September 2007 Archives

THURSTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING NOW RESCHEDULE TO WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2007

The Yelm Planning Commission met on Monday, September 17, 2007 to review and finalize changes to Yelm's Comprehensive Plan submitted at the August Public Hearing and in written comments due to the Commission by September 4, 2007.

Senior Planner for the Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) & City of Yelm adviser Kathy McCormick told the Yelm Planning Commission at that meeting they must have their Traffic Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan conform or be consistent with with the Thurston County Transportation Plan, as she had been instructed by the State. Therefore, if the Thurston County Plan states that LOS D is the standard as to how regional significance is applied, then Yelm's Plan must follow that standard.

Yelm's plan does not follow that standard, as the Planning Commission left the bottomless, unmeasurable traffic grade of LOS F in their plan.

Bald Hills Fire District's Bill Owen submitted testimony to the Yelm Planning Commission stating "that response times
are growing longer which heavy traffic exacerbates. Response times for mutual aid are also increased by traffic volume." This is declaring that the continued traffic increases approved in Yelm endanger an aspect of public safety - and this is from a fire official.

The Thurston County Planning Commission had a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan scheduled for Wednesday, September 19th and did not have a quorum of its members, so had to postpone this meeting until Wednesday, October 3. NOW THAT MEETING HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, DUE TO A LACK OF A QUORUM.

[Ed. note: This is an embarrassment; that the county cannot get a quorum from nine members of the Planning Commission for 2 scheduled meetings!]

Won't you consider attending this meeting or sending your comments in writing by Wednesday, October 10th.

Aimee Swenson, Associate Planner for Development Services stated to me that anyone who wishes to have their comments be included as part of the public input, may do so in writing by the October 10th meeting.

You may email them directly to her at:
swensoa@co.thurston.wa.us

or via snail mail to:
2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW
Bldg.1, 2nd Floor
Olympia, WA 98502

or Fax:
360-754-2939

Concurrently, you may send your comments to:
Kathy McCormick, Senior Planner
Attn: Thurston Regional Planning Com. (TRPC)
2424 Heritage Ct SW, Suite A
Olympia, WA 98502

or directly to her email: mccormk@trpc.org

Be sure to mark all comments for the Thurston County Planning Commission Public Hearing Oct. 10.
All comments must be received by the close of the hearing on the 10th.

LET'S TELL THE THURSTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION THAT THEIR PARTNER IN THE REGIONAL PLAN, YELM, MUST FOLLOW THAT PLAN AND WE EXPECT THEM TO HOLD YELM ACCOUNTABLE TO DO SO!

THE THURSTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION NEEDS TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM YOU!

Yelm's QFC employees were told Friday morning that the last day of operation of their store is October 27, 2007.

This is a sad day for Yelm and clearly the previously predicted Wal-Mart Effect arriving here.

WILL YOU STOP BY AND WISH THESE FINE FOLKS WELL?
According to my conversation with store personnel, employees have not been told if they will be retained by Kroger and transferred to other area QFC stores, as opposed to permanent layoff.

I WILL MISS THEM AS I PURCHASED TURKEYS FROM THEM EVERY THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS FOR LOCAL FOOD DRIVES.

This location has been one of Yelm's major groceries during the 20 years I have been here:
from the current location's predecessor Thriftway (housed in the Sunbird's building next door), to Stock Market to QFC owned by Fred Meyer, to the current QFC owned by Kroger.

I must add that this is not totally a surprise, as Kroger threw in the towel long ago on this store, evidenced by the lack of competitive marketing and promotions, higher grocery item pricing, and closing the on-site bakery, seafood counter, video and customer service sections. The Wal-Mart Effect was the "nail in the coffin" for this business, no doubt. This is now a huge hole in this shopping center, as there is reportedly 2 years left on the lease, which means a vacancy for at least that long. The traffic drop from the loss of QFC customers will certainly affect other businesses in the Nisqually Plaza.

Is this the first of other Yelm stalwart businesses that will close because the Wal-Mart Effect did them in?

Can Wal-Mart's employee wage scale and large use of part-timers replace these full time Yelm jobs at Kroger?

WHAT SAY YOU?

This story was first published on this blog at 3:51pm on Friday, September 28, 2007.

This story's coverage in The Olympian on Oct. 1, 2007.
[Ed. Note: The Olympian states, "Since it opened 10 years ago, Safeway and Wal-Mart, which opened a Yelm Supercenter in July, have brought competition to Quality Food Centers' store.... "
Safeway opened in Yelm 8 years ago in 1999 and QFC managed all of this time against that competitor directly across the street. Closing 3 months later than Wal-Mart opening earlier this Summer, let's put the timelines into perspective.]

This story's coverage in the Nisqually Valley News on October 5, 2007.

The Blue Bottle has added delicious new Baked Goods to their menu!

Stop by for a yummy treat!
We have an array of really spectacular baked goods for everyones taste, from the classic, to the innovative.
We have a fabulous apple tart. Gourmet cupcakes, like Peanut Butter Cup and chai latte! (We change varieties often) We also have the best muffins in town and the flavors change with the seasons.

We are also now serving delicious soup for those chilly Autumn days.

The Blue Bottle is the meeting place for Yelm.
Come and post your business cards and notices on our bulletin board.
Or, drop by with a friend and play one of our board games.
You are always welcome at the Blue Bottle.

TELL COZETTE, MICHELLE & MELISSA YOU READ ABOUT THEIR NEW LINE OF BAKED GOODS ON
YELM'S FIRST COMMUNITY BLOG!

Yelm's Bllue Bottle
309 Yelm Ave. East
across from Gordon's Garden Center in the heart of Yelm.

Call ahead for your coffee and cakes to go...
458-4611

CONGRATULATIONS TO YELM EARTHWORM & CASTINGS FARM FOR WINNING GOVERNOR'S AWARD

"Yelm Earthworm and Casting Farm owners Kelan Moyagh and Hunt McLean learned they are receiving the 2007 Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices.

The award will be given on Tuesday, Oct. 9...

Last year, Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire honored five Washington businesses and a nonprofit association with the 2006 award.

More than 30 businesses applied for the award this year, and the full list of winners will be released to the public at the beginning of October.

Judges looked primarily for applicants who had made comprehensive and successful efforts to prevent pollution and incorporate sustainable practices into their operations and innovation, leadership and commitment to those efforts...

