Local News
Lacey driver injured in crash on I-5 in Thurston County
A driver was injured when he struck a ditch and a sign on southbound Interstate 5 in Lacey on Friday, Oct. 23.  The driver, identified by the Washington State Patrol as Cameron C. Grunberg, …
FESS seeks community partners to bring holiday hope to local families
For many families, the holiday season is a time of excitement, traditions and making memories together. “But for families facing financial hardship, the holidays can also bring a painful …
Derek Sanders commits to continuing to improve the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office
Derek Sanders has spent the last four years rebuilding the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, and the community’s trust in the department, from the ground up. “We have seen historic …
Toledo City Council approves agreement with City of Winlock for treasurer services and sign code update
Members of the Toledo City Council convened for a regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 19, and approved an addendum to an interlocal agreement (ILA) with the City of Winlock to assist with treasurer …
Sirens: “Missing” child found safe in residence; two crashes, one DUI; a bar dispute and drinking in public
CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT “Missing” child found safe in residence • At about 11:37 p.m. Oct. 24 in the 1900 block of North Pearl Street, officers assisted in locating a 4-year-old …
Julie McDonald: Bat mitzvah brings forth similarities and differences in faith
My husband and I flew to Colorado last week to visit his twin sister and her husband and celebrate their 13-year-old granddaughter’s bat mitzvah. We cherished the invitation to attend her …
Pettit says he has the experience to handle water affordability crisis at Thurston PUD
The cost of providing safe and reliable drinking water in Thurston County is steadily increasing. Inflation, construction costs, and necessary treatment costs to address PFAS “forever …
Jeff Curry looks to provide fair, reliable and affordable water for Thurston PUD customers
Jeff Curry seeks to ensure that Thurston County’s utility services remain fair, reliable and affordable for every resident. To do so, Curry is running for Position 3 on the Thurston PUD Board …
Providence Swedish Mobile Health Clinic brings care to residents displaced by Tumwater apartment blaze
When an apartment fire in Tumwater occurred Oct. 15, it left dozens of residents unable to return home. Some of the residents also lost access to essentials like oxygen, insulin and heart medications …
Remote tidelands cleaned of debris by Quinault Indian Nation, Twin Harbors Waterkeeper and Pacific Seafood
Twin Harbors Waterkeeper, Pacific Seafood and the Quinault Indian Nation joined efforts with dedicated volunteers earlier this month to clean up marine debris from remote beaches on the Quinault …
Lewis County Transit to hold public meeting Tuesday, Oct. 27
The next board meeting of the Lewis Public Transportation Benefit Area, which does business as Lewis County Transit, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, according to a news release from Lewis …
Longview NewsGuild: Lee Enterprises seeks ‘flexibility’ to soften stance against deepfakes
Lee Enterprises, the owner of The Daily News, is refusing to guarantee its reporters protections against the misuse of artificial intelligence tools or commit to not publishing deepfakes, according …
City of Centralia accepting applications for 2027 lodging tax grants
The City of Centralia Lodging Tax Advisory Committee is now accepting grant applications from nonprofit or government agencies for 2027 funding of projects that enhance tourism in Centralia, a news …
Hunting Highlight: A father-son bond and a boy’s first buck
“As a local Onalaska resident, our 8-year-old son Jack committed to putting in all of the work, dedication and hours required to obtain his hunting license this summer. Once he successfully earned …
Emily Clouse looks to apply compassion, experience to another term as Thurston County commissioner
Emily Clouse has spent her first term on the Thurston County Board of Commissioners integrating herself into the work the county does in the community and gaining a deeper understanding of the …
Local Sports
Rodgers sets season rushing record in Rochester’s win over Centralia
Maddox Rodgers has been unstoppable all season long for Rochester, and in a rescheduled game against Centralia on Monday night, he was a force again. The senior broke the Rochester single-season …
Toledo picks up a win in Toutle
The Toledo girls soccer team picked up another league victory on Monday, taking down Toutle Lake on the road 7-0. The game was scoreless through 22 minutes, but the Riverhawks scored five times …
Adna pours it on in blowout win over Ilwaco
Goals came easy for the Adna girls soccer team on Monday, as the Pirates scored 14 times in a 14-1 win over Ilwaco. It’s a performance that was especially welcome considering Adna’s last …
Mountaineers sweep Pirates to cap regular season
The Rainier volleyball team picked up a victory on its Senior Night on Monday night, as the Mountaineers swept Adna 25-8, 25-17, 25-11. “They played great as a team and we finished our season …
In Focus: Fire and Ice charity basketball game pits the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office against local firefighters
On Saturday night, a matchup between Thurston County Sheriff's Office employees and local firefighters — better known as the Fire and Ice charity basketball game — was held at Tumwater High …
Chronicle Podcasts

  • News Dump Ep. 297: Of Forums and Fake News
  • Sports Dump: Ain’t No Internet in Iowa
  • News Dump Ep. 296: THAT IS AN ORG CHART
Obituaries

Death notice: Oct. 23, 2026

• CAROL JEAN REISE, 84, Chehalis, died Oct. 21 at Harmony Living House. Arrangements are under the care of Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel in Toledo.

