Steve Klein addresses current issues impacting Yelm and vicinity and provides a meeting place for anyone with an interest in this area to provide their ideas and opinions
Statement from Gov. Jay Inslee, Washington: “We’ve continued to monitor data from our state Department of Health, and have determined we are able to adjust the timing of our statewide mask requirement. While this represents another step forward for Washingtonians, we must still be mindful that many within our communities remain vulnerable. Many businesses and families will continue choosing to wear masks, because we’ve learned how effective they are at keeping one another safe. As we transition to this next phase, we will continue to move forward together carefully and cautiously.”
In Washington, indoor mask requirements will be lifted as of 11:59 p.m. on March 11. This new date does not change any other aspect of the updated mask requirements Inslee announced last week. Masks will still be required in certain settings including health care, corrections facilities, and long-term care facilities. The Washington State Department of Health will be issuing new guidance for K-12 schools next week so schools can prepare to implement updated safety protocols.
Portions of northwest Washington and west central Washington, including the following counties, in northwest Washington, Grays Harbor, Mason, Skagit and Whatcom. In west central Washington, King, Lewis, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston
FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
WHAT…Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
WHERE…Portions of northwest Washington and west central Washington, including the following counties, in northwest Washington, Grays Harbor, Mason, Skagit and Whatcom. In west central Washington, King, Lewis, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston. WHEN…From late tonight through Wednesday afternoon.
IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Heavy rain tonight through Monday night for the Cascades and Olympics. Rivers flowing off the Olympics could begin flooding tonight. Rivers flowing off the Cascades could begin flooding on Monday. – http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS
ACTIONS…You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
Over 100,000 gathered in Berlin’s Tiergarten park on Feb. 27 to protest the ongoing war in Ukraine. Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images via The Washington Post
“A photo tweet sent from the Simpsons’ official account depicts Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and baby Maggie holding Ukrainian flags in unison with a caption reading, ‘#TheSimpsons#Simpsons#Ukraine.’”
Seattle Space Needle Credit: Tim Durkan Tweet“The Empire State Building lit in the colors of the Ukrainian flag on Friday.” Credit: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images via The New York TimesThe Colosseum in Rome on Thursday. Credit: Filippo Monteforte/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images via The New York TimesThe London Eye on Friday. Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images via The New York TimesThe Eiffel Tower, Paris Credit: La Tour Eiffel Tweet#ZakimBridge Boston, Massachusetts USA, via Mass. TransportationThe Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Credit: Paul Zinken/DPA via the AP, via The New York TimesThe I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis. Credit: Minnesota Dept. of TransportationSarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina – A small group of citizens gather in front of the Sarajevo City Hall lit up with the colors of the Ukrainian flag, Feb. 24, 2022. The UN refugee agency said around 100,000 people had fled their homes in Ukraine and several thousand more had left the country since neighboring Russia invaded early on February 24. Credit: Elvis Barukcic/AFP via Getty Images from KNTV –NBC, San Jose, CA.
“Don’t tell me America doesn’t care what happens outside America. #StandWithUkraine“ Standing with Ukraine. Downtown Dallas. Credit: RT: Eric Rep. Swallwell “A woman holds an anti-Putin poster during a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in front of the Russian representative office in Pristina, Kosovo.” Credit: AFP via Getty Images, and Daily Kos.
“A woman reacts Thursday as she waits for a train trying to leave Kyiv, Ukraine. An invasion by Russian troops into Ukraine has heightened tensions around the world and caused many residents of Kyiv to flee the city.” Credit: Emilio Morenatti, AP, via The Olympian.
Ed. note: As LGBTQ rights are coming under assault in many states, gay marriage is also in the cross hairs. Former Supreme Court Justice Kennedy wrote on Love and Marriage in 2015, which is a guidepost that is still pertinent to this day! Click here for this beautiful perspective.
The Defender: 400,000 Cases of COVID Vaccine Injuries Found in Data Analyzed by German Health Insurer – A German health insurer BKK ProVita said an analysis of data collected from more than 10 million people suggests COVID vaccine side effects are “significantly” underreported. The company said its analysis revealed a “significant alarm signal” and said “a risk to human life cannot be ruled out.”
+ NVN: Several Housing Developments Slated for Yelm – “Mayor Joe DePinto noted that Yelm is one of Washington’s 10 fastest growing cities during his “State of the City” speech on Feb. 8. That trend is expected to continue in 2022 and beyond, as numerous housing projects in the city are under development, according to DePinto.” [Ed. note: Yelm is poised for explosive growth!]
Editor’s note: Last Saturday (February 19), I was proud to have been invited to attend the campaign Zoom kick-off for the reelection of Mary Hall as Thurston County Auditor. Hall has brought a level of integrity and transparency in public process that has garnered accolades from around the state and country.
I endorse Mary Hall in her reelection campaign to continue instilling confidence and security in audits and elections during these challenging times.
Thurston needs someone of Mary’s caliber to continue her quality of management.
Click here to learn more about Mary and contribute to her campaign.
Auditor Mary Hall is an award winning public servant who was elected County Auditor in 2013, re-elected in 2014 and 2018. Prior to being elected she spent 17 years as an elections administrator in Pierce County. She is a nationally certified Elections Administrator.
Formed an award winning cybersecurity task force and worked with Homeland Security to ensure your vote is safe.
Has made the Ballot Processing Center more secure than ever.
Worked to break down barriers to voting by advocating for voter access legislation and stronger audits.
Began publishing local voters pamphlets for special elections.
Opened additional drop boxes making it more convenient for voters to return their ballots.
Cut the wait time from 4 – 6 weeks to same day for vehicle and vessel titles by introducing Quick Title services.
Has saved the county tens of thousands of dollars by taking advantage of vendor discounts and changing how and when we pay vendors.
Due to clean financial audits, Mary Hall has moved Thurston County from high risk to low-risk category saving tens of thousands of dollars in audit costs.
Rewrote materials in plain language to make government documents easier to understand.
Broke down silos working across departments in the county sharing resources.
Many readers of The JOLT may not be aware of recent news from southeast Thurston County: Yelm. Olympia is well known for the iconic state capital building, Lacey is building a railroad station to represent ties to its past, and Tumwater’s connections to the Falls and Brewery are classic.
Now Yelm has a newly restored, iconic symbol with the recent restoration and dedication of its historic water tower.
As a Yelm arts advocate, Steve Craig always says, “Everything always starts with a conversation.” Steve served on the Board of the now-dissolved Yelm Business Association (YBA) as the Arts Committee Chair, and first suggested in 2016 that the dilapidated and decommissioned Yelm water tower could have both historic and artistic significance. The 125-foot-tall, 50,000-gallon water tower was built in 1946 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, and is one of a dwindling number of such water towers in the United States. This is the same company that built the iconic Warner Brothers Water Tower in Burbank, CA.
Doors opened for Craig, as he contacted several people throughout his mission to promote his idea of saving the tower, which was being considered for demolition by the city. Craig formed the non-profit “Save the Historic Yelm Water Tower” group and they succeeded in getting the tower onto the state’s historic register, the only such tower to have that status in Washington State. The group then garnered $150,000 in state money to be used to refurbish the structure; Craig credits Washington State Rep. J.T. Wilcox for sponsoring the project and getting it into the state’s capital budget.
Craig turned again to Rep. Wilcox with a proposal to illuminate the tower with computerized lighting inspired by the Seattle Space Needle. Wilcox was then successful in securing $300,000 in the next capital budget for lighting, fencing, landscaping and an interpretive kiosk. The LED computerized lighting system came from the Czech Republic.
The City of Yelm held a ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating the restoration on November 23, 2021, at the Yelm Community Center, which faces the tower. The ceremonial light was turned on at dusk to the music from 2001 Space Odyssey, as the tower lighted Yelm’s night sky.
The Yelm City Council created an Arts Commission in 2021 to which Craig was appointed and elected Chair. He envisions the Historic Yelm Water Tower being utilized as an artistic anchor and stimulus for creativity benefiting the entire Yelm community well into the future. “The art part is that we’re going to use colorful computerized lighting so that we can have a variety of different displays depending on the occasion, such as New Year’s Eve, 4th of July and Seahawks games. I believe not only is it going to be a historic icon, it’s going to be an art piece that people will appreciate year-round,” Craig added. He has received feedback from the state arts commission that Yelm’s tower may now be eligible for the Governor’s Arts and Heritage Award by combining art with history, something the Yelm Arts Commission may pursue.
At the base of the tower will be an interpretive display that will give visitors the history of Yelm’s iconic symbol, joining with the historic structures in Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater. The water tower is located in downtown Yelm, across the street from Yelm City Hall.
