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Sean Swope commentary: If Olympia has money for this, why not help kids live and thrive instead?

I’ve been reading about the proposal in Olympia, Senate Bill 6182, called the “Abortion Savings Program,” and the more I think about it, the more questions it raises. Not just about … more

By Sean Swope | 3/6/26

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

Letter to the editor: Thoughts on Winlock and the South Lewis County Chamber of Commerce

This letter to the editor is regarding recent reporting of Winlock’s discussion of membership in the South Lewis County Chamber of Commerce (SLCC) published March 2, 2026. As expressed … more

3/6/26

Letter to the editor: An immigration story

She was pretty. Beautiful, some said. Already a model at 16, she was catching eyes. But options in her native country were limited. Like many before her, she looked across the ocean toward a … more

3/6/26

FROM THE ARCHIVES: "Little Sluggers Lineup: Probably one of the youngest organized baseball leagues in the area has been formed by a group of youngsters living along Borst Avenue in Centralia. The league organizers, Bob Wollan, 8; Neal Prater, 7; Mark Prater, 9; and Gary Schwiesow, 10, have gathered together bats, balls and caps for the neighborhood baseball lovers. Pictured from left to right are most of participants: Randy Wastradowski, Phillip Schwiesow (coach), Matt Prater, Reed Prater, Jimmey Dickason, Neal Prater (coach), Gary Schwiesow (coach) Mark Prater (batting instructor), Michael Wollan, Bob Wollan (coach), Mark Leth, Brian Davidson and Brian Schultz." — published by The Daily Chronicle on May 10, 1969

A Look Back in Time: WWII vets struggle to find housing in Twin Cities; Centralia College founder dies; Oakville band and Chehalis Tribal members prepare for Ireland trip

In this installment of A Look Back in Time, the Thursday, March 7, 1946, edition of The Chronicle featured a story about World War II veterans coming home and struggling to find housing, prompting … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 3/6/26

A Port Blakely volunteer selects the next bundle of trees for planting along Mill Creek.

Project along Mill Creek near Adna seeks to restore wildlife habitat by planting trees to help native salmon

Volunteers trekked to a remote portion of Mill Creek near Adna this week to help plant thousands of young trees for a project led by the Lewis Conservation District. Kelly Verd, senior projects … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 3/6/26

Podcaster Brandi Kruse leads a Let’s Go Washington rally supporting initiatives concerning parental rights and barring transgender athletes from participating in girls’ athletics at the Washington state Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Lewis County Republicans to feature Brandi Kruse at Lincoln Day Dinner

The Lewis County Republican Party is preparing to host its annual Lincoln Day Dinner with a special visit from podcast host Brandi Kruse. Local Republicans announced their annual Lincoln Day … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/26

The U.S. Small Business Administration sets up shop in the basement of the Lewis County Courthouse to help residents apply for disaster loans for damage caused by late 2025 flooding and storms.

Small Business Administration opening disaster loan outreach center in Packwood

After opening a disaster loan outreach center in the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis last week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is bringing its resources to Packwood, which was among … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/26

The book was originally compiled by Mossyrock Grange members in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration.

Mossyrock Area Historical Society partners with grange to republish 1976 ‘Red Book’

While it may not have been official city business, during public comment at last month’s Mossyrock City Council meeting, Mossyrock Area Historical Society member Buddy Rose announced the society is … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 3/6/26

Representatives of the Thurston County Food Bank, JustServe and the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pose for a photo in front of a semi truck during a delivery of 40,000 pounds of self stable food to the food bank's warehouse in Tumwater on Thursday, March 5.

Thurston County Food Bank receives 40,000 pounds of food as part of America250 initiative

The Thurston County Food Bank accepted a full semi-truck load of food from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Humanitarian Aid & Welfare Program on Thursday, March 5. The … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com | 3/6/26

Measles remains a growing concern in Washington as U.S. surpasses 1,100 cases

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed 26 measles cases across four counties this year, marking an increase from the three cases reported in a single county Jan. 16, a news … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/26

Podcaster Brandi Kruse speaks during a “listening session” with Republican state lawmakers concerning Initiative IL26-638 that would bar transgender athletes from competing in girls’ athletics at the Washington state Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Restraining order filed in federal court following Legislature’s press credentialing controversy

The Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF) has filed an emergency temporary restraining order on behalf of plaintiffs Ari Hoffman, Brandi Kruse and Jonathan Choe in their lawsuit against the Washington … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/26

Ayn Mann, 16, was a page in the Washington state House of Representatives Feb. 23-27. She’s pictured here with her sponsors, 20th Legislative District state Reps. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, and Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis.

