Life | The Daily Chronicle

Madison Grove Farm staff poses for a photo with a check donation of $10,000 next to the Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel Chief Community Relations Officer Rodney Youckton and General Manager Mike Lucas after an event at the Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel in Rochester on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel donates $90,000 to nine local nonprofits

Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel announced a major investment in local community welfare this week, donating a total of $90,000 to be divided equally among nine different nonprofit organizations … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/15/25

From the left, Onalaska residents Annabelle and Ellowyn Cserni paint Warhammer figures with their father Joseph Cserni inside the newly expanded Nerd Pros on Sunday, Oct. 12, in downtown Morton.

Downtown Morton trading card, collectibles shop expands after opening earlier this year

After opening on Star Wars Day this past May 4, Nerd Pros owner Marcus Read has finally finished the expansion renovations he had in mind when he first opened his downtown Morton trading card game … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 10/15/25

Makaelynn Manning performs a musical number as Lucy Harris during a dress rehearsal of Jekyll and Hyde the Musical at the Evergreen Playhouse in Centralia on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

‘Jekyll and Hyde The Musical’: Evergreen Playhouse ready for first fall performance

While the 1941 horror film “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” popularized Scottish author Robert Lewis Stevenson’s 1886 Gothic novel “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” in … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 10/15/25

Espresso! by PNW Cookie Co. to celebrate one-year anniversary with ribbon-cutting in Chehalis

Espresso! by PNW Cookie Co. is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 272 N. Market Blvd in Chehalis. The public is invited to join the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/15/25

Historic Claquato Church nears sale after just one bid received by county

The Lewis County Board of Commissioners is set to approve the final sale of the Claquato Church to a locally based nonprofit this week roughly three months after declaring the property as surplus and … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 10/13/25

Local youths take a break from skating and gather around to share their concerns and hear about the future of the skate park during the Wednesday meeting at Fuller's Twin City Skate Park at Rotary Riverside Park in Centralia.

Centralia shows local youths a path forward for skate park

City of Centralia officials and a group of local skateboarders gathered at the Fuller’s Twin City Skate Park at Rotary Riverside Park Wednesday evening to talk about replacing ramps and filling … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 10/13/25

The outside of the Cascade Apartments, formerly Cascade Elementary School, is pictured in Chehalis on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Cascade School listed in Washington Heritage Register

The Cascade School, located 101 SW Second St. in Chehalis, has been listed in the Washington Heritage Register, wrote Allyson Brooks, Ph.D., in an Oct. 7 letter to The Chronicle. The former … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/13/25

A vendor talks with guests about her assortment of cosplay wares during the Wandering Wizards Market at the Pine Street Plaza in Centralia on Saturday, Oct. 11.

In focus: Wandering Wizards Market brings magic to downtown Centralia

The Wandering Wizards Market was held at the Pine Street Plaza in Centralia on Saturday, Oct. 11. The event began at 10 a.m. and lasted until 5 p.m. Saturday. “This free, … more

Otto Rabe / otto@chronline.com | 10/13/25

In Focus: Ruby Magruder crowned Lewis-Pacific Swiss Society’s 2026 Swiss Miss

Ruby Magruder, 16, of Pe Ell, was crowned as the Lewis-Pacific Swiss Society’s 2026 Swiss Miss on Oct. 4 in Frances during Oktoberfest. She was escorted by her father, Toneil Magruder. Magruder … more

10/13/25

Joyce Barnes poses for a photo during a candidate forum at O’Blarney’s in Centralia in 2023.

Julie McDonald: Joyce Barnes put citizens first as Centralia councilor

As a young reporter for The Daily Chronicle, I met real estate agent Joyce Barnes while we both attended Centralia City Commission meetings. She never shied away from asking questions or seeking … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 10/13/25

Comedian Sam Miller smiles at the crowd with a pie-covered face during the Boo-Coda Pie Eating Contest in Bucoda on Saturday, Oct. 11.

