Commentary | The Daily Chronicle

Don Buswell, center, is pictured during his time in the Air Force in this photo he provided to The Chronicle.

Highlighting Lewis County: Buswells Flew Airplanes During WWII, Then Logged Forests and Built Roads

In the spring of 1940, a year after Don Buswell graduated, the old wooden Toledo High School building on the hill burned down, and not long after a principal had been fired, perhaps for fooling … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 5/22/23

State Rep. Peter Abbarno is a Centralia-based attorney who represents the 20th Legislative District as a Republican in the Washington Legislature.

Rep. Peter Abbarno Commentary: Accountability and Compassion at the Heart of the Blake ‘Fix’ Bill

At the heart of any good criminal justice policy involving substance abuse and addiction should be accountability and compassion. Although this policy will evolve and improve over time, I believe the … more

By Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia | 5/19/23

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, takes part in a news conference Nov. 29, 2022.

Sen. John Braun Commentary: Republican Resolve Leads to Better Drug Possession Law

Last year, our Democratic colleagues felt compelled to brag that the Legislature had adjourned on schedule five sessions in a row, with no need to go into overtime. It was presumably an attempt to … more

By Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 5/19/23

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

Bill Moeller Commentary: Hispanic Representation Arrives at Last for Centralia Council

My routine procedure on a Thursday afternoon is generally along the lines of, first, making sure that The Chronicle has been delivered into my rural mailbox and then — after settling … more

5/17/23

Don Buswell, a centenarian from Toledo, is pictured at 100 in this photo by Julie McDonald.

Julie McDonald Commentary: Buswells Settle South of Toledo in the Early 1920s

Don Buswell, a centenarian from Toledo, years ago visited the East Coast Civil War battlefields and stood in awe at one near Richmond, Virginia, where his grandfather Brigham Buswell was shot in the … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 5/15/23

A Washington State Patrol vehicle is parked in front of W.F. West High School on Thursday during a lockdown.

Brian Mittge Commentary: ‘Swatting’ Is the Latest Threat to Our Schools

As if America’s plague of school shootings wasn’t terrible enough, the destroyers of public safety and security are now adding insult to injury. Modern technology and lax … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 5/12/23

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

Richard Stride Commentary: What Is Artificial Intelligence? Is It Scary or a Positive Development?

I recall the debate in the 1980s and 90s concerning robots taking over our lives and the world. Movies like “Terminator” and “The Matrix” didn’t help much. … more

By Richard Stride / For The Chronicle | 5/12/23

Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, represents the 20th Legislative District in the state Legislature.

Peter Abbarno Commentary: Make State Government More Open, Transparent and Accountable

When I talk to constituents in the 20th Legislative District about issues affecting our communities and state, many have expressed to me a deep distrust in our governing institutions. … more

By Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia | 5/10/23

Commentary: It’s That Time of the Year — Let's Celebrate and Support Washington Agriculture

Some would argue that spring is the most wonderful time of the year in Washington. Throughout our state, fruit trees blossom, vibrant tulip fields bloom and colorful lentils carpeted the … more

By Don Brunell | 5/10/23

Bill Moeller Commentary: A Question for the Times — Is America Winning or Losing?

We seem to be smugly sitting back and thinking that we're still the leaders of the world in all things. Let's take a few minutes to see if that works out to be true. First, we … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 5/10/23

Brigham Buswell is pictured with his wife and seven children in this photo provided by his grandson, Toledo resident Don Buswell.

Highlighting Lewis County: Toledo Native’s Grandfather a POW in Civil War

Brigham Buswell, the grandfather of 100-year-old Toledo resident Don Buswell, wrote about fighting in the Civil War and his incarceration at a hospital for wounded prisoners of war. On July 1, … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 5/8/23

Richard Stride Commentary: Peace, Calm, Nostalgia and the Soothing Sound of a Clock

Growing up, I loved the sound of my grandpa’s mantel clock. It was an old Howard Miller pendulum wind-up clock. The clock key was for both the time and chimes. I can still remember … more

By Richard Stride / For The Chronicle | 5/5/23

Sheriff Rob Snaza speaks about safety to a Christian Women’s Connection luncheon held at the Church of the Nazarene in Centralia in 2022.

Rob Snaza Commentary: We Need Better Funding for Programs to Keep Kids on Right Path

When the citizens of Lewis County chose me as their sheriff, they entrusted me with the responsibility to keep our communities safe. As part of that mission, I have worked with my team at the Lewis … more

By Rob Snaza / Lewis County sheriff | 5/5/23

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

John McCroskey Commentary: Sheriff Owes More Information on Aron Christensen Case

For some seven months or so, there have been reports chronicling the tragic death of Aron Christensen and his dog Buzzo near Walupt Lake. It’s a very sad situation and while we think we know … more

By John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 5/3/23

Kris Johnson is president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s chamber of commerce and manufacturers association.

Commentary: Legislative Session Yields Decidedly Mixed Results

Depending on how you measure success, the recently concluded Washington legislative session was either really great, not as terrible as normal or a frustrating combination of progress and setbacks … more

By Kris Johnson / Association of Washington Business | 5/3/23

Bill Moeller Commentary: Reaching Another Milestone in Life

Whether you are reading this on Thursday, May 4, in the newspaper or viewing it online, you may not be aware that tomorrow — Friday — is a momentous day in the life of this struggling … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 5/3/23

Brigham Buswell is pictured in a Union uniform while holding a rifle in this photo provided by his grandson, Toledo resident Don Buswell.

Highlighting Lewis County: Toledo Centenarian’s Grandfather Chronicled Civil War Battles

Few people alive today can say their grandfather fought in the Civil War, but a Toledo man can. Don Buswell, who still lives in the house where he was born more than a century ago, is proud of his … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 5/1/23

Sen. Braun Commentary: Failure to Fix State’s Disastrous Drug-Possession Law Looms Over Session Successes

Republicans came into this year’s legislative session vowing to fix the state’s drug-possession law so offenders would have more incentive to enter and complete treatment. We remain … more

By Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 4/28/23

A rack of guns, on Friday, May 24, 2019, that were at one point seized by Lewis County deputies during either criminal or civil matters. The guns are stored in a secured property facility maintained by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Julie McDonald Commentary: Irresponsible Gun Users Should Be Prosecuted — Especially When Someone Dies

Back in the 1980s, home from college, I visited my sister’s new rental house in Vancouver one night and, as the evening progressed, I ran to the store for something. When I returned, I opened … more

4/28/23

Brian Mittge Commentary: A Tale of Twin Cities

It was the best of times in Chehalis, it was the worst of times in Centralia. With apologies to Charles Dickens, one could write a novel about Lewis County's largest school districts this … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 4/28/23