Local News | The Daily Chronicle

The U.S.S. Nicholas, DD-449, is pictured during its sea trials in the Atlantic Ocean off the shore of Maine on May 28, 1942. Photo courtesy the National Archives.

Renowned WWII destroyer’s mast to be permanently displayed at Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis

When John Bailey, now 78, was serving aboard the USS Nicholas DD-449 as a drone anti-submarine helicopter (DASH) operator for the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, he thought the World War II era … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/28/23

Attendees wander up and down Tower Avenue in downtown Centralia for the Hub City Car Show on Saturday, Aug. 26.

Hundreds of cars, thousands of people descend on downtown Centralia for Saturday’s Hub City Car Show

With cars showing up hours before the Hub City Car Show officially started on Saturday at 10 a.m., thousands of people strolled up and down Tower Avenue in downtown Centralia looking at more than 300 … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/28/23

Scenes from the Chandler Road Fire near Pe Ell and Doty from Saturday, Aug. 16.

‘Popping up left and right’: Lewis County has more than 30 wildfires

As Lewis County’s Deputy Director of Emergency Management Ross McDowell phrased it on Sunday morning, wildfires are “popping up left and right,” across Lewis County. As … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 8/27/23

Organizer Alberto Isguerra, of Toro’s Cuts, smiles while trimming the hair of visitors at a free back to school event featuring barbers from various local businesses at Tiger Stadium in Centralia on Friday, Aug. 25.

Centralia grad, barber shop owner organizes back-to-school event for free haircuts, supplies

Before the gates opened, the line stretched down Tiger Stadium. Within the first hour, around 130 backpacks, 100 notebooks and other school supplies had been given out. By 3 p.m. Friday, more … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com | 8/26/23

Recent and active fires in Lewis County, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and surrounding areas are identified in this map from the Fire, Weather and Avalanche Center as of Saturday afternoon.

31 new fires reported in Gifford Pinchot National Forest since Friday; Fire near Pe Ell at 25 acres

As a heat advisory remains in place for much of Western Washington — including in all of Lewis and Thurston counties — the U.S. Forest Service reported Saturday that 31 new fire ignitions … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/26/23

Brian Haight, of Toledo, drove his lawn mower to watch Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez speak at Kemp Olson Memorial Park during a town hall event on Wednesday, Aug. 23.

Congresswoman talks veterans, homelessness at Toledo town hall

One Toledo gentleman on Wednesday night at a town hall with U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washougal, had a comfortable solution for travel and seating: his lawnmower. When the … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 8/25/23

A photo of Jesse Baxter and his son, Paxton, is shown by members of his family during an interview with The Chronicle in Centralia on Friday, Aug. 18.

Family of Centralia man killed in motorcycle crash in April reflects on his life, expresses frustration with investigation

Under normal circumstances, it takes about 20 minutes to drive from Napavine to Centralia. Tim Baxter made the drive in less than eight minutes the evening of April 28 when he got the … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 8/25/23

Billy James Bartlett appears in Lewis County Superior Court in Chehalis in this Chronicle file photo.

Trial for suspect accused of fatally stabbing man, injuring 12-year-old in Chehalis in 2021 set to begin next week

After more than a year and a half of delays, the trial for the Amanda Park man accused of killing a 46-year-old man and injuring a 12-year-old in Chehalis in December 2021 will commence in Lewis … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 8/25/23

FILE PHOTO — A garlic arch welcomes attendees to the Washington State Garlic Fest at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in 2022.

Washington State Garlic Fest returning to SWW Fairgrounds this weekend

Garlic lovers are invited to the 2023 Washington State Garlic Fest at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds this weekend. The festival will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, and run daily until … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/24/23

Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope responds to concerns over an ordinance prohibiting RVs from parking on county roads and the county’s right of way during a public hearing at the courthouse on Tuesday morning.

Lewis County increases penalties for camping on county land and adopts no parking rule for RVs

The Lewis County Board of Commissioners has approved new restrictions on RV parking and camping on county-owned land for the second time in less than a year. The move could “very well result in … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com | 8/23/23

From left, Sierra, Stephanie and Keeley Campbell smile for a photo outside Country Cousin in Centralia on Wednesday, Aug. 23.

