Commentary | The Daily Chronicle

Ed Johnstone is the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission chairman.

Being Frank: Indigenous leaders unite for salmon recovery

We are stronger together for a common cause. For 40 years, Indigenous nations in the United States and Canada have participated in the Pacific Salmon Commission (PSC) to implement the 1985 … more

Commentary by Ed Johnstone / NWIFC Chairman | 3/18/25

Glenn Aldrich examines blueberry plants in this 2012 photo provided by Washington State University.

Julie McDonald: Deaths and births bring focus onto the circle of life

On Saturday morning, I checked my phone to discover exciting news and a photo of the baby boy born to my niece, whose story I shared in a column after the stillborn birth of her first son. Praise … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 3/17/25

State Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, speaks at a public hearing for House Bill 1719 in the John L. O’Brien Building in Olympia on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Peter Abbarno: Late nights, high stakes and the battle to protect Washington’s future

The most important issues I hear about daily from constituents in Southwest Washington and across our state are affordability and crime. Families are struggling with the rising cost of living — … more

Commentary by state Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia | 3/16/25

A handful of Makah Ozette potatoes. Plant each potato whole.

Brian Mittge: Generosity grows with historic Makah Ozette potatoes

For more than 200 years, the Makah people have grown a unique variety of potato in the rain-soaked far northwestern corner of the continent. This week, I was given two boxes of these special spuds. … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 3/14/25

John Braun: Republicans disrupt budget conversation with no-new-taxes, no-cuts plan

Being on the minority side in the state Senate means playing defense against a lot of bad pieces of legislation, but there are times when we can still take satisfaction in a job well done. One … more

Commentary by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 3/14/25

Gov. Bob Ferguson smiles at his family during his inaugural address at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Commentary: Democrats might be having some second thoughts about Washington's new governor

When Washington's new Democratic governor, Bob Ferguson, gave his inaugural speech two months ago, I drove down to the Statehouse in Olympia to check it out. In a time of maximal partisanship, … more

Danny Westneat / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/12/25

Rep. Peter Abbarno runs with the torch during the Lewis County Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run on Friday, May 31.

Peter Abbarno: Honoring Special Olympics Washington — a step toward greater inclusion

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a month to raise awareness and attention to the accomplishments and continued needs of our community members with developmental … more

Commentary by state Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia | 3/11/25

Pastor Mark McHugh of Harrison Square Presbyterian Church speaks on Thursday at the monthly meeting of the Lewis County chapter of the American Association of University Women at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Chehalis.

Julie McDonald: Churches tackle homelessness with Shalom Village, Safe Parking Pilot Project

Many complain about vagrants living on the streets, but members of four local churches are tackling homelessness by creating a community building and six little duplexes to serve as transitional … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 3/10/25

Commentary: Crossroads in the state Legislature — Higher taxes and costs, or wiser choices?

As lawmakers head into the final half of the legislative session, they have some big decisions to make. Do they take a middle road and keep costs under control, or do they increase taxes and add new … more

By Kris Johnson / Association of Washington Business | 3/10/25

Scott and Jeannie Collins enjoy a swim in the Caribbean Sea during a trip to Honduras in 2023. They spoke about “navigating the rapids of life together” during a February marriage conference at Bethel Church, Chehalis.

Brian Mittge: Bringing out the sweetness in marriage

If you want to look forward to a better marriage through practical daily steps, let me pass on some tips that Scott and Jeannie Collins gave during a powerful and useful session at Bethel … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 3/7/25

State Senate Republican Leader Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia.

John Braun: Going soft on criminals makes it even harder to overcome shortage of officers

It seems like legislative Democrats are always coming up with reasons for wanting to let people out of prison sooner. One of the latest examples is Senate Bill 5266, which is on deck for a vote … more

Commentary by Sen John Braun, R-Centralia | 3/7/25

Commentary: New tariffs could hit Washington farmers hard

Any battle over tariffs between the United States and Canada, China, and Mexico is concerning, but if it escalates, it will hit Washington farmers particularly hard. Avoiding that possibility should … more

By Don Brunell | 3/5/25

A marker erected by the Washington State Historical Society marking the location of Fort Henness and a map listing the layout of the fort and the names of families living there, including the Borst, Mills and Gooddell families.

Julie McDonald: John Rogers James recalls 1850s Grand Mound, construction of Fort Henness

John Rogers James, an early pioneer of South Thurston County, wrote his memoirs before his death in 1929 and listed the names of people who settled Grand Mound in its early years — the same … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 3/3/25

Pastors Dan and Rebekah Metteer speak during the Bethel Marriage Conference on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 at Bethel Church, Chehalis.

Brian Mittge: Working through differences for a stronger marriage

Standing alongside hundreds of other people, all aiming to build up better marriages, is a pretty great place to be. That’s where my wife of 23 1/2 years and I found ourselves last … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 2/28/25

Sen. John Braun in Olympia on Friday, Feb. 15, 2024.

John Braun: Democrats cry about ‘disastrous’ cuts but silent about $4B in pay raises

At $80,500, the median annual state-employee salary in Washington is higher than the median annual private-sector pay in 38 of our state’s 39 counties. People often seem surprised when … more

2/28/25

Rep. Peter Abbarno in Olympia on Friday, Feb. 15, 2024.

Peter Abbarno: Rising costs — How Olympia is shifting its responsibility

Washington families feel the strain of rising costs on everything from housing to gas to groceries. Inflation has already driven up prices, yet lawmakers in Olympia continue pushing policies that … more

By Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia | 2/28/25

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

John McCroskey: Solutions for homelessness and more insanity from Olympia

Last time I wrote, I suggested using the Washington State Parks system to allow all the homeless camps that state officials tell cities they need to accommodate. It would let them do what … more

Commentary by John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 2/26/25

A cow named Sue is pictured in a piece of stitchery in this photo provided by Chronicle columnist Maureen Harkcom.

Maureen Harkcom: Blessed to have known a ‘cow named Sue’

A fairly new acquaintance was at my home for a meeting and saw a couple of stitchery pieces I made, had framed and then gave to my parents years ago. I got them back after my mother passed away … more

Commentary by Maureen Harkcom / For The Chronicle | 2/26/25

Commentary: Washington state considers imposing mileage tax

Washington State lawmakers have once again introduced a pay-per-mile tax. House Bill 1921 and Senate Bill 5726 would impose a vehicle miles traveled tax (VMT) of 2.6 cents per mile in response to an … more

By Sam Cardwell / Mountain States Policy Center | 2/26/25

Residents of the Grand Mound area are pictured in this 1853 photo from Maggie Shrull’s collection.

Julie McDonald: John Rogers James recalls 1850s Grand Mound

I wrote a few weeks ago about John Rogers James, a 10-year-old who crossed the Oregon Trail in 1851 with his parents, Samuel and Anna, and his siblings, then lived near Portland and the Clackamas … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 2/24/25