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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Who owns the ‘Jungle' homeless encampment in Olympia?
Days after The Olympian published a story about an elected official and others touring the homeless encampment known as the Jungle — a meeting that was spurred by concerns about recent violence at the camp — readers had more questions about the site between Martin Way and Pacific Avenue near Interstate 5. Chief among those questions: Who owns the land? The answer: Although the city of Olympia owns some of it, most is privately held by a business called JJP Group LLC, which also owns the Chevron station near the camp on its Pacific Avenue side. A representative of JJP Group LLC declined to comment. The Olympian, working with a Thurston County Assessor's Office representative, identified six parcels owned by JJP Group between Martin Way and Pacific Avenue that total 16.40 acres. The city owns two parcels that total 6.75 acres. Why does the city own those parcels and what arrangement do they have to access the site for camp residents? The city-owned property was purchased in June 2021, said Assistant City Manager Stacey Ray. 'The city purchased the property for multiple uses including, but not limited to, the future extension of Ensign Road and to allow the city more flexibility in managing several informal homeless encampments and providing other housing and homeless services to individuals living there,' she said. Accessing the private property, including a large chunk of land near Martin Way, is the result of a two-year option agreement to purchase land in the area that was agreed to between the city and JJP, Ray said. That option is still in place, she said, and it specifies that access will be allowed for trash cleanup, homeless outreach activities and for the installation and construction of fencing between the camp and neighboring businesses, she said. Neighbors weigh in The Olympian decided to ask a neighboring business owner about the experience of operating next door to the camp. THC of Olympia, a marijuana retailer, couldn't be closer. The business is situated steps away from the front entrance to the camp at 3200 Martin Way E. THC owner Ciaran Wilburn, who has been there for about nine years, said the camp has evolved from one he described as a group of 'old-timers looking to escape society' to what he called a 'large drug and mental health crisis.' Wilburn said he does not have many issues with the people who occupy the camp, but he scoffed at a city officials who say the city is doing a good job of balancing accountability with compassion at the Jungle. 'This is compassion?' said Wilburn as he stood outside his business and gestured at the camp. He rattled off a list things that would help: better defined camp spaces, more sanitation services, running water and security cameras that might prevent crime. 'Put the camera systems up you have in the grocery store parking lot, so at least there's the illusion of security,' he said. Wilburn wasn't done. 'This is the most accepting area I've ever visited, and this is how we're dealing with this? It's a joke,' he said. 'Nine years of watching this, the city's a joke.' What do camp residents say? The Olympian spent time at the front entrance to the camp to interview those coming and going. Those interviewed were uncomfortable with using their full names, but they did agree to first names and ages. Former long-term camp resident, Danielle, 35, pulled up in her car to pick up some people on the fringe of the camp. She recalled it was kind of cool to build her own shelter there, but although the camp was safe for the most part, it had an 'uncomfortable energy.' She said she was finally able to get housing with the assistance of the Family Support Center. She said there needs to be more shelters for women, so they don't have to wait as long in a camp like the Jungle for housing. 'It's not right, it's not fair,' she said. Does the camp govern itself? She said it is self-governing to a degree and that people hold each other accountable. When young people enter the camp because they are curious about it, they are told to leave, she said. 'It's not OK. The young should not be here.' Mark, 36, originally from California, said he has lived in the camp a long time. 