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

The Thurston Conservation District included this wildfire probability map in the South Thurston Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) to identify areas, especially those in dark red, where projects like fuel reduction and defensible space are most needed.

Wildfire plan emerges for south Thurston County

A five-year tally of 305 fire calls, three evacuations and two burns inside a protected wildlife preserve prompted the Thurston Conservation District to confront years of ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 5/30/25 | 4 comments

Inmate allegedly assaults deputy at Thurston County jail

A corrections deputy was allegedly assaulted by an inmate on the morning of Wednesday, May 28, at Thurston County jail. According to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office … more

By Darlanne Cruz | 5/30/25 | 1 comment

The Thurston Regional Housing Council on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, unanimously approved a recommendation, selecting Catholic Community Services to manage the EPRA program.

Housing council selects Catholic Community Services to administer eviction prevention funds

The Thurston Regional Housing Council selected Catholic Community Services (CCS) to manage the Eviction Prevention Rental Assistance (EPRA) program for single ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 5/30/25

Man arrested after alleged attempted break-in at a residence

A 47-year-old man was arrested following an alleged attempted break-in at a home in the 3700 block of Wesley Drive ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 5/30/25

The Thurston Regional Housing Council approved a $5.5 million allocation for the Encampment Resolution Program (ERP) on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

Housing council approves $5.5M for encampment fund, trims some housing services

The Thurston Regional Housing Council approved a $5.5 million allocation for the Encampment Resolution Program (ERP) in the 2025-26 funding cycle ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 5/29/25 | 10 comments

Dashcam screen capture of the suspect's vehicle after colliding with a tree, the suspect can be seen in the street carrying a helmet.

Man arrested following hit-and-run, alleged assault of deputies

A man was arrested on Monday night, May 26 after allegedly fleeing the scene of a hit-and-run crash and assaulting two deputies who attempted to detain him ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 5/29/25

What’s happening this weekend — Olympia Zine Fest, Tumwater Elevate Fair and other festivities

Be creative with art activities, sustainable with environmental events, or hands-on with some workshops in ... more

P. Jade Asumbrado | 5/29/25

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners reviewed the revised land acknowledgment during its Wednesday, May 2, 2025, check-in meeting and reached consensus to share it with the Squaxin Island, Nisqually and Chehalis tribes.

Thurston County’s land acknowledgment revision heads for tribal evaluation

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) stripped the county’s land acknowledgment of a euphemism and rewrote it to be more meaningful and ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 5/28/25 | 13 comments

Early morning car chase ends in arrest, firearm seized

A car chase through west Olympia in the early hours of Saturday, May 24, ended with the arrest of a 34-year-old man and the recovery of a loaded ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 5/28/25 | 2 comments

Since June 2024, Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) has been working with partners on the Martin Way Crossing Strategy. The goal of this project is to make Martin Way safer for all users by identifying 10 locations for crosswalks, the TRPC said.

TRPC seeks public input on Martin Way crosswalk designs by May 31

Residents and business owners have until Saturday, May 31, to share their input on the future of crosswalks along Martin Way through an online survey launched by ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 5/28/25

Home sales fall, median price climbs in April

Single-family home prices climbed and sales retreated in the first full month of spring, amid a backdrop of some of the lowest inventory levels in the ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 5/28/25 | 1 comment

Jennifer Colvin awarded Marty Cheney a belt buckle in thanks for her work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to help get a conservation easement for Colvin Ranch 20 years ago. Cheney was the grazing specialist at NRCS until recently retiring, but still works with the organization sometimes. She helped the Colvins create a grazing plan that is unique to their ranch and herd.

Colvin Ranch celebrates 20th anniversary of conservation easement

Colvin Ranch in Tenino celebrated 20 years of its conservation easement, inviting the community to come together for its annual Ranch Day ... more

By Jessie Darland | 5/27/25 | 1 comment

Housing council to weigh recommendation for administering eviction prevention funds

The Thurston Regional Housing Council is set to review a recommendation to contract with Catholic Community Services (CCS) to administer eviction ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 5/27/25

Damien Egan, left, Lyndy Slyker, Taber Lee and Rich LaRosa all play key roles in the services the Port of Olympia Harbor Patrol provides to the community. They are shown at the port on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

Harbor Patrol fills vital need at Port of Olympia

Volunteering to serve in the Port of Olympia’s Harbor Patrol is a rewarding endeavor, where teamwork and camaraderie are always in ... more

By JM Simpson | 5/26/25 | 2 comments

Sheriff Derek Sanders addressed driving under the influence (DUI) enforcement plans at a BOCC meeting on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

DUI crackdown to expand with $50K grant under Target Zero plan in Thurston County

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) will begin ramping up driving under the influence patrols under a $50,000 interagency grant approved by the ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 5/26/25 | 2 comments

A quick glance toward October

The flowers are blooming. The sky is blue. The birds are chirping. And if you’re a parent of a child in special education, it’s time to prepare for ... more

By Shannon Sankstone | 5/26/25

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners listened to public input on surplus land transfer rules for affordable housing projects at a meeting on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

Locals press for ‘truly affordable’ housing in Thurston County

Public benefit stiffened the policy lines on Tuesday, May 20, as Thurston County officials listened to calls for tenant-first rent protections at a public ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 5/23/25 | 11 comments

Jeff Peterson (right), a Senior Procurement Coordinator at Intercity Transit, briefed the agency’s board of directors on Wednesday, March 21, 2025, about a $15.5 million contract with Avaap USA, Workday Inc., and Trapeze to implement an enterprise resource planning and enterprise asset management system for the agency.

Intercity Transit Authority approves $15.5M contract for new enterprise management system

The Intercity Transit Authority authorized General Manager Emily Bergkamp to sign a $15.5 million contract for the implementation of an enterprise resource planning ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 5/23/25

TCSO is looking for information on a suspect (shown in the photo above), who evaded from authorities after car pursuit.

Suspect flees after police chase, authorities seeking information

Law enforcement agencies from multiple jurisdictions were involved in a vehicle pursuit on Tuesday, May 20, after a suspect in an H3 Hummer attempted to evade ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 5/23/25

Thurston County approves $963K contract for Safe Routes to School Project

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners awarded a $963,246.39 contract to Sterling Breen Crushing of Centralia for the Pleasant Glade ... more

By JC Medina | 5/22/25 | 1 comment