Community | The JOLT News Organization, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

What's happening coming up for the first week of October?

September’s history! Here are some of highlights of events coming in early October. Tumwater Falls Fest, Saturday, October 1, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The inaugural Tumwater … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 9/29/22

Parasitic Jaeger - can be found in South Puget Sound

Pelagic Birds – Part 2

This week we will continue our series on pelagic birds, commonly called seabirds. Liam Hutcheson is again my co-author. One of the most delightful birds to see out on the ocean are the Storm … more

By George Walter and Liam Hutcheson | 9/29/22 | 1 comment

Olympia Finance Committee members get an update on a future technical and trades training center project at its meeting on September 21, 2022.

Olympia, LOTT, Port begin plans for a technical training center

The City of Olympia, LOTT Clean Water Alliance, and Port of Olympia are working together to plan a new technical and trade training center and anticipate seeking experts to develop programs to … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 9/29/22 | 1 comment

Tumwater and Thurston County looking to stop Hopkins Drainage District

A Tumwater city committee is working to oppose the annexation of 599 properties into the Hopkins Drainage Ditch District No. 2 with an ordinance aiming to prevent the action. Further, Thurston … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/23/22 | 2 comments

Design for culvert calls for additional $80,000 in project cost

The design developed for a new culvert along Percival Creek under Sapp Road calls for an additional $80,753 in the project’s design cost, raising it from $143,000 to … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/23/22 | 2 comments

Animal Services pushes for Lacey Community Cat Program

Lacey Joint Animal Services Commission (JASCOM) is lobbying for the new Community Cat Program (CCP) and recommending updates to the Lacey municipal code (LMC). During the council work session on … more

By JC Medina | 9/23/22 | 3 comments

Rubus laciniatus is another invasive, non-native blackberry species, but it’s much less common and invasive than Himalayan blackberries.

Himalayan blackberries are on the march

Yesterday a friend pointed out something I had never noticed: This is the time of year when Himalayan blackberry bushes – one of our most common invasive species – send out long, arching … more

By Jill Severn | 9/23/22 | 2 comments

Olympia's Strategic Projects manager Amy Buckler showed a graph reflecting the disparity in experience during the pandemic between renters and homeowners. Buckler gave an update on the Strong Olympia program at the Finance Committee meeting on September 21, 2022.

Olympia survey: Renters have challenging experiences during the pandemic

Olympia tenants went through the most challenges during the pandemic, according to an online survey conducted by the city for the Strong Olympia program. At the Finance Committee meeting on … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 9/22/22 | 6 comments

The Olympia Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting discussed suggestions for the Capital Facilities Plan (CFP).

Olympia committee talks sidewalk issue anew

Olympia committee talk sidewalk issue anew By P. Jade Asumbrado In the wake of public clamor for the city to focus on its sidewalks, The Olympia Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 9/22/22 | 1 comment

A Laysan albatross in the foreground (Phoebastria immutabilis) flying with sooty shearwater (Ardenna grisea).

Pelagic Birds – Part 1

Pelagic Birds – Part 1 September and October are fairly boring months for local bird watching. So, as a change of pace, we are writing over the next few weeks about, and providing … more

By George Walter | 9/22/22

What's happening coming up for the last week of September?

The last days of September are near, and we will still have a lot of fun with the upcoming events. Horses Healing Hearts: A Night of Denim and Diamonds, September 23, from 5:30 … more

9/22/22 | 1 comment

Tumwater city council members Leatta Dahlhoff and Joan Cathey questioned how Thurston Strong benefits entrepreneurs in their city.

Tumwater city council questions allocation of Thurston Strong funds

Tumwater city council questions allocation of Thurston Strong funds Doubts expressed on how it is used By Jerome Tuaño Members of Tumwater’s city council questioned the benefits … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/21/22

Olympia Councilmember Lisa Parshley, on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, made a referral request to city and finance committee staff and legal team to look for options to find a revenue stream to fund climate work.

Olympia councilmember wants revenue source for climate work

Olympia Councilmember Lisa Parshley made a referral request to the Finance Committee staff and the legal team to look for viable options in finding a specific revenue stream dedicated to climate work … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 9/21/22 | 6 comments

Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall thanked the Olympia City Council for helping increase awareness of registering to vote. The city council signed a proclamation on Tuesday, designating September 20, 2022, as National Voter Registration Day.

Olympia encourages citizens to register to vote; 16 and up can pre-register

Olympia encourages citizens to register to vote; 16 and up can pre-register By Lorilyn C. Lirio Olympia’s American citizens aged 16 and up can now pre-register to vote, Thurston County … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 9/21/22

Olympia's Planning Commission opened the public hearing for the Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) financial plan for 2023-2028 on Monday, September 19, 2022.

Olympia community members voice need for community sidewalks

Olympia community members went over their demand to include the sidewalks program in the Capital Facilities Plan, claiming that sidewalks are essential to neighborhoods for mobility, safety, and … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 9/20/22

The cleanup involves the dredging of several portions of Budd Inlet such as along the navigation channel, Swantown Habor, and the south of East and West Bay.

Budd Inlet cleanup will be the Port’s biggest project in decades

A $100 million project to clean up Budd Inlet is set to be the Port of Olympia’s biggest project in decades. The Port held a work session on September 20, to discuss their potential approach to … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/20/22 | 2 comments

Cast members of the show The Secret Garden showing from September 30 to October 16 at the Olympia Family Theater.

Local theater produces Latinx version of an American classic The Secret Garden

Local theater group Olympia Family Theater will be presenting their production of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays starting September 30 to October … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 9/20/22

Voting 5-2, the Lacey City council officially approved the proposed amendments to the existing Flag Policy during a meeting on Thursday, September 15.

Lacey officially allows the flying of equity flags

After a heated argument during the council meeting on Thursday, September 15, Lacey officially approved the proposed amendments to the existing Flag Policy, including additional flags to be flown in … more

By JC Medina | 9/19/22 | 9 comments

Washington laws enable voters to register or change their registration up to the day of the election, in-person.

Lacey recognizes September 20 National Voter Registration Day

The Lacey City Council officially set Tuesday, September 20, as National Voter Registration Day. The council said the proclamation signed during its meeting Thursday, September 15, aims to … more

By JC Medina | 9/19/22

Slower northbound traffic on I5

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) advises northbound motorists of slower movement today and tomorrow with the temporary closure of a lane approaching the exit to US … more

9/19/22