'I like it here,' he said, adding that he has freedom in the camp and nobody bothers him. He described the camp as safe. C.J., 49, who was sitting in the backseat of Danielle's car, said she lived in the Jungle for five years before she secured housing. She said the camp has a hierarchy, but it's not too different from regular society in that there's an expectation that you'll pick up after yourself and not touch other people's stuff. There was a time when the camp had an 'aura of peace and calm' to it, but not in the last 18 months, she said. In that time, The Olympian has reported about a rape at the camp and the violent assault of a woman by a group of people. Wolf, 59, said he has lived at the camp for the last six to seven months. 'The goal is to get out of here,' he said. He, too, said the camp is 95% safe, although there are a few characters in the Jungle that account for that 5%. 'A lot of people help each other,' he said, adding that it feels like a 'big, loose, chaotic family.' Equal time When The Olympian wrote about the tour of the camp, one of those on hand was Olympia City Council candidate Wendy Carlson, who is challenging incumbent Clark Gilman. Gilman did not participate in that tour, so in the interest of equal time, The Olympian reached out to him after Tuesday night's council meeting to get his thoughts about the camp. Here's what he had to say: 'I agree that the living conditions are not appropriate for anybody at the Jungle, but I also recognize the reality that we don't have the resources to just end it,' he said. 'And so instead, we're in a position of managing it as best we can, and that's been through a combination of policing, of social work and mutual aid outreach, of having our crisis responders be in relationships with people there.' Gilman also said that without policy changes the problem continues. 'There's not a finite number of people who are very poor or who are not able to access health care services that they need,' he said. 'And as long as we keep minting more people who are very poor, and as long as we keep reducing what's available for health care, we're going to continue to have more individuals who are in this situation that we're trying to help as best we can and to manage the situation.' Concerns about 'Jungle' homeless encampment spur tour with Lacey, Olympia officials Four people charged in connection with June 18 attack in Olympia's 'Jungle' Olympia man charged with attempted murder in Lacey rape case faces new rape charge Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
15-07-2025
- Fox News
Video of suspected 'honor killing' plot resurfaces as parents stand trial for attempted murder
The trial for a Washington father and his wife accused of trying to kill their 17-year-old daughter in October 2024 is slated to begin Monday. Ihsan Ali, 44, and his 40-year-old wife, the victim's mother, Zahraa Ali, are charged with second-degree attempted murder, second-degree attempted kidnapping, first-degree attempted kidnapping, and second-degree domestic violence assault in Thurston County. Additionally, Ihsan Ali is charged with fourth-degree assault and Zahraa Ali is charged with violation of a domestic violence protective order and second-degree burglary. The parents' alleged Oct. 18, 2024, attack on their own teenage daughter may have been a possible "honor killing" attempt, according to witness accounts detailed in court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. The victim told police that her father was "trying to force her to go to another country, which had prompted her to run away earlier in the day." She went to her former public school, Timberline High School in Lacey County, believing she could get help from adults there, and her father, mother and sister allegedly followed her to the school, an affidavit filed on Oct. 24, 2024, states. The 17-year-old girl said a school counselor helped her find a room at "Safe Haven," and her plan was to take a city bus from the school to get there. While waiting for the city bus, the victim's father allegedly approached her and "said she needed to go home," the affidavit states. "He would not take no for an answer and began pulling at her shirt. She said that once she was placed into a choke hold, she was unable to breathe or speak, and then passed out," the affidavit says, adding later that the victim believes she lost consciousness several times while her father allegedly choked her. Video footage of the attack recently obtained by The Daily Mail shows part of the fight unfolding at the public bus stop. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Alis' attorney, Erik Kaeding, for comment. Multiple witness accounts detailed in the affidavit say the victim's father approached and attacked the victim while the victim's 16-year-old boyfriend got between the two and tried to intervene. The victim's father allegedly punched the 16-year-old boy, who in turn began "punching Ishan [Ali] in the head to get him to let go of [the victim]." Witnesses also described seeing the victim's eyes roll back while her father allegedly choked her, according to court documents. The victim's boyfriend's mother later told police that she had been present once for a CPS interview with the 17-year-old victim in which she apparently stated that "her father had recently been threatening her with honor killing for refusing an arranged marriage with an older man in another country." The victim's boyfriend told police he believed the 17-year-old victim was "going to die while her father was choking her out on the ground," the affidavit reads. The victim also said she "thought she was going to die" and recalled her mother and sister "trying to grab hold of her" during the incident. READ THE AFFIDAVIT: While the fight was underway, a bystander witness saw Ishan Ali put the girl in a chokehold "and would not let go." He intervened "and was eventually able to get the female to break away and detained Ishan for law enforcement as he was the primary aggressor," court documents read. The boyfriend's father, Victor Barnes, previously told FOX 13 Seattle that he is glad his son "was there to save [the victim's] life" but added that he needs "more explanation about why the adults were so careless." He told the outlet an adult should have escorted the victim to the bus stop rather than his 16-year-old son. "High school for me is a time I'd never forget. It was probably some of the four funniest years of my life, and it's unfortunate he would have to experience something like this in high school," said Barnes. He further told the outlet that he had to file a restraining order against the victim's parents because they kept showing up to his family's home looking for the victim prior to the assault, FOX 13 reported.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thurston County Auditor's Office wins five national awards for public service projects
Jun. 20—The Thurston County Auditor's Office won five Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for standout programs that improved election security, expanded access to services and strengthened community trust, according to a county news release. The NACo Achievement Awards recognize innovative and effective county programs that make a difference for residents. "We work every year to improve how we serve our community," Mary Hall, Thurston County auditor, said in the release. "We innovate because it helps us do better. These awards reflect the spirit of our office, always looking for better ways to work." The auditor's office earned awards for the Elections Security Enhancement Program; the Saturday Passport Fairs; Voting Access at Your Library; Public Transit Partnership for Voter Access; and Your Neighbors, Your Elections. Thurston County Elections launched a major security upgrade for its new Voting and Ballot Processing Center, using federal grant funds. The Elections Security Enhancement Program installed ballistic-resistant materials like bulletproof glass, doors and sheetwork to create a secure safe room for election staff. The office also added on-site law enforcement during elections and worked closely with local and federal agencies to assess threats and improve emergency plans. To meet high demand for passport services, the auditor's office held two Saturday Passport Fairs in 2024. These events helped over 70 people apply for passports and took more than 50 passport photos. They were designed for people who couldn't make it during the week and helped reduce weekday wait times. The first fair included staff support from Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland's office and the Seattle Passport Agency. Thurston County Elections partnered with Timberland Regional Library to offer voter assistance at four library branches during the 2024 general election for the Voting Access at Your Library program. Trained library staff helped voters register and print replacement ballots, and election officials handled ballot collection. For the Public Transit Partnership for Voter Access program, Intercity Transit extended bus service to the Voting Center past 8 p.m. on Election Day, improved Americans with Disabilities Act access and updated route maps to highlight voting locations. Elections staff also used Intercity Transit's community vans to move between facilities, saving money and reducing parking issues. To help build trust in elections, Thurston County created a video campaign called "Your Neighbors, Your Elections" featuring real election workers sharing why they care about their jobs. Filmed inside the Ballot Processing and Voting Centers, the short videos show staff pride and commitment to integrity.
