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

Tumwater Planning Commission endorses food system plan

The Tumwater Planning Commission recommended the Tumwater City Council adopt a proposed food system ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/26/25

Woman arrested for alleged crime at Walmart in Tumwater

A 25-year-old woman was arrested in connection with a burglary at Walmart in Tumwater. A Tumwater Police Department report states ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 9/23/25

The Trails End Park on 79th Avenue in Tumwater is going to be located adjacent to a planned public works facility at a site where a horse arena once stood.

Tumwater City Council authorizes additional spending for park, roundabout on 79th Avenue

The Tumwater City Council authorized additional spending on the planning of two projects on 79th Avenue — Trails End Park and a roundabout at the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/22/25 | 7 comments

Community members urge Tumwater to pass ordinance requiring energy audits for homes

Local residents urged the Tumwater City Council to pass an ordinance that would require energy score audits for houses being ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/22/25 | 4 comments

Olympic Health and Recovery Services Executive Director John Avalos, left, and Tumwater Fire Department Chief Brian Hurley briefed the Tumwater City Council about an agreement that would allow recovery services to help emergency responders in assisting individuals experiencing behavioral health crisis. The briefing took place at a city council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

Olympic Health & Recovery Services to aid Tumwater Fire Department under new deal

The Tumwater City Council approved a contract with Olympic Health & Recovery Services to support emergency responders in ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/18/25 | 4 comments

Tumwater Planning Commission to hold hearing on food system plan

The Tumwater Planning Commission is going to hold a public hearing on the city’s proposed food system plan on Tuesday ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/17/25 | 3 comments

A chart shows the amount of Tumwater’s land covered by tree canopy in 2020 and 2025. The city’s canopy cover fell to 5,299 acres in 2025 from 5,859 acres in 2020.

Canopy cover drops hundreds of acres in Tumwater

The City of Tumwater lost about 560 acres of canopy cover from 2020 to 2025, according to its 2025 Tree Canopy Assessment ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/17/25 | 2 comments

Tumwater Police Department Chief Jay Mason briefed the Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee about a revised contract for the renewal of the city’s school resource officer program with the Tumwater School District at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.

Committee endorses renewal of school resource officer program in Tumwater

The Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee endorsed a contract to renew a long-standing school resource officer (SRO) program with ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/12/25

Seen facing north, the Davis Meeker Garry oak tree overhangs Old Highway 99 and is adjacent to the northernmost airplane hangar.

City of Tumwater looking for organizations who want saplings of Davis Meeker Garry oak tree

The City of Tumwater is looking for more organizations who want to receive saplings from the Davis Meeker Garry oak tree, according to an update ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/11/25

Tumwater City Administrator Lisa Parks (top left) briefed the city council about an ordinance to establish a communications department at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025.

City of Tumwater establishes communications department

The Tumwater City Council adopted an ordinance establishing a communications department at a meeting on Tuesday ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/8/25 | 2 comments

Communications Manager Jason Wettstein briefed the Tumwater City Council about an ordinance designating the city as a Purple Heart City at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025.

Ordinance establishes Tumwater as Purple Heart City

The Tumwater City Council adopted an ordinance designating the city as a Purple Heart City at a meeting on Tuesday ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/4/25 | 1 comment

The FIFA Seattle Organizing Committee has designated nine fan zones in Washington where people may watch and celebrate World Cup soccer matches. One of the nine fan zones is the “Olympia/Lacey/Thurston County fan zone,” which is being coordinated by the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce.

Tumwater City Council hears about revised funding proposal for FIFA fan zone

A revised funding plan for the FIFA fan zone would lower the financial contributions required from participating ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 9/4/25 | 7 comments

Man arrested in Tumwater after disturbance, found with stolen vehicle

A 34-year-old man was arrested following a disturbance at an apartment complex on Israel Road SW in ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 9/1/25 | 1 comment

Former Tumwater Mayor Peter Fluetsch dies at 88

Peter Nicholas Fluetsch, the mayor of Tumwater from 1990 to 1993, died on Aug. 16, 2025. He was 88. Fluetsch was born on ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/29/25

Road striping process to continue next week in Tumwater

A nighttime road striping process is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 6, and Sunday, Sept. 7, across the City of ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 8/28/25

A total of 300 participants rated the city’s fire and emergency medical services as the services they’re most satisfied with, followed by availability of high-quality drinking water, parks and recreation facilities, and police services.

Survey finds majority of Tumwater residents satisfied with city services

A survey conducted by the City of Tumwater found the majority of its residents rated city services and their quality of life ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/26/25

A peanut-shaped roundabout on Linwood Avenue and 2nd Avenue in Tumwater aims to address traffic and safety issues caused by the current configuration of the intersection.

Tumwater moves forward with roundabout on Linwood and 2nd avenues

A peanut-shaped roundabout on Linwood Avenue and 2nd Avenue in Tumwater is moving forward with the possible start of construction near the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/25/25 | 15 comments

The LOTT Clean Water Alliance Board of Directors held a public hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, before adopting Resolution 25-003 to authorize the sale of its surplus Deschutes Valley property to the City of Tumwater.

LOTT authorizes takeover of Deschutes Valley holdings by City of Tumwater

The LOTT Clean Water Alliance’s Deschutes Valley holdings, once envisioned as the proposed site of a reclaimed water plant, is being sold to ... more

By Kameko Marquez | 8/20/25 | 5 comments

Nighttime Interstate 5 ramp closures planned between Maytown and Tumwater

Motorists are being encouraged to add more travel time to their trips because of nighttime closures to northbound Interstate 5 ramps between Maytown and ... more

The JOLT News Staff | 8/18/25

The Olympia Regional Airport and its properties generated $1,758,278 in revenue in the first half of the year. Accounting for $1,655,267 in expenses, the airport earned a profit of $103,011.

Lack of habitat conservation plan hampers revenue growth at Olympia Regional Airport

The lack of a complete habitat conservation plan (HCP) continues to hamper revenue growth for Olympia Regional ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/8/25 | 6 comments