Local News
Man, 67, falls victim to scam, loses $9,000, Centralia police say
A 67-year-old man has fallen victim to a scam and lost thousands of dollars as a result, according to the Centralia Police Department in Lewis County.  The crime was reported to police …
Centralia man injured in crash in Cowlitz County
A man from Centralia was injured Friday morning when his vehicle rolled into a fence in Lexington. According to a Washington State Patrol press release, Carl D. Nielsen, 65, of Centralia, was …
Centralia College spring musical explores mental health issues with musical ‘Next to Normal’ 
Theaters often choose lighthearted shows for their end-of-season productions, but Centralia College chose a different route this year, ending its 2023-24 season with the rock musical “Next to …
Centralia police ask public for help finding man who went missing four years ago 
Nearly four years to the anniversary of the day a Centralia man in his 90s went missing, the Centralia Police Department is asking the public for help finding him.  Robert Gerard, a World …
Swope draws two challengers on opening day of candidate filing week 
A commissioner for the Port of Centralia and a longtime resident of Lewis County have each filed to challenge Sean Swope for a seat on the Board of Lewis County County Commissioners. On Monday, …
Centralia man charged for allegedly assaulting woman who declined to go on a hike with him
A Centralia man was arrested Thursday for allegedly grabbing a woman by the throat when she declined to go on a hike with him on April 30. The victim reported the incident to the Centralia …
Tony Karniss honored by Back Country Horsemen with Lifetime Achievement Award
Tony Karniss, a lifetime Lewis County man, was recognized for his volunteer work for Back Country Horsemen of Washington (BCHW) with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Onalaska Fire Hall on May 2. …
In focus: Vader May Day signals start of festival season in Lewis County
The Vader May Day Parade and festival was held in Lewis County's southernmost town on Saturday. These photos were captured by Chronicle photographer Ridley Hudson.  Vader May Day …
In focus: New police patch unveiled during missing or murdered Indigenous persons solidarity event at Toledo Middle School
A missing or murdered Indigenous persons (MMIP) solidarity event was held at Toledo Middle School on Sunday, May 5. T he Toledo Police Department unveiled a custom patch to recognize missing and …
Man injured after car crashes into ditch off of state Route 6
A 34-year-old man was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital for medical care after he crashed his car into a ditch off of eastbound state Route 6 just east of Doty on Monday. The man, …
MGP proposes grants for pre-kindergarten education in rural and low income communities
Third Congressional District Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washougal, has introduced bipartisan legislation to expand state-led pre-kindergarten programs in low-income and rural communities. …
Sirens: Man in camouflage rips open garage door; Narcan revives man suffering overdose; boy arrested for threats to kill someone at school
CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Criminal trespass • A homeless Centralia resident was trespassed from a business in the 1200 block of Mellen Street just after 5:10 a.m. on May 3. …
Death notices: May 6, 2024
• WHITNEY J. DUNN, 58, Onalaska, died May 1 at The Dada’s Adult Family Home. Arrangements are under the care of Sticklin Funeral Chapel. • MARIBETH FITZGERALD, 77, Centralia, …
Julie McDonald: NPR shines national spotlight on Centralia and TransAlta
In the past month, National Public Radio has focused on TransAlta and Centralia as an example of the right way to phase out a coal-fired power plant, the last such plant in Washington state. A …
Local Sports
T-Birds bounce back with win over Tigers
The Tumwater softball team inched closer to a league title on Tuesday, as the Thunderbirds topped Centralia 13-7. The T-Birds (15-4, 10-1 2A EvCo) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first two …
Toledo easily takes two over Toutle Lake
It didn’t take long for the Toledo softball team to come away with two wins on Tuesday, as the Riverhawks dominated Toutle Lake, 17-4 and 19-4, in a doubleheader. The Ducks got to Toledo …
Simms ignites Adna to sweep of Morton-White Pass
The Pirates ace pitcher Ava Simms belted three home runs and drove in 11 runs between the two games to help them cruise by the Timberwolves 15-0 in the league game and 21-0 in the non-league contest. …
Vikings dominate Elks, advance to district title game
Mossyrock opened its postseason run with a bang on Tuesday, soundly defeating Lake Quinault 12-0 in five innings to advance to the district championship game. After the first batter of the game …
Acorns' season ends with district setback
The Oakville baseball team couldn’t maintain an early 1-0 lead as it allowed eight straight runs and fell to Naselle 8-1 in a Class 1B District 4 semifinal contest on Tuesday night in Naselle. …

