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

The Tumwater School District Board of Directors held the first reading of policies regarding students with disabilities, telecommunication device usage and school visitors at a meeting on Aug. 27, 2026.

Tumwater school board reviews policies on disabilities, phone usage and school visits

The Tumwater School District Board of Directors held the first reading on policies that safeguard students with disabilities, manage school ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 9/4/26

The Tumwater School District Board of Directors adopted the district’s 2026-27 budget and interfund loan resolutions at a meeting on Aug. 27, 2026.

Tumwater School District board adopts budget, interfund loan resolution for 2026-27 cycle

The Tumwater School District Board of Directors approved a budget and $1.5 million interfund loan for the 2026-27 school ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 9/1/26

Crews are currently working to build the walls around a new larger culvert in Percival Creek at Sapp Road in Tumwater.

Committee recommends additional spending for Sapp Road culvert in Tumwater

The Tumwater Public Works Committee has recommended increasing the budget for a culvert currently being built in Percival Creek at ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/26/26

Carrie Gillum, the lead for the City of Tumwater's Drinking Water Program, showed a map of the city’s production and monitoring wells to the city council on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026.

Tumwater Water Resources & Sustainability Department shares its efforts to conserve water

Representatives from the Tumwater Water Resources & Sustainability Department recently shared water conservation efforts in the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/24/26 | 1 comment

Representatives of the Thurston Conservation District delivered a presentation to the Tumwater City Council  about their programs and a proposal to increase rates at a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2026.

Thurston Conservation District asks Tumwater for support in effort to increase rates

The Thurston Conservation District turned to the Tumwater City Council for support as it seeks to increase ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/21/26 | 7 comments

Tumwater City Hall is located at 555 Israel Road in Tumwater.

City of Tumwater signing up for state workplace giving program

The City of Tumwater is signing up for the state of Washington's Combined Fund Drive workplace giving ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/20/26

Energize Thurston is now in its second year.

Discounted heat pump program enters second year in Thurston County

Energize Thurston, the heat pump campaign for Thurston County, Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, is now in ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 8/18/26

The veterinary staff at Pasado’s Safe Haven.

JASCOM hears plan for new low-cost spay and neuter clinic in Tumwater

Thurston County pet owners are expected to have another low-cost option for spay and neuter services before the end of the ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 8/17/26 | 4 comments

The Port of Olympia netted $103,011 in the first half of 2026 after general and administrative costs and depreciation.

Olympia Regional Airport’s non-aviation segments key to profit margin

Olympia Regional Airport’s portion of the business that deals with real estate properties helped keep it profitable in the first half of ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/17/26 | 3 comments

A presentation to the Tumwater City Council on March 7, 2023, showed the old 5-foot diameter culvert on Percival Creek under Sapp Road and an image of a larger culvert to replace the old structure.

Wider culvert installed at Percival Creek under Sapp Road in Tumwater

A new culvert has been installed at Percival Creek under Sapp Road in Tumwater, the city said in an update on ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/12/26 | 1 comment

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

Davis Meeker Garry oak tree removal case ends

A lawsuit against Tumwater that started two years ago as a way to prevent former Mayor Debbie Sullivan from removing the historic Davis Meeker ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/10/26 | 5 comments

Tumwater Administrative Services Director Michelle Sutherland (top left) briefed the Tumwater City Council about a new memorandum of understanding with Teamsters Local 252 at a meeting on July 21, 2026.

Tumwater City Council backs deal with utility and public works employee union

The Tumwater City Council authorized a memorandum of understanding with a union representing utility and public works ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/30/26

The Tumwater School District Board of Directors held the first reading on four community relations policies at a meeting on July 23, 2026.

Community relations policies formally introduced at Tumwater school board meeting

One new and four revised community relations policies that align with Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) model policies ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 7/29/26

Eight level 2 electric vehicle charging stations are being sought for multifamily properties in Tumwater.

Tumwater seeks to subsidize installation of EV chargers on multifamily properties

The City of Tumwater is calling on multifamily property owners to apply for grant funding to support installation of level 2 electric ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/29/26 | 4 comments

Tumwater School District Executive Director of Special Services Chris Burgmeier met with the Board of Directors to discuss the Service Animals In Schools policy at a meeting on July 23, 2026.

Tumwater School District updates policy on service animals

The Tumwater School District (TSD) Board of Directors unanimously approved revisions to Policy 2030 (Service Animals In Schools) at a ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 7/28/26

The Lodge Building is located at 4315 Tumwater Valley Drive in Tumwater.

City Council authorizes funding for purchase of Tumwater Valley Lodge

The Tumwater City Council backed a $1.85 million amendment to the 2025-26 city budget to pay for the Tumwater Valley ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/27/26

A slide from Tumwater Sustainability Manager Alyssa Jones Wood’s presentation to the City Council on Tuesday, July 21, showed a table outlining a tiered system for subsidizing the costs of a Home Energy Score program.

Tumwater City Council refers Home Energy Score ordinance to Equity Commission

The Tumwater City Council agreed to table an ordinance that would require home sellers to get a home energy audit before listing a property for ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/23/26 | 15 comments

Friendship and belonging on the frontier

George Bush was one of the earliest American settlers in the Pacific Northwest and recognized as Washington Territory's first Black … more

By Angela Jefferson | 7/20/26 | 7 comments

A ballot box at The Evergreen State College in Olympia.

Ballots mailed out for Aug. 4 Primary Election in Thurston County

Ballots for the Aug. 4 Primary Election are on their way to registered voters in Thurston ... more

By The JOLT Staff | 7/16/26 | 1 comment

A slide shows a collage of volunteers and participants from various programs that aim to promote watershed education and environmental stewardship across Thurston County.

Tumwater committee endorses renewal of regional partnership for watershed education program

The Tumwater Public Works Committee voted to recommend the renewal of an interlocal agreement for a countywide watershed ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/14/26