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

City of Tumwater Administrator Lisa Parks showed their city council on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, a map delineating the tasks involved with the second phase of the environmental site assessment of the old Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) office on Capitol Boulevard. The blue text refers to work to be done by WSDOT’s consultants, while the red text refers to tasks that would be the responsibility of Tumwater’s consultants.

Tumwater City Council gets update on community center site

Should the City of Tumwater pursue a community center in the old Washington State Department of Transportation office on Capitol Boulevard, it will have to address a list of ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/27/25 | 4 comments

Capital Region Educational Service District (ESD) 113 congratulated 2025 Art Show winners from Black Hills, Olympia, Timberline and Tumwater high schools.

Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater high schoolers win awards at regional art show

Students from Black Hills, Olympia, Timberline and Tumwater high schools were some of the 2025 Art Show winners in ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/25/25

Lisa Parks (left), Tumwater’s city administrator, briefed the Tumwater City Council on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, about the standardization of contracts of all 10 department directors employed by the city.

Tumwater City Council standardizes contracts for department directors

Contracts are getting standardized for director-level positions in the City of Tumwater. The Tumwater City Council authorized a contract template on ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/21/25 | 1 comment

Brandon Hicks (left), Tumwater’s transportation and engineering director, briefed the Tumwater City Council on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, about a resolution expressing the council’s support for renewing a transportation benefit district, which voters will consider in a special election on April 22, 2025.

Tumwater City Council supports ballot measure to retain sales tax for road maintenance

The Tumwater City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday, March 18, expressing its support of a ballot measure to retain a 0.2% sales tax used for ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/20/25 | 1 comment

Members of the Tumwater School District Board of Directors reviewed procedural rules at a work session on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

Tumwater School District board reviews protocols following audience protest

Following a recent issue regarding audience protest and proper implementation of meeting protocols, members of the Tumwater School District (TSD) Board of Directors reviewed ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/20/25 | 3 comments

What’s happening this weekend — Community Resource Fair, Dancing with the Eagles Open House and other festivities

Meet other people, join information sessions, and take the kids for a stroll this weekend in ... more

P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/20/25

Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations Ben Rarick and Director of Finance & Operations Kira Acker led the budget work session of the Tumwater School District Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

Tumwater School District makes multimillion-dollar money transfer to address budget shortfall

A shortfall in the Tumwater School District budget triggered a multimillion-dollar transfer of funds to ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/19/25

Tumwater School District Board of Directors members Darby Kaikkonen, Casey Taylor and Ty Kuehl defended their vote supporting WIAA’s amendments at a work session on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

Tumwater school board members address transgender athletes issue

After voting to support the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s (WIAA) amendments limiting the participation of transgender student athletes, Tumwater School District (TSD) … more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/18/25 | 8 comments

The historic Davis Meeker Oak stands by the Olympia Airport and Old Hwy. 99 in Tumwater. Mayor Debbie Sullivan and city staff have been working intensely to tear down the 400-year-old tree, which is on the historic register and of significance to the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Meanwhile, the organization Save the Davis-Meeker Garry Oak has been fighting to save the tree from destruction.

Tumwater City Council reviews strategies for retaining Davis-Meeker tree

The City of Tumwater is now working on ways to mitigate the risk of keeping the historic David-Meeker Garry ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/17/25 | 15 comments

Dispute Resolution Center expands services

The Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) of Thurston County announced it has expanded its services to address and resolve ... more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 3/14/25 | 1 comment

The Port of Olympia Commission listened to public comments at its Monday, March 10, 2025, meeting before voting on a contract amendment with Panattoni Development Company that would allow the developer to begin the development of a 50-acre industrial site. On the podium is resident John Saison, speaking about the number and quality of jobs to be expected from the project.

Port of Olympia Commission approves contract amendment with Panattoni

A proposed industrial development in Tumwater by Panattoni Development Company is one step closer to reality after clearing a ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/13/25 | 3 comments

Chuck Denney (bottom left), director of Tumwater’s parks and recreation department, briefed the Tumwater City Council on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, about a lease for the department’s new office.

Tumwater’s parks and recreation department to relocate

Tumwater’s parks and recreation department is moving away from city hall. Chuck Denney, the department director, told the ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/13/25 | 1 comment

What’s happening this weekend — Lantern Lights the Library, Death Care Expo and other events

This weekend take in a film screening, have a few laughs, update an expired passport, take in a workshop and more in ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/13/25

The Tumwater Police Department is urging the public to share information on the location or the people responsible for stealing a vintage 1966 Lincoln Continental bearing a Washington license plate JBE888.

Tumwater police seeking information on stolen classic Lincoln Continental

The Tumwater Police Department (TPD) is seeking the public’s help in recovering a vintage 1966 Lincoln Continental that was stolen during ... more

By Darlanne Cruz | 3/12/25 | 1 comment

Members of the public filled the Tumwater School District Board of Directors meeting room to protest the approval of a resolution banning trans girls in school sports on Feb. 27, 2025.

Community pushes back on Tumwater School District’s position on transgender sports participants

The Tumwater School District (TSD) Board of Directors adopted Resolution No. 09-24-25 at its Feb. 27 meeting, establishing support for the ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/10/25 | 13 comments

The Public Works Committee met on Thursday, March 6, 2025, to discuss a contract amendment with Fehr & Peers so that the firm could work on a bicycle and pedestrian plan.

Tumwater to develop bicycle and pedestrian plan

Tumwater is set to work on a bicycle and pedestrian plan as part of its transportation plan, a component of the city’s ongoing update to its ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/10/25

Beehive Industrial Park, a 55-acre light industrial area along Trosper Road in Tumwater, experiences localized flooding which then drains without treatment to Percival Creek. As part of its consent agenda on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, the Tumwater City Council approved a contract with Fuller Designs to design a solution for flooding in the area.

Tumwater hires firm to design stormwater improvements in Beehive Industrial Park

An industrial park is in line for stormwater improvements following a decision by the Tumwater City Council. The council authorized Mayor Debbie Sullivan on Tuesday, March 4, to hire Fuller … more

By Jerome Tuaño | 3/6/25

Intercity Transit Deputy Director of Planning Rob LaFontaine and Marketing, Communications & Outreach Officer Nick Demerice met with the Tumwater School District School Board at a regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

Intercity Transit mulls one seat, direct bus rides to Tumwater schools by September

Aside from additional bus stops, the community can expect more frequent, direct and one-seat bus rides to and from the ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/4/25 | 1 comment

Local nonprofit to hold Death Care and Life Transitions Expo

Local nonprofit The Elderhood Senior Alliance will hold its first Death Care and Life Transitions Expo and is inviting the community to the regular Death Cafes and Candles ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 3/3/25

Tumwater Police Department Chief Jon Weiks retired after a 37-year career with the law enforcement agency.

Tumwater Police Department Chief Jon Weiks retires after 37-year career

The end of the month also marked the end of the line for Tumwater Police Department Chief Jon Weiks, who has retired after 37 years of working for the law enforcement agency. “After 37 … more

By Wyatt Haupt Jr. | 2/28/25 | 3 comments