By Danny Stusser
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Thu., June 17, 2021
Q: Blumauer Road (it means something close to "from the blue meadow") is a real place in Thurston County. But where is it?
A: a) South of Tenino
Blumauer Road is named for brothers Isaac and Solomon Blumauer, who in around 1900 set up a sawmill about a mile and a half south of Tenino, just east of the intersection of Crowder and Blumauer Roads, at the bottom of what some people still call Blumauer Hill.
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Wed., June 16, 2021
Q: Coffee News, the fun little two-page newspaper we used to see in restaurants, was published every week in Thurston County for 15 years, from January 2005 until March 2020. What was the name of its mascot?
A: It was, of course, c) Little Bill.
The name "Little Bill" was a double entendre. You could think of him as a cheery tubby deliverer of happy news or, if your business advertised in Coffee News, the words "little bill" meant "small invoice."
How do we at The JOLT know so much about Little Bill? He used to be ours; we were the publishers of Coffee News in Thurston, Mason, Lewis and Grays Harbor counties.
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Tue., June 15, 2021
Q: Where is the only place in Thurston County where you can watch fudge being made and buy some to eat as soon as it cools?
A: It's b) Downtown Tenino -- at Aunt Kate's Chocolates at 296 Sussex Ave W.
Limited hours, so check first. Worth the drive, in our humble opinion.
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Mon., June 14, 2021
TRUE or FALSE
There was an effort begun in 2018 to create a new flag for the City of Olympia.
A: TRUE!
Lariat Creative, a regional design firm featuring the work of artist Bradley James Lockhart, submitted three designs to the city. See them here.
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Fri., June 11, 2021
TRUE or FALSE?
In 2010, Johnson's Smokehouse & Sausage, Western Meats, Stewart's Meat Market and Home Meat Service, all local producers of beef and other jerkys gathered together to establish the South Sound Jerky Competition and invited home jerky makers to offer their best samples to local judges.
A: False!
But a man can dream, can't he?
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Wed., June 9, 2021
Q: What year did Buck's Spices open, and which of the following is not among their formulary of unique, locally produced rubs and blends?
A: Anne Buck, of blessed memory, opened the store in c) 1973. Chinook Seafood Blend is a real product, but we can't tell you when it started.
African Curry is another real product, but Pocket Gopher Red-Eye Rub is not. (But Cajun Red-Eye Rub is.)
The Buck's Spices and Gourmet Pantry store is around the corner from the Washington Center for the Performing Arts at 209 5th Avenue, in the Buck's Fifth Avenue building. Actually, since Buck's was there first, the Washington Center is around the corner from it.
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Tue., June 8, 2021
Q: How many votes did Donald Duck receive in the 2012 primary election for Thurston County Treasurer?
A: c) 14
In that same election, Donald Trump received one vote for Thurston County Treasurer.
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Mon., June 7, 2021
Q: Where in Thurston County is Oklahoma Street?
A: It's in b) Lacey, in a newer development of homes off of Yelm Highway, near Balustrade Blvd., along the south edge of the city.
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Fri., June 4, 2021
Q: How long has it been since a black bear attacked a human in Washington state?
A: The correct answer is b) Been 11 years since the last one. John Chelminiak, then a member of Bellevue's city council and now its mayor, was attacked and lost an eye.
If you thought the answer was, c) 40 years ago, note that this was the most recent fatal attack, according to this article.
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Thu., June 3, 2021
Q: What's significant in Thurston County about The Boldt Decision?
A: a, b and d.
Not c!
a) Following it, Washington and other state governments finally lived up to parts of the 1854 Treaty of Medicine Creek, to which the Nisqually Indian Tribe was a party.
b) It reaffirmed that local Indian tribes are entitled to "a fair share" (up to 50 percent) of the fish in public waters, and all of the fish in waters inside tribal lands.
d) It ended the arrests of Indian people fishing in the Nisqually and other rivers.
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Wed., June 2, 2021
The Nisqually Land Trust was established in 1989 "to acquire and manage critical lands to permanently benefit the water, wildlife, and people of the Nisqually River Watershed."
Q: How many acres of land does The Nisqually Land Trust now own in total, and how many were added in 2019?
