Olympia, WA
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Olympia offers to collaborate with school district to address declining enrollment, affordable housing crisis

The Olympia City Council and school leaders discussed potential partnerships through land use planning and housing development initiatives that could help solve the declining enrollment challenges …
Harvey Drahos receives his Congressional Gold Medal from Enrico Tadeo of The Philippines’ Consulate during a ceremony held in DuPont’s Clocktower Park on May 2, 2024.
During the City of Lacey’s 2023 Mayor’s Gala last October, Karen Schoessel introduced the evening’s guest of honor, then-100-year-old Harvey Drahos, a World War II veteran who had …
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SMU’s Charlie Johns batting.
Despite losing their Conference Championship postseason slot, the Saint Martin’s University baseball team closed the 2024 baseball season with a thrilling 4-3 win against Pacific Lutheran …
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Apartments that would be demolished for the housing project.
On Wednesday, May 1, the Olympia Site Plan Review Committee heard a proposal from Behavioral Health Resources (BHR) to build a new affordable housing apartment at 2104 State Avenue NE to replace …
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Bowl of guacamole with corn chips
¡Hola! As we approach Cinco De Mayo (it's this coming Sunday), I thought I would share several recipes in preparation for your fiesta! I have previously posted several recipes to The JOLT …
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Spy x Family CODE: White movie poster
Tatsuya Endo created the popular manga series Spy x Family in 2019. Since its debut, it has become a worldwide phenomenon. Cloverworks and Wit Studio collaborated to bring the anime adaptation to …
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Our native Nootka rose
Native plants and flowers have definitely gone mainstream. In a recent Washington Post article, editorial writer Dana Milbank, whose usual beat is political and cultural analysis, reports that …
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A suspect high on meth went inside a residence, went naked, and left all his clothes at the back door where he first entered.
On the night of April 30, officers responded to a residential burglary in Thurston County and arrested an unclothed suspect allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine. According to the …
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The Armory.
Olympia Armory Building Manager Valerie Roberts introduced the eight anchor partners selected to lease long-term spaces in the building and help the city develop business plans for the Armory …
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Housing Authority of Thurston County Executive Director Craig Chance (rightmost) presented their 2023 Annual Community Report to the Board of County Commissioners yesterday, May 1, 2024.
The Housing Authority of Thurston County (HATC)’s 2023 Annual Community Report showed that the organization had admitted 296 new households to its voucher rental assistance program and lifted …
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Lacey City Hall
Lacey has been awarded a Silver designation from SolSmart, a national program that promotes the expansion of clean and affordable solar energy solutions at the local level. SolSmart evaluates …
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A bus pulling into the Intercity Transit bus stop in Olympia
Intercity Transit (IT) won two top awards at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) 2024 International Bus Roadeo competition, which was held last weekend in Portland, Oregon. …
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Aerial view of the city of Olympia, Washington waterfront. In this image you can see Heritage Park and Capitol Lake in the front.
Anticipate disruptions when visiting Heritage Park, as the final stage of a geotechnical survey is set to commence near Capitol Lake. The survey, a component of the Deschutes Estuary Restoration …
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A couple of hens from a small flock of chickens. Even small flocks of chickens in home coops and enclosures need to take precautions to protect the birds from the Avian Influenza H5NI.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAF), commonly called H5NI bird flu, is a highly contagious pathogen that is deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out flocks quickly. This disease is widespread …
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Prepare yourself for the May spirit by engaging on one of the activities below.   2024 Real Community Heroes Awards & Celebrations, Friday, May 3, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Every …
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Life
The Olympia Kitchen
Steak fajita salad is easy to make and a good way to deal with various leftovers.

Recipe: Steak Fajita Salad

When we have steak, there are sometimes leftovers that do not have quite enough remaining for another meal. These are a great main ingredient for several entrees, including steak fajita salad. …

This close-up is of the Common Yellowthroat Warbler.

Warblers are arriving

Sitting at my computer on a rainy day (good for gardens, but not for bird watching), I’m thinking about migrating warbler species that are arriving daily in our territory. These insect-eating …
The Puget Sound Estuarium online bidding started on April 19 and will end on April 26 at 10 PM. The Open House will be held during the Olympia Arts Walk on April 26 from 6 PM to 9 PM.

