Life | The Daily Chronicle

A young girl stands in the entrance of a playhouse mushroom during the grand opening of the Timberland Regional Library (TRL) Mountain View Library in Randle on Saturday, Jan. 11. The mushroom was built by Skyler Voie in Tumwater at TRL headquarters.

‘We are super excited’: New Timberland Regional Library opens doors in Randle

Dozens of people gathered at the new Timberland Regional Library (TRL) in Randle for the grand opening on Saturday, Jan. 11, to celebrate the opening of the new space. The Mountain View Library … more

By Ridley Hudson / ridley@chronline.com | 1/13/25

Family stories indicate that Ambrose Asher was captured by Native Americans in the 1860s, with his parents’ fate unknown. While the family story was not correct in detail, it provided enough information to discover the truth through genealogical and historical research of the Plains Indian Wars. The story provides a prelude to the Sand Creek Massacre in late 1864 and later events of the Plains Indian Wars. Speaker Dave Welch, a descendant of Ambrose Asher, is a long-time member and officer of the Oregon-California Trails Association.

Schmidt House history talk to discuss Ambrose Asher

The date and time of the Schmidt House’s next upcoming history talk has been announced. It will be held on Thursday, Feb. 6, at 12 p.m, at 330 Schmidt Place SW, Tumwater. The topic of the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/13/25

The Adna Robotics club, from left, Phoebe Allen, Bristol Milloi, Tom Bernhardt, Leonidas Flohr, Colton Rind and Kaden Hartley, smile for a photo in the Adna robotics lab at Adna Elementary School on Thursday, Jan. 9.

Adna High School Robotics Club sets record in regional FIRST Tech Challenge competition

Originally founded in 2017, the Adna High School Robotics Club is now headed to the state competition in its sixth FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), having won the regional semifinal competition on … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 1/13/25

Martha Harjo of Oakview Grange honored with National Grange Legacy Award

Washington State Grange President Tom Gwin recently presented Oakview Grange member Martha Harjo with the National Grange Legacy Award. Her family are six-generation Oakview Grange members. The … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/13/25

Athletic Director and boysa basketball coach Grady Fallon guards Jim Fritz during the 19th annual alumni game at Toledo High School on Saturday, Jan. 11

In focus: Old-timers ball at Toledo High School alumni games

Toledo Indian Basketball Alumni held the 19th annual alumni games on Saturday at Toledo High School. The fundraiser included four games, including an “Old Guys” game, a girls … more

1/13/25

From left, eighth grader Paulette Cardiel, Principal Lara Gregorich-Bennett, eighth grader Andres Cruz, leadership teacher Ana Summers, and eighth graders Antonia Saucedo, Kennedy Haskins, Maliyah Popoca Cruz and Lydia Lowe smile for a photo in a newly painted hallway at Centralia Middle School on Thursday, Jan. 9.

Centralia Middle School begins transition from Yellow Jackets to Tigers

Centralia Middle School is getting an orange and black makeover after the school’s Associated Student Body (ASB) voted to officially change the school’s mascot from the Yellow Jackets to … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 1/12/25

Ralphie, resident protector and support dog of the Sharon Care memory care unit, gives a high five at the Sharon Care Center in Centralia on Monday, Dec. 9.

‘Resident protector’ Ralphie the Chihuahua brings security, cheer to Centralia assisted living facility

An unofficial staff member has been bringing a smile to the faces of residents at the Sharon Care Center in Centralia for over three years. He roams the halls of the assisted living facility and … more

By Kody Christen / kody@chronline.com | 1/10/25

Dr. David Zeoli smiles for a photo outside of Chehalis Naturopathic Medicine on Thursday, Jan. 9.

New doctor working at historic Mary McCrank’s building alongside Medical Massage and Summit Chiropractic

Whether someone is looking to optimize their diet for weight loss or for natural remedies to help their body recover from more serious conditions, including addiction, heart disease and diabetes, … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 1/10/25

State Veterans Affairs to host a Veterans Town Hall and Women Veterans Forum

The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) will host a Women Veterans Forum from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and a Veterans Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Both … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/10/25

Jessica and Kyle York at Onalaska Farm Sanctuary. The sanctuary is one of three nonprofits that will be featured at the upcoming 100+ Women Who Care event. The other are the Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County and the Toledo Community Foundation.

