Business | The Daily Chronicle

Liz Smith, owner of Alpine Mini and RV Storage, cuts the ribbon at the business’s grand opening with her friends and family in Chehalis on Saturday, Sept. 6. The business is located at 235 N. Hamilton Road, Chehalis. The business offers RV parking, different sizes of storage units, valet parking into the units and 50% off the first month of a rental. Learn more at alpine-storage.com. The business can be reached at 360-623-2730.

In focus: Alpine Mini and RV Storage celebrates grand opening in Chehalis

9/8/25

McFiler’s food drive concert to benefit the Lewis County Food Bank Coalition

A food drive concert is scheduled to be held at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at McFiler’s Bar and Restaurant, located at 543 NW Pacific Ave, Chehalis. The show will be for all ages until … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/8/25

State Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama and Chehalis city manager Stacy Denham inspect the cock pit in one of Beta Technologies’ flagship models, the Alia CX300 conventional take-off and landing electric plane, at the Chehalis-Centralia Airport in Chehalis on Sept. 3. 2025.

BETA Technologies: Chehalis-Centralia Airport sees its first electric-powered plane land Tuesday

While its propeller was creating some noise on approach, a strangely shaped and quiet aircraft landed at the Chehalis-Centralia Airport late Tuesday afternoon after taking off from Boeing Field in … more

Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 9/3/25

Judy Heartley poses for a photo with her recently replaced equipment after an early August fire that ravaged the kitchen at Judy’s Country Kitchen on Sept. 2, 2025.

Judy’s Country Kitchen in Centralia reopens after kitchen fire

A Centralia staple since owner Judy Heartley first opened its doors almost 20 years ago, Judy’s Country Kitchen officially reopened on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 3, following a kitchen … more

Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 9/3/25

Co-owner of Centralia, Chehalis pharmacies named 2025 WSPA Outstanding Mentor

Courtney Quinby, co-owner of Centralia Pharmacy and Chehalis Pharmacy, has won the 2025 Washington State Pharmacy Association’s (WSPA) Outstanding Mentor Award. She will be honored during the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/3/25

The Chronicle’s new building is pictured from the outside at 215 N. Pearl St. in downtown Centralia on Monday, Sept. 1.

The Chronicle moves to new location in downtown Centralia

After its owners purchased a former bank building in downtown Centralia earlier this year, The Chronicle moved to its new location at 215 N. Pearl St. over the weekend. On Monday, the newsroom … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/1/25

Santa moves through a “Polar Express” train car in this photo provided by the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum.

Chehalis-Centralia Railroad announces launch of ‘The Polar Express’

The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad will begin service to the North Pole onboard “The Polar Express” Train Ride starting Saturday, Nov. 15. Tickets are on sale now. Weekend rides … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/1/25

A Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad train travels over a bridge in this photo provided by the railroad.

Tickets on sale for Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad’s ‘Christmas with the Clauses’

Tickets are live for one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier holiday adventures: “Christmas with the Clauses.” “Christmas with the Clauses” is a cozy, homegrown … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/1/25

The Carpenter family, owners of the Pacific Northwest Cookie Co. which is now sponsoring BRK Racing and SS Greenlight Racing No. 14 Chevrolet driven by Garrett Smithley, and friends pose with Smithley in front of the car prior to the start of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pacific Office Automation 147 at the Portland International Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 30.

Pacific Northwest Cookie Co. in NASCAR: Adna-based company backing Xfinity Series car

Ever since siblings Callie and Alex Carpenter founded Adna-based Pacific Northwest Cookie Co. in 2018, the company has done nothing but grow. The business arose from humble beginnings with the … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 9/1/25

Dry Box Operations Manager Ed McCammon uses controls to remove a Dry Box storage container from outside The Chronicle’s old office building in Centralia on Thursday, Aug. 28.

Rare hydraulic truck lift helps The Chronicle relocate its archives

Moving day has now come and gone, and The Chronicle has settled into its new home at 215 N. Pearl St. in Centralia, just across the street from its old building at 321 N. Pearl St. As part of … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 9/1/25

‘The Enchanting World of Garlic’ coming to Chehalis Outfitters

“The Enchanting World of Garlic” comes to Chehalis Outfitters in Chehalis at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20. This educational presentation will be held in the red building in the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/29/25

Take Care Massage and Journey to Aum Coaching open in downtown Chehalis

A joint ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at noon on Monday, Sept. 8, to celebrate the opening of two new businesses in downtown Chehalis. Journey to Aum Coaching and Take Care Massage are located … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/29/25

Downtown Centralia is pictured from above South Tower Avenue facing the north in September 2024.

Centralia Downtown Association seeks input on what businesses the city is missing

The Centralia Downtown Association has recently released a new survey seeking input from local citizens on how to improve downtown Centralia. The Close the Gap & Shop the Core Survey asks … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/27/25

A man walks his dog into the Timberland Veterinary Hospital located on U.S. Highway 12 just off Exit 68 on Interstate 5 on Thursday, Aug. 21.

Lewis County’s Timberland Veterinary Hospital now offering after hours weekend emergency care

For Lewis County pet owners, emergency medical care for their furry best friends often means having to drive an hour and a half or more to Olympia. That’s a nightmare situation for pet … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/25/25

Dawn's Delectables Dessert & Sandwich Shoppe general manager Henry Wegener, left, shows employees how to fill out the restaurant's fridge and freezer temperature log during training in downtown Centralia on Thursday, July 21.

Dawn’s Delectables: Longtime downtown Centralia staple partially reopen, serving coffee and pastries

Having run Dawn’s Delectables Dessert & Sandwich Shoppe for more than a decade before closing it in March 2024 “to take a much-needed break and travel” and focus on her health, … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/22/25

Construction workers and painters working on the job site for a remodel of The Varsity Inn & Studios on Eckerson Road in Centralia on Aug. 20, 2025.

New names unveiled as former King Oscar, OYO hotels shift to mix of residential studio apartments and hotels

The former King Oscar and OYO hotels in Centralia will officially be transformed into The Varsity Inn North and The Varsity Inn South, respectively, with anticipated full openings set for this fall. … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 8/20/25

“Progress on the Southwest Washington Grain Project site continues,” the Port of Chehalis wrote on Facebook this week, posting these photos. “One foundation is poured and ground work continues day-by-day to prep the site for future construction!”

Port of Chehalis approves change order to add $1.2M to Southwest Washington Grain Project contract

The Port of Chehalis commissioners unanimously approved a $1.2 million contract extension to the Southwest Washington Grain Project to extend work on the project, bringing the updated total contract … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 8/20/25

Eager customers lounge around with blankets, yard games, dogs and more fun in the staging area before the early morning grand opening on In-N-Out Burger in Ridgefield on Wednesday, Aug. 20.

First In-N-Out Burger in Washington state opens with thousands of waiting customers

With the anticipation of the doors opening at 10:30 a.m. at In-N-Out Burger’s first Washington state location in Ridgefield, the early birds received a special treat as the ribbon was cut and … more

Cade Barker / For The Chronicle | 8/20/25

Joshua House named new partner at Chehalis Law

Mano, Paroutaud, Groberg and Ricks, also known as Chehalis Law, has announced the addition of Joshua House as a partner in the firm. House joined the firm in June 2019 after graduating cum laude … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/18/25

In-N-Out Burger’s first Washington location to open Wednesday

In-N-Out Burger has announced its first Evergreen State location will open its doors on Wednesday, Aug. 20, in Ridgefield. The location will be In-N-Out Burger’s first in Washington state. … more

By Cade Barker / For The Chronicle | 8/18/25