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

City of Tumwater looking for organizations who want saplings of Davis Meeker Garry oak tree

The City of Tumwater is looking for more organizations who want to receive saplings from the Davis Meeker Garry oak tree, according to an update ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/11/25

The Olympia City Council approved the expansion of the Olympia Fire Department’s CARES program to support the Lewis Mason Thurston Area Agency on Aging. The council made the decision at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.

Olympia City Council expands CARES Program to support Area Agency on Aging

The Olympia City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a partnership between the Olympia Fire Department and the Lewis ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 9/11/25 | 1 comment

Pavement marking work in downtown Olympia

A pavement marking project is going to make the drive a little more difficult for motorists on some streets in downtown ... more

By The JOLT News Staff | 9/11/25 | 2 comments

Olivia lights up our world

On the evening I attended Harlequin Production’s (HQP) "POTUS" show, I decided to meander through town and chat with strangers. Can you tell I am an ... more

By Rachel Benton | 9/11/25

Police Blotter for Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 9/10/25 at 8:42 a.m. in the residence, sheriff’s deputies arrested Krikor Arslanian, 59, on suspicion of 1) obstructing a law enforcement officer, … more

By Vanessa Casabuena | 9/11/25

A site plan and vicinity map show the planned upgrades for Lacey’s Lift Station 9 at 4905 Ruddell Road SE. The project includes new controls and a storage building, generator, valve and meter vaults, and an odor control facility. The existing wet well will remain in place at the southeast corner of Rainier Vista Community Park.

Lift Station 9 rebuild to upgrade wastewater service in Lacey

The City of Lacey has awarded a $2.57 million contract to rebuild its largest wastewater lift station and modernize equipment that handles more than ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 9/10/25

Felon charged in stolen vehicle case

A 36-year-old woman with prior felony convictions is facing more legal trouble after being found behind the wheel of a stolen ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 9/10/25

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners and county officials previewed housing and homelessness items at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.

Thurston County commissioners go over rental aid and repair contracts

Rental aid and repair contracts between Thurston County and local organizations are a step closer to being ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 9/10/25

The Olympia City Council named Travis Pond’s, “Crane Study Number 47,” as the 2025 Percival Plinth Project People’s Choice Award winner.

2025 Percival Plinth People’s Choice Award winner: 'Crane Study No. 47'

The Olympia City Council endorsed, “Crane Study No. 47” by Travis Pond, of Oregon City, as the 2025 Percival Plinth Project People’s Choice Award ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 9/10/25

Intercity Transit seeking 4 members for Community Advisory Committee

Members of the public, who want to help shape local public transit, are encouraged to apply for a seat on the Intercity Transit Community Advisory ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/10/25

The highway that shaped (and buried) Olympia

Interstate 5 is the West Coast's main artery and the only road to connect the three countries of North America. But around here ... more

By David Scherer Water | 9/10/25 | 13 comments

'Pull the wool over your eyes'

Throughout time, various narratives describing the history of humankind have developed and invited new discoveries that shape our ... more

By Rachel Benton | 9/10/25 | 1 comment

Police Blotter for Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 9/09/25 at 12:55 a.m. in the 500 block of Alta Street SW, sheriff’s deputies arrested Leonard James Castano, 28, on suspicion of possession of … more

By Vanessa Casabuena | 9/10/25

Thurston Regional Planning Council Planner Michael Mills presented a slide, which highlighted near-term opportunities for advancing high-capacity transportation. The Thurston Regional Planning Council met on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.

Thurston Regional Planning Council approves transportation vision

The Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) unanimously approved a new regional vision and goals for high-capacity transportation ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 9/9/25 | 7 comments

The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency is going to replace its legacy records system with the cloud-based IMPACT platform from Unicon International, a database compliant with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule.

Cloud-based IMPACT to anchor ORCAA digital migration

The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) is preparing to modernize its recordkeeping with a cloud-based database after signing a contract with ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 9/9/25 | 1 comment

Intercity Transit employees posed for a group photo with the first Toyota Sienna of its vanpool program. The Washington State Department of Transportation awarded the agency $710,000 in 2024 to support the purchase of 22 replacement vehicles for its vanpool fleet.

More riders using Intercity Transit’s vanpool program

Intercity Transit’s vanpool program continues to grow with more groups forming to utilize the service, according to an update by Vanpool Manager ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/9/25 | 1 comment

Thurston County officials and U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland joined the Thurston County project team and residents to celebrate the completion of the Green Cove Creek Bridge in Thurston County on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025.

Green Cove Creek Bridge restores salmon passage in Thurston County

Thurston County officials celebrated the opening of the Green Cove Creek Bridge after the replacement of a culvert that environmental assessments ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 9/9/25 | 4 comments

Two people arrested following alleged theft at grocery store in Lacey

Two individuals were arrested after an alleged theft at WinCo Foods on Martin Way East in Lacey. According to a Thurston County Sheriff’s Office report ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 9/9/25 | 2 comments

Public hearing set for 2025 Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan update for Thurston County

A public hearing is going to be held by the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners to receive and consider public testimony on the 2025 Flood ... more

By The JOLT News staff | 9/9/25

The  Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington’s Murder Mystery BIG Auction is a fundraising gala being held on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.

Local fundraising gala to support youth mentorship program expansion

The glitz and glamour of the Jazz Age awaits attendees of the Murder Mystery BIG Auction fundraising gala on Saturday ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 9/9/25