+ Position 2: Joseph Richardson: “Richardson, 38, is an associate pastor and administrative assistant for an insurance company with a Yelm High School education and minister’s certification. Married and father to one, he has held no public office, but noted he is the Yelm Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors president elect, a member of the Yelm Police Department’s Independent Investigation Team and the committee chair for Young Life Highway 507,” quoting the Nisqually Valley News, July 13, 2021.
+ Position 6: Line Roy: “’I’m really proud to call Yelm home,’ said Roy, who is the executive director of the Yelm Chamber of Commerce. ‘I want to continue to say that. I think my vision for Yelm over the next five, 10 years, is (for it) to continue being a family-friendly, fun place to be. We’re a city that loves to invite tourists. I definitely want to see it grow sustainably and continue to have that small-town feel with all of the amenities that a large city offers,’” quoting the Nisqaully Valley News, October 12, 2021.
The Chamber policy is to refer their members exclusively and to support small businesses.
However, would the Chamber’s 4 members on the council also be ecumenical in championing large businesses, i.e. a big box store like Target wanting to enter the Yelm market? Or Marriott wanting to open a Courtyard Hotel here, which would compete with the Prairie Hotel? Or AMC Theaters wanting to build a multiplex here, competing with the local theater?
In addition to Executive Director Roy,3 council members are in businesses that are Chamber members (Crossman/PTL Hardwood Floors, Kaminski/Windemere Real Estate, Richardson/Yelm Prairie Christian Center). They and Ms. Roy are going to have to be very cautious about even an appearance of a conflict of interest, as these four can be perceived as council’s quorum in their voting block for the Chamber.
Two Chamber Board members (Ms. Roy & Mr. Richardson), a current member/former Chamber Board member (Ms. Kaminski), and current member (Mr. Crossman) can have the potential to unduly influence the council implicitly.
There may not have been a thorough due diligence by every city council member on the entanglement of these relationships.
This city council has now become very conservative in their ideology. Hopefully, they will also be more fiscally conservative and responsible in comparison to the councils of the previous 12 years.
“Massachusetts is changing how hospitals report COVID-19 hospitalizations as some patients test positive for the virus after being in the hospital.” Credit: Kyle Green, AP via The Olympian
McClatchy Newspapers:Health officials let COVID-infected staff stay on the job – Health authorities around the U.S. are increasingly taking the extraordinary step of allowing nurses and other workers infected with the coronavirus to stay on the job if they have mild symptoms or none at all.
Jan. 6th Committee Chair Bennie Thompson and Vice Chair Liz Cheney testify before the House Rules Committee, seeking contempt of Congress charges against former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, at the Capitol on Dec. 14, 2021.” Credit: J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo, via Politico
The Washington Post: Trump, Giuliani and Brooks urge judge to toss Jan. 6 lawsuits in hearing yesterday – citing incendiary statements by them and others last Jan. 6 prior to the Capitol riot were protected speech and in line with their official duties. [Ed. note: This case being tossed is probably not going to happen. Ya think!]
City of Yelm Government Facebook post: Congratulations to the new Mayor and City Council who took office on January 1st. Front: Mayor Joe DePinto, Rear: Councilor James Blair, Interim City Administrator Todd Stancil, Councilors Joshua Crossman, Holly Smith, Brian Hess, Terri Kaminski.
“What a busy but super productive first week in office. We accomplished so much and I’m loving having the ability to transform the culture at city hall and create positive change for the community that has given me so much throughout my life.
“I am meeting with every single city employee and really appreciated hearing their ideas and suggestions on how to improve operations for both the employees and the people we serve. One major change we are going to consider is changing business hours at city hall to Monday-Thursday 7am-6pm, giving those working folks more time to access city services at a time more convenient for them.
“Another big thing that happened this week was we came to a tentative agreement with the Teamsters Union (they rep most of the public works employees) for a new working contract. This was supposed to happen last year but talks stalled. I really enjoyed negotiating and working with the city team and Teamsters team to reach an agreement that was fiscally responsible for the taxpayers but also fair and equitable for our hard working employees at Public Works.
“There’s so much I want to talk about for our accomplishments this week but ill stop on a subject that I know folks are going to be excited to hear about. Yesterday I spoke with the CEO of South Sound YMCA and we agreed that we should start those conversations up again. Next month I will be speaking to the Y’s Board of Directors on how we can bring a Yelm Branch YMCA to fruition.
“It’s been an amazing first week in office and I can’t wait for Monday to come around and get back at it. Have a great weekend everyone!“
Well known around Yelm, Adam’s Bagels owner Adam Dealan-de takes his tasty bagels on the road for “if you know, you know” delivery. Photo credit: Tony Overman, The Olympian
“My current book, “The Real Anthony Fauci,” may be the most heavily footnoted volume to ever sit atop global best-seller lists for six consecutive weeks. With 500,000 copies sold, it has attracted a whopping 5,500+ five-star reviews (92%).
“Despite extreme hostility toward this volume from mainstream media and the medical cartel, no one has yet identified a factual inaccuracy in its 250,000 words.
“If my book is baseless conspiracy theories, then shouldn’t Mr. Tapper welcome an opportunity to correct me with facts or arguments that go beyond name-calling?”
“I-5 reopens in Washington state earlier than expected following flood closure”
“Hours after rising floodwaters prompted the closure of a 20-mile stretch of Interstate 5 in Thurston and Lewis counties, state officials reopened the interstate Friday, saying the water receded faster than expected.
Both directions of the interstate were reopened between Chehalis and Grand Mound, Washington about 1 p.m., according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. State officials previously predicted that the closure could last until Sunday. The Chehalis and Skookumchuck rivers, swollen from rain and melting snow, were not expected to crest until later Friday,” quoting The News-Tribune (Tacoma).
“Lacey has closed Rainier Road, south of the Horizon Pointe neighborhood at the train tracks, after the area began to flood, the City Council learned late Thursday.” Credit: City of Lacey Courtesy via The Olympian
“Lacey has closed Rainier Road Southeast, south of the Horizon Pointe neighborhood at the train tracks, after the area began to flood, the City Council learned late Thursday.”
“City Manager Scott Spence announced the closure, saying the area was under about six inches of water. Heavy rains have pounded the area and are expected to continue through Saturday.
“Spence said the road could reopen this weekend, but he also pointed out that more rain is in the forecast for next week,” quoting The Olympian.