A: According to two different pages on their website, the answer is:
c) 7,736 acres, 181 acres
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Tue., June 1, 2021
Q: Capital City Pride was formed to host what was (before the pandemic) an annual Pride Festival in Olympia. In what year was the first event?
A: b) 1991 -- eight years before the event became recognized nationally. Get an early word about this year's events, gone virtual, at the Capital City Pride website.
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Mon., May 31, 2021
Q: When did the Olympia Police Department take on its first motor officer (who worked his patrol using a motorcycle?
A: c) 1912
Surprised? We were, too. But there's a photo of Officer Fred Koepkey on page 190 of Thurston County - Water, Woods & Prairies. No helmet, though.
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Fri., May 28, 2021
Q: What was the original name given by white settlers to Grand Mound?
A: It was c) Mt. Vernon
Technically, according to those who can say such things technically, with a peak at 125 feet above the nearby prairie, the actual grand mound is the tallest of the Mima Mounds.
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Thu., May 27, 2021
Q: What or who was Gull Harbor named for?
A: c) pigeon guillemots -- but maybe also b) seagulls.
It seems there was a flock of pigeon guillemots that nested along the cliffs opposite what became Gull Harbor and these birds enjoyed the oyster beds on both sides of Budd Inlet. Turns out, the pigeon guillemots are a member of the auk family, only distantly related to seagulls.
This from Thurston County Place Names, published in 1992 by Thurston County Historic Commission.
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Wed., May 26, 2021
Since it's National Strawberry Month, and strawberries can be grown anywhere in Thurston County, then which of these are TRUE or FALSE?
A: They're all FALSE!
a) Ripe, local strawberries are in grocery stores and backyard gardens right now!
Nope. Spooner Farms is promising to open in June, as they have for the past 30 years.
b) The annual Strawberry Festival just happened again. (Did you miss it?)
Nope! The 85th Annual Strawberry Festival at the South Bay Grange is set for Sat., June 19, 2021 from 10am - 3pm. Local vendors, entertainment, and family-friendly activities and strawberry delights.
c) Ila's Foods got an early start on their famous Razzle Dazzle Christmas Jam.
Nope! Too early.
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Tue., May 25, 2021
The Washington State Senior Games are ON for July 23-25, 2021 -- and they're always hosted around Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater.
Q: Approximately how many participants did the Washington State Senior Games attract in 2019, the last year it was held?
A: c) "almost 2,000"
A few of the events are canceled again this year, due to COVID-19 concerns, but there are 18 that continue, including "Cowboy-Action Shooting" and other more conventional sports.
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Mon., May 24, 2021 -- no trivia
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Fri., May 21, 2021
Q: How many craft distilleries are there in Thurston County today?
A: b) 6. They are:
- Heritage Distilling Company
- Talking Cedar
- Salish Sea Organic Liquors
- Sandstone Distillery
- Shoebox Spirits
- Spurgeon Creek Distillery
By the way, if you guessed that answer to be c) 20 or 21, you were probably including breweries, wineries, cideries and meaderies. And you'd be close.
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Thu., May 20, 2021
American Red Cross of South Puget Sound and Olympics serves Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, & Thurston.
TRUE or FALSE
Q: The Red Cross collects blood donations in all these counties EXCEPT Thurston.
A: Sort of TRUE.
Through a historical agreement with what is now known as Bloodworks Northwest, which has had blood-donation operations here before the Red Cross got into that line of service, the Red Cross generally avoids competing for donations in Thurston and Pierce Counties.
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Wed., May 19, 2021
Q: Is it against the law to own a dog or cat in Thurston County and not buy a license for it?
A: What? Did you think this was Texas? The answer is:
c) Absolutely. And the fines are much higher than the license fees.
From the law: “It is unlawful for any person to own, keep, or have control of any dog in the county (or dog and cat in the city) unless the person has procured a license therefor.” The fine for not licensing your pet is $103 in Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater, and $52 in unincorporated Thurston County.
Licenses? The annual cost ranges from $8.00 for a spayed or neutered cat outside of the cities named in JOLT to $28.00 for an intact (you know, not spayed or neutered) dog in O, L or T.
