May 2009 Archives

Perma-Dise Corp. is pleased to announce a new ONE DAY WORKSHOP based on the original lecture series of SEPP HOLZER.

The workshop has been postponed until Saturday, June 13th:
---Morning presentation will include: Photos, Power point presentation, video clips from the original workshops in order to guide participants through the differing aspects of PERMA-CULTURE.
--- We will discuss creating different projects, including the problems that arose and how they were dealt with, as experienced at the Yelm site, specifically Earth Bermed Animal Shelter, Hugelbeds, Crater Garden, Terraces, Mushroom cultivation.
--- The afternoon session will be a guided tour of the Yelm site.
Q&A encouraged!!! We will be able to point out ALL the varieties of seeds/plant mixes used and where/why they were planted.
$125 Lunch included,
Morning session begins at 8 AM
Center for Performing Arts,
302 Binghampton St W
Rainier WA 98597
Behind Signature Service Real Estate, Rainier
Registration Online at: www.perma-dise.com
Katherine Stelling Administration Perma-dise Corp. email:
info@perma-dise.com

Additional Workshops

We have been busy planting and planning for this June and have scheduled TWO new workshops.
Both are 2 day hands-on workshops and both will take place at the Yelm Project site. Details follow below:

June 4th & 5th - Huegelbeds: Build and plant a Huegelbed from start to finish.

June 6th & 7th - Earth Sheltered Green House - From planning through construction, this very Hands-on workshop will be lead by Michaal Nielson. It will also include how to protect the greenhouse from storm damage, as well as alternative heat storage sources. With repeated planting, this greenhouse will provide a full harvest throughout the entire year.

June 14th: Chicken Housing Sepp Holzer Style - see website for details as they are available.

Please visit our website (www.perma-dise.com) for updates. Some of the Secrets of Eden workshop photos are up as well as the partial seed list from Sepp.

Here's to an abundant growing season.

Mathilda and Katherine
www.perma-dise.com

TELL PERMA-DISE YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

UPDATE: The chicken house workshop has been changed to the Herb Spiral.

Want to learn how to be a salmon recovery volunteer in the Nisqually watershed, while learning why it’s such a unique and special place?

A free Nisqually Stream Stewards training is being offered by the Nisqually Tribe and the Nisqually River Council in an upcoming series of classes beginning Wednesday, June 3rd.
Weekly classes will take place on Wednesday or Thursday until late July with five additional Saturday field trips.

The classes will cover a variety of topics, including watershed hydrology and ecosystems, salmon of the Nisqually and their habitat needs, water quality and stream health and the cultural history of the Nisqually Tribe.

In exchange for the free training participants are asked to pledge 40 hours of volunteer service, which may be in on-going watershed education and restoration projects or projects of their own.

Volunteers for the Nisqually Stream Stewards Program pitch in on local salmon projects such as removing invasive grass from stream channels, planting trees along stream banks, monitoring stream health and returning salmon carcasses into streams.

For more information or to register for the training, contact: Don Perry, Nisqually Stream Stewards Coordinator, Nisqually Tribe Natural Resources Department, dperry@nwifc.org, (360) 438-8687 Ext 2143.

Community Recycle Days

Thurston County's Community Recycle Days offer an easy way to recycle a variety of household items at reduced rates.

The next Community Recycle Days will be held:

Saturday, May 30, 2009
Thurston County Fairgrounds, Lacey
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, June 6, 2009
South Sound Speedway, Tenino
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dr. Karreim Ali

Dr. Karriem H. Ali, MD is a physician and scientist with a baccalaureate degree in Chemistry from Harvard University, and an M.D. degree with Distinguished Honors in Research from Stanford University.

With all of the current misinformation, fear and confusion surrounding Swine Flu and the looming potential for an Influenza Pandemic, we decided it was high time for another enlightening current health update with Dr. Karriem Ali!

Dr. Ali has generously agreed to give us an interesting and informative presentation to help us better understand Influenza, its Natural and Pandemic History, and our best Defense options. His talk will focus upon Influenza Risks and Resolutions, including: documentary footage from the 1918 Flu Pandemic that killed over 500,000 Americans, the current H1N1 Swine Flu virus, vaccines and Preventative Measures that we can take to Prepare & Protect Ourselves, Our Families, and Our Communities.

A key feature will be medical insider information about the #1 recommended flu drug— Tamiflu®— exposing its weaknesses as an antiviral agent in the event of an actual pandemic, and the FDA reprimand against Roche Pharmaceuticals (Tamiflu’s manufacturer) for misleading the public with exaggerated claims and advertising schemes.

Most importantly, Dr. Ali will discuss the efficacy potential of specific health-promoting products which can help us to Strengthen our Immune Systems to prevent us ever catching the flu at all! These will include: Vitamins C and D, BRM4, Zinc Gluconate, Oscillococcinum, and Airborne.

As a bonus, Dr. Ali will teach us a simple formula for an inexpensive and effective hand sanitizer that can easily be made at home from natural ingredients that are readily available in our local stores.

EVENT DETAILS:
Friday, May 29 2009
Rosemont Retirement and Assisted Living Community
215 Killion Rd. NW, Yelm, WA 98597
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Cost: Free

CLICK HERE for information from MastersConnection.

CLICK HERE for information from Beyond the Ordinary internet radio.

From the Stream Team website:

Welcome to Stream Team

Stream Team is an education-to-action program for people interested in protecting and enhancing our local streams, rivers, lakes, and Puget Sound.

Stream Team volunteers plant trees, mark storm drains, gather stream health data, remove litter, talk to people at local viewing sites about spawning salmon, and perform other tasks that make a big difference in the health of our local waterways.

Stream Team also offers classes and field trips on a wide range of topics, including shellfish, salmon, native plants, geology and "stream bugs."

Sign up today!

Ready to get your feet wet? Contact the staff person who represents the program in your area:

- City of Lacey: Erin Keith, (360) 438-2687

- City of Olympia: Patricia Pyle, (360) 570-5841

- City of Tumwater: Debbie Smith, (360) 754-4140

- Thurston County: Chris Maun and Ann Marie Finan, (360) 357-2491.

Stream Team is sponsored by the storm and surface water utilities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County.

KEY QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ASKED REGARDING THURSTON HIGHLANDS IN YELM

The City of Yelm's acceptance of the Thurston Highlands' application several years ago violated the city's own 1995 Vision Plan.

WHY WAS THE YELM VISION PLAN IGNORED?

On January 5, 1995, the Yelm Vision Plan was adopted by the city after many months of work from local citizen input.
Quoting the Vision Plan:
"Yelm now faces the challenge of accommodating substantial additional residential growth and wishes to regain its status as the area’s primary commercial center. The Washington State Growth Management Act of 1990 requires that each city in highly populated counties of Washington plan for future growth. The citizens of Yelm have taken an active roll in their comprehensive planning.
Channeled properly, growth can be positive, bring jobs, and strengthen the community. However, if growth is allowed to occur unchecked and without careful planning, the small-town, neighborly qualities, and natural beauty of the city may be destroyed.
[Ed. Note: This was recorded in 1995, folks!]

Therefore, the Vision Committee has been working to upgrade the downtown, create a real heart for the community, and direct future growth of the city.
The Committee’s intent is to improve the commercial area’s economic viability and convenience , as well as its appearance. The project’s purposes are to:
1. Improve the economic vitality of the city’s commercial areas by focusing on three economic sectors; industry,
retail and commercial, and tourism.
2. Build community pride and involvement.
3. Enhance Yelm’s identity with a directed sense of character, downtown improvements, and coordinated improvement efforts.
4. Improve vehicular circulation.
5. Promote efficient and high quality land use"

Local citizens involved include these recognizable names:
YELM VISION COMMITTEE
The Yelm Vision Plan was funded through donations
Frances Andrews – Chairperson from private individuals and businesses.
John G. Thompson – Chairperson
Shelly Badger
Glenn Blando
Lyle Burstad
Lee Anne Campbell
Margaret Clapp
Steve Craig
Jocelyn Eastland
Vicki Elam
John Huddleston
John Kinnee
Susan Louis
John Thomson
Bob Wolf
Peggy L. Wolf

WHY HAVE MANY OF THESE VERY CITIZENS BEEN SILENT ON THE TOTAL DISREGARD OF THIS PLAN -
AND THE SILENCE FROM THESE CURRENT PROMINENT CITIZENS IS OF NOTE:
John G. Thompson – now on the Yelm City Council
Shelly Badger - now Yelm City Administrator
Margaret Clapp - now commercial development owner in the Yelm business corridor
John Thomson - now Yelm Planning Commission member

The Yelm Vision Plan stated there would one central business core and that no other business center would be established to compete with the current downtown area.
HMMM!
Why is there over 1.5 million sq. ft. of commercial space (comparable to the square footage of 8 Super Wal-Marts)
proposed in Thurston Highland, which will create a whole new business area to compete with our current downtown.

WHY WAS THE YELM VISION PLAN IGNORED?

Thanks to Bill Hashim's remarks to the Yelm City Council, this very issue (a request to update the Plan) will be an upcoming Agenda item for a Council Study Session. As soon as the session is announced, I will let you know so that, you, the public can observe.
After all, we don't want the Plan changed behind our (the public's) backs to allow Highlands sized developments here, against the 1995 guidelines!
Don't think the City Council would not change the Plan to allow a 2nd business area & 5,000 homes without citizen input???
Think again!

What is next out there on Thurston Highlands' property?
The community's citizens must be strong & force city to rezone that property - and perhaps make that an election issue.

Other issues of grave importance are:
1. how the area should be zoned
2. what other interests are in that zoning.
3. that the Highlands has been used to make a bedroom community out of this city at great future costs to the community - in one of the state's largest proposed developments, that has little to no self-sustaining industrial or jobs base.