Estuarium’s benefit auction ends tomorrow

Friday, April 26, is the final day for online bidders to participate in the Puget Sound Estuarium's Annual Benefit Auction, which started on April 19. The week-long event will culminate in an …
The Olympia Design Review Board met on April 4, 2024, and produced a Detail Design Review recommendation for a proposed one-story commercial space at 4336 Martin Way E Olympia.

Design approved for proposed barbecue restaurant on Martin Way

The Olympia Design Review Board approved a Detail Design Review recommendation for the proposed Dickerson South Bay BBQ restaurant during its Thursday, April 11 meeting.

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter for Saturday, May 4, 2024

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 5/4/24 at 10:56 AM in the 200 block of Lindell Road NE, Sheriff’s deputies arrested Gerber Orlando Alvarenga, 53, on suspicion of 3 rd degree …

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Opinions: Yours & our columnists
What a fun place to live, from volunteers planting trees, Procession of the Species to rummage sales
I am a little late with this information, but Earth Day was a big success in our communities. Trees hold a special place in my heart, so Earth Day is one of my favorite holidays, and clearly, I am …
Arborist to Tumwater: Save the Davis Meeker Oak
In the early 1980s, The Davis Meeker Oak – a 400-year-old oak tree beside Old Highway 99 next to the Olympia airport – was in danger of being removed to improve the highway.  I …
There’s more to know about weeds
A rose by any other name might smell as sweet, but a weed by another name is a different story. A weed known by its scientific Latin name can be transformed in our minds from a pest to a gift of …
My moments and  conundrums, living with chronic illness
I think the worst thing about any chronic disease is the unpredictability of the attacks. Never knowing when it will raise its nasty head means never being able to plan, to be able to commit. Still, …
BURNOUT: Significance for healthcare and society
There has been much in the news about healthcare worker burnout. Burnout has resulted in crisis-level losses of staff and expertise since before COVID-19, which the pandemic exacerbated. Addressing …

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Calendar of events
Olympia headlines
The scales of Justice represent the idea of decisions reached fairly and objectively by a weighing of evidence.
Thurston County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) has taken a sex offender into custody following reports of sexual assault after luring them to a secluded place before being assaulted and is asking other …
The Olympia Metropolitan Park District Board, consisting of the city council members, met on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, and approved the appointments of three members to the district's citizen advisory committee.
The Olympia Metropolitan Park District Board (OMPD), consisting of the city council members, approved appointments of three members to the district's citizen advisory committee. At Tuesday's OMPD …
Several hundred people are expected to walk in the 2024 Paws 4 A Cause event on May 4. This photo is from the 2023 event.
Ready for something entirely new? Come watch the Peanut Butter Licking Contest at this Saturday’s Paws 4 A Cause event in Heritage Park in downtown Olympia. The four-hour event is both a …
An Olympia Water Resources team member inspects a catch basin.
An Olympia staffer proposed a method to save the city money on inspecting stormwater catch basins. Senior Stormwater Specialist Kane Osstifin told the Olympia Utilities Advisory Committee (UAC) …
The Port of Olympia held a town hall meeting with Executive Director Alexandra Smith on April 24.
The Port of Olympia’s new executive director, Alexandra Smith, addressed dozens of questions last week, including about the marine terminal’s profitability and said she supports having …

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Tumwater headlines
The storage facility is immediately north of the Tumwater Middle School, according to a vicinity map shared during a public hearing on April 24.
Tumwater’s hearing examiner, Mark Scheibmeir, approved on Monday, April 29, the site plan and conditional use permit for Tacoma resident Trevor Colby to construct a four-story storage facility …
The scales of Justice represent the idea of decisions reached fairly and objectively by a weighing of evidence.
In the early hours of April 25, Thurston County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) received a call regarding a suspicious vehicle obstructing a roadway in Maytown. According to the TCSO news release , …
Tumwater Community Development Director briefs the city council about two contracts with Haley & Aldrich Inc.
Tumwater has selected Haley & Aldrich Inc. to conduct environmental assessment work on the old brewery and the former Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) office on Capitol …

