Arson suspect, $2.5M property purchase, cellphones at school: July 15 roundup

Thurston County news July 15 included a multimillion-dollar property purchase, a suspect in an Olympia arson case and a school board vote.

Here are key takeaways:

• Thurston County plans to buy a $2.5 million Tumwater property at 7721 New Market St. SW for the Sheriff’s Office to store vehicles and evidence, with a formal vote expected July 21.
• A 38-year-old is being held on $1 million bail after his July 10 arrest on suspicion of assaulting a person in the Jungle encampment and setting an Olympia apartment unit on fire.
• The North Thurston Public Schools board voted 4-1 to allow high school students to use cellphones during lunch and between classes, while keeping the ban for preschool through 8th grade.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.