We have an opportunity to remake our community based on following the foresight of the citizen-created 1995 Vision Plan.
Let's hold the City Council's & Community Development Dept's. feet to the fire & see that our officials follow their own city's adopted guidelines!

Do we want the City of Yelm to be a 5,000 home bedroom community?

WHY WAS THE YELM VISION PLAN IGNORED?

A caisson entering Arlington National Cemetery across the Potomac River from Washington, DC
Photo from Arlington National Cemetery website,
Courtesy of Andrew V. McMaster, May 2006

Dear Readers;

This weekend is our Memorial Day holiday when America pauses to honor those that have given their lives in service to their country. The Yelm Community Blog host & Kleiner’s Korner editor/publisher appreciates and honors all of those who have served to defend, protect, and preserve our country from outside invaders. Memorial Day was first called Decoration Day “to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it expanded to include those who died in any war or military action,” quoting Wikipedia.

On this Memorial Day, this writer’s thoughts and prayers are with the families that have had to endure monumental suffering at the hands of American Presidents & Congress by losing sons and daughters in deceptive wars that had little or nothing to do with defending this country and where THEY get swept aside in the “fog of war." These are families like Pat Tillman’s mother, who explained her story for CBS News 60 Minutes May 4, 2008. Mr. Tillman was an NFL football great who was inspired to enlist to serve his country after 9/11 and was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan, with the Pentagon covering-up the truth and using Tillman’s name to fabricate more deceptions.

Locally, I would like to acknowledge the work and commitment of people like Tad Stillwell. Tad owns Yelm's Farmers Insurance Agency and has been away in Iraq in service to his country for almost a year. I will be one of the first to shake Tads' hand and welcome him home later this year.

Photo of Rainier's fallen son, Justin Norton

This writer wishes to remind the Community of the
Justin Norton Scholarship Fund
honoring Rainier, Washington's fallen soldier in Iraq.
About Sgt. Norton

Donations can be mailed to:
Justin Norton Scholarship Fund
c/o Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 444
Yelm, Wa 98597

Introducing Sharon's Hair Salon:

A couple of doors down from the former Sebastian's Bakery & Tim's Pharmacy

Men, Women & Children.
Cosmetologist and Certified Men's Hair Stylist and Barber.
Affordable prices!
Senior & Military Discount.

Walk-ins welcome.

Sharon's Hair Salon
Sharon Riggins
Cosmetologist & Certified Men's Hair Stylist
109 Yelm Ave. E.
Yelm, WA. 98597
by appointment 360-400-0444

TELL SHARON'S HAIR SALON YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

Public Hearing on Regional Fire Protection District Plan May 26

"Yelm City Council will hold a Public Hearing at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 26 at the Public Safety Building, 206 McKenzie Ave. SE. Click the link to view the proposed plan.
Call 360-458-8436 if you need more information.
(posted: 5/15/2009)," from the city's homepage.

CLICK HERE to see the plan on the city's website.

Frankly, the gall and hubris of City of Yelm officials and the NVN never ceases to amaze me!

Either the NVN is not only the city's newspaper of record, yet also its mouthpiece following the city's B. S.
OR
they are just not educated and so ignorant to the ways cities operate, regardless of their award-winning investigative journalism and having a direct pipeline to one of their former award-winning reporters in the City of Yelm Community and Government Relations Coordinator [who won her investigative journalism award in 2005 on how many toilet flushes I made at my house during my run for Mayor in 2005. Where is the NVN now on the city's water issues?].

Today's front-page story "City: Knight water ad is a 'scare tactic'" is just another example of the city's & newspaper's intent to keep the public in the dark!

Quoting the NVN,
"Yelm City Administrator Shelly Badger said the city conducted the study to determine if the southwest section of Yelm was an appropriate place to pull water from in a long-term scenario...
Badger said the study needed to be conducted regardless of Thurston Highlands, but that the Highlands can't be left out because it is inside the city limits."

THE FACT THAT MRS. BADGER AND THE NVN CONTINUE TO NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IS VERY TELLING!

The Golder Water Study (on Thurston Highlands land) had only one purpose and that was to find water for a private developer to locate water on their private (not city owned/controlled) land and bring to the city with their 3 applications. As a matter of public policy, developers are supposed to pay for their impacts up front, just like schools, roads, traffic and water. However, the public will pay with Thurston Highlands because the city funded the water study up front and has maintained they will be reimbursed by impact fees from building permits in the development. And, the city had no contract with the developer to get repaid for this water study. The city was expecting fees imposed through an EIS from future home hook-ups to cover those costs; fees not able to be collected if nothing is built. The developers are now gone and left the city with 2/3 of a million dollars the taxpayers will have to swallow, unless the developers somehow cure their default. Mrs. Badger & the Nisqually Valley News, developers are supposed to present all aspects of their project to the city beforehand, not the city to the developer. The city requires that of ANY other applicant, why not from Thurston Highlands, LLC.?
WHY DO YOU BOTH KEEP OMITTING THIS FACT!

"The drop (in wells levels by 23 feet) is 30 years from now, city officials said," quoting the NVN.
ABOUT THE 30 YEAR ISSUE, WHICH IS THE 1,000 POUND GORILLA IN THE ROOM,
THE CITY & NVN WILL NOT TELL YOU THIS:

- There is NO mitigation on the effects this Plan is going to have.
And the city knows that!
- The city has not even studied the effects their plan will have on surrounding wells.
And the city knows that!
- All of the information on the city's MDNS is the city's opinion.
And the city knows that!
- This comment period and appeal ending today is supposed to take care of ALL public comment for 30 years.
And the city knows that!
- Unless the MDNS is appealed by 5pm today, no one will have any recourse for comment on it for 30 years.
And the city knows that!
- If you or your descendants wish to comment on the city's water plan in 10, 20 or 30 years, the city can say no one said anything in 2009, the plan says so - tough!
And the city knows that!
- This is a land-use issue under SEPA.
Making comments and bringing all of this in the open is about preserving YOUR RIGHTS to talk about this issue in the future.
And the city knows that!
- The city's Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance says the proposed water withdrawal increase by five-fold is non-significant. How can that amount of water withdrawal produce anything except a SIGNIFICANT DROP in the local aquifer? That should require, indeed demand, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
And the city knows that!
HOW CAN THIS KIND OF ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT NOT BE AN OUTRAGE TO AREA CITIZENS?

THE CITY AND NVN OBVIOUSLY WISH TO KEEP YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN THE DARK ON THIS AND MAKE THEMSELVES THE VICTIM WHEN THE TRUTH IS BROUGHT OUT.

Please educate yourself:

SEE the full-page informational ad by JZ Knight in The Olympian, the NVN & NVN Shopper this week.
ALL OF THE INFORMATION IS FROM THE CITY'S OWN MDNS!
CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE for more information on this from JZ Knight's website.

AND, THURSTON COUNTY'S SILENCE ON THIS IS DEAFENING, SINCE MANY OF THE AFFECTED AREAS ARE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF YELM IN THURSTON COUNTY!

"This year marks the 100th anniversary of Wilcox Family Farms. While the brand and its products have changed slightly over the years, the Wilcox family commitment to quality has not - and the Northwest egg producer is proud to celebrate a century of farming and entrepreneurial business operations that have helped uniquely shape the Pacific Northwest.

Wilcox Farms Inc. was started in Roy, Wash. in 1909 by Judson and Elizabeth Wilcox. In the beginning, the family raised chickens and vegetables and milked a few cows, peddling the products to the local logging camps.

Back then, it would have been difficult to imagine that the business and a 240 acre farm would grow to 1,800 acres and become home to over one million Leghorn hens and pullets, a shell egg processing plant, and a liquid egg processing plant. Today, the company operates two egg production facilities - in Roy and Aurora, Ore. - and is one of the leading egg producers in the Northwest, with approximately 770,000 eggs gathered daily and packaged for supermarkets and restaurants in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and California. In addition to shell eggs, Wilcox also provides liquid eggs to food retailers, bakeries and food service operations.

Northwest consumers now find Wilcox eggs in some of the area's -- and nation's -- most well-known retailers, including Costco, Wal-Mart, Albertson's, Haggen/Top Foods, Metropolitan Market, Target, Walgreen, Rite-Aid, Bartells and many more...

Today, Wilcox Farms remains family-owned and operated, with Andy, Brent and Chris Wilcox still involved in the day-to-day management...

In the year of Wilcox Farms' centennial anniversary, the company has also earned an additional distinction. All of its farmland has earned 100 percent organic status, of which the family farm harvests organic hay and other crops.

'We have always been very conscious of the land and our animals, wanting the best care for both,' says Chris Wilcox. 'When researching the 'green movement' we found that it was nothing new to us. We've been ahead of the curve and our goal is to continue setting the highest standards for the next 100 years.'

For more information about Wilcox Farms Inc. and to find out about centennial celebration events scheduled throughout the year, visit www.wilcoxfarms.com," quoting PR Newswire.

CONGRATULATIONS to Wilcox Farms and the Wilcox Family for their commitment to quality.

With the local newspaper touting Yelm's Bypass funding by the State Legislature and Mayor Harding saying this is "tangible", one would come to believe we would have a partial Bypass built soon. However, the newspaper and Mayor Harding have omitted so many hurdles that still have to be overcome before this area sees construction funding even allocated for Phase 1 of a Bypass.

When the State Legislature concluded appropriating the $11 million Yelm Loop monies for '09-'11, the funds were divided into $2.3 million for engineering and $8.7 million for right-of-way acquisition, not construction, which the newspaper & Mayor failed to mention.

You can see the Bypass funding allocation listed from the Washington State Transportation Executive Information System (TEIS). "TEIS is a set of applications designed to facilitate transportation budget planning and oversight," quoting the website.