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Tue., May 18, 2021 -- FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE JOLT
Q: What does the color purple in The JOLT's logo represent?
A: Could be that all three are true. But the official answer is, of course, b.
a) Nothing much. It's just a nice color.
b) It represents the mixing of colors blue and red, often associated with political parties, indicating that The JOLT is about bringing facts and ideas to a wide range of people from various perspectives.
c) It was the original color of Thurston County's seal when stamped on official documents.
Bigger question is, what double meanings do the other colors carry? For the answer, see the sidebar to this story.
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Mon., May 17, 2021
Q: What was the second largest community in Thurston County in 1909, with approximately 1,000 residents?
A: It was c) Tenino .
It's almost doubled in population since!
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Fri., May 14, 2021
Q: How many separate organizations are listed on The Crisis Clinic's Community Services List?
A: c) 166 -- and that's just the Thurston County list. There is a separate list for Mason County. The lists are updated at least twice a year, according to their staff.
Thurston County list -- English, one page
Thurston County list -- Spanish
Mason County list -- English, one page
Mason County list -- Spanish
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Thu., May 13, 2021
Q: Where is Susan Lake? For extra credit, to which river does it drain?
A: c. Olympia, northwest of Munn Lake, drains to the Deschutes River
It's 3.5 acres with a maximum (seasonal) depth of 15 feet. It merges with Munn Lake when the water's high.
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Wed., May 12, 2021
Q: Where is Athens Beach?
A: b) Cooper Point, east side near the tip.
Would you believe there used to be a college up there? More on that soon.
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Tue., May 11, 2021
Q: The Olympia Salvation Army feeds people at their Community Kitchen in downtown Olympia, which they operate with Catholic Community Services. About how many meals do they feed people here each year?
A: They report that they provided c) 120,000 meals last year.
Want to know how you might help? Contact the "Olympia Corps" via their website.
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Mon, May 10, 2021
Q: The Mima Prairie is home to the Mima mounds. What does Mima mean?
A: Two sources report that it's a word from a local Native language that means c) "The land beyond" -- an alternative meaning is "a little further along."
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Fri., May 7, 2021
Q: How long is the longer (of the two) runways at Olympia Regional Airport?
A: It's c) 5,500 feet long.
That's long enough to land some jets! But not a 747.
BTW, the shorter runway? 4,157 feet.
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Thu., May 6, 2021
Q: Interfaith Works, the nonprofit organization that's a joint effort between various faith organizations, is known for several of its programs including its Emergency Overnight Shelter in downtown Olympia that serves people who are homeless.
How many local churches, temples, synagogues, mosques and other organizations make up its membership?
A: a) 30.
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Wed., May 5, 2021
Question is in honor of both National Day of Prayer and National Day of Reason, tomorrow.
Q: How many churches, mosques, gurdwaras, synagogues, temples, meetinghouses and secular communities are there in Thurston County and how many are profiled in The JOLT's Religion Guide?
A: Well, could be b) 77 and 60, or more likely, c) TBD and 60. To be sure, there are 60 communities profiled in The JOLT's Religion Directory, which includes listings that are sparse (minimal information) and full -- with cooperation from the congregation profiled. All show addresses and maps, if possible.
This is as much a trivia question as an invitation to check to see if your favorite community is listed. If it's not, please contact us using the form at the top of EVERY page in The JOLT and we'll get you fixed up. Same request if yours is included but the information needs freshening up.
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Tue., May 4, 2021
TRUE or FALSE:
South Sound Behavioral Hospital, which opened in Lacey in 2019, offers FREE mental health assessments, 24 hours each day.
A: True.
Just call 1-844-949-8888 toll-free.
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Mon., May 3, 2021
TRUE or FALSE. There is only one agency that trains and licenses foster parents in Thurston County, and that's DSHS.
Answer: False, and FALSE!
First, DSHS was split up a couple of years ago. The state department that administers the foster care system is called DCYF -- Department of Children, Youth & Families. It's a separate, cabinet-level agency.
Next, while DCYF continues to license foster families, it also has agreements with several non-profit agencies around the state to assist in this important work.
