INSIDE: Burglary arrests near Johnson Point · Ballots are out, fire bond on ballot · Hudson Cove protected · Timberline sweeps rivalry week · New: arts & music calendar · I-5 night closures
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Deputies recover about $33K in stolen goods after Johnson Point burglaries
Home cameras helped crack the case; two men arrested
Stolen property recovered by deputies, including jewelry and designer bags. Photo: Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders, via KOMO News
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office says two men were arrested after deputies investigated two burglaries at a residence near Johnson Point. Cash, jewelry and designer bags were taken in an Aug. 15 burglary.
The same victim reported a second burglary on Sept. 9, after installing cameras. The footage showed a black Mitsubishi, a gold Subaru and a suspect deputies identified through prior contacts. One man was arrested on suspicion of DUI, and deputies seized a firearm because he is a convicted felon. The second man was arrested on burglary, trafficking-stolen-property and narcotics allegations.
Warrants served on an Olympia residence the sheriff’s office describes as a Department of Corrections group home, along with vehicles and a storage unit, led to the recovery of about $33,000 in stolen property.
A Thurston County ballot drop box at the Black Lake fire station. Photo: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The County Auditor mailed more than 205,000 ballots, and 31 drop boxes are open. No ballot by Thursday, Oct. 15? Call Elections at 360-786-5408. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3, and no stamp is needed. In the final two weeks, use a drop box instead of the mail. The Auditor’s Voting Center (2915 29th Ave SW, Tumwater) opens Oct. 14. Drop boxes close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Land trust that began on Johnson Point protects 218 acres at Hudson Cove
Henderson Inlet, on Johnson Point’s western shore, seen from the International Space Station, June 20, 2024. Photo: NASA, ISS Expedition 71 (public domain)
Capitol Land Trust announced a conservation easement over 218 mostly undeveloped acres, including the Hudson Cove pocket estuary, at the end of 69th Ave NW on Steamboat Peninsula. The land is owned by the Taylor family of Taylor Shellfish. Five grants totaling $5 million paid for the easement. The land stays private and isn’t open to the public.
The trust turns 40 next year. It started as a grassroots effort to save a parcel on Johnson Point that was being looked at for development.
Local Government & PoliticsCounty · Lacey · Olympia · Port
Lacey Fire District 3’s $98.3M bond is on your ballot
Lacey Fire District 3 Headquarters Station 31, 1231 Franz St. SE, Lacey. Photo: courtesy of Lacey Fire District 3, via JOLT
If voters approve Proposition 1, the district can issue up to $98.3 million in general obligation bonds. The money would pay for a relocated Station 32, a new Station 36 in Hawks Prairie north of I-5, a regional live-fire training facility and a logistics warehouse. District materials estimate the cost at 22–25 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or about $8–$11 a month on a $500,000 home. The Lacey City Council was scheduled to consider Resolution 1187 supporting the measure on Oct. 6.
Woodland Creek at Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey. Photo: courtesy of City of Lacey, via JOLT
The council voted unanimously Oct. 6 to bring in Washington Conservation Corps crews to clear Himalayan blackberry, yellow flag iris and Scotch broom from Lacey’s main salmon-bearing stream. The deal costs up to $33,285 for 21 crew days. Work starts Nov. 9, with native planting later in November.
⚠ The county does not demand wire transfers for permits.
Scammers posing as a county director are emailing permit customers fake invoices. If someone calls asking for payment, hang up. Check any emailed invoice with the building and development permit office, and report suspicious contacts to the Sheriff’s non-emergency line.
The City of Olympia’s 2027 utility rate proposal summary. Image: courtesy of City of Olympia, via JOLT
Staff propose increases of 4.5% for water, 6.5% for waste, 8.7% for stormwater and 9.5% for wastewater. That adds about $19.51 to the average bi-monthly bill. A public hearing is set for Oct. 27. This applies to City of Olympia utility customers only.
On Oct. 6 the board heard comment on the 2027–2032 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program. On Oct. 20 at 3:30 p.m. at the Atrium (3000 Pacific Ave SE), it takes comment on a proposed Thurston Conservation District rates and charges system for 2027–2036 and on transferring 1.6 miles of the Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail to Yelm.
