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Olympia City Council opposes Initiative 2124, says it threatens long-term care program 

The Olympia City Council on Tuesday, October 15, passed a resolution opposing Washington state's Initiative 2124, which would make the state's long-term care insurance program voluntary.   …
At a Tuesday, October 15, 2024 meeting, Thurston’s Board of County Commissioners proclaimed October 14 to 18 as Flood Awareness Week in the county.
Thurston’s Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) proclaimed October 14 through October 18, 2024, as Flood Awareness Week in the county.   Kyle Bustad, Thurston County Emergency …
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Be aware of algae bloom and other warnings in your local waters.
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is urging caution at Offutt Lake due to a toxic algae bloom detected on October 16, 2024. Lab results revealed Microcystin toxin levels at 30 …
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Labor Wars of the Pacific Northwest free screening October 24th at Capital Theater
TLM Labor and Olympia Film Society to Present a Free Screening of Labor Wars of the Northwest on October 24th The Thurston – Lewis – Mason Central Labor Council is proud to announce …
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Peyton Rhyne pings the ball with a right-footed strike. She scored the lone goal that propelled the Evergreen State College to its first win this season. (Photo from Evergreen State College Athletics Official Website) 
After a winless drought of ten games, which includes six conference games of one-sided defeats and close draws, the Evergreen State College women’s soccer team finally got its first dub of the …
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Photo of a Raven I took in Yellowstone 
On a trip to Yellowstone National Park earlier this month, I was hoping to see some birds unique to that area – the Rocky Mountains. But, perhaps because of the late season, birds were few in …
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Welcome the Halloween spirt by supporting charity and family-friendly events.  Olympia High School Theatre Arts presents “Noises Off”, October 18-19, 24-26 Get ready to laugh …
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At a Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) meeting yesterday, October 15, which is also the supposed approval of the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project interlocal agreement (ILA) on the county’s side, the commissioners removed the ILA from the agenda.  
At a Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) meeting yesterday, October 15, the commissioners removed the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project interlocal agreement from the agenda.  The …
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According to a map shown at a Tumwater City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2024, the south basin of Capitol Lake, where boardwalks will be built, is located across I-5 towards the side of the Tumwater Historical Park. 
Tumwater City Council authorized Mayor Debbie Sullivan to sign the interlocal agreement for the governance and funding of the Deschutes Estuary project.   The project seeks to restore …
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Press Forward is a nonpartisan project funded by more than 30 foundations to support local news across the United States.
Press Forward, the nationwide movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news, announced today that it has selected The JOLT News Organization to receive a challenge grant to support …
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Olympia community member Yonah Mikowski comments against Initiative 2109 during a public hearing at the city council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. 
To protect critical funding for schools, early learning, and child care, the Olympia City Council has passed a resolution opposing Initiative 2109 , a state ballot measure that would repeal …
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A slide from a presentation during the Oct. 3, 2024, meeting of the Tumwater Public Works Committee, which has endorsed a contract with Sare Electric to construct ten EV chargers for the city fleet. 
Plans to construct electric vehicle charging stations to support Tumwater’s fleet electrification efforts are moving forward. 
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Kathleen Anderson
Grace is not a word I use or even think of often. I am not positive I understood it’s meaning until I looked it up for this column…nor am I sure I understand it now. To me, grace is …
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Trish Lynn and Thom Donitz portrait and friends
As we watched the horrendous amount of destruction brought by first Hurricane Helene, and then Hurricane Milton, it makes us wonder how prepared we all are for any natural disaster that may, …
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Armory Creative Campus
Before making recommendations to the Olympia City Councill, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will conduct public hearings on Thursday, Oct. 17, regarding the proposed official naming of …
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Life
Sangh Jugal Thakor of Hindu Swayamsavak thanked the Olympia City Council for signing the first proclamation of Hindu Heritage Month at its Tuesday meeting on Oct. 8, 2024. 

Olympia proclaims October 2024 Hindu Heritage Month  

On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Olympia City Council proclaimed October 2024 as Hindu Heritage Month, recognizing the contributions of the Hindu-American community to the city's diversity and culture.   …

Lucendy Perez (left) and Marin Collins (right) combine on a block. Both players were crucial for Evergreen’s win at Walla Walla.

Evergreen Geoducks tame Walla Walla Wolves in five-set thriller to avenge earlier loss 

The Evergreen State College volleyball team organized a block party performance to survive a five-set win over Walla Walla University, 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-11) away from home last …
Ray Larkin, We are Still Here, Photography

Leonor R. Fuller Gallery to host 16th Annual Native American Art Exhibition with guest curator 

Anticipate the 16 th  Annual Native American Art Exhibition from November 4 to December 13 at the Leonor R. Fuller Gallery. The opening reception will be held on Friday, November 8, from 6 to 7:30 …
Jessica Springs book, One Liners

Creative books by the Puget Sound Book Artists

In general, when we think of books we see a flat rectangle in our mind, sometimes bound in a pretty cover, or a soft bound.  As children, we interacted with books differently.  We might …

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter for Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Thurston County Sheriff's Office On 10/08/24 at 11:43 a.m. at 20900 Blk 18th Ave E Spanaway, Sheriff's deputies arrested Anthony L Matagi, 44, on suspicion of 1) Theft in the First Degree - …

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Opinions: Yours & our columnists
A day of service on St. Martin's University's farm
I was recently invited to a volunteer day for Master's Degree students at St. Martin’s University. While I couldn’t attend due to work obligations, I thought it was worth sharing some of …
Recipe: Crunchy broccoli salad
This week’s recipe is a crisp, sweet broccoli salad, that is also quick and easy to put together. This is a great side dish with chicken or fish, and may be made ahead, holding up well in the …
A gardener and a birder go on vacation
There’s a risk in leaving tomatoes ripening on the vine in early October when frost might ruin them, but for a trip through Yellowstone National Park, the risk seemed worth taking. And after …
Capitol Lake Deschutes Estuary Project Good or Bad
The Deschutes Estuary Project is good for the State but bad for the local taxpayers of Unincorporated Thurston County, Cities of Tumwater, Olympia, LOTT and the Port of Olympia.
Concern for Animals (CFA) – Toast for Tails Fundraiser
This week, Trish met with Amy Geier, the Outreach and Development Coordinator for Concern for Animals in their office located at 1414 State Avenue NE, Olympia, WA  98506.   Amy is one …

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Calendar of events
Olympia headlines
Olympia City Mayor Dontae Payne describes the interlocal agreement as historic as multiple government entities come together to restore Capitol Lake to its natural state. 
The Olympia City Council, on Tuesday, Oct. 8, approved an interlocal agreement with the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services, the Squaxin Island Tribe, Thurston County, Tumwater, the …
The Olympia School District (OSD) had a regular meeting on Thursday, October 10, 2024, for its Outcome 5 Monitoring Report. Discussed during the session are OSD’s energy-saving programs and food expenditure efforts. 
Olympia School District reportedly saved $66,017 in energy costs over the past year, its board learned on Thursday, Oct. 10.   The board also learned that the district's per-capita food …
The Olympia Site Plan Review Committee hears a proposal to rebuild and expand Puget Sound Energy's Eld Inlet Substation. 
The Olympia Site Plan Review Committee held a presubmission conference to review Puget Sound Energy's plan to rebuild and expand its Eld Inlet substation at 1330 Kaiser Road NW.    …
Jennie Beth Banks tells the story of her own near-death experience that inspired her to create the On the Edge series.
"On the Edge – Perspectives on Death, Dying, Loss & Living" is a month-long series of programs, events and workshops led by various people from the local death-care community.
The Senior Services for South Sound invites everyone to celebrate its annual fall gala with the theme “An Evening in Tuscany.” The gala will be held on October 26 from 5 p.m. onwards at the Olympia Senior Center.
Join the Senior Services for South Sound’s annual fall gala on October 26 from 5 p.m. onwards at the Olympia Senior Center.    The gala, which benefits the senior center's needs, …

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Tumwater headlines
Tumwater City Council met on Tuesday, Oct. 8, to review a series of amendments to the city’s contract with Medic One. 
Thurston County Medic One, the county’s emergency service provider, is looking to establish its eighth unit, which will be based at the North End fire station on Linwood Avenue in Tumwater. …
Planning Manager Brad Medrud (lower left) briefed the General Government Committee on Wednesday, Oct. 9, about the land capacity study by the Thruston Regional Planning Council
A county-wide study shows that Tumwater has sufficient land capacity to accommodate future housing needs for low-income households until 2045, but a city planner warns that the margin of error is too …
There is so much to celebrate in our locality—from nature to   culture.   Harvest Craft Festival & Food Drive, Weekend, October 11-12   The first-ever Harvest Craft Fair …

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Thurston County
Great Washington Shakeout drill for earthquake preparedness
Drop, cover, and hold this Thursday, Oct. 17, as part of the statewide earthquake drill.   The Great Washington ShakeOut will happen at exactly 10:17 a.m. and will allow participants to …
A woman dentist shows a male patient a digital rendering of a jaw and teeh
Introducing DentistLink, a free referral service that aims to help low-income and uninsured Washington residents access dental care, has expanded its scope to include transportation, translation and …
Olympia City Council, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. The Olympia City Council unanimously approved two resolutions that opposed two ballot initiatives that would threaten the city's climate policies and efforts.
  The Olympia City Council voted unanimously to oppose two Washington state ballot initiatives that would threaten local and state policies to reduce greenhouse emissions. The two measures will …

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Lacey headlines
Mira Jayarama (Bib #209) and Ruby Bryntesen (Bib #207) competed in the women’s 6k cross country run for the first time representing Saint Martin’s.
The Saint Martin’s University Cross Country teams were right on track after competing in their first two invitationals of the cross country season last September under new head coach Gabriel …
The Saints women’s soccer team got their first win of the season at the expense of the CWU Wildcats, thanks to the goal by Inara Lopez de Andrade
The Saint Martin’s University women’s soccer team finally found the winning column in this soccer season in a hard-fought 1-0 win over Central Washington University at their pitch in the …
The Saint Martin’s University volleyball team ended their Alaska trip with a win over the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks with a reverse sweep.
The Saints traveled to their farthest conference opponents way up in Alaska for the last match week of September, splitting the results with a 1-3 defeat against the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves …
The Lacey City Council and the Thurston County Board of Commissioners convened a joint public hearing on October 1, 2024, to gather testimony regarding the proposed annexation of Draham Road and Cuoio Park North Island. 
The Lacey City Council and the Thurston County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an interlocal agreement facilitating the annexation of Draham Road and Cuoio Park North Island.   …
A teenage girl using a cell phone during a lesson in class
Since the opening of the current academic year, North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) has implemented its Off and Away, All Day mobile device expectations at all of its schools.    The Off …

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More local news
 Thurston County employees’ medical and vision premium rates increase, new standard plans recommended 
At a meeting on Monday, Human Resources (HR) representatives reported the 2025 changes to Thurston County employee benefits to the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC).  
Overvalued? Thurston County homeowners property tax appeals due Oct. 28
According to the Thurston County Board of Equalization, local homeowners have until Oct. 28 to appeal their property tax assessments. This county webpage provides explains the procedure and …
Thurston County mails ballots for November 5 election
Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division has mailed over 195,000 ballots to registered voters for the upcoming November 5 General Election. Voters who haven’t received their …
SPSCC's Luke Fenner wins historic first golf league tournament for the Clippers 
In a historic first for the South Puget Sound Community College golf program, Luke Fenner bested all 53 other participants in the men’s golf category to win the Columbia Basin College (CBC) …
Olympia workers plead for higher wages, business owners warn closures  
The Olympia community is divided over a potential policy change on minimum wage and the Worker's Bill of Rights. Workers advocate for wage increases and improved conditions, while business owners …
County-wide fire safety burn ban lifted
The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) announced on Wednesday, Oct. 2, that the seasonal county-wide fire safety burn ban was lifted at the end of September.   The Thurston County Fire …
Elected officials report mid-term budget requests  for Thurston County
At a work session on Monday, Thurston County’s elected officials met with Thurston’s Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) to discuss budget matters.   The office …
Billy Frank, Jr. statue for U.S. Capitol is a step closer to casting
The full-scale clay statue of Nisqually leader and rights activist Billy Frank Jr. is nearing completion, and the public is invited to view it at the artist’s workspace on the South Puget Sound …
U.S. House committee endorses bill renaming Bucoda Post Office after late Mayor Rob Gordon 
A U . S . House of Representatives committee endorsed a bill renaming the Bucoda p ost office to the “Mayor Rob Gordon Post Office.”   H.R. 9421 passed the Committee on …
Olympia School District's school-closure policy discussions resume, close this Friday
The Olympia School District (OSD) is opening a public comment period for its Policy 6000 Series after its s chool closure policy was found to have skipped an official first reading.   The …

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