Local News | The Daily Chronicle

Natalie Loose’s FFA speech was titled “Have Faith in the Process.” Loose said that God needed her in that position, with that platform, to share the word of Him to thousands. In her speech, she cited John 13:7: “Jesus answered him, ‘What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand.’"

Maureen Harkcom: Highlighting the success of Natalie Loose, an FFA superstar from Adna

I know her — sort of. I had her older twin brothers when I was a teacher, and I had met, but not really gotten to know, her and her two other siblings (she is one of triplets). Her mother … more

Commentary by Maureen Harkcom / 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

The sun sets over Main Street in downtown Centralia in 2021.

City of Centralia invites community to Main Street Corridor public meeting

The City of Centralia invites residents, business and property owners, and community partners to attend a public meeting about the Main Street Corridor Plan on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 7 p.m. at … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/13/25

Chehalis City Council Position 3 At-Large candidate Jessie Carver speaks during a debate hosted by The Chronicle in the TransAlta Commons at Centralia College on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Chehalis council candidates tackle annexation, homelessness at The Chronicle’s debates

Six candidates for three Chehalis City Council seats took the podium for the election debate hosted and organized by The Chronicle at the TransAlta Commons at Centralia College on Oct. 8 to answer … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 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

School bus with 16 passengers involved I-5 wreck in Lewis County, state patrol reports

Four people were injured Friday night in a collision between a school bus and a car on northbound Interstate 5, according to the Washington State Patrol. Both drivers were hurt, as well as two … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 10/13/25

Thurston County corrections deputies injured in overnight jail fight

A 26-year-old Thurston County Jail inmate is facing new charges after he allegedly injured corrections deputies in an overnight fight, Sheriff Derek Sanders said in a social media post. Sanders … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 10/13/25

Thurston County Commissioners, from the left, Carolina Mejia, Wayne Fournier, Tye Menser and Emily Clouse during the Thurston County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Atrium on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Thurston County commissioners reduce cuts departments will make to close budget gap

Thurston County has narrowed its estimated budget deficit but many offices and departments are still facing deep cuts. The Board of County Commissioners approved new general fund budget … more

Martín Bilbao / The Olympian (TNS) | 10/13/25

Possible tornado rips off roof, causes other damage in Longview

The National Weather Service in Portland said Sunday that a possible tornado caused “significant” damage in Longview on Sunday afternoon. According to Tyler Kranz, a meteorologist … more

Lizzy Acker / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 10/13/25

Grays Harbor County commissioners, prosecutor’s office haggle over raises

Over the past several months, the Grays Harbor County Board of Commissioners (BOCC), consisting of Georgia Miller, Rick Hole and Vickie Raines, has been extremely purposeful and calculated for … more

By Jerry Knaak / The Daily World | 10/13/25

Christopher Virdell’s suspected homicide remains unsolved.

Death of Pierce County teen unsolved 13 years later; remains found in Centralia in 2014

Melanie Virdell wasn’t known to wake up early when she lived in the Spanaway area of Pierce County, but on a cold February morning about 13 years ago, she was up with her son, 18-year-old … more

Puneet Bsanti / The News Tribune (TNS) | 10/11/25

Kevin McNugget Brownie Burt was killed by a hit and run driver on Yelm Highway Thursday night., Oct. 9.

Driver kills dog, injures owner in Thurston County hit-and-run

Thurston County deputies are investigating a hit-and-run collision that injured a pedestrian and killed a dog Thursday night. The incident occurred at a crosswalk near the intersection of Yelm … more

Martín Bilbao / The Olympian (TNS) | 10/11/25

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

A bust of George Washington lies tipped over on the third floor of the Washington state Capitol building in Olympia, after a vandal broke in and caused damage on Sunday night. (Photo courtesy of Department of Enterprise Services)

Man accused of vandalizing Washington state Capitol undergoes mental health evaluation

A Washington man suspected of breaking into and vandalizing the state Capitol is undergoing a mental health evaluation, an attorney confirmed Friday. Authorities initially arrested Gunnar … more

By Emily Fitzgerald and Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 10/10/25

Chehalis City Council Position 2 At-Large candidate Jack-Allen Snodgrass speaks during a debate hosted by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce at O’Blarney’s in Centralia on Thursday, Oct. 9.

Round Two: Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce hosts yearly political debate

The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce brought local political candidates together for a round of debates for the second day in a row Thursday. The chamber debate opened its doors on the … more

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

Attendees watch as Centralia City Council District 2 candidates Ray Chapman-Wilson and Leah Sisemore answer questions during a debate hosted by The Chronicle in the TransAlta Commons at Centralia College on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Local candidates square off in second annual debate hosted by The Chronicle

Editor's note: Look for articles on each race in next week’s editions of The Chronicle. The series begins with the Port of Centralia Commission race, which you can read about at … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/10/25

Incumbent Port of Centralia District 2 Commissioner Julie Shaffley and challenger Ally Pickard look at each other during a debate hosted by The Chronicle in the TransAlta Commons at Centralia College on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Port of Centralia candidates trade jabs over taxes, cartoons and more

Editor’s note: Each debate held Wednesday night at Centralia College will be featured in an article in The Chronicle over the next week. See more coverage at chronline.com. Guests at … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 10/10/25

State Patrol’s ‘One More Stop’ emphasis patrol: 5,300 motorist contacts in 73 hours

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) supported a multistate emphasis patrol in honor of fallen Trooper Christopher Gadd beginning on Friday, Sept. 26, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/10/25