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

The Port of Olympia netted $103,011 in the first half of 2026 after general and administrative costs and depreciation.

Olympia Regional Airport’s non-aviation segments key to profit margin

Olympia Regional Airport’s portion of the business that deals with real estate properties helped keep it profitable in the first half of ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/17/26 | 3 comments

A presentation to the Tumwater City Council on March 7, 2023, showed the old 5-foot diameter culvert on Percival Creek under Sapp Road and an image of a larger culvert to replace the old structure.

Wider culvert installed at Percival Creek under Sapp Road in Tumwater

A new culvert has been installed at Percival Creek under Sapp Road in Tumwater, the city said in an update on ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/12/26 | 1 comment

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

Davis Meeker Garry oak tree removal case ends

A lawsuit against Tumwater that started two years ago as a way to prevent former Mayor Debbie Sullivan from removing the historic Davis Meeker ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 8/10/26 | 5 comments

Tumwater Administrative Services Director Michelle Sutherland (top left) briefed the Tumwater City Council about a new memorandum of understanding with Teamsters Local 252 at a meeting on July 21, 2026.

Tumwater City Council backs deal with utility and public works employee union

The Tumwater City Council authorized a memorandum of understanding with a union representing utility and public works ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/30/26

The Tumwater School District Board of Directors held the first reading on four community relations policies at a meeting on July 23, 2026.

Community relations policies formally introduced at Tumwater school board meeting

One new and four revised community relations policies that align with Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) model policies ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 7/29/26

Eight level 2 electric vehicle charging stations are being sought for multifamily properties in Tumwater.

Tumwater seeks to subsidize installation of EV chargers on multifamily properties

The City of Tumwater is calling on multifamily property owners to apply for grant funding to support installation of level 2 electric ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/29/26 | 4 comments

Tumwater School District Executive Director of Special Services Chris Burgmeier met with the Board of Directors to discuss the Service Animals In Schools policy at a meeting on July 23, 2026.

Tumwater School District updates policy on service animals

The Tumwater School District (TSD) Board of Directors unanimously approved revisions to Policy 2030 (Service Animals In Schools) at a ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 7/28/26

The Lodge Building is located at 4315 Tumwater Valley Drive in Tumwater.

City Council authorizes funding for purchase of Tumwater Valley Lodge

The Tumwater City Council backed a $1.85 million amendment to the 2025-26 city budget to pay for the Tumwater Valley ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/27/26

A slide from Tumwater Sustainability Manager Alyssa Jones Wood’s presentation to the City Council on Tuesday, July 21, showed a table outlining a tiered system for subsidizing the costs of a Home Energy Score program.

Tumwater City Council refers Home Energy Score ordinance to Equity Commission

The Tumwater City Council agreed to table an ordinance that would require home sellers to get a home energy audit before listing a property for ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/23/26 | 15 comments

Friendship and belonging on the frontier

George Bush was one of the earliest American settlers in the Pacific Northwest and recognized as Washington Territory's first Black … more

By Angela Jefferson | 7/20/26 | 7 comments

A ballot box at The Evergreen State College in Olympia.

Ballots mailed out for Aug. 4 Primary Election in Thurston County

Ballots for the Aug. 4 Primary Election are on their way to registered voters in Thurston ... more

By The JOLT Staff | 7/16/26 | 1 comment

A slide shows a collage of volunteers and participants from various programs that aim to promote watershed education and environmental stewardship across Thurston County.

Tumwater committee endorses renewal of regional partnership for watershed education program

The Tumwater Public Works Committee voted to recommend the renewal of an interlocal agreement for a countywide watershed ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/14/26

Tumwater City Council advances $1.85M budget amendment to buy Lodge Building

The Tumwater City Council advanced a $1.85 million budget amendment for the purchase of the Lodge Building to house the Parks & Recreation ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 7/9/26 | 1 comment

Tumwater City Hall is located at 555 Israel Road in Tumwater.

Tumwater Planning Commission endorses update to demolition code

The Tumwater Planning Commission recommended the adoption of an updated demolition code to address regulatory gaps in building ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 6/29/26

Friends of the Falls presents "Evenings at the Falls" starting on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Free summer concert series at Tumwater Falls opens in July

A free summer event series will bring live music, local food and a beer garden to Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls on July ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 6/29/26 | 1 comment

Jeff Query, a Project Manager from the Tumwater Water Resources and Sustainability Department, showed a site map of a planned 3 million gallon water reservoir tank to the Public Works Committee on June 4, 2026.

Tumwater City Council approves additional spending to redesign components of 3 million gallon water tank

The Tumwater City Council authorized extra funding to redesign components of a 3 million gallon water reservoir tank off 93rd Avenue ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 6/23/26 | 2 comments

Tumwater Engineering and Transportation Department Senior Engineer Joseph Norman discussed the X Street and Capitol Boulevard roundabout project at a Tumwater Public Works Committee meeting on June 4, 2026.

Tumwater dealing with issues to acquire right-of-way for X Street roundabout

The Tumwater City Council authorized additional spending to resolve outstanding issues related to the acquisition of right-of-way ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 6/22/26 | 5 comments

'The three ring circus'

In the back half of the 1980s, Washington state was experiencing robust growth. Businesses were expanding and new housing was being built ... more

By Ted Wham | For The JOLT | 6/19/26 | 3 comments

Tumwater Police Chief Carlos Quiles, together with his mother and wife, at his swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

Quiles sworn in as Tumwater Police Department Chief

Carlos Quiles was sworn in as the new chief of the Tumwater Police Department in a ceremony held ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 6/19/26 | 1 comment

A vanpool at Timberland Regional Library in Tumwater.

Tumwater extends operating agreement with Timberland Regional Library

The Tumwater City Council extended an agreement with the Timberland Regional Library (TRL) through the end of the year, while negotiations ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 6/19/26