Life | The Daily Chronicle

Graduates smile and lock hands while celebrating at Onalaska High School on Friday.

In Focus: Onalaska High School Class of 2022 Turns Tassels

6/10/22

Swede Day to Swing Through Rochester June 18

The annual Swede Day celebration is set for June 18 with former Rochester School District Superintendent Kim Fry serving as grand marshal. The event, which began in 1979, is named for … more

By Matthew Zylstra / matthew@chronline.com | 6/8/22

Rev. Jim Odden stands outside St. John’s Lutheran Church in Chehalis.

Finding Hope, Even in the Waiting: New St. John's Lutheran Pastor Strives to Stay Ahead of the Curve

There may be no better description of the era in which Rev. Jim Odden came to St. John’s Lutheran, nor his attitude toward it, than what is inked directly onto his skin. Pastor Jim, as he … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 6/6/22

Ohanapecosh Hot Springs Resort no longer exists, but was a very popular place to go. The Hot Springs are east of Packwood on the edge of Mount Rainier Park. These lovely cabins, popular in the 1920s and 1930s, were torn down. Today the Ohanapecosh Campgrounds exist where the cabins once stood and the hot springs can still be found if you’re so inclined.

A Look Back in Time: Japanese Americans of Lewis County Boarded on Train to California Internment Camp in 1942

Fifty-three Japanese Americans left the Chehalis Train Depot on Tuesday, June 2, 1942, on a train headed to Tule Lake, California, to be held in a “Japanese assembly center.” The 53 … more

Compiled by Matthew Zylstra / matthew@chronline.com | 6/3/22

Neil Singer, camp host at Rainbow Falls State Park, talks about the footbridge that previously stretched over Rainbow Falls before being wiped out by flooding.

Want to Live in a State Park for a Month? Become a 'Camp Host'

PORT TOWNSEND — Washington is home to 125 state parks. And while you might run into a park ranger while visiting, you're more likely to connect with a park host. The state park service's park … more

By Jackie Varriano / The Seattle Times | 6/3/22

Deston Denniston, 51, smiles for a photo in front of flowers in his Centralia yard.

Centralia Man Plans Walk Up Seminary Hill to Mark One-Year Anniversary of Stroke

Deston Denniston, a 51-year-old Centralia resident, had been approved to leave the emergency room on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, after experiencing strange symptoms. The next day, he was cleared … more

By Matthew Zylstra / matthew@chronline.com | 6/1/22

Lewis County Noxious Weed Control Board Program Coordinator Charles Edmonson uses a weed wrench to remove a large invasive weed by the roots.

Lewis County Noxious Weed Control Board Works to Solve a Growing Problem

As the weather warms and people start heading outside, the Lewis County Noxious Weed Control Board hopes they will help keep an eye out for problem weeds causing issues in the community. Steps can … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 5/30/22

The organizers of the Rochester Market and Demo Faire are, from left to right, Jennifer Spiegelberg, Rachael Heinrich, Shelby Barkoff and Jennifer Winter.

Market and Demo Faire: Rochester Women to Host Event Promoting Family Fun and Self-Sufficiency

Are you interested in growing your own food, building connections in your community or self-sustainability? The Rochester Market and Demo Faire will offer an opportunity to explore all of those … more

By Matthew Zylstra / matthew@chronline.com | 5/30/22

Vehicles park as popcorn is served in Chehalis while the movie “Seabiscuit” plays outside the Veterans Memorial Museum earlier this month.

Community Calendar: Toledo Thursday Market; Acoustic Music Jam; Cruzin' To The Museum

To add upcoming events to the Community Calendar, email reporter Daniel Warn at dan@chronline.com. Toledo Thursday Market June 2 at Steamboat Landing, 15 Ramsey Way, Toledo; … more

5/30/22

Veterans serve in the color guard on Monday at the Claquato Cemetery’s Memorial Day Ceremony.

Memorial Day Marked at Claquato Cemetery

Under an overcast sky on Monday morning, about 200 people gathered around the flagpole at Claquato Cemetery to honor those who have lost their lives serving the United States in the armed forces. … more

By Matthew Zylstra / matthew@chronline.com | 5/30/22

In June of 1959 the last bus left the old Centralia Hotel between Silver and Iron on Main Street in downtown Centralia. Now demolished, the once-grand hotel was located where the Campbell Chrysler Jeep Dodge car lot was located before it closed. Louis Stoffer was 35 in June of 1959 and knew that at about 4 p.m. the last bus would be leaving the hotel. The Centralia Hotel was one of the finest hotels in Centralia, Stoffer recalls. The bus station was on the ground floor on the west end of the hotel. During World War II, many soldiers left that station to begin their stints at Fort Lewis — Stoffer himself had taken that trip on July 21, 1943. (Originally submitted by Louis Stoffer for “Our Hometowns: Volume 2”)

A Look Back in Time: Graduation Week Comes for Chehalis High School’s 50th Batch of Seniors in 1942

The formerly named Chehalis High School — now W.F. West High School — embarked on its graduate programs for the week of May 27, 1942. The week-long graduation proceedings were set to … more

Compiled by Daniel Warn / dan@chronline.com | 5/27/22

The partnership between Experience Chehalis and Palmer Lumber requests that folks come up with mural designs that incorporate a likeness of this historic image of Palmer Lumber’s operations.

Experience Chehalis to Sponsor New Mural at Palmer Lumber

Experience Chehalis has plans to sponsor another new mural in Chehalis, this time at Palmer Lumber. The organization is seeking creative, vibrant and engaging design proposals for an outdoor mural … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/25/22

Food is sold and prepared at the Packwood Flea Market in May 2021.

Community Calendar: Packwood Spring Flea Market; Centralia Farmers Market; Kids Fish Pond Event

To add upcoming events to the Community Calendar, email reporter Daniel Warn at dan@chronline.com. Toledo Thursday Market May 26 at Steamboat Landing, 15 Ramsey Way, Toledo; 2 to 6 … more

5/25/22

John K. Giles' recapture competed for attention with the latest news about Bruno Hauptmann, who had been convicted of kidnapping and killing the son of aviator Charles Lindbergh.

NW History: ‘Super-man’ Criminal Tried to Kidnap Wealthy Portlanders in 1918, Leading to Murder, Bold Escapes

The young nurse fell hard for John Knight Giles. She didn’t protest his scheme to kidnap wealthy Portlanders. She found the shrewdness of his plan – and his arrogance about it … more

Douglas Perry / Oregonlive.com (TNS) | 5/24/22

Outdoor Movies and More Coming to Chehalis This Summer After Grant

The Chehalis Parks and Recreation Department announced recently that Summer Experience and Enrichment for Kids Fund (SEEK) awarded the department a grant to bring a slate of outdoor enrichment … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/23/22

Mushroom Club to Show ‘Fantastic’ Film at Society’s Monthly Meeting

The Southwest Washington Mycological Society (SWMS) wants to grow an interest in fungi at its upcoming June 7 meeting. All interested are welcome to go to 17 SW Cascade St. in Chehalis, the WSU … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/23/22

Renee Gustafson, daughter of Jeremy and Brooke, helps place a new plant in their cart at the Master Gardener Plant Sale at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Saturday.

In Focus: Crowds Flock to Lewis County Master Gardeners Plant Sale

5/23/22

Friends of the Cowlitz will be offering a free kids fishing pond for ages up to 14 at the Barrier Dam Campgrounds & Tackle Shop at 273 Fuller Road in Salkum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29, and from 10 a.m. to about 2 p.m. on Monday, May 30.

Free Kids Fishing Pond Coming to Barrier Dam Campgrounds Memorial Day Weekend

A local nonprofit wants to make sure that all kids have a chance to catch a fish over Memorial Day weekend. Friends of the Cowlitz will be offering a free kids fishing pond for ages up to 14 at … more

By Daniel Warn / dan@chronline.com | 5/23/22

Heidi MacDonald, with Lady MacDonald’s Gourmet Foods, cuts a sunflower plant in Pine Street Plaza during her Centralia Farmers Market debut earlier this month.

Community Calendar: Toledo Thursday Market; Centralia Farmers Market; Kids Fish Pond Event

To add upcoming events to the Community Calendar, email reporter Daniel Warn at dan@chronline.com. Seasonal Detox: Spring May 25 at Nature Nurture Farmacy, 176 NE School St., … more

5/23/22

Acoustic musicians participate in a slow jam during the Winlock Pickersfest, located at Winolequa Park in July 2015.

Festival Season 2022: Even More Events Emerge in Lewis County Area

While most local festivals were able to return last summer, albeit some in modified versions due to ongoing public health restrictions, a small number, such as Winlock Pickersfest, took a more … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 5/23/22