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Attorney General Nick Brown (center) announces a lawsuit against the Trump administration in Seattle, Washington, on May 9, 2025, over its declaration of an energy emergency. (Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

Trump energy emergency latest target for Washington state attorney general

Washington and 14 other states are suing the Trump administration over the president’s declaration of an “energy emergency” to speed up permitting for fossil fuel projects. … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 5/9/25

T-Birds clinch EvCo title with win over Highclimbers

The Tumwater softball team officially clinched the EvCo title on Friday, defeating Shelton 17-2 on the road to seal it. The T-Birds took control instantly, scoring four runs in the top of the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/9/25

Napavine's Dakota Lyons (10) throws a pitch against Tenino at Tenino High School on Friday, May 9.

Lyons’ career day propels Tigers to shutout win over Beavers

TENINO — Napavine head coach Josh Fay has been begging for eighth grader Dakota Lyons to get the timing of her powerful swing down. She was often behind on pitches, and if she did barrel it up, … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 5/9/25

Sean Swope is a Lewis County commissioner representing District 1.

Commentary: Safe parking shouldn't come at cost of neighborhood safety or real solutions

A few nights ago, I attended a public meeting held at St. Timothy Episcopal Church to discuss the newly proposed safe parking program in Chehalis. I came into the meeting with an open mind and a … more

Commentary by Sean Swope | 5/9/25

Attendees leave the meeting as Patty Howard of Hope Housing Collaborative gives a speech during an informational meeting at St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Chehalis on Wednesday, May 7.

Chehalis residents challenge church's safe parking pilot program

A Wednesday night informational meeting at St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Chehalis regarding its safe parking pilot program with Hope Housing Collaborative started with a prayer and ended with … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 5/9/25

Colvin Ranch Day: Tenino ranch to host celebration for conservation easement’s 20th anniversary

Colvin Ranch, a Tenino-based family-owned cattle ranch founded in 1854, is hosting a celebration marking a milestone for the ranch’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/9/25

Young kids learn how to show sheep during the Spring Youth Fair at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Saturday, May 3.

Participation surged at 2025 Spring Youth Fair

The Spring Youth Fair started off its jam-packed weekend last Friday with a dedication event officially renaming the exposition hall in honor of Lewis County’s beloved “fair father” … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 5/9/25

Brad Lee Lansford, 46, of Chehalis, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday, May 8.

Woman arrested for breaking windows at her mom’s property in Lewis County, slicing her neck with broken glass, in July 2024

A woman accused of breaking several windows to her mother’s home and shop in Lewis County near Dryad before slicing her neck with a piece of broken glass in July 2024 has been arrested. Brad … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 5/9/25

The outside of Green Hill School is pictured in Chehalis on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Problems at Green Hill School remain much the same after legislative session

Despite overcrowding and associated safety issues in juvenile rehabilitation facilities in the state of Washington — most prominently at Green Hill School in Chehalis — lawmakers failed … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 5/9/25

Sirens: Defendants sentenced in Lewis County Superior Court; vehicle strikes pedestrian; pair arrested for stealing auto parts; Green Hill inmates charged

CHEHALIS POLICE DEPARTMENT Vehicle accident • A vehicle vs. pedestrian collision was reported in the 100 block of Northeast Hampe Way just before 7:45 a.m. on May 8. The pedestrian was … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/9/25

In focus: Firefighters douse brush fire north of Centralia

The Washington Department of Natural Resources extinguished a brush fire that burned a quarter acre north of Centralia near Oconnor Road Southeast on Thursday, May 8. According to Incident Commander … more

5/9/25

Death notices: May 9, 2025

• JERRY DARREL SEIFERT, 77, Oakville, died April 27 in Chehalis. Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives of Washington. • KENNETH ELVIN HOLMES, 81, Chehalis, died May 1 … more

5/9/25

W.F. West students and Lewis County Coffee Co. staff members and owners pose for a photo outside of the stand in Chehalis on Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Lewis County Coffee Co. supporting W.F. West club behind Crimson & Gray coffee shop with fundraiser

Lewis County Coffee Co. will serve a drink called the Bearcat Energizer from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13 at its 2015 Jackson Hwy location in Chehalis to support W.F. West High School’s … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/9/25

Commentary: Main Street businesses will pay more because of what Washington lawmakers just approved

The Washington Legislature recently adjourned after passing the largest tax increase in state history, and small businesses are going to bear the brunt of it. One of the bills includes an … more

By Kris Johnson, Association of Washington Business | 5/9/25

FILE PHOTO — Rotarians and staff from United Way stand with a cardboard cutout of Dolly Parton to celebrate the three-year anniversary of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library being kicked off in Lewis County in 2022. The program provides books for young kids at no cost to the families.