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Thurston County
To aid in vehicle pursuits, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office will pilot six Grappler and five StarChase units after the Board of County Commissioners approved its purchase on April 30, 2024.
Thurston’s County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approved the Sheriff’s two single-source purchases for six Grappler and five StarChase units to aid in vehicle pursuits. …
Representatives from the Asian Pacific Islanders Coalition, South Puget Sound Chapter, attended the April 30, 2024, Thurston Board of County Commissioners meeting to receive the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month proclamation.
In a show of recognition and celebration, the Thurston Board of County Commissioners officially declared May Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. The board's proclamation …
The scales of Justice represent the idea of decisions reached fairly and objectively by a weighing of evidence.
Tumwater Police Department (TPD) responded to reports of suspicious activity involving a BMW SUV on Monday, April 27, where individuals were seen tossing items, including clothes and a car seat, …

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Lacey headlines
Cassidy Walchak-Sloan and Alisha Saucedo are expected to represent the Saints at various distance running events in the GNAC Championships.
With only a couple of weeks left approaching the Conference Finals, the Saint Martin’s University Track and Field team is in their homestretch preparations to vie for all the marbles and was …
Troy Oliver, NTPS’s assistant superintendent of operations, will be the school district's supervisor.
During a special meeting on Sunday, April 28, the North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) Board of Directors selected Troy Oliver as its next Superintendent.  “I have been proud to work …
Lacey City Hall
The Lacey City Council is currently accepting recommendations from local organizations to fill a vacant position on the Capital Area Regional – Public Facilities District (CAR-PFD) board …
A bus pulling into the Intercity Transit bus stop in Olympia
Intercity Transit announced the enhancement to their bus services, with getting closer to pre-pandemic level of service as their goal. The transit authority outlined a series of adjustments …
According to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, a caller claimed that a shooter was present at the school, prompting the school to contact law enforcement; the school entered into lockdown and then lockout status for the afternoon of April 25, 2024.
Thursday, April 25, 2024, at about 1 p.m., the Nisqually Middle School was under heavy police presence after a shooting threat was made via phone call. According to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office …

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More local news
 New EPA rules aim to cut vehicle emissions for cleaner air
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently introduced new regulations to reduce emissions from new cars and light trucks. The "Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years …
VFW Post wants action from city 
Army veteran Crystal Beeler made it clear that she wants the Olympia City Council to address the issue that VFW Post 318 says involves the actions of homeless individuals living in the nearby Unity …
Olympia considering expanding parking enforcement hours
Olympia's Parking Services Program proposed several changes to downtown parking to address community concerns and serve local businesses and visitors better. Parking Service Program specialist …
Geoducks perform last few laps at CWU Invitational ahead of Conference Championships
In the lead-up for the upcoming Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Championships in early May, the Evergreen State College Track and Field team battled for their homestretch outdoor meets and …
Madison, McKenny to remain open as Olympia School Board rules out closures
The Olympia School District (OSD) Board expressed no objections to Superintendent Patrick Murphy’s recommendation of excluding school closure as an option to supplement the district’s …
Olympia's neighborhood centers ‘have not developed as envisioned,’ consultants say
At Olympia's Land Use and Environment Committee meeting, Olympia associate planner Casey Schaufler presented the market analysis on neighborhood centers, which analyzed 12 existing centers and …
Olympia's Creative District seeks a second certification from Arts Commission
Olympia is seeking recertification for the Creative District from the Washington State Arts Commission to further support the local creative sector in the next five years.
Lacey considers expansion plans for Regional Athletic Complex
Lacey's Director of Parks provided a comprehensive update to the city council regarding the Regional Athletic Complex (RAC) Phase 3 Design Concept on Tuesday, April 23.  Jen Burbidge …
Olympia councilmember seeks bolder transportation reforms to align with climate goals
Olympia Councilmember Clark Gilman is challenging city staff to pursue bolder transportation reforms to make progress on climate and mobility goals. Joey Jones, the city’s Public Works …
Non-profit launches initiative that would grant rights to Deschutes Watershed
Nonprofit Standing for Washington has launched a campaign in Olympia and Tumwater to advocate for the rights of the Deschutes Watershed. The non-profit began gathering signatures on Friday, …

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