FREE NEWS - SUBSCRIBE HERE

Life

Local officials stress safety measures in area parks

THURSTON COUNTY –– As parks in the greater Olympia area start to open up under “Safe Start” Phase 3, government officials are starting to spread the word about what to do to stay safe while enjoying local parks.

It's bat season again!

You wake up one morning and discover a bat fluttering around in your bedroom. Concerned, you wonder if this is a problem, and seem to recall that bats may harbor rabies. What should you do? Rabies …

Numbers show tourism and county’s economic health closely linked

THURSTON COUNTY –– Tourist spending in Thurston County grew more than 25 percent between 2015 and 2019 according to data released this week by Tourism Economics, a national travel research firm.

Who's got time to read

Who's got time to read a 120-page Voters' Pamphlet?

Well, anyone who is curious about who’s running to run things around the county and the state. Anyone who wants to vote and doesn’t feel she/he/they knows enough about most (or any) of …

What should be done about ending the vandalism in downtown Olympia?

OLYMPIA –– The Olympia City Council voted Tuesday night to pass a resolution that authorizes Olympia police to use chemical dispersion methods in crowd control efforts. The chemical dispersion agents are the third such exception to a city prohibition on less-than-lethal agents law enforcement can use on mobs and violent crowds who destroy property or set fires. The resolution passed by the city council took effect immediately. The vote comes days after Olympia police officers were said to have been instructed to stand down from responding to property damage calls. Business owners downtown told JOLT earlier this week that a pack of vandals smashed five business’ windows late Saturday night into Sunday morning. There were no arrests made despite the fact that six windows were broken at The Pet Works on Fourth Avenue East and Adams Street.

There's already an alternative to calling the police

As citizens across the country fill the streets to protest police killings of Black people, the violent response from law enforcement has added urgency to a national conversation about …

Olympia headlines

“One Community” homeless action plan approved by Olympia City Council

OLYMPIA –– The Olympia City Council approved on Tuesday a plan to address homelessness, which officials called the “One Community” Healthy, Safe & Housed Plan.

Artist picked for street crossing art project

OLYMPIA -- The Olympia City Council approved a local artist, Andrea Wilbur-Sigo, to complete a street art crossing artwork installation on Eastside Street.

Dr. Yu steps down as county’s acting public health officer

THURSTON COUNTY –– The county’s acting public health officer, Dr. Diana Yu, stepped down from her role yesterday to resume retirement, beginning the transition to a new role for the county’s newest public health officer, Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek.

Tumwater headlines

County health director, business officials talk about local COVID-19 response

THURSTON COUNTY –– County Public Health Director Schelli Slaughter and business figures from the community gathered in a virtual meeting Thursday to discuss the resources available to local businesses responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and resources available to local businesses if the pandemic continues to worsen in the greater Olympia metro area.

Concerns air over Port of Olympia’s New Market Industrial Campus

TUMWATER –– The Port of Olympia’s impending New Market Industrial Campus lease option came up for air again last night, this time in a Tumwater City Council meeting that saw some city council members expressing concern over whether or not the Port should develop that property.

Lacey government buildings and offices start reopening today

LACEY –– Some of the City of Lacey’s government buildings and offices will start reopening today under modified hours now that Thurston County is moving into “Safe Start” Phase 3.

Lacey headlines

Six-Year Transportation Improvement Plan to be submitted with minimum changes

LACEY - City officials in Lacey examined the six-year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) Thursday night to review city-wide transportation projects.

Light industrial zoning amendment introduced

LACEY –– The Lacey Planning Commission reviewed a proposal that allows and establishes standards for buildings up to 500,000 square feet in size in the Light Industrial-Commercial (LI-C) zone.

Lacey extends emergency resolution

LACEY –– Lacey officials decided Thursday to extend the city’s state of emergency over COVID-19 to the end of the year.

About us

A message from the publisher

What's this about?

Thurston County's New Place for Hyper-Local News and Features Launches

What's this about? Recognizing the rapid decline in resources among traditional news outlets, we're assembling a group of talented Tumwaterians, Laceyites and Olympians who care about making …

Introducing our editor

Madeline Shannon, Managing Editor

Madeline is a natural-born journalist with professional training and certificates to prove it. Her first paying job in the business came at age 17, writing for her hometown paper, The Fresno Bee. Since then she’s covered hyper-local news for dailies in California and Oregon. With wide interests in environmental, fashion, government, crime, food and the arts, she covers many beats here. Her resume includes a B.A. in journalism and (almost a) M.A. in Fashion Journalism.