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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. … more

By VJ Casabuena | 4/28/25

Police Blotter for Saturday, April 26, 2025

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 4/26/25 at 2:25 a.m. in the area of Quinault Drive NE / Meridian Road NE, sheriff’s deputies arrested John William McCann, 28, on suspicion of 1) … more

By VJ Casabuena | 4/27/25

Police Blotter for Friday, April 25, 2025

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 4/25/25 at 3:30 a.m. in the 8700 Yelm Highway SE, sheriff’s deputies arrested Lisa Ann Collins, 53, on suspicion of 1) second-degree malicious … more

By VJ Casabuena | 4/26/25

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.

Jail expansion talks restart in Thurston County as inmate numbers climb

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 … more

By Kameko Marquez | 4/25/25 | 6 comments

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.

Olympia committee tackles sidewalk repair challenges

Facing a backlog of nearly 28,000 sidewalk defects, Olympia's Land Use and Environment Committee is considering a multi-pronged approach ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/25/25 | 6 comments

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.

Lacey City Council raises Human Services Grant Program cap, aims for greater community impact

The Lacey City Council approved an increase to the city’s Human Services Grant Program cap, raising the maximum award from $35,000 to ... more

By JC Medina | 4/25/25

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.

Lacey Planning Commission recommends updates to Public Works Standards Manual

The Lacey Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of significant revisions to the city’s Public Works Standards Manual following a ... more

By JC Medina | 4/25/25

A worker checks out the site of failed culvert, which has closed a stretch of State Route 510 southeast of Lacey until further notice.

Failed culvert shutters SR 510 southeast of Lacey

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 … more

By The JOLT News Staff | 4/25/25

“The Gift of Peace” by Shayla Pangelinan received the 2024 Poster Award.

20th annual SPSCC Student Art Exhibition to open on May 19

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 … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/25/25

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 ... more

By Shannon Sankstone | 4/25/25

Water for our gardens, and for us

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 ... more

By Jill Severn | 4/25/25 | 4 comments

Police Blotter for Thursday, April 24, 2025

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office On 4/24/25 at 12:15 a.m. in the 8500 block of Steilacoom, sheriff’s deputies arrested Oscar Rigobert Meza, 30, on suspicion of 1) failure to obey … more

By VJ Casabuena | 4/25/25

“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.

Developer discusses benefits of Salish Landing

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 … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/24/25 | 14 comments

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.

Lacey City Council gets update on a number of development projects

The Lacey City Council received a comprehensive update on the city’s active and upcoming development projects, which include hundreds of new residential units ... more

By JC Medina | 4/24/25 | 2 comments

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.

Authorities seeking video footage of truck connected to Tenino woman's murder

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 ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 4/24/25 | 1 comment

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.

Thurston County seeks to close facilitation gap in housing experience committee

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 … more

By Kameko Marquez | 4/24/25 | 1 comment

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 proposes middle housing code changes to expand residential options

Olympia unveiled a series of proposed code changes that introduce strategies to address housing diversity and affordability at the ... more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/24/25 | 5 comments

25th Olympic Airshow to showcase aircrafts from World War II, aerobatic demos

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 ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/24/25

What’s happening this weekend — Spring Arts Walk and other festivities

End the month with one of Olympia Spring Arts Walk’s events in the downtown, or explore niche experiences in ... more

P. Jade Asumbrado | 4/24/25

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 … more

By Rachel Benton | 4/24/25