100+ Women Who Care: Inaugural event features three Lewis County nonprofits

Organizers behind 100+ Women Who Care are inviting the public to the inaugural event. It will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at the historic Lewis and Clark Hotel in downtown … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/10/25

The Thursday sunrise is pictured at the gingerbread house along Market Boulevard in Chehalis. Decorations at the festively decorated building at 1321 S. Market Blvd. have remained in place even after the passing of the holiday season. The effort falls in line with a request by Chronicle columnist Brian Mittge, who captured this photo. Each year, Mittge asks Lewis County residents to keep decorations in place to bring light to the dark days of winter. Terry Harris, along with his family and other volunteers, decorate the house and put up a Christmas train nearby each year. It’s been over a decade now that Harris and his family have committed to putting up the gingerbread house and Christmas train in Chehalis, and it’s a highlight for his family and his community every year, Harris previously told The Chronicle.

In focus: Chehalis gingerbread house keeps spreading holiday joy well into the new year

1/10/25

Manager Sam Baltazar cuts the ceremonial Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce ribbon during the Chehalis Panda Express grand opening on Friday, Jan. 10. The new Panda Express is located at 710 NW Arkansas Way in Chehalis. The Chehalis location’s hours are 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. seven days a week. The drive thru will remain open until 11 p.m.

In focus: Panda Express celebrates grand opening in Chehalis Friday

The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the Chehalis Panda Express grand opening on Friday, Jan. 10. The new Panda Express is located at 710 NW … more

1/10/25

Photo of Centralia taken between 1882 and 1897. The streets are dirt. Businesses seen are State Bank of Centralia, Racket Store, Tin Shop, also people and wagons on the street. View was taken on the corner of Tower and Main looking north on Tower. The State Bank of Centralia was later the Matz building, 103 S. Tower, which has since burned.

Looking back on 150 years of history for the city of Centralia

Editor’s note: On Jan. 8, 1875, George and Mary Jane Washington filed a plat with the county auditor in the new two-story courthouse in the town known today as Chehalis for land that would … more

By Jennifer Ott / HistoryLink.org | 1/10/25

George and Mary Jane Washington are pictured in these portraits from The Chronicle’s historical archives.

150 years ago this week, George and Mary Jane Washington filed plat that would become Centralia

Editor’s note: On Jan. 8, 1875, George and Mary Jane Washington filed a plat with the county auditor in the new two-story courthouse in the town known today as Chehalis for land that would … more

By Kit Oldham / HistoryLink.org | 1/10/25

100th birthday party planned for Lebam man

A 100th birthday party for Dale Rutherford will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Jan. 18 at Swiss Hall in Frances. Rutherford was born in South Bend, Washington, on Jan. 17, 1925. He is a … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/8/25

From left, Jim and Cindy Smith smile for a photo along with son, Mark, and Kellie Raschke at Uncle Jim’s Smokehouse in Adna on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

Founder of Uncle Jim’s Smokehouse ‘slowly retiring,’ passing ownership to son whose goal is to grow business

In 2000, Adna resident Jim Smith began smoking and processing wild game meat for himself and his hunting buddies inside what was originally his home’s garage. By 2005, he had officially … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 1/8/25

A woman walks along the estuary boardwalk at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on Thursday, Jan. 2.

In focus: Walking into a new year at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Chronicle photographer Ridley Hudson captured these photos during a visit to the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on Thursday afternoon. “Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually … more

1/7/25

Thurston County District 2 Commissioner Gary Edwards smiles during a swearing-in ceremony at The Atrium in Olympia on Dec. 17, 2024.

Retired Thurston County commissioner reflects on 37 years of service

Gary Edwards knew in the spring of 2024 that he would retire from serving Thurston County as one of its five commissioners at the end of the year. He concluded his second term at 9 p.m. on New … more

By Dylan Reubenking/dylan@yelmonline.com | 1/7/25

Runners leave from the starting line at Carlisle Lake Park during the Ony Icicle 5k Fun Run in Onalaska on Saturday, Jan. 4.

In focus: Runners raise money for students at Ony Icicle 5K Fun Run

Runners took off from Carlisle Lake Park during the Ony Icicle 5K Fun Run in Onalaska on Saturday, Jan. 4. The course took runners around the scenic Carlisle Lake and through the town of … more

1/6/25

Goodies handed out during the holiday season by the local group Small Acts Of Kindness are pictured in this photo provided by the group.

Local group dedicated to spreading kindness and holiday cheer

Those who were out and about a lot this holiday season might have seen or heard about a group of people giving out candy canes and helping the community. Some might even have been one of the … more

By Tyrus VanTuyl / ty@chronline.com | 1/6/25