Commentary | The Daily Chronicle

At the giggling request of girls living at Heart 2 Heart Children's Village in Honduras, Sam Mittge reads a Spanish language Bible passage painted on the wall in the girls' dining area on June 22, the third day of a 10-day missions trip led by Bethel Church to serve and show love to the mostly orphaned or abandoned children who have been there. Roughly translated, the verse reads: "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure."

Brian Mittge Commentary: Meeting Heart to Heart in Honduras

OMOA, Honduras — Twenty-five years ago, in 1998, a young Centralia pastor and his wife began a lifelong journey to serve orphaned and abandoned children in Central America. After … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 6/23/23

Signs, flags and tags with children's names written on them decorate the fence of the now permanently closed Pearl Street Pool, which the City of Centralia has begun to fill in as it prepares to create something else with the property.

Commentary: Why Not a City Pool in Centralia?

The City of Centralia is filling in the Veterans’ Memorial Pearl Street Pool. This is a sad end to a 70-year era for the community. The campaign to get the city to reopen the pool kept the … more

By Jami Lund | 6/23/23

Workers begin filling in the Pearl Street Pool with dirt last week in Centralia.

Bill Moeller Commentary: Feeling Angry and Disappointed About Pearl Street Pool

Words cannot begin to express how I felt when I read a recent story in this newspaper that was accompanied by a photo of fill being dumped into a children’s swimming pool. The … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 6/21/23

John McCroskey Commentary: Still More Questions in Aron Christensen Death Investigation

Several weeks ago in May, I wrote about the death of Aron Christensen and what appeared to be many questions resulting from the investigation that had been done to that point — at least … more

By John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 6/21/23

Commentary: Snake River Whac-A-Mole Needs to Stop in Dam Removal Discussions

To supporters of the four Lower Snake River Dams, the latest news that President Joe Biden continues to pursue dam breaching is not shocking, but it is surprising, considering the growing shortfall … more

By Don Brunell / For The Chronicle | 6/21/23

Commentary: Can We Act Now? Washington's Overdose Deaths Are Fastest Rising in the Nation

One guidepost I've had over the years has been to write about a variety of topics, to avoid the urge to use this space to bang the drum. I'm about to break that rule again. The reason is that … more

Danny Westneat / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/21/23

Beginning in 1903 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed a road to Paradise on Mount Rainier. In 1911 the road was sufficiently completed for the use of wagons and autos. President William H. Taft traveled to Paradise Lodge in the first auto to reach the area. The auto had to be towed by horses for the last several miles. Included in that travel were the touring buses and cars such as those seen in this photo. They were called the original mass transit system at Mount Rainier National Park and carried thousands of tourists to the mountain each year. This photo and information was originally submitted by Dan Duffy for Our Hometowns.

Other Views: Run Buses to Mount Rainier

One of Mount Rainier's most impressive features is its topographic prominence, or how far it rises above the surroundings. On approach, the mountain swells to fill the sky like a god suddenly … more

The Seattle Times Editorial Board (TNS) | 6/20/23

FILE PHOTO — Harold Borovec stands in front of the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum's 1916 vintage logging locomotive in Chehalis.

Highlighting Lewis County: Goodbye, Harold Borovec, Chehalis and Railroad Icon

Chehalis lost a historical icon June 10 with the passing of Harold Lee Borovec, a hardworking and talented 96-year-old with a vast knowledge of local history and a deep love for his wife. Most … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 6/19/23

Richard Stride is the current CEO of Cascade Community Healthcare. He can be reached at drstride@icloud.com.

Richard Stride Commentary: A Trip to the United Kingdom Provokes Memories of World War II

My wife and I returned recently from a trip to the United Kingdom. The British people were welcoming, helpful and very accommodating, not at all like some other countries we have visited that seemed … more

By Richard Stride / For The Chronicle | 6/19/23

Mount Rainier as seen from U.S. Highway 12 between Packwood and White Pass on Nov. 23, 2022.