Timberline volleyball ends 16-match skid vs. North Thurston
Kinley Smith’s 39 kills power the Blazers’ first win over the Rams since 2017
Timberline’s Kinley Smith celebrates against North Thurston, Oct. 6. Photo: Dylan Reubenking / Thurston Chronicle
Timberline won 3–1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-23, 25-18) at North Thurston on Tuesday. Smith, a Western Washington commit, had 39 kills and 16 digs, Leia Dela Cruz had 53 assists and libero Jovie Lind had 25 digs. Abby Losey led the Rams with 22 kills, and Kaelani Adams added 15. Timberline (9-0, 6-0 PSL) visits Peninsula on Oct. 13.
North Thurston bounced back Thursday by sweeping River Ridge 25-13, 25-9, 25-14 to reach 8-2. MaxPreps’ automated recap says the Rams have won 36 of their last 39 matches.
Records are as reported before kickoff. Tonight’s scores weren’t available at press time (10 a.m. Friday).
Football: Blazers roll past Rams, 47–6
Timberline broke the Oct. 2 rivalry game open with a 20–0 third quarter at South Sound Stadium. The Blazers rushed for 296 yards, and star back Cooper Jones scored in his second game back from injury. North Thurston’s Mateo Henry opened the scoring with a 48-yard run. Timberline has won nine of the last 10 meetings.
Olympia’s Ibrahima Diallo (5) breaks away against Yelm, Sept. 26. Photo: John Holman Photography / for Thurston Chronicle
Ibrahima Diallo, Olympia: The senior set Olympia’s single-game rushing record on Sept. 26 with 355 yards and six TDs on just eight carries against Yelm. The Bears (5-1) are back on track after Thursday’s 59–0 win.
Capital QB Nolan Potts throws under pressure against River Ridge, Sept. 26. Photo: Dylan Reubenking / Thurston Chronicle
Nolan Potts, Capital: The senior quarterback piled up 352 total yards and three TDs in a 40–28 loss at Peninsula.
Tumwater: Unbeaten and ranked No. 6 in the state by MaxPreps, the T-Birds have outscored opponents 253–43.
Saint Martin’s (Lacey): Saints volleyball swept No. 25 Alaska Fairbanks 3–0 on Thursday, and the school reports Garten set the program’s career points record. The Saints host Alaska Anchorage Saturday at 1 p.m.
Lumen Field, home of the Seahawks and Sounders. Photo: PCN02WPS / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Seahawks (3-1) host the unbeaten 49ers Sunday at Lumen Field after a players-only meeting about penalties (14 for a franchise-record 150 yards vs. the Chargers). DT Leonard Williams (ankle) sat out Thursday’s practice. Kraken (2-2-0) lost D Ryan Lindgren to IR for 4–6 weeks and play at Detroit Friday. Sounders are unbeaten in eight and visit New England Saturday. Mariners: The season ended Sept. 27, and Dan Wilson is out as manager. Storm: Coach Sonia Raman returns after an 8-36 season.
Olympia City Council members with representatives of the Indigenous community after the Oct. 12 proclamation. Photo: The JOLT Staff via Teams
The City of Olympia and the Squaxin Island Tribe host a free celebration Oct. 12, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., at Squaxin Park (2600 East Bay Dr NE). Parking is limited. A free shuttle runs every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. out of the Olympia Farmers Market lot.
The water and dock at Nisqually Reach Nature Center. Photo: Nisqually Reach Nature Center
The Illustrated Nature Journal Project meets Sun., Oct. 25, 10 a.m.–noon, at 4949 D’Milluhr Dr NE. The visitor center is open Sat–Sun, noon–4 p.m.
Also Oct. 16: the Puget Sound Estuarium’s “Swim, Sip, Survive” salmon bar crawl (5:30 p.m.) and the Olympia History & Haunted Walking Tour (6 p.m.). See the calendar under Local Events.
Local Events: Arts & MusicDowntown Olympia · Oct. 9–19
A big week on downtown stages
Scottish rock, Gershwin, ABBA and Randy Rainbow, all at the Washington Center
The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St SE. Photo: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Skerryvore, three-time winners of Scotland’s Live Act of the Year, plays the Main Stage tonight, Fri., Oct. 9, at 8 p.m. The eight-piece band mixes bagpipes, fiddle and accordion with rock guitar and drums. A 21+ “Drams & Reels” whisky tasting starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Black Box and requires a concert ticket.
