Informative walking tours of Olympia a community asset

Thumbs Down: The Commission on Judicial Conduct has issued a formal reprimand against Tumwater and Tenino Municipal Court Judge John V. Lyman for violating the state’s Code of Judicial Conduct last September when he drove under the influence of alcohol, struck an unattended vehicle and left the scene. It’s the first disciplinary action against a South Sound judge in recent memory, which speaks to the caliber of the local bench. In January, Lyman was granted a deferred prosecution for two gross misdemeanors – a charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants and a charge of hit-and-run. The criminal charges will be dismissed, provided that he completes two years of intensive outpatient alcohol treatment, then an additional three years of probation. He remains on the bench. Lyman is not the first public figure in South Sound to get caught driving under the influence. Nor, regrettably, will he be the last. But the judge has been given a second chance by the courts and by the Judicial Conduct Commission. He must not disappoint.

After more than a year of planning, the Lacey Chamber of Commerce staged a new community event last weekend – the South Sound BBQ Festival. The festival featured barbecued food, blues music, classic cars and about 15 barbecue enthusiasts who competed in five categories of barbecue: beef, pork, chicken, seafood and “other,” which could mean venison, for example, or grilled macaroni and cheese. “I thought it was spectacular,” said Al Eckroth, a chamber board member and one of the organizers. “It was a great event that everybody said they loved and where they had a lot of fun.” One of the highlights was a spontaneous chicken dance that was staged between rounds in the chicken wing eating contest. About 200 people of all ages jumped to their feet and joined the high-spirited dance. Will the BBQ and blues festival be back next year? Eckroth said the chamber members only planned the first year, not knowing whether it would be a boon or a bust. From the reports, it was definitely a boon, so let’s hope there’s a year two and that the barbecue and blues festival becomes part of the summer schedule in South Sound.

Thumbs Up: The City of Lacey has teamed up with the Thurston Energy program to provide home energy audits at a discounted price for 225 homes on a first-come, first-served basis. Lacey residents can sign up for a project this summer to make their homes more energy-efficient. Residents who complete energy conservation measures in their homes would then be eligible for rebates that cover the original cost of the home energy audit. The project is made possible by $90,000 that the city received through a federal Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant. “Local citizens can benefit from energy savings while these Recovery Act dollars stimulate the growth of jobs in our economy,” said Lacey Mayor Tom Nelson. The home energy audits will cost $95. That’s about $100 less than the normal cost. Once the audit is complete, the homeowner will receive a list of recommended home energy upgrades such as insulation, new doors and windows, energy-efficient appliances and water fixtures, or heating and cooling system upgrades. A homeowner who spends at least $950 on eligible upgrades gets a $95 rebate to cover the cost of the audit. What a great way for Lacey residents to learn about needed energy improvements in their home and – potentially – have the audit paid for.