Commentary: Mount Rainier Is Melting — Can Anything Be Done to Stop It?

Scott Beason has worked on and around the ice of Mount Rainier for nearly two decades. When I asked if he could see it changing in that time, he gave a kind of rueful laugh. "Lately we've had … more

Danny Westneat / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/17/23

W.F. West graduate Samuel Mittge, left, prepares to turn his tassel at Bearcat Stadium in Chehalis on Saturday, June 10.

Brian Mittge Commentary: Graduation Gratitude

The past few months have seen milestones flying by as our firstborn son graduates from high school. That beautifully bittersweet trip culminated last Saturday for us with a really wonderful … more

6/17/23

Rep. Peter Abbarno and his daughter, Sophia, choose a raffle winner by picking a business card out of a basket outside Althauser Rayan Abbarno LLC in Centralia on Thursday, June 15 during the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours event.

Commentary: Taking Time to Consider the ‘True Meaning’ of Father’s Day

We hear about the “true meaning of Christmas” every December. Why don’t we hear about the “true meaning of Father’s Day” every June? The first official … more

By Peter Abbarno | 6/16/23

Luke Hanson sings the Bearcat Fight Song alongside fellow graduates of W.F. West after turning their tassels in Chehalis on Saturday, June 10.

Commentary: The Rest of the Story on W.F. West’s 100% College Acceptance for Graduates

Four years in a row, including the class of 2023 this month, every Chehalis senior at W.F. West High School, 100%, has graduated already having been admitted to a post-high school credential program. … more

By The Chehalis School Board | 6/16/23

Bill Moeller smiles for a portrait outside The Chronicle in Centralia on Jan. 24, 2023.

Bill Moeller Commentary: Another Look Back — or a Look Forward — in Time

It's time to dig out an old column, if only to demonstrate how old problems seem to remain problems for a long time. This one was first published on April 22, 2009, with the memory of … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 6/14/23

Former U.S. President Donald Trump makes his way inside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse in New York on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Commentary: Does Nothing Matter? Trump Support in Washington Hasn't Budged in 7 Years

The "nothing matters" theory of politics is on my mind again today. It wasn't put there just by the tumultuous events in national politics, but by a local poll. The theory says we live in an age … more

Danny Westneat / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/14/23

FILE PHOTO — Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope.

Commentary: Not ‘Everyone’ Is Welcome in Lewis County

I am proud to live in a community where, despite individual political or social views, we can welcome those who appreciate our personal differences and promote kindness, respect and hope. But … more

By Sean Swope / Lewis County commissioner | 6/13/23

FILE PHOTO — The Mountain View Timberland Library in Randle.

Letter: Former Trustees Oppose Move of Library Building to Randle

As former Timberland Regional Library (TRL) trustees, we are alarmed and disappointed with the recent news that TRL’s administration wants to move the Amanda Park library building from … more

6/12/23

Riding on the Boeing Co.-sponsored floral float was 95-year-old Doris Bier of Chehalis, pictured here wearing the red bandana.

Julie McDonald: Chehalis Rosie the Riveter Among Rose Festival Parade Grand Marshals

At the Portland Rose Festival’s Grand Floral Parade Saturday, a gigantic display of Rosie the Riveter flexing her arm adorned a float carrying the grand marshals — more than a dozen of … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 6/12/23

The Capitol Building is seen on the night of Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 in Olympia.

Brian Mittge Commentary: Sign R-101 to Protect Parents’ Rights and Kids’ Safety

This year, the Washington Legislature passed a controversial bill that will allow runaways to evade their parents and stay under state custody if the children are looking for abortions or sex change … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 6/9/23

State Rep. Peter Abbarno holds the hand of his son Antonio Abbarno during the Lewis County Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run last Friday.

Peter Abbarno: Lewis County Special Olympics Is a Cause Worth Supporting

Despite the lingering pain in my knees and back, plus the contact reminder from my son that he ran all 19 miles and “beat me,” I have only great feelings and memories of this year’s … more

By Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia | 6/8/23