The Olympia Symphony opens its “Kaleidoscope” season with LIFT, Sun., Oct. 11, at 3 p.m. Pianist Calder Failla plays Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and the program also includes Jessie Montgomery’s Banner and excerpts from Wynton Marsalis’s Blues Symphony. Tickets are $18–$72; student seats (18 and under) are $10.
ABRA Cadabra performing its ABBA tribute. Photo: ABRA Cadabra / Moon Coin Productions, via Experience Olympia
The ABBA tribute ABRA Cadabra comes Wed., Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. ($57–$77). Comedian Randy Rainbow brings his “National Freakin’ Treasure” tour Thu., Oct. 15, at 7:30 p.m. Then on Sat., Oct. 17, 7–9 p.m., local dentists and the Jazz Senators perform “The Happiest Concert on Earth! A Tribute to Disney!” to benefit Olympia Union Gospel Mission’s no-fee dental clinic. Adult tickets are $24–$50 and youth (12 and under) $19–$48, fees included.
Harlequin: two plays in repertory at the State Theater
A scene from Harlequin’s Sanctuary City. Photo: Harlequin Productions
Martyna Majok’s Pulitzer-winning Sanctuary City runs Oct. 9–25 (90 minutes, PG-13). In this window it plays Oct. 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 11 at 2 p.m., Oct. 14 and 17 at 2 p.m., and Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. (captioned). Thornton Wilder’s Our Town plays Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. (captioned), Oct. 15–17 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. Both are at 202 4th Ave E. Box office: (360) 786-0151.
Poster for the 2026 show. Image: BigShowCity, via Experience Olympia
Dance, music, comedy, clowning, burlesque and juggling at Wild Child, 414 4th Ave E, Oct. 9–11 and 16–18 at 8 p.m. (ages 16+), plus an all-ages matinee Sun., Oct. 18, at 2 p.m. Suggested donation is $25–$35, and youth matinee tickets are $7. No one is turned away for lack of funds.
The Capitol Theater, 206 5th Ave SE. Photo: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Comedian Gary Gulman brings his “Grandiloquent” tour Fri., Oct. 16, at 8 p.m. The Olympia Film Society is also screening a 4K restoration of the Japanese ghost-story classic Kwaidan on Oct. 9 and 11, and its Kids Club shows Mary and the Witch’s Flower on Sundays, Oct. 11 and 18, at 1 p.m. Kids Club is free for kids 12 and under and $13 for everyone else.
Show poster for The Crypt. Image: The Crypt Bar, via Experience Olympia
Olympia’s all-woman folk-rock band Fern Spores headlines with Seattle’s OK Tiger and Portland’s Fox & Bones Sat., Oct. 17, 8–11 p.m., at The Crypt, 421 4th Ave E. Tickets are $12.
Olympia Farmers Market (700 Capitol Way N) has live music 11 a.m.–2 p.m. every market day, Thursday through Sunday. Performer names for October weren’t posted. “Nocturnal”, new paintings by Liza Brenner and Jonathan Happ and mixed-media sculpture by Loralin Toney, is on view at Childhood’s End Gallery, 222 4th Ave W.
Sun 10/18 Vaudeville all-ages matinee · Wild Child
2:00
Thu–Sun Farmers Market music
11–2
Times are p.m. unless marked a. Confirm with the venue before you go.
Traffic & SafetyBefore you head out
I-5 Lacey–DuPont night closures through November
Project area on I-5 between Lacey and DuPont. Map: WSDOT
WSDOT is replacing worn concrete panels. Expect nightly lane and ramp closures, with the speed limit cut to 45 mph in the work zone. Work moves to southbound lanes as early as Mon., Oct. 12. Ramps that may close at night include the Marvin Rd on-ramp to NB I-5, both Martin Way E exits, the Nisqually on-ramp to NB I-5, and the SB exit to Mounts Rd. Speed cameras may be active.
Handcuffed suspect escapes patrol car near Black Lake
Body camera footage of deputies and K9 Mac taking the suspect into custody, Oct. 5. Image: Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, via The Chronicle
On Oct. 5 a domestic-violence suspect used his handcuffs to short out a disabled window switch and ran. He broke into a second home before K9 Mac found him under a porch. He was booked on escape, burglary and other charges.
