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

Andrea Wilbur-Sigo (Squaxin Island) is carving Unity for the City of Olympia, which has announced plans to install in late 2020.

Local cities are seeing a surge of Indigenous public art

Tack. Tack. Tack. Andrea Wilbur-Sigo whacks a mallet onto the base of a chisel handle with measured force and casual precision. As she pares layers off a long cedar log, the cadence comes naturally. … more

By Margo Vansynghel | Crosscut.com | 10/19/21

Forming new habits takes 21 days, according to various sources, and is a key idea behind this program.

Tumwater’s 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge open to all

Tumwater’s city government and school district have teamed up to deliver the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, a series of brief videos, readings, audio recordings and discussion guides designed … more

By Danny Stusser | 10/12/21 | 3 comments

Tumwater School District and Tumwater City boards met on Oct. 7, 2021 and discussed the city's 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge.

Outgoing Tumwater Mayor Pete Kmet discusses racial equity in joint city-school board meeting

As a part of the Tumwater Community 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, city leaders including Mayor Pete Kmet stressed the need to discuss racial equity in an online meeting with the Tumwater School … more

By Kristine Javier | 10/11/21 | 5 comments

Olympia man, 18, accused of rape

An 18-year-old Olympia man was arrested Tue., Oct. 5., on suspicion of raping a woman while they were alone inside a car near Tumwater Historical Park. Four companions of the suspect and the woman … more

By Julia Ornedo | 10/7/21

Tumwater Fire Chief Brian Hurley reminded residents to regularly check if their fire alarms are properly working during the regular city council meeting on Tue., Oct. 5, 2021.

Time to check your smoke alarms -- in Tumwater

Tumwater’s Fire Chief Brian Hurley reminded residents to regularly check their fire alarms during the Tumwater city council meeting yesterday. During the discussion, the Fire Chief shared … more

By Kristine Javier | 10/6/21

Half-naked man accused of threatening woman in apartment house laundry room

A Tumwater woman escaped an apartment laundry room after she says she encountered a man with an erect penis she thought wanted to rape her, last Thu., Sept. 23. Anthony James Dunbar, 47, a … more

By Danny Stusser | 9/29/21

Home Share is a matchmaking service that connects home providers with home seekers, in exchange for an agreed rate or services, with at least one of the parties being a senior.

Senior Services’ Home Share program set to resume

Following appropriations from the other three large local governments here, the Olympia City Council approved a request to partly fund the re-launch of Senior Services’ Home Share, a … more

By Kristine Javier and Danny Stusser | 9/20/21

Smartphone users have even easier access to library services through the updated app, for Android and iPhone users.

Timberland Regional Library at your fingertips

Book lovers on the go can access their favorite titles from anywhere with the Timberland Regional Library mobile application. Available on Android and iOS, the Timberland Regional Library (TRL) … more

By Taniah Najih | Timberland Regional Library | 9/16/21

This is the handgun Tumwater police reported finding on Andrew William Minford on Sept. 6, 2021 after he allegedly burglarized Lincoln Creek Lumber in Tumwater.

Alleged hardware heist might lead to hard time

A local transient man was caught by Tumwater police after a silent alarm notified them of an alleged burglary on Mon., Sept. 6 at approximately 4:30 a.m. Tumwater police officers report that they … more

By Danny Stusser | 9/14/21

Chase Aaron Martin on Sept. 5, 2021 in Tumwater.

Using store’s own tools, man accused of attempting to break into locked display case

A medical furloughed prisoner was caught by Tumwater police attempting to break into a big box store’s electronic display case on Sun., Sept. 5. Chase Aaron Martin, 22, of Hoquiam, told … more

By Danny Stusser | 9/13/21 | 1 comment

The area outlined in purple show the 199-acres optioned by Panattoni Development at the New Market Industrial Campus.

Timeline for the New Market Industrial Campus still unclear

Tumwater officials confirmed that there is still no clear timeline for the proposed New Market Industrial Campus development during the regular city council meeting on Tue., Sept. 7. Initially, … more

By Kristine Javier | 9/9/21 | 2 comments

Tumwater Council Member Angela Jefferson read a statement from MultiCare on Tue., Sept. 8, 2021 announcing that their facilities may no longer be able to accept more patients.

“Beyond red” situation in MultiCare hospitals

MultiCare released a statement declaring its facilities are nearing maximum capacity as a result of the sudden surge in COVID-19 cases. The regional nonprofit healthcare system acquired what is now … more

By Kristine Javier | 9/8/21

All three proposed alternatives for the future of Capitol Lake are shown above at various tide levels.

Capitol Lake-Deschutes Estuary comment period ends

The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) closed its comment period for the Capitol Lake - Deschutes Estuary Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which provides … more

By Danny Stusser | 9/2/21 | 1 comment

The larger red circle shows the loation of the LOTT Budd Inlet Treatment plant in downtown Olympia; the smaller circle shows where processed and treated wastewater is discharged.

LOTT Board stands in favor of Estuary option for Capitol Lake

A representative from the LOTT Clean Water Alliance shared the agency’s concerns regarding the possible impacts on water quality in Budd Inlet as a result of different alternatives provided in … more

By Kristine Javier | 8/27/21

The Port of Olympia staff and commissioners discussed on Aug. 23, 2021 their decision not to issue a preferred alternative in an open letter addressed to the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) on the future of Capitol Lake.

Capitol Lake-Deschutes Estuary: Port commissioners decline to declare a preference

Port of Olympia commissioners did not specify a preferred alternative in their open letter addressed to the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) for the future of Capitol Lake … more

By Kristine Javier | 8/24/21 | 2 comments

Port Comm. E.J Zita (below) claimed that Comm. Chair Joe Downing (above) muted her in the call during the Port of Olympia’s Special Commission Meeting on Thu., Aug. 19.

Port of Olympia commissioners hold special meeting on New Market Industrial Campus

After 11 months of discussions, the Port of Olympia is close to issuing an action regarding the proposed Panattoni development. With this, the port held a special commission meeting to evaluate the … more

By Kristine Javier | 8/20/21 | 1 comment

This Tumwater police vehicle is shown in daylight. The case the photo is illustrating happened before sunrise.

First-time DUI suspect fails to provide breath sample, winds up giving blood samples

An allegedly intoxicated woman driving 25 mph in a 35 mph zone, with her car’s right turn blinker on, aroused enough suspicion on the part of a Tumwater police officer to be pulled over for … more

By Danny Stusser | 8/12/21 | 1 comment

Pistol-whipped before being forced to drive, alleged kidnapping victim runs into Fred Meyer asking for help

A man allegedly pistol-whipped and kidnapped an acquaintance, forcing him to drive to the Fred Meyer story in Tumwater where the alleged victim ran inside, screaming for help, on Thu., July … more

By Danny Stusser | 8/12/21

This Tumwater Heritage Tree is the Davis-Meeker Garry Oak. It's located along Old Highway 99 on the east side of Olympia Regional Airport. It's estimated to be 330-400 years old and has been called "the finest tree in the county."

You can nominate a “Heritage Tree” in Tumwater

Over the years there have been increasing concerns about the preservation of trees in the city, which is why the Tumwater Tree Board shared the process of designating heritage trees during its … more

By Kristine Javier | 8/10/21

Port of Olympia holds public workshop for New Market Industrial Campus development

To address community concerns, the Port of Olympia in partnership with the city of Tumwater recently held an online community workshop regarding a proposed development agreement with Panattoni … more

8/6/21