1. The current funding for right-of-way (r-o-w) acquisition and engineering will have be converted to construction funding for a Bypass to begin. That will now be left up to WSDOT and to be discussed when they meet the week of June 1st.

2. WSDOT will now have to take up the City of Yelm's request about the possibility of splitting the Bypass project into phase 1 and 2, which the Legislature did not do. There has to be a scope change request for a phased project that would include construction and that has not happened, yet. With the way the budget is currently written, phased construction is possible, yet would require WSDOT Headquarters to reinterpret legislative intent.

Bottom Line: The only way now available for Yelm's Bypass Phase 1 construction funding to be approved is for the Yelm Bypass to be officially divided into two Phases by WSDOT
(Phase 1 & 2 as previously discussed here),
change the Legislature's funding to construction monies, then allocate those funds for construction for Phase 1.

Is that possible? Yes! Though not assured....

We could see construction start on Phase 1 by year's end, followed by an official opening in 2010 with Bypass traffic then traversing neighborhood streets (Killion & Cullens) with children playing and not designed to handle the load, because the the 2 Phase split.

STAY TUNED!

This marks 6 months after the land use approval and MDNS required the Wal-Mart to 103rd connector be constructed.

As I reported here on November 19, 2008, 6 months ago:

On Friday, July 20, 2008 the Nisqually Valley News reported about Yelm's new Wal-Mart opening and noted the official opening on July 18, 2007. The City of Yelm said then about the store's requirements to mitigate traffic,
"Wal-Mart will also pave 103rd Avenue from Creek Street to the new connection, which must be built within 10 months of the store's opening."

That 10 months was up on May 19, 2008...

Not seeing any connector, this writer wrote to Yelm's Community and Government Relations Coordinator
Cindy Teixeira for an update for Yelm Community blog readers.

Here is her response (November, 2008):

"The land use approval and MDNS required the connector be constructed within 18 months of the purchase of the right of way. The State DOT closed on the property June 22, 2007, with the deadline being November 22, 2008. Wal-Mart contributed nearly $220,000 to the purchase of the right-of-way and the construction plans are in for review.

Wal-Mart has also submitted a letter of credit toward construction of the connector road."

That was November 19, 2008!
November 19, 2008 came and went and still there still is no connector.

Now, this marks 6 months after the land use approval and MDNS required the connector be constructed.

So, again, I wrote to Mrs. Teixeira to get an update. Here is her April 30, 2009 response:
"Final approvals for the 103rd connector road project are in the works. Timeline for bids and construction is dependent on the weather and all the usual factors which play a part in road construction. I do not have any definite timeline information at this time."

Final approvals still in the works?
No timelines?
"The land use approval and MDNS required the connector be constructed by November 22, 2008."

Is another large commercial project getting a "bye" from the city? HMMM!

To reiterate, the Yelm Wal-Mart was ONLY permitted to be built by using the Yelm Bypass to mitigate its traffic, an unfunded and unbuilt Bypass to handle Wal-Mart's traffic?!.
The connector to 103rd was supposed to assist in that until the Bypass was built. As has been reported here ad nauseum, the Bypass was unfunded then and now the city has asked to divide the Bypass into two Phases, leaving the Wal-Mart Phase 2 end to the 2021-2023 biennium for the Legislature to next consider funding for that area of road.
That means Wal-Mart may not see a Bypass at their door until almost 20 years AFTER they opened, if at all!

THANK YOU AGAIN, CITY OF YELM OFFICIALS FOR TAKING CARE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS SO APTLY BY THUMBING YOUR NOSES AT THEM AND THROWING YOUR BAGS IN WITH LARGE DEVELOPMENTS AND COMMERCIAL INTERESTS!

YELM COMMUNITY BLOG READERS HAVE TO ASK YOURSELVES:
HAS THE BEST INTEREST OF THE ENTIRE CITY BEEN SERVED?

Dear Readers;

A very astute Yelm Community Blog reader wrote with these observations about claims on the Thurston Highlands website copyright, 2007:

1. The title says:
"Thurston Highlands Paying for More Than Its Share of Growth"

The question from a reader:
Have any of the commitments been kept?

What did Highlands owners do on this one?
We now know Thurston Highlands have not kept their commitments to the city and are in default, thanks to this Blog bringing this issue to the surface, resulting in front-page stories in The Olympian & Nisqually Valley News last Friday...

2. Road Improvements
From Thurston Highlands' website:
"A second major investment being covered by Thurston Highlands is the new traffic crossing at Yelm Avenue and Killion Road, as well as the road completion and widening for several blocks in each direction. Killion Road will be extended all the way to the proposed Yelm bypass, and Yelm Avenue will be improved from 93rd to Collins Road."

What did Highlands owners do on this one?
They went to the city of Yelm and got the City Council to vote in an L. I. D. to transfer 46% of the improvements to Killion & Yelm Ave. West to property owners saying their community would add value to their homes. Now the city just approved last Tuesday an ordinance to tax each property owner approximately $73,000 over 15 years for these roads projects.

See these 2006 stories covered here on the L. I. D.
May 24, 2006
June 13, 2006
June 18, 2006

December 1, 2006

3. Staff added to city
From Thurston Highlands' website:
"Acknowledging that the work being done on the new Master Planned Community could be a strain on the City of Yelm development staff, Thurston Highlands has also agreed to pay for three additional staff members in the department for three years. These additional staff positions are designated to work on projects other than the Thurston Highlands development.

As part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, a number of other "impacts" are likely to be identified. Thurston Highlands is expected to pay for mitigation costs for utility lines, sewer treatment facilities, and additional schools, among other items."

What did Highlands owners do on this one?
Thurston Highlands has not paid $121,500 for all of 2008 for this invoice by the city.
The EIS did not specify what happens if the builder pulls out or defaults and how the city would then collect
what is owed the taxpayer.

Quoting The Olympian,
"Also, other bills still need to be settled.

Yelm is owed $121,500 for last year’s staff work to process an environmental impact statement.

Grant Beck, the city’s community development director, said his department will not process any applications related to the project until the bill is paid.

'We’ll get paid eventually,' he said. 'It’s just a matter of when.'

Thurston Highland Associates owes more than $57,200 in back property taxes, including interest and penalties, that were due last year, county records show."

Mr. Beck, will the city get repaid in your lifetime, unless the default is cured by some "11th-hour" funding? And, how are enough homes going to be able to be financed and built to cover all of the expenses?

Even if Thurston Highlands cures the default and moves forward, how are any homes really going to be built out there to pay back the debt via water hook-ups & other ideas. In this economic environment, getting bank credit for new home building now requires stellar credit qualifications that few have, as demonstrated recently by mounting foreclosures, falling home sales and dropping home values.

WHAT SAY YOU?

Sandra Romero

You’re invited to coffee with County Commissioner Sandra Romero

Do you care about Thurston County?
Have an issue that is important to you?
Want to find out more about the county?

Please join Thurston County Commissioner Sandra Romero, as she hosts her monthly informal coffee hour at the Blue Bottle Restaurant in Yelm,
Monday, May 18th from 10:00 am – 11:00 am.

There is a lot happening in Thurston County.
This coffee will focus on roads and transportation services, and give residents the opportunity to talk about issues of concern, ask Commissioner Romero questions about the county, and share ideas. Public Works Director, Lester Olson will be this month’s guest speaker.

“I want to listen to Yelm citizens and see how we can work together.
A healthy community is an engaged community and I want to be part of that conversation.”

Commissioner Romero is the representative of District 2, which includes Yelm, Lacey, and Rainier.

What: Citizen meeting with second district County Commissioner Sandra Romero

When: Monday, May 18th from 10 AM to 11 AM

Where: The Blue Bottle Restaurant- 309 E Yelm Ave. Yelm, WA 98597.

Coffee provided.

If you have any questions contact:
Lisa Paribello at 360-786-5747 or paribel@co.thurston.

The Yelm Community Blog broke all records this week for individual visitors & hits to the website everyday from Monday, May 11th thru Friday, May 15th.

This blog is a free community service.
I am no journalist and was never trained in reporting.
There is no staff, as several of you have asked.
I write local items of interest to me and record my observations.
I do this all on my own free time, including publishing each entry.
By the length of time each visitor remained on the site this last week, one can see those who accessed this blog were stopping to read and did not just happen to get to this site by mistake.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST!

On another note, the public comments posted on The Olympian story yesterday of the Thurston Highlands default have been resoundingly negative about Yelm's city officials' handling of this whole affair. Seems the public "got it" on this story!
And, thanks to The Olympian for carrying this important regional story, and on the top front page of their print edition, too!
CLICK HERE to read The Olympian comments.
As per usual, no comments were posted on the Nisqually Valley News story on the Highlands default. The Yelm locals just do not participate in their local city's affairs, which is why City Hall has gotten away with so much over the last 8 years!
2009 is time for change, one can only hope, in who the citizens of Yelm elect to mayor and City Council. Do I expect any change? No! Do I hope there will be change? Yes! HMMM!

The City of Yelm Tree Advisory Board had their 12th annual Yelm Arbor Day celebration at 11am Friday, May 15 in Yelm City Park (First St. & Mosman).

This is a good time to remind everyone of the YELM TREE ADVISORY BOARD'S work.
Click here, then Citizen Committees, then Tree Board

Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care.

Founded by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska in 1872, National Arbor Day is celebrated each year on the last Friday in April.

Washington State's Arbor Day is the second Wednesday in April.

"The National Arbor Day Foundation has published a new hardiness zone map, based on climate data from the past 15 years, that clearly shows the warming trend across the country," quoting the National Arbor Day Foundation website.

Won't you donate a tree to our town by sending a check to Yelm City Hall for Yelm's Tree Fund!

As a note,
I was just looking at the members of each Yelm's Citizen Committees in researching today's blog entry and found one name on most of them:
Glen Cunningham.