In Thurston County, there are (at least) three places for families considering foster care to go:
Department of Children, Youth & Families
Community Youth Services - This Olympia-based organization specializes in working with teenagers.
Catholic Community Services of Western Washington - You don't have to be Catholic to participate with this agency. The Thurston County site mentions adoption; the agency also licenses foster families.
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Fri., April 30, 2021
TRUE or FALSE
In the City of Tenino, if the dangerous dog of an owner with a prior conviction under this chapter attacks or bites a person or another domestic animal, the dog's owner is guilty of a class C felony, punishable in accordance with RCW 9A.20.021.
But in Olympia and Tumwater it's a misdemeanor.
A: It's TRUE! The same situation that's a felony in Tenino is treated more gently in O and T. In Yelm, Rainier and Lacey the law does not specify the level of severity the violation of a dangerous-dog bite would be. Our lawyer friends suggest that this leaves it up to the discretion of the court.
All of the cities have language that defines "dangerous dog."
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Thu., April 29, 2021
Q: Just how many active-duty military personnel have been living in Thurston County during each of the years 2015-2019 (and likely still today)?
A: a) 4,105. This number comes from the Thurston Regional Planning Council.
But that's not the whole story. That number represents the number of active-duty members, not their spouses or children or other dependents (such as aging parents). And it doesn't include retired military or -- it's their term -- ex-"military brats." That number is closer to c) 41,105, according to our informal estimate.
P.S. If you're reading this in the future, out of context, please note that it's Military Brats Day tomorrow.
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Wed., April 28, 2021
Q: Apart from the 3,728 hardcover and softcover volumes of poetry available right this minute, FREE, from the Timberland Regional Library, how many "eBooks" and "eAudiobooks" of poetry are available for checkout online from TRL?
A: Did you guess b) 617 and 225? Or did you look it up right here on trl.org?
Of course, these books are spread around 27 libraries. But if there's a title you want that isn't in your favorite local library, the system will pick it up in Raymond and bring it to Tumwater. Or collect it in Belfair and bring it to Lacey. That service is free, too, paid for from local property taxes.
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Tue., April 27, 2021
Q: As of yesterday (April 26) at midnight, according to the Washington State Dept. of Health, how many cases of the you-know-what virus has Thurston County experienced?
A: b) 8,774 total cases, 550 hospitalizations, 91 deaths.
Oh. These numbers: c) 4,225 total cases, 310 hospitalizations, 62 deaths -- are for Lewis County.
Here is the official website, updated daily, from the DOH.
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Mon., April 26, 2021
The Grange Movement, which assisted farmers in several ways, began nationally in 1867, two years before Washington statehood.
Q: The first Grange in Thurston County was established _________ the national movement?
A: a) before
According to Sharon Mathews, writing in the book titled, Thurston County Water, Woods & Prairies, the first Grange in Thurston County "was Olympia #10, organized by Oregon State Master Daniel Clark, on January 27, 1874."
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Fri., April 23, 2021
There are weeds, and then there are noxious weeds. Thurston County has an official list of 40 of the noxious kind.
True or False
Q: Thurston County has a List of Four Superbad Weeds that it won't dispose of for free.
A: Matter of fact, yes, it's true.
These four plants are so invasive, so insidious, so obnoxious that the county has prepared a special sheet with pessimistic advice about what to do with them. The title is: Bad Weeds. In case you missed it, here's another link to get it!
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Thu., April 22, 2021
Q: Using statistics from 2019, how many adults in Thurston County are estimated to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer?
(Hint: The entire county's population was estimated at 290,536.)
A: It's c) 11,814. This is based on the following math:
290,536 minus 63,337 people under age 18 (21.2%) = 227,199 adults
According to the Movement Advancement Project, a Gallup poll estimates that 5.2% of adults in Washington state "identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender." The number might be higher or lower because it is based on a statewide estimate rather than a county-specific measurement.
227,199 times 5.2% = 11,814.
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Wed., April 21, 2021
Q: Which member of the founding faculty at The Evergreen State College is credited as "one of the originators of the Earth Day concept"?
A: Well, the answer is B. Here's more:
a) Thom McCann -- Nope. Were you thinking of Charles McCann, the school's first president? (Dr. McCann passed away in July 2020.) Maybe you were looking at the ground and recalled Thom McAn shoes?
b) José Argüelles -- Bingo! Argüelles was also "Father of the Whole Earth Festival” and stayed at Evergreen for several years before moving to other universities. He died in 2011, having authored or co-authored 10 books that were published during his lifetime and several others that weren't. He taught art history, philosophy and other topics harder to classify. He was a peace and environmental activist, too.
c) Ira Einhorn -- Nope, and no association with TESC, either. But was involved with what was called the first Earth Day events in Philadelphia, in 1970. He murdered his ex-girlfriend and tried to fully compost her body. Long story. Heard of the Unicorn Killer? That guy.
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Fri., April 16, 2021
True or False: Garlic doesn't grow in Thurston County.
Answer: FALSE! Several farms in Thurston County produce their own garlic, including some that offer it in their community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs.
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Thu., April 15, 2021
Q: Miller's, Mottman's, M.M. Morris. What are or were these?
A: Did you know? a) They were department stores in Olympia that operated from the early to middle 20th century.
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No Thurston County Trivia for a week!
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Wed., April 7, 2021
Q: How many restaurants or specialty retailers sell empanadas in Thurston County?
A: The answer? Really? It's c) 0.
Zero places to get an empanada in Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater or Yelm! We searched for them recently and were sadly disappointed.
This is one of those trivia answers we hope we got wrong. If you know of a place that makes empanadas, or even sells those made not-too-far away, please let us know.
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Tue., April 6, 2021
Q: Not counting home hobbyists, how many breweries are operating now in Thurston County?
A: There are b) 12. These include:
- Fish Brewing, Olympia
- Headless Mumby Brewing Company, Olympia
- Hoh River Brewing, Tumwater
- Matchless Brewing, Tumwater
- McMenamin's Spar Cafe, Olympia
- Scatter Creek Winery & Brewery, Tenino
- Singing Hops Brewing Company, Tumwater
- Talking Cedar Brewing, Rochester
- Triceratops Brewing Company, Tumwater
- Three Magnets Brewing, Olympia
- Top Rung Brewing Co., Lacey
- Well 80 Brewhouse, Olympia
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Mon., April 5, 2021
Q: What is Red Zone Talk?
A: It's c) Thurston County's only weekly high-school sports radio program -- every Friday morning from 8 - 9 on KGY Radio, 95.3 FM (simulcast HD Radio 96.9 HD2, if you have one). Noel Wall and Dave Weber seem to know everything about every team and player and sport in the South Sound.
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Fri., April 2, 2021
Q: What's so special about Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls?
A: There's plenty that's special about the park -- we didn't even mention the Deschutes River and the waterfall. But the answer is:
a) It has an aquarium-like fish hatchery, free and open to the public.
and
b) It's 99% ADA-accessible
Turns out that c), Centennial rose garden has 230 plants in 60+ varieties, is not a correct answer, because it's not in the park. It's a few hundred feet away at the Schmidt House, also owned and maintained by the Olympia Tumwater Foundation. And also open to the public at no charge.
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Thu., April 1, 2021
Q: Which of the following local organizations and agencies support adults with autism in Thurston County?
A: Of course, the answer is c):
- The ARC of Washington
- Career Quest
- Centerforce
- EFI (Exceptional Foresters, Inc.)
- Kokua Services
- Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging
- Morningside
- Planning the Next Steps
- Special Olympics of Thurston County
- Thurston County Public Health and Social Services
- Vadis
- Wash. State Dept. of Social and Health Services Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Wash. State Dept. of Social and Health Services
All in all, these organizations make Thurston County a hospitable place for adults who experience autism as well as other developmental disabilities.
If your organization supports adults with disabilities in Thurston County, and we neglected to mention it, please both excuse the error and contact us to let us know who you are and what you do.
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Tue., March 30, 2021
True or False:
In Tumwater you can eat in a full-size red wagon.
A: It's true! You can have a hamburger, or a "Philly Cheese" at Red Wagon Burgers, at the southwest corner of Old Hwy 99 at Tumwater Boulevard. But there's no Radio Flyer wagon there.