Pie on your face, literally: Pumpkin pie eating contest held in Boo-Coda

With plenty of whipped cream to make things even messier, dozens of participants got pie on their faces this past weekend in Bucoda during the inaugural Boo-Coda Spook-Tacular Great Pumpkin Pie … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/13/25

Edson Smith, the newest attorney at Scheibmeir, Kelly & Nelson, walks to the front of the courtroom for his swearing-in ceremony at the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in Chehalis on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025.

In Focus: Edson Smith sworn in as the newest attorney at Scheibmeir, Kelly & Nelson in Chehalis

10/13/25

Brooklynn Bell, the reigning reserve world girls breakaway roping champion, qualified to compete in the Vegas Tuffest Junior World Championships in Las Vegas to be held in December.

Thurston County teen qualifies for multiple national junior rodeos in Las Vegas

Brooklynn Bell, 15, of Rainier, qualified to compete in the Webb Roping Productions Breakaway Roping Competition at the Junior National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. The prestigious event will take … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/13/25

From the right, Lewis County Historical Museum Executive Director Jason Mattson, Pacific NorthWEIRD podcast co-host Vince Ynzunza and Men In Black Birthday Bash organizer Steve Edmiston listen as Team Roswell members forensic engineer and investigator Paul Semones and Roswell Daily Record investigative reporter Toby Martinez discuss the 1947 Roswell Incident during a debate at the Truth or Consequences Brewing Company in New Mexico on Friday, Oct. 10.

Local historians and researchers face off in debate discussing 1947 ‘Summer of the Saucers’ events

While Kenneth Arnold’s “saucer-like aircraft” sighting near Mount Rainier, the Maury Island Incident and the Roswell Incident all took place nearly eight decades ago during the … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 10/13/25

Homecoming Queen Jasmine Shepherd and King Rafael Lamas Vera stand together after winning during a homecoming game against Oakville-North River at Winlock High School on Friday, Oct. 10.

In Focus: Homecoming in Winlock

10/11/25

Jennifer McBride, content marketing editor at Rootstock, holds the phone as Maynard Mallonee introduces himself to viewers during a National Farmers Day livestream presentation with Organic Valley at Mallonee Farms in Curtis on Thursday, Oct. 9. The Chronicle traveled to the Mallonee farm in Curtis on Thursday morning for the National Farmers Day event. “Their farm uses many innovative practices (robotic milkers, apps to keep an eye on cow health and much more),” organizers wrote. “They are also leaders in sustainability initiatives — the Mallonee farm boasts the largest concentration of Kincaid’s lupine in Washington and represents the northernmost range of the flower.” The farm hosted two livestream sessions to highlight the operation on Thursday. The livestream included six farmers from coast to coast.

In Focus: Celebrating National Farmers Day at Mallonee Farms in Curtis

10/10/25

Beatbox Donuts owner Steve Hubbard hands an order of “Chocolate Rocks” mini-donuts to a customer at Beatbox Donuts’ new storefront in downtown Centralia on Thursday, Oct. 9.

Beatbox Donuts finds new home in downtown Centralia

After opening over the summer with a food truck setup at the Pearl Street Market parking lot in north Centralia, Beatbox Donuts has now found a new brick-and-mortar home in downtown Centralia — … more

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

Members of the Lewis County Breast Cancer Support Group begin the Lewis County Breast Cancer Poker Run/Walk at the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in Chehalis on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025.

Lewis County hauls in donations for breast cancer support group

Lewis County and its sheriff’s office hosted the second annual Breast Cancer Awareness Poker Run/Walk Tuesday to raise money for the Lewis County Breast Cancer Support group. The event, … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 10/10/25

Shari Watt talks to Red Cross employee Brianna Buchanan while donating blood at an American Red Cross blood drive in the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.

Red Cross announces upcoming blood drives to offset seasonal drop in donor turnout

In a recent news release, the American Red Cross asked donors to make an appointment to give blood or platelets to support patients. In October, donation appointments can often drop quickly when … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/10/25

Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Pumpkin Trains ready for the Halloween season

The Pumpkin Trains depart the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum depot on Saturday and Sunday Oct. 18 and 19 at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.. Children and adults alike are encouraged to … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/10/25