Yelm, WA Local News and More

Tacoma man killed his father during mental health crisis. Here's his sentence

A Tacoma-area man who fatally shot his father with a shotgun last year has been sentenced to 15 years and three months in prison. A psychologist found that the shooter was in the throes of a mental health crisis at the time. Michael Paul Courtney, 42, pleaded guilty Oct. 16 to second-degree murder with a firearm for the death of 63-year-old Paul Courtney in his Parkland home. After his arrest, Michael Courtney’s mother told law enforcement that her son had been acting strangely in the days leading up to the incident, saying odd things and talking to himself. According to court documents, the defendant’s parents were watching a Seattle Mariners game the evening of Oct. 10, 2025 when his mother heard him talking upstairs as if he was communicating to another person. Michael Courtney’s father walked upstairs to ask him who he was talking to. The defendant’s mother later reported that she heard her husband ask, “Who are you talking to?” and “Are you pointing a gun at me?” just before hearing the fatal gunshot. Pierce County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the home in the 400 block of 142nd Street Court South shortly after 8 p.m. Michael Courtney did

Tacoma, WA · 2d

The Olympian

partner publisher · 21.3K followers

Recent Olympia-area business closures, including a drive-in restaurant

Multiple longtime Olympia-area businesses have announced closures in recent weeks, including a Lacey bakery, a west Olympia drive-in and a farm supply store. Here are key takeaways: Miss Moffett’s Mystical Cupcakes in Lacey plans to close by the end of the year after nearly 14 years in business. Owner Rachel Young, who finished as runner-up on Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” in 2013, cited declining sales, higher gas prices keeping customers away and rising food, labor and utility costs. Builders FirstSource has closed its west Olympia location at 1830 Black Lake Blvd. SW, consolidating operations into its Lakewood and Shelton facilities. The Coastal Farm & Ranch store at 5500 Martin Way E. in Lacey is winding down operations by Dec. 31 , according to store manager Rob Re. Everything is being sold, including fixtures, with current discounts up to 50% expected to grow as the final day nears. The Sonic Drive-In at 1303 Cooper Point Road SW in west Olympia permanently closed Oct. 15 , a company spokesperson confirmed. Sonic encouraged customers to visit its Lacey location at 7746 Martin Way E. The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by Olympian reporter Rolf Boone.

Olympia, WA · 1d

The Chronicle

Thurston County man injured after crashing into tree

A Yelm man crashed his car into a tree while speeding on state Route 510 in Thurston County on Sunday. Andrew Juarez, 34,   was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital for treatment of

Thurston County, WA · 2d

The Olympian

Major downtown Olympia road to close for three years during construction, WA says

The updated plans for restoring the Deschutes Estuary in downtown Olympia from its current status as a stagnant lake have gotten the attention of residents due to one specific change: The entire portion of Deschutes Parkway around Capitol Lake will need to be closed for up to three years to get the work done. Olympia resident Bill Elliott said on Nextdoor on Oct. 30 that he learned about the planned road closure at a public open house for the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Oct. 28 at the Olympia Center. He said the event was only attended by about 20 people. “An up to 3-year closure of Deschutes Parkway Southwest between Lakeridge Drive and 5th Avenue is now being proposed for the Deschutes Estuary Restoration project,” he said. “The up to 3-year street closure is to allow for construction of the new roundabout at the intersection of Deschutes Parkway SW, Olympic Street, and the new bridge approach. That seems like a very generous street closure duration for the described work.” According to previous reporting, the project is one of the biggest urban restoration projects in the country. By the time construction starts, the cost of restoring the Deschutes Estuary

The Olympian

Teriyaki spot scores 100 red points. Here are Thurston Co. food scores for Nov. 10

