Jenna Mason was born in Pennsylvania where she studied Broadcast Journalism at Penn State University. She moved to Olympia in 2015 to study environmental journalism through videography at The Evergreen State College, graduating in 2018. She is a digital media producer, operating Jenna Mason Media LLC. She is also the Outreach & Digital Media Consultant for Olympia Community Solar.  more

Eileen McKenzieSullivan retired in April 2020 after serving for 24 years as Executive Director of Senior Services for the South Sound, a  multi-program agency serving older adults in Mason and Thurston Counties. She decided as a teenager to dedicate her life to working with seniors. After earning a BA in Sociology/Social work at Seattle University she began a career in geriatrics, working in Alaska, Iowa, Seattle and finally Olympia. Eileen and her husband live near Tenino. more

Paul Pickett enjoyed a long career as an environmental engineer, retiring in 2019 after 30 years with the Department of Ecology.  He is a consultant for the Squaxin Island Tribe. He has served as a Thurston Public Utility District Commissioner and a Thurston Conservation District Supervisor. Paul taught water management and climate change at The Evergreen State College and has written articles for local and national publications. He lives with his wife in Thurston County, along with cats, chickens, blueberries, fruit trees and noxious weeds. more

Graeme Sackrison is serving his second term on the board of North Thurston Public Schools. Following two years on the Lacey Planning Commission, Graeme spent thirteen years on the Lacey City Council, six as Mayor. A graduate of North Thurston High School, he attended Centralia Community College and Western Washington State College. After college graduation, he served four years in the U.S Air Force.  He worked for the Employment Security Department for 28 years. Graeme’s married with a daughter, a granddaughter and great-grandson. more

Bill Will is Industry Growth & Development Coordinator for Solar Installers of Washington, a trade association. He is a former newspaper reporter and editor and was executive director of Washington Newspaper Publishers Association from 2005 to 2014. He lives in Olympia. more

Bill Will is Industry Growth & Development Coordinator for Solar Installers of Washington, a trade association. He is a former newspaper reporter and editor and was executive director of Washington Newspaper Publishers Association from 2005 to 2014. He lives in Olympia. more

Bill Will is Industry Growth & Development Coordinator for Solar Installers of Washington, a trade association. He is a former newspaper reporter and editor and was executive director of Washington Newspaper Publishers Association from 2005 to 2014. He lives in Olympia. more

Who is behind The JOLT?     STAFF   Allie Baker Publishing Associate   Alexis Rae Baker grew up in Thurston County and earned her Bachelors Degree at The … more

Tamen grew up in North Newton, Newton, and Wichita in Kansas. He started college at Wichita State University when he was 16 years old. At the time, he was the youngest pledge president in the history … more

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 … more

As a 25-year-old woman in the era of cell phones and YouTube, I’ve never really been one for news. Information is constantly available to me with just a few taps on a screen, so it seems … more

Change can be difficult.  Especially when it is not our choice.  The current COVID-19 crisis has caused us all to change whether we like it or … more

OLYMPIA — Sam Hunt came in with the majority of the vote for the Legislative District 22 senate seat late Tuesday, coming in with 58.74 percent of the vote, or 15,174 votes. Garry Holland, coming in second, got 30.68 percent of the vote, or 7,923 votes. more

One person was arrested and another was hospitalized after a collision on North Street in front of Olympia High School on Sunday evening, after one vehicle veered in front of another. Police … more

How to Read Restaurant Inspection Scores Restaurant inspection reports focus on two types of violations: red and blue . Red violations are the most serious and are most likely to cause … more

(BPT) - The thought of navigating a new destination without a familiar companion and stepping outside the comfort of a group is the ultimate catalyst for personal growth. Traveling solo means … more

It’s going to be another tough year for Washington farmers, who were already facing record-low worldwide commodity prices. While consumers benefit from lower prices on things like wheat (resulting in cheaper bread) and pork, wheat growers and pig farmers are footing the bill for these savings. Many farmers are experiencing a triple hit on their finances from […] more