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

This home at 8547 176th Ave SW in Rochester sold during the week of May 23-29, 2021 for $390,000.

The JOLT Real Estate Report for May 16-22, 2021

This weekly report covers single-family home sales in Thurston County over the past week. There were 82 sales completed from Sunday, May 16, through Saturday, May 22, 2021. The median sales … more

5/24/21

The Lacey City Council met via Zoom on Thu., May 20, 2021 and heard Washington Department of Veterans Affairs Director Alfie Alvarado-Ramos (bottom row, center) present the Outstanding Service to Veterans Award to the Lacey Veterans Services Hub.

Lacey Veterans Services Hub wins Outstanding Service to Veterans award

Out of nearly 75 entries across the state, the Lacey Veterans Services Hub received the Outstanding Service to Veterans Award by the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee … more

By The JOLT Staff | 5/21/21

What's happening in the next few days here?

Here are a few events in the Thurston County area that will keep you entertained in the coming week! Endangered Species Day at Puget Sound Estuarium: Sat, May 22, 11:00 am – 4:00 … more

By Prachi Gohil | 5/21/21

Shirley poppies are one of several annual flowers that reseed themselves; they grow well in Thurston County and come up in a variety of colors.

Easy flowers to grow from seed

Once I was sent to the hardware store to buy nails. I knew nothing about construction. When the clerk said “box or common?” I just felt ignorant and incompetent – which, of course, … more

By Jill Severn | 5/21/21

This is one of Intercity Transit's newer Dial-A-Lift buses, shown arriving at a rider's home.

Intercity Transit looks into alternatives for Dial-A-Lift services

Intercity Transit Authority’s directors met on Wednesday and considered alternatives to its Dial-A-Lift services, seeking to control the cost of operation while at the same time providing … more

By Danny Stusser | 5/20/21

Inslee signs declaration to transfer Washington National Guard armory property to the city of Olympia

On Tuesday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a proclamation ordering the military to transfer the Olympia Armory to the city of Olympia at a little or no cost. The Washington National Guard is … more

By The JOLT Staff | 5/20/21 | 1 comment

Olympia appoints new poet laureate: Ashly Bunch

The City of Olympia named literary writer Ashly McBunch as its newest poet laureate during the city council meeting on Tue., May 18. Every two years, the city selects a promising poet to serve as … more

By The JOLT Staff | 5/20/21

This home at 2617 123rd Ave SW in Olympia sold during the week of May 16-22, 2021 for $331,000

The JOLT Real Estate Report for May 16-22, 2021

This weekly report covers single-family home sales in Thurston County over the past week. There were 86 sales completed from Sunday, May 16, through Saturday, May 22, 2021. The … more

5/17/21

The word cloud above incorporates many of the issues to be addressed by the City of Olympia's new Social Justice and Equity Commission. Public meetings are set to begin May 22, 2021.

City of Olympia invites residents to virtual discussion about new Social Justice and Equity Commission

Olympia residents are invited to participate in a virtual public discussion next Sat., May 22 to help the City of Olympia shape its new commission that aims to promote social justice and equity in … more

By Danny Stusser | 5/14/21

Whom can you trust?

I once had a neighbor who earned a Master Gardener title by attending a series of classes. She had never grown a single broccoli plant, but she was quite free with gardening advice. After one … more

By Jill Severn | 5/14/21

This is a screenshot of the Tumwater City Council's online worksession on Tue., May 11, 2021. David Ginther is top row, second from left.

Tumwater City Council talks affordable housing at its worksession

At the Tumwater City Council Worksession on Tuesday, Tumwater senior planner David Ginther discussed the city council’s resolution from 2018 designed to help provide affordable housing and … more

By The JOLT Staff | 5/13/21

Kristy Woodford, CEO of Holistic Home Group

Buyers: Is this the market for you?

If you’ve been following this column, or if you have any first- or even second-hand experience with the housing market, you probably know that it strongly favors sellers. I’ve talked … more

By Kristy Woodford | 5/13/21

Read any good books lately?

Here’s a little fun history… Did you know that, in December 1896, the Women’s Club of Olympia established a library service with “reading matter” donated by … more

By Kathleen Anderson | 5/12/21

This is Chanticleer the rooster, the subject of a legal battle with the City of Tumwater. He is described by his owner as "dapper" -- he doesn't mind wearing a bow tie.

Tumwater seeks nearly ten grand from a family -- for keeping a rooster

While a rooster in the country might seem harmless, Tumwater residents Michael and Bernetia Johnson were cited last October for raising one on their property -- and the city now wants accrued … more

By Danny Stusser | 5/11/21 | 2 comments

This home at 6970 Axis St SE in Lacey sold during the week of May 2-9, 2021 for $515,000.

The JOLT Real Estate Report for May 2-9, 2021

This weekly report covers single-family home sales in Thurston County over the past week. There were 76 sales completed from Sunday, May 2, through Saturday, May 9, 2021. The … more

5/10/21

The new branch of Olympia Timberland Library will open June 1, 2021 at Capital Mall. The closest entrance is shown above.

New West Olympia Timberland Library branch to open June 1

The many-years wait by west Olympia residents will be over two weeks from tomorrow, when Olympia Timberland Library opens a new branch inside of Capital Mall. The new branch will open on … more

By Danny Stusser | 5/10/21

Plant seeds!

It saddens me to see people spending money on little vegetable plants in unrecyclable plastic containers -- because most vegetables are so easy to grow from seeds. Yet the trend away from seeds and … more

By Jill Severn | 5/7/21 | 1 comment

A screenshot from the Olympia City Council's business meeting on Tue., May 4, 2021

Olympia City Council focuses on two projects toward solving four-year housing crisis

Olympia’s City Council focused on the continuing public health emergency of homelessness at its weekly meeting on Tuesday. During the May 4 meeting the council approved two resolutions … more

By JOLT Staff | 5/7/21 | 2 comments

This is an image of the privately owned Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, located at 1623 East J Street, Tacoma.

Caravan to immigration-detention center to support detained mothers

TACOMA -- A car caravan is heading to an immigration detention center tomorrow to support mothers who've been detained there.Groups from Oregon and Washington will drive to the Northwest Detention … more

By Eric Tegethoff / Public News Service | 5/7/21

Thurston Strong delivers for small businesses and nonprofits

Tumwater, WA— When COVID-19 came to town, Thurston County community and economic development agencies jumped into action by creating a collaborative, collective impact response model that has … more

5/4/21