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John McCroskey was Lewis County sheriff from 1995 to 2005. He lives outside Chehalis and can be contacted at musingsonthemiddlefork@gmail.com.

John McCroskey: The state has proven it can’t be trusted with our money

It’s becoming more and more clear that Washington's state Legislature continues to spend like crazy. And while the blame is placed on the eternal boogyman, President Trump, that … more

Commentary bu John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 6/26/26

Letters to the editor can be submitted to letters@chronline.com.

Letter to the editor: Respect for working people and making decisions based on evidence

As I have listened to recent discussions about economic development in Centralia, one thing has continued to concern me. At a recent council meeting, questions were raised about whether people … more

6/26/26

Letter to the editor: I ask that the community take notice of systemic flaws

My name is Chase Nathaniel Ettner, and I am writing to bring urgent attention to the ongoing and often understated indigent defense crisis in Lewis County, Washington. As someone currently … more

6/26/26

The Lacey Timberland Library, located at 500 College St. SE in Lacey.

Timberland Regional Library enacts furloughs, administrative salary cuts

The Timberland Regional Library (TRL) on Wednesday unveiled administrative salary cuts and staff furloughs that are estimated to save the five-county library system roughly $220,000 over the next six months … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com | 6/26/26

Letter to the editor: Master Gardeners thank community

The Master Gardener Foundation of Lewis County extends its sincerest thanks to the community for its continued support of our annual Spring Plant Sale. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, this event is … more

6/26/26

Letter to the editor: ‘Law and justice’ — Why not morality, too?

This composition is a rather trivial complaint, but it does have broader implications. One caveat: I do confess this embarrassing tome to be a bit self-serving. It is crafted to bring me greater … more

6/26/26

Letter to the editor: Unimpressed by columnist’s call for unity

I found myself unimpressed by the teary calls for faithfulness and unity in the commentary piece recently submitted by Chronicle columnist Brian Mittge. I’ve been part of the Patron Coalition … more

6/26/26

Letter to the editor: Would a Rep. Braun defend the rule of law in the United States?

As a candidate for the United States Congress, John Braun must answer questions about what positions and legislation he would support if elected. Would he support Donald Trump's continuous … more

6/26/26

Letter to the editor: A question for the Lewis County Republicans chairman

In his statement of principles that was published in The Chronicle on June 11, Greg Rohr, the chair of the Lewis County Republican Party, wrote as follows: “In every healthy community, … more

6/26/26

Letter to the editor: Centralia City Council should accept port’s offer

I am writing to express my support for the offer the Port of Centralia has made to end the warehouse moratorium. The proposal addresses the most pressing issues that drove the moratorium to … more

6/26/26

Letter to the editor: How is Centralia measuring progress as council details what it doesn’t want?

While following the discussion surrounding the warehouse moratorium and the LPC proposal, and I keep coming back to the same question: How are we measuring progress toward the future we say we … more

6/26/26

Letter to the editor: Centralia City Council is right to ask questions of developer

I’ve been reading with interest the ongoing debate concerning the future of our hometown, Centralia. The situation reminds me of the story of the blind men and the elephant — depending … more

6/26/26

Letter to the editor: It is not the library’s job to restrict books

I am, in many ways, a shining example of the corrupting influence of the library. I grew up in Pullman, and I was introduced to the library very young. My mom would let me run free while she … more

6/26/26

Letter to the editor: There is no pornography in the library’s children’s section

Lewis County Commissioner Swope has alleged in vague terms, lacking any concrete examples, that the Timberland Regional Library system (TRL) and its librarians are “grooming” children, offering … more

6/26/26

Volunteers work to make repairs at the recently vandalized High Rock Lookout.

Volunteers get to work, donations arrive after vandalism at High Rock Lookout

While investigators still have no suspects when it comes to who committed the vandalism, volunteers began the cleanup work this past week on the damage done at High Rock Lookout, according to members … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 6/26/26

Colvin Ranch and Colvin Provisions owner Jennifer Colvin accepts the 2026 New Business of the Year Award in a photo with Thurston EDC Board President Malcolm Miller, left, and Executive Director Michael Cade during the EDC Business Awards at Hangar 51 Event Center in Olympia on Wednesday, June 24.

Thurston EDC celebrates local business leaders with annual award ceremony

The Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC) celebrated the success of local businesses Wednesday with its annual Business Awards. The nominees and award winners represent innovation, … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com | 6/26/26

On Tuesday, June 23, Tara Chestnut visited the first responders from Pierce County Fire District 23 in Ashford to thank and honor them for their lifesaving efforts. She marked the fifth anniversary of her rescue by giving them a U.S. flag flown over the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

Conservationist crushed by boulder in 2021 thanks responders with flag from U.S. Capitol

Five years ago, Tara Chestnut was working as the Mount Rainier National Park wildlife program manager, collaborating with the nonprofit Cascade Carnivores Project to monitor the Cascade red fox … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 6/26/26

The proposed flow-through dam on the Chehalis River near Pe Ell is pictured in this rendering from the Chehalis River Flood Control District.

Chehalis River Flood Control Zone pushes for delayed flood project to include updated designs

A delay to the environmental impact study on the proposed flow-through dam near Pe Ell is also delaying a decision on whether to endorse the project, or some other large-scale flood project, for the … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 6/26/26

This 1926 to 1928 photo shows a logging train near Anderson Lake, which is located roughly 1 mile northwest of the tracks shown in this photo. That train would gather the cars from logging sites and transport them to the incline where the cars were let down the hill one at a time. There, another engine would pick them up at the bottom and transport them to the National Mill or the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific railroad. Norman and Marie Christen Johnson lived in the logging camp from 1924 to 1930 where Norman was a timber cruiser. Hi job was to estimate the volume of timber before it was cut. To Johnson daughters, Gladys and Norma, were reared on the mountain until the family moved to Tacoma. A chicken wire fence kept the girls from wandering around the camp or getting on the railroad tracks. Two other children, Richard and Julia, were born to the Johnsons after they left the mountain. Richard followed in his father's footsteps and became a timber cruiser with the Randle District of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

A Look Back in Time: Centralia teen arrested for breaking curfew; Australian senator opens rabbit farm; Chehalis Kraft Foods earns award

In this installment of A Look Back in Time, the Wednesday, June 27, 1956, edition of The Chronicle featured a story about a 14-year-old getting arrested for breaking a curfew, which was in effect for … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 6/26/26

Morton City Councilor Jason Sawyer, on the left, explains why he supports a censure attempt against fellow Councilor Jeff Johnson during the council's Monday, June 22, meeting inside the Bob Lyle Community Center.

Tension remains as censure attempt against one Morton city councilor fails during Monday meeting

An attempt to censure Morton City Councilor Jeff Johnson failed by a vote of 3-1 during the council’s meeting on Monday, June 22, after nearly 15 minutes of back-and-forth discussion between … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 6/26/26