Let's do a tally:
Mr Cunningham is President-elect of the Yelm Chamber of Commerce, serves on the Yelm Planning Commission, Yelm Tree Advisory Board, Civil Service Commission, and the Yelm Parks Advisory Committee. While Mr. Cunningham's service to the city is commendable, his being on so many of our citizen committees begs two questions:
1. Is there NOT nay other Yelm area citizen wishing to serve on these committees?
2. Is there some conflict of interest in his Chamber & Planning Commission rolls and all of these other committee posts? HMMM!

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

Both The Olympian and the Nisqually Valley News ran the Thurston Highlands story in their editions out today, which was first brought to public light by the Yelm Community Blog last week.

Interesting that both the NVN & The Olympian chose NOT to report that the City of Yelm used taxpayer money to fund a private developer's water study, which caught several people's eyes, including a State Representative, who also wrote the WA. State Auditor & Attorney General requesting they look into that issue. HMMM!

Here is my letter to Yelm City Administrator Badger about her ridiculous comments in the NVN today:

Dear City Administrator Badger,

While I find most unfortunate that the Nisqually Valley News (NVN) chose not to share with their readers the City of Yelm never had a contract with the Thurston Highlands developers to get repaid for the city funding a private developer's water study, I find even more disturbing your misleading answers to serious water issue questions.

Your comment in the NVN's print edition out May 15th is just one example:
"Badger said the city needed to conduct the study regardless of the master planned community.
While the water study will impact the Highlands, the study was needed for the development of the city as a whole."

Mrs. Badger, the Golder Water Study the City Council authorized for Thurston Highlands had only one purpose and that was to find water for a private developer to locate water on their private (not city owned/controlled) land and bring to the city with their 3 applications. As a matter of public policy, developers are supposed to pay for their impacts up front, just like schools, roads, traffic and water. However, the public has paid instead with Thurston Highlands because the city funded the water study up front and has maintained they will be reimbursed by impact fees from building permits in the development as outlined in the EIS or as the City Staff Report in 2006 said, "Through the Conceptual Master Plan process for the Thurston Highlands community, there will be a determination on the pro-rata share of private financial participation towards this project.” The Conceptual Master Plan process is on hold, the developers are now gone and left the city with 2/3 of a million dollars the taxpayers will have to swallow, unless the developers somehow cure their $12.5 million default.

Developers are supposed to present all aspects of their project to the city, not the city to the developer. The Mayor, Community Development Dept., City Council and you Mrs. Badger lost sight of that 2 1/2 years ago when I asked you then about a contract with the developer for this water study. Nothing was done and now that decision has come home to roost!

Then you say, "Some ideas the city is looking at rather than charge the developers a lump sum is tacking on an additional charge for every water hook-up."
Mrs. Badger, even if Thurston Highlands cures the default and moves forward, how are any homes really going to be built out there to pay back the debt via water hook-ups. In this economic environment, getting bank credit for new home building now requires stellar credit qualifications that few have, as demonstrated recently by mounting foreclosures, falling home sales and dropping home values. Your idea for the city to repaid via water hook-ups rests on shifting sands!

Subterfuge continues to be the city's policy of the day.
The fact that the city did not have a contract with a private developer and used taxpayer money for a water study on private land has been turned over to the Washington State Attorney General & Auditor's Offices requesting an investigation into these and other city practices.

I own land in Yelm.
Would the city fund a water study on my private land without a contract?
Or for anyone else?

Your first responsibility is to protect your community and constituents from any harm, which you did not do!

Mayor Ron Harding accepts Chamber's Citizen of the Year Award

MAYOR RON HARDING

Mayor Ron Harding received the Citizen of the Year honor from the Yelm Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, May 12. Quoting the NVN,
"While Harding said he is humbled by the honor, he says he wishes someone else was being recognize (sic).

He even tried to step aside."
[Ed. Note: One does not try to step aside; they either step aside or they don't, period!]

"I'm not sure if the mayor is suppose (sic) to be Citizen of the Year, but I'll accept it," Harding said.
[Ed. note: I am sure, as I wrote on May 12th. Why didn't he just not accept the award when asked, if he really wanted to step aside? HMMM!]

Yelm Chamber's Executive Director Cecelia Jenkins told the NVN,
"One of the reasons Harding stands out, Jenkins said, is because of the volunteer hours he put into remodeling the new Yelm Historical Museum."
That is laudable, however to help clarify, a mayor's duty and indeed, responsibility is to serve his community. The reward is in re-electing him to office. There were others that deserve praise and this award, as well!

The Mayor's first responsibility is to protect our community and constituents from any harm, which he did not do, tarnishing this award!

WHAT GIVES?
IS EVERYTHING JUST SOME KIND OF GAME WITH OUR CITY OFFICIALS?

Skydancer's Wild Edible Plant's Workshop
Saturday, May 16
at 10:30 am

We will be STALKING RESVERATROL IN THE WILD, plus many other wonderful forms of food and medicine in nature's pantry.

Meet at:
Yelm Earth Worm & Castings Farm
Directions:
Lawrence Lake Lake Rd.
Sign up at:gardensgregarious@juno.com

JZ Knight

"JZ Knight will appear with distinguished guests this Saturday, May 16th on a panel discussion led by 'James Van Praagh! He says the dead can teach us about life. Learn how when he tells Larry what the spirits are saying,' quoting CNN’s Larry King Show.

View the announcement here.

“James is a survival evidence medium, meaning that he is able to bridge the gap between two planes of existence, that of the living and that of the dead, by providing evidential proof of life after death via detailed messages. ‘I’m clairsentient,’ he explains, ‘which simply means clear feeling,’” according to his website www.vanpraagh.com.

Also, on the panel are
Debbie Ford, author of Why Good People Do Bad Things: How to Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy and other titles and is a noted speaker, teacher & trainer “to find new ways to inspire others to go on this lifelong journey to clean up their past, to forgive themselves for their flaws and shortcomings, to make peace with their humanity, to open up to their divinity and allow themselves to be guided by a power greater than themselves,” according to her website.

Dr. Michael Beckwith “founded the Agape International Spiritual Center, a trans-denominational spiritual community whose doors are open to all seekers in search of authentic spirituality, personal transformation and selfless service to humankind,” according to his website.

Dr. Beckwith appeared previously with JZ Knight on CNN’s Larry King Live.

“JZ Knight has been the Channel for Ramtha the Enlightened One for 32 years and is President of Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment (RSE) established in 1988 in Yelm, Washington. A Channel is different from a medium in that the channel is not the intermediary between consciousness coming through them and the audience. The channel does not remain in a transfixed, altered state while channeling; rather they leave their body completely and allow the consciousness coming through to have full faculty over all their bodily movements and functions. Ramtha, while being channeled through JZ Knight, has the ability to open his eyes and teach his students personally,” quoting RSE’s website.

Ms. Knight introduces on the show Ramtha's book Last Waltz of the Tyrants- Revisited.
CLICK HERE for information on this book.

The program will air Saturday, May 16th at 6pm PDT, 9pm PDT & at midnight. Check local listing and times at CNN’s Larry King Show," quoting Ms. Knight's website.

Yelm Art Walk
May 12-17, 2009

Musicians, poetry readings, hands-on art workshops and local visual artists’ work on display in Yelm business locations all week. Art Walk featured gallery reception & silent auction on Sat. May 16th at Schafer Gallery Art and Frame, 104 Yelm Ave. E., 5-7 pm.
Come see & bid on art work including the original painting of the Art Walk poster (shown to the left) while you enjoy meeting the artists and visiting with community friends. 360 918-1233

Daily Event Schedule
Click Here

Yelm Community Schools Art Walk Exhibit Locations
Click Here

List of participating businesses and the artists they are displaying
Click Here

AND IN RAINIER

The Center for Creative Arts is very excited to announce the hosting of the first annual ARTwalk in Rainier, WA. This CELEBRATION WEEKEND is May 15th, 16th, and 17th. Admission is free!

Friday Night May 15th:

6:30 pm Mas Uda Belly Dancers
7:30 pm Tamborine Borrelli- Bluesy singer/songwriter
8:10 pm Juggling Troupe
8:40 pm Eclipse blues, pop/rock featuring Tod Lemkhul, Micheal Harrison, and Lead guitarist Aaron McLain
Fire Breathers @Dusk.

We are also featuring local artists, and vendors sharing their wares.
This evening will include wine, beer, and food available for purchase. An evening for the whole family!!

Saturday Vendors 11 to 7:00

1:30pm Deanna's Children's Recital
6:30pm Come & observe the current Salsa class taught by professional dancer Monica Lucia
7:30pm Guitarist Todd Thompson (Latin/jazz/pop)
Sunday Vendors 11 to 4:00
Singer/ songwriter Tamborine Borrelli

302 Binghampton
Rainer
behind Signature Service
(360) 458-1311, ask for Cari

Jim Zukowski wrote this for the Yelm Community Blog:

[with all of the news this blog has been reporting about Thurston Highlands in default]
"And this is on top of the City's plan to move ALL of their water rights to the Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community (THMPC).
Go figure...

I just finished reading four columns of legal notice in the 1-May-2009 edition of the NVN (mostly page C6). The city plans to acquire more water rights (how and from whom?) over the next 28 years, increasing their draw from various aquifers to 4186 acre-feet per year. The current wells in downtown Yelm and at the golf course will be phased out as new wellfields are drilled in THMPC.

I find this rather disturbing, not only for the total amount of water beingdrawn, but for the "all eggs in one basket" concept.
While the proposal is for a "wellfield" in THMPC, it still localizes all of the city's water "production" at one "facility." This is too clearly a recipe for disaster.
Should anything happen to that wellfield or the storage tanks located there, the city -- and all of its citizens -- would be very much S.O.L. (I can't think of a better way to describe it.)

This project is on a VERY fast track.
The Comment period is only until 15-May, and the Appeal period (to the hearing examiner [ha!]) is only until 22-May-2009. That's only two weeks for comments, plus an additional week to appeal, from the original publication date of 1-May.

THAT'S THIS FRIDAY, FOLKS!

I think this fits into the category of "Holy S#!t!"

Mr. Zukowski is exactly correct and most do not even know what is being foisted on them by the City of Yelm!

The City's website lists the:

Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance
File Number ENV-08-0397-YL
Proponent: City of Yelm, Washington
Description of Proposal: Allocation of 3,233.73 acre-feet (af) of water per year and the transfer of 952.27 acre-feet of water per year for municipal purposes in 4 Phases between 2010 and 2037. Phase 1 would allocate 554 af of water in the SW Yelm area between 2010 and 2012. Phase 2 would allocate an additional 388.34 af of water in the same area, and transfer 719.66 af to the SW Yelm area from the existing downtown wells. Phase 3 would allocate an additional 875.39 af of water in the SW Yelm wellfield
and transfer 232.61 to SW Yelm from the Golf Course well currently under development. Phase 4 would allocate an additional 1,416 af of water in the SW Yelm wellfield for a total water portfolio for Yelm (both existing and new water rights) of 4,186 acre feet.

Location of the Proposal: The SW Yelm wellfield would be located in the Southwest quadrant of the City of Yelm in the area of the Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community.

Threshold Determination: The City of Yelm as lead agency for this action has determined that this proposal does not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will not be required under Section 43.21C.030 (2)(c) RCW. This decision was made after review of a completed environmental checklist and other information on file with the lead agency.

Let's review this again:
"The City of Yelm as lead agency for this action has determined that this proposal does not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will not be required under Section 43.21C.030 (2)(c) RCW."

LET'S PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE:

1. "a total water portfolio for Yelm (both existing and new water rights) of 4,186 acre feet?"
Jeepers! Yelm has an allocation of 796.66 acre feet per year now from the DOE.
The city wants to pump 5 times more?

2. has anyone ever thought what that much water pumped would do to private water users' wells?
Or Thompson Creek?
Some have. READ THIS!

3. The MDNS says "The City of Yelm as lead agency for this action..."
WHY is the city the lead agency when the Dept. of Ecology is already on this issue?

4. Thurston Highlands is the location of this proposal. Several key questions arise from the location:
- Thurston Highlands, LLC is in default, the developers are out of the picture?
- how do the banks that now own the Highlands land feel about the city wanting to pump water from land they control and is up for public auction June 5th?
- does the city have an easement or ownership on the Highlands property? (i.e. NO!)
The city's easements rights expired last year.
- the Water System Plan is based on land the city does not have a right to access.

5. Pumping 5 times more water than today "does not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will not be required..."
WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE THINKING!

6. Why is something so important not on the city's Homepage, rather buried on the Public Notices page?
Does the Community Development Dept. not want the community to know?

PLEASE WRITE YOUR COMMENTS TO
Grant Beck
Community Development Department
City of Yelm
105 Yelm Avenue West
Yelm, WA 98597
by THIS FRIDAY May 15, 2009, at 5:00 P.M.
or via e-mail
grantb@ci.yelm.wa.us

TELL MR. BECK YOU DEMAND HE STOP THIS WATER SYSTEM PLAN AS THE AMOUNT OF WATER WILL EFFECT PRIVATE WELLS - I.E. DRY THEM UP!
TELL MR. BECK TO STOP WASTING TAXPAYERS MONEY FOCUSED ON LAND THAT IS IN DEFAULT, DUE TO BE AUCTIONED ON JUNE 5TH AND TO WHICH THE CITY HAS NO RIGHTS OR ACCESS!

Why is the City of Yelm proceeding with the Water System Plan when the whole premise of the Plan is no longer valid, since the city’s water system expansion is based on serving Master Planned Communities (MPC), the largest one being in default?"

People are hurting and wondering why they have to pay for a water plan through increased rates to expand the city’s water system to handle a large development – and the developers are now out of the picture.

HELLO, IS THERE ANYONE HOME AT CITY HALL?

Tonight's Yelm City Council meeting had 4 comments from the public as follows in order:

1. Bill Hashim
Asked for the City Council to add to New Business for a session to reconvene and update the 1995 Yelm Vision Plan with broad citizen input, in light of the recent news of the Thurston Highlands default.

2. Jean Handley
asked that all activity the city has on-going with Thurston Highlands cease and desist given the recent Highlands default news. (see tomorrows Blog entry on this!)

3. Gail Cane
clean drinking water a necessity and Yelm is near limits on pumping capacity - water critical issue.
(see tomorrows Blog entry on this!)

4. Ed Wiltsie
Mr. Wiltsie cites City Ordinance requiring the city put funds in escrow to the amount expended by the city on behalf of a developer and in an interest bearing account. Since the city did not do that, the city is in violation of their own ordinance.
Mayor Harding told Mr. Wiltsie that the $550,003 for the Golder Water Study was only on the city's behalf to find water for the town.
Mr. Wiltsie told Mr. Harding that was not true, that the money went to fund a water study on behalf of a private developer and that was on land not owned by the city.
Mr. Harding turned to Community Development Director Grant Beck and asked for comment.
Mr. Beck offered none and Mr. Wiltsie sat down.
[Ed. Note: That was quite an embarrassing moment for the city!
From Mr. Harding's continued response that the Golder Water Study was specifically to find water for the city, I can either ascertain one of four things:

Again, Mr Mayor, please verify with Mr. Beck that the Golder Water Study had only one purpose and that was to find water for a private developer to locate water on their private (not city owned/controlled) land and bring to the city with their 3 applications. As a matter of public policy, developers are supposed to pay for their impacts up front, just like schools, roads, traffic and water. However, the public will pay with Thurston Highlands because the city funded the water study up front and has maintained they will be reimbursed by impact fees from building permits in the development. The developers are now gone and left the city with 2/3 of a million dollars the taxpayers will have to swallow, unless the developers somehow cure their default. Mr. Harding, developers are supposed to present all aspects of their project to the city, not the city to the developer. You, your Community Development Dept., City Council and City Administrator Badger lost sight of that three years ago and now that decision has come home to roost!]

City Council member Don Miller asked City Administrator if there was a city audit done recently. Mrs. Badger said 2006-2007. Mr. Miller asked if there was any discrepancy of note. Mrs. Badger said there was none.
[Ed. Note: Several blog readers have reported they have written the State Auditor about the Yelm situation in the last week -- i.e. that the city had no contract with a private developer in funding the water study on private land.]

Later in the meeting, Council member John Thompson asked for a study session to discuss the Thurston Highlands issues that have been brought to light by this blog in the last week and the comments of citizens tonight, and in particular, to address an update of the Yelm Vision Plan.
I will let you know when that session will be.

UPDATE: May 13, 2009
Due to the large volume of requests to this blog on how to file a complaint about City of Yelm practices, the WA State Auditor's website has a citizen's hotline, where you can submit an electronic form or call an anonymous phone number to express your concern:

For the Washington State Auditor's Office Hotline
CLICK HERE

About the WA. State Auditor's Hotline
CLICK HERE

Washington Coalition for Open Government could be a helpful resource.
CLICK HERE

When I read ProtectYelm.org's expose April 14th on the Yelm Chamber Forum luncheon Awards given on May 12th, I paused with stunned amazement. In reading the awards, I noticed that all of the awards were going to Chamber Board members' businesses.

I immediately wrote the Chamber's Executive Director Cecelia Jenkins asking how the Award Winners were selected. Cecelia said:
"We have an awards committee that nominates members that have volunteered/helped throughout the year and the Board votes by ballot on those nominated."

So an awards committee nominates the award recipients and the Board votes by ballot?
Interesting then that the Board selected all of their own members' businesses for an award!

My wife & I had the opportunity to ask a long-time Chamber Board member about this and he said "you honor the 5% that pull the weight of the 95%."
I said that is well and good, however perhaps the better choice would be to have a special service award for the Board members only annually.
After all, you have over 400 other members that might be more inclined to participate more if the annual awards did not go just to Board member's/elected officials' businesses that the Board themselves select.

I wrote this to the Chamber Board as a Yelm Chamber of Commerce member for 5 years:

"I have to tell you that I have lived all over this country and on all three coasts as an airline executive and grew up in the Midwest and I have never seen any Chamber of Commerce Board Members select their own Board Members' businesses and elected government official's businesses and even elected officials in an annual award of acknowledgment of their service.
Everywhere I have lived, elected officials' businesses & Board/Committee members' businesses are not allowed to participate in an annual award to prevent conflicts of interest and the appearance of impropriety; Board members' businesses have always been required to recuse themselves in any annual award.

I have never heard of a Chamber award for Outstanding Citizen of the year going to an elected official and Board Treasurer, who was elected to serve their community; and in the very first place service to the community that comes with the territory, because of their position anyway;
Humanitarian Award or some sort of other recognition outside of this format, yes.

Same with a newspaper, as they naturally serve in that role in which they are positioned in the community.
No disrespect intended to Mr. Harding, for his volunteering here in the community is commendable,
however we have a Mayor who has been a speaker twice this year at the Chamber Forums and that is only in the last 4 months, is the current Chamber Board Treasurer and is up for re-election this Fall and a probable mayoral candidate again this Fall.
Is that not enough?

Was there not any other person in the community not an elected official or Chamber Board member not deserving of this award?

While everyone greatly appreciates the fabulous service of this Mayor, Council members, newspaper & your committee members have contributed in service to their community, there are hundreds of other member's businesses of this very Chamber, some of whom would have been recognized and might even step-up to the plate to do more, if the aforementioned 2008-2009 Award Winners' businesses had been recused.
That would certainly have been more ecumenical, in my view."

Now we have a Mayor and city government under the microscope for mismanagement of taxpayer funds and three from City Hall get an award this week?

Mayor Ron Harding, Citizen of the Year Award
Cindy Teixeira (former NVN award-winning investigative reporter), Community and Government Relations Coordinator for the City of Yelm will receive the Chamber President's Award.
John Thompson, Yelm City Council member will receive the Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award.
HMMM!

While the Yelm Chamber’s awards to city officials this week lauding volunteerism is notable, those officials’ first responsibility is to protect their community and constituents from any harm. They apparently sacrificed that mandate for the advancement of a private developer and at the expense of their town, which tarnishes the validity of these awards.

The Yelm Chamber Board:
Debbie Caudill, President
Glen Cunningham, President-elect
Ron Harding, Treasurer
Steve Ruff, Past President
and these following board members:
Denise Bagwell
Angie Evans of the Nisqually Valley News, whose business received an award
Sandi Hanson
Scott Mills
Leslie Koch
Matt Purcell, whose business received an award
April Sage
Roger Smith, whose business, where he is in customer service at Baydo Chevrolet received an award
Gary Vallandingham

WHAT SAY YOU?

The Nisqually Valley News (NVN) finally is going to report on the Thurston Highlands default and city's debt, thanks to my Press Release last week on the story to all Puget Sound broadcast & print media.
The NVN had the story on their First Report May 8th, the day after my Press Release.

Will the NVN give credit to the source of their story?
Probably not!
And that is fine with me, as my blog investigation drove this story to finally get out to their readers.

In his op-ed Friday, March 20, 2009, Nisqually Valley News (NVN) Publisher/Editor Keven Graves commented about the the termination of the Seattle P-I print edition, an icon in Puget Sound for over 150 years saying,
"Whether people realize it or not, just about every daily newspaper in the country is the source of most information now read for free on many popular Internet sites...
From where will these Web sites be hijacking their news after more daily newspapers either fold, or wise up and begin locking down their Web sites?"

Mr. Graves was continuing his criticism of blogs.

Well, now the shoe is on the other foot and Mr. Graves newspaper's front-page coverage this coming week will be driven by this blogger's investigative report, from a story published on this free internet site!
Where was our local newspaper's award-winning investigative journalism on this major issue?
As one blog commenter wrote last week, "All this should be front page news at the NVN. We'll see."

"President Obama also turned serious and talked of the financially struggling media industry, praising journalists for holding government officials accountable [at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, May 9th]. 'A government without newspapers, a government without a tough and vibrant media of all sorts is not an option for the United States of American,' he said," quoting MSNBC.
So Mr. Graves, your disdain for blogs is not shared by this President!

Now, Mr. Graves newspaper's coverage of City Hall's apparent malfeasance is in his First Report on the newspaper's website from where I quote:
"The city will have to sit and look at options and decide how to go about getting the money, Badger said."

EXCUSE ME, MRS. BADGER!
You have the gall to say that to City Hall's official newspaper?
And to your constituents!
One could only hope the NVN will question her more thoroughly with the following:

Only NOW "the city will have to sit and look at options and decide how to go about getting the money?"
What about 8 months ago when the Highlands went into default.
What about 9 months ago when the Highlands did not pay their bills to the city?
What about 3 years ago when I raised this issue and 2 1/2 years ago when Mrs. Badger was questioned by me about not having a contract with the Highlands for the water study?
Mrs. Badger even sidetracked then NVN award-winning investigative reporter Cindy Teixeira in an NVN story in January, 2007 to make me the issue. Mrs. Teixeira took the bait, giving the city a "bye" and did not ask Mrs. Badger key questions, which I wrote then. Mrs. Texieira later became the City of Yelm's Community and Government Relations Coordinator. HMMM!
Where has the city been in all of that time & why have they NOT said anything to the public before my investigation?

To Mrs. Badger,
YOU PAINTED YOURSELF AND THE CITY'S TAXPAYER IN A CORNER 2 1/2 YEARS AGO WHEN YOU IGNORED MY QUESTION ABOUT NOT HAVING A CONTRACT WITH THURSTON HIGHLANDS, LLC TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE CITY COUNCIL FUNDING A PRIVATE DEVELOPER'S WATER STUDY.
YOU COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING THEN AND DID NOT.
THEN CITY-COUNCIL MEMBER BOB ISOM EXPRESSED CONCERN AT THE REQUEST FOR MORE FUNDS FOR THE WATER STUDY, THOUGH THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE FUNDING ANYWAY, AND
WITH NO CONTRACT.
WHAT OPTIONS DO YOU HOLD?
One had better hope Thurston Highlands, LLC. comes up with funding to pay off the debt, liens and the city's past-due 2008 Invoice by May 25th to get the Yelm city taxpayer off the hook, or the land gets sold to the highest bidder at auction!

-The Yelm City Council authorized taxpayer monies ($550,003) to fund a private developer’s water study, with no contract to be reimbursed or any protections for the city to get taxpayers’ money returned should the development not come to fruition.
- The city is owed $121,500 for unpaid services in 2008 by Thurston Highlands, LLC.
- The City of Yelm is not even one of the lien holders in an attempt to get taxpayer money returned. If the city wanted to get this money recouped, then they would have had to follow the procedure of filing a lien on the Highlands properties and get in line with the other lien holders ahead of them to seek their funds.

And now tomorrow, we have the Yelm Chamber of Commerce's Board who voted for & are presenting the Citizen of the Year Award to one of their own Chamber Board members & Chamber Treasurer Mayor Ron Harding at the Chamber Forum Luncheon, a man who has also been the keynote speaker to the Chamber Forum twice this year. He's the Chamber Board's & NVN's non-declared, defacto-candidate.
Cindy Teixeira (former NVN award-winning investigative reporter), Community and Government Relations Coordinator for the City of Yelm will receive the Chamber President's Award.
John Thompson, Yelm City Council member will receive the Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award.

Looks like these three special Chamber Awards are a "slam dunk" for City Hall - or "outta da ballpark" as we used to say back East!

Can you imagine awarding these people Tuesday with what is coming out this very same week about the way they have mishandled 2/3 of a million dollars of taxpayer's money?

What do you think of our Mayor, who allowed all of this debt to the taxpayer to occur on his watch being Treasurer of the Yelm Chamber of Commerce?
As one blog commenter wrote to last week's story on this, "If I were a Yelm resident I'd be wanting blood."

This towns newspaper editor/publisher, this city's mayor, & this City Council have all put me down for over 4 years and attempted to shove me aside to make my observations irrelevant.
Those days are over!
I have built a case, brick by brick, which no one can deny and I have been on the record in City Hall and on this blog for 3+ years with all of this information.

Small-town politics at its best (or worst)!

As Walter Cronkite used to say, "And that's the way it is..."

Sad?
Yes, very!

PERHAPS THE PUBLIC HERE WILL WAKE-UP AND PROTEST BEING OUT-OF-POCKET 2/3 OF A MILLION DOLLARS TUESDAY AT 7PM TO THE YELM CITY COUNCIL AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING!

Photo of Al Victor courtesy of MastersConnection.com

Long time Yelm business owner Al Victor passed this plane this morning (Mother's Day).
Al was having a grand day yesterday cutting hair in his own shop in Yelm as he so loved. He was at home this morning, and went for his daily Neighborhood Walk®, and when he did not return, his beloved his partner Jason went looking for him. He found him dead, after a beautiful morning sunrise.
He had what is being described as a "pulmonary event."
Al was the owner of Al Victor's Beauty Salon, which just had a grand re-opening as a tenant in Prairie Plaza, as reported here March 27, 2009.

His family wants his body flown back to Michigan for burial there.
Details are pending about any remembrances here.
Will keep you posted.

I met Al at a Ramtha Retreat in Snow Mountain, Colorado in May of 1988 - the first official class of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.
Al always had a smile and a kind word whenever I saw him, which I did just recently.

Godspeed on your next adventures, sweet man!
You will always be remembered and loved for adding to the color of Yelm!

Neighborhood Walk®
is a trademark of JZ Knight and is used with permission.
Copyright © 2009 JZ Knight. All Rights Reserved

UPDATE: May 13, 2009
Al's 89 year-old mother is making arrangements to have the body flown back to Detroit for internment in the family plot. Close friend Karla Davidson is traveling with Al's partner Jason (aka George McDonald) on Northwest Airlines tomorrow to Detroit, as well. Jason will be one of the pallbearers.

A memorial service here will be held Sunday, May 24th at the Lake Lawrence Club, 2pm.
You are invited to bring your own food & drink to celebrate Al's life - a man that touched our hearts & souls.

Photo of Al Victor & his partner Jason

I had been doing some research on the origins of Mothers Day and thought to share with all of you.

1. Wikipedia says,
"The modern Mother's Day holiday was created by Anna Jarvis as a day for each family to honor its mother, and it's now celebrated on various days in many places around the world. It complements Father's Day, the celebration honoring fathers.

This holiday is relatively modern, being created at the start of the 20th century, and should not be confused with the early pagan and Christian traditions honoring mothers, or with the 16th century celebration of Mothering Sunday, which is also known as Mother's Day in the UK.

In most countries the Mother's Day celebration is a recent holiday derived from the original US celebration...

In 1912, Anna Jarvis trademarked the phrases "second Sunday in May" and "Mother's Day", and created the Mother's Day International Association.

"She was specific about the location of the apostrophe; it was to be a singular possessive, for each family to honour their mother, not a plural possessive commemorating all mothers in the world."[1]

This is also the spelling used by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in the law making official the holiday in the U.S. [May 9, 1914], by the U.S. Congress on bills, and by other U.S. presidents on their declarations."

From Women's Rights.Change,"
"From Physicians for Social Responsibility:

Julia Ward Howe proposed the idea of Mother’s Day for Peace over a century ago. Howe’s Mother’s Day Proclamation in 1870 was a call for disarmament and for women to come together to seek diplomatic ways to settle disagreements amongst nations.

Today, Physicians for Social Responsibility carries on this work by seeking an end to the use and spread of nuclear weapons, working to end global warming, and stopping the toxic degradation of the environment. We encourage you to share the story of Mother’s Day with your mother and other family members and friends."

See the
Mother's Day Proclamation 1870
By Julia Ward Howe.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL OF OUR MOTHERS, THE TRUE GIVERS OF LIFE!

Hi all,

Join the Jester, the Minstrel and Princess Winnifred at Rainier High's production of

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS

MAY 9 2PM & 7PM
MAY 10 7PM
MAY 15 7PM
MAY 16 7PM
MAY 17 2PM

AT THE RAINIER HIGH SCHOOL COMMONS....

KEEP LIVE THEATER BREATHING!

This call to action was received by a Yelm Community Blog reader in response to yesterday's blog entry about City of Yelm negligence of public funds relating to Thurston Highlands, LLC:

"It is now the time to go to the next Yelm City Council meeting and request that the City Close and Cancel the Thurston Highlands Master Plan and return the property to the status of standard residential property located within the City limits.

It will take a good showing of Yelm Residents, followed by surrounding area citizens to get this onto the City agenda.

Let's have a large showing with comments at the next council meeting.

Next Yelm Residents and surrounding area residents should press the issue to the City Council regarding reimbursement of the funds expended on behalf of Thurston Highlands or replace it from their city salaries.

What do you say?"

Ed Wiltsie
Yelm, WA.

SPREAD THE WORD!
The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, May 12th at 7pm at Yelm's Public Safety Building.

This meeting follows the Citizen of the Year Award to be presented by the Yelm Chamber of Commerce Board to one of the Chamber's own Board members & Chamber Treasurer Mayor Ron Harding at the Chamber Forum Luncheon.
Cindy Teixeira, Community and Government Relations Coordinator for the City of Yelm will receive the Chamber President's Award.
John Thompson, Yelm City Council member will receive the Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award.

Looks like these three special Chamber Awards are a "slam dunk" for City Hall - or "outta da ballpark" as we used to say back East!

HMMMM!

MOTHER'S DAY CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH AT THE BLUE BOTTLE - SUNDAY MAY 10
Not for Mother's only...Celebrate your mother whether she is here - far away or you were
created in a petrie dish.....
Menu:
***Mixed green salad with candied walnuts and honey mustard vinnagrette
***Roasted asparagus spears with fresh lemon and cracked pepper
***Herbed cream cheese scrambled eggs
***Fresh baked artichoke heart, carmelized sweet onion and goat cheese quiche
***Roasted baby red potatoes with fresh garlic, rosemary and thyme
***Slow,smoky black tea braised Ham with a fire roasted sweet glaze
***Thick cut Bacon smothered with brown sugar, fresh cracked pepper baked to a crisp decadence
***Fresh strawberry shortcake
***Bottomless mimosas
$19.95 per person ~ Children 2-12 $6.95. Under age 2 free.
For information call Blue Bottle, (360) 458-4611

AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMAKE OUR COMMUNITY IN OUR MIDST

The business of the City of Yelm has been mishandled and indications are now this will cost the Yelm taxpayer dearly, as issues have been happening away from public view.

Thurston Highlands, LLC is in default on the entire Highlands property and the records show that the amount to be collected is almost $12 1/2 million dollars. If you recall, Thurston Highlands is a 1,200 acre property in southwest Yelm that proposed 5,000 residential units with up to 1.5 million sq. ft. of commercial space (comparable to the square footage of 8 Super Wal-Marts), including massive new additions to the city’s water & sewer systems. This proposed development is one of the largest in the state, and that would quadruple the size of Yelm. In order to accomplish this, the city has proposed to obtain enormous new water rights by application to the State. The City of Yelm has been working under contract with these developers by hiring extra staff to support the added workload. With the developers in default since September, 2008, the city has assumed great costs to the taxpayer, yet has not provided this information to the public.

Now, according to my investigation of public records, I assert there is an appearance the city is not providing oversight of public funds the way that we, the citizens, would expect and therefore city officials are not looking after the best interests of the community. My assessment is that city management have been hiding all of this, continually denying the facts when they know differently.

These following public documents will demonstrate the city has uncollected reimbursements, from which you can read to draw your own conclusions:

- The City of Yelm has not been reimbursed for services rendered and invoiced to Thurston Highlands, LLC for 2008 in the amount of $121,500.00. The City of Yelm sent a letter to Thurston Highlands, LLC dated November 5, 2008 saying the firm was behind in their remittance, however that is the only documented attempt by the city to recoup those expenses.
CLICK HERE for the Nov., 2008 letter.
CLICK HERE for the Aug., 2008 invoice.

- Email response from City Administrator Shelley Badger to me dated January 29, 2007 indicating the city had no contract for the taxpayer to get reimbursed for the $550,003 authorized for a water study the City Council funded for the purpose of a development on private property.
CLICK HERE
Mrs. Badger said the pro-rata share for the water study “will be determined from the Thurston Highlands impact analysis completed during the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and stated as a condition of the Conceptual Master Plan." However, the city continued working on the Thurston Highlands EIS until the November, 2008 EIS public release, two months after Thurston Highlands, LLC entered into default and three months after the city invoiced Thurston Highlands, LLC for services rendered, yet remained unpaid in violation of the Agreement for Conceptual Master Site Plan.
CLICK HERE for the Thurston Highlands, LLC Final EIS.

- The City of Yelm has done little to get almost 2/3 of a million dollars of taxpayers' money returned, as demonstrated by the city's response to the question of water study reimbursements.
CLICK HERE


Four key questions to consider:
1. Why is the City of Yelm proceeding with the Water System Plan when the whole premise of the Plan is no longer valid, since the city’s water system expansion is based on serving Master Planned Communities (MPC), the largest one being in default?
2. Why did the City of Yelm, who knew this firm was in default, not tell the public some 8 months ago?
3. Why did the City of Yelm not tell their constituents the status of this default or the amount the city was owed by Thurston Highlands, LLC?
4. Why has the City of Yelm done little or nothing to get taxpayer dollars reimbursed?

By assessing all of this information, I have ascertained the following:
- The Yelm City Council authorized taxpayer monies ($550,003) to fund a private developer’s water study, with no contract to be reimbursed or any protections for the city to get taxpayers’ money returned should the development not come to fruition.
- The City of Yelm is not even one of the lien holders in an attempt to get taxpayer money returned. If the city wanted to get this money recouped, then they would have had to follow the procedure of filing a lien on the Highlands properties and get in line with the other lien holders ahead of them to seek their funds.
- The City of Yelm has not been reimbursed for services rendered and invoiced to Thurston Highlands, LLC for 2008 in the amount of $121,500.00. With the $121,500 added to the Water Study funds ($550,003), that’s over two-thirds of a million dollars in monies on these two issues alone Yelm taxpayers are now left “holding the bag.”
- The City of Yelm knew that Thurston Highlands, LLC was in default and in arrears on paying the city’s August, 2008 Invoice, as indicated by a November 5, 2008 letter asking Thurston Highlands, LLC. to remit their overdue payment.
- The City of Yelm has been in total denial of all of the facts presented them and continued to operate against the rules.
- People are hurting and wondering why they have to pay for a water plan through increased rates to expand the city’s water system to handle a large development – and the developers are now out of the picture.
- City of Yelm officials have done little to nothing to protect taxpayers’ resources in dealing with Thurston Highlands, LLC.

This situation raises many questions for our community to ponder:
- Is the city’s job to be finding water and funding a private developer’s water plan?

- Why have City of Yelm officials done nothing to protect their constituents who elected them as servants of the public trust in obtaining proper contractual relationships with developers such as Thurston Highlands, LLC, especially after being warned about not having a contract for a private developer’s water study by me over 2 ½ years ago?

- Where was the city management's oversight?

- Shouldn’t the city have become a lien holder against the property to recoup their funds?
It appears they are not, which means the city and taxpayer have no recourse.

- How long does this kind of conduct continue by City of Yelm officials before the city will wake up and say “NO” to the hurt and pain that they, the taxpayer, will have to endure?

- Over 2/3 of a million dollars has been spent that may not be recovered, which could have been a down payment on a new library building or money in your pocket that should never have been spent by the city, instead of being funded totally by the developer if there was a contract.

- How long will the behavior of city officials be tolerated here where unrepresented interests never get aired or are squelched by a Mayor and City Council that continually restricts and condemns the public who do speak up?

- Isn’t this just bad business, poor management, negligence or far worst as Yelm's City Council, city administrators, directors and managers have no contract for repayment for services on a water project for a private developer and then no filings of liens, when invoices are unpaid on contractual services rendered by the City’s Community Development Dept.?

NOW is the time for the City of Yelm to wake-up and change their government and the way of doing business.

The Thurston Highlands, LLC parcels are available to the “to the highest and best bidder” on June 5, 2009. ("The default... must be cured by the 25th day of May, 2009 to cause a discontinuance of the sale," according to the Notice of Trustee’s Sale to Thurston Highlands Associates.)

Let’s get this land rezoned. This land has not been developed in conformity with the 1995 Yelm Vision Plan in allowing such a large commercial area to be built outside of the downtown core and making this such a large bedroom community.
Shouldn't this property's development follow the Vision Plan?
If not, then we should change the Vision Plan, don't you think?

What do you say?
The choice is in your hands:
do nothing and continued to get kicked in the wallet and gut,
or vote for change?!

Will those wanting this town to change step-up and run for Mayor and City Council positions this Fall?

