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Olympia unveils plan for urban development on key corridors 

Olympia has unveiled a blueprint to guide urban development over the next two decades through its urban corridors policy. The Planning Commission received a briefing on strategies to transform …
County officials debated new housing proposals amid issues over contracting with a previously flagged funding partner during the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) check-in session on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. 
Thurston County’s attempt to recover $667,990 lost to pandemic fraud has spilled into its latest housing budget talks, as county officials deliberate more cautiously over new contracts with …
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Angie Gourley, an Assessment Teacher on special assignment in the Tumwater School District, briefed the board members on the dyslexia screening report at a meeting on Thursday, April 24, 2025.
A Tumwater School District (TSD) assessment found an estimated five to eight, or 9%, of its elementary pupils show significant reading difficulty ...
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Corrections deputies with the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office are in line for a series of pay raises in the years ahead. The sheriff’s office said deputies have ratified a contract …
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The Olympia Police Department (OPD) is requesting assistance in identifying a suspect who allegedly stole alcohol from Total Wine & More in Olympia. The theft occurred on March 19…
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At a meeting on Thursday, April 24, members of the Olympia School District Board of Directors declared May 5-9 as Teacher Appreciation Week.
Members of the Olympia School District Board of Directors declared May 5-9 as Teacher Appreciation Week with a proclamation. At a meeting on Thursday, April 24, board members and student representatives took …
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The Procession of Species on kicked off at 4:30 pm on Saturday, April 26, 2025, with a group of dancing black birds. It started on the corner of Jefferson Street NE and Legion Way SE, with the group of animals making its way to Heritage Fountain.
The Procession of the Species Celebration drew thousands of people to downtown Olympia, as part of the Spring Arts Walk 2025 on Saturday, April 26. People not only lined up on the streets to get a …
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Shannon Beigert
Last week I vacationed in Skagit and Whatcom counties. I was fortunate to visit the blooming tulip gardens and fields of Mount Vernon for the first time. The visual beauty and delicate fragrances of …
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BoCC Chair Tye Menser highlighted nine long-stalled jail expansion options as commissioners revisited the county’s jail capacity crisis during the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners work session on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. 
Facing the return of historic overcrowding at the county jail, the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) revisited a decade’s worth of expansion plans and facility options during …
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Street trees caused the most significant damage to sidewalks, said Max DeJarnatt, CPED senior planner. He spoke at the Land Use and Environment Committee meeting on Thursday, April 24, 2025, to give an overview of sidewalk assessment. 
Facing a backlog of nearly 28,000 sidewalk defects, Olympia's Land Use and Environment Committee is considering a multi-pronged approach ...
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The Lacey City Council approved an increase to the city’s Human Services Grant Program cap, raising the maximum award from $35,000 to $50,000 for both public service and capital projects during its work session on April 22, 2025. 
The Lacey City Council approved an increase to the city’s Human Services Grant Program cap, raising the maximum award from $35,000 to ...
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Life
“The Gift of Peace” by Shayla Pangelinan received the 2024 Poster Award.
Witness the 20th annual SPSCC Student Art Exhibition at the Leonor R. Fuller Gallery from May 19 to June 13, 2025.   The event will showcase the exceptional talent of students using various …
Jill Severn
People on my street were without water for eight hours earlier this week. In the 30 years I’ve lived here, my house and my hose have never been without ...
Catch the annual Olympic Air Show at the Olympia Regional Airport on June 14-15 for Father’s Day weekend. This year is the 25th anniversary of the ...
End the month with one of Olympia Spring Arts Walk’s events in the downtown, or explore niche experiences in ...

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter for Sunday, April 27, 2025

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 4/27/25 at 5:36 p.m. in the 4000 block of Libby Road NE, sheriff’s deputies arrested James Timothy Flannery, 33, on suspicion of harassment. …

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Opinions: Yours & our columnists
Making angels sing: The Individualized Education Program goals edition 
A Thurston county mom of a fifth grader and I recently reviewed a draft of her daughter’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). The mother, Stacie Billings (not her real name), understood ...
The languages of the artists 
Last week, I had two entirely unique experiences in the arts scene of Thurston County. On Saturday, I had the opportunity to watch a rehearsal for Studio West Dance Theatre’s production of the …
It's spring — bird nests and nesting
This past weekend many children participated in a traditional spring ritual — receiving baskets lined with green artificial grass and gathering “eggs” of various sorts to fill those …
If you give your child a planner ... they'll probably lose it
True story: I was recently searching for a photo of a messy backpack or locker. None compared to what I saw in my teaching career. My next attempt ...
A glorious week of sunny weather
This glorious week of sunny weather put most of us in a good mood. People were smiling and chatty in the line at the grocery store. Neighbors walked their dogs without coats on, and the dogs wagged …

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Calendar of events
Olympia headlines
Olympia city planner Joyce Phillips showed one of the visual illustrations from the Washington State Department of Commerce to show what middle housing infill might look like in neighborhoods. On Monday, April 21, 2025, the Planning Commission was briefed on the middle housing code changes. 
Olympia unveiled a series of proposed code changes that introduce strategies to address housing diversity and affordability at the ...
Lee Creighton Justice Center.
In a unanimous decision, the Olympia City Council has directed staff to negotiate an interlocal agreement with Thurston County for judicial services. This step could potentially dissolve the city's …
Local residents are encouraged to visit the annual Olympia Wooden Boat Festival on May 10-11 to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend.   The festival opens on Saturday, May 10, and runs from …
Nonprofit organizations throughout Thurston County have prepared activities for May, including events related to housing and nature.   According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , a …
A graphic shows a breakdown of Armory Arts Center funding.
The Olympia Finance Committee approved a recommendation to issue debt financing for two major community projects ...

