we also honor the brave men and women who selflessly respond to crises and disasters, rendering aid to those in need. These first responders, who work tirelessly to safeguard our Nation and protect our citizens, deserve our utmost gratitude and appreciation.”
Click here for the full proclamation.

– “United Way Hosts 26th Annual Day of Caring”
“On Sept. 28, over 500 volunteers will organize throughout Thurston County to give back to their community. More than 20 different project sites will serve a variety of local organizations in need.

“‘United Way of Thurston County fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community — and we take that fight to many fronts,’ said Chris Wells, the executive director of United Way of Thurston County.”

“Projects range from pulling invasive plant species to painting and landscaping low-income homes. For many of these participants, this day of volunteerism will replace a regular day at the office,” quoting South Sound Business.
Read more


– “What We Do”
“Improve lives, strengthen our communities, and advance equity by mobilizing the caring power of people in Thurston County,” from United Way of Thurston County.
Read more

– “Bail set at $150,000 for Yelm man accused of attempting to kill his wife”
“Bail was set at $150,000 Monday for a Yelm man and active-duty soldier at Joint Base Lewis-McChord who allegedly attempted to kill his wife Sunday morning [covered here previously].

“Jermaine F. McKenney, 31, made his preliminary appearance in Thurston County Superior Court before Commissioner Nathan Kortokrax.

“McKenney was arrested on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder, but after review by the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office, the state sought attempted murder in the first degree/domestic violence,” by Rolf Boone, The Olympian.
Read more


– “Thurston County firefighter placed on paid leave after fight”
“A Thurston County firefighter has been placed on paid leave after he was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault Friday night [Sept. 21].”

“SE Thurston Fire Chief Mark King [based in Yelm] said Monday [Sept. 24] that the man, who he described as a career firefighter with 10 years’ experience, was immediately place on paid administrative leave,” by Rolf Boone, The Olympian.
Read more

– UPDATED
“Bail set at $5,000 for Thurston County firefighter involved in fight”
“Bail was set at $5,000 Monday for Lance D. Casto, a Southeast Thurston County firefighter who was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault in Bucoda Friday night [Sept. 21].”

“Oct. 9 was the date set for Casto’s arraignment,” by Rolf Boone And Logan Stanley, The Olympian.
Read more

– Editor’s note:
After a Yelm active-duty military resident fired shots at his wife in a domestic dispute in a neighborhood with children, this should be a warning that Yelm may have a health crisis, as has been noted in other Thurston cities and in the county.

This blog has covered the rapid rise of health issues that have overtaken our community, such as and not limited to: rising crime, domestic/spousal abuse, homelessness, addiction/substance abuse, poverty, & PTSD.

Doing nothing is no longer an option!
Yelm is no longer a small town- growth here requires a big city response!
We have a mayor that has years of service seeing these issues as an emergency responder, retiring from his last post at the Tumwater Fire Department in 2013, a much larger city with varied health issues to which he was exposed.

Mayor Foster should bring his experience to Yelm’s council to address the facts that his city may be in engulfed in a health crisis!
________________________________________________

– “Yelm man arrested after allegedly firing shot at his wife, police say”
“A 31-year-old Yelm man was booked on Sunday [Sept. 23] into the Thurston County Jail on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder and two counts of reckless endangerment, according to Yelm police.

“Officers responded about 4:40 a.m. to a report of shots fired during a domestic dispute in the 16000 block of Prairie Heights Road [off Vancil near Safeway].”

“In addition to police, a member of the man’s chain of command responded to the incident because he is active-duty military, police Sgt. Adam Wood said Sunday [Sept. 23],” by Rolf Boone, The Olympian.
Read more


– UPDATE: September 24, 2018, 1pm
– “Thurston County firefighter placed on paid leave after fight”
“A Thurston County firefighter has been placed on paid leave after he was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault Friday night.

“He was booked into jail early Saturday and is set to appear in court Monday afternoon, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.”

“SE Thurston Fire Chief Mark King [based in Yelm] said Monday [Sept. 24] that the man, who he described as a career firefighter with 10 years’ experience, was immediately place on paid administrative leave,” by Rolf Boone, The Olympian.
Read more

credit: WSDOT


– From the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
OPEN HOUSE: SR 510 – Yelm Loop – New Alignment Phase 2
* Save the date: Community members are invited to view the proposed design for this project.
* WSDOT will host an open house to discuss the latest project details and answer questions.
* The open house will be held 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, Yelm Community Center.


Next steps:
WSDOT is undertaking a Practical Solutions process to move forward on this project. WSDOT has re-engaged stakeholders and is taking a fresh look at previous project plans. The fresh look will include reviewing the project’s purpose and need to ensure the proposed design is still appropriate and will provide intended benefits. The process includes evaluating traffic control at each intersection along the proposed alignment, and updating the project’s environmental documents.

The End Result:
In this project, crews will build the 3 remaining miles of SR 510 between Cullens Road and 170th Street Southeast. The new connection, like the previously built Phase 1, is proposed to be a two-lane highway with bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Read more

Check out the updates at yelmloop.com!