Napavine student pages in Washington state House of Representatives

Ayn Mann, 16, was a page in the Washington state House of Representatives Feb. 23-27, according to a news release from her sponsors, 20th Legislative District state Reps. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, and … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/26

The Bezos Academy section of the United Learning Center in downtown Centralia is pictured on Thursday night, March 5, as construction continues.

Tuition-free Bezos Academy Centralia accepting applications for 2026-27 school year

Bezos Academy Centralia — the soon-to-launch, tuition-free preschool located in the United Learning Center of Lewis County — is now accepting applications for the 2026-27 school year. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/26

Centralia Prevention Coalition to host town hall to inform about substance use risks

The Centralia Prevention Coalition will hold a town hall meeting for area families of older students on March 19 at Centralia High School. The night is intended for families of teenagers, but … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/26

Dmitri Matheny, an American flugelhornist based in Centralia since 2014, has been lauded as “one of the most emotionally expressive improvisers of his generation,” according to International Review of Music.

Jazz artist Dmitri Matheny and his band to play at The Juice Box in Centralia

By The Chronicle staff Jazz artist Dmitri Matheny and his band will appear at The Juice Box Public House in downtown Centralia from 8 to 10 p.m. on Friday, March 27. The performance, part … more

3/6/26

The W.F. West Cheer Team poses for a photo with Lewis County commissioners, from left, Lindsey Pollock, Sean Swope and Scott Brummer on Tuesday at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis. The team recently secured two state championships — non-tumbling medium category and 2A/3A gameday large crown — following its state crown in 2025. More recently, the W.F. West Cheer Team excelled at the 2026 USA Spirit Nationals in Anaheim, California, Feb. 19-23. The team finished second in the nation in the “varsity show cheer intermediate non-tumbling medium” category. The Bearcats also finished third in the “game day fight song large” category and fifth in the “crowdleader large” finals. Additionally, they placed 14th in the “game day band chant large” category.

In Focus: State champs honored by Lewis County commissioners

3/6/26

Mike Morgan, co-op manager and one of the artists of Gallery 505, and Pat Caldwell, co-owner of the former Toledo Pharmacy, are shown here with pharmaceutical bottles to be part of the Community Collections show. The painting of the old pharmacy, which usually hangs in the Toledo Library, is by Toledo artist Janice Sutherland.

Gallery 505 in Toledo celebrates Community Collections

What do people collect? Pretty much anything. A Community Collections exhibition opened this month at Gallery 505 in Toledo as a means of connecting people through the interesting things … more

By Lyn Craig / For The Chronicle | 3/6/26

Details emerge in death of ‘Deadliest Catch’ fisher Todd Meadows, who was from Grays Harbor County

Todd Meadows learned to fish when he was old enough to hold a pole, recalled his mother, nearly a week after her son died at sea. “We put this little rubber fish on it so he could just learn … more

By Isabella Breda / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/6/26

A Lacey Fire District 3 crew uses a rope system to rescue a 14-year-old black Lab, Boone, from the bottom of a 60-foot ravine near Baird Road Northeast in Olympia on Saturday, Feb. 28.

Firefighters in Thurston County rescue two dogs in separate calls

Firefighters rescued an elderly dog who fell down a 60-foot ravine in the Olympia area on Saturday, Feb. 28. The dog, a 14-year-old black Lab named Boone, wasn’t hurt in the fall, but his bad … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com | 3/6/26

In loving memory of William Potter: 1943-2026

William (Bill) Potter passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 21, 2026, at the age of 82. Bill was born Oct. 20, 1943, to Ray and Dorothy Potter and was the third of five children. On Nov. 3, 1961, he … more

3/6/26