South Sound

Online schools make gains

About 400 students in kindergarten through 12th grade who live in the Olympia, Tumwater and North Thurston school districts transferred this year to fully online public schools locally or in other districts.

Drop in fuel costs eases pain, but not much

The Olympia-area average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline has dropped below $2 for the first time in nearly five years, falling to $1.94 over the weekend, according to AAA data.

County aims to close budget gap

Thurston County has proposed several steps, including additional layoffs and cutting funding for some departments, to balance its budget next year.

Regional briefs for Dec. 1

• Artist supply store's closing prompts sale
• Maintenance to halt service at library
• Commission to talk about tree removals
• Opening ceremony for eye care center
• School district plans meeting for today

East Bay site seeks developer at Port of Olympia

OLYMPIA — The Port of Olympia is looking for developers who are interested in building mixed-use buildings on 6.83 acres of the Port's East Bay redevelopment project.

Community Watch - Dec. 1

A reader wonders when drivers must slow down to 20 mph in a school zone and when they return to the posted speed limit.

Parade brings holiday cheer into downtown Olympia

OLYMPIA — Families were out in force, lining Capitol Way and filling the stores at the Downtown for the Holidays event on Sunday.

Army, VA seek answers to rising suicide rate

"Do you think that God's going to send me to hell for killing innocent people?" former Sgt. Joshua Barber asked his wife one day last summer. Kelly Barber tried to reassure her distraught husband. Nearly three years after a combat tour in Iraq, he was a shell of the loving and fun-loving man she'd married nine years earlier. The 31-year-old soldier killed himself three weeks after asking that terrible question.
• Families face grim reality of loss
• Fellow soldiers search for answers after gunner's suicide

Charities could feel pinch of everyone's shrinking wallets

South Sound's economy likely hasn't hit bottom, and already area food banks, soup kitchens and other emergency-aid groups say they are seeing a rise in need. Most organizations, such as the Thurston County Food Bank in Olympia, are making ends meet — taking in as much donated food as the are giving out — at least for now.

Downtown Olympia shop's window broken

OLYMPIA — Mathias Eichler noticed the damage Thursday when he drove by his downtown business to go to a relative's place for a Thanksgiving meal.