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Mon., March 29, 2021
Q: Where is the Chambers Prairie Post Office?
A: It's next door to where it was when it first opened in 1917, that is: a) on Rich Road at 83rd Ave SE.
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Fri., March 26, 2021
Q: How many Jewish temples and synagogues are there in Thurston County?
A: Reminds me of an old joke: What do you get when you ask two Jews a question? Three answers!
Anyway, the answer to this question is c) 4.
Like with the old joke above, many Jews would argue that there are only three: Temple Beth Hatfiloh in downtown Olympia, Congregation B'nai Torah in north Olympia, and The Chabad Jewish Center of Olympia (which is actually in Tumwater). There is a fourth synagogue, but it's open only during the summers, at a Jewish youth camp in Thurston County.
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Thu., March 25, 2021
Q: Where was the original St. Peter Hospital built in Thurston County?
A: It was opened in 1887 -- c) On what is now the state Capitol Campus.
The Sherman Street building wasn't built for another 35 years or so.
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Wed., March 24, 2021
Q: Yelm is the fastest-growing city in Thurston County. What percent growth did it experience from 2010 to 2019?
A: Would you believe that it's c) 38%?
The 2010 population was 6,848 and the projected 2019 population was 9,456. You can look it up here if you don't believe it!
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Mon., March 22, 2021
Q: Using the American Diabetes Association's estimates, how many people in Thurston County are estimated to have diabetes and don't know it?
A: Don't be surprised that the answer is: c) 6,400 -- that's about a quarter of the people who have diabetes. If you've made it to this point and haven't done the online self-assessment, here's a link to it.
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Fri., March 19, 2021
Q: How many marriage licenses were issued by Thurston County in 2019, the most recent year for which this data is available?
A: In 2019 there were b) 1,765 licenses issued. If you thought it was c) 1,924, well, that was for 2018.
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Thu., March 18, 2021
Q: How many chickens are you allowed to raise on your own residential property in unincorporated Thurston County, Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater, respectively?
A: The answer, not too complicated, is: c) 5 or 20 or more, 10, 10, 5 or 9 or more.
But don't take our word for it! Here are links to each jurisdiction's publications.
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Wed., March 17, 2021
True or False: The first time the Tenino Chamber of Commerce issued its own wooden money, in 1931, legal challenges carried the issue all the way to the United States Supreme Court.
Answer: False!
There were no legal challenges. But there were few transactions, either! Only $40 of the $10,308 in scrip, denominated at $ .25 per piece, were ever redeemed, according to Thurston County Water, Woods & Prairies.
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Tuesday, March 16, 2021
St. Patrick's Day Trivia
True or False: That corned beef many people in America eat on St. Patrick's Day? It's not really an Irish thing, at least not in Ireland!
Answer: TRUE!
The corned beef [American] "Irish immigrants ate was much different than that produced in Ireland 200 years prior," according to Smithsonian Magazine. Turns out, it's Jewish food!
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Friday, March 12, 2021
K9 Arlo joined the Thurston County Sheriff's Office in 2019.
Q: Counting Arlo, how many K9 units does the TSCO currently have?
A: b) 4
With Arlo retiring, there will be only three dogs supporting police agencies in Thurston County. More on this topic soon.
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Thursday, March 11, 2021
Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors are all Girl Scouts, and they all sell cookies this time of year.
Q: What is the price of a box of Girl Scout Cookies in 2021?
A: The price of any of the eight varieties is still b) $5 per box.
What with the COVID-19 pandemic, Girl Scouts has gone high tech and low touch. Here's a page that will connect you with just the right girl for your location. From that link you'll be able to choose from no-contact home delivery, shipping or making a donation of a box to a member of the US military.
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Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Washington state has the sixth highest percentage of pet owners in the US, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, with 62.7% of households owning at least one (back in 2011, at least). That's according to dogtime.com.
So with about 110,000 households in Thurston County, one would figure how many dogs and cats we've got here, right? That would be about 69,000 kitties and puppies, right?
Q: According to The Joint Animal Services Commission (JASCOM), how many pet licenses are currently active in Thurston County?