Yelm Earthworm, located on Lawrence Lake Road, uses red wiggler worms to decompose manure.

Moyagh and Hunt, self-proclaimed recyclers, take the castings - or worm feces - and sell them or mix them with soil to create what they refer to as a supreme soil, which increases growth and productivity in plants...

Yelm Earthworm, located on Lawrence Lake Road, uses red wiggler worms to decompose manure.

Moyagh and Hunt, self-proclaimed recyclers, take the castings - or worm feces - and sell them or mix them with soil to create what they refer to as a supreme soil, which increases growth and productivity in plants...

'Franklin Roosevelt said 'when the soil dies, the nation dies,'" Moyagh said. "It's time for people to wake up and start stepping forward.'

One product that the farm sells is a smaller home casting kit, in which homeowners can put their food scraps in and purchase red wigglers to break them down.

Currently, the farm sells their products to approximately 60 stores in Washington state, and starting in 2008 will be exporting out of Washington," quoting the Nisqually Valley News.

YELM EARTHWORM & CASTINGS FARM
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm
Saturday - 10am to 5pm
Sunday - Closed

We are located, south of Yelm, WA, at 14741 Lawrence Lake Rd. SE.

From Yelm, follow Bald Hills Rd. toward Lawrence Lake.

You'll come to a "Y" at about 5 miles. Bald Hills Rd. curves sharply left; you want to go straight to the stop sign (about 40 yards further). Turn right onto Lawrence Lake Rd. We are around the first curve, on the right. Look for the signs and the beautiful garden areas and the large white buildings.

BE SURE TO TELL KELAN & HUNT YOU READ ABOUT THEIR GOVERNOR'S AWARD ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

Photo courtesy of Yelm-based photographer Guustaaf Damave

CITY OF YELM PRESENTS

You are cordially invited to attend the official opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of Stevens Street NW, Yelm.

When: September 27, 2007
Time: 1 PM
Location: Stevens Street NW

Refreshments will be served.

THIS WRITER CONGRATULATES THE CITY OF YELM, AS I HAVE BEEN USING THIS ARTERY MANY TIMES BYPASSING BLOCKS-LONG TRAFFIC AT THE 507/510 LIGHT. THIS IS A VERY CONVENIENT WAY TO GET FROM 5 CORNERS TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ON TO THE WEST & RETURN, WITH LITTLE DELAY. MUCH EFFORT WENT INTO THIS ARTERY BY CITY STAFF.

The Rev. Dr. Richard W. Banach

Retired United Methodist Minister The Rev. Dr. Richard W. Banach had some very astute observations published in the Nisqually Valley News last week.

"Thank you for courageously printing insightful opinion page cartoons that unmask an imperial presidency. They are reminiscent of an insight I once gained.

I became a minister with the expectation of teaching about the art of living life aglow with God's presence within. But, to my chagrin, some members were not interested.

"They joined the church," one wise member counseled, "because it looks good on their resume."

Ouch!

Many people voted for the Bush II administration because faith and family values looked good on its resume. But, they got more than they bargained for - a hidden agenda.

A great big OUCH!

First, it finagled its way past losing the popular vote in 2000. Then, it bamboozled us with the ultimate "shock and awe" - 9/11. Frightened to death, we surrendered our freedom for its protection. It's turning out to be the false security of Bush I's "New World Order," run by multinational corporations and a vast military-industrial complex.

All of this has an uncanny resemblance with Revelation's "Babylon the Great," a globalized religio-capitalistic domination system of complete control over everything and everyone, by the elite.

Twenty-seven years ago, on Sept. 19, 1980, the evangelical magazine, "Christianity Today," warned its readers that single-issue politics was too narrow a front in battling a moral crusade, and could prove disastrous.

"It could lead to the election of a moron who holds the right view on abortion."
[The quote is from Christianity Today: “Getting God’s Kingdom into Politics.” 9/19/1980, 10 [1031] quoted in Thy Kingdom Come: How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America, An Evangelical’s Lament by Randall Balmer 2006, (New York: Basic Books) p. xvii.]

Fast forward.

Now, we are finally waking up to having been deceived by the slick spin of ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing, the fruit of whose actions is exposing them, Matthew 7:15-20 style.

Let us not retreat into denial, but reclaim our power, and create a better future!

The Rev. Dr. Richard W. Banach

United Methodist minister"

This letter is reprinted in its entirety with permission of the author.

Dr. Banach currently resides in Rainier.
You may write him at: drrichardb@hotmail.com

A. "County plans class on preparedness"
"Thurston County is offering a class on how to prepare for disaster.

A neighborhood preparedness class is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25 at the county's Emergency Operations Center, 2703 Pacific Ave., Olympia.

The free two-hour class is based on the principle that following a major disaster, the most immediate source of help is one's neighbors.

Topics include identification of neighborhood skills and equipment, nine steps to take immediately following a disaster, neighborhood contact lists and identifying locations of natural gas and propane tanks.

• To register for the class, send your name, phone number and agency or neighborhood to Vivian Eason at easonv@

co.thurston.wa.us or fax to 360-786-5582. For more information call 360-786-5243," quoting the Nisqually Valley News.

B.

Abigail M. Haddock

Emergency Manager, Abigail M. Haddock is offering preparedness class at The Ant Preparedness School located at The Survival Center in McKenna.

Repeating last week's class:
Pandemic Preparedness - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center researchers have now proven N1H5 has spread from birds to man and man to man. We are in stage three alert. Do you know how to prepare your family for a pandemic? Learn what supplies are needed to treat family members at home when social distancing is declared. Take this class now while supplies are available! $25
9/26 7-10 pm and 9/26 7-10 pm adults only
[Ed. Note: This writer and his wife are enrolled in the 9/19 class. Won't you join us?]
Sign-up here:
R U Ready? Emergency Preparedness Consulting and Training. Business Continuity, Preparedness and Canning
RUREADY2007@comcast.net 360 705-9818

LOCAL AUTHOR SUZANNE NICHOLS ANNOUNCES HER NEW BOOK

"The launching of the website with the publication of my new book, The Life and Times of Schrodinger's Cat - A Quantum Tale of Love and Entanglement.

I will be doing a book signing on September 29th from 4-7 PM at the Blue Bottle in Yelm.
Books will also be available at JZ Rose and Lemuria in Yelm, as well as directly through the website," quoting Ms. Nichols email.

