Local News
Bail Set At $100K for Winlock Man Accused of Threatening to Kill Woman, Crashing Into Patrol Car While Drunk
A man accused of threatening to kill a woman with a firearm and a tomahawk in Winlock, fleeing in a vehicle while drunk and ramming into a patrol car before he was arrested Monday night is now facing …
Lewis County Extends Deadline for Night-by-Night Shelter Provider Proposals
The Lewis County commissioners have granted a two-week extension on applications for providers to operate a night-by-night shelter, which is set to be open this year on Kresky Avenue near Yard …
Lewis County Commissioners May Get Nearly 11% Salary Bump
Should the Lewis County Commissioners receive pay increases every year? Whether you said “yes” or “no,” the argument usually distills down to the same sentiment: “In …
20th District in Line for $76.3 Million for Projects in House Capital Budget Proposal
In a statement released by state Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, on Monday, it was revealed the 20th Legislative District would receive over $76.3 million in projects as part of the proposed House …
Chehalis Basin Strategy Hosting Webinar on Skookumchuck Dam Analysis 
With one turbine at TransAlta’s power-generating facility shut down and the second scheduled to be shut down in 2025 in accordance with an agreement with the state, the Chehalis Basin Strategy …
AAUW to Host Conservation Northwest Program Manager’s Presentation on Chehalis River Non-Dam Alternatives 
Brian Stewart, Cascades to Olympics program manager for Conservation Northwest, will give a presentation on Thursday, April 6, starting at 7 p.m. in The Gathering Place at Stillwaters Estates, …
Chamber of Commerce to Hold Ribbon-Cutting for Historic Barbershop in Downtown Centralia
The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Historic Barbershop in Centralia on April 5 at noon.  The celebration will be held at the barber shop, which …
Review Panel Confirms No Foul Play Involved in Death of Lewis County Jail Inmate in September
A Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) review panel has determined no foul play was involved in the death of a 47-year-old man that occurred in the Lewis County Jail in …
Economic Alliance of Lewis County to Host Free Manufacturer Growth Plan Workshop Next Month
Looking to grow your manufacturing business?  The Economic Alliance of Lewis County is hosting a growth roadmap workshop presented by Impact Washington on April 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at …
Sirens: Meth-Fueled Martial Arts; Intoxicated Man Blocks Traffic; Man Refuses to Leave Bathroom; DUI Arrest; Theft; Assault
CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT  Wellness Checks  • Just after 7:20 a.m. on March 27, officers were asked to check on a man panhandling in the 900 block of Harrison Avenue who …
Chehalis Woman’s Horse Earns Accolades in National, International Competitions
Merida the Bitless, as she’s known on social media, or Merida to her owner Kirstina Lotz, earned accolades from five different national and international organizations involved in both …
Mossyrock Superintendent Larry Markuson to Retire at End of Current School Year; School District Announces Search for Replacement
The Mossyrock School District is accepting applications for the position of superintendent to replace Larry Markuson, who served as superintendent for the past two years and will be resigning at the …
Owners of Grazing Animals Invited to Three-Day WSU Extension School in Tenino
The Thurston County Washington State University (WSU) extension office is offering a multi-day intensive grazing school from April 21 to April 23 at the Skookumchuck Grange in Tenino, according to a …
City of Chehalis Declares April Child Abuse Awareness Month 
The first order of business during the Chehalis City Council’s Monday night meeting this week was a proclamation declaring April to be Child Abuse Awareness Month in the city.  Jasmine …
View the Best of Lewis County Winners
Local Sports
Bearcats Survive in Extras Against Wolves
It’s not often a high school baseball team can be held scoreless for seven innings in a row and still come out with a win, but that’s what W.F. West pulled off, going nine and beating …
Tigers Trounce Mules in Cathlamet
Tied up at 2-2 through three innings, the Napavine baseball team went on a 7-0 run to end the game, beating Wahkiakum in Cathlamet Wednesday afternoon, 10-3.  The Tigers scored four runs to …
Tigers Beat Wolves For Third Win in 3 Days
Still unbeaten in the early season, the Centralia softball team defeated Black Hills on the road Wednesday afternoon for its third win in as many days, 5-3.  The Tigers’ one-two punch …
T-Birds Run-Rule Tigers Again
The Tumwater baseball team capped off a dominate sweep of Centralia on Wednesday, needing just six innings to run-rule the Tigers 10-0 at Wheeler Field. The shutout completes a series that saw the …
Tiger Tennis Takes Win by One Set Over Shelton in Season’s First Home Match
While other local tennis programs have various fences dividing courts, the Centralia Tigers are all fenced together at their home court in Borst Park. Maybe something about the fierceness of …

Chronicle Podcast

  • News Dump Ep. 136: Breaking Down the Aron Christensen Info Dump
  • Sports Dump Ep. 55: Baseball is BACK (weather permitting)
  • News Dump Ep. 135: Bury Me in Blue Jeans (in the Front Yard)
Obituaries

Death Notices: March 29, 2023

• ALONZO “LONNIE” HOWARD GRAEBER, 87, Chehalis, died March 23 at his residence. Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives of Washington.  • JOHN LAWRENCE …

Death Notices: March 27, 2023

• WALLACE ‘BRUDDY’ C. SCOTT JR., 86, Morton, died March 23 at Arbor Health Morton Hospital. Arrangements are under the care of Cattermole Funeral Home. • JEANIE L. …