In loving memory of Marilee Wilber: 1950-2026

Marilee A. Wilber, 76, of Edgerton, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. She was born in Danville, Illinois, on May 20, 1950, the daughter of the late Gene and Paulette …

In loving memory of Marlene Barrett: 1956-2026

Marlene Lorraine Barrett (Gallagher) passed away on Sept. 23, 2026, at the age of 69, surrounded by love. If you knew Marlene, you knew there was rarely a dull moment. She was funny, goofy, and …

Death notices: Oct. 21, 2026

• WILLIAM B. MARSHALL, 86, Onalaska, died Oct. 17 at Chehalis West Assisted Living. Arrangements are under the care of Cattermole Funeral Home. • BERT R. DEMARIS, 79, Winlock, died Oct. 18 …
Jackie Rayan: 1936-2026

In loving memory of Jackie Rayan: 1936-2026

It is with great sadness that we announce that our beloved mother and grandmother, Jaqueline “Jackie” Marie Rayan, 90, passed away peacefully on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, under hospice care at her …

Death notices: Oct. 19, 2026

• CARRIE ANNE AMES, 70, Chehalis, died Oct.   9 in Centralia. There are no services scheduled at this time. Arrangements are under the care of Sticklin-Brown Funeral Chapel. • JAMES LEE …
State & Regional News

Rep. Joel McEntire faces enforcement over alleged misuse of campaign funds

Washington state Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, has found himself subject to enforcement by the state's Public Disclosure Commission (PDC), which alleges he misused $3,000 in campaign funds. …

Schools
Legacy of legendary tribal rights activist Helen Sanders now enshrined at Centralia College’s Diversity Plaza
In the 1930s, a little tomboy and the youngest of seven children born on the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation received, as her birthright, a portion of land on the Quinault Indian …
‘The Safer Road Initiative’ class debuts at St. Joseph School in Chehalis
Kindergarten and first grade students at St. Joseph Catholic School in Chehalis are the first to take part in a new nationwide traffic safety campaign aiming to educate youngsters on how to safely …
Mossyrock School Board meeting ends early amid tensions between superintendent and staff, parents
Approximately 100 attendees, including school district staff and parents, filled the Mossyrock School District office on Monday, Oct. 19, for the district’s regular monthly board of directors …
Second annual Raise the Axe dinner to benefit the Onalaska Sports Foundation Oct. 24
The Onalaska Sports Foundation is preparing to host its second annual Raise the Axe dinner and auction on Oct. 24 at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds Community Building. The evening promises …
Napavine students lace up, raise $20,000 during fun run fundraiser
Napavine students in kindergarten through sixth grade came together on Saturday, Oct. 16, for the first Napavine Fun Run, organized by the Napavine Parent Teacher Association (PTA). The event …
Commentary

Tucker Voetberg: There’s more to the story with Centralia’s $2M budget deficit

During the last budget cycle, the City of Centralia took in record amounts of revenue. The city utilized its banked property tax capacity, adding $2.47 million to its regular budgeted property …

Wayne Fournier: Considering the most important thing a law enforcement officer carries

When I first took office as a 32-year-old city council member, I immediately had a problem sitting on my desk that I didn't fully understand. It was 2012. We had a brash, unprepared new mayor …

Our Views: Abbarno has earned a new term in Washington state Legislature

State Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, represents a brand of conservatism that combines traditional Republican principles with an emphasis on compassion, community service and opportunity for those …

Our Views: Walsh, McEntire best suited to represent 19th Legislative District

The 19th Legislative District is represented by two lawmakers with distinct approaches to conservative leadership. Reps. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, and Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, share commitments to …

Zac Eckstein commentary: Closing the rural-urban divide — why this election matters for Lewis County

Happy election season, Lewis County. As your ballot arrives, and we all hunker down to make our decisions, I’d like to talk to you about an idea called the rural-urban divide. It's a name for the …
Outdoors
Outdoors
Fishing closures begin Oct. 24 in many Western Washington rivers, including the Chehalis
Fishing for salmon and all game fish is closing Oct. 24 in many rivers and tributary streams across Washington’s Coastal Region due to low water conditions from the ongoing drought as well as …
Hunting Highlights: Young hunters find success in early deer season
Whether it’s hunting, fishing, hiking, clamming, foraging or something else, The Chronicle is happy to share photos and details from local folks in the great outdoors. To be considered, just email …
Digging into the health reasons for the recent coastal razor clam dig closures
The scheduled start of recreational clam season was Oct. 9, but on Oct. 6, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced a postponing of the season until further notice due to the …