“What an enchanting tale! I was completely captivated by this delightful blend of fantasy and quantum science. A truly enjoyable, heart warming story.”

– Ronald Mallett, Ph.D.
Professor of Physics at the University of Connecticut, and author of Time Traveler – A Scientist’s Personal Mission to Make Time Travel a Reality


Suzanne Nichols
ManyWorlds Press

Fall arrived in Yelm this morning at 2:51am.

Happy Autumn !

RECYCLE YOUR ITEMS TODAY

"Take a look around your house and more than likely you will find something that could be recycled or re-used.
If your items are on the list below, Thurston County will accept them for free or for a minimal charge during Community Recycle Days.

The event... [is TODAY] Sept. 22 at the county fairgrounds, 3054 Carpenter Road S.E. in Lacey, ... will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Most of the items accepted are recycled with only a few things destined for reuse.

Remember, reuse is always more environmentally friendly than recycling.

Accepted for a small fee:

Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners: $15 each (four appliances per vehicle).

Microwaves, TVs, computer monitors, laptop computers: $10 each.

Computer CPU's, printers, scanners, fax machines, copiers less than 50 pounds: $5 each.

Stoves, dishwashers, washers/dryers, hot water tanks: $5 each (no plastic-cased appliances such as dishwashers).

VCRs, DVD or CD players, stereos, speakers: $2 each.

Tires: $2 each without rims, and $3 each with rims (passenger tires only)

Accepted for free:

Scrap metal including de-valved propane tanks. No barbed wire, no motorized vehicles and no major vehicle parts (check with a scrap metal recycler or wrecking yard).

Bicycles with or without tires.

Electronics: power tools, keyboards, computer mouses, phones (includes cell phones) and printed circuit boards.

Small motors, such as chain saws, string trimmers and outboard boat motors.

Lawnmowers: Push or riding.

Flowerpots: 2-gallon or larger, clean and unbroken

Reusable items for Goodwill Industries: working small kitchen appliances, kitchenware, and clothing.

Before coming to the event, please fill out the county's tally sheet, which saves everyone time at these busy events. The form can be found at www.co.thurston.wa.us/wwm (click on Community Recycle Days in the News and Events section on the left side of the page)," quoting The Olympian.

Representative Tom Campbell
Photo from Representative Campbell's official website

Congratulations are in order for Rep, Tom Campbell's appointment as Chair of the prestigious Environmental Health Committee in our State Capital.
"The Select Committee on Environmental Health considers issues relating to environmental risks potentially affecting human health. Such issues include environmental toxics (PBDE, lead, mercury, arsenic), mold, air pollutants, solid and hazardous waste, contaminated sediments, and food and drinking water safety," quoting Rep. Campbell's site.

Mr. Campbell also serves on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee, which "considers a broad range of issues relating to the provision of physical and mental health care services and strategies to promote better health. Health care service issues include the licensing and regulation of health care facilities (such as hospitals, trauma care centers, and long-term care facilities) and the credentialing of health care providers (such as doctors, nurses, chiropractors, and mental health professionals)."

He also serves on House Transportation Committee, which "considers the transportation budget, revenue sources for transportation funding, and issues relating to transportation policy and transportation agencies, including the Department of Transportation and the Washington State Patrol."

We appreciate Rep. Campbell's support of his constituents in Legislative District 2.

The Olympian states:
Campbell was right
"When it comes to credentialing, the state should set minimum standards for education, supervised training, examinations and experience. Then they should hold applicants against those minimum standards. Individuals who are completing education requirements or are getting supervised instruction should be issued temporary credentials...

A bill to that effect was introduced by Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Roy, this year but died before coming to a final vote thanks to strong lobbying efforts by professional organizations such as the Washington Medical Association. This audit shows that Campbell was right."

Yelm Timberland Regional Library
Photo courtesy of Yelm-based photographer Guustaaf Damave

Kristin Blalack, Yelm Timberland Librarian has announced exciting Fall Programs for our local library, including one today:

Thursday, September 20
Gary Stroutsos, world flute master and cultural storyteller, offers a program of traditional music of the American Indian and the stories behind the songs, passed down through generations. The evening will also include new music for the Xiao and Dize Chinese Bamboo flutes seldom heard outside the walls of China. Gary performed at the library in December '05 and was very well-received.
7-8 PM

Saturday, October 6
Digital Camera 101: Take Your Best Shot
Learn about your digital camera: explore ALL those camera dials and icons, discover hidden settings and decipher your camera manual. Make dazzling images rather than take the same old boring snapshots. Then discover how to manage all those image files once you have them on your memory card. Join photographer, artist and arts educator, Barbra Kates, for this fun and hands-on class. Be prepared to go outside.
1 - 4 PM
The workshop is limited to 15 participants. Sign-up with the library.

Tuesday, October 9
Adult Pageturners Book Discussion Group :
Join in a discussion of Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.
7-8 PM

Wednesday, October 17
Our Past, Our Present: Share Your Memories on video for city archives
Elders of the community are invited to join in a conversation about their life experiences at school, on the farm, with pets, in Yelm…and more. Members of the Yelm Historical Society will facilitate and videotape these sessions as a resource for present and future generations.
3 - 4:30 PM

Saturday, October 20
Digital Camera 201: Beyond Basics
Have you mastered basic digital camera skills and are now ready to use your camera more interactively? Then this workshop is for you. Become one with your camera and discover “Magical Light,” the art of seeing creatively and choosing between “Auto” and “Manual.” Explore the Digital Frontier with photographer, artist and arts educator, Barbra Kates, for this three-hour interactive, hands-on workshop.
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner to Intermediate, Pre-requisite: Digital Camera 101 or equivalent.
1 - 4 PM
The workshop is limited to 20 participants. Sign-up with the library.

Tuesday, October 23
“Lux Aeterna:” a Performance of Classical Music for the Violin
Ian Mardon presents works by Bach, Paganini and Debussy, as well as the American Premiere of Mardon’s newest composition, “Lux Aeterna“. Enjoy the intense, warm tone of his 1775 Guadagnini violin.
7 - 8 PM

Saturday, November 10
Digital Camera 301: Beyond the Camera to the Digital Darkroom
Explore basic computer techniques for downloading photos, managing and organizing image files, manipulating images and creating slide shows using Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0. This workshop is for people who own a PC and have basic computer skills. A pre-class photo assignment will be available when registering at the library.
1 - 4 PM
The workshop is limited to 20 participants. Sign-up with the library.

