NISQUALLY
NEWS BRIEFS Moment of silence requested April 26 Q Roy Mayor Karen Yates is asking for a 26-second moment of silence Monday, April 26. Proclaimed Domestic Violence Awareness Day, a moment of silence is called upon by all citizens, employees and city officials to remember Crystal Judson, who was killed April 26, 2003, by her husband, Tacoma Police Chief David Brame. Yates said Domestic Violence Awareness Day allows everyone to “reflect upon our individual responsibility as community members to help end the epidemic that is domestic violence.”
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FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010
Ruling sinks Knight’s lawsuit against city
Land Trust seeking volunteers Sat. Q The Nisqually Land Trust is seeking volunteers this weekend to help remove non-native plants at the Elledge Property in Yelm and prepare the site for its first planting scheduled for next fall. The cleanup is 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 17. The Elledge Property is a section of property near Yelm along the Nisqually River. The majority of the area owned by the Nisqually Land Trust is nearly 100 acres of mixed species woodland with a huge variety of wildlife. To RSVP and receive directions to the site, e-mail Joe Kennedy at landsteward@nisquallylandtrust.org
Home and garden show next weekend Q The Nisqually Valley Home, Garden and Trade show is all day April 24-25 at Yelm High School. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Various events include musical performances and presentations in gardening, home staging and more. Parking and admission is free. Subscriber mailing label below this line
Photo by Megan Hansen
Bill Magno hopes someone will come forward with his lost money.
NVN File Photo/2008
Part of Tahoma Terra remains undeveloped, partly due to the legal troubles.
Channeler must pay city’s legal costs, court says By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News The Washington State Court of Appeals overturned JZ Knight’s petition of five area subdivisions Tuesday and it’s going to cost her. “We affirm the challenged prelimi-
Book donation costs Yelm man his life savings
nary subdivision approvals, reverse the trial court, dismiss Knight’s LUPA petition for lack of standing and award attorney fees and costs to the city and Tahoma Terra,” the decision states. The case was reKnight g manded back to the original hearing examiner’s decision and Knight will have to pay “reasonable” court costs for the city and developers.
By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News When Bill Magno donated items to a garage sale, he didn’t know he was handing away his life savings. Some friends came to collect some items for the sale, held Saturday. Magno said he told them they could take his videos and books. Inside one of the cookbooks, however, were envelopes containing thousands of dollars. Each time he got to $1,000, Magno said he’d start a new envelope. He estimates he had six or seven envelopes tucked inside the cookbook. “I never thought for a moment it’d disappear
See LUPA, page A7
See MISSING page A7
Bypass work kicks off with groundbreaking By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News Monday was a great day for Yelm as state and community leaders broke ground on the much-anticipated Yelm Bypass. Representatives from all walks of life including Washington State Department of Transportation, the City of Yelm, Washington State Patrol and Washington Legislature gathered to celebrate. State Representative Tom Campbell said he was proud to be one of the people to help secure funding for the project. While the first phase of the project is
fully funded, the second phase is currently unfunded. “I’m with it for the long haul,” Campbell said. “I’ll be fighting hard to ensure funding comes for the second phase.” “This is a great day and I’m proud.” Phase one of the project starts at Mud Run Road, where the city will have its first roundabout. The construction bid for the project came in at $4.1 million, 53 percent less than the engineer’s estimate. See BYPASS, page A7
Photo by Megan Hansen
Ron Harding addresses the crowd at the official Yelm Bypass yp g groundbreaking. g
Rainier school chief fears ‘district consolidation’
INDEX LOCAL NEWS ........................ ........................A2-A3 A2-A3 OPINIONS.................................... OPINIONS .................................... A4 BUSINESS ................................... A6 NEWS OF RECORD.................... RECORD.................... A8 SUDOKU ...................................... A8 VALLEY LIFE ............................... B1 FOOD ........................................... B2 RELIGIOUS COLUMN ................. B3 OBITUARIES ............................... B3 MOVIE REVIEWS ........................ B4 SERVICE DIRECTORY ............... B6
By Melanie Lockhart Nisqually Valley News Full impact of the state’s supplemental budget on local schools isn’t known yet, but school superintendents agree it looks better than what they were anticipating. Financially, at least.
“We don’t believe it will be as impactive as it could have been,” said Andy Wolf, superintendent of Yelm Community Schools. “We feel that we had planned accordingly.” Wolf said Thursday the district expected large spending cuts this year after districts felt
the pinch of last year’s budget. At that time, the future looked grim. “We believe we are in a situation where we can really manage it. We worked really hard this year to build our fund balance to be able to accommodate any cuts,” Wolf said.
Wolf said the district will continue to prioritize, putting the students first. “Our goal right now is to maintain our programs in Yelm and not have to delete or take away from our current proSee SCHOOLS, page A2
Yelm going digging Rainier middle schoolers for additional water are ‘happy to be home’ By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink? The City of Yelm is hoping to disprove just that as they venture forward with drilling an 800-foot well in Tahoma Terra. Yelm council approved an agreement with Golder and Associates for consulting and
well drilling for Southwest Well No. 2 in the amount of $615,223. Drilling should begin this summer and will be located in the Tahoma Terra development near the community park. The property the well is being drilled on is currently See DIG, page A7
By Melanie Lockhart Nisqually Valley News Spring break is exciting enough by itself, but the excitement for students and staff at Rainier Middle School continued this week when they returned to their school facility for the first time in five months. “It’s great,” said Rainier Middle School Principal Chris
Pollard. “As soon as the kids and staff started coming in, you could just feel the pressure go away. As they came in, there was just a different face — very happy and very relaxed.” “There have been a lot of positive words from the kids. They are just happy to be See HOME, page A2
SPORTS ................................ C1-C2 LEGAL NOTICES .................. C3-C6 CROSSWORD PUZZLE .............. C6 CLASSIFIEDS ........................ C7-C8 REAL ESTATE................. ESTATE.................C2, C2, C7-C8 88th Year, Issue No. 15
Yelm police say leasing plan will save money By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News The City of Yelm is changing its leasing option when it comes to new vehicles for the police department. Typically the department leases two cars a year, on a three-year agreement, through Ford. This year, they’re pinching some pen-
nies and leasing through the state. Yelm Police Chief Todd Stancil said the move will save hundreds of dollars in interest. Finance Director Sue Davis said cities get together like a co-op and petition the state for funding for various purchases they need to make. The state will then issue a bond in the
amount needed. The city will probably be saving around 2.5 percent over three years, Davis said. “In the past we would send out bid requests to at least five Ford dealerships,” Stancil said. He said he thought this process would See LEASE, page A2
Nisqually Valley News, Friday, April 16, 2010 A7
BYPASS: Groundbreaking a good day for Yelm Continued from page A1 It was awarded to Kent-based Scarsella Bros. on Feb. 24. “Great job coming under bid,” said State Representative Jim McCune. “We really appreciate the extra money.” Though not all the allotted money will be used on construction of phase one, the money might not stay within the project, said Neal Uhlmeyer, project engineer for the Washington State Department of Transportation. Several things could happen, he said. The money could go to cover other potential projects funded through the Transporta-
tion Partnership Program (gas tax), or it could allow the state to decrease the amount of funding it invested in the project. After nearly 20 years of working on the bypass and four mayors, Yelm Mayor Ron Harding said he’s happy to be the mayor who reaps all the benefits. While the project is a state project, it has such great benefits to the city, they said they felt it was important to stick close. “This is just the beginning, not the end,” Harding said. Construction will include some work that will cause some lane closure on State Highway 510 at Mud Run Road off and on
throughout the life of the project, Uhlmeyer said. However, there are restrictions to when traffic can be impeded; 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday and 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday. The only time traffic will be disrupted during regular daylight hours, Uhlmeyer said, is when some trees will be taken down. The goal of building the bypass is to reduce congestion on Yelm Avenue and First Street, and improve freight mobility, safety and traffic circulation through the City of Yelm. The new road allows traffic to move more efficiently be-
Photo by Megan Hansen
City of Yelm officials break ground on the Yelm Bypass.
tween Spanaway, Roy and McKenna in Pierce County and des-
tinations in Thurston County, according to WSDOT.
MISSING: Man hopes life savings gets returned Continued from page A1 from the house,” Magno said. “I didn’t know they were going to take the book.” “I didn’t take much notice. Later I realized, but it was too late.” Magno, who’s in his 70s, had been selling personal items and saving the money to cover medical bills and his move next month to Australia. “It’s all the money I have,” Magno
said. “These things happen. I’m trying not to get too distressed by it.” Magno thinks that whoever purchased the book might have stuck it on a bookshelf without looking inside. He said he hopes someone will hear he’s looking for his money and return it. “I would like to think most people would turn it in,” he said. “I’m trying to stay optimistic that it’ll all turn out.” The garage sale was to benefit the
start of a new education co-op called Freedom School in Rainier. It was held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 206 Minnesota St. in Rainier. Magno knows the envelopes were in a thicker cookbook, though he’s not sure what the title was. Freedom School co-founder Diane D’Acuti said she feels so bad about the incident and hopes the money can be recovered.
“He was so beautiful about it,” she said. “Hopefully they (whoever has the cash) have a part in their heart to return it.” Magno said he’d be willing to compensate the person if they return the money. ■ Anyone with any information about the missing money call Bill Magno at 360-894-3778.
DIG: City looking for aquifer 800 feet below ground Continued from page A1 owned by developers, but within its master plan is an agreement to gift the property to the city. Yelm Mayor Ron Harding said if for whatever reason those plans don’t move forward, the city can always condemn that property. Drilling the well is part of the city’s ongoing plan to secure water rights. The city’s current well is pumping at capacity and when the city secures additional rights, they will need another well to pump them, Harding said. Having an accessible water source
can also be used as leverage in securing water rights. “The world of water is so complex, you can’t sit around and wait for a decision,” Harding said. Golder will drill 800 feet in an attempt to access a deeper aquifer. The city is required to draw from a deeper water source. “The idea is to get into that untapped source of water,” Harding said. “There’s always a possibility we drill and not hit water.” If water is found, it can become a working well. This well will also have a 300-foot cement seal to ensure it does
not impact private wells in the area. The city tried to approach the project of addressing any concerns that might be brought up, Harding said. One of those concerns was whether or not the well could impact the levels of private wells in the area. A standard seal depth on a municipal well is 18-20 feet, said project manager Stephanie Ray. The city will be digging in an aquifer lower than the aquifer most private wells are tapped into. “It’s just strengthening the integrity of the well,” Ray said. “It’s just good planning on the city’s part.”
Schematic shows the levels of drilling.
LUPA: Court decides Knight has no legal standing Continued from page A1 “I think the issue was we had a simple land use acquisition that got manipulated to an anti-growth, water issue,” Yelm Mayor Ron Harding said. “It wasn’t the appropriate venue to answer those questions.” “I think we’re vindicated in the fact that part of the case was being made into something it wasn’t.” When contacted about the ruling, Knight spokesman Steve Klein referred to a statement Knight posted on her Web site. “Our attorneys are reviewing the decision and evaluating options,” she said. Knight filed an appeal under the Land Use Petition Act in 2008 arguing that the subdivisions should not be granted preliminary plat approval without proving there’s enough water to supply the development. She claimed the developments
could injure her senior water rights and adversely impact the flow of groundwater that supports her wells and Thompson Creek. Under LUPA, the decision states Knight has not demonstrated that she will be “specifically or perceptibly” harmed by the plat approvals themselves. “Knight lacks standing to challenge the preliminary subdivision approvals at this time,” the decision states. The original appeal, which made it to Thurston County Superior Court under the Land Use Petition Act, was remanded back to the City of Yelm. The city was supposed to amend the hearing examiner’s decision to delete ‘/or’ to make clear that the city must have water available no later than final plat approval. The hearing examiner had granted preliminary approval of five proposed subdivisions with the condition that “the applicant
must provide a potable water supply adequate to serve the development at final plat approval and/or prior to the issuance of any building permit ...” The city filed an appeal against the decision, even though they said it didn’t really change how the city operated. “RCW 58.17.150(1) requires that Tahoma Terra provide adequate potable water to serve the subdivision for those applications,” the decision states. “Recognizing this, the examiner conditioned preliminary approval on Tahoma Terra’s ability to do so. Although his condition contained the now disputed ‘and/or’ language, the record demonstrates that all parties understood and agreed that this
condition required this showing at both final plat approval and building permit approval.” When the initial decision had been made, both parties felt as though they won. “That’s why it was really important for us to file this appeal,” said Mayor Ron Harding.
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“It cleaned up questions.” While this latest court ruling is a victory for the city, the area is still reeling from the lawsuit. “Knight’s already caused the damage with some of these developers,” Harding said. “Some of them have had to file bankruptcy.”
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BRIEFS Cops search area for naked man
Q A 22-year-old Rainier woman reported seeing a naked man hiding in the bushes Saturday while she was swimming in the Deschutes River near Vail Road and Vail Cutoff Road. The woman was swimming between 3:55-4:35 p.m. when she allegedly saw a white male come out from the bushes naked and make a gesture like he was masturbating, said Thurston County Sheriff spokesman Chris Mealy. The woman called the sheriff’s office and deputies searched the area, but did not locate the suspect.
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FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2010
Roy Fourth of July parade on Sunday Q The Fourth of July is Sunday, and to accommodate participating churches, the City of Roy’s annual parade will begin 1 p.m. — one hour later than normal. Parade entrants will line up between noon and 12:30 p.m. at the Roy Rodeo Grounds. People do not need to sign up in advance for the parade. Forms will be available at the lineup. Last year, about 40 entries participated in the parade. After exiting the rodeo grounds the parade travels down McNaught Street.
Vandals do $6,300 in damage to home Q Vandalism was reported Saturday, June 19 in a vacant house in the 8500 block of Williams Place Southeast. More than $6,300 in damage to sheetrock, doors, a mirror, light fixtures and the garage door was reported.
NVN office closed Monday for holiday Q The Nisqually Valley News office will be closed Monday in honor of Fourth of July. It will resume regular business hours 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 6. Subscriber mailing label below this line
Photos by Megan Hansen
Raymond Leo Jarlik-Bell presents his “political will” documents to Yelm Judge Tom Meyer Wednesday during his arraignment.
TTasedd man challenges h ll gov’t’t ‘‘control’ t l’ Officers get more than bargained for during routine stop By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News A routine traffic stop turned violent early Saturday morning resulting in the driver being tasered. Raymond Leo Jarlik-Bell, 67, of Yelm, was pulled over at approximately 2:20 a.m. on Yelm Avenue by Tenino police officer Adam Haggerty.
Haggerty was in the area conducting a DUI emphasis. Haggerty stopped Jarlik-Bell after noticing he didn’t have a rear license plate. Haggerty’s police report stated that when he flashed his lights at Jarlik-Bell, he stopped his vehicle dead in the center of the road. As Haggerty approached, JarlikBell allegedly asked, “Why in the (expletive) did you stop me?” Jarlik-Bell, who is a member of a Constitutionalist movement called the Assembly of Delegates of the United States of America AD 1791, presented to the officer a copy of his “political will” rather than See TASED, page A10
Raymond Leo Jarlik-Bell shows his group’s declaration.
CSE auction raises $181,000 for kids By Melanie Lockhart
hand-in-hand with the final auction item of the night — a “Divine Feast with Ramtha.” Marlee Simmons placed the winning bid of $76,000 on behalf of someone who wishes to remain anonymous, Greenbury said. The dinner for six was donated by Hell’s Kitchen winner and actress Linda Evans, Master Chef Gary Craig and JZ Knight, owner of Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment who purports to channel a 35,000-
Nisqually Valley News
Attendees of the seventh annual auction for the Rainier-based Children’s School of Excellence were asked to warm their hearts and their wallets when bidding on an assortment of items. According to CSE Administrator Trina Greenbury, more than 400 people bid on 335 items last Sunday during the silent and live auctions to net more than $181,000 for student scholarships. The highlight of the evening, at least in terms of money, went
See AUCTION, page A10
Photo by Melanie Lockhart
Linda Evans, left, and Gary Craig present their auction item as auctioneers Dan and Cindy Schorno wait behind them.
Longmire Park facilities unveiled next week By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News
City of Yelm officials are eagerly anticipating the opening of new concessions and bathroom facilities at Longmire Park. Jody Miller Construction is just finishing some last-minute items and Mayor Ron Harding anticipates having the keys turned over Friday.
The last project to complete is to install counters, which Harding said he will do over the weekend. Harding said the style of the new facilities is the same style the city plans on using for future projects. It’s built for longevity, Harding said. The outside of the facility was treated with an anti-graffiti treatment to ensure
easier clean-up in the event of vandalism. The facilities include eight bathrooms, two ADA accessible and six unisex. Harding said they decided to go with unisex bathrooms so people aren’t waiting in line as much. There are also concessions that leagues See PARK, page A10
Court issues no-contact order against police sgt.
INDEX LOCAL NEWS ........................A2-A3
By Melanie Lockhart
OPINIONS.................................... A4
Nisqually Valley News
MEETINGS CALENDAR.............. A5
Following accusations that a Tenino police sergeant got “too close” to a 15-year-old Rainier girl while he was investigating a rape case in which she is the alleged victim, Sgt. Ron Evans,
BUSINESS ................................... A6 NEWS OF RECORD.................... A8 SUDOKU ...................................... A8
37, is restrained from contacting the girl until she turns 18. Thurston County Superior Court Judge Chris Wickham issued an anti-harassment order against Evans that remains in See EVANS, page A10
VALLEY LIFE ............................... B1 RELIGIOUS COLUMN ...........B3, C4 OBITUARIES ............................... B3 MOVIE REVIEWS ........................ B4 SPORTS ................................ C1-C2 SERVICE DIRECTORY ............... C3
Photo by Megan Hansen
Workers remove dirt from the new Les Schwab location, trucking it out from the site.
L Schwab Les S h b starts work on Yelm store
LEGAL NOTICES ................ C5-C10
By Megan Hansen
CROSSWORD PUZZLE ............ C10
Nisqually Valley News
CLASSIFIEDS .................... C11-C12 REAL ESTATE...........A12, C11-C12 88th Year, Issue No. 26
Les Schwab broke ground on a new facility in Yelm this week and construction is anticipated to start in July. The store is expected to open in November. The tire store purchased land from Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, which had
6.87 acres that were short platted into two parcels. The church remains on Lot 2, while Lot 1 will house the new store. It will be located at 811 Yelm Avenue next to Rite Aide. Road access will be from See TIRES, page A10
Photo by Melanie Lockhart
A good sign Jim Miller of Culbertson Signs installs the Nisqually Valley News sign at the newspaper’s new home at 106 Plaza Drive N.E.
A10 Nisqually Valley News, Friday, July 2, 2010
TASED: Man claims immunity PARK: Toilets coming Continued from page A1 provide the requested license and registration. Jarlik-Bell claims he has diplomatic immunity from the federal government. After refusing to give license and registration, Haggerty asked Jarlik-Bell to step out of the car and told him that he was being arrested for obstructing a public servant, police documents state. Jarlik-Bell says a Yelm police officer who arrived on-scene grabbed his suitcase that had his papers in it and that she was the one who caused the obstruction. Jarlik-Bell also said he believes Haggerty pulled him over because he recognized his car and knew who he was. Jarlik-Bell had run-ins with Tenino police before and served papers to the cities of Tenino, Rainier, Yelm and Lacey previously. He refused to get out of the vehicle and allegedly reached for his gearshift, causing Haggerty to suspect Jarlik-Bell might try to flee. Haggerty said he then physically removed Jarlik-Bell from the vehicle, and that Jarlik-Bell continued to be combative with police. The Yelm police officer drew her Taser and, after several commands, tased Jarlik-Bell. Jarlik-Bell was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a public servant. He was booked into Nisqually Jail. The case was referred to Thurston County
Superior Court on charges of third-degree assault and felony harassment. While in jail, Jarlik-Bell was heard by police saying, “I really didn’t appreciate being tased and they are lucky I didn’t have my shotgun with me or there would have been a bunch of dead cops. Not that I’m hunting cops, but like hunting pheasant, when you see one, you shoot one.” “I think people like that shouldn’t be out in public,” Yelm Police Chief Todd Stancil said. “They’re a danger to society.” While searching his things, a round badge with a silver star similar to a police badge was found with Jarlik-Bell’s belongings, reports state. Jarlik-Bell said he is a Thurston County Ranger, which is a peace officer position within the movement. Jarlik-Bell was arraigned Wednesday in Yelm Municipal Court. Because of Jarlik-Bell’s threats, added law enforcement was in place during the court appearance, Stancil said. When asked to enter a plea, Jarlik-Bell presented his “political will” to Municipal Court Judge Tom Meyer. Meyer said he would take the submission as a “not guilty” plea, but Jarlik-Bell said he was not entering a plea, and that he should have diplomatic immunity. Jarlik-Bell’s next court hearing is 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 19.
AUCTION: New location a hit Continued from page A1 year-old warrior spirit from the lost continent of Lemuria. Evans and Craig will cater the dinner at Evans’ Rainier home. Before bidding began on the dinner, Evans told the auction crowd she was honored for the opportunity to cook and do dishes for the event. “The ability to sit with his exquisite mind ... is beyond my imagination,” Evans said. “I’m just thrilled that I’m going to be a fly on the wall.” Other items, auctioned by lo-
cal siblings and auctioneers Cindy and Danny Schorno, included a platter hand-printed by CSE’s preschool and kindergarten students and a mask hand-painted by the sixth- and seventh-graders. Each item sold for $900. For the first time, the auction was held off-site at the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia. A three-course meal followed the silent auction. Students from the school opened the live auction with a variety of song and dance performances. “We do this all for (the
kids),” CSE School Board President Omey Nandyal said following the performances. Nandyal announced that the school’s scholarship fund would hereafter be called the Sir Robert Jones Scholarship Fund, named for Robert Jones, Jr., a long-time CSE supporter who died May 13. Family and friends of Jones, who lived in Rainier, attended the auction, Nandyal said. “From now on, when we go out to seek grants and solicit funds, it will be under his name.”
TIRES: Opening slated for November Continued from page A1 Yelm Avenue. Contractor SD Deacon started breaking ground, tearing down an existing house on the property. Dirt was being removed from the location Wednesday.
The new store will be 12,427 square feet and include eight service bays. The project will offer 10-15 additional jobs. Les Schwab submitted an application with the City of Yelm Nov. 16. When considering placing
a store in Yelm, the business looked at current and potential customers in the area, said Dave Husk, director of development for Les Schwab. “Our closest store is in Lacey,” Husk said. “We viewed this area as attractive.”
Continued from page A1 can use during games. The cost of the facility was covered primarily with a state grant specifically for park projects. The $400,000 grant covered the majority of the project, however, the city did have to pony up an additional $65,000. That money was taken from a special fund specifically for park construction. It was somewhat of a costly project because the city had to
bring in water and electricity, Harding said. The facilities are also on the green side, featuring motion hand driers and water fountains. A formal ribbon cutting is being held 3 p.m. Wednesday at the park. Harding said the city will recognize all the players involved in the project including local representatives and residents. Free hot dogs, beverages and cake will also be provided.
EVANS: Officer served Continued from page A1 effect until Feb. 1, 2013. Pending an internal investigation now being handled by the Mason County Sheriff’s Department, Tenino Police Chief Sean Gallagher placed Evans on paid administrative leave April 30. That was two weeks after Gallagher was informed of an April 10 incident where Evans spent almost 10 hours with the girl. According to a petition for a protection order filed May 10 by the girl’s current guardian, and later confirmed in a written response filed in court by Evans, that incident included a trip to a carnival in Lacey and a trip to Evans’ home to meet the sergeant’s fiancee. At Rainier High School on April 2, the girl reportedly told Evans, who acted as a school resource officer, that she thought about killing herself. Evans stated in his declaration that he took the girl to a counseling center and then later that day purchased the girl Easter gifts, including a soccer ball, basketball and a stuffed animal. “I made these purchases due to (the girl) not being with any family member during Easter and being in foster care,” Evans wrote in the declaration. “(The girl) was experiencing severe depression and had threatened to kill herself. My hope was that this would brighten her spirits.” He also said his contact with the girl was “professional at all times.”
But the girl’s guardian expressed concern about Evans’ contact with the girl. The petition made no allegations of criminal activity. Once notified of the April 10 incident, Gallagher said he took Evans off the rape investigation and ordered him to cease contact with the girl. “He was ordered to stay away from her and subsequently disobeyed that order,” Gallagher said. Evans was then placed on leave for alleged professional misconduct. Gallagher testified during a hearing in June. He said he told the court that Evans’ actions were inappropriate and not in line with the normal duties of a law enforcement officer. According to court documents, an adult male relative was charged in Thurston County Superior Court with seconddegree rape, child molestation and incest as a result of the rape investigation. That case, which was initially being prosecuted by Thurston County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dominique Jinhong, has been reassigned to another prosecutor, Gallagher said. Jinhong had worked with Evans on the case and testified during his June hearing. “The prosecutor’s office is still trying to decide if the case is prosecutable,” Gallagher said, referring to the possibility that the case may have been affected by the allegations against Evans.
NEWS BRIEFS Roy man killed in motorcycle crash Q A Roy man died Saturday morning after crashing his motorcycle in Lacey. Canaan S. Pluff, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene after he drove his 2009 Kawasaki Ninja off the road. The crash occurred on Marvin Road near Walthew Street, according to Washington State Patrol. The incident happened 6:30 a.m. Saturday. Cause of the accident is under investigation.
Crossroads Country Daze on Saturday Q Crossroads Community Covenant Church is hosting Crossroads Country Daze, 3-9 p.m. Saturday at Four Corners. The event is free and open to the public and includes games, prizes, live music and refreshments.
Man arrested in Bald Hills crash
Annual camp makes fitness fun VALLEY SPORTS
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IT floating sales tax increase By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News Intercity Transit wants voters, including in the Yelm area, to approve a 0.2 percent sales tax increase.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2010
The IT measure is on the ballot for Tuesday’s election. “I think it’s a valuable service for the community,” said Yelm Mayor Ron Harding. “It’s well used. The buses are always full.” The governing board members have looked at proHarding g posing a tax increase since early this year, but were initially unsure how much of an increase they wanted. Mike Harbour from Intercity Transit visited Yelm City Council in February to discuss options. “If we maintain current sales tax levels we will have to reduce service,” Harbour said. See IT, page A10
Trail slaying shocks community
Q Washington State Patrol responded to three Thurston County accidents possibly related to alcohol Thursday night and Friday morning. One accident occurred at Vail and Bald Hill roads. Harlan C. Nemmers was driving a 2001 Chevrolet S-10 Pickup when he left the road and struck a power pole, according the state patrol. Nemmers was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence at the scene. He sustained minor injuries in the accident.
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Photo by Dan Schreiber/The Daily Chronicle
At right, Bernard K. Howell, III, 26, of Tenino, appeared in Thurston County Superior Court Monday on second-degree murder charges following the death of Vanda Boone, 60, of Yelm. Howell told Thurston County Sheriff’s Office investigators he had sexual contact with Boone’s body.
Gruesome details about woman’s death emerge By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News A Tenino man is behind bars after the body of a Yelm woman was found in his truck Sunday evening in Tenino. The woman, identified Tuesday afternoon as Vanda Boone, 60, was the victim of homicidal violence. Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock said Boone’s throat was slit and she had blunt force trauma to her head and neck. Other contributing factors to her death include asphyxia due to strangulation or smothering.
INDEX LOCAL NEWS ........................A2-A3
By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News Voters are gearing up to whittle the field of candidates for the general election in November. The top two candidates from each contested position will be decided Tuesday. The two candidates earning the most votes will be moving Campbell p on to the general election. While many of the positions pertinent to the Nisqually Valley only have two candidates running, things are getting dirty Wilcox in the race for the Second District House. Independent groups are See DIRTY, page A9
NVN open house Q The Nisqually Valley News invites the public to see its new location at 106 Plaza Drive, behind Dairy Queen in Yelm. The open house is 3:30-5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19. The newspaper will be serving cookies and light refreshments, and offering tours of the new location.
Wilcox, Campbell denounce smear ad
POLICE SUSPECT Boone was attacked by Bernard K. Howell, III, 26, of Tenino, while she was on the Yelm-Tenino Trail near Churchill Road. An initial crime scene was discovered early Sunday morning just off the trail, said Chief Jim Chamberlain of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s spokesman Chris Mealy confirmed Wednesday that location is the crime scene. Howell was arrested and booked into Thurston County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder and first-degree theft. He is being held in lieu Boone of $750,000 bail. As of press time, Howell wasn’t arraigned, but a review hearing was scheduled for Thursday afternoon. DURING INTERVIEWS, Howell repeatedly said “he heard voices and that he wanted to be alone,” according to court documents. After his arrest, Howell met with a mental health provider at the jail, according to a pretrial report. The report recommends that Howell be seen See SLAIN, page A9
Coroner says soldier’s death wasn’t suicide By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News A Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier found dead near the Deschutes River in mid-May died accidentally. Thurston County Sheriff’s Office initially investigated the death as suicide, but Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock said this week the cause of death was positional asphyxiation, meaning he slumped into a position which cut off his air supply. Alcohol was involved. Michael Kurtz, 52, was reported missing by his wife May 13 after he’d been missing 24 hours, said Thurston County Sheriff’s Spokesman Chris Mealy. Kurtz’s wife reported her husband returned home May 11 acting odd, Mealy said. He was last seen alive by a neighbor at about noon Wednesday, May 12 near their home in the 16700 block of Longmire Road Southeast. Kurtz’s wife arrived home to find her husband’s keys at the house and all the doors locked. See KURTZ, page A9
OPINIONS.................................... A4 BUSINESS ................................... A6 VALLEY LIFE ............................... B1 RELIGIOUS COLUMN ................. B3 OBITUARIES ............................... B3 MOVIE REVIEWS ........................ B4 SERVICE DIRECTORY ............... B7 NEWS OF RECORD.................... B8 SUDOKU ...................................... B8 SPORTS ................................ C1-C2
Food program needs volunteers By Melanie Lockhart Nisqually Valley News Without new volunteers, a local program that feeds homeless children and families struggling to put food on the table may be in jeopardy. Tracine Farrow-Derby helped jump start the program in June 2009. Working with the Yelm Lions Club, she began serving weekly meals at the Carlson Scout Cabin. Every Wednesday, she prepared a lunch in hopes of reaching local homeless chil-
dren, particularly during the months when school isn’t in session. After school started last fall, FarrowDerby, who works as a lunch lady for Yelm Community Schools, changed the meal to Wednesday night dinners. This summer, she switched back to lunches and typically serves 50-60 people each week, whether they are students or families with young kids. She plans to serve See HELP, page A10
Photo Melanie Lockhart
Apryl Wolfe, left, and Ariel Wolfe volunteer at the weekly free lunch served by Tracine Farrow-Derby with the help of the Yelm Lions Club.
MEETINGS CALENDAR.............. C4 LEGAL NOTICES .................. C5-C7 CROSSWORD PUZZLE .............. C7 CLASSIFIEDS ........................ C8-C9 REAL ESTATE..................... C8-C10 88th Year, Issue No. 32
New YHS principal back to doing a job that he loves
Roy council members to get hands dirty Monday
By Tyler Huey Nisqually Valley News New Yelm High School Principal Brian Wharton’s laid back demeanor doesn’t mask his passion for helping students. “There’s no better feeling in education that I’ve experienced
By Tyler Huey Nisqually Valley News Every third Monday of the month Roy City Council meets at City Hall for work session. Next week, council will stick to its schedule, but add some
See WHARTON, page A10
See ROY, page A10
Nisqually Valley News, Friday, August 13, 2010 A9
SLAIN: RSE will claim body of murder victim Continued from page A1 by experts at Western State Hospital as soon as possible, based on his “display of extreme mental instability.” BOONE’S BODY Y was discovered in a truck driven by Howell at 8:15 p.m. Sunday near Parkside Elementary School in Tenino. A deputy pulled Howell over after being flagged down by a citizen who said a man asked him to help move a body, court documents said. As the deputy talked to the citizen, Howell drove by and the Howell man identified him. When confronted, Howell admitted to having a body in his truck, police said. BOONE’S BODY Y was found in the truck wrapped in plastic and a sleeping bag. When confronted, Chamberlain said Howell appeared agitated, but not under the influence of any kind of substance. Mealy said police also believe they recovered the murder weapon from inside Howell’s truck. Several tools and knives were found in his truck, Mealy said. “But we won’t know until the lab results come back.” Boone’s wallet was also found in Howell’s truck, under the seat. Howell is a self-described independent meat peddler in Tenino. He carries a chest freezer in the back of his truck. POLICE SUSPECTED early on that the victim was Boone, whose vehicle was found near the Yelm-Tenino Trail. Howell told police he found Boone’s body while walking on the Yelm-Tenino Trail. He reportedly told police “he wanted to give her a free funeral and not have the family pay any money.” Howell allegedly left the scene in Boone’s vehicle to gather supplies including a sleeping bag, plastic and a 10-pound weight.
Later, however, investigators said Howell changed his story. He allegedly told police he became aroused when he found Boone’s corpse, and had sex with the body. Howell denied being involved in her death. WARNOCK SAID swabs were taken during the autopsy, but it will be unknown for several weeks if Boone was sexually assaulted. Official time of death is also still undetermined, but Warnock said she definitely died Sunday. BOONE MOVED to Yelm from New York in March and was a student attending Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment in Yelm. While driving across the country her moving truck caught fire and she lost all her belongings, Warnock said. In a press release, RSE founder JZ Knight said Boone moved to the area to be close to the school and friends she met there. “We are deeply pained to learn of the tragic death of Vanda Boone and saddened that a murder occurred in our tranquil rural community — a rarity in the Yelm-Rainier-Tenino areas,” Knight said. Boone has no living family. Her only brother died recently in Brazil. “Right now she’s an unclaimed individual,” Warnock said Tuesday. “Thurston County may be making arrangements.” WHEN ASKED TUESDAY Y by the Nisqually Valley News if RSE had any plans to help, Knight issued a press release that said the RSE community will step up. “In the absence of next of kin or relatives, Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment will take care of funeral arrangements,” Knight said. “We are disheartened at the loss of any one of our students, but to lose them to homicide is shocking.” “This unfortunate and horrific crime affects us all and many lives will be affected because of Vanda’s passing.” “We hope this crime will be solved and justice will prevail quickly.”
Police urge trail caution By Melanie Lockhart Nisqually Valley News In the wake of this week’s homicide in Tenino, citizens have expressed concern about whether it’s safe to travel along the Yelm-Tenino Trail. “A lot of people have kind of seen themselves down the same path because they walk the trail,” said Tenino Police Chief Sean Gallagher. “So they put themselves in that woman’s position, and they are shaken.” The trail extends through three law enforcement jurisdictions, which puts patrol efforts in the hands of multiple agencies. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Department, Tenino police and Yelm police all plan to address concerns to help residents feel safe again. Chief Jim Chamberlain of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said most of the trail falls in the county’s jurisdiction. He concedes that patrol of the trail is limited. The department is focused on the homicide investigation, but they will look at increasing patrol along the trail, he said. Gallagher said he plans to propose that his department patrol the trail about a mile in either direction outside both Tenino and Rainier city limits. “It’s just to assist Thurston County in securing those areas and helping the community
DIRTY: Wilcox, Campbell sparring Continued from page A1 dirtying up the race between incumbent Tom Campbell, R-Roy, and opponent JT Wilcox, R-Roy, with mud-slinging mailers, telephone calls and demands. Specifically, “hit ads” direct mailed by an independent group called 2nd Defense are drawing criticism in the race for state representative for Legislative District No. 2. The target of the mailings, Wilcox said he anticipated the campaign against him. The ads also fully support Campbell. One specific mailer that’s raised eyebrows asserts that Wilcox made $1 million off his workers while he laid off one third of his workforce. The layoff, however, was in reference to 2008 when Wilcox Farms closed the dairy portion of their operation because it was consistently posting losses. The closing of the dairy operation isn’t mentioned on the mailing. Wilcox said he was encouraged not to run and told there would be a lot of independent expenditure against his campaign. According to the Public Disclosure Commission website, 2nd Defense is funded by the Washington Federation of State Employees, DIME PAC, Washington State Council of Firefighters and Forward PAC. The four groups combined have contributed $75,000 to the independent group. Wilcox said he was warned by a member of one of these groups. “They like Tom where he’s
at,” Wilcox said. In addition to several mailers, people have received automated telephone calls campaigning against Wilcox. “Because I knew this was going to happen it hasn’t really gotten to me,” Wilcox said. “You gotta sort of trust the voters will do the right thing,” Wilcox said Wilcox said he has continued his campaigning, knocking on 11,000 doors so far. Campbell is disgusted with the independent ads that have gone out. In his nine races, Campbell said he’s never run a negative campaign and that this year is by far the worst. “I don’t like this whole third-party expenditure thing,” he said. “It’s not freedom of speech, it’s abuse of speech.” “It’s not a positive thing for anyone.” The fi rst time Campbell said he saw the mailers was in his own mailbox. While the ads are in support of him, Campbell said the ads make him look bad. “This is not Tom Campbell speaking,” Campbell said. “I can speak for myself.” “Let me run my campaign.” Because of these mailers, Campbell said he is going to try to put a bill in the legislature that allows candidates to approve or disapprove independent ads. In addition to the independent mailers, Campbell said Wilcox has put out some ads he describes as “garbage” that go after Campbell’s voting record, as well as the fact he switched
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The postcard above was sent to voters in the Second Legislative District in support of Tom Campbell, who has denounced it.
from Democrat to Republican 15 years ago. As the challenger, Wilcox said it’s his job to show what Campbell’s record is in Olympia. Campbell says Wilcox’s campaign claims against him are a “distortion of the truth.” “I will not run a negative campaign,” Campbell said. “But obviously he will.” “I just got to believe the people see through it.” Campbell said his campaign is entirely based on his record and what he’s done. The kicker is the primary election doesn’t decide anything for the campaign. “It’s a beauty show,” Campbell said. “We’ll see who’s ahead.”
Drop boxes There are several ballot drop box locations in the Nisqually Valley. Drop boxes are a secure location to ensure ballots are received on time. They are open 24 hours a day and are emptied regularly. They are available 20 days prior to election day and will remain open until 8 p.m. on election day. Drop boxes are at: Q Yelm Community Schools’ administration parking lot, 110 First St. N. Q Rainier City Hall, 102 Rochester St. W. Q Lackamas Elementary, 16240 Bald Hill Road S.E. Q Tenino School District Administration, 301 Old Highway 99
feel safer,” Gallagher said. Yelm Police Chief Todd Stancil noted that Yelm’s part of the trail is easier to patrol since most of it is open along State Highway 507 and residential neighborhoods. “It’s obviously heavily used. But usually if there is anything suspicious on the trails, we get called pretty quickly by neighbors.” When Yelm has enough staff available, Stancil said there are officers who are bike trained who patrol the trail. Chamberlain, Stancil and Gallagher all advise people to take safety precautions when traveling along any trail. “This is one of those cases where people need to use common sense, personal protection,” Chamberlain said. “We would be happy to talk to people about how to protect themselves.” The chiefs advise people to not travel alone, be aware of their surroundings, and not be out at night. Kids should never be on trails without an adult. Stancil adds that people can travel with pepper spray, and should always have a cell phone if possible. “We want people to use the (Yelm-Tenino) trail,” Stancil said. “It’s a great resource for people. It’s unfortunate that a case like this will take that freedom away.”
KURTZ: Death an accident Continued from page A1 She also found his wedding ring on the night stand, Mealy said. Kurtz reportedly was dealing with some civilian issues and had been suffering from some depression. His wife waited 24 hours to report Kurtz missing because she thought she had to, Mealy said. That actually isn’t the case. Missing persons can be reported at any time. After the initial report, the sheriff’s office conducted some “cursory searches” Thursday, May 13. They enacted a larger search Friday. Kurtz was found at 8 p.m. near the Deschutes River at the end of Sorenson Road, Mealy said.
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Car window during boat smashed ing trip
Thursday • August 19, 2010 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Q While dents were some Yelm resion Lake launching their boat someone Lawrence last week, window smashed their truck items. and stole $1,200 in The inciden t occurre p.m. last d 1-1:30 Wednesday Beach Drive. on Pleasan t The passeng er side window of the truck various itemswas smashed ing a purse, were taken and includcell phones wallet, clothin g and .
NISQUALLY
VALLEY NEWS online.com
FRIDAY,
JULY 30,
2010
Sex offende r re-arrested after alleged luring attem pt
CPR class offer ed at Yelm Fire Stati on
Statues take man’s front n from yard
By Melan Nisqually ie Lockhart A Level Valley bars after II sex offende News attempted he alleged r is back behind ly year-old to give a 13hug at thegirl an unwanted Monday Rainier Texaco night. Cory Daniel then reporte Tash, 22, dly followe the girl children and two otherd in his car walked down as they The girl the road. reported between that Tash she was 6:30 and 7 p.m., hair, a redapproached by a man beard and a baseba with red ll cap while See TASH, page A10
Q A Yelm that someon resident reporte bear statues e stole two woodend in the Nisquafrom his front yard lly Pines nity. commuThe thefts occurre while the man slept d 2-6 a.m. in the 17000 in block of his home Street. Holly One statue was of a with eagle bear two feet feather and measur tall. ed The other was its head in a log of a bear with and measur four feet tall. ed The combin ed value two statues of the is $225.
ATV stolen Rainier residfrom ence
75¢
www.yelm
Q The Fire AuthorSoutheast Thursto class 6 p.m. ity is offering n station on Tuesday at thea CPR Mill Road. fire must pre-reg ister. CallAttendees 2799. 360-458-
Q A 2001 stolen from Polaris ATV was a home in block of the 15700 in RainierRunyon Road Southe . ast It was taken between 14-18. There July is no suspect mation. inforThe ATV is valued $3,200. at
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Domini ck Thursto Munoz, 4, enjoys n Fire Author sitting in a ity. y He is recove firetruck while ring visiting g after Photo provided an engine crews g hoist fell from Southe ast on his stomac h.
Boy bounce s 200 lb. hoist back after falls on him
Man air after cat lifted arm in baching ylor
By Megan Nisqually Hansen A 34-year Valley -old Rainier News ed from arm was Yelm Tuesday man was airliftevening caught in a hay baylor. after his Southe By Melan this line Chief Rita ast Thurston Nisqually ie Lockhart Fire Hutcheson curred somew Valley Due to said the Authority ity Chief his monkey News here incident ing almost ier near oc-like antics Hannus in the outskirts back to lucky not Rita Hutcheson know 4-yearRoad. of Rainnormal be“There to have sustain said the cently went old Domin , you wouldn’t and chest or out there,” are several good-si ed broken boy is ick Munoz she bones The boy’sspinal injuries. been a life-thrthrough what zed farms The man said. re- pected father, could eatenin got his right Carl, said in a hay to Munoz have he is exunderw g accident. already make a full recover after a himself baylor around forearm caught starting 200-pound ent stomach 6 p.m. and to Yelm to run around y and “is him at his surgery of time.” Family Medici engine Once drove way ahead In an e-mail, ne. July 14. family’s Nisqua hoist fell on physicianshe arrived at the lly Pines called parame medical said. home ity, said her son the boy’s mother Southeast clinic dics, Hutche the ‘little “is , Thurston The man monkey’ already trying Trinson Fire Author was transpo that he is.” to be dle School rted him at 6:40, where a helicopto Yelm MidSee BOY, page A10 p.m. to ter airlifte Harborview d Medical See TREAT By Megan ED, page A9 Nisqually Hansen Valley News Issues tioned the suspicions of public notifi the public city’s timing raised by of a conspircation and documents. on releasin acy were g the Hashim, Tuesday’s an audience membe schedu public hearing r during School of a student of Sunday afterled public hearing Water System on Yelm’s seemed like Enlightenment Ramtha’s an event Plan. Yelm last week. until important the city always, said it ing Hashim submit the only resident Bill Hashim ted comme the draftin released documents school person to nts durg process public comme while Does LOCAL NEWS speak during was tioned was in session . it address the raised . He .............. nt portion whether the all the ..........A2 in the city staff also ques- he . He ques- ing to do -A3 OPINION are conspir so. asked. Hepublic comment issues S............ portion, - becaus Hashim .............. said he .......... A4 said he didn’t e he said doesn’t BUSINES know he hasn’t S .............. hear about had enough .............. ....... A6 NEWS OF See REPO RECORD RT, page By Melan .............. A10 .... A10 SUDOKU Nisqually ie Lockhart Hashim .............. .............. It’s been Valley ........ A10 kei (Japane VALLEY Umezu Stout,66 years since News LIFE .............. se “war bride,” once consideKazuko “Katie” .............. In 1988, Americans) at ... B1 the time. FOOD .............. she organiz red a Olympia moved to husband .............. that attracte ed a conven Americ Japanese followi .............. . B2 Now Stout, ng World War a with her er Japanese women d more than tion in RELIGIO US COLUMN It was 40 II. 500 a Yelm five decade .............. years after in similar situatioothresident s, ... B3 is were OBITUA recogn emperor for about able to immigr the first “war ns. RIES .............. ized brides” raising thehimself for her by the Japanes She founde ate .............. ... B3 e Marria commi MOVIE REVIEW social status d the to America. who married of Japanes tment to consistege Society in Nikkei Interna S .............. Americ .......... the 1989, e tional women war. B4 SPORTS an soldier d of membe which eventua .............. She s followi .............. Stout remem ng 2006,served as presiders from six countri lly .... C1-C2 SERVICE bers struggl war prejudi nt of the a year es. DIRECTORY society until ces, a commo ing with experienced after she suffere .............. postn factor d a stroke other health . C3 LEGAL NOTICE for Nikand issues. S .............. .... C4-C8 See AWAR CROSSW ORD PUZZLE D, page A9 .............. Kazuko Subscriber
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Japanese emperor awards me dal
C8 CLASSIF IEDS .............. ........ C9-C10 REAL ESTATE .............B 10, C9-C10 88th Year, Issue No.
30
Yelm PD put on public s squeeze drunkenne ss
By Megan Nisqually Hansen Valley News ple for public Yelm intoxication. their reinspolice are tighten The ordinan ing cluded on ce Chief Toddpublic drinkin g. Code in Yelm will be inStancil submitted a new under disordeMunicipal will allow ordinance which duct. rly conpolice to arrest peoSee YELM , page A9
to Yelm
woman
Umezu Photo by home about Stout Melanie some of speaks in her Lockhart her awards Yelm .
City cha ng secure ho ing tact to using mo ney
By Megan Nisqually Hansen Valley News With The city received the City no time to the grant spare, money in early strategy of Yelm is changin the Nationa 2009 through on using Neighborhood $640,000 g Stabilization l Neighborhood in funds. Stabilization The idea Program. was to help as See NSP, page A9
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VALLEY LIFE
Residents follow littering suspect Q Several people witnessed a man pulling out of the Rainier View Drive entrance on Bald Hills Road around 8:20 p.m. last Monday. A pile of garbage was left in the area in which the reporting parties said wasn’t there two hours earlier, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. The people followed the man and recorded his license plate number. He eventually slowed down and the reporting parties confronted the man. He said he was just out walking his dog.
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School security revamped after kindergartener ditches school
Thieves break into car, steal items
By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News Yelm Schools officials are revamping security after a kindergartener fled from Mill Pond Elementary School last week. The 5-year-old girl was on the playground with her class at about 10:45 a.m. Friday when she ducked teachers and headed for home. The girl took off down a walking path between Mill Pond and Ridgeline Middle School. Neighbors found the girl crying on Carter Street. She was apparentWolf ly headed for State Highway 507. Yelm police were summoned. When police officer Liz Eriksen re-
Q Someone broke into a woman’s car while she fished around 5 p.m. Sept. 6 at Military Road and State Highway 507. The vehicle was locked, but the perpetrator broke a window. Items taken include a purse, wallet, cash and sweater. Credit cards, debit and identification were also taken. Shortly after the incident the woman received a call from her credit card company saying someone had tried to use her card to make a $400 grocery store purchase.
Police stop 88 drunk drivers Q During the recent Drive Hammered, Get Nailed campaign Thurston County agencies stopped and arrested 88 drivers for driving under the influence. The campaign ran from Aug. 12 through Sept. 6 across the state. More than 170 agencies participated. In Thurston County officers from Lacey, Tenino, Tumwater and Yelm police departments participated in extra emphasis patrols. Overtime was paid for by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Subscriber mailing label below this line
See GIRL, page A12
Photo by Melanie Lockhart
George “Tex” Martin reminisces in his Roy home about his days as a rodeo cowboy and Rainier High School teacher. He recently celebrated his 80th birthday.
Retired rodeo star still shines bright By Melanie Lockhart Nisqually Valley News
Rodeos were a lot different when George “Tex” Martin rode the back of bucking broncs. For starters, there was much less money involved and no protection whatsoever. Martin, 80, is a Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee and retired Rainier
INDEX LOCAL NEWS ........................A2-A3 OPINIONS.................................... A4 MEETINGS CALENDAR.............. A6 NEWS OF RECORD.................... A7
High School teacher. He recalled winning the bronc riding event in 1963 at the world-renowned Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo in Wyoming. He walked away with $3,000 in winnings. “Today, the same thing would pay at least $50,000 or $60,000,” Martin said. See STAR, page A12
Photos provided
Above: This buckle was presented to George “Tex” Martin in 2000 when he was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. Right: Tex Martin, pictured on the back of a bull, was 17 years old when he became a professional rodeo cowboy.
SUDOKU ...................................... A7
State PDC investigates campaign attack ads By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News The Public Disclosure Commission is now investigating the media agency involved in smear campaigns across Western Washington. Locally, Moxie Media distributed mailers prior to the primary election targeting State Representative candidate JT Wilcox, R-Roy. Both Wilcox and challenger Tom Campbell, R-Roy, have denounced p the ads. The campaign is Campbell largely in favor of Campbell. The media agency also produced campaigns against three other candidates in Western Washington. Senator Jean Berkey, D-Everett, filed a complaint with the PDC Aug. Wilcox 27 alleging Moxie Media along with two other groups “conspired to funnel money with the purpose of concealing the funding source for political advertisements aimed at forcing (her) out of the election during the primary thinking that their favored candidate would have an easier race in the general election.” She also alleges two organizations were created as the groups funding the ads, however did not file any claims with See PDC, page A12
BUSINESS ................................... A8 SERVICE DIRECTORY ............. A10 VALLEY LIFE ............................... B1 RELIGIOUS COLUMN ........ B3 & B6 OBITUARIES ...................... B3 & B6 MOVIE REVIEWS ........................ B4 SPORTS ..........................C1-C2, C7
Police presence makes Yelm nightlife a lot tamer By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News Yelm Police Chief Todd Stancil is pleased with the outcome of the weekend emphasis at downtown bars. “It went fine,” Stancil said. “I think the public draw to the bars has encour-
aged the owners and managers to try and fix the issues.” “Hopefully we’re on the right path.” The weekend passed without any major incidents. Yelm police officers took turns patrolling the bars downtown, increasing
their presence. While the weekend was successful, Stancil said officers will continue to have an increased presence downtown. “You can’t judge it on one weekend,” See BARS, page A12
LEGAL NOTICES .................. C3-C6 CROSSWORD PUZZLE .............. C6 CLASSIFIEDS ........................ C7-C8 REAL ESTATE.................C2, C7-C8 88th Year, Issue No. 37
District looks to fill school board vacancy Yelm Community Schools is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the School Board created when board member Ed Sorger resigned due to moving out of the district. Sorger served on the school board since 1996.
The open position is for Director District 1. Applicants must reside in District 1, which includes the northwest part of the district extending toward the Lacey-Olympia area. The school board will appoint
a replacement to serve until the next regular election in November 2011. At that time, the position will be up for election to fill the remaining two years of Sorger’s term.
Sorger g
A12 Nisqually Valley News, Friday, September 17, 2010
STAR: Retired rodeo rider continues to shine Continued from page A1 “We had more fun when I was rodeoin’ — not as much money to shoot for.” He talked about how cowboys these days wear helmets and face masks, especially on the backs of bulls and broncs. “We frowned on that when I was a cowboy,” Martin said. “We wore a cowboy hat and nothing on our face.” “Oh, there’s been a lot of changes.” Martin, born in 1930 in Beaumont, Texas, said he started “rodeoin’” seriously at 16, though the interest came after he received a gift at the age of 12 or 13. “Daddy bought me a pony for a birthday or Christmas one time and he kept bucking me off,” Martin said. “That’s what got me started.” In those days, there weren’t many junior rodeos, Martin said. Other than eight months of steer riding as a junior cowboy, Martin started competing against adults. At 17, Martin joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, or PRCA.
He won all-around cowboy honors at the Burwell, Neb., rodeo that same year. At 21, he started competing in college rodeos for Sul Ross State University. “I roped calves, bucked bulls — I did it all in college,” Martin said. He graduated in 1955 with a degree in animal husbandry and education. In 1993 he was inducted into the school’s rodeo hall of fame. Since college, he’s traveled all around the world. Martin competed in Australia, Canada, Mexico and Cuba to name a few outside the United States. His events were saddle bronc, bareback, bull riding and steer wrestling. Bronc riding was his specialty, he said. That, and saddle bronc, were his best events. “I’m too little to bulldog the steers,” Martin said. “But I did it anyway. If I drew the right steers, I could beat the big guys. It was kind of like poker and drawing the right hand.” Martin was roughed up more times than he can count. He’s broken bones “so many times, it’s pitiful,” he said.
That includes puncturing his lungs more than once and breaking each of his ribs multiple times. He’s also been kicked in the face by a bull. “Both of my knees are steel now,” Martin said. “They had to be replaced.” He’s won an assortment of awards and numerous all-around titles. He also competed at the National Finals seven times and became an All-Around World Champion. Martin’s wife, Sharon, said he was her “claim to fame.” The pair met at the rodeo in Salinas, Calif. A year later, in 1966 at the same rodeo, Martin proposed. Another year later, the couple were married at the Denver Stock Show — “one of the last big rodeos before the finals,” Sharon Martin said. The couple has seven daughters. Four live in Washington state. The oldest three live in Texas. Tex Martin opened rodeo schools in Idaho, Texas, Colorado and even one in Mexico. It wasn’t until age 43, two years after
he retired from the PRCA, that Martin began teaching at Rainier High School. He taught agriculture and horticulture and served as the FFA advisor. He retired in 1994 after teaching for 20 years. He substituted for several years after his retirement, he said. “Until I couldn’t hear the kids no more. I thought that was a little dangerous.” “I really did enjoy teaching school,” Martin said. “I loved the kids.” Many of them made up the 160 people who attended his 80th birthday celebration Sept. 5 at Yelm City Park. “Many students share how if it weren’t for him they wouldn’t be where they are now,” said Martin’s daughter Debi Holmes, who works for Rainier schools. Tex and Sharon Martin still live out on a farm in Roy just off McKenna Highway where they’ve bought and sold cattle throughout the years. He is proud to say he’s lived a cowboy’s life. “I’ll always have a few cows ‘till I die, I guess,” Martin said. “It keeps me going.”
GIRL: Kindergartener BARS: Police encouraged by quiet weekend decides to flee school Continued from page A1
Continued from page A1 sponded the school counselor was already there. They tried to calm the girl, but she got incredibly upset about going back to school, Eriksen said. “She was never going back to school.” Her parents were called, but weren’t answering the phone. The girl knew exactly where she lived and that her parents were home, Eriksen said. She took the girl to her home, which was across Highway 507 near Brighton Street and 105th Avenue. Yelm Schools Superintendent Andy Wolf said the girl is familiar with the area and knew the path home. The path was built several years ago to create a safer route for children to get to school. The path removes children from the main road and away from traffic. This isn’t the first time a student has left a Yelm schools campus. “We have students who get angry and leave campus at all levels,” Wolf said. To address the problem, Wolf said the district is putting in a new fence line with a supervision gate. Safety precautions already in place for kindergarteners include extra help and identification tags. Wolf said every kindergarten class in the district has extra help the first couple of weeks. Kindergarteners also have lanyard with a tag identifying them as a kindergartner. “We try to take as many precautions as possible,” Wolf said.
Stancil said. “We’ll take a look at the next couple of weekends.” “But we’ll definitely keep a pretty consistent presence down there.” He also noted that Yelm is approaching a slow season. Generally the bars slow down through October and November, he said. Last week’s bar emphasis was
prompted after several weekends of incidents including multiple fights. Several weeks ago a man was tased in White Horse Tavern after allegedly starting a fight with the bouncer and refusing to cooperate with police. The next weekend a fight involving 10-15 people broke out on Yelm Avenue. The weekend after that a fight broke out and a bouncer was hit
in the face. Stancil contacted the Liquor Control Board about increasing its presence at the bars. One concern for Stancil is over-serving. The bar owners have tried to establish communication to control over-serving. The problem is, Stancil said, people go down there from bar to bar and drink as much as they can.
PDC: Wilcox smear campaign ‘mean spirited’ Continued from page A1 the PDC. Some of the mailers did not identify who funded them in print. Berkey alleges they are in violation of the Revised Code of Washington. What’s interesting is that one agency is behind four campaigns all denounced as dishonest, said Alex Hays, consultant for JT Wilcox. Hays also works on the cam-
paign for Jim Johnson, who is running for reelection for Supreme Court Justice and was a target of Moxie Media ads. The mailers distributed for Wicox’s campaign did identify who funded them, 2nd Defense, which is largely funded by union and labor organizations. Hays said out of the four campaigns, Wilcox’s appears the least in violation. “They were much more offensive in Berkey’s campaign,” he
said. Hays said the campaign against Wilcox is mean spirited and deceptive. Other mailers allege labor and safety violations. While the PDC is investigating the Berkey case, Hays said the PDC has indicated they would be looking at other conduct by Moxie Media. If not, both the Wilcox and Johnson campaigns would likely file complaints, Hays said.
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Residents jolted by earthquake Tuesday Q Some residents were jolted awake Tuesday morning by a 4.2-magnitude earthquake centered near Mossyrock. Claims of feeling the seismic activity were reported as north as Tacoma. On the Nisqually Valley News Facebook page, friends reported feeling the temblor, felt at 7:51 a.m. Michelle Zenner said she felt a “little side-to-side shimmy,” while Trina Baggett, of Yelm, reported, “Felt it here, but wasn’t sure what it was. Considering there is a tree down we have to deal with, I wasn’t concerned.” Kim Muir, of Yelm, said she “definitely” felt the earthquake. “It was quick,” Muir said in her post. “I felt the quake this morning,” said Kelly Foster, of Yelm. “It was kind of freaky.” To join this and other conversations, as well as receive early news tips, become a friend on our Facebook page at www. facebook.com/nisquallyvalleynews
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Shelter gets 2 weeks to make improvements By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley New The term “biting off more than you can chew” is unknown to sisters Gina Jennings and Bobbie Gordon. When they have a task at hand they keep plugging away until it’s done. This concept was no different when working to save 70 rescue dogs.
Times fell hard for Gordon, who owned and operated Pets In Need, a certified nonprofit animal rescue group in Cleveland, Texas. Earlier this year Gordon was bit while grooming a dog. The injury left her unable to use her hand and she lost
Photo by Megan Hansen
Bobbie Gordon spreads wood shavings in one of the dog pens.
See DOGS, page A10
Yelm ’11 budget down 30 percent
Generator stolen from Yelm home Q A Yelm resident reported a Craftsman generator was stolen from their detached garage between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11 in the 10800 block of Morris Road, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Department. The generator is valued at approximately $1,000.
Resident reports bike stolen from garage Q Someone reported a bicycle was stolen Monday, Nov. 8 in the 10400 block of Clark Road. The bicycle is a Redline, black with green handlebars. It was taken from a garage and is valued at $400. Subscriber mailing label below this line
Fall Storm Photos by Floyd Cummings
A tree along 103rd Avenue in Yelm near Prairie Hotel didn’t hold up against high winds Monday night.
Weather front leaves a mess By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News Winter weather is upon us as the season’s first major storm slammed the region and Nisqually Valley Monday night, leaving many without power. “There were wires down everywhere,” said Chief Rita Hutcheson from the Southeast Thurston Fire Authority. Winds reached up to 60 mph, downing powerlines and branches. Hutcheson estimates crews responded to about 10 calls Monday night. “It really wasn’t too bad,” she said. “There wasn’t anything major.” “We didn’t have any serious damage.” City workers cut down a tree that did not withstand Monday’s storm.
See BLOW, page A10
By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley New The City of Yelm is holding its own as it prepares for another tight budget year. With revenue and expenditures down about 30 percent from two years prior, Yelm Mayor Ron Harding said, the city is maintaining and proceeding conservatively. “Our emphasis is on continuing the same level of service,” Harding said. A draft of the city’s budget is available to the public. Copies will be available for review at Yelm City Hall. With an overall budget estimated at just more than $5 million, the operations and maintenance budget is based on the 2009 budget, trying to keep costs down. Harding said the city’s starting net cash is healthy, maintaining three months worth of operating costs. One thing the city is lookSee YELM, page A10
Restaurant puts ‘giving’ in Thanksgiving dinner INDEX LOCAL NEWS ........................A2-A3 OPINIONS.................................... A4 MEETINGS CALENDAR.........A4-A5
By Melanie Lockhart Nisqually Valley News Food at Thanksgiving is amazing, but sharing with others can be even more satisfying. Bunkhouse BBQ in McKenna plans to offer a little taste of both on turkey day. General Manager Todd Skinner said the restaurant is serving a free
traditional Thanksgiving meal noon to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 25 — or until the food runs out. Skinner said he’s prepared to serve as many as 150 people. “We’re targeting the less fortunate people who need a hand,” Skinner said. “Or the older folks with no famSee GIVING, page A11
Photos by Melanie Lockhart
Todd Skinner is gearing up to serve a free Thanksgiving dinner at his restaurant, Bunkhouse BBQ.
BUSINESS ................................... A6 NEWS OF RECORD.................... A7 SUDOKU ...................................... A7 SERVICE DIRECTORY ............... A8 VALLEY LIFE ............................... B1 RELIGIOUS COLUMN ................. B3 OBITUARIES ............................... B3 MOVIE REVIEWS ..................B4, B5 SPORTS ................................ C1-C2 LEGAL NOTICES .................. C3-C5 CROSSWORD PUZZLE .............. C5 CLASSIFIEDS ........................ C6-C7 REAL ESTATE...............B10, C7-C8 88th Year, Issue No. 46
Rainier on track to pass record budget By Melanie Lockhart Nisqually Valley News The City of Rainier is on track to approve its 2011 budget, the largest budget in the city’s history. City council held a first reading of the preliminary budget Nov. 9 and plans to approve the final budget during its regular meeting Tuesday, Dec. 14. The final budget must be approved no later than the final meeting of the year, which is slated for Dec. 28.
The total for the 2011 budget is $3.542 million. The budget includes general, street, capital facilities, water construction, water operating, water reserve and sewer funds for the fiscal year. A large portion of this year’s budget is attributed to construction of the new water reservoir, which is estimated to cost the city around $1 million. That includes costs for construction plus telemetry, engineering, permitting, inspection costs
and other contingencies, said City Engineer Jon Hinton said. Upgrading the telemetry system is necessary because the system is “old and outdated,” Hinton said. Weather permitting, contractors were set to survey the site and begin clearing and excavating the site this week. Everything is on track and “going the way it should be,” Hinton said. See RAINIER, page A11
School secretary ‘borrows’ from fundraiser money By Megan Hansen Nisqually Valley News A former Yelm High School secretary was investigated for embezzling funds from school fundraisers and soon may be facing
misdemeanor charges. The Nisqually Valley News is not naming the woman because she has not been formally charged. Yelm police were contacted by the school
district in early October after they were contacted by the woman’s estranged husband. The woman’s husband told police he See INVESTIGATED, page A10
A10 Nisqually Valley News, Friday, November 19, 2010
DOGS: Woman rescues 70 canines from Texas Continued from page A1 her job. Without the proper funds to support it, the rescue she loved so much slowly started declining. Gordon said she sought other rescue groups to take the dogs, but couldn’t find any to take any of them. Jennings arrived in Texas to help. She retrieved Gordon and all of the dogs and brought them to her home in Yelm. “When we got here (in Yelm) it was horrible,” Jennings said. “I had to spend $1,000 so everyone had their own kennel.” Things were rough for the first few weeks, a local veterinarian came out and looked over every dog and began treatment. Of the 70 dogs, 13 of them tested positive for heartworm and several were diagnosed with mange. Gordon and Jennings sought help from other animal rescue groups in the area. Soon, dog food and supplies
were coming. One rescue group, Second Chance Dogs, found foster homes for about 28 of the dogs. There are 32 dogs from Texas remaining. A quarantine was placed on the remaining animals because of the heartworm. Concerns were soon raised about the conditions in which the dogs were being kept, as well as the physical condition of some of the dogs. Pictures circulated of a dog in a cage with diarrhea as well as other dogs in poor condition. Gordon and Jennings conceded the first few weeks were rough, with the change of food and moving, many of the dogs were stressed and having issues. The sisters said they were working 24 hours, seven days a week to keep cages clean. You’d get them all clean and 20 minutes later they’d pooped again, Gordon said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and other officials were
contacted about the conditions. Jenning’s home was raided last week. After USDA inspected the property and kennels, no animals were seized. The pair were given a list of orders, which includes installing heat lights in the barn where the dogs are kept in cages and putting additional bedding on the ground and in the runs. Gordon and Jennings were also given two weeks to reduce the number of dogs. However, Gordon said, they can’t begin placing dogs in new homes until the quarantine is lifted. “If it weren’t for the quarantine we’d have most of these dogs placed,” Gordon said. Many of them have pending foster homes waiting. Meanwhile, the pair need help maintaining the dogs. “Every little bit helps,” Jennings said. They need people to help walk the dogs, help clean them
Photo by Megan Hansen
Bobbie Gordon puts one of her rescue dogs back in a kennel before moving another dog into an outside pen.
and their pens. As far as supplies, they need help purchasing dog food and veterinarian supplies. Rather than having people donate money directly, the pair
is asking people donate specifically to the facility’s veterinarian and food supplier. Q To donate time or dog supplies, call 360-894-4498.
BLOW: Monday’s storm is just the beginning Continued from page A1 Around 10 p.m. crews responded to a downed powerline on Foxglove Court in the Nisqually Pines. A crew stayed in the community for about four hours waiting for Puget Sound Energy to arrive. There were live wires and the crews didn’t feel comfortable leaving them unattended, Hutcheson said.
While crews were busy, they were able to move from call to call pretty smoothly, she said. Many residents lost power for varying lengths of time. Some residents in the McKenna area were without power until Tuesday night. The light at the intersection of State Highway 507 and State Highway 702 regained power around 9 p.m. Tuesday. Traffic backed up in all directions from the intersection
because it became a three-way stop. While residents continue to clean up their weather-ravaged yards, new storms are predicted through the week and into next week. Rain showers are anticipated throughout the week with winds ranging from 10 to 37 mph. A cold front is also expected to head into the Puget Sound region.
Snow showers are anticipated on Sunday and again on Tuesday. The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement Tuesday. “It is still too early to tell exactly how the situation will evolve,” the statement says. “People across Western Washington lowlands should continue to monitor the latest weather forecasts and prepare for the possibility of winter weather
conditions sometime during the next few days.” Hutcheson said her department isn’t doing anything extra to prepare for the coming storms. “We get what we get and hopefully people listen to what we’ve been preaching,” Hutcheson said. “Have emergency supplies and stay home.” Getting gas is also recommended.
YELM: City maintains on a lean 2011 budget year Continued from page A1 ing at is actually establishing a specific reserve fund. Right now reserves are included in the general fund. Harding said they will be earmarked so they cannot be touched without council approval. Reserve funds, also known as “rainy day funds,” aren’t
typically pulled from unless there’s an emergency. A couple years ago when the economy plummeted, the city did have to dip into those funds. “We’ve been slowly building those up again,” Harding said. The 2011 budget is very basic. “There’s not really any
frills,” Harding said. “We’re just maintaining.” Staff is refining their preliminary budget after the failing of state liquor store initiatives. Harding said staff originally estimated losing money had those measures passed. “The city does collect a certain amount of the liquor tax,” he said.
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Within the budget, the water fund is doing well. The sewer fund is losing a little bit, partly because rates haven’t increased in a couple years, Harding said. One thing the city will be looking at is increasing sewer rates in the next year. Though, it shouldn’t be more than a few dollars on a bill, he said.
Also maintained within the budget is the city’s contracts with the Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce, Yelm Adult Community Center and USBO. The library budget was also increased to $53,000. The city budgets money every year to help cover facility costs for the Yelm Timberland Library. This year the library budget increased about $6,000.
INVESTIGATED: Secretary may have embezzled funds Continued from page A1 found a bank deposit bag hidden at their residence, said Yelm police detective Jared Geray. Police initiated an investigation and said they learned the woman was taking deposits home and allegedly skimming cash from them. She would then hold onto the deposit until she could repay the money and then make the deposit, Geray said. During the investigation, Geray said, the woman allegedly admitted to taking “loans” from the bags because “times were tough and she got behind on bills.” While a paper trail was difficult to establish, evidence shows
the woman failed to deposit some of the checks she was holding onto. He said it does appear a majority of the stolen funds were repaid. “I suspect it goes much deeper than what the evidence shows,” Geray said. “I just don’t have the evidence to support that.” The total sum police can prove is $623, specifically from checks that were never deposited. The woman no longer works for the school district, having resigned from her job effective Oct. 28. Geray said he will be referring a misdemeanor theft charge to the city prosecutor for review.
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