Local News | The Daily Chronicle

Eleazar Cruz smiles with instructor Dalton Workman during a Culinary Arts Class at Napavine High School on Thursday, April 24.

Napavine High School opens new ‘Tiger Cafe’ as part of district’s growing culinary arts program

By Emily Fitzgerald emily@chronline.com Napavine Jr./Sr. High School’s new commercial kitchen has passed its inspections and is now ready for students to practice cooking for … more

4/25/25

Exodus Electric first opened in 2022 after owner Jeff Olson decided to leave his job as an electrician and start his own electrical business after getting his administrator’s license.

Exodus Electric set to celebrate new location in Chehalis May 1

The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Exodus Electric in celebration of its new location in Chehalis at noon Thursday, May 1. The ceremony will be … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/25/25

A bicyclist rides off after refueling at a checkpoint next to the Claquato Church along the Lewis County Historical Bike Ride route in this Chronicle file photo.

Lewis County Historical Bike Ride returns May 17 to benefit local Scouts

The annual Lewis County Historical Bike Ride is set for Saturday, May 17, with all routes starting at Stan Hedwall Park in Chehalis. The event will benefit Scout Troop 317 and their associated Crew … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/25/25

Tulips bloom near the lake at Silver Lake Resort.

Silver Lake Resort receives green designation from outdoor hospitality group

A green resort in Silver Lake is celebrating Earth Day this month and every month. Silver Lake Resort, at 3201 Spirit Lake Hwy., reports it recently received a Outdoor Hospitality Industries … more

The Daily News | 4/25/25

From the left, Washington Orthopaedic Center surgeons Lucas Harvey, Keith Birchard, Chad Bender and Joseph Brown pose for a photo during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated office in Centralia on Wednesday, April 23. The office experienced flooding in January requiring the entire first floor to be rebuilt.

In focus: Washington Orthopaedic Center celebrates renovated office in Centralia

4/25/25

Elijah S. Molina, 21, of Chehalis, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

Second Fort Borst Park robbery suspect sentenced to eight years in prison

The second suspect convicted for his involvement in kidnapping and robbing a juvenile at gunpoint in December was sentenced Wednesday to eight years and five months in prison. Elijah S. Molina, … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/25/25

A sign warns drivers of future closures on the Interstate 5 Exit 77 southbound on-ramp in Chehalis on Friday, April 25.

Nighttime on-ramp closures set for I-5 in Chehalis and Centralia May 1

Travelers who use on-ramps to Interstate 5 in Lewis County should plan for overnight closures and delays on Thursday, May 1. Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) contractor … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/25/25

Centralia council to hold special meeting Monday morning

The Centralia City Council will hold a special meeting to discuss goal setting on Monday, April 28, at 8 a.m. in council chambers located at Centralia City Hall, 118 W. Maple St. This meeting is … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/25/25

A roundabout decorated with items of significance for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation is illuminated along Anderson Road near Oakville on Friday, July 7, 2023.

Commerce awards Clean Energy Community Grants for solar projects in Thurston, Grays Harbor counties

The Washington state Department of Commerce announced 38 grants totaling $36.6 million to support the planning, design and implementation of clean energy projects across the state. These projects, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/25/25

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Director Jennifer Freheit and Senior Program Manager Thomas Webster detail the expected funding for the Rights of Way Initiative during a Wednesday, April 23 Board of County Commissioners check-in meeting.

Thurston County anticipating $5.5 million in state funding for Rights of Way Initiative

Three months after the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners found that critical funding for its Rights of Way (ROW) Initiative appeared to be excluded from Gov. Bob Ferguson’s budget, … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 4/25/25

Live video is recorded as election results appear on screens in August 2022 at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis.

Lewis County announces candidate filing week for local elections in the fall

Candidate filing week will take place May 5 through May 9 for the upcoming primary elections on Aug. 5, according to a news release from the Lewis County Auditor’s Office. During that … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/25/25

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs (center) and volunteers for the Well Fed, Well Read donation center pose for a photo.

Food, books for children donations increase for Well Fed, Well Read campaign

Washington state employees increased their donation levels of non-perishable food, books and money during the Washington state Combined Fund Drive’s (CFD) 2025 Well Fed, Well Read campaign. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/25/25

Thurston County Public Works Director Karen Weiss, right, and Solid Waste Manager Jeff Bickford, left, present a brief overview of the Waste and Recovery Center reconfiguration project at a Board of County Commissioners agenda-setting meeting on Tuesday, April 22.

Major upgrades coming to Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center in Lacey

The Thurston County Public Works Department is preparing to send a request for qualifications (RFQ) for services for its upcoming Waste and Recovery Center (WARC) reconfiguration design-build … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 4/25/25

This bridge, located near Crystal Springs Road Northwest in Yelm, has a weight capacity rating that is too low for local fire engines and other heavy service vehicles to cross over.

Centralia City Council votes to improve five Yelm bridges along Centralia Canal

The City of Centralia will repair five bridges it maintains across the Centralia Canal in Yelm through the Yelm Hydroproject thanks to a unanimous vote by the city council Tuesday night. Yelm … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 4/25/25

"When Mossyrock Dam is completed in 1967, the ramified channels of the Cowlitz River east of the construction site will slowly rise, converging until the whole valley is covered. In the far foreground is what was Riffe, the community whose residents have moved away because of the Dam. The White Pass Highway, which now travels to the right of the river, will be rerouted through Morton. Work on the road is continuing as the dam is being built." — originally published The Daily Chronicle on Dec. 10, 1966

A Look Back in Time: Tacoma moves to purchase Mayfield Dam land; Construction begins on Mossyrock Dam; NASA engineer from Pe Ell arrives in Soviet Union

In this installment of a Look Back in Time, U.S. Army soldiers were due to arrive and camp out overnight at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds during their annual 150-mile trek from Vancouver up to … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/25/25

Former Cowlitz Tribal Public Safety Interim Chief Charles Gardiner

Cowlitz Tribe’s interim police chief dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound near scene of burglary

Cowlitz Indian Tribal Public Safety Department’s interim chief, Charles Gardiner, was found dead in a vehicle after he allegedly fled a northeast Vancouver residence where a burglary was … more

Cade Barker / cade@thereflector.com | 4/25/25

James Bronco Hiatt harvested this bull locally in the Ryderwood Unit 530 in 2022.

Washington state lawmakers increase hunting, fishing fees 38% — the first increase since 2011

For the first time in over a decade, families that hunt and fish to put food on the table will see the price of that license increase on July 1 — a 38% “inflationary adjustment” … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 4/24/25

Emilio Perez, 27, of Lacey, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday, April 24.

Man accused of locking girlfriend in bathroom, attacking her with a knife in Chehalis

A man accused of locking his girlfriend in the bathroom with him and attacking her with a knife at a Chehalis residence on Wednesday is now facing domestic violence charges. Emilio Perez, … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/24/25

Jaime Garcilazo-Avila, 45, of Centralia, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday, April 24.

Bail set at $100,000 for Centralia man accused of beating 14-year-old boy

Bail is set at $100,000 for a Centralia man accused of punching, pushing and choking a 14-year-old relative, causing significant injuries, on April 11. “This is one of the worst … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/24/25

Quincy Edward Lavar Burton, 45, of Chehalis, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday, April 24.

‘Low level drug dealer’ arrested by JNET in Chehalis on Wednesday charged with seven felony firearm offenses

A Chehalis man identified as a possible low-level drug dealer was charged Thursday with seven felony firearm offenses after Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET) detectives raided his home the day … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/24/25