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Celebrity dog trainer's assistant is KILLED in freak 'accident' during filming of promo video involving gun
A Washington State aspiring dog trainer was shot and killed by his celebrity boss while filming an advertisement. Curtice Gordon, 23, was killed on June 3 while working at the Kraftwerk K9 German Shephard training facility, reported The Chronicle. His boss, Wayne Curry, 64, has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly shooting Gordon while they were recording a promotional video. Thurston County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a report of a person who had been shot around 10:28 a.m. Investigators determined a group of individuals had been filming training videos involving gunfire. 'During this activity, one of the handlers fired a weapon loaded with live ammunition,' the sheriff's office said. 'Tragically, [Gordon] was struck by a round and died as a result.' According to a court affidavit, first responders found Gordon not breathing and suffering from a gunshot wound to the face. He was pronounced dead at the scene. '[Gordon] was struck in the face near his nose by a stray round from Wayne's weapon and lost his life as a result,' the document said. Investigators stated that the incident occurred during a video and photography shoot for an advertisement for Kraftwerk K9 that Curry had organized. Gordon, who was a manager at Kraftwerk K9 and regularly appeared in ads, was tasked with 'agitating the dog, using a whip for noise and wearing a bite sleeve,' according to the affidavit. Curry allegedly wanted to show that his dogs would not react to gunfire and directed Gordon to about 30 feet to the left of a target he shot at. '[Curry] said in the video, the dog is supposed to bark in a certain direction, and he'd shoot the target in a different direction, and then the dog would go and bite the guy with the sleeve,' prosecutors said. Court documents state that, 'At one point, the dog reacted from a down position to standing and jerked Wayne's body as he was handling the gun. The next thing everyone knew, they heard a groan from Curtice, and he collapsed.' Curry allegedly told investigators, 'When he saw Curtice drop, he said he wasn't sure if he did it to fake it because they were making a movie.' Thurston County prosecutors charged Curry with manslaughter, claiming he acted recklessly by using live rounds in the demonstration. According to the affidavit, Curry denied having any intention of hurting his employee. His heartbroken mother, Mandy Gordon, told local news station KING 5 her son dreamed of becoming a dog trainer. 'He was literally perfect if you're going to make a man. A provider, a protector of women, children, and animals,' she said. 'This was not an accident. People can call it unintentional, but not an accident. When you drink and drive and kill someone, that's not an accident. You made a choice to do something that could harm someone else.' She said Gordon's fiancée, Leira Wilson, had warned her son to be careful during the shoot because Curry had a history of jokingly pointing weapons at people and dogs. '[Wilson] actually told him the night before, "Don't let him point that gun at you," said Mandy Gordon. 'She just kept telling him, "Be careful. Be careful."' Curry was released from jail on $25,000 bail and has an arraignment hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man accused of shooting AR-15 at WA deputy faces life in prison
The Brief The man accused of shooting an AR-15 at a Thurston County deputy faces life behind bars. Damien Madison fled the state after opening fire on a deputy during a high-speed chase, according to investigators. More than a month after the crime, Madison finally appeared in a Thurston County courtroom packed with deputies, with his trial now scheduled for August. OLYMPIA, WA - The man accused of firing an AR-15-style rifle at a sheriff's deputy during a high-speed chase in Thurston County and fleeing the state appeared in court Wednesday. Damien Madison, 27, faces multiple charges in connection to this crimespree including first-degree assault, drive-by shooting, unlawful possession of a gun. Madison also has several active cases in Thurston County. During the hearing, the prosecution addressed the judge regarding Madison's charges. "He was willing to sacrifice his own safety, the safety of the men and women in this community that give their lives every single day, and that he fired upon them in such a wanton and disregard for the safety of everyone in this community is abhorrent to the state," a prosecutor said in court. "Mr. Madison is someone who poses an extreme danger to himself, to the loved one that was with him, to everyone that operates a motor vehicle in this community," she added. What they're saying About 50 deputies from the Thurston County Sheriff's Office filled the courtroom in a show of support. Sheriff Derek Sanders said the large turnout was about standing with one of their own. "If you think that no one got hurt, you don't get shot at and just come back normal. I don't care who you are. Whether you're in law enforcement, or military, member of the community, anytime you got rounds flying your way, you don't come out the same on the other side. I would just say it's important for our deputies to see the kind of community support," Sanders said. During the hearing, Madison wiped his eyes several times and buried his head in his hands after the judge noted he could face life in prison if convicted. "I hope there is some remorse, and regardless of how this case resolves, even for the worst of the worst offenders, I hope they can find a way to somehow become better people and amend what they have done," Sanders added. Madison is currently being held without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled, and trial proceedings are expected to begin later this summer. The Source Information in this story came from the Thurston County Sheriff's Office and FOX 13 Seattle reporting. Anti-ICE protesters clash with police at Seattle Federal Building Home of Seattle rapper Macklemore invaded, nanny maced: police 2 dead after 'tragic' bus accident at Seattle retirement home WA deputies arrest teens for pistol-whipping boy, armed robberies Cyberattack hits supplier to Whole Foods and PCC; could impact store supplies To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