A: a) 12,732
Judging by this number, Thurston is a county of scofflaws when it comes to pet licenses.
"It's not illegal to own a dog or cat that is not licensed; however it does violate city and county codes to not have your pet licensed. The most you might get is a citation fining you for not having your pet licensed," according to Sarah Hock, executive director of JASCOM.
"But a license is very important!," she added. "It helps us find owners when dogs or cats become lost. Without a license or microchip the chances of a returning home are reduced greatly!"
Licensing fees also help pay for some of JASCOM's operating costs so, one might argue, it's only fair that pet owners should buy licenses, right? It's not hard: Here's a link.
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Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Q: TRUE or FALSE?
Membership in the League of Women Voters of Thurston County is open to women only.
A: False!
Anyone can join -- and gift memberships are available, too.
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Monday, March 8, 2021
Q: What happened to Billy Frank, Jr. when he was 14 years old that set him on the path he followed his entire life?
A: The answer is: c) Arrested by Washington state law enforcement. Specifically, arrested in 1945 for fishing in the Nisqually River by officers of what was then called the Washington State Fish and Game Dept. Despite the Medicine Creek Treaty of 1846, which was to have guaranteed Indians certain rights to fish in those waters, Frank was arrested more than 50 times for fishing. The 1975 Boldt Decision, in the U.S. vs. Washington case, finally restored the tribes' rights.
The arrests did not disqualify Frank from military service; he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1952-54.
By the way, the answer, b) House burned down, is a partly accurate answer, too. In "about 1940, when Billy Frank, Jr. would have been about nine years old, the family left home for a couple of days and returned to find the house had burned to the ground. They assumed it was arson.
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Fri., Mar. 5, 2021
Q: What are, or were, Independence, Gate and Bordeaux?
A: c) Ghost towns in south-west Thurston County
These are several others, too.
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Thu., Mar. 4, 2021
Q: In 2016, the most recent year from which numbers are available, what percent of age-eligible Thurston County residents did NOT have a current screening for colorectal cancer?
A: c) 30%
That's about one in three adults over age 50. Most people in this population received their formal educations in years before simple screening procedures were developed, so many remain unaware of the options.
"Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening in Washington" is a poster that describes age requirements and testing options.
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Wed., Mar. 3, 2021
Q: What's the name of the mascot at North Thurston High School?
a) Roy
b) Ram
c) He doesn't have a name, but he is purple.
A: Depending on how you consider mascots, both b) and c), above, are correct.
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Tue., Mar. 2, 2021
Q: What is the name of the 60-mile-long loop around Thurston County that leads tourists (both resident and visiting) to more than 30 producers of produce, candy, distilled spirits, brewed beverages, art and fun?
A: It's c) Thurston Bountiful Byway. Here's a link to the part of Experience Olympia & Beyond's website that tells you more about each stop.
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Q: Which is bigger, Tumwater or Lacey?
A: Surprise! It's b) Tumwater.
In terms of geographic size, Tumwater's 17.76 square miles is .1 larger than Lacey's 17.66 square miles.
Note that these are moving targets; both cities have annexed neighboring parcels recently.
If you were going by population, Lacey's is approximately double that of Tumwater. But that wouldn't have been an interesting trivia question, would it?
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Fri., Feb. 26, 2021
The US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mandates that every county count its people experiencing homelessness each year. The result is called the PIT (Point in Time) Report. The most recent report available is for data collected in January 2020.
Q: How many homeless individuals were counted in the 2020 PIT in Thurston County?
A: The 2020 report shows c) 995 individuals.
But a) 800 was correct for 2019 and b) 835 was the number in 2018. No matter how you cut it, the numbers are up, for a variety of reasons. That's why we recommend reading the
and participating in the
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Thu., Feb. 25, 2021
Thurston County's population at the end of 2019 was estimated at 290,536 by the US Census Bureau.
Q: How many people in Thurston County are age 85 plus?
A: This many: c) 5,369
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Wed., Feb. 24, 2021
True or False?
There is an official recipe for clam chowder from the State of Washington.
A: True.
The Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife offers this recipe.
