Local News | The Daily Chronicle

Graffiti and cement bricks are scrubbed and pressure washed below Glint Car Wash in Chehalis in March 2023.

Inslee signs legislation creating pilot program for graffiti solutions

Gov. Jay Inslee has signed legislation creating a pilot program to crack down on graffiti across the state. House Bill 1989, sponsored by Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, will direct the … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com | 3/22/24

Supposed Sasquatch sighting near Grand Mound investigated by Bigfoot researchers

The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) reported and investigated a recent sighting of a Sasquatch-like creature north of Centralia. According to one witness, who was riding … more

By Brandon Hansen / For The Chronicle | 3/22/24

A participant in the Mineral Lake Fishing Derby pilots his boat back to a dock in 2022.

Mineral Lake’s 31st annual fishing derby scheduled for end of April, tickets on sale on April 26

Editor’s note: This updated story corrects inaccuracies included in a previous version published last week. Mineral Lake’s 31st annual fishing derby is scheduled for the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/21/24

Onalaska man charged for alleged sexual assault of a juvenile in 2020

An Onalaska man accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile in his care in January 2020 is now facing felony charges in Lewis County Superior Court. The victim, who is now an adult, reported … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 3/21/24

Attorney General Bob Ferguson talks to members of the press during a legislative meeting inside the John A. Cherberg building in Olympia in February 2023.

Updated: Lewis County and Centralia receive a combined $6.27M from opioid case settlement

Lewis County and the City of Centralia will receive a combined total of $6.27 million this month in the latