TOP 10 STORIES

Olympia to create law enforcement oversight model, seeking co-designers

Olympia's Community Livability and Public Safety Committee was briefed on the Community Oversight of Law Enforcement project, which would create a model that improves transparency and accountability. …
Residents attend a public hearing for the division of a 10.72-acre land near Sapp Road and Crosby Boulevard.
A proposal to develop 10.72 acres of land near Sapp Road and Crosby Boulevard in Tumwater drew concerns from residents who live near the area.      Residents wrote to …
Read more.
Apprentices will be given opportunities to learn various media operations, such as assisting with TCMedia summer camps, working on TCMedia video productions, helping with general media center operations, or supporting communications and social media efforts.
Thurston Community Media (TCM) is welcoming students to apply for their Young Producers Network Digital Media Apprentice Cohort (YPN-DMAC) this summer. In a press release, TCM announced that …
Read more.
Trevor Thompson (#16) celebrates with his teammates on the bench after hitting that match-winning goal for Oly Town FC.
On the third match day for the men’s and women’s squads of Oly Town FC last weekend, both teams got favorable results in the USL2 and the USL W League. The Artesian USL2 Team …
Read more.
2021-22 Lacey Youth Council Recognition by the City of Lacey.
Lacey is inviting community members to join its youth council to provide input and advocate for the city’s youth. According to the city’s website and social media , Lacey is …
Read more.
Use caution when passing through road construction sites.
I-5’s on and off ramps at Exit 102 to Trosper Road SW will be closed on Thursday, June 1 from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following day for lane markings. The city crews are preparing to construct a large portion of the new roundabout at 6th Avenue SW.
Read more.
This image shows United States artillery technology that might or might not be the same as that being used in training at Joint Base Lewis McChord on July 22, 2021. The image is from July 26 to July 29, 2022
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is holding nighttime artillery training tonight until tomorrow night, May 31, according to the City of Lacey's social media post . On the base’s website, community …
Read more.
Nonprofit focus
I started writing this column highlighting local nonprofit organizations about a year and a half ago. However, 25 years before I started this column, Thurston Community Media (known as TC Media) was …
Read more.
Stethoscope on a large pile of paperwork.
I had the recent privilege to interview a local hero who uncovered the origins and causes of the national prescription opiate crisis. He did this right here in Olympia in the WA State Department of …
Read more.
Housing and Homeless Response Director Darian Lightfoot presented a bar graph that breaks down housing units needed across area median income by 2045.
Olympia residents called for an end to the Multi-family Tax Exemption (MFTE), describing the program as "bad public policy." Council for Neighborhood Associations (CNA) president Larry Dzieza …
Read more.
Life
The Sage Connection

Shirts and thoughts for pre-election year media bombardment

Well, folks, the pre-election year is upon us once again. Not for the first or last time will we be bombarded with political ads, name-calling, out and out lies, and general juvenile behavior by …

National Trails Day is for nature lovers giving back, Tumwater and Olympia hosting work parties this Saturday, June 3

National Trails Day will be celebrated on the first Saturday of June as a day of service for hometown trails and for those who love trails and nature. The holiday is a nationwide movement by the …

Bronka, Holocaust Concentration Camp Survivor, Mountaineer & Oldest Mt. Rainier Record Holder

She is a tiny woman who radiates love and joy. Her life is inspiring and she has thrived in her life, despite early devastation.  On Sunday, May 21, 2023, a ribbon-cutting event with about …

Are you a gardenerd or an anthophile? Our gardener seeks out her beloved Himalayan blue poppies

The fascination of Himalayan blue poppies Anyone who has seen a Himalayan blue poppy remembers when they saw one for the first time: the sudden, stunned breath of wonder at the sight of this …
Police Blotter

Police Blotter for Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 05/30/23 at 3:20 a.m. in the 2500 block of Sleater Kinney Rd SE, Sheriff's deputies arrested Kaye Lynn Robinson, 47, on suspicion of 1) fourth-degree …

