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

Tumwater committee endorses additional spending to connect ERP system with the cloud

The City of Tumwater plans to spend an additional $150,000 annually to connect its enterprise resource planning platform (ERP) to the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 10/3/25

What’s happening this weekend in Thurston County — Harvest Festival, Optimism Walk and more

There are a number of events happening in Thurston County this weekend, including the Harvest Festival and ... more

P. Jade Asumbrado | 10/2/25

A map shows the location of a proposed 24-unit residential development near the southeast end of Tumwater Boulevard in Tumwater.

Concerns raised about proposed 24-unit residential development in Tumwater

A proposed 24-unit residential development in the southeast end of Tumwater Boulevard in Tuwmater was the subject of public hearing on ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 10/1/25 | 6 comments

Tumwater to offer free and safe way to dispose of medicine, electronics and documents

The City of Tumwater is offering a free and safe way to dispose of old electronics, unused medications and sensitive documents at its 'Clean-Up, Drop-Off' event ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 10/1/25 | 2 comments

Among Tumwater’s final choices for the location of its community center is the site of the former Washington State Department of Transportation building on Capitol Boulevard. The property offers 9.72 acres of space and would require the construction of a nearby roundabout.

Tumwater down to 2 sites for community center location

The location of the City of Tumwater’s long-envisioned community center has been narrowed down to ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/29/25 | 3 comments

The Tumwater School District Board of Directors reviewed the 2026–28 School Resource Officer Program agreement with the City of Tumwater at a meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025.

Tumwater School District officials review school resource officer contract

The Tumwater School District Board of Directors are set to adopt an agreement with the City of Tumwater for the 2026–28 School Resource Officer ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 9/29/25 | 1 comment

Tumwater Planning Commission endorses food system plan

The Tumwater Planning Commission recommended the Tumwater City Council adopt a proposed food system ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/26/25

Woman arrested for alleged crime at Walmart in Tumwater

A 25-year-old woman was arrested in connection with a burglary at Walmart in Tumwater. A Tumwater Police Department report states ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 9/23/25

The Trails End Park on 79th Avenue in Tumwater is going to be located adjacent to a planned public works facility at a site where a horse arena once stood.

Tumwater City Council authorizes additional spending for park, roundabout on 79th Avenue

The Tumwater City Council authorized additional spending on the planning of two projects on 79th Avenue — Trails End Park and a roundabout at the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/22/25 | 7 comments

Community members urge Tumwater to pass ordinance requiring energy audits for homes

Local residents urged the Tumwater City Council to pass an ordinance that would require energy score audits for houses being ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/22/25 | 4 comments

Olympic Health and Recovery Services Executive Director John Avalos, left, and Tumwater Fire Department Chief Brian Hurley briefed the Tumwater City Council about an agreement that would allow recovery services to help emergency responders in assisting individuals experiencing behavioral health crisis. The briefing took place at a city council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

Olympic Health & Recovery Services to aid Tumwater Fire Department under new deal

The Tumwater City Council approved a contract with Olympic Health & Recovery Services to support emergency responders in ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/18/25 | 4 comments

Tumwater Planning Commission to hold hearing on food system plan

The Tumwater Planning Commission is going to hold a public hearing on the city’s proposed food system plan on Tuesday ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/17/25 | 3 comments

A chart shows the amount of Tumwater’s land covered by tree canopy in 2020 and 2025. The city’s canopy cover fell to 5,299 acres in 2025 from 5,859 acres in 2020.

Canopy cover drops hundreds of acres in Tumwater

The City of Tumwater lost about 560 acres of canopy cover from 2020 to 2025, according to its 2025 Tree Canopy Assessment ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/17/25 | 2 comments

Tumwater Police Department Chief Jay Mason briefed the Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee about a revised contract for the renewal of the city’s school resource officer program with the Tumwater School District at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.

Committee endorses renewal of school resource officer program in Tumwater

The Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee endorsed a contract to renew a long-standing school resource officer (SRO) program with ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/12/25

Seen facing north, the Davis Meeker Garry oak tree overhangs Old Highway 99 and is adjacent to the northernmost airplane hangar.

City of Tumwater looking for organizations who want saplings of Davis Meeker Garry oak tree

The City of Tumwater is looking for more organizations who want to receive saplings from the Davis Meeker Garry oak tree, according to an update ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/11/25

Tumwater City Administrator Lisa Parks (top left) briefed the city council about an ordinance to establish a communications department at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025.

City of Tumwater establishes communications department

The Tumwater City Council adopted an ordinance establishing a communications department at a meeting on Tuesday ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/8/25 | 2 comments

Communications Manager Jason Wettstein briefed the Tumwater City Council about an ordinance designating the city as a Purple Heart City at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025.

Ordinance establishes Tumwater as Purple Heart City

The Tumwater City Council adopted an ordinance designating the city as a Purple Heart City at a meeting on Tuesday ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/4/25 | 1 comment

The FIFA Seattle Organizing Committee has designated nine fan zones in Washington where people may watch and celebrate World Cup soccer matches. One of the nine fan zones is the “Olympia/Lacey/Thurston County fan zone,” which is being coordinated by the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce.

Tumwater City Council hears about revised funding proposal for FIFA fan zone

A revised funding plan for the FIFA fan zone would lower the financial contributions required from participating ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/4/25 | 7 comments

Man arrested in Tumwater after disturbance, found with stolen vehicle

A 34-year-old man was arrested following a disturbance at an apartment complex on Israel Road SW in ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 9/1/25 | 1 comment

Former Tumwater Mayor Peter Fluetsch dies at 88

Peter Nicholas Fluetsch, the mayor of Tumwater from 1990 to 1993, died on Aug. 16, 2025. He was 88. Fluetsch was born on ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/29/25