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Tumwater headlines
“It's our intent to bring cultural awareness,” Mike Brewer of Bar Holdings said as he showed conceptual renderings of the Salish Landing project to the Tumwater City Council on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Brewer said the renderings incorporate designs, landscaping and color schemes that were developed in cooperation and guidance of the Squaxin Island Tribe.  
The expansion of Tumwater’s infrastructure and job creation were the primary talking points of developer Bar Holdings, as its representatives discussed the benefits of the Salish Landing …
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. …
Thurston County will celebrate Earth Day with recycling stations, park cleanups and student-led service projects on ...

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Thurston County
The Thurston County Sheriff's Office is looking for video footage of the truck above, which is connected to the murder of Marcia Norman of Tenino.
An ongoing investigation into the murder of Marcia Norman of Tenino is turning to the public to help locate possible security footage of a vehicle connected to ...
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Director Jennifer Freiheit and Housing Program Manager Thomas Webster addressed the board with updates on the Lived Experience Housing Steering Committee proposal during Thurston County Board of County Commissioners agenda setting meeting on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. 
In an attempt to fill a role left vacant earlier this year, Thurston County is working to restart a $50,000 request for proposals (RFP) after its first round failed to find a facilitator for the …
The Joint Animal Services Commission (JASCOM) reviewed a proposed two-year contract to provide field services to Mason County during its meeting on Monday, April 21.  Under the …

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Lacey headlines
The Lacey Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of significant revisions to the city’s Public Works Standards Manual during its Wednesday, April 23, 2025 meeting, following a public hearing and presentation by city staff. 
The Lacey Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of significant revisions to the city’s Public Works Standards Manual following a ...
A worker checks out the site of failed culvert, which has closed a stretch of State Route 510 southeast of Lacey until further notice.
A failed culvert has shuttered a stretch of State Route 510 (SR 510), the Washington State Department of Transportation said. SR 510 is closed at milepost 6 …
The Lacey City Council received a comprehensive update during its work session on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, on the city’s active and upcoming development projects, which include hundreds of new residential units, commercial builds and hospitality developments.   
The Lacey City Council received a comprehensive update on the city’s active and upcoming development projects, which include hundreds of new residential units ...
The Lacey Lodging Tax Advisory Committee convened on April 17, 2025, to review outcomes from its 2024 funding cycle, assess financial reports and discuss potential policy changes for future allocations.   
The Lacey Lodging Tax Advisory Committee convened on April 17 to review outcomes from its 2024 funding cycle, assess financial reports and ...
The Lacey City Council celebrated the first Lacey Community Academy graduation during its meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. 
The Lacey City Council celebrated the first Lacey Community Academy graduation during its meeting on ...

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More local news
 Thurston County divides $150,000 in lodging tax revenue among 16 recipients  
Thurston County will award the $150,000 lodging tax revenue to 16 chosen applicants this year.   The Lodging Tax is an excise tax paid by people who stay overnight in lodging …
Animal Services confronts surge in intakes, launches volunteer crisis response program 
Thurston County's Joint Animal Services is addressing an increase in animal intakes by developing an innovative volunteer program and ...
Thurston County opens ‘Homegrown and Handmade’ art contest to local creators 
Thurston County is now setting the table for homegrown artists to contribute to its newest exhibition, “Homegrown and Handmade.” The countywide contest will accept entries of any …
Intercity Transit to acquire new Dial-A-Lift vehicles 
Intercity Transit is set to acquire new vehicles for its Dial-A-Lift program, which provides door-to-door, shared transportation for people ...
‘Fish War’ screens in Olympia
On Saturday, April 19, Olympia remembered the Boldt ruling with a screening of "Fish War’" at the historic Capitol Theatre. The 80-minute documentary retraces the battle lines of the fish …
Smokin Js closing up shop after 27 years
Since 1997, Jay Fratt has been working in the industry of alternative culture. Whether it was hemp clothing or locally-blown glass products on the shelves, Smokin Js has offered a …
Thurston County Auditor's Office to hold walk-in Passport Fair on May 3  
Thurston County announced in a news release that the Auditor's Office has scheduled a Passport Fair on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to noon ...
City Council puts Olympia Municipal Court on the docket
Olympia Municipal Court may soon no longer exist, as plans come together for Thurston County District Court to take over its ...
Handyman charged with murder and kidnapping in death of Tenino woman
A handyman is facing a number of charges in connection with the death of a Tenino woman, whose remains were found partially encased in concrete on a property in Olympia by local authorities less than …
Olympia to present sidewalk infrastructure assessment at Land Use and Environment Committee meeting 
Olympia will present an overview of the city's sidewalk infrastructure condition and priority repairs at a Land Use and Environment Committee meeting on ...

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