Community | The JOLT News Organization, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

This house at 261 Hodgden Street N, in Tenino, sold last week for $350,000. Kristy Woodford | Holistic Home Group photo

The JOLT Real Estate Week in Review for Feb. 7-13, 2021

This weekly report covers single-family home sales in Thurston County over the past week. There were 51 sales completed from Sun., Feb. 7 - Sat., Feb 13, 2021. (The houses with … more

2/15/21

What's coming up on the calendar?

Here’s are a few events in the Thurston County area that will keep you entertained in the coming week! Story Trails at Olympia Parks - West Bay and Harry Fain’s Legion Park Now … more

By Prachi Gohil | 2/12/21

Colt's Crisis is Tom Carroll's first novel, published in Nov. 2020.

Review of Colt’s Crisis by Tom Carroll

Colt’s Crisis, the first in a promised series of thrillers featuring protagonist Colt Garrett was published a couple months ago. I received a copy to review for The JOLT, and I found the … more

By Daniel Hu | 2/11/21

Joyce Phillips, Olympia senior planner, presents graphics of the general area of a proposed road extension project through LBA Woods on Feb. 9, 2021. Numerous local advocates voiced opposition to the project.

Olympia strikes plans for controversial LBA Woods road project

Olympia City Council voted yesterday to amend the city’s comprehensive plan, eliminating for now an extension of Log Cabin Road that would have cut through the LBA Woods property in south … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 2/10/21

In 2020 the Nisqually Indian Tribe's Charitable and Local Government Program supported more than 200 local organizations with grant funding totaling more than $1.7 million.

Nisqually Tribe gives $1.7M in funding to local organizations

Olympia, Wash. – More than 200 area agencies and organizations will receive more than $1.7 Million in vital operational funding from the 2020 Nisqually Indian Tribe Charitable and Local … more

2/9/21

17012 Kaylen Lane SW was sold for $590,000 by Bruce and Diana Holbrook of Holbrook Country Properties at Wilcox Real Estate.

The JOLT Real Estate Week in Review for Jan. 31 - Feb. 6, 2021

This weekly report covers single-family home sales in Thurston County over the past week. There were 51 sales completed from Sun., Jan. 31 through Sat., Feb. 6, 2020. Median sales … more

2/9/21

The split cedar table at Greenfoot Cannabis starts conversations with many customers.

Visit to Greenfoot Cannabis combines art and adventure

Floor to ceiling, the new Greenfoot Cannabis store is a mini-museum of Nisqually Tribal art. The first thing a visitor sees is either the table or the wall. Either is worth the 15-minute … more

By Danny Stusser | 2/4/21

Angry protesters yelled at police, county sheriff and state patrol officers as the law enforcement officers prevented access to the hotel on Sunday evening, Jan. 31, 2021.

City council condemns acts of Oly Housing Now, mayor labels hotel takeover ‘domestic terrorism’

At last night's meeting, Olympia City Council members had strong words for the group Oly Housing Now, following Sunday's occupation of the downtown Red Lion Inn & Suites, with perhaps the … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 2/3/21 | 1 comment

"Housing is a human right" reads the sign of a protestor standing across the street from the Olympia Red Lion Inn on Sun., Jan 31, 2021.

Thurston County seeking clarification from FEMA about emergency funding to support housing

When a group illegally occupied a hotel in downtown Olympia Sunday, leading to 10 arrests, they released a list of demands. The group’s statement noted the Federal Emergency Management Agency … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 2/2/21

The JOLT Real Estate Week in Review for Jan. 24-30, 2021

This weekly report covers single-family home sales in Thurston County over the past week. There were 51 sales completed from Sun., Jan. 24 through Sat., Jan. 30, 2021. (The houses with … more

2/1/21

Thurston County officials meet on Tue., Jan. 26, 2021, to discuss and approve a contract between Thurston County and the Washington State Health Care Authority, establishing a Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program.

State contract will create Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program in Thurston County

Thurston County officials approved a contract between the county and the Washington State Health Care Authority to establish a Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, which diverts … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 1/27/21 | 1 comment

This house at 6628 Kirsop Village Dr SW, Olympia WA 98512 sold last week for $375,000.

The JOLT Real Estate Week in Review for Jan. 17-23, 2021

This weekly report covers single-family home sales in Thurston County over the past week. There were 44 sales completed from Sun., Jan. 17 through Sat., Jan. 23, 2020. (The house with the … more

1/25/21

A map of a planned dog park near McLane Elementary School in Olympia. The park is set to be opened sometime in Summer 2021.

Three off-leash dog parks coming to Olympia this summer

Olympia city officials recently finalized a lease with Olympia School District for a 5.5 acre plot of land near McLane Elementary School, which will be utilized as an off-leash dog park sometime … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 1/21/21

This public art project was approved by the Olympia City Council at its regular meeting on Jan. 12, 2021.

Public outcry demanding justice for Yvonne McDonald dominates Olympia city council meeting

Last night’s Olympia city council meeting included approvals of the exclusive contract with Comcast, an Eastside Street Art Crossing Concept Plan and a labor agreement with the police … more

By Steven Gonzalez | 1/13/21

Lattin's Country Cider Mill and Farm -- Despite how close it stands next to the barn that was destroyed by fire, this popular photo cutout board survived with just a little smoke damage.

Fire spares Lattin’s Country Cider Mill & Farm business but destroys barn and equipment

Just before 10 pm last night fire took out the old barn at Lattin’s Cider Mill & Farm, damaging surrounding structures and trees. The cider mill, farm stand and bakery were not damaged … more

By Danny Stusser | 1/13/21 | 1 comment

This image, previously used with the related story about private armies, has been used by various media to illustrate many points of view. In this case, we're using it to show an example of what some people would call an illegal militia.

In The Wake Of Insurrection, Washington Lawmakers Look For Options To Derail Ad Hoc Militias

OLYMPIA — In the wake of anti-government mobs invading the U.S. Capitol and armed demonstrators gaining access to the grounds of the Washington Governor’s Mansion on Wednesday, state … more

By Katie Hayes | InvestigateWest | 1/8/21

Olympia's Mel Bilodeau, famous for her line of Mel O'Soup foods, holds a private conversation on January 6, 2021.

An old phone placed in an Olympia park is a tool for grieving, hope

The concept could not be simpler or more profound: Place a disconnected telephone in the woods, available to anyone who needs to talk to someone who cannot hear them. It could be final words never … more

By Matt Wakefield | Seattle Refined | 1/7/21

"As little as six inches of water can destabilize a moving vehicle. Don't drive through standing water, or by-pass barricades." ~ Thurston County Dept. of Public Works

High waters remain in some parts of county after weekend’s heavy rain

After record-breaking rainfall over the weekend, rivers in the county reached flood levels, prompting multiple road closures which are still in effect as of Tuesday. “If you went to bed … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 1/5/21

Thurston County Department of Public Health and Social Services Opioid Response Coordinator Katie Strozyk discusses goals laid out for the county's opioid response task force during a meeting on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.

County task force seeks to reduce opioid addiction and overdoses

Between January and June 2020, 16 people in Thurston County died of drug overdoses, with nine of those being linked to opioids. That was the latest data made available by the Thurston County … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 1/4/21

PREDICTIONS for 2021 in Thurston County

Why is this night different from all other nights? On all other nights, The JOLT reports to you about what already has happened. It’s the news, not fiction. Or it’s feature … more

By The JOLT Staff | 1/1/21 | 3 comments