Tuesday, November 13
Adult Pageturners Book Discussion Group :
Join in a discussion of Peace Like a River by Leif Enger.
7-8 PM

Wednesday, November 14
Our Past, Our Present: Share Your Memories on video for city archives
Elders of the community are invited to join in a conversation about their life experiences at school, on the farm, with pets, in Yelm…and more. Members of the Yelm Historical Society, Yelm Library Board Chair Steve Klein and his wife Yael will facilitate. This session will be videotaped as a resource for present and future generations.
3 - 4:30 PM

Wednesday, November 14
Planet Percussion: Music from the World
Jay Sicilia, founder of Planet Percussion Band, plays an amazing variety of instruments, bringing the rhythms of music and dance from many different parts of the world to Yelm.
7 - 8 PM

Sunday, November 18
Soar with Us: Pursue Your Dreams and Celebrate Your Abilities
Dylan Kuehl, young internationally known performer and artist with Down’s Syndrome, and his teacher/mentor, Marian Lancaster, present a program of creative movement, visual art and poetry. They demonstrate the powerful potential in each of us for turning challenges and perceived limitations into wonderful accomplishments.
2 - 3:30pm

Wednesday, December 5
Our Past, Our Present: Share Your Memories on video for city archives
What are the origins of Yelm? Who are the people who have lived here? Ed Bergh, Yelm High School history teacher, will show slides and talk about how our community has evolved through time.
7 - 8 PM

Tuesday, December 11
Adult Pageturners Book Discussion Group :
Join in a discussion of Dress Your Family in Courduroy and Denim by David Sedaris.
7-8 PM

All programs above Sponsored by the Friends of the Yelm Library except Adult Pageturners.

The Yelm Planning Commission met on Monday, September 17, 2007 to review and finalize changes to Yelm's Comprehensive Plan submitted at the August Public Hearing and in written comments due to the Commission by September 4, 2007.

Senior Planner for the Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) & City of Yelm adviser Kathy McCormick opened the Comprehensive Plan changes part of the meeting with several comments her department received. One of these remarks was in reference to the Transportation Chapter of the Yelm Comprehensive Plan and is as follows:

Chapter 1.9 Highways 507/510 in Yelm designated Highways of State Significance (HSS).
Ms. McCormick stated this listing is incorrect, as she was informed by the State that Highways 507/510 in Yelm are Highways of Regional Significance (non-HSS) and are Level of Service (LOS) D mitigated. Level of service identified as level D is consistent with the regional plan.

The Planning Commission went on to debate for an extended period of time the removal of the word "acceptable" as official city policy for Highways 507/510 with these roads remaining LOS F in the urban core. They stated they did not want the appearance to seem they (& the city council) were accepting LOS F as acceptable, even though they left LOS F in the Plan. LOS F is the lowest grade possible and there is no measurement of how low that grade can go, with traffic gridlock as a result.
This writer sat there dumbfounded at this interchange since Ms. McCormick had just mentioned these roads need to be a minimum LOS D to be consistent with the requirements of the regional plan, rather than Yelm's lower threshold of bottomless LOS F.

At the conclusion of the 1 1/2 hour discussion of the Transportation Chapter of the Comp. Plan, I asked how the Yelm Planning Commission would include LOS D in the Plan for State Highways 507/510. Ms. McCormick's only reply was, "We do have conflict," to which I verbally agreed. (The City of Yelm Plan's Level of Service is F).
A pleasant surprise and rare visitor to this meeting was Mayor Ron Harding, who attended for a portion of the discussion and unfortunately left prior to the Transportation Chapter's conclusion.

To make this simple, here is what all of this means:

With level of service (LOS) D as regional policy on the city's Highways 507/510, Yelm is NOT consistent with the Washington State Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT) & TRPC recommendations with its lower LOS F threshold. THIS IS THE CONFLICT.

For the city to adopt LOS D, they must reduce traffic congestion by one of two ways (or both):
1. Continuing construction of connecting and side streets. The Yelm Bypass should not be considered in this context since the construction is not funded, and even if so, is still 7 years from opening, if at all.

2. Reducing additional local traffic to these roads by no longer approving large traffic generators like housing developments and big box stores.

The Yelm Planning Commission packet (click Comprehensive Plan Update - 2007) for these changes now goes to the Yelm City Council for public comment and approval next month. Yelm City Council member Don Miller said at the July 24, 2007 Council Meeting that Highways 507/510 in Yelm fall under the jurisdiction of WSDOT and the city must surrender to them, so Yelm traffic on those roads is their issue. Mr. Miller, the City of Yelm approved and allowed a Wal-Mart to be built on Highway 507 in the Yelm city limits and I witnessed no requirement for the city to surrender to WSDOT for this project. Mayor Ron Harding said at the same meeting 67% of the traffic in Yelm originates outside of the city and this was not all the city's issue. He told those of us in audience to write about this to our State Legislators. I did.
However, now that the State informed TRPC that Yelm Highways 507/510 under the city's traffic plan have been improperly designated and TRPC declared the Yelm Plan in "conflict" with WSDOT and TRPC recommendations, these agencies will be hearing more about Yelm. Enough of Yelm officials dodging the traffic issue here. As I have said many times, the time has come for a multi-jurisdictional tackling of Yelm's traffic.

To that end, the Thurston County Planning Commission public hearing for Wednesday, September 19 did not have a quorum of the Commission, so is postponed until October 3rd..
This Commission needs to hear from the Yelm community (community is defined as those that use the roads to/from Yelm) that the Yelm Comp. Plan Traffic Chapter is in "conflict" (not my word, rather TRPC's McCormick's) with WSDOT & TRPC recommendations. This will require Thurston County to look into the Yelm Plan's inconsistencies.

WILL YOU PLEASE CONSIDER COMING TO THE THURSTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING WEDNESDAY,
OCTOBER 3RD IN THE THURSTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE, BUILDING 1, ROOM 280 AT 7PM AND SPEAKING UP FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR TOWN?

THE THURSTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION NEEDS TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM YOU!

Amy Swanson, Associate Planner for Development Services stated to me that anyone who wishes to have their comments be included as part of the public input, may do so in writing by the October 3rd meeting.