Opinions: Yours & our columnists
Our less known feathered neighbors
Editor's note: George is taking a week off. This was originally published   June 9 , 2022 under the headline, " Three lesser-known bird species that are among the most interesting. " …
Speculating on family quirks
Those of us who have raised children have a pretty good idea of what their personalities, dreams, goals, and foibles are by the time they reach adulthood…or so we like to think… …
Memorial Day Reflections, a mindful code to follow
I am sure you are aware; that this weekend is Memorial Day weekend, and while many of us will be celebrating with BBQ, boats, or beaches, I think it is important to take a moment to reflect on the …
Pushing past the fear - learning to overcome
Dear Lexis, I’ve been trying to move forward with a project that requires me to speak in front of other people and I’m finding it extremely difficult to “pull the …
On our third anniversary: what have we learned about producing local news for Thurston County?
On Sunday, The JOLT enters the start of Year 4 of its life as a startup news organization, one of about 1,000 hyperlocal newsrooms across the United States that have launched in the past 10 years. …
Olympia headlines
Olympia is inviting community members to attend two open house meetings to learn and give feedback on the city’s Olympia Strong plans for developing economic opportunity. There will be an …
Olympia School District (OSD) Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Priddy reports a $2,599,009 total improvement from the district’s April Deficit Estimate. OSD is currently operating with a …
Olympia Land Use and Environment Committee member and Mayor Pro Tem Clark Gilman expressed concerns over the Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE), pointing out that the burden for this program is being …
The Tumwater Planning Commission held a work session last Tuesday, May 23, to discuss questions about the draft amendments for Tumwater Municipal Code (TMC) 16.08 on the protection of trees and …
Local television show Karaoke Oly was recently recognized by a local community media award-giving organization. Winning the Best Entertainment and Arts Series award in the Independent Producer …
Tumwater headlines
Tumwater School District (TSD) recognized students from local schools for participating and accomplishing several wins at a state music contest. TSD thanked James Kois from Black Hills High …
Local jurisdictions are required to archive public records in compliance with the Public Records Act (PRA), but with social media blurring the line between what is personal and what is for work, it …
A Tumwater woman was arrested after allegedly stealing food from a store and attacking an employee who confronted her for attempting to leave without paying. Tumwater police arrested Jaclyn T. …
Thurston County
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 05/29/23 at 3:11 p.m. in the 5400 block of Steamboat Island Rd NW, Sheriff's deputies arrested Joseph Robert Pahutski, 40, on suspicion of violation of …
In September of 2022, 4 new library card designs were released in honor of “Library Card Sign-up Month”. This September, TRL plans to release 3 brand-new designs using the artwork of …
A jury in a Thurston County trial has found five defendants guilty of unlawful manufacture and possession of marijuana, six years after the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force was alerted to a …
Lacey headlines
​​​​Lacey’s General Government and Public Safety Committee had its regular meeting yesterday, May 23, to discuss code amendments. The meeting opened with a staff report about …
Joanne Glee DeMeyer, 88, of Lacey, died on May 19 at Bonaventure of Lacey. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Funeral Alternatives of Washington , 360-753-1065.
The suspect in recent attacks on dogs in Thurston County has been found dead in another state, the Lacey Police Department announced Friday. Lacey police said “no further threat to the …
The Lacey City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 1637 which amends the Capital Facilities Plan to add the construction of the Lacey Police Station. During the public meeting on Thursday, …
LACEY, WA, May 19, 2023 : The Law Enforcement Officers & Fire Fighters (LEOFF 1) Disability Board seeks applicants to fill the vacant at-large position on the LEOFF 1 Disability Board. Applicants …
More local news
Olympia paints transgender flag colors on crosswalks for Pride Month
Olympia is painting Transgender Flag colors on two crosswalks at 5 th Avenue and Washington Street in preparation for Pride Month in June. The project is part of the city’s support for the …
Port expands scope of agreed order with Ecology to fix Budd Inlet
The Port of Olympia Commission authorized Executive Director Sam Gibboney to sign an amendment to a 2008 Agreed Order with the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) on Monday, May 22, …
Who is running for which offices this August and November?
Between the August 1 primary and the November 7 general election, some 132 candidates are standing for 75 elected offices throughout Thurston County this year. In addition, the Thurston County …
Port authorizes sale of parking lot property to LOTT on Washington Street
The Port of Olympia Commission authorized Executive Director Sam Gibboney to authorize the sale of a parking lot on 608 Washington Street to LOTT Clean Water Alliance for $1,130,000 on Monday, May …
Special three-day filing period for offices without candidates  starts tomorrow
Citizens are encouraged to run for local elected office   OLYMPIA – A special three-day filing period will be held Wednesday, May 24 through Friday, May 26 to allow citizens to run …
FREE NEWS - SUBSCRIBE HERE
Expect wonderful things from JOLT, every morning in your inbox.
 
And please note, we'll never sell your contact info.
 
Thanks!