Comments are taken directly from the latest Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) inspection reports, which are available for each food establishment, at the Thurston County Environmental Health Office and their website. For questions concerning these reports, contact the health office at 360-867-2667. Report restaurant, grocery store, deli or bakery complaints online via the complaint form here: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/phss/Pages/eh-problem.aspx . Reading inspection scores: Red violations are those most likely to cause food-borne illness and must be corrected immediately if feasible or according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: not keeping food at the right temperature. Blue violations relate to the overall cleanliness and condition of operation and must be corrected according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: a worn floor that needs replacing. If red points exceed 45, the county will require a reinspection within 10 business days. A reinspection also is required if total red and blue points exceed 65. If red points exceed 100 and there’s a lack of managerial control, the county may shut down the establishment. The establishment may reopen after the person-in-charge develops a written course of action to correct all violations and demonstrates corrective action

Thurston County, WA · 1d

The Olympian

Man accused of groping woman inside downtown coffee shop, Olympia police say

A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation after he allegedly groped a female customer at a downtown coffee shop in Olympia. About 11 a.m. Monday, police responded to the coffee shop in the 600 block of Fourth Avenue East, which is across from Olympia City Hall and the police station. The man was outside the business when the 46-year-old customer entered it. Witnesses said he appeared to be watching her when he came into the store, Lt. Paul Lower said Tuesday. He then allegedly walked behind her, moved closer, began to ask odd questions and then groped the woman’s buttocks, Lower said. Coffee shop staff called 911. Meanwhile, the man went outside and allegedly began to bang on the windows. That’s where police found him and took him into custody, Lower said. Staff at a coffee shop in the 500 block of Capitol Way South also reported that the man exposed himself there at 7 a.m. Monday, Lower said.

Tacoma News Tribune

New roundabout opens in Pierce Co. ‘Major construction' finishes soon on another

Transportation crews are closing the loop on two new roundabouts in Pierce County. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced Monday that it has finished building a roundabout in Spanaway and is nearing the end of construction on another near McKenna. The Spanaway roundabout , located on state Route 507 at 208th Street South, has been under construction since May. Department spokesperson Adrienne Hatmaker told The News Tribune in an email that crews removed the temporary traffic lights from the work zone and reopened the closed portion of the road on Sept. 24, but intermittent flagging continued through Oct. 28 as crews finished permanent striping, landscaping, and prep for permanent light pole installation. “If the weather cooperates next week, the contractor plans to finish some minor construction activities at the SR 507 roundabout,” Hatmaker said. Travelers may see a “few more days” of daytime flagging from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m, she added. Near McKenna, crews are wrapping up construction on the other roundabout at the SR 702 and Harts Lake Road intersection, which began in June, WSDOT said. The department said it expects “major construction” on SR 702 to finish this month, depending on the weather. The locations

Pierce County, WA · 2d

familydestinationsguide.com

This No-Frills Neighborhood Diner Serves The Best All-Day Breakfast In Washington

Some places don’t need a fancy sign or a velvet rope to tell you they’re worth your time, and the Martin Way Diner in Olympia, Washington is exactly that kind of place. The parking lot is always busy, the coffee is always hot, and nobody’s going to judge you for ordering breakfast at two in the afternoon.

MyNorthwest.com

Former inmate who says transgender cellmate assaulted her wins federal case against WA prisons, attorney says

A former inmate said she was sexually assaulted by her cellmate at the women’s prison in Gig Harbor. She has now won her federal civil rights case against the state, according to her attorney. Mozzy Clark said the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) put her in a cell with...