You may email them directly to her at:
swansoa@co.thurston.wa.us

or via snail mail to:
2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW
Bldg.1, 2nd Floor
Olympia, WA 98502

or Fax:
360-754-2939

Concurrently, you may send your comments to:
Kathy McCormick, Senior Planner
Attn: Thurston Regional Planning Com. (TRPC)
2424 Heritage Ct SW, Suite A
Olympia, WA 98502

or directly to her email: mccormk@trpc.org

Be sure to mark all comments for the Thurston County Planning Commission Public Hearing Oct. 3.
All comments must be received by the close of the hearing on the 3rd.

The case study by Zenith Management Consulting titled "How to Exploit Wal-Mart's Weaknesses" shows that Wal-Mart's "business model is not really low-price,
it is creating perceptions that prices are lower than they really are....

- Low prices matter more to consumers because they think Wal-Mart's are so much lower.

- Consumers forgive Wal-Mart's poor quality, service and convenience because they think Wal-Mart's prices are so low.

-Consumers who shop at Wal-Mart become caught in a self-reinforcing loop that makes them keep shopping there.

-80-85% of Wal-Mart's products are more expensive.

-Masters of manipulating perceptions."

This is a very telling report and demonstrates how Wal-Mart will work to manipulate perceptions and change the framework for the business environment in a town like Yelm.

Read the full PDF of the study for yourself.

Yelm Timberland Regional Library
Photo courtesy of Yelm-based photographer Guustaaf Damave

REMEMBERING ALOUD

Our Past, Our Present:
SHARE YOUR MEMORIES

Wednesdays 3 - 4:30pm
September 19,
October 17 & November 14
Yelm Timberland Library

Elders of the community are invited to join in a conversation about their life experiences at school, on the farm, with pets, in Yelm...and more.

Members of the Yelm Historical Society will facilitate and videotape these sessions as a resource for present and future generations.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Yelm Timberland Library.

A. SHELTON FAMILY ASSISTS IN REUNITING MOTHER WITH DAUGHTERS SEPARATED BY OCEANS & 5 YEARS

"When Stella Heard moved from her native Kenya to the United States in hopes of giving her daughters a better life, she thought they'd be separated only a few months.
Five years passed.

Heard, who now lives in Shelton, reunited with daughters Georgette, 10, and Nancy, 9, Friday night [8/31]at Sea-Tac Airport. The three embraced, laughing and wiping away one another's tears of joy. The girls are here to stay...

Mary Jo and Gordon Monten of Belfair said they made reuniting the family their mission.

Heard met the Montens through customers at Little Creek Casino, where she works as a cashier.

The customers were intrigued by Heard's accent. When they learned she was from Kenya, they connected her to the Montens, who were headed on a medical mission just 5 miles from the girls' home in Nairobi.

The Montens, retired teachers, agreed to take clothes and gifts to Heard's daughters.

The Montens started a fund at Olympia Federal Savings in Belfair to raise the $6,000 needed for the girls' airfare and expenses. The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Olympia also got involved, donating thousands of dollars," quoting The Olympian.

Cheryl Nichols, a school teacher at Rainier's Children's of Excellence (CSE) is the daughter of the Montens.

B. NANCY BREIDENTHAL APPOINTED DEM'S PCO OF BERRY VALLEY 193
Thurston County Democrats announces that Yelm resident Nancy Breidenthal has been officially appointed as Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) of Berry Valley 193 for the Democratic Party's Legislative District 2.

Congratulations, Nancy!! This is just terrific!

This writer and his wife will be interviewed at 2pm PDT today (Saturday, September 15) on Beyond the Ordinary KRSE internet radio live from Washington, D. C. and the Impeach Bush/Cheney March.
Beyond the Ordinary - KRSE is a Yelm, WA. based worldwide-reaching internet radio broadcasting station.

Listen Live by clicking here, then click "Listen Now."

There will be a rally beginning at The White House at 12 noon EDT, followed by a march to The Capitol, then the radio broadcast to Yelm at 5pm EDT (2PM Yelm Time).

Abigail M. Haddock

"Emergency Manager, Abigail M. Haddock is offering classes at The Ant Preparedness School located at The Survival Center in McKenna.

Pandemic Preparedness - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center researchers have now proven N1H5 has spread from birds to man and man to man. We are in stage three alert. Do you know how to prepare your family for a pandemic? Learn what supplies are needed to treat family members at home when social distancing is declared. Take this class now while supplies are available! $25
9/19 7-10 pm and 9/26 7-10 pm adults only
[Ed. Note: This writer and his wife are enrolled in the 9/19 class. Won't you join us?]

Basic Water Canning - Learn how to safely can fruits, jams and pickles by participation. Now is time to can! Sept 22 10-3 pm $50 Pre-reg

Pressure Canning - Learn how to safely can meat, veggies and stews by participation. Harvest is in and ready to can! Sept 29 10-3 pm $50 Pre-reg

R U Ready? Emergency Preparedness Consulting and Training. Business Continuity, Preparedness and Canning
RUREADY2007@comcast.net 360 705-9818," quoting the Masters' Connection website.

Town Hall Meeting With Thurston County Commissioner Candidate

JON HALVORSON

Co-Hosted by Steve Klein and JeanMarie Christenson.

Thurston County Commissioner candidate Jon W. Halvorson

will speak and answer questions at a YELM TOWN HALL MEETING

at 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2007

at Gordon’s Grange, 308 East Yelm Ave.

Former Lacey Mayor Halvorson has been a resident of the Thurston County 2nd Commissioner District for 32 years and has been a long time community volunteer.

Jon currently Chairs the Thurston County Parks and Recreation Board and serves on the Thurston County Medic One Council.

The seat will be on the countywide ballot in the General election of November, 2008.

WON'T YOU JOIN US TO HEAR MR. HALVORSON'S VISION FOR THE COUNTY
AND SHARE YOUR VIEWS TO UPDATE HIM ON YELM'S ISSUES?

Yelm Mayor Ron Harding
Photo from City of Yelm website

Yelm City Administrator Badger responded on September 11th to my request for information about the Yelm Economic Development Committee (EDC) as follows :

Yelm EDC Committee members:

Mayor Ron Harding
Councilmember Bob Isom
Shelly Badger, City Administrator
Grant Beck, Community Development Director
Steve Ruff, Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce President
Cecelia Jenkins, Yelm Chamber Executive Director
Michael Cade, Thurston County Economic Development Council Executive
Director
Glen Cunningham, Yelm Chamber representative
Margaret Clapp, Yelm Chamber representative

2007 meeting schedule: Bi-monthly April 13, June 8, August 10, October
12, December 14. Meetings from 8-10 in the Yelm City Hall conference
room.

