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

It was 2016 and Tumwater had a problem: too many vehicles were trying to pass through the intersection at Capitol Boulevard SE and ... more

By Ted Wham | For The JOLT | 6/18/26 | 2 comments

Pedestrian refuge at a three ring circus roundabout in Tumwater.

'The three ring circus'

In yesterday’s segment, the reality of how local government planning activities are dominated by adherence to the requirements of the state’s Growth Management Act was described. In today’s … more

By Ted Wham | For The JOLT | 6/17/26 | 6 comments

Website page for the City of Tumwater's Comprehensive Plan

'The three ring circus'

A strict state law passed three decades ago was designed to contain high density growth in Washington state, altering the fabric of our ... more

By Ted Wham | For The JOLT | 6/16/26 | 11 comments

The roundabout at the intersection of Capitol Boulevard and Troper Road in the City of Tumwater.

'The three ring circus'

In 2024, Tumwater officially opened three closely linked roundabouts at and near the intersection of Capitol Boulevard SE and ... more

By Ted Wham | For The JOLT | 6/15/26 | 11 comments

A slide presented by Port of Olympia Environmental Director Shawn Gilbertson shows four species a  joint habitat conservation plan would protect. Gilbertson presented the slide at a meeting on May 26, 2026.

USFWS reviewing Tumwater, Port of Olympia habitat plan

The City of Tumwater and Port of Olympia’s joint habitat conservation plan is under review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 6/11/26 | 7 comments

The City of Tumwater’s 2027-32 transportation improvement program outlines a total of 23 projects, including three items that are new to the annually updated document.

Transportation improvement program outlines three new projects in Tumwater

The City of Tumwater’s new transportation improvement program identifies three road projects to pursue within the next ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 6/9/26 | 5 comments

Tumwater Planning Commission recommends development of regulatory framework for battery energy storage systems

The Tumwater Planning Commission has backed the idea of developing a regulatory framework for battery energy storage ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 6/8/26 | 3 comments

Carlos Quiles confirmed as chief of Tumwater Police Department

The Tumwater City Council confirmed the appointment of Carlos Quiles as the new chief of the Tumwater Police ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 6/5/26 | 1 comment

The facade of the 310 Israel Road building in Tumwater. The city is considering purchasing the property to turn into its new city hall.

Tumwater moves forward with potential purchase of building for new city hall

The Tumwater City Council agreed to make a $100,000 down payment toward the potential purchase of a building that could serve as the new ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 6/3/26 | 5 comments

Olympia Regional airport runway located in a middle of a large wide open grass area.

Port steps back from Olympia Regional Airport’s updated master plan process

The Port of Olympia has decided not to continue the process for adopting the Olympia Regional Airport’s updated master plan ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 5/27/26 | 12 comments

Members of the Tumwater School District Board selected representatives to the Thurston County Regional Planning Council at a meeting on May 21, 2026.

Tumwater School District appoints representatives to Thurston Regional Planning Council

Tumwater School District Director of Capital Projects and Facilities Alec Burkheimer is the new primary representative to the ... more

By P. Jade Asumbrado | 5/26/26

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

Tumwater council to weigh city hall space planning options

Space limitations at Tumwater City Hall have local officials looking for ways to create some elbow space at the ... more

By The JOLT Staff | 5/26/26 | 1 comment

A slide from the Tumwater Public Safety and Health Committee’s meeting on May 12, 2026, showed details of a memorandum of understanding between for the provision of a set of radios for the Tumwater Fire Department.

Tumwater approves MOU with Port of Olympia for radio equipment

The Tumwater City Council authorized Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Port ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 5/25/26

Tumwater Administrative Services Director Michelle Sutherland, left, and Tumwater Police Department acting Chief Carlos Quiles, addressed the Tumwater City Council at a meeting Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

Appointment of Tumwater Police Chief now requires confirmation by city council

The Tumwater City Council adopted an ordinance that requires the mayor’s appointment for police chief to be confirmed by ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 5/22/26

The City of Tumwater and Active Construction Inc., are currently working to build a peanut-shaped roundabout at the intersection of 2nd and Linwood avenues

Tumwater committee recommends additional funding for project at 2nd and Linwood avenues

The peanut-shaped roundabout being constructed at the intersection of 2nd and Linwood avenues in Tumwater requires additional ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 5/15/26 | 3 comments

A slide from a presentation by Grant Gilmore, a Water Specialist from Tumwater’s Water Resources and Sustainability Department, to the city's Public Works Committee at a meeting on Thursday, May 7, 2026, showed photos from a past Green Congress event.

Tumwater committee endorses continued partnership for watershed education program

The Tumwater Public Works Committee recommended continuing an interlocal agreement for the implementation of the South Sound ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 5/14/26

250th at the Schmidt House now in May

Would you like to compare your “wingspan” to that of an eagle? Make a tri-corner hat and color? Learn about genealogy society and ... more

By Shirley Stirling | 5/14/26

Tumwater City Council adopts development code updates

The Tumwater City Council adopted four minor development code updates, including amendments regarding ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 5/13/26

A slide from Tumwater Assistant City Administrator Kelly Adams’s presentation to the Tumwater City Council on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, shows the city’s proposed allocations for a $911,000 fund from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program.

Tumwater City Council proposes distributing federal grant money to local organizations

The Tumwater City Council recommended hundreds of thousands of dollars in allocations from a fund to help local organizations with ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 5/12/26

Women volunteers participated in the construction of houses at the Tâlíčn development in Tumwater on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

Women volunteers build homes at Tâlíčn development in Tumwater

Women volunteers are helping to build several homes at the Tâlíčn, a 28-home affordable housing development in Tumwater by South Puget ... more

By Jerome Tuaño | 5/8/26 | 3 comments