JOLT: Journal for Olympia Lacey & Tumwater

City officials hire new department directors

TUMWATER –– The Tumwater City Council is expected to approve two current city employees moving into new roles with the city government on Tuesday night, Aug. 4. more

By Prachi Gohil of JOLT | 7/31/20

Road Stripe Painting – Avoid Wet Paint

Road crews will paint new center lines, edge lines and bike lanes on streets citywide from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m., Aug. 1 & 2, 2020. more

Courtesy of City of Tumwater | 7/30/20

Firefighters from the Tumwater Fire Department responded to a fire by a storage facility off of Interstate 5 late Tuesday. The fire was caused by a boat that fell off a trailer, which caused dry grass and trees on the side of the road to start burning. Officials from other fire departments also responded to the incident.

Fallen boat results in fire on I-5

TUMWATER –– A boat that fell off the trailer was the cause of a fire early Tuesday evening on Interstate 5 at milepost 102, according to Tumwater Fire Department officials. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 7/29/20

The Tumwater City Council talked trees this week to discuss the city's urban forestry program.

Tumwater tree canopy to be expanded in coming years

TUMWATER –– Tumwater city officials talked about the city’s aims for 50 percent of its land to integrate a natural tree canopy by 2040 after the issue came up at the Tuesday night city council meeting. more

By Andrew Oslin of JOLT | 7/29/20

Several police agencies coordinated to clear all customers and Safeway employees out of the store as the suspect was armed and threatening to shoot. Thurston County Sheriff SWAT vehicle is at the east side of the building in the center of this image.

California man subject of officer-involved shooting

TUMWATER –– A man caused a disturbance in the parking lot of the Tumwater Safeway Wednesday night, resulting in a Tumwater Police officer shooting at him. more

By Madeline Shannon and Danny Stusser of JOLT | 7/22/20

A firefighter puts out a fire at the Old Brewery Tower in Tumwater on June 6. The Tumwater Police Department determined the cause of the fire to be arson.

Old brewery tower Phase 1 work complete

TUMWATER –– Yesterday the Tumwater City Council officially approved completion of the first phase of work on the empty Olympia Brewing Company brewery tower. more

By Andrew Oslin of JOLT | 7/22/20

Only Thurston and Pacific Counties report total consumer spending has increased from January 2020 through today. Other counties have experienced negative growth during this period. Much of this spending has been with large businesses, including online retailers.

Business remains strong in Thurston County, report EDC Director and Tumwater leaders.

Consumer spending and residential construction have remained strong in 2020 according to Michael Cade, executive director of the Thurston Economic Development Council, and Tumwater Mayor… more

By Danny Stusser of JOLT | 7/22/20

Tumwater Talks Utility Billing and Golf

TUMWATER –– Issues over how the COVID-19 pandemic affects the city’s utility billing and keeping up the Tumwater Valley Golf Course came up during a discussion at the Tumwater Budget & Finance Committee. more

By Andrew Oslin of JOLT | 7/16/20

A man was arrested early Thursday afternoon after entering Fred Meyer in Tumwater with a gun.

Man with gun arrested at Fred Meyer in Tumwater

TUMWATER –– A man was arrested at Fred Meyer in Tumwater early Thursday afternoon after allegedly bringing a gun into the store. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 7/16/20

Mayor Pete Kmet Announces Selection of New Directors

TUMWATER –– Tumwater Mayor Pete Kmet announced Wednesday the reorganization of the Public Works Department into two new city departments: Transportation & Engineering and Water Resources & Sustainability. more

City of Tumwater | 7/15/20

Tumwater City Hall on a sunny day in July 2020.

Tumwater talks climate mitigation plan

TUMWATER — City officials met Tuesday night to talk about Tumwater’s role in the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan, a county-wide effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent below the 2015 baseline numbers by 2050. more

By Andrew Oslin of JOLT | 7/15/20

Some road work this week might delay traffic

TUMWATER ––To complete repairs, multiple roads in the city will be closed from Monday, July 13 to July 17, 2020. more

By Prachi Gohil of JOLT | 7/14/20

Officers from the Tumwater Police Department spoke on Monday about the department's use of force policy in a Public Health & Safety Committee meeting.

Tumwater police explain department’s use of force

TUMWATER –– In response to local and national concern over police and use of force, the Tumwater Public Health & Safety Commission met with the local police department to discuss the ramifications of police use of force and its complexities. more

By Andrew Oslin of JOLT | 7/14/20

Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek is Thurston County's new public health officer.

Dr. Yu steps down as county’s acting public health officer

THURSTON COUNTY –– The county’s acting public health officer, Dr. Diana Yu, stepped down from her role yesterday to resume retirement, beginning the transition to a new role for the county’s newest public health officer, Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 7/3/20

Since the start of the COVID-19 shutdown, the Thurston Chamber and EDC have conducted a weekly webinar covering issues of interest to business owners and other local leaders.

County health director, business officials talk about local COVID-19 response

THURSTON COUNTY –– County Public Health Director Schelli Slaughter and business figures from the community gathered in a virtual meeting Thursday to discuss the resources available to local businesses responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and resources available to local businesses if the pandemic continues to worsen in the greater Olympia metro area. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 7/2/20

Port of Olympia Executive Director Sam Gibboney updated the Tumwater City Council about a lease option on the port-owned New Market Industrial Campus, which port officials want to develop. Panattoni Development, a California-based industrial development firm, is interested in the property.

Concerns air over Port of Olympia’s New Market Industrial Campus

TUMWATER –– The Port of Olympia’s impending New Market Industrial Campus lease option came up for air again last night, this time in a Tumwater City Council meeting that saw some city council members expressing concern over whether or not the Port should develop that property. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 7/1/20

Lacey government buildings and offices start reopening today

LACEY –– Some of the City of Lacey’s government buildings and offices will start reopening today under modified hours now that Thurston County is moving into “Safe Start” Phase 3. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/29/20

Local officials stress safety measures in area parks

THURSTON COUNTY –– As parks in the greater Olympia area start to open up under “Safe Start” Phase 3, government officials are starting to spread the word about what to do to stay safe while enjoying local parks. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/29/20

Thurston County will move into Safe Start Phase 3 after county officials applied to continue re-opening last week. The application was approved this week by the State's Secretary of Health.

Thurston County now in “Safe Start” Phase 3

THURSTON COUNTY –– Thurston County got the green light from the Washington Secretary of Health on Tuesday to move into Phase 3 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Safe Start” plan. more

Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/24/20

South Puget Sound Community College to host admissions info sessions

THURSTON COUNTY –– South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) will host a series of admission information sessions next month from July 2-16, aimed at potential students of SPSCC. more

By Madeline Shannon of JOLT | 6/22/20