Chronicle Podcast

  • News Dump Ep. 185: Getting to the chopper with Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders
  • News Dump Ep. 184: A ‘chaotic’ episode according to the haters
  • News Dump Ep. 183: Trying to scare off clandestine fornicators
Obituaries

In loving memory of Pamela (Courtney) Clifford: 1951-2024 

Pamela Jeanne (Courtney) Clifford was born in Portland, Oregon, on Dec. 28, 1951, to William and Helen Ada Soderstrom Clifford. She was an only child. All her life, Pam resented her birthday’s …

In loving memory of Sheriden Tufts-Martinez: 1936-2024

Sheriden S. Tufts-Martinez was born to Jack LaRue Tufts and Dorothy Evelyn Beatty on Dec. 23, 1936, in Fresno, California, at Saint Agnes Hospital. At the age of 15, she worked during the summer as a …

In loving memory of Maribeth Fitzgerald: 1946-2024

Maribeth Fitzgerald was born on Sept. 11, 1946, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Dr. Paul and Bea Walsh. She passed away after a long illness at home in Centralia on April 30, 2024. Maribeth graduated …

In loving memory of Jean Ethel Hinchen: 1937-2024

Jean Ethel Hinchen, 86, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2024. She was a beloved mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Jean was …

Death notice: May 3, 2024

• CHRISTINE M. GRODA, 100, Chehalis, died April 28.

In loving memory of Larry Thomas McCutchan: 1942-2024

Larry Thomas McCutchan was born Feb. 7, 1942, in White Salmon, Washington, to Orville and Mildred McCutchan.  At a young age, the family moved to Mossyrock, Washington, where he experienced …
State & Regional News

Agencies preparing for flood of WA Cares opt outs if initiative passes

The Washington State Employment Security Department is making plans for a flood of opt-outs from WA Cares should voters decide this November to pass Initiative 2124 , making the state’s …

Schools
Should Washington’s public schools ban students from using cellphones?
Smartphones gripping people’s attention isn’t anything new. But following the pandemic, Kris Hagel recalls seeing a troubling rise in public school students distracted by their phones …
Black Hills High School teacher named Regional Teacher of the Year
Andrew Landowski, the band teacher and music coordinator at Black Hills High School in the Tumwater School District, has been named Regional Teacher of the Year by the Capital Region Educational …
Winlock High School second semester honors and principal’s lists 
The Winlock High School principal’s list and honors list for the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year has been announced. Students named to the principal’s list received …
Winlock Middle School second semester principal’s and honors lists 
The Winlock Middle School principal’s list and honors list for the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year has been announced.  Students named to the principal’s list …
Onalaska Middle School term three honor roll
Eighth grade Perfect 4.0 Tayla Coyner, Ferra Gust, Janelle Hanson, Misha McCranie, Miranda Quillan Principal's list: 3.50 to 3.99 Huddson Barnes, Noland Brady, Carlos …
Commentary

John Braun commentary: Legislators don’t need to address property-tax cap — we already did

Blocking a bad piece of legislation can often be as important as passing a good bill. That’s why Republican senators took a moment to cheer a few months ago when, in the face of intense …

Leslie Lewallen commentary: It’s time for the Supreme Court to clean up the 9th Circuit’s mess on homelessness

Editor’s note: Republican Leslie Lewallen is a candidate for Congress in the Third Congressional District. The Chronicle has previously published commentaries from incumbent Rep. Marie …

Brian Mittge: Want to buy a cemetery? 

This is a deal that doesn’t come along very often: you can buy your very own pioneer cemetery in the heart of Centralia’s Fords Prairie, and it could cost you as little as $2,000 plus …

Commentary: Unfortunately, it is animal fighting season in our state

Unfortunately, it’s animal fighting season in the Pacific Northwest. The Washington state Gambling Commission encourages reporting of animal fighting to help stop these terrible acts. Our …

Julie McDonald commentary: Herrera Beutler deserved more respect at GOP convention

For a dozen years, Republican Third Congressional District U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler represented Southwest Washington in Congress with a focus on helping her constituents. Before that, she …
Outdoors
Outdoors
WDFW Commission taking comment on science policy
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is taking public comment on a draft policy that guides its use of science in making decisions. The commission announced in a news release that a draft …
WDFW: ‘Long season of uninterrupted digging’ to end with final slate of clam digs
The final seven days of coastal razor clam digs of the season will proceed as planned from May 6-12, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) coastal shellfish managers confirmed Friday. …
Northern pikeminnow bounty season opens on Columbia and Snake rivers; $107,800 made by last year’s top earner
The 2024 northern pikeminnow bounty season on the Columbia and Snake rivers opened May 1, with decent money to be made. "Catch cash, save salmon," says the Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward …