Local News | The Daily Chronicle

Trophies and photos sit on display at a high school building in the Oakville School District on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Oakville School Board votes to censure one of its members

The Oakville School District Board of Directors voted 3-0 to censure one of its members for “conduct inconsistent with the expectations and responsibilities of their elected office” … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/1/25

Dry Box Operations Manager Ed McCammon uses controls to remove a Dry Box storage container from outside The Chronicle’s old office building in Centralia on Thursday, Aug. 28.

Rare hydraulic truck lift helps The Chronicle relocate its archives

Moving day has now come and gone, and The Chronicle has settled into its new home at 215 N. Pearl St. in Centralia, just across the street from its old building at 321 N. Pearl St. As part of … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 9/1/25

People hold signs along SW 13th Street during a “workers over billionaires” event at Recreation Park in Chehalis on Monday, Sept. 1. Rural Lewis County Indivisible, the Tri-County Labor Union Council and the Lewis County Democrats collaborated to organize the Labor Day event.

In focus: ‘Workers over billionaires’ protest held in Chehalis on Labor Day

9/1/25

The site of a Feb. 25 drug raid, taken on Thursday, Aug. 28., in South Kelso. Illicit drugs were found in the unit on the left during the raid, but the home on the right, where different people live, was also searched.

Conflicting addresses amid drug investigation: How a Cowlitz County couple was mistakenly targeted in police raid

A South Kelso woman has hired an attorney after she says her home was mistakenly raided by members of the Lower Columbia SWAT team when officers targeted a neighboring property linked to suspected … more

Matt Esnayra / The Daily News | 9/1/25

$1.5B Columbia River underwater power project turns down Trump admin expedited permitting

A $1.5 billion project to bury a 1-foot-thick and 100-mile-long high voltage power transmission line under the Columbia River turned down fast-tracked federal permitting approval offered by a Trump … more

By Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 9/1/25

A photo of Hailey Athay, who has been missing for about nine months, at vigil at R.A. Long Memorial Park on Thursday, Aug. 28, in Longview.

As Hailey Athay turns 34, her family and friends continue to search for her

Under the gazebo in Longview’s R.A. Long Memorial Park, friends, family and supporters of Hailey Athay gathered not only to celebrate her 34th birthday but also to urge the public to share … more

Matt Esnayra / The Daily News | 8/30/25

Oregon motorcyclist airlifted after crashing on I-5 in Lewis County

A motorcyclist from Oregon was airlifted to Tacoma General Hospital after crashing on Interstate 5 in Lewis County on Saturday morning. Todd K. Campbell, 64, of Cloverdale, Oregon, was … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/30/25

Thurston County releases 2025 Community Health Assessment

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services this week announced the release of the 2025 Community Health Assessment (CHA). A CHA is a collection and review of local health data used to … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/29/25

Southwest Washington Writers Conference listen to a presentation by Melissa Hart in 2023 at Centralia College in this photo from Julie McDonald.

Southwest Washington Writers Conference to be held Sept. 12-13 at Centralia College

All writers, those published and those who want to be, will find a variety of learning options at the Southwest Washington Writers Conference on Sept. 12 and 13 at Centralia College. The … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/29/25

‘The Enchanting World of Garlic’ coming to Chehalis Outfitters

“The Enchanting World of Garlic” comes to Chehalis Outfitters in Chehalis at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20. This educational presentation will be held in the red building in the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/29/25

GoFundMe courtesy photo of Elizabeth Carne, who was attacked by a large dog on July 8. Friends of Carne have set up the online fundraiser on her behalf to help cover medical expenses and basic living costs while she recovers from her injuries.

Support sought for local woman attacked by large dog

A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up for an area woman who was attacked by a large dog on July 8. According to her friend, Don Wilson, Elizabeth Carne was helping an elderly neighbor bring a … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/29/25

"Finishing touches are being made this week on the railings and carbs of the new bridge, above, over the Cowlitz River north of Packwood. The bridge, still without a formal name, is being built for the Forest Service to serve as an access bridge to the Muddy-Butterfork access road. Travel over the bridge will not be possible until the end of the month with approaches yet to be filled in. At left is the old bridge built 20 years ago by CCC workers. That bridge will be torn down. Visible in the right background is Mount Dixon." — originally published by The Daily Chronicle on June 1, 1955

A Look Back In Time: Burglary spree ends with ‘enough loot to start a sporting goods store’; fishermen found after drowning fears; UFO seen in Grays Harbor County

In this installment of A Look Back in Time, the Thursday, Aug. 30, 1945, edition of The Chronicle featured a story about three unnamed local juveniles — a pair of brothers and their cousin … more

Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/29/25

Sleeping Beauty Fire, located Aug. 28, 2025.

Lightning sparks at least 15 fires in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest

“Significant” lightning led to over a dozen fires in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest this week, according to a news release posted by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Thursday. The … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/29/25

Morton Police Chief Cole Cournyer calls out contradictions between what attendees of the Monday, Aug. 25, Morton City Council meeting said happened on the last night of the Morton Loggers Jubilee when bars were shut down early and was witnesses said in their official police statements.

Morton council roundup: Police chief accused of shutting down bars early last night of Jubilee; council amends business license requirements; councilor resigns

Tensions were high at the Morton City Council meeting earlier this week as multiple people, both employees and an owner of local bars in town, expressed outrage over the bars being shut down an hour … more

Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/29/25

Take Care Massage and Journey to Aum Coaching open in downtown Chehalis

A joint ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at noon on Monday, Sept. 8, to celebrate the opening of two new businesses in downtown Chehalis. Journey to Aum Coaching and Take Care Massage are located … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/29/25

Eric W. Getz, 35, California, makes a video appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Wednesday, Aug. 27.

Man accused of stealing beer, cigarettes arrested after allegedly spitting on police

A 35-year-old man was arrested Aug. 26 in Centralia after he allegedly stole two beers and a pack of cigarettes from the Apex II Food grocery store — and then ran from police and hid in the … more

Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 8/29/25

Office of Chehalis Basin representatives give presentation in Centralia and Chehalis

The Office of Chehalis Basin had a busy week bringing the organization's outreach presentation to the Lewis County Board of Commissioners business meeting as well as city council meetings in … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 8/29/25

Salmon habitat collaborative presents its work to Lewis County commissioners

The Chehalis Basin Collaborative for Salmon Habitat visited the Lewis County Board of Commissioners Tuesday to share information about its work and encourage future engagement. Kirsten Harma, … more

Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 8/29/25

The Watoto Children’s Choir is pictured in this photo provided by Foothills Church in Morton.

Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda to perform at Morton church

The Watoto Children’s Choir has come all the way from Uganda, Africa, to perform at the Foothills Church in Morton at 7 p.m Wednesday, Sept. 17. The choir will perform songs from their brand … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/29/25

Twelve men arrested in child exploitation sting operation in Southwest Washington

Twelve men were arrested in Battle Ground last week during a multi-day operation targeting child sex predators, according to a Wednesday, Aug. 27, Washington State Patrol (WSP) news release. The … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/29/25