Local News | The Daily Chronicle

Lexie Brooks, middle, and Heidi Parnel look at Xylia Warner as Commissioner Sean Swope details her bravery during an escape attempt at the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center during a public meeting at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis on Wednesday, March 12.

‘Heroes’: Lewis County juvenile detention officers honored for preventing a violent inmate from escaping

Three Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center employees received a standing ovation from a packed Lewis County Board of County Commissioners hearing room on Wednesday as they were publicly honored for … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 3/12/25

A beaver swims in Hayes Lake just off Interstate 5 in Centralia in 2023.

Lewis County Farm Forestry Association to hold meeting on coexisting with beavers

Luc LaMarche, owner of Beaver Craftworks, will give a presentation on coexisting with beavers at the Tuesday, March 18, Lewis County Farm Forestry Association meeting at 7 p.m. The meeting will … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/12/25

Volunteers Patty Smith and Mary Beth smile alongside Zoey, a pointer-mix, next to a display of bicycles from the Hub City Bike Shop during a “Repair & Sustainability Fair” at Centralia College on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.

Lewis County Repair and Sustainability Fair returns to Morton

Volunteer fixers will be on hand at the Lewis County Repair and Sustainability Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at Centralia College East, 701 Airport Way, Morton. Lewis County … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/12/25

A smelt dipper lifts an empty net on a designated smelt dipping day from the Al Helenberg Memorial Boat Ramp on the Cowlitz River on Wednesday, March 12.

Cowlitz River smelt dippers skunked on opening day

Anglers from across the Pacific Northwest took to the banks of the Cowlitz River on Wednesday, March 12, for the opening of the state's brief smelt dipping season. All it took was a few empty … more

By Kody Christen / kody@chronline.com | 3/12/25

The Board of Lewis County Commissioners honored the W.F. West High School cheer squad Tuesday, March 11, at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis. The team took home the 2A non-tumbling medium state title on Jan. 24 and earned third place in the 2A/3A game day large category.

In focus: Lewis County commissioners honor W.F. West student athletes

3/12/25

Sirens: Juvenile assaults teacher; woman sprayed with bear mace; medics revive person after overdose; Lewis County Superior Court proceedings

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Recovered property • A vehicle reported stolen out of Oregon was recovered in the 1000 block of Eckerson Road just after 9:25 a.m. on March 10. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/12/25

Pictured left to right: Jane Beck, Laura Hight and Louise Heiman.

Community Mediation Center to host Centralia-Chehalis Chamber’s March Business After Hours event

Community Mediation Center will host March’s Business After Hours event in partnership with the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce. The Business After Hours event takes place on … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/12/25

Caution tape covers a Tesla charging station near the Panda Express parking lot in Chehalis on Tuesday, March 11.

Senate approves Wilson bill to combat fast-growing EV charger vandalism, theft

Senate Bill 5746, sponsored by state Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, directs the state Interagency Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council to recommend strategies to the Washington state Legislature to … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/12/25

Coal Creek runs through an open field connecting to Salzer Creek from above in Chehalis on Tuesday, March 11. Chehalis resident Bob Russell received funding for a project to build a public access boardwalk from the Office of Chehalis Basin.

Coal Creek ecotourism project gets $280,000 in Office of Chehalis Basin funding for initial engineering phase

When it comes to developing lands within a flood zone in the Chehalis River Basin, there aren’t many options to begin with, let alone alternatives that can benefit the local economy and aid in … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 3/12/25

Upper floors of the Westminster Arcade in Providence Rhode, Island, the nation’s oldest indoor shopping mall, have been converted into loft apartments. Housing conversions of underutilized commercial properties are a small but growing trend, and Sen. Jeff Wilson says Washington should make it easier for cities to capitalize on it. / Credit: CC-by-4.0 Rhododendrites

State Senate passes Sen. Jeff Wilson’s bill to redevelop commercial properties for housing

Senate Bill 5749, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, makes it easier for cities to authorize new housing conversions in disused shopping malls, grocery stores, department stores and other … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/12/25

Chehalis Public Works Department to begin flushing hydrants throughout city on Monday

Starting on Monday, March 17, workers from the Chehalis Public Works Department will begin flushing the city’s fire hydrants. They will slowly make their way throughout the city flushing … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 3/12/25

The outside of Green Hill School is pictured in Chehalis on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

State Senate passes bill to reduce overcrowding at Green Hill School in Chehalis and other juvenile detention facilities

The Washington state Senate unanimously passed a bill on Monday, March 10, focused on the management of the state’s juvenile rehabilitation facilities, including Green Hill School in Chehalis, … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 3/12/25

The sun shines through the clouds from Mount Fremont at Mount Rainier National Park on Sunday, Sept. 29.

Mount Rainier National Park seeks input on state Route 410 project

Mount Rainier National Park seeks input on state Route 410 project By The Chronicle staff The National Park Service (NPS) and the Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) are … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/12/25

Seven Thurston County elected leaders oppose House Bill 1399

Seven Thurston County elected officials teamed up to announce their opposition to House Bill 1399, which seeks to “modernize, harmonize and clarify laws concerning sheriffs, chiefs, marshals … more

By The Chronicle Staff | 3/12/25

Thurston County Human Resources Director Maria Aponte, left, and Compensation and Benefits Manager Tara Wickline, right, present two resolutions adjusting positions within the county at the Board of County Commissioners agenda setting meeting on Tuesday, March 11. Credit Thurston County.

Thurston County commissioners considering adjustments to communications, public health team

The Thurston County Board of Commissioners is considering a proposal to adjust positions in the commissioners’ office communications and public health and social services departments. … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 3/12/25

Children take part in a Centralia Youth Sports wiffle ball clinic at the Northwest Sports Hub in Centralia in 2024.

Centralia Youth Sports to hold dinner and auction fundraiser on March 29

Centralia Youth Sports will host a dinner and auction fundraising event on March 29 at Centralia College to raise funds to support and expand local youth sports programs. The event will feature … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/12/25

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez tours a timber sale with environmental groups, crews from the Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service officials and concerned citizens in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.

Gluesenkamp Perez, colleagues urge U.S. Forest Service to reinstate fired employees

Last week, U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, signed on to a letter urging U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz to reinstate … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/12/25

David Lee Sofianos, 54, of Longview, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, March 10.

Man with gallon-sized bag of meth in his car arrested in Napavine on Saturday

Bail is set at $20,000 for a man who allegedly had a gallon-sized bag full of meth in his car when he was arrested for driving with a suspended license in Napavine on Saturday. “The baggie … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 3/12/25

A tractor displays a Lewis County Farm Bureau sign along State Route 6 during the Lewis County Farm Bureau’s Barn Stomp at Red Barn Studios in Adna on Sunday, Feb. 2.

Southwest Washington Farm Bureau regional meeting to cover the Right to Farm Act

The Southwest Washington Farm Bureau Regional Meeting will highlight the Right to Farm Act, featuring a firsthand account from local farmer Connie Riker. Riker successfully defended herself … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/12/25

Potential brewery buyers set to pitch redevelopment proposal this week, Tumwater data show

Two Oregon brothers are set to meet with Tumwater officials this week about redeveloping a portion of the long-neglected brewery property. The brewery, best known for producing Olympia beer, halted … more

By Rolf Boone / The Olympian | 3/12/25