Commentary: Lewis County Imagination Library safe because community never let up

With a $16 million state budget shortfall expected for the 2025–2027 biennium, agencies across Washington prepared for tough decisions. When the final budget passed on April 26, it … more

Commentary by Chris Judd | 5/9/25

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, looks through documents during the legislative session at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Friday, April 25.

John Braun: Words aren’t enough — governor needs to take action against tax hikes

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has set some clear expectations when it comes to raising taxes. Now that he is the final line of defense against the largest tax increase in state history, … more

Commentary by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 5/9/25

"Eastern Railway, Lumber Firm Was Once Biggest: Organized in 1903, the Eastern Railway and Lumber Company of Centralia reigned as an industrial landmark for nearly 40 years. During its heyday, it was one of the largest mill operations in the state although by the time it was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1939, much of its equipment had become outdated in comparison to the mill giants that had sprung up at Longview, Everett, and Grays Harbor. The record is not entirely clear, but the location was first by the Ballard and Bond mill, built about 1888 and one of Lewis County's early mills. It operated until 1903, when F. B. Hubbard purchased the plant with the assistance of eastern capital. He enlarged its operations and gave it the name it carried for almost 40 years. The Eastern became Centralia's largest payroll, employing more than 500 men at one time. The Eastern firm. also acquired what was the H. H. Martin Lumber Co., and named it the Western Mill. It was located northwest of the Eastern plant and on the west side of the mainline Northern Pacific railroad tracks. For a short time, both plants combined their railway and logging operations, giving jobs to about 1,000 men. Mention history of the Eastern Railway and Lumber Co., and in most of it is Sam Agnew, who rose from foreman to be its general manager and owner of the principal amount of its stock. The Eastern also figured in the history of Centralia's municipal light system. In the middle 1920s, the city and the Puget Sound Power and Light Co., which supplied the city-owned system, tangled over a raise in power rates. Under a corporation arrangement, the mill firm built large generators at the Western Mill, coupled them with the mill's generators and provided power for the city. The arrangement lasted for about 10 years, when the city utility entered its hydroelectric project on the Nisqually River near Yelm. When the Eastern was lost in the fire, Sam Agnew headed an organization to lease the Western properties from the Eastern corporation. That was the S. A. Agnew Lumber Co., which continued production until the 1950s. By 1965, the plant equipment was sold off and work started to remove the mill's structures. Mr. Agnew, with more than 70 years in the industry, died in 1965, He was 86 and regarded as one of the Northwest's last lumber kings." — originally published by The Daily Chronicle on Oct. 10, 1966

A Look Back in Time: Strike shuts down Centralia sawmill; Burglar accidently gets into police car; Tumwater woman honored as Mother of the Year at WSU

In this installment of A Look Back in Time, the Friday, May 10, 1935, edition of The Chronicle featured a story about operations being shut down due to the start of a labor strike at the Eastern … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 5/9/25

The WSU Extension Lewis County Master Gardeners' 2023 Spring Plant Sale.

Master Gardener Foundation of Lewis County to host annual Spring Plant Sale

The Master Gardener Foundation of Lewis County has announced the return of its annual Spring Plant Sale. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 17 and from 9 a.m. until sold out … more

By The Chronicle | 5/9/25

This static image is from a USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory research camera located at the Johnston Ridge Observatory, north of Mount St. Helens. The view is to the south. This camera is intended to assist the USGS with situational awareness. At times, clouds, rain, and snow obscure visibility.

After two years, Mount St. Helens camera back online

After nearly two years, the camera at the site of the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption is back online. Steven Friederich, public information officer for the Washington Emergency Management … more

By The Daily News | 5/9/25

Readers Lens: Stunning morning views from above Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens is pictured from above at about 6 a.m. May 2 in these photos captured by Shawn Downs, a commercial rated pilot who flies out of Toledo. It was captured from about 7,500 feet from … more

5/9/25