The Tacoma News Tribune reports that the arrest rate for juveniles has decreased statewide in 2004. The article references the website for the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, but I couldn't see the 2004 report on the site. I did find the 2003 annual report, however. Digging in the report a little reveals that last year Thurston County actually had higher than average juvenile arrests when compared with the rest of the state (including larger counties like King and Pierce):

In 2003, counties with juvenile populations age 10-17 over 5,000, with an arrest rate above the statewide average of 54.0 per 1,000 juveniles...include Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Cowlitz, Franklin, Grant, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Okanogan, Skagit, Thurston, Walla Walla, Whatcom, and Yakama.

Thurston County's rate was 60.1 for 2003. Rural counties seemed to be generally higher than urban counties. It will be interesting to see the breakdown for 2004, and whether Thurston County is still higher than the state average. Is the urban/rural difference due to meth? Anybody know?

[update 9/28/05]

I have it from a reliable source that the urban/rural difference is due to meth. Did you know that at its highest (1994), the arrest rate for juveniles was nearly 1 in 10 (95.4/1k)?

The Olympian runs an article today about the port commission meeting last night. It sounds like Olympians don't much like the idea of a sports arena:

"It (arena) is a pulsating business that would bring traffic," said Dave Dressel. He, too, frowned on the boom-or-bust contrast of more traffic and lack of activity when events weren't scheduled at an arena.

Many said they favored "holistic, mixed-use" developments such as a maritime museum, botanical garden, condos and nearby shops.

Then there's this from the commissioners:

The commissioners repeatedly assured the audience that they have not made up their minds on how East Bay should be developed.

"It's not likely that any decisions will happen until the spring of next year," commissioner Bob Van Schoorl said. He added that commissioners had not ruled out mixed-use development of the property.

This sounds a bit ominous. They haven't "ruled out mixed use"? It sounds to me that the public wants mixed use to be at the top of the list.

I still think a artist's market and college extension campus would be great.