Life | The Daily Chronicle

Rochester graduate Gunnar Morgan receives a diploma during a commencement ceremony at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey on Sunday, June 8.

Rochester grad receives U.S. State Department scholarship for exchange program in Germany

The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), a nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization, recently announced that Gunnar Morgan, a graduate of Rochester High School, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/21/25

Mount Rainier peeks out from the clouds at the High Rock Lookout in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest on Sunday, Aug. 17.

Volunteers work to finish High Rock Lookout by opening date

Since the High Rock Lookout Trail’s closure in early July, volunteers with the Sand Mountain Society have been working to restore the lookout — now with less than a month until its … more

By Ridley Hudson / ridley@chronline.com | 8/20/25

Onalaska’s Kaiyah Sandridge poses for a photo during the “Athletes of the Year” banquet at Jester Auto Museum in Chehalis on Tuesday, June 3. The idea for the back-to-school swap started when Kaiyah Sandridge, now an Onalaska senior,  wanted a more ecologically responsible and economically impactful way for kids to get gently-used clothing, shoes and backpacks before going back to school, the news release stated.

Onalaska High School class of 2026 back-to-school clothing swap to begin Sunday

The Onalaska High School class of 2026 has announced through a news release that its third annual back-to-school clothing swap will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, and will continue until 6 p.m. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/20/25

Asher & Friends perform at the Rainier Bluegrass Festival on Aug. 24, 2024.

31st annual Bluegrass Festival coming to Rainier this weekend

Rainier will host the 31st annual Bluegrass Festival from Aug. 21 through 25 during the Rainier Round-Up Days weekend at Wilkowski Park. The festival, hosted by the We Love Rainier WA nonprofit … more

By The Chronicle | 8/20/25

From the left, Caitlin Rogers, Brooke Reder, Daniel “DJ” Miller, Leah Rader and Bryan Sturgill speak about their lived experience with opioids during the Opioid Summit at Centralia College on Thursday, March 28, 2024.

Centralia College hosting free opioid summit Sept. 17

A free Lewis County Opioid Summit will be held Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Centralia College’s TransAlta Commons from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature presentations from subject matter … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/20/25

Randle Fire honors Hampton Lumber for help with July fire

The Lewis County Fire Protection District No. 14 Board of Commissioners in Randle awarded certificates of recognition to Hampton Lumber and crew member Jon Hamlin for the mill’s help during a … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/20/25

Longtime business owners named grand marshals for Rainier Round-Up Days

The annual Rainier Round-Up Days Parade is set to return at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, and two longtime business owners and Rainier residents, Steve and Sheryl Turner, will be highlighted and … more

By Jacob Dimond / For The Chronicle | 8/20/25

Runners and spectators mingle during the I-5 Toyota Back-to-School Dash 5K in Chehalis on Saturday, Aug. 24.

Annual Back-to-School Dash to be held by I-5 Toyota in Chehalis Saturday

The annual I-5 Toyota Back-to-School Dash will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Chehalis dealership located at 1950 NW Louisiana Ave. The 5K path will follow the usual route out of … more

By Tyrus VanTuyl / ty@chronline.com | 8/20/25

Glenoma’s Brynn Mead reaches Top 10 in Hasbro’s National Toddler of the Year Charity Competition

Three-year-old Brynn Amanda Mead has advanced into the Top 10 of Hasbro’s Toddler of the Year Competition, a competition that pairs childhood joy with an important mission: raising money for … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/20/25

Whitley Campbell works at an American Red Cross blood drive in the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

American Red Cross blood drive scheduled for Friday at Toledo LDS church

With hospitals across the nation currently facing a critical blood shortage, an American Red Cross blood drive is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Toledo. The … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/20/25

Eager customers lounge around with blankets, yard games, dogs and more fun in the staging area before the early morning grand opening on In-N-Out Burger in Ridgefield on Wednesday, Aug. 20.

First In-N-Out Burger in Washington state opens with thousands of waiting customers

With the anticipation of the doors opening at 10:30 a.m. at In-N-Out Burger’s first Washington state location in Ridgefield, the early birds received a special treat as the ribbon was cut and … more

Cade Barker / For The Chronicle | 8/20/25

Rob Gordon’s family poses for a photo with Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez following the dedication ceremony in honor of Gordon at the Bucoda Post Office on Aug. 19, 2025.

Ceremony held to rename Bucoda Post Office in honor of late Mayor Rob Gordon

With his old personal restored fire truck parked on display, family, friends and various local and federal officials who worked with the late Bucoda Mayor Robert “Rob” Gordon attended a … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/19/25

The GeoGirls, a volcano science field program jointly organized by the Mount St. Helens Institute and U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory, embarked on a science-focused journey for five days in early August.

The GeoGirls made their own quakes and learned about eruption hazards during scientist-led STEM program

A total of 24 middle- and high-school girls from Oregon and Washington gathered at the United States Geological Survey's Cascades Volcano Observatory to meet scientists, teachers, staff, and … more

The Reflector | 8/19/25

The sun shines through the clouds at the Southwest Washington Fair on Saturday, Aug. 16.

In focus: Parting shots from the Southwest Washington Fair

8/18/25

Guests enter under an inflatable garlic arch at the 2024 Garlic Festival held at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Friday, Aug. 23.

‘Back to our roots:’ 2025 Washington State Garlic Fest returns this weekend

The theme of 2025’s Washington State Garlic Fest is “Back to our Roots.” The annual festival, held the weekend following the Southwest Washington Fair, will celebrate … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/18/25

Little Miss Friendly 2025 Kimber Serl hugs her swine named Boots before the Southwest Junior Livestock Auction at the Southwest Washington Fair on Friday, Aug. 15.

Local youths make over $579K at SWW Junior Livestock Sale

After a four-and-a-half-hour marathon of steers mooing, lambs bleating and swines sprinting through the sawdust, the Southwest Washington Junior Livestock Sale came to a close with approximately … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 8/18/25

The cast of “The Bigfoot Who Stole Christmas” poses for a picture at the VR Lee community building at Recreation Park in Chehalis on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

Children’s theater program to offer free performance of ‘The Mystery of Chehalis’ at McFiler’s Chehalis Theater

Following the first free Dandelion Creative Space children’s theater program last December, culminating in a performance of “The Bigfoot Who Stole Christmas” at McFiler’s … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/18/25

Blissful Birth Initiations Doula Training certifies 17 new doulas

Seventeen newly certified doulas are ready to serve families across the South Sound thanks to the Blissful Birth Initiations (BBI) Doula Training, a Washington state-approved program designed to … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/18/25

A Sikorsky Aircraft UH-60A Blackhawk owned by Idaho-based Timberline Helicopters Inc. hovers while picking up a piece of the White Pass Ski Area's new chair lift on Sunday, Aug. 17, at the East Lewis County ski resort.

Construction underway as White Pass Ski Area staff prepares to open new lodge and chair lift

While the high may have been a balmy 64 degrees on Sunday, Aug. 17, at the White Pass Ski Area in East Lewis County, the weather was perfect for helicopter flights needed to transport the towers and … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/18/25

Brooke Reeder, left, and Paige Gunn at the Southwest Washington Fair on Saturday.

Julie McDonald: Southwest Washington Fair visit triggers memories of the past

Like many others in the Lewis County area, I joined the throngs at the Southwest Washington Fair over the weekend, where Saturday morning rain kept the ride lines shorter for a while. An … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 8/18/25