Meetings are staff level meetings and are not open to the public.

Ed Note: I know Mayor Harding feels he has done his best in these appointments and I applaud the service to the city by these fine people, however where is infusion of fresh new concepts and skills by others willing to serve?

My observations & comments on September 8th still stand and even more so with Ms. Badger's response, since Mr. Cunningham works for Ms. Clapp, as does Yelm Council member John Thompson.

City Staff, Yelm Chamber Board members & the Thurston County EDC Executive all "play in the same sand box" and there is no one to ask questions, challenge, initiate ideas and expand beyond this group's cabal [click here for Webster's definition of cabal.].
'Where are citizen appointments and participation from a broad cross-section of this community?

PERHAPS, AS MENTIONED TO THIS WRITER BY MR. CUNNINGHAM, THESE ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WOULD YOU OFFER YOUR TALENTS TO THE COMMUNITY IF ASKED BY MAYOR HARDING?

LET'S HEAR FROM YOU ON THIS ISSUE?

Photo from Port of Olympia website

The thermometer reached 87 degrees (31 C) on September 11th at Olympia Regional Airport,
breaking the former record of 86 set in 1969.

The Yelm Community Blog pauses to remember 9/11 and those whose lives were lost, those whose lives were changed forever and those who selflessly went in to help that are now afflicted with crippling ailments.

My hope and dream is that the American people one day will know the whole truth.

The Yelm Co-op is looking for volunteers to staff the store.

All volunteers get a 10% discount over and above member discounts.

The Yelm Co-op is seeking 2 shifts per month from individuals.
A shift is 4 1/2 hours.

"We are looking for volunteers to work in the Yelm Food Coop. We need help with a myriad of things from painting and cleaning to stocking to running the store.

We are currently accepting applications for a store manager as well. This position is volunteer at this time but all volunteers will have first consideration when we are able to pay full time salaries. All applications can be sent to info@yelmcoop.com."

Please contact the Yelm Co-op for more details.
360-400-2210
This is a valuable resource to keep in Yelm!

Yelm Cinemas at Prairie Park
Photo courtesy of Yelm Cinmeas' website

Yelm Cinemas Manager Howard Christian has worked his magic - yet again!

Mr. Christian has obtained Leonardo DiCaprio's new film The 11th Hour for a limited engagement beginning September 14, 2007 per patron request.

"After collaborating on two short films (Global Warning, Water Planet), filmmakers Nadia Conners, Leila Conners Petersen and Leonardo DiCaprio set out to explore the larger story of the human experience on the planet. Seeking out credible voices to speak to the history of the human species, the state of the oceans, land and air, and social, design and political challenges for change, the trio ultimately netted 150 hours of interviews with over 70 scientists, designers, historians and thinkers...

The 11th Hour examines the human relationship with earth from its earliest glimmers of innovation, to the challenges humanity faces in the present, to the possibilities of the future...

The film posits that in many ways, humanity has detached itself from nature, and grown accustomed to using without thinking to manage the earth's resources," quoting The 11th Hour website.

To get quality films like this here in Yelm, Mr. Christian needs to show there is a market here for them.
Won't you take the time to visit Yelm Cinemas for this important film beginning September 14?
Let Howard and his staff know how much you appreciate his efforts to bring films that add knowledge to our community!

THANK YOU HOWARD CHRISTIAN, MR. CHRISTIAN'S STAFF AT YELM CINEMAS AND PRAIRIE PARK!

Photo courtesy of Yelm-based photographer Guustaaf Damave

Yelm Mayor Ron Harding heads up the Yelm Economic Development Committee, which is working to bring light industry to Yelm, according to Mr. Harding at a recent City Council meeting.

CITY OFFICIALS SHOULD READ THIS PRIOR TO GIVING TAX BREAKS:
USA Today reported in its August 21st editions,
"Generous tax breaks given to companies that threaten to take their business elsewhere are coming under increasing scrutiny from state and local officials who say taxpayers aren't getting their money's worth.

Critics say the tax breaks and other financial incentives have gotten out of hand, costing taxpayers billions of dollars and doing little for the economy.

'There's an entitlement mentality about tax breaks today,' Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Mark Funkhouser says. 'Every developer thinks it's his right not to pay property taxes.' Funkhouser was elected mayor in May after campaigning against tax breaks to developers, including one for a luxury condo development in an affluent part of his city.

Supporters of incentives say the deals are crucial to keeping economies strong, especially in depressed areas. 'A well-thought-out portfolio of incentives is vital to being competitive for quality projects,' says Jim Fain, commerce secretary in North Carolina, which has been aggressive in providing economic assistance to companies...

State and local governments offer about $50 billion a year in tax breaks and other economic incentives, according to economists Alan Peters and Peter Fisher.

Academics say there is little evidence to show that tax breaks have a lasting effect on a local economy.

Property tax breaks to manufacturers appear to boost industrial employment for a short time, says University of Nebraska economist John Anderson, a former Michigan economic developer.

'But the impact of incentives dissipates quickly, so in a few years, there's no benefit to employment,' he says."

AS FOR YELM:
Discussed here on September 28, 2006, I questioned the makeup of the Yelm EDC with so many Yelm Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, suggesting there is not one member outside of city officals and the Yelm Chamber infusing the EDC with divergent views.
I contacted the City of Yelm last week to see if the Yelm EDC appointees had changed.
The email sent to City Administrator Shelly Badger received no response.
Last year, they were:
Mayor Ron Harding
Grant Beck, Yelm Community Development Director
Shelly Badger, Yelm City Administrator
Cecelia Jenkins, Executive Director of the Yelm Chamber of Commerce
Steve Ruff, Miles Sand & Gravel and now former Yelm Chamber of Commerce President
Glen Cunningham, local contractor, Yelm Chamber Board member and Yelm Planning Commission Chair

As I said on September 28, 2006 on this blog,
"No disrespect intended Mr. Mayor, however the makeup of the Yelm Economic Development Committee (EDC) encompasses little or no sales, marketing, economic development, advertising, and/or corporate experience out in the world, IMHO. Mayor Harding stated, 'Each of the backgrounds that you feel should be present on this committee is already present.'

I ask, 'Where are citizen appointments and participation from a broad cross-section of this community?'
Mayor Harding, Ms. Jenkins, Steve Ruff, & Glen Cunningham serve on both the Yelm EDC AND the Yelm Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
And Mr. Cunningham is the City's Planning Commission Chair, Yelm EDC member AND Yelm Chamber Board member."
[And, Is there not some conflict of interest here? ]
Therefore, new ideas and viewpoints for the Economic Development of this community from a divergent range of experiences are limited to the same people on both the Chamber Board and Yelm's EDC.

While I applaud the service by these fine people to the city, where is infusion of fresh new concepts and skills by others willing to serve?"

WHAT SAY YOU?
WOULD YOU OFFER YOUR TALENTS TO THE COMMUNITY IF ASKED BY MAYOR HARDING?
DO YOU SUPPORT THE YELM EDC LURING NEW INDUSTRY HERE BY USING TAX BREAKS?

"Washington's low-lying capital city is a bit nervous in planning a new $38 million City Hall near the shoreline of Puget Sound, fearing that global warming and rising waters could submerge much of the downtown in this century.

Climate change experts say one of the most profound and visible effects of global warming will be felt along the thousands of miles of shoreline along the Pacific Coast and the Sound, where even a rise of a few feet can submerge vast acres of prime farm, forest, businesses and residential land, sending folks heading for higher ground and new ways of coping....

The issue was brought into stark relief by the council's recent debate over whether to build the new city hall on prime Port of Olympia land - or head for the hills. The city decided to build in harm's way, raising the project two feet above current flood level, but conceding that water may lap at the doorstep before the end of the century.

The vote to brave the tides was a considered a symbolic gesture, too. The unacceptable alternative, says Mayor Mark Foutch, is to essentially abandon the downtown core, which includes the community center, farmers' market, regional sewage treatment plant, child-care center, and an entire business and housing district.

The Capitol Campus is uphill, safely on a high plateau, but the city's drinking water supply at nearby McAllister Springs is in danger of being contaminated by salt water, so new wells are planned.

'We've got some real vulnerability here,' says Rich Hoey, the city's director of water resources and an adviser to the governor's climate change panel," quoting the AP.

"For biological systems, growth is straightforward," West [Geoffrey West of the Santa Fe Institute] says. "They eventually stop growing.
Economies of scale can only take you so far. But when
you have these superlinear exponents [exponents greater than 1], the growth equation is completely
changed. These cities can go on growing forever."

All of this potential growth has a dark side. At a certain point, every city runs our of resources.
Their superlinear exponents, tilted toward infinity, collide with the practical demands of reality.
The positive feedback loop exhausts itself.

How do cities deal with this dismal limitation? They innovate. "The only way to avoid stagnation
from a shortage of resources," West says, "is to change something. You have to reset the clock,
reset the initial parameters of growth. We call this an innovation cycle, and they are clearly apparent throughout history.
There's the invention of the steam engine, the car, the digital revolution. What these advances all have in common
is that they allowed cities to continue growing." West quotes a Bob Dylan lyric to make his point:
"He not busy being born is busy dying." A city that isn't innovating is on the verge of collapse," quoting this
insightful SEED Magazine article from their July/August, 2007 edition.

Is Yelm innovating or on the verge of collapse?
Certainly gridlock, with more developments in the pipeline adding to our traffic nightmare, will choke this town before too long.
What do you think?

Town Hall Meeting With Thurston County Commissioner Candidate

JON HALVORSON

Co-Hosted by Steve Klein and JeanMarie Christenson.

Thurston County Commissioner candidate Jon W. Halvorson

will speak and answer questions at a YELM TOWN HALL MEETING

at 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2007

at Gordon’s Grange, 308 East Yelm Ave.

Former Lacey Mayor Halvorson has been a resident of the Thurston County 2nd Commissioner District for 32 years and has been a long time community volunteer.

Jon currently Chairs the Thurston County Parks and Recreation Board and serves on the Thurston County Medic One Council.

The seat will be on the countywide ballot in the General election of November, 2008.

WON'T YOU JOIN US TO HEAR MR. HALVORSON'S VISION FOR THE COUNTY
AND SHARE YOUR VIEWS TO UPDATE HIM ON YELM'S ISSUES?

Cell Phone Tower
Photo courtesy of Yelm-based photographer Guustaaf Damave

Dear Clearwood Association members,

I understood the August ballot on the Clearwood Cell Tower issue was to authorize a study about the potential of a cell tower on Clearwood Community grounds.

Quoting the NVN of August 24, 2007,
"After months of debate, Clearwood property owners passed a board resolution to pursue a feasibility study that will look at placing a cell tower within the community."

Further down in the same story:
"'The next step for Clearwood is to contact cellular companies and let them know we're interested (in having a tower placed in the community),' said Ron Smith, president of the Clearwood Board of Directors."

"The board will negotiate for the best deal."

Can any association member go on the record and help me and the other numerous daily Yelm Community Blog readers understand what is going on out there?
A vote for a feasibility study is just that, is it not?
A vote for a feasibility study.

Quoting Wikipedia,
"A feasibility study is a preliminary study undertaken to determine and document a project's viability. The results of this study are used to make a decision whether to proceed with the project, or table it. If it indeed leads to a project being approved, it will - before the real work of the proposed project starts - be used to ascertain the likelihood of the project's success. It is an analysis of possible alternative solutions to a problem and a recommendation on the best alternative. It, for example, can decide whether an order processing be carried out by a new system more efficiently than the previous one."

Isn't Smith out of line saying, "The board will negotiate for the best deal?"

The vote was not about negotiating the best deal, rather a feasibility study.

What am I missing here?

Why are the Association members not demanding clarity from Mr. Smith and the Board on this issue.
The Board has a fiduciary responsibility in carrying out the voters will and association policies correctly and honorably, and nothing more, IMHO.
Negotiating the best deal?
Doesn't that require a vote authorizing the Board to proceed only after the results of the feasibility study are presented to the members?

I certainly hope the Clearwood Board in their "due diligence" communicates these just-released scientific reports to their members:
A. "An international working group of scientists, researchers and public health policy professionals (The BioInitiative Working Group) has released its report on electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health [August 31]. It raises serious concern about the safety of existing public limits that regulate how much EMF is allowable from power lines, cell phones, and many other sources of EMF exposure in daily life.
The report concludes the existing standards for public safety are inadequate to protect public health.

B. Additionally, this just released report from Israel's famed Weizmann Institute of Science scientists says:
"Mobile phones can take as little as ten minutes to trigger changes in the brain associated with cancer, scientists claimed yesterday [Aug. 29].
They found even low levels of radiation from handsets interfere with the way brain cells divide. Cell division encourages the growth of tumours," quoting UK's Daily Mail.

Who will share this with the Association members?

Mr. Smith is welcome and invited to share his views with Yelm Community Blog readers in a guest entry.

“Labor Day is a United States federal holiday that takes place on the first Monday in September. The holiday began in 1882, originating from a desire by the Central Labor Union to create a day off for the "working man". It is still celebrated mainly as a day of rest and marks the symbolic end of summer for many. Labor Day became a national holiday by Act of Congress in 1894,” quoting Wikipedia.

"’Labor Day differs in every essential way from the other holidays of the year in any country,’ said Samuel Gompers, founder and longtime president of the American Federation of Labor. ‘All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day...is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation,” quoting the US Dept. of Labor website.

And this sobering view of Labor Day in the USA today, from Truthout.

The Yelm Community Blog pauses to acknowledge all laborers worldwide this day, for through our toils is the world a better place!

Road signs at Yelm intersection of SR 507 & 510
Photo courtesy of Yelm-based photographer Guustaaf Damave

Nisqually Valley News reporter Sam Chrest penned for the August 24 edition about the Public Hearing updating the Comprehensive Plan (Aug. 20) by quoting only Planning Commission Chair Glen Cunningham. I find curious that Mr. Chrest was not at the Comp. Plan Hearing, nor did he report any other views from the public who did attend the session, which he could have gathered from the recording of the meeting. This story was a one-sided mouthpiece for Mr. Cunningham and while Mr. Chrest may still be teething in his new assignment at the NVN, this kind of cursory journalism is consistent with this newspaper.

Further, the way Mr. Cunningham brushed aside the Public Hearing and the citizens' comments in this story is appalling! And this is from the Yelm Planning Commission Chair?

Let's take a look at Mr. Cunningham's remarks in the NVN and put them in context:

"...The plan must be updated periodically to meet Growth Management Act standards, said Planning Commission Chairman Glen Cunningham.

'We have to do this every once in awhile to meet state, law,' he said.
The primary proposed changes to the plan are amendments to the capital facilities and transportation chapters.

The changes are largely altering the wording and providing more current information about the city, Cunningham said.

He said there are no major changes to the plan.

'It is just some stuff we have to update,' he said."

"IT'S JUST SOME STUFF WE HAVE TO UPDATE?"
WHO IS THIS MAN KIDDING?!
The specific mandate of the Comprehensive Plan is to "reflect the preferences of the community."
This is not just some "stuff we have to update." State law requires public input.
This Plan dictates the policies the city is to follow about its roads - a Plan currently written that accepts a failed grade with the worst road conditions possible, allowing the traffic mess we have today.
Mr. Cunningham may say "there are no changes to the plan," however the city must consider the public comments, of which there were several.

Continuing from the NVN,
"At the public hearing, only three people provided testimony, he said.

Often, he added, Planning Commission meetings draw little or no audience.

'Generally there are not a lot of people,' he said. 'Some of those who do come say things they don't know anything about.'"

EXCUSE ME?
That may be Mr. Cunningham's view, however a professional engineer and a former mayoral candidate with a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) were two providing testimony, individuals that do not "say things they don't know anything about."
The Planning Commission's number one job is to listen to the public, regardless of the judgments of Mr. Cunningham about public understandings. They are appointed by the Mayor specifically to serve the public.
Mr. Cunningham's lack of knowledge when addressing people is quite evident, which is frustrating for the citizens that do participate, as many feel brushed aside by the blank stares of incomprehension of some on the Commission.
No wonder so few attend these meetings - and of course they are timed during working hours (4PM) for most constituents - hardly providing availability for true public interchange.

Continuing from the NVN story:
"The testimony from the hearing will be addressed in a staff report, Cunningham said.

Updating the Comprehensive Plan is a large task spanning several months, he said.

'It takes quite a bit of time and effort,' he said."

FROM JUST WHERE IS MR. CUNNINGHAM COMING?
He said there are no major changes to the plan, dismissing those with
"It's just some stuff we have to update."
Then he says it's "a large task spanning several months..." "It takes quote a bit of effort."

Mr. Cunningham discounts the changes on the one hand, then speaks of the time and effort involved on the other, all while trivializing public input.

The Public Hearing garnered many comments that requires the Planning Commission to address, chief among them is the city accepts failed roads as official policy which is a detriment to public safety, for which the city bears responsibility to maintain.
The Planning Commission heard that having this as official city policy is unacceptable and demands that this must be changed.

The remarks in the newspaper from Mr. Cunningham are an embarrassment to the city and to those drivers enduring daily gridlock on Yelm's failed streets.

You can read all of my testimony to Mr. Cunningham and his Planning Commission by scrolling down this page to the August 20 entry here on this blog.

Further, my Letter to the Editor published in the same newspaper edition beseeches everyone to write City Hall and let them know you do not accept Yelm streets with a Level of Service (LOS) grade of F as official city policy, the way the plan is currently written. Your comments must be received in writing at Yelm's City Hall by Tuesday, September 4 at 5pm.

WON'T YOU TAKE THE TIME TO PEN A LETTER TO LET THE PLANNING COMMISSION KNOW YOUR VIEWS;
AND THAT THE PLAN MUST "REFLECT THE PREFERENCES OF THE COMMUNITY."

The BALD HILLS FIRE DISTRICT announces
an invitation to all to come to our Fire Department Monthly Association meeting this coming Tuesday evening, Sept 4th.

Harry Miller will be cooking country ribs, and begin serving about 6:45PM at the Bald Hills Fire Station,
corner of bald hills Rd. & Peissner Rd., adjacent Lackamas Elementary School.

We would love to have anyone come who would like to eat a rib and take a tour of the fire station, meet our volunteers, and maybe discover that they'd like to be a part of this group. There are many ways to help besides charging into burning buildings.

If you can not attend this month, mark Tuesday, October 2 for the next open house.

Thanks,

Bill Owen
Bald Hills Fire Department

P. S. This writer and his wife attended earlier this summer and found the comaraderie and friendly environment this group creates to be very welcoming in addition to getting an education about the department...