Affected Area: Southwest Interior includes Yelm and vicinity
WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations up to 3 inches.
WHERE…Southwest Interior.
WHEN…From 10 PM this evening to 10 PM PST Saturday.
IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Snow totals will be localized in nature due to isolated snow showers. Not all locations will receive accumulating snow tonight through Saturday.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Slow down and use caution while traveling. Prepare for possible power outages.
Mark your calendar—on February 15, 2025, the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad officially reopens, and this year, we’re making history!
For the first time in years, we’re offering expanded routes on our newly restored track. This means longer journeys, fresh scenery, and more opportunities to experience the magic of steam-powered rail travel.
And that’s not all. Our 2025 season brings exciting special events to make your ride even more memorable:
Brunch Excursions: Start your day with a delicious meal aboard our scenic ride through the forest.
Easter Celebrations: Celebrate spring with family-friendly Easter Bunny Express, complete with fun activities for everyone – tractor rides, egg hunts, and more!
Scenic Adventures: From picturesque views of Mt. Rainier to immersive journeys through the region’s historic landscapes, every trip is a chance to create unforgettable memories. Whether you’re here for the steam engines, the stunning views, or our festive events, there’s something for everyone this season. Seats are limited, and our first excursions are already booking fast. Don’t miss your chance to ride the rails and see Mt. Rainier in a whole new way.
Tumwater School District Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations Ben Rarick discussed a redistricting petition with the Tumwater School District Board of Directors at a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. Credit: JOLT staff photo via YouTube.
Residents file petition to move children from Yelm to Tumwater School District
Residents of a Yelm neighborhood have petitioned to change their area’s school district boundary from Yelm Community Schools (YCS) to Tumwater School District (TSD).
A total of 54.5% of residents from the Sunwood Lakes Community at Egret Drive SE signed off on a citizen petition to Capital Educational Service District (ESD) 113 Superintendent Flip Herndon on Nov. 1, 2024.
Ben Rarick, Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations, discussed the petition to the TSD Board of Directors at a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 23.
The petitioners’ reasons for the redistricting are unreliable bus transportation, YCS’s failed levy, neighborhood division, school schedule, geographic considerations and current enrollment issues.
Reliable transportation
“One of the reasons that these citizens have petitioned to be part of the Tumwater School District is the reliability of the transportation program in the Tumwater School District,” Rarick said.
The residents, who filed the petition, wrote that the distance to each school that schoolchildren would attend in the TSD is closer than the nearest school in the YCS.
“Bus transportation in the Yelm School District has been inconsistent, making it difficult for children to get to and from school on time. During the 2023-2024 school year, delays and cancellations both to and from school became a (bimonthly) occurrence,” the petitioners stated.
Residents of the community at Egret Drive SE, Thurston County, stated in their petition that the proposal would let six school-age children next school year avail of TSD Bus Route Trip 121 (Vehicle 5).
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Other reasons
The petitioners included other reasons in filing the petition.
Failed levy: YCS failed its most recent levy; and the petitioners claim they received no pamphlets or handouts about the levy, “showing a lack of concern from the school district.”
Neighborhood division: Petitioners said that other parts of the neighborhood already fall within the TSD boundaries. The current divisions between the school districts create confusion and disparity among children and families nearby.
School schedule: YCS’s late start on Wednesdays poses significant challenges to the neighborhood’s working parents, while TSD’s early release on Fridays is much easier for working families to arrange child care or leave work, the petitioners stated.
Geographic considerations: The petitioners explained that the neighborhood is isolated from the greater Yelm community by Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Nisqually Reservation and protected lands. In addition, most of the residents’ economic activity occurs west of Yelm, and recreational activities for children take place in the Tumwater-Olympia-Lacey area.
Current enrollment issues: Only one out of the four families with school-age children on the street will be sending their children to YCS next year.
Process
The Thurston County Auditor has verified the petition’s signatures, and Herndon has advised the two districts to reach an agreement in 90 days.
The directors have been asked to designate a representative to enter into negotiations for the 90-day period, which ends on March 20.
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TSD aims to schedule a negotiation session with YCS from February to March and set a deadline for the adopted decision or agreement before the March 20 deadline.
The directors will decide on the representative at a later date.
The Yelm Dollars for Scholars (YDFS) 30th annual Auction and Dinner is right around the corner.
