Editorials | The Daily Chronicle

Commissioner Mike Kelly motions to approve David Plotz as general manager during a Lewis County Public Utility District meeting in Chehalis on Tuesday.

Our Views: David Plotz Needs Time and Support as New PUD Manager

Brand new Lewis County Public Utility District Commissioner Mike Hadaller had an interesting first action in office. At a special meeting held on the public holiday of Jan. 2, he voted … more

By The Chronicle Editorial Board | 1/6/23

Don Brunell Commentary: Expanded Panama Canal Challenges Washington Ports

The $5.4 billion expansion of the Panama Canal is paying off for East Coast and Gulf of Mexico seaports. It is putting pressure on the Pacific Ocean-based terminals to be more competitive. The … more

By Don C. Brunell | 12/13/22

Julie McDonald Commentary: Tragedy in Seoul Triggers Concert Memories

News headlines over the weekend broke my heart. After Tropical Storm Nalgae brought heavy rains that triggered landslides, at least 45 people in the Philippines died and many more remain missing. A … more

10/31/22

A Tesla-sponsored electric car charging station is seen in this file photo on Lum Road near the outlet mall in Centralia.

Don Brunell Commentary: Recycling Lithium Batteries Must Accelerate for EVs to Succeed

Demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is soaring, accelerated by climate change concerns. EVs reduce tailpipe emissions from cars, trucks and buses, which are responsible for 30 percent of our … more

By Don Brunell | 10/31/22

Don Brunell Commentary: Herculean Effort Needed to Free Seattle of Drugs and Crime

Over the years, Seattle leaders faced “Herculean” challenges yet found the will, resources and determination to come together and tackle them. Today’s conundrum is to overcome the … more

By Don C. Brunell | 9/16/22

Lynda Wilson Commentary: California’s Power Problems Should Serve as Warning for Washington

We’re taught about a “safe following distance” in driver’s education because bad things can happen when you ride the bumper of the car ahead of you. In 2005, Democratic … more

By Sen. Lynda Wilson | 9/16/22

Smoke from the Goat Rocks Fire rises in heavy orange plumes above the trees near Coal Creek Drive east of Packwood.

Brian Mittge Commentary: We Can Only Fight Fires If We Do It Together

Last weekend, as firefighters raced to contain a wildfire that threatened cabins near Packwood and perhaps the whole town itself, the story felt very personal. Just the week before, my wife … more

By Brian Mittge | 9/16/22

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

Kris Johnson Commentary: Washington Employers on Edge as Uncertainty Swirls

Is the U.S. economy headed into a recession? Has inflation peaked? When will the labor market ease? While economists debate questions like these, it’s helpful to hear from employers on the … more

By Kris Johnson | 8/31/22

Paperback books sit in boxes inside the Lewis County Mall in this file photo.

Bill Moeller Commentary: Is it Literature or Trash?

Mark Twain said, “A classic is something everybody wants to read and doesn’t want to read.” That’s a good response to one of the most famous books in American literature: … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 8/31/22

Other Views: Lawmakers Must Support Mental Health Care

The history of mental health legislation in the United States demonstrates the difficulty of dealing with the issue as a matter of politics. With the stress of modern life being compounded by the … more

By The Columbian Editorial Board (TNS) | 8/31/22

Julie McDonald Commentary: McAtees, Reinkes Part of Salzer Valley History

Although Salzer Valley was named for the large German family that settled southeast of Centralia, other early families left their mark in the community — and local roads today even bear their … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 8/29/22

Don Brunell Commentary: Drained Snake River Reservoirs Would Resemble Parched Rhine Riverbeds

If you want a glimpse of parched river bottoms behind “would be breached” lower Snake River dams, look at recent photos of European rivers and lakes. On parts of the picturesque … more

By Don Brunell | 8/29/22

Jay Inslee takes a tour of a potential COVID-19 quarantine and isolation site at Maple Lane in March 2020.

Other Views: Inslee Should End Emergency Orders — COVID-19 Is Part of Life Now

When Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency on Feb. 29, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the future was uncertain. Two-and-a-half years later, the path forward is clearer. The … more

The Seattle Times Editorial Board | 8/16/22

Ed Johnstone is the chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.

Being Frank: Tribes Need to Be at the Table to Conserve Wildlife

Treaty tribes have been working for decades to get federal support for our essential wildlife programs. We’re counting on the U.S. Senate to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act … more

By Ed Johnstone | 8/16/22

Other Views: Herrera Beutler Graceful in Face of Defeat

The ouster of Jaime Herrera Beutler as our congressional representative brings about something increasingly rare in modern politics: A gracious farewell. Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, on … more

The Columbian Editorial Board | 8/11/22

The newly finished dance floor of Swede Hall is pictured in this photograph shared by the Rochester Citizens Group in January.

Bill Moeller Commentary: A Look at the Rich History of Swede Hall

Earlier this year when I was writing about the south Thurston County schoolhouse in what used to be the town of Gate, I was approached by one of the citizens who works toward its maintenance. Her … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 7/27/22

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: I’m Almost Starting to Miss the Jimmy Carter Years

I survived President Jimmy Carter and the gas rationing, super high home interest rates, unemployment and weakness on the world stage. Those of us who did can see similarities to what’s … more

By John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 7/27/22

Don Brunell Commentary: Restoring America’s Semiconductor Edge

Surprisingly, recent U.S. presidents and congressional Democrats and Republicans agree America’s economic and national security hinge upon tiny, yet powerful semiconductors. Semiconductor … more

By Don C. Brunell | 7/26/22

Don Brunell Commentary: It’s Time for Congress to Reassert Itself

While critics contend the U.S. Supreme Court decision limiting how the nation’s main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants was a “gut … more

By Don C. Brunell | 7/19/22

Other Views: Combat Organized Retail Theft in Washington With Coordinated, Sustained Effort

Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson is creating a statewide Organized Retail Crime Theft Task Force. It remains to be seen whether it will make progress or become just one more committee … more

By The Seattle Times Editorial Board | 7/7/22