Large power outage, apartment fire, YMCA changes: July 17 roundup

Thurston County news July 17 included business updates, a major power outage and an overnight apartment fire in Tumwater.

Here are key takeaways:

• Ebony and Ivory Coffee in Lacey will undergo a full makeover starting July 20 for about three weeks, operating with a simplified menu and limited hours while remaining open at 676 Woodland Square Loop SE.
• South Sound YMCA President and CEO Kyle Cronk will retire at the end of 2026 after 38 years with the YMCA, as the organization pushes forward with a proposed 80,000-square-foot facility in northeast Lacey featuring four indoor basketball courts and a swimming pool.
• Chris Wells, former leader of the United Way of Thurston County, has been named interim CEO of Homes First, the Lacey-based affordable housing provider, replacing Trudy Soucoup after her 14 years in the role.
• A large power outage hit more than 1,300 northeast Thurston County residents on Friday afternoon after a big tree leaned onto a transmission line in the 4600 block of Marvin Road NE, with Puget Sound Energy estimating restoration by 6 p.m.
• A fire at the Montair at Somerset Hill apartments in Tumwater on Thursday night killed a cat. Crews contained the blaze within 10 minutes; the cause is under investigation but does not appear suspicious.

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.