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

Proposition No. 1 approved by Tumwater voters in special election

An extension of a sales tax, which the City of Tumwater uses to fund road maintenance projects, drew overwhelming support from voters in a special election on Tuesday, April 22. … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 4/23/25 | 2 comments

Thurston County to celebrate Earth Day with public events

Thurston County will celebrate Earth Day with recycling stations, park cleanups and student-led service projects on ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 4/18/25 | 1 comment

Tumwater City Administrator Lisa Parks (top left) briefed the city council on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, about a resolution that would allocate funds for the preservation of the Davis-Meeker Garry oak tree.

Tumwater adopts resolution funding maintenance of Davis-Meeker tree

The City of Tumwater is ensuring the preservation of the Davis-Meeker Garry oak tree. The Tumwater City Council adopted a resolution on Tuesday, April 15, to allocate up to $55,000 for … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/17/25 | 6 comments

What’s happening this weekend — Earth Day, Easter Egg Dash and other activities

Volunteer at one of the parks in Thurston County for Earth Day or take the kids to collect some eggs at Tumwater’s Easter Egg Dash ... more

4/17/25

Warren Hendrickson, Port of Olympia’s Director of Operations, showed the Port Commission a conceptual rendering of the Sound Commerce Center. Panattoni Development Company intends to develop the 29-acre site for industrial use.

Port of Olympia nears lease deal with Panattoni

The Port of Olympia is weeks away from finalizing a lease agreement with Panattoni Development Company to develop the first parcel of a 200-acre property in the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/16/25 | 4 comments

Acting Tumwater Police Department Chief Jay Mason will officially assume the role of the permanent police chief on July 1, 2025.

Jay Mason named permanent police chief in Tumwater

Jay Mason of the Tumwater Police Department is set to be the permanent police chief. Tumwater Mayor Debbie Sullivan announced at a city council meeting on Tuesday, April 15, that she has … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/16/25 | 3 comments

Some protesters can be seen holding signs inside the audience area of the Tumwater School District Board of Directors meeting. A district representative later said the protesters brought large metal cans with coins under their chairs.

Protesters made noise with cans, banged on windows and forced entry to Tumwater school board meeting

Protesters brought large metal cans, banged on windows and forced their way into the building during the latest meeting of the Tumwater School District Board of Directors. The … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/15/25 | 16 comments

A slide from a presentation by Chris Paolini, the senior manager of Olympia Regional Airport, to the Port of Olympia Commission on March 10, 2025, showed that around 700 feet of pavement at the sound end of the Runway 17-35 will be rehabilitated, as part of a project mostly funded by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Port awards $2.1 million contract to rehabilitate airport runway

The Port of Olympia hired a Tacoma-based construction company to rehabilitate one of the runways at ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/15/25

Public facilities district seeks applicants for two vacancies on board

Applicants are being sought for a pair of vacant, district-wide seats on the Captial Area Regional Public Facilities District Board (CAR-PFD). The applicants are being sought for full terms by … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 4/14/25

Members of the public interrupted the Tumwater School District Board of Directors work session on Thursday, April 10, 2025.

Audience interrupts Tumwater School District Board of Directors meeting with 'repeal, resign, replace' chant

The audience at a Tumwater School District Board of Directors work session chanted “repeal, resign, replace” and “trans rights are human rights” in an effort to interrupt the … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/11/25 | 13 comments

Tumwater Fire Department Chief Brian Hurley (top middle) shared to the city council on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, several updates about the fire department. Hurley discussed call stats and accomplishments from the previous year and goals for 2025.

Tumwater Fire Department reports 2024 call stats

The Tumwater Fire Department reported no significant change in the number of calls received in 2024 compared ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/11/25 | 1 comment

Tumwater Police Department Acting Chief Jay Mason swore in Officer Kasey Steffenhagen on Tuesday afternoon, April 8, 2024.

Tumwater PD welcomes new officer at swearing-in ceremony

The Tumwater Police Department (TPD) welcomed a new member on Tuesday afternoon, April 8, when Kasey Steffenhagen was sworn in. TPD Acting Chief Jay Mason presided over the swearing in … more

By The JOLT News Staff | 4/10/25 | 1 comment

A slide from Dan Smith’s presentation to the Tumwater Public Works Committee on Thursday, April 3, 2025, showed the location of the Velkommen Mobile Home Park on 70th Avenue in Tumwater.

Tumwater, developer work to connect mobile home park with sewer

A mobile home park on 70th Avenue in Tumwater is being converted to the city sewer, and the municipality is helping the developer with the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/9/25 | 5 comments

Patrick Soderberg (top right) of Tumwater’s water resources department, briefed the Public Works Committee on Thursday, April 3, 2025, about a grant agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology to fund the development of a Nutrient Reduction Enhanced Maintenance Plan that will address pollutants in the city’s stormwater system.

Tumwater receives grant to develop plan for reducing pollutants in stormwater runoff

The City of Tumwater has received a state grant to address pollutants in its stormwater system. The Tumwater Public Works Committee endorsed a grant agreement with the Washington ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/8/25 | 2 comments

Registration deadline looms for April 22 special election in Tumwater

The voter registration deadline is less than a week away for certain registrations and updates for the April 22 special election in the ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 4/8/25

Tumwater’s 28th Annual Egg Dash and “Where’s the Peep?” virtual contest returns on April 14-19, 2025.

Tumwater annual Easter Egg Dash, 'Where’s the Peep?' virtual contest returns next week

The Tumwater Parks & Recreation Department is holding the 28th annual Egg Dash and “Where’s the Peep?” virtual contest next week. The Egg Dash will be held at the … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/8/25

A discussion during the Tumwater City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, April 1, touched on a proposed Swire facility and the council’s role in land use designations.

Proposed Swire facility in Tumwater raises concerns

A proposed facility at Olympia Regional Airport for Swire, a Coca-Cola bottler, raised concerns among members of the Tumwater City Council about their oversight over ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/4/25 | 7 comments

A map shows where underground utility work will take place in Tumwater from April 7-11.

Underground utility work to cause traffic lane restrictions in Tumwater

Motoring around certain parts of Tumwater will be a little more challenging next week because of underground utility work. The work is planned for Monday, April 7, through Friday, April 11, along … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 4/4/25

Auditor’s Office mails ballots to Tumwater voters

The Thurston County Auditor’s Office announced on Wednesday, April 2, that it has distributed more than 18,000 ballots to Tumwater voters for ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/4/25

The Tumwater Budget and Finance Committee met on Friday, March 28, 2025, to discuss an ordinance that would expand the delegated authority given to the mayor and department directors.

Tumwater committee reviews ordinance expanding delegated authority of mayor, department directors

The City of Tumwater is working to update and expand the delegated authority given to the mayor and ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/3/25 | 3 comments