Gig Harbor, WA · 2d

Tacoma News Tribune

‘Deeply loved': Victim in Lakewood shooting ID'ed as 23-year-old man

A man from Belfair died over the weekend after a shooting in Lakewood. According to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s public portal , the man was 23-year-old James Declements-Rhodes. The shooting happened at about 1:40 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 6 outside a strip mall in the 8700 block of South Tacoma Way, The News Tribune previously reported. Police don’t believe Declements-Rhodes was an intentional target, according to Sgt. Charles Porche, spokesperson for the Lakewood Police Department. A “Chevy Tahoe-type vehicle” turned into the lot, and a passenger shot several rounds out of a gun at “no one in particular,” then sped off. When officers arrived, the vehicle had already left the scene, Porche said. Declements-Rhodes was in critical condition on Friday, Porche previously told The News Tribune. The ME portal says Declements-Rhodes died on Saturday, Nov. 7. “Detectives will continue working on the incident to develop leads to help identify the suspect in this shooting,” Porche wrote. “If there is anyone that has information to assist them in the investigation they are encouraged to call the Police Department.” The News Tribune has reached out to LPD to ask if there have been any updates in the investigation since Friday. ‘James

Lakewood, WA · 2d

Yahoo!

partner publisher · 983 followers

Wheelchair malfunction on Puyallup train tracks may have caused man’s death

One of the Good Samaritans who tried to rescue a man from a wheelchair at a Puyallup railroad crossing last month is providing new clues about why the wheelchair may have stopped. On Oct. 21, 59-year-old Richie Geiger was hit by a train and killed. Loved ones believed his wheelchair...

Puyallup, WA · 17h

First For Autos

Diesel Truck Blasts Corvette With Thick Black Smoke During Road-Rage Incident in Viral Video

A resurfaced viral video clip featuring a merging dispute in Tacoma, Washington, has renewed scrutiny over the practice of modifying diesel trucks to blast thick black exhaust at other motorists. According to The Auto Wire, the widely shared footage shows a pickup appearing to aim its exhaust at a C4-generation Chevrolet Corvette, enveloping the sports […]

Tacoma, WA · 1d

southsoundmag.com

Olympia's New Dermatology Option

Olympia residents now have another place to pamper their nails, skin, and hair. Currently taking appointments, Epiphany Dermatology has opened new office in the city, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for Dec. 11. The space is at 704 Lily Road SE. The business's dermatologist, Dr. Heidi Dearborn, specializes in skin-cancer...

KING-5

partner publisher · 21.3K followers

Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County seeks adopters and fosters as dog intakes climb

TACOMA, Wash. — The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County is asking the community for help as a surge in dog intakes pushes the shelter beyond capacity. Since Nov. 1, 130 dogs have come into the shelter's care, 30 more than during the same period last month, according to a social media post from the organization.

Tacoma, WA · 6h

The Chronicle

Chehalis teen accused of burglarizing business, ramming police vehicles 

An 18-year-old Chehalis man is back behind bars about a month after he was released on unsecured bail for allegedly stealing Pokemon cards from a downtown Centralia toy store.  Peyton Perry

Centralia, WA · 2d

thurstontalk.com

partner publisher · 64.6K followers

Top Local News – Thurston County – November 9, 2026

Your daily roundup of local news from Thurston County, Washington — covering Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Tenino, and Rochester. 1. SeaPort Airlines plans seasonal Spokane-Olympia route for 2027 legislative session. 📍 Olympia. In Olympia, SeaPort Airlines announced a seasonal route linking Spokane and Olympia that is set to...

Thurston County, WA · 2d

CDLLife

Body cam footage shows arrest of man who could not figure out how to steal a farm’s tractor trailer

The arrest of a man who attempted to steal a tractor trailer from a farm was caught on police body cam footage last week. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office was called on November 4th after a security guard watched a man attempt to steal a semi truck parked at a farm and smoke something inside […] The post Body cam footage shows arrest of man who could not figure out how to steal a farm’s tractor trailer appeared first on CDLLife .

Pierce County, WA · 3d

The Chronicle

partner publisher · 21.3K followers

Chehalis City Council welcomes new police officer to the force

The City of Chehalis welcomed a new police officer with a swearing-in ceremony in front of the Chehalis City Council. Chehalis Police Department Deputy Chief Matt McKnight led the ceremony for

Chehalis, WA · 20h

Tacoma News Tribune