Olympia, WA
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Olympia selects 8 local arts nonprofits as anchor partners for Armory Creative Campus

Olympia Armory Building Manager Valerie Roberts introduced the eight anchor partners selected to lease long-term spaces in the building and help the city develop business plans for the Armory …
Housing Authority of Thurston County Executive Director Craig Chance (rightmost) presented their 2023 Annual Community Report to the Board of County Commissioners yesterday, May 1, 2024.
The Housing Authority of Thurston County (HATC)’s 2023 Annual Community Report showed that the organization had admitted 296 new households to its voucher rental assistance program and lifted …
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Lacey City Hall
Lacey has been awarded a Silver designation from SolSmart, a national program that promotes the expansion of clean and affordable solar energy solutions at the local level. SolSmart evaluates …
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A bus pulling into the Intercity Transit bus stop in Olympia
Intercity Transit (IT) won two top awards at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) 2024 International Bus Roadeo competition, which was held last weekend in Portland, Oregon. …
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Aerial view of the city of Olympia, Washington waterfront. In this image you can see Heritage Park and Capitol Lake in the front.
Anticipate disruptions when visiting Heritage Park, as the final stage of a geotechnical survey is set to commence near Capitol Lake. The survey, a component of the Deschutes Estuary Restoration …
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A couple of hens from a small flock of chickens. Even small flocks of chickens in home coops and enclosures need to take precautions to protect the birds from the Avian Influenza H5NI.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAF), commonly called H5NI bird flu, is a highly contagious pathogen that is deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out flocks quickly. This disease is widespread …
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Prepare yourself for the May spirit by engaging on one of the activities below.   2024 Real Community Heroes Awards & Celebrations, Friday, May 3, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Every …
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The scales of Justice represent the idea of decisions reached fairly and objectively by a weighing of evidence.
Thurston County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) has taken a sex offender into custody following reports of sexual assault after luring them to a secluded place before being assaulted and is asking other …
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To aid in vehicle pursuits, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office will pilot six Grappler and five StarChase units after the Board of County Commissioners approved its purchase on April 30, 2024.
Thurston’s County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approved the Sheriff’s two single-source purchases for six Grappler and five StarChase units to aid in vehicle pursuits. …
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Representatives from the Asian Pacific Islanders Coalition, South Puget Sound Chapter, attended the April 30, 2024, Thurston Board of County Commissioners meeting to receive the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month proclamation.
In a show of recognition and celebration, the Thurston Board of County Commissioners officially declared May Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. The board's proclamation …
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The Olympia Metropolitan Park District Board, consisting of the city council members, met on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, and approved the appointments of three members to the district's citizen advisory committee.
The Olympia Metropolitan Park District Board (OMPD), consisting of the city council members, approved appointments of three members to the district's citizen advisory committee. At Tuesday's OMPD …
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The storage facility is immediately north of the Tumwater Middle School, according to a vicinity map shared during a public hearing on April 24.
Tumwater’s hearing examiner, Mark Scheibmeir, approved on Monday, April 29, the site plan and conditional use permit for Tacoma resident Trevor Colby to construct a four-story storage facility …
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The scales of Justice represent the idea of decisions reached fairly and objectively by a weighing of evidence.
Tumwater Police Department (TPD) responded to reports of suspicious activity involving a BMW SUV on Monday, April 27, where individuals were seen tossing items, including clothes and a car seat, …
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Several hundred people are expected to walk in the 2024 Paws 4 A Cause event on May 4. This photo is from the 2023 event.
Ready for something entirely new? Come watch the Peanut Butter Licking Contest at this Saturday’s Paws 4 A Cause event in Heritage Park in downtown Olympia. The four-hour event is both a …
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An Olympia Water Resources team member inspects a catch basin.
An Olympia staffer proposed a method to save the city money on inspecting stormwater catch basins. Senior Stormwater Specialist Kane Osstifin told the Olympia Utilities Advisory Committee (UAC) …
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Life
The Olympia Kitchen
Steak fajita salad is easy to make and a good way to deal with various leftovers.

Recipe: Steak Fajita Salad

When we have steak, there are sometimes leftovers that do not have quite enough remaining for another meal. These are a great main ingredient for several entrees, including steak fajita salad. …

This close-up is of the Common Yellowthroat Warbler.

Warblers are arriving

Sitting at my computer on a rainy day (good for gardens, but not for bird watching), I’m thinking about migrating warbler species that are arriving daily in our territory. These insect-eating …
The Puget Sound Estuarium online bidding started on April 19 and will end on April 26 at 10 PM. The Open House will be held during the Olympia Arts Walk on April 26 from 6 PM to 9 PM.

Estuarium’s benefit auction ends tomorrow

Friday, April 26, is the final day for online bidders to participate in the Puget Sound Estuarium's Annual Benefit Auction, which started on April 19. The week-long event will culminate in an …
The Olympia Design Review Board met on April 4, 2024, and produced a Detail Design Review recommendation for a proposed one-story commercial space at 4336 Martin Way E Olympia.

Design approved for proposed barbecue restaurant on Martin Way

The Olympia Design Review Board approved a Detail Design Review recommendation for the proposed Dickerson South Bay BBQ restaurant during its Thursday, April 11 meeting.

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter for Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 5/1/24 at 2:38 AM in the 1700 block of Foxfire Drive SE, Sheriff’s deputies arrested Brandon Waugh, 40, on suspicion of 4 th degree assault. …

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What a fun place to live, from volunteers planting trees, Procession of the Species to rummage sales
I am a little late with this information, but Earth Day was a big success in our communities. Trees hold a special place in my heart, so Earth Day is one of my favorite holidays, and clearly, I am …
Arborist to Tumwater: Save the Davis Meeker Oak
In the early 1980s, The Davis Meeker Oak – a 400-year-old oak tree beside Old Highway 99 next to the Olympia airport – was in danger of being removed to improve the highway.  I …
There’s more to know about weeds
A rose by any other name might smell as sweet, but a weed by another name is a different story. A weed known by its scientific Latin name can be transformed in our minds from a pest to a gift of …
My moments and  conundrums, living with chronic illness
I think the worst thing about any chronic disease is the unpredictability of the attacks. Never knowing when it will raise its nasty head means never being able to plan, to be able to commit. Still, …
BURNOUT: Significance for healthcare and society
There has been much in the news about healthcare worker burnout. Burnout has resulted in crisis-level losses of staff and expertise since before COVID-19, which the pandemic exacerbated. Addressing …

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Calendar of events
Olympia headlines
The Port of Olympia held a town hall meeting with Executive Director Alexandra Smith on April 24.
The Port of Olympia’s new executive director, Alexandra Smith, addressed dozens of questions last week, including about the marine terminal’s profitability and said she supports having …
South Sound Stadium would be roaring this summer as FC Olympia is set to bring back USL action home.
FC Olympia confirmed on its website that their home pitch for the 2024 USL2 and USL W League summer competitions would still be at South Sound Stadium in North Thurston High School in the heart of …
Proposed Changes to Parking Meter Times This cartoonized map shows the existing parking meter time limits downtown. All blocks shown in green currently have 3-hour meters, while those in purple are 2-hour meters. The Olympia Parking Services proposes turning all two-hour meters into three hours to provide flexibility for businesses and visitors in the downtown area.
Olympia's Parking Services Program proposed several changes to downtown parking to address community concerns and serve local businesses and visitors better. Parking Service Program specialist …
Olympia-born Braxton Claridy represents the Evergreen State College in the men’s 200 meters.
In the lead-up for the upcoming Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Championships in early May, the Evergreen State College Track and Field team battled for their homestretch outdoor meets and …
A six-time felon with an arrest warrant for selling illegal narcotics was arrested after he attempted to flee from law enforcement.
A six-time felon wanted for selling narcotics was arrested near Black Hill High School after trying to flee from law enforcement on April 24, according to Thurston County Sheriff’s Office …

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Tumwater headlines
The scales of Justice represent the idea of decisions reached fairly and objectively by a weighing of evidence.
In the early hours of April 25, Thurston County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) received a call regarding a suspicious vehicle obstructing a roadway in Maytown. According to the TCSO news release , …
Tumwater Community Development Director briefs the city council about two contracts with Haley & Aldrich Inc.
Tumwater has selected Haley & Aldrich Inc. to conduct environmental assessment work on the old brewery and the former Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) office on Capitol …
A bus pulling into the Intercity Transit bus stop in Olympia
Intercity Transit announced the enhancement to their bus services, with getting closer to pre-pandemic level of service as their goal. The transit authority outlined a series of adjustments …

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Thurston County
A bus pulling into the Intercity Transit bus stop in Olympia
Intercity Transit is calling on the public to comment on transit projects outlined in the annual update of its Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2025-28, which is a federal requirement to …
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders (second from the left) discussed the possible acquisition of two systems at a work session with the Board of County Commissioners yesterday, April 24, 2024.
To aid in vehicle pursuits, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) discussed the possible acquisition of vehicle-mounted GPS launchers and police bumpers. At a work session with the …
A hand picks up a book from a shelf in a library.
Thurston County Public Works has announced the temporary closure of book donation bins at its drop-box facilities in Rainier and Rochester and the Waste and Recovery Center (WARC) in Lacey. This …

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Lacey headlines
Cassidy Walchak-Sloan and Alisha Saucedo are expected to represent the Saints at various distance running events in the GNAC Championships.
With only a couple of weeks left approaching the Conference Finals, the Saint Martin’s University Track and Field team is in their homestretch preparations to vie for all the marbles and was …
Troy Oliver, NTPS’s assistant superintendent of operations, will be the school district's supervisor.
During a special meeting on Sunday, April 28, the North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) Board of Directors selected Troy Oliver as its next Superintendent.  “I have been proud to work …
Lacey City Hall
The Lacey City Council is currently accepting recommendations from local organizations to fill a vacant position on the Capital Area Regional – Public Facilities District (CAR-PFD) board …
According to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, a caller claimed that a shooter was present at the school, prompting the school to contact law enforcement; the school entered into lockdown and then lockout status for the afternoon of April 25, 2024.
Thursday, April 25, 2024, at about 1 p.m., the Nisqually Middle School was under heavy police presence after a shooting threat was made via phone call. According to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office …
This is an aerial view of the Regional Athletic Center, or RAC, in Lacey.
Lacey's Director of Parks provided a comprehensive update to the city council regarding the Regional Athletic Complex (RAC) Phase 3 Design Concept on Tuesday, April 23.  Jen Burbidge …

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More local news
 New EPA rules aim to cut vehicle emissions for cleaner air
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently introduced new regulations to reduce emissions from new cars and light trucks. The "Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years …
VFW Post wants action from city 
Army veteran Crystal Beeler made it clear that she wants the Olympia City Council to address the issue that VFW Post 318 says involves the actions of homeless individuals living in the nearby Unity …
Madison, McKenny to remain open as Olympia School Board rules out closures
The Olympia School District (OSD) Board expressed no objections to Superintendent Patrick Murphy’s recommendation of excluding school closure as an option to supplement the district’s …
Olympia's neighborhood centers ‘have not developed as envisioned,’ consultants say
At Olympia's Land Use and Environment Committee meeting, Olympia associate planner Casey Schaufler presented the market analysis on neighborhood centers, which analyzed 12 existing centers and …
Olympia's Creative District seeks a second certification from Arts Commission
Olympia is seeking recertification for the Creative District from the Washington State Arts Commission to further support the local creative sector in the next five years.
Olympia councilmember seeks bolder transportation reforms to align with climate goals
Olympia Councilmember Clark Gilman is challenging city staff to pursue bolder transportation reforms to make progress on climate and mobility goals. Joey Jones, the city’s Public Works …
Non-profit launches initiative that would grant rights to Deschutes Watershed
Nonprofit Standing for Washington has launched a campaign in Olympia and Tumwater to advocate for the rights of the Deschutes Watershed. The non-profit began gathering signatures on Friday, …
Lacey recognized for solar energy efforts
Lacey recently received a SolSmart Silver designation for its efforts to advance solar energy initiatives in the city. According to the city’s press release, Lacey was recognized for …
Only two weeks in, incoming North Thurston Public Schools superintendent backs out
Dr. Justin Ainsworth, the newly hired and incoming superintendent of North Thurston School District (NTSD), has announced his resignation, triggering a new round of interviews to fill the post. …
Tumwater Parks Commission discusses potential location of community center
Tumwater city staff is considering four locations for a proposed community center, Parks and Recreation Director Chuck Denney told the Parks and Recreation Commission on Wednesday, April 17. The …

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