Country Cousin: Prominent family-owned Centralia restaurant celebrates 50 years in business this month

When Dick Keller first opened Country Cousin Restaurant in Centralia in August 1973, he had a vision of homestyle cooking in an atmosphere filled with fun decorations and antiques and a staff that … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/23/23

Chris Terpstra, center, a founding member of Cascadia Search Dogs, walks along the 100 block of Black Bear Lane in Centralia on Tuesday while looking for evidence of Martha Norman, a missing 92-year-old woman with dementia who is believed to be in danger.

Missing woman, 92, found dead in woods near Centralia

After several days of searching, missing 92-year-old Centralia woman Martha Norman was found dead in a wooded area near Black Bear Lane in Centralia at approximately 12:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/22/23

Hog handlers smile while showing off their swine during the Junior Livestock Market at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Friday, Aug. 18.

At Southwest Washington Fair's Junior Livestock Sale, Lewis County kids earned $700,000

A full count of all the earnings is still pending, but as of Sunday's tally, Lewis County agriculturalists between the ages of 8 and 18 earned $698,000 from the Southwest Washington Junior Livestock … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 8/21/23

The Southwest Washington Fairgrounds are seen from above as the demolition derby begins on Sunday, Aug. 20.

Results from the Southwest Washington Fair demolition derby

The Southwest Washington Fair’s Sunday afternoon demolition derby saw both season veterans and first-time riders. Last year’s Summerfest derby winner Josh Levine returned to claim … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/21/23

Centralia College graduate Jasmine Preslicka holds up her crystal trophy on Aug. 17. She won it by being crowned champion at the fourth annual Statewide Inspirational Speech Championship at Centralia College last month.

Centralia College student from Onalaska wins Statewide Inspirational Speech Championship sharing mother’s story of ‘Unbreakable Spirit’

When it comes to perseverance over life's most difficult challenges, Erika Preslicka has shown a lot. from growing up deaf and enduring multiple surgeries to regain her hearing as a child to multiple … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/21/23

Friends, family and members of the Onalaska community participate in a demonstration for Ostynn Farrier outside the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis on Friday, Aug. 18.

‘We’re kind of fed up with it’: Friends and family protest over a year after Onalaska man’s death

Drivers waved and honked horns in support as they drove past a group of protesters standing across from the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in Chehalis on Friday to raise awareness for the still … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 8/18/23

Chehalis visitors from left, Landon Brown, 13, Rocky Placer, 12, and Wyatt Allen, 12, pose for a photo at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds Wednesday night.

In focus: Southwest Washington Fair rolls on

The Southwest Washington Fair continues through Sunday at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds. For more details, including a schedule of events, visit https://southwestwashingtonfair.org/ . … more

8/18/23

Ryan Verling, of Stanfield Oregon, rides a bucking bronc at the first night of the Southwest Washington Fair Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 16.

Pro-sanctioned SWW Fair Rodeo returns for two hot nights

This week was the Southwest Washington Fair’s first time hosting two nights of rodeo, and only the second year the annual event has been sanctioned by the National Pro Rodeo Association. more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 8/18/23

Jackson Arrington, 14 months, crawls to victory during the KELA/KMNT Diaper Derby at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Thursday.

Pe Ell toddler crawls away with Diaper Derby title at Southwest Washington Fair

At 14 months old, Jackson Arrington has always been a grandma’s boy. And with his grandma, Vicky Arrington, waiting at the finish line of the KELA/KMNT Diaper Derby at the Southwest … more

By Dylan Wilhelm / dylan@chronline.com | 8/17/23

Part of the Blakeslee Junction homeless camp in Centralia is pictured in this 2022 Chronicle file photo.

Death at Blakeslee Junction homeless camp reignites public health, safety concerns from Lewis County

It’s been at least nine years since the formation of a homeless encampment at the end of Centralia’s Eckerson Road, known locally as Blakeslee Junction. About 25 people live there … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 8/16/23