In Loving Memory of Mildred Dunham: 1921-2023 

Mildred Alice (Looper) Dunham passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ surrounded by her family.  Mildred was born in Colorado Springs, …

In Loving Memory of Marlane Eastman: 1934-2023 

Marlane "Marty" Ruth Eastman was born in Denver, Colorado, to parents Aldor and Ruth Olson. She married Orville "Digger" Eastman in 1958. Together, they had three children, Geoff, Jennifer and Joel. …

In Loving Memory of Gary Davis: 1935-2023

Gary Arnold Davis was born on Dec. 8, 1935, to Clyde and Beuala (Bee) Davis in Carnation, Washington. He passed away at age 87 on March 12, 2023, in Centralia, Washington. He was preceded in death by …

In Loving Memory of John Dee Sill

John Dee Sill, a beloved father, grandfather and friend, went to heaven on March 14, 2023, at the age of 69. He was born in Centralia, Washington, to Rezin and Gloria Sill. He was the third child of …
State & Regional News

Seaquarium, Owner of NFL’s Colts Tease Announcement About Last Puget Sound Orca in Captivity

SEATTLE — The Miami Seaquarium set a news conference Thursday to announce an initiative among the aquarium’s parent company, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts and a Florida nonprofit to …

Nation/World News

Poland to Send Four Fighter Jets to Kyiv

Poland will send four Soviet-era fighter jets to Ukraine in the coming days as the nation moves ahead with deliveries to bolster Kyiv’s air power, President Andrzej Duda …

Schools
The Math Problem Part 2: Chehalis School District Aims to Conquer Its Biggest Hurdle With Innovative Teaching
Editor’s Note: This is the latest installment in an ongoing series focused on the Chehalis School District and the success of its Student Achievement Initiative, which was launched in 2013. The …
Achieving Success: The Math Problem: Chehalis — And America’s — Biggest Academic Hurdle
Editor’s Note: This is the latest installment in an ongoing series focused on the Chehalis School District and the success of its Student Achievement Initiative, which was launched in 2013. The …
‘The New Buzzword’: How the Chehalis School District Prioritized STEM and Technical Education to Give Students a Brighter Future
Editor’s note: This is the latest installment in an ongoing series focused on the Chehalis School District and the success of its Student Achievement Initiative, which was launched in 2013. The …
Chehalis School District Awarded $1.05M Grant for Student Achievement Initiative
The Chehalis School District will receive $1,050,000 from the Washington Student Achievement Council over the next 18 months to benefit the district’s Student Achievement Initiative. …
‘A Partnership That May Go On Forever’: How The Chehalis School District and Chehalis Foundation Achieved Success
Editor’s note: This is the third installment in an ongoing series focused on the Chehalis School District and the success of its Student Achievement Initiative, which was launched in 2013. …
Business Stories
In Focus: A Celebration at Dirty Thumb Nursery

The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Dirty Thumb Nursery on Tuesday. After running the nursery — marked by the iconic red barn welcoming westward drivers …

Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor: Joe Kent is Back, Better Than Ever

Yesterday, my husband and I attended a reception sponsored by Raheem Kassam (Breitbart, National Pulse) at the Chehalis City Farm. Last week, on March 22, Rep. Matt Gaetz and 13 other members of …

Commentary

Bob Mohrbacher Commentary: We Need Our Schools to Be Strong and Vibrant Places

Strong schools make for strong communities.  I have always believed that, and that is one of the reasons why I have spent more than three decades working in education as a teacher and an …

Publisher's Note: Court’s Approval of New Tax a Blow to Washington Residents

On 10 occasions, Washington state residents have voted down proposals to create income taxes in Washington state and, until Friday, the state constitution was always interpreted to prohibit the …

Bill Moeller Commentary: A Significant Anniversary and a Lesson on Proper Use of English

I wanted to mention this last week, but the column about Kenneth Kimball had priority by far.  And the significance of that column would have been the marking of the beginning of another year of …

Julie McDonald Commentary: Saying Goodbye to Ed Fund, a Faithful Friend and Family Man

Lewis County lost a stalwart supporter of the community Thursday afternoon when Edward Lawrence Fund passed on to his heavenly reward just a month shy of his 93rd birthday. I met Ed nearly two …

Isabel Vander Stoep Commentary: A Chehalis Rotary Club Story That Spans Generations

Some friendships span generations. In tight-knit Lewis County, we’re blessed to find these more frequently.  They are a privilege. I get to enjoy them because my grandparents, parents …
Outdoors
Outdoors
WDFW App Keeps Anglers Up to Date
OLYMPIA — Fishing limits, regulations and more are just a phone signal away. In 2021, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife rolled out its FishWA for Apple and Android devices. The …
WDFW Approves Razor Clam Digging at Long Beach; Digs Still on at Other Coastal Beaches
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers on Wednesday confirmed coastal razor clam digging will reopen at Long Beach on Thursday, March 23, in addition to digs planned at …
Spring Chinook Salmon Sportfishing Seasons Set for Lower Columbia River
Despite a significant increase in the predicted 2023 spring chinook salmon run, anglers will get just one day longer than last year to keep hatchery spring chinook through early April. Oregon and …