Maybe this is just what we need to stand back and all have a look at what we’d like our town to look like in the future?

The city's government will most likely deny this, however you can see the official public documents below for yourself, which are undeniable:

1. The Agreement for Conceptual Master Site Plan Application Fees between the City of Yelm and Thurston Highlands, LLC.
CLICK HERE

2. The Thurston Highlands impact analysis completed with the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which says nothing about Yelm getting reimbursed for the Water Study if the developer does not build or pulls out of the project. The developers are now gone and the city taxpayer is left with the bill.
CLICK HERE

3. City of Yelm Invoices to Thurston Highlands, LLC from the start of the Agreement for Conceptual Master Site Plan Application Fees effective July 1, 2006 and receipts for payments on account through the end of 2007.
CLICK HERE

4. City of Yelm Invoices to Thurston Highlands, LLC from the Agreement for Conceptual Master Site Plan Application Fees for 2008, and no receipts.
CLICK HERE

5. Notice of Trustee’s Sale to Thurston Highlands Associates, LLC on March 6, 2009 notifying the 7 Thurston Highlands, LLC parcels will sell at public auction “to the highest and best bidder” on June 5, 2009.
CLICK HERE

6. Lien of Robinson, Noble & Saltbush, Inc. against Thurston Highlands, LLC for unpaid professional services totaling $4,091.61.
CLICK HERE

7. Lien of Pacific Groundwater Group, Inc. against Thurston Highlands, LLC for unpaid professional services totaling $59,843.20.
CLICK HERE

UPDATE: May 15, 2009
The Olympian published a front-page story today about this issue after being sent the aforementioned Yelm Community Blog report.

From Yelm Prairie Lanes

BOWLING IS BACK!
Join us in our newly remodeled facility
42" Lcd T.V.'s or book our new party room for
Corporate Events-Birthdays-Call for info

TIGHTWAD TUESDAY
$2.50 per game $2.00 Shoe Rental (Before 6pm)

WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY
FAMILY GLOW BOWL
Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm Saturday 4:00-6:00pm
2 hrs of Bowling under the black lights and music
$12 adult $10 Junior (17 & Under) Includes Shoes

ROCKIN BOWL FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS
8:30pm-Midnight
$16.50 per person for 2.5 hours of Bowling or Standard Weekend Rate apply
Laser Lights, Strobes, Disco Ball and Fog Machine!

MOM'S BOWL FREE THIS SUNDAY NOON-5PM!

Yelm Prairie Lanes
202 E Yelm Ave. E.
Yelm, WA. 98597
Call us at 360-458-2695

OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO HIRE YOUTH THIS SUMMER!

Entry-level Employees Available This Summer For No Cost

This summer, CareerTREK’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) will employ over 200 Thurston County youth, ages 15-24. CareerTREK will cover the wages, taxes and L&I for these youth to work entry-level jobs in governmental, non-profit and local business organizations.

We need your help developing these worksites. As a worksite for SYEP, you will:
• go on-line to www.communityyouthservices.org/employers , fill out a simple job
description form;
• interview and hire an applicant who has an interest in working in your
organization (you will decide at the time of the interview if it is a good fit); and
• have the support of experienced CareerTREK case managers to ensure the
success of all.

To be a successful worksite for SYEP participants, supervisors must enjoy young people and be able to provide training, mentoring and evaluation for the new trainee. There is no obligation to retain the employee at the end of the summer program.

For additional information, or to be become a worksite for the SYEP program, please contact:
CareerTREK Recruiters
Katherine Mahoney Hannah Franks
360.943.0780 x168
360.943.0780 x209
kmahoney@communityyouthservices.org
hfranks@communityyouthservies.org
www.communityyouthservices.org/careertrek

CareerTREK is a long established, federally funded program that helps low-income youth
with barriers to employment complete their education and find employment. Using CareerTREK’s expert case management and financial support, participants assess their strengths, design a career path, and gain the skills needed to get and stay employed.
Funds made available through the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council. Auxiliary aids & services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
Relay Service number 1 (800) 833-6388.
CYS is an EEO

TO OUR YOUTH
What does the CareerTREK Program offer?

CareerTREK is a federally funded program designed to help qualified, low income young people ages 16 – 21 become skilled and employable in the career area of their choosing. Once enrolled in the program, staff will assist participants by providing:

* assessment of basic educational levels, career interests and abilities
* help to create a career path that meets the needs of the participant
* support for the completion of a high school diploma/GED or higher educational degree/certificate that will provide training for entering the labor market
* help to develop a career plan and provide assistance to find financial aid for higher education, enter the military or begin a career
* emergency funds for transportation, rent, food, clothes, etc.
* workshops on life skills (budgeting, conflict resolution) and employment skills (resume writing, job search, interviewing, keeping a job)

Participants will be eligible for a paid work experience, limited internships and/or scholarship funds, quoting
Community Youth Services.

Photo from UK's Mirror

Yelm-area resident Linda Evans recently returned home from the filming of the UK version of Hell’s Kitchen, a reality TV Show.
Ms. Evans won and beat out the other 7 contestants, all of them from the UK!

“Actress Evans wins Hell's Kitchen,” from the BBC.
Be sure to see the video on the BBC link.

And from UK's Mirror: CLICK HERE

And this from the UK's EntertainmentWise:
"Dynasty's Linda Evans went from zero to hero last night as she was crowned the winner of Hell's Kitchen 2009.

The former U.S. television star made her presence felt for all the wrong reasons when the show commenced by getting herself banned from the kitchen.

But in an amazing turn around, Linda won over head chef Marco Pierre White and the audience, and ended up going head-to-head with Bottom star Ade Edmondson in the cook-off finale."

A fan of Ms. Evans has pieced together several camera shots of Linda during each show, editing them into a video. From YouTube

Ms. Evans told the Yelm Community Blog,
"Being in Hell's Kitchen is just list being involved in the disciplines for a week at Ramtha's School of Enlightenment. After 23 years with Ramtha, I can tell you RSE can prepare you for anything. These were long hours of single-minded focus."

CONGRATULATIONS to the Yankee from the Yelm area!

Mayor Harding declared via Proclamation at the City Council meeting on April 28th that May is Bicycle Commuter Month in Yelm.

He presented his certificate to Intercity Transit's Dave Green, coordinator for Intercity Transit's Bicycle Contest.

The Mayor shared that Yelm has many bike lanes and trails, the Yelm to Tenino Trail as but one example.

INTRODUCING NATUREWISE FARM
NatureWise Farm is 10 acres of an historic homestead situated on a sunny plateau on Bald Hill Road SE, Yelm, Washington and adjacent to the source of Toboton Creek, though which artesian waters flow.

We use only natural growing methods without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers to create the fertile soil, nutrient-rich healthy food and to preserve the natural balance of our environment. Our produce is freshly harvested, of the highest quality and sold at reasonable prices.

You can buy from us on the farm or order a regular weekly box to ensure a supply of fresh produce for you and your family. Our team has over 40 years combined experience in natural farming methods.

Owner Dr. Cornelia O'Leary tells the Yelm Community Blog:
"Nitrogen fertilizer can grow vegetables that look good without necessarily being very nutritious. Our aim is to grow tasty produce with an abundance of nutrients so that our produce is 'delicious and naturally nutritious'. To achieve this, we ensure that our soil is high in nutrient content, including a plethora of trace minerals and that these soil nutrients are in a form that the plants can take up and use."

For more information:
NatureWise Farm
Naturally grown produce
18511 Bald Hill Rd SE
Yelm, Wa 98597
Tel: 360-894-4005
Email: naturewisefarm@fairpoint.net
Website: www.NatureWisefarm.com

DIRECTIONS: 9.4 miles from Four Corners, 3/4 mile past Clearwood main gate.
NatureWise Farm is the last entrance on the right BEFORE Sorensen Rd.

OPEN Daily: May-December, 10am to 7pm.
Also: pre-ordered weekly boxes (CSA-Community Supported Agriculture).
Visitors and inquiries welcome.

"Located in the heart of McKenna, with easy in & out access from Yelm, Roy, Rainier and Eatonville, Classic Chiropractic is the area's leading spinal correction facility. Utilizing the most effective and proven techniques (Motion Palpation for diagnosis and Gonstead adjusting), our focus is to make real and significant, lasting spinal changes. Our patients commonly experience and report the ability to perform their activities of daily living with greater ease, less discomfort and more energy. They are often amazed at the rapid relief of their symptoms and their improved spinal function."

SEE WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT!

"Classic Chiropractic is offering a low entry fee so you can see if chiropractic could help you. During the month of May, your entire first visit (includes a consultation, exam and adjustment) is just $30!!!
X-rays are totally optional, and if taken, will be 50%off!" quoting their ad.

Meet The Doctor
Years ago something happened to me that changed my life forever.
CLICK HERE for Dr. Kunikiyo's inspirational story.

CONTACT CLASSIC CHIROPRACTIC
Dr. Marvin Kunikiyo
35025 90th Ave. South #6
Next to Liquid Soul Cafe in McKenna
Phone: 360-400-2225 (BACK)

TELL DR. KUNIKIYO YOU HEARD ABOUT CLASSIC CHIRO ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

"Refuge project wins federal aid"
"Nisqually: $3.4 million in stimulus money completes funding for tidewater restoration work"
From The Olympian.

"State joins Electoral College pact"
"Elections: Law backs winner of popular vote"
From The Olympian.

"In support of strong women"
"Leadership: Nonprofits’ program aims to empower females in Thurston County"
"OLYMPIA – A new United Way of Thurston County program aims to involve women in philanthropy and improve the financial stability and literacy of South Sound women and girls," from The Olympian.

"State parks to stay open for time being"
"Budget: Transfer to local government being considered"
From The Olympian.