Life | The JOLT News Organization, A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

One of the many services offered to Veterans by the Hub is transportation to healthcare appointments.

Online "gala" to support Lacey Veterans Services Hub set for next Friday, June 4

The City of Lacey invites the South Sound community to its 2021 Mayor’s Gala on Friday, June 4, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The free, virtual event will help support programming and operations at … more

5/28/21

This summer Thurston County residents can go to the library and stay at home at the same time.

Timberland libraries offer free books from their online summer program

Readers can earn a free book by participating in the upcoming Online Summer Library Program hosted by the Timberland Regional Library. The program runs from June 1 to August 31, and residents of … more

By The JOLT Staff | 5/26/21

Movies at the Marina will be back for 2021, with three mid-summer dates.

Movies at the Marina to return to Port of Olympia

Movies at the Marina will return for its second summer, according to Port of Olympia Executive Director Sam Gibboney yesterday. Just like last year, the Port plans to hold the outdoor event on … more

By The JOLT Staff | 5/25/21

The Thurston County Fair is cancelled for 2021 -- and was cancelled for 2020 as well. Families of children such as these might find fairs in other counties in Washington this summer.

2021 Thurston County Fair Cancelled

The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously in support of canceling the 2021 Thurston County Fair this year. The recommendation to cancel the fair came from the Thurston County Fair … more

5/25/21 | 1 comment

This sequence shows the bald eagle being carried from the vehicle in which it was transported back to the property where it was found, on Sun., May 23, 2021, just prior to its release. L-r, Stephanie Estrella, Mark Fleming.

Bald eagle released after brief rehab following airturf battle

Two bald eagles who lived in or near a recently clear-cut urban forest in Olympia did battle in the air last week. One needed a brief stay at a local rehabilitation center and was released yesterday … more

By Danny Stusser | 5/24/21

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

An American Brown Bear, the same species found in Lacey on May 8, 2021, crossing a street in Alaska.

Black bear killed by police in south Lacey

A black bear roaming the 13th fairway of the Capital City Golf Course was shot by Lacey Police this morning. Lacey Police received multiple calls regarding the bear starting at 7:37 a.m. on May 8, … more

By The JOLT Staff | 5/8/21 | 4 comments

This home at 2439 Tyndell Cir SW in Tumwater sold during the week of April 18-24, 2021 for $382,000. Listing agent is Jessica Poulos.

The JOLT Real Estate Report for April 18-24, 2021

This weekly report covers single-family home sales in Thurston County over the past week. There were 76 sales completed from Sunday, April 18 through Saturday, April 24, 2021. The … more

4/26/21

This home at 238 Planer Ct SE, Olympia, WA 98513 sold during the week of April 11-17, 2021 for $430,000. Listing agent is Melissa Douglas.

The JOLT Real Estate Report for April 11-17, 2021

This weekly report covers single-family home sales in Thurston County over the past week. There were 86 sales completed from Sunday, April 11 through Saturday, April 17, 2021. The … more

4/19/21

Springtime's here but shady spots never seem to go away

The great spring surge of growth is gathering momentum. Buds are opening, the grass is taller with every passing day, and every unpaved inch of earth – even the cracks in the pavement – … more

By Jill Severn | 4/16/21

BEFORE: A dining room as presented by the sellers of a home in Thurston County.

Maximize Your Sale Price with Smart Improvements Before You List

Whenever I help a new client list a home, I present them with a suggested sale price for the property as-is and a second, higher suggested sale price. The higher suggested price reflects the value … more

By Kristy Woodford | Holistic Home Group | 4/15/21

This home at 8545 28th Way SE, Olympia 98513 sold last week for $520,000. Holistic Home Group photo.

The JOLT Real Estate Report for April 4-10, 2021

This weekly report covers single-family home sales in Thurston County over the past week. There were 77 sales completed from Sunday, April 4 through Saturday, April 10, 2021. The median sales price of these properties was $434,950 or $245.77 per square foot. more

4/12/21

This poster tells the facts about how the casting agents are asking to be approached about auditions.

Attention 18-25 year-olds: Ever want to be in the movies?

Sometime in the next few weeks an ensemble of three to five people ages 18-25 will be picked to star together in a new feature film. They might be you, or your neighbor or your neighbor's kids -- … more

By Danny Stusser | 4/9/21

Thurston County residents as a group are among the healthiest in the state and have among the best (low) risk factors.

Thurston County Ranks 8th Healthiest in State

Thurston County ranks eighth healthiest among Washington’s 39 counties, according to County Health Rankings data released last week. The county moved up from a rank of ninth place from 2020. … more

4/8/21

The north section of the homeless encampment on Deschutes Parkway was mostly cleared of debris by 11:00 am on the first day of the project, Wed., April 7, 2021.

UPDATE: Cleanup of homeless encampment on Deschutes Parkway has begun

Day One of the cleanup project at the Deschutes Parkway homeless encampment started at 9 am today. Workers from Advance Environmental more

By Danny Stusser | 4/7/21

This shows a portion of the debris spread outside of the tents and other temporary shelters that are on private property along the west side of Deschutes Parkway across from Capitol Lake in Olympia. Image taken on April 5, 2021.

Olympia has contracted to clean homeless encampments on Deschutes Parkway

In a couple days, Advance Environmental will begin to clean the sprawling homeless encampments along Deschutes Parkway as a response to waste accumulation and environmental impacts at the camps on … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 4/5/21 | 1 comment

This view above Tumwater Falls was not available to the public until April 1, 2021, when the new fish hatchery and remodeled Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls reopened.

Tumwater Falls Park reopens as Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls

Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls re-opened to the public yesterday, with some new amenities and a new name -- but without new signs yet. The Olympia Tumwater Foundation closed the park last year so it … more

By Danny Stusser | 4/2/21

Look closely and you'll see a blue heron in flight near the center of the pond. It's unusual to see these birds in the city; this one was spotted at William A. Bush Park on Yelm Highway in Lacey on March 24, 2021.

Blue heron spotted in South Lacey

Scene in Thurston County: If you see something amazing or especially beautiful in Tumwater, Lacey or Olympia, and capture a reasonably decent photo, please send it to us. We're not yet … more

3/26/21

Nicole Andres opened Nicole's Bar in Olympia two months into the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Nicole's Bar owner "super thankful" for community support

May 7, 2020, wasn’t the ideal date to open a new restaurant, but sometimes you have to work with the hand you’re dealt. Nicole Andres has worked as a bartender in the Thurston County … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 3/26/21

Julia Brayshaw and Kevin Head at Priest Point Park in Olympia on March 13, 2021.

Kevin and Julia and the Curse of the Ivy

I met Kevin and Julia on Saturday morning, March 13, at 8:15. We sat at a picnic table near the playground the Southwest section of Priest Point Park. I would call them local heroes. Kind, caring … more

By Denny Hamilton | 3/19/21 | 1 comment