Commentary | The Daily Chronicle

Early day Sisters of Providence supported the construction and operation of their works of charity through begging tours. These fund-raising journeys to distant logging camps and mines were made by boat, by stagecoach and on horseback. circa 1890.

Julie McDonald: Mother Joseph and Sisters of Providence opened schools, hospitals, orphanages

Today marks the 201st birthday of a Canadian woman whose loving selfless acts of service saved many lives throughout the Pacific Northwest. Esther Pariseau was born April 16, 1823, on a farm … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 4/15/24

Stephen Pahre, of Edgewood, pictured with his uncle, Stuart Halsan, of Centralia. They are direct descendants of Stephen Tainter, a drummer who enlisted in the American Revolution. Tainter had served in the war for eight years by the time he was 24 years old.

Commentary: Local descendant finds big surprise at American Revolution exhibit in Thurston County

How would you feel if you walked into a national exhibition and saw your own direct relative’s image and life narrative as part of the story? That is exactly what happened to Stuart … more

By Shirley Stirling / Republished courtesy of The JOLT – The Journal of Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater | 4/15/24

The sun sets on the W.F. West soccer pitch on Friday, March 29.

Brian Mittge: Family ties are as sweet as the spring sunshine

My oldest son just got back from a visit to his cousins in Texas. Offhand, he mentioned how similar my brother and I are. It made me smile. I’m honored to be associated with my … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 4/12/24

Located at 111 S. Ash street just south of the Centralia College campus, the CHI apartments are pictured on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Our Views: Beacons of hope — Scholars Haven and Centralia Community Foundation

In a world filled with uncertainties and obstacles, it is truly inspiring to see the rise of organizations that bring hope dedicated to supporting those in need and nurturing the aspirations of our … more

By The Chronicle Editorial Board | 4/12/24

Centralia College students are pictured in this photo from the college's historical files.

Commentary: Nearly 100 years ago, Centralia College and Lewis County paved the way

Lewis County likes to do things differently. It always has. It’s that trailblazing spirit that led to the founding of Centralia Junior College in 1925. More community colleges followed our … more

By The Centralia College Board of Trustees | 4/12/24

The entrance of Green Hill School in Chehalis on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024.

Sen. John Braun: Green Hill School deserves second chance – now let’s see results

As someone who believes in second chances, I believe the young people serving time at Green Hill School in Chehalis deserve a second chance to get their lives pointed in a better direction. … more

By Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 4/12/24

Dr. Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad, a principal research scientist at KenSci Inc., a company focused on AI in healthcare, and affiliate assistant professor in the University of Washington Computer Science Department, gives a presentation titled “When Your Grandpa Is a Bot: AI, Death, and Digital Doppelgangers.”

Julie McDonald: Professor talks about using AI to re-create deceased loved ones

When a cardiologist diagnosed me with a heart blockage in early January and scheduled the procedure to fix it in early March, I had two months to consider my life and possible death. What did I need … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 4/8/24

Editorial: Zero traffic deaths by 2030? Put more emphasis on law enforcement

The recent spate of horrendous collisions and nose-thumbing at rules should prompt some serious thinking around the laudable state and local goals of no traffic deaths in six years. It's not … more

The Seattle Times Editorial Board (TNS) | 4/8/24

Mount St. Helens itself was hiding behind the clouds, but the jagged foothills around the volcano made for a picturesque setting as columnist Brian Mittge and his family walked on the boardwalk at Coldwater Lake and later on the nearby Hummocks Trail.

Brian Mittge: Spring beauty among the volcanic rubble

COLDWATER LAKE, Cowlitz County — When spring weather can't make up its mind, perhaps the perfect place to take a walk in both the sun and the snow is at Mount St. Helens, which offers its own … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 4/5/24

President Kris Johnson, with the Association of Washington Business, smiles and greets Edna Fund as he visits Churchill Glove Co. in October 2019 in downtown Centralia for Manufacturing Week.

Commentary: Celebrating 120 years of employer advocacy

In 1904, the ice cream cone was invented, the United States began construction of the Panama Canal, and a group of employers came together in Seattle to form the Citizens’ Alliance — … more

By Kris Johnson, Association of Washington Business | 4/5/24

Richard Stride commentary: The great escape! Cookies on the bottom shelf

The greatest escape story in history that you may have never heard about happened on March 24, 1944, when 76 Allied aviators escaped from a Nazi POW camp. Historians have called it “the … more

4/3/24

John McCroskey commentary: Seconds to make a decision, serious consequences that follow

An old saying goes something like this: If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make noise? The obvious answer is it surely does. The modern version of this is more relevant today: … more

By John McCroskey | 4/3/24

Providence Centralia Hospital is located at 914 South Scheuber Road in Centralia.

Julie McDonald: A tale of two emergency rooms

A year ago, the day after attending a memorial service for our good friend Ed Fund, I experienced unexplained pain in my left arm, so I called the nurse line on my insurance card. She recommended I … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 4/2/24

A giant pirate ship sails among Pe Ell River Run paddlers in this AI photo composite illustration.

Brian Mittge: Odd news in advance of a foolish day

Truth be told, none of these stories are true. Enjoy some early April 1 balderdash. Adna pirates maraud down Chehalis River Not content with their namesake mascot presiding over … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 3/29/24

State Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia

Sen. John Braun: Initiative critic wants ‘constructive measures’ — and Republicans have them

Knowing what the Legislature did and didn’t do this year with the six initiatives submitted to it by the people of Washington, I couldn’t help noticing what a big-city newspaper columnist … more

Commentary by Se. John Braun, R-Centralia | 3/29/24

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

John McCroskey: Sasquatch, underwear and an about-face for Bob Ferguson

The past week, The Chronicle had several stories I found of interest, two of them local. The stories focused on bigfoot, an underwear-masked alleged thief and a candidate for governor who … more

Commentary by John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 3/27/24

Yelm Community Schools buses sit ready to be driven next school year.

Commentary: In a sign of distrust, voters reject two out of three local school bond proposals

In the latest sign of declining public confidence in the education system, voters in February turned down two-thirds of proposed local school bond measures, rejecting 14 out of 21 proposals. The … more

3/27/24

Attorney General Bob Ferguson talks to members of the press during a legislative meeting inside the John A. Cherberg building in Olympia in February 2023.

Commentary: Coming about! What it means that Bob Ferguson just tacked right on cops

About a year ago, Bob Ferguson made what looked at the time to be a political blunder. For his burgeoning governor's campaign, the Democrat sent out an endorsement announcement that went down … more

Danny Westneat / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/27/24

Dan Maughn smiles while talking about beekeeping after receiving a gift from Lewis County Farm Bureau President Maureen Harkcom, the author of this commentary, during a tour on Monday, July 31.

Maureen Harkcom commentary: Food Hub is a great way for farmers, consumers to work together

We can find so much on the internet today, but it is getting harder and harder to know what to believe. I have seen some things that were totally fake — created by artificial intelligence … more

By Maureen Harkcom / For The Chronicle | 3/25/24

Amy Grant performs at the Washington Center for Performing Arts in this photo by Chronicle columnist Julie McDonald.

Julie McDonald: Amy Grant concert in Olympia takes me back to the 1980s

I’ve always been a fan of Amy Grant’s music, but I doubt I would have attended her concert last month if not for the movie “I Can Only Imagine.” When I saw an ad about … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 3/25/24