An online silent auction will run from Feb. 28 to Mar. 7, and a dinner and live auction will be held on March 8.
YDFS is a community-sponsored nonprofit organization that started in 1991 and provides educational scholarships to senior students pursuing higher education.
Auction proceeds directly support Yelm High School graduates with scholarships for students pursuing further education and training.
“The program has raised and distributed $3 (million) in scholarships over the last 29 years, and we are grateful to have your support as we continue our mission to help break down financial barriers to education,” the event website stated.
The auctions are not bidding fee auctions, as YDFS conducts a charity auction and adheres to all state and federal regulations.
According to the organization, this year’s goal is to raise $175,000 for the Class of 2025.
The community may join by attending the online or live auction, donating cash or items, sponsoring or participating in the Taste of the Prairie dinner.
Online Silent Auction
The online silent auction bidding will open on Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. and close on March 7 at 8 p.m.
Interested participants are encouraged to create an account early in order to receive notifications via the link in the website’s header.
Live Auction
The live auction and dinner will be held on March 8, starting at 5 p.m., at Lake Lawrence Lodge.
The event fee includes dinner, two drink tickets and a chance to bond with the community. An early bird table of eight costs $400, and early bird admission for one would cost $55.
An additional bottle of wine is sold at $30, an additional wine ticket is $7 and an additional beer ticket is $5.
Attendees may also purchase additional drink tickets online or at the event.
Donations
The community may also participate by donating cash or items. YDFS allows cash donations via credit or debit card online.
Item donations are accepted through a drop-off point at the Yelm Prairie Christian Center at 501 NE 103 Ave. NE Yelm.
YDFS notes that if an individual cannot drop off an item, they can make a note and the organization will arrange to pick it up.
Items are accepted until Feb. 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays through Thursdays.
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Taste of the Prairie
Another way to help YDFS raise its $175,000 goal for upcoming scholars is to participate in the Taste of the Prairie dining event.
This event involves visiting local dining businesses on specific schedules, where part of the sales on that day are donated to YDFS.
The next schedule is on Friday, Feb. 7, at El Ray Burro, followed on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at Steele Barrel BBQ.
Dining at Puerta Vallarta on the last Wednesday of the month, Feb. 26, will also contribute to the fundraising efforts.
On March 25, the community may visit Masonry Café to dine and help raise funds for scholars.
U.S. Airmen and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency personnel prepare to load deportees onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Tucson International Airport in Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 23, 2025. Under the direction of U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Transportation Command is supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement removal flights by providing military airlift. Credit: Dept. of Defense photo by Senior Airman Devlin Bishop via yahoo!news.
Are Trump administration deportation flights using planes from Joint Base Lewis-McChord?
Cargo planes from Joint Base Lewis-McChord are being used in the Trump administration’s ramped-up deportation of immigrants in the country illegally, The News Tribune has learned.
Military public affairs would not confirm the involvement of planes from the 62nd Airlift Wing, but photos provided by Davis-Mothan Air Force Base show airmen and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency personnel loading immigrants onto McChord-based C-17 planes at Tucson International Airport on Thursday [Jan. 23, 2025].
“Due to security reasons we cannot identify the crews who are involved, which missions nor where the planes are based,” said U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) spokesperson Nate Allen.
Allen said three C-17 flights took deportees to Guatemala. The first two planes headed to Colombia were turned around mid-flight when that country refused to accepted the deportees. On Tuesday, Colombia agreed to take immigrant flights.
Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne on declaring Olympia as a sanctuary city: “We don’t necessarily want to have to declare our city a sanctuary for immigrants and political refugees and reproductive rights and now LGBTQIA2S+ people, but it’s because of that preoccupation with who we are that’s why we’re here.” Credit: JOLT Staff photo via Zoom
The Olympia City Council voted unanimously to declare the city a sanctuary for individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
This declaration, which was made on Tuesday, Jan. 28, comes as the federal government under the current administration recognizes only two sexes, male and female, and continues to roll back protections and rights for the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
In a resolution, the city council declared Olympia a sanctuary for LGBTQIA2S+ people.
It recognized that members of the community face threats and systemic barriers, and there is a need for sanctuary city protections.
Olympia affirms individuals’ rights to access gender-affirming care, engage in supportive speech and expression, and define their gender and sexuality.
The city also commits to not dedicating resources to enforcing laws that do not support these rights, and making such enforcement a low priority.
