The JOLT News Organization, A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

Sidetracked: Homeless for several years, Salvador said that he had received help from the Olympia Union Gospel Mission.

What really happens at Olympia Union Gospel Mission?

Loren “Skip” Steffen and Mindy Roberts have the courage to live their Christian faith with and in the hope of helping the homeless. “God has richly blessed me and my wife in our … more

By JM Simpson | 4/27/23

Tumwater and Olympia voters rejected the proposed regional fire authority in the April 25, 2023 election, with 11,396 votes (63.68%) against 6,500 votes (36.32%).

Voters say no to regional fire authority

Olympia and Tumwater voters overwhelmingly rejected their cities’ proposition to divest their fire departments and merge them into a regional fire authority (RFA) as more than 63 percent of … more

By Danny Stusser | 4/26/23 | 8 comments

Anastasia Everett, Olympia's CDBG specialist, updated the Olympia Planning Commission on the proposed projects to be funded by the CDBG program on Monday, April 17, 2023.

Olympia committee wants to fund energy audits with city's federal funding

Olympia plans to include energy auditing in its rental rehabilitation projects funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) it receives. Anastasia Everett, Olympia's CDBG … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/26/23

Sophia Bowton-Meade, student Senator for Legislative Affairs at SPSCC, has been recognized as part of the 2023 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll.

Sophia Bowton-Meade Recognized on 2023 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll

Today, South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) and the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) announced that Sophia Bowton-Meade, student Senator for Legislative Affairs at SPSCC, has been … more

4/26/23

At a meeting held on April 19, 2023, the Olympia Site Plan Review Committee held a presubmission hearing on the Ethel Development project, which plans to build 48 houses on Ethel Street.

Olympia committee reviews 48-house development on Ethel Street, possible townhouses

Project Architect for Ethel Development, Josh Gobel, discussed the plan to build 12 structures with four units, or 48 houses on a 224,060 square-foot parcel on Ethel Street during a presubmission … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/26/23 | 3 comments

Lacey Youth Council Mayor Justin Begley urged North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) to revisit its safety protocols and hear student concerns following lockout incidents at Timberline High School.

Lacey Youth Council says local schools are not prepared to keep children safe

Lacey Youth Council Mayor Justin Begley urged North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) to revisit its safety protocols and hear students’ concerns following lockout incidents at Timberline High … more

By JC Medina | 4/25/23 | 3 comments

This is the Washington State Legislative Building, as seen from Capitol Lake, photographed on May 5, 2017

State allocates $7 million for Deschutes Estuary restoration project

The Washington state legislature allocated $7 million for the Deschutes Estuary restoration project as part of its 2023-2024 operating budget, which Congress passed on Sunday, April 23, before … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/25/23 | 3 comments

Nodal development concept of the Martin Way corridor. The Olympia City Council held a study session to discuss the Martin Way corridor development.

Regional planning council urges collaboration for Martin Way strategy

The city council was urged to seek collaboration with other jurisdictions to promote growth on the Martin Way corridor in Tuesday’s Olympia City Council study session. To prioritize regional … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/25/23

The Lacey Commission on Equity (COE) unanimously approved to recommend the Advisory Board Stipend Program to the Lacey City Council during the April 24, 2023 public meeting.

Lacey Equity team pushes for stipend program for advisory boards, commissioners

The Lacey Commission on Equity (COE) unanimously approved recommending the Advisory Board Stipend Program to the Lacey City Council. During the commission’s meeting on Monday, April 24, … more

By JC Medina | 4/25/23

Ballots being sorted, photo November 7, 2022.

Ballots due today in Olympia and Tumwater as voters decide on Proposition 1, proposed regional fire authority

As of 3 p.m. Monday, April 24, some 12,081 voters, or about 22.4 percent of registered voters have cast their ballots for or against Proposition 1, which would create a new regional fire authority … more

By The JOLT Staff | 4/24/23

The retreat center, which is owned by a group of churches, is located on approximately 28 acres of land, with 7.5 acres currently zoned as High-Density Residential.

Lacey to decide on rezoning Gwinwood Retreat Center

Lacey is currently considering a request to rezone the Gwinwood Retreat Center from High-Density Residential to Open Space Institutional. Planning Manager Ryan Andrews said a public hearing would … more

By JC Medina | 4/24/23 | 1 comment

The water resources department would rent three rooms with a combined floor space of 2,400 square feet in the natural sciences building of South Puget Sound Community College.

Tumwater’s water resources department moving to office in South Puget Sound Community College

Tumwater’s water resources and sustainability department is moving out of city hall and into a rental space at South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC), Department Director Dan Smith … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/24/23

RWD Landscape Architects came up with the draft of the preferred alternative after holding an open house that attracted around 50 residents.

Tumwater commission shapes preferred alternative for Trails End Park

The Tumwater Park and Recreation Commission discussed a draft for the preferred alternative of the programming and layout of a neighborhood park on Trails End Drive and 79th Avenue. RWD Landscape … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/24/23

Capitol Lake Towers is a condominium building; its unit owners would be incorrectly charged some $900 more than specified in the RFA documents due to an error in calculating square footages for each unit.

More errors found in proposed Fire Benefit Charge Calculator for apartments, condos and mixed-use owners

In addition to those reported previously, The JOLT has identified more errors in the calculator provided by Olympia and Tumwater’s proposed Regional Fire Authority (RFA). The calculator allows … more

By Lorilyn Lirio and Danny Stusser | 4/21/23 | 9 comments

Tom Webster, manager of Thurston County's Office of Housing and Homeless Prevention, briefed the Board of County Commissioners on the 2023-2027 fair housing assessment.

Federal housing funds a little closer to Thurston County

The Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approved its 2023-2027 fair housing assessment on Tuesday, April 18, moving a step closer to securing funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/21/23

Expect to find this flag all around Olympia

Olympia proclaims April 2023 as Earth Month

The Olympia City Council, on Tuesday, April 18, signed a proclamation designating the month of April as Earth Month. Olympia has joined Governor Jay Inslee in proclaiming the entire month to be … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/21/23 | 1 comment

Olympia's assistant city manager Rich Hoey gave the city council a briefing on the public health conditions caused by homelessness.

Homelessness cited as grounds for Olympia to extend its public health emergency declaration

The Olympia City Council declared a continuing public health emergency, claiming that homelessness continues to present significant public health and safety issues for the entire community. The … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/21/23 | 3 comments

Frontage improvements along Trails End Rd and 79th Ave. include stormwater facilities.

Tumwater developing a roundabout on Old Highway 99 at 79th Ave

If you've ever tried to turn left onto Old Highway 99 from 79th Avenue and been frustrated by speeding traffic in both directions, you'll be glad to know that a roundabout is coming. The Tumwater … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 4/20/23 | 7 comments

Cultural Access Program Manager Marygrace Goddu updated the Olympia City Council on the recently-concluded work of the ad hoc committee on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

Olympia's Cultural Access Program ad hoc committee readies its recommendations

The Inspire Olympia Cultural Access ad hoc committee has completed creating the framework for the new program. One of its recommendations is to start simple and evolve with the community. At the … more

By Lorilyn Lirio | 4/20/23

What's happening next week?

Tumwater Earth Day, April 22, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Each year, Tumwater Parks & Recreation teams up with the PARC Foundation to celebrate Earth Day. Join other volunteers in a service project to … more

4/20/23