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Tue., Feb. 23, 2021
Several restaurants here in Thurston County make their own from-scratch tortilla chips. Several others make their own from-scratch clam chowder.
Q: Are there any restaurants that make both?
A: No.
We checked!
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Mon., Feb. 22, 2021
Q: What species inspired creation of the Thurston County Noxious Weed Control Board?
A: It's a) Tansy ragwort.
But Japanese knotweed certainly deserves its own brigade.
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Fri., Feb. 19, 2021
Q: Merritt D. Long headed four state agencies. Which of the following did he not lead?
A: c) Legislative Ethics Board
He lead a) Liquor Control Board, b) Human Rights Commission, as well as the Lottery and the Commission for Vocational Education.
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Thu., Feb. 18, 2021
Q: How many miles of saltwater shoreline does Thurston County have?
A: Saltwater? That's also called "marine" shoreline. Answer is a) 116 miles, including all the nooks and crannies of bays and marinas.
The other two numbers are also relevant: There are b) 221 linear miles of stream shoreline, too. And adding in the 131 miles of lakeshore (on 38 lakes that the county is counting) there are c) 468 miles of shoreline in total.
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Wed., Feb. 17, 2021
Q: What is the name of Tumwater's historical museum?
A: It's b) Brewmaster's House ...
.... formerly known as c) Henderson House.
If this were JEOPARDY!, probably both answers would be correct. Sometime after 2014, according to Tumwater's website, the "Tumwater Historic Commission recommended the house be renamed as the Brewmaster's House to honor its purpose and significance in the community."
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Tue., Feb. 16, 2021
Average snowfall throughout Washington is 15.57 inches per year.
Q: What is the average snowfall in Thurston County?
A: It's only a) 3.87 inches!
We're ahead of quota for 2021. And we're searching for the data to prove a point made casually in an essay -- that Thurston County is receiving less snow most years than in the previous year.
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Mon., Feb. 15, 2021
Q: What date is the latest in a year that snow has fallen on Thurston County?
A: It was c) April 23, 1955.
Not that we're likely to see snow that late into the spring this year. Why not? Come back tomorrow and we'll tell you.
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Fri., Feb. 12, 2021
Q: What is the motto of the Woman's Club of Olympia?
A: It is a) We look for unity, but unity in diversity.
Still relevant, huh?
In case you're wondering about the others:
b) Tots units fem força -- means "All together we are strong" and is the motto of FC (football club) Barcelona. The language is Catalan, still spoken in northeast Spain, and is derived from "Vulgar Latin."
c) Keep us, O G-d, from pettiness -- is the first line of a poem written by Abigail Stuart, founder of the Woman's Club of Olympia, which is said to be recited at the start of each meeting.
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Thu., Feb. 11, 2021
The United States Veterans Administration keeps track of where veterans are living around the world, including sorts by state, territory or country.
The population of Thurston County in 2020 is approximately 290,000.
Q: How many veterans were living in Thurston County as of Sept. 30, 2020?
A: c) 31,670 That's about 11 percent, or about 50% above an average county.
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Wed., Feb. 10, 2021
According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, from 2000 and 2015, the USPTO granted utility patents to inventors residing in 38 of 39 Washington state counties.
During those years, Thurston County's population was approximately 1.25 times that of the combined population of it's rural neighbors: Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, and Pacific Counties.
Q: From 2000 through 2015, patents issued to Thurston County inventors were
A: c) More than double those granted to inventors in these neighboring counties.
Actually, Thurston County inventions and inventors were granted NEARLY FOUR TIMES the number of patents during that period.
Thurston County: 1,164
Mason County: 150
Grays Harbor County: 144
Lewis County: 97
Pacific County: 16
Combined, the smaller county's numbers total 407. Neener neener neener, Highclimbers, Bobcats, Seagulls and Tiggers!
CORRECTION: 2/12/21 - We have corrected the combined number of patents granted in the smaller counties. The correct total is 407. Thanks to a sharp reader for point out this minor embarrassment.
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DanaMadsen
Way to go, Danny! By publicizing this letter, you'll no doubt inspire members of the current Cancel Culture to want to change the name of the County as Thurston will no longer be "acceptable."
Saturday, January 16, 2021 Report this