It also vowed to actively oppose any legislation or action or actions at the state or federal level that threaten the rights, safety or dignity of LGBTQIA2S+ individuals.
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[Mayor Dontae] Payne [who identifies himself as an LGBTQIA2S+ individual] emphasized his commitment to the Constitution, stating that he has taken the oath to defend the Constitution four times — twice when he was enlisted in the Army, once as a council member and once as mayor.
The mayor believes the Constitution “speaks of promoting the general welfare of our people and to promote the blessings of liberty. And those blessings of liberty mean that we have the right to be who we are.”
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Payne said the city is “being forced to have to do this” to declare Olympia a sanctuary as a result of increasing challenges to the rights of this community. He said the resolution affirms and celebrates the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
Thurston County is pleased to announce that it has received a clean accountability audit report from the Washington State Auditor’s Office for the period January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.
The Thurston County Auditor’s Financial Services team earned its 18th consecutive Annual Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. This recognition is awarded by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and highlights the county’s exceptional financial reporting practices.
“The Thurston County Auditor’s Office places the highest priority on fiscal integrity, achieved through strict compliance, robust controls, and the dedication of an outstanding accounting team across the county,” said Mary Hall, Thurston County Auditor. Hall oversees the Auditor’s Financial Services Division and serves as the county’s Chief Financial Officer.
The GFOA award enhances the county’s ability to qualify for grants, can improve its bond rating, and reassures taxpayers that their funds are managed with accountability and integrity.
Thurston County is among a select group of Washington counties that exceed the State Auditor’s minimum requirements by producing an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). The Certificate of Achievement recognizes the ACFR for the 2023 fiscal year, the most recent report available.
The Auditor’s Financial Services Team provides financial services and guidance to Thurston County offices and departments, including accounting, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, financial reporting, grants management, and budget.
When the Sound of Music was released in 1965 it took the world by storm, earning five Oscars.
For millions of people, the film is the rare combination of a powerful and moving story, first rate music, and breathtaking scenery of Salzburg!
The musical tells the story of Maria, who takes a job as governess to a large family while she decides whether to become a nun.
She falls in love with the children and their widowed father, Captain von Trapp. He is ordered to accept a commission in the German navy, but he opposes the Nazis. He and Maria decide to flee from Austria with the children.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to run around in the Mirabell Gardens or see the wedding church in Mondsee with your own eyes? Look now further and check out the Original Sound of Music Tour® by Salzburg Panorama Tours!
Preparing vials of blood at the American Red Cross National Testing Laboratory in San Diego on July 20, 2004, in San Diego, California. Credit: yahoo!news.
▪ Bloodworks Northwest:Appointments can be made at bloodworksnw.org or 800-398-7888.
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Blood shortage prompts ‘Code Red Emergency’ alert in South Sound region
A major South Sound blood-collection agency says it has only half the donation appointments it needs to supply the region’s hospitals. Bloodworks Northwest declared a “code red emergency blood shortage” Monday.
“We feel the effects of people who haven’t donated over the holidays,” spokesperson John Yeager said. That annual phenomenon combined with severe winter storms across the country has created the dire need.
Recent storms have blanketed parts of the nation as far south as Texas and Louisiana with snow. That impacts people’s abilities to reach donation centers.
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Bloodworks Northwest is asking donors in Western Washington and Oregon to book appointments to make up for the shortage. Currently, the agency has 25,000 open appointments from now into February, Yeager said.
Type O negative, or universal donor, is especially needed.
“Code Red means we’re running out of blood to concerning levels,” said Curt Bailey, president & CEO of Bloodworks Northwest. “Bloodworks is providing local hospitals with more Type O than is being donated locally, which depletes the supply.”
A code red is declared after four consecutive days of emergency blood levels, Yeager said.
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The American Red Cross is also experiencing a shortage due to the winter storms and fires in southern California, which have impacted donations. Red Cross spokesperson Betsy Robertson said her agency has a 15,000 blood and platelet donation deficit in January.
“We are actively working everywhere conditions will allow people to get to blood-donation centers so we don’t go into a severe situation,” Roberson said.
Where to donate
▪ Bloodworks Northwest:Appointments can be made at bloodworksnw.org or 800-398-7888.
▪ American Red Cross: Blood drives can be found at redcrossblood.org/give or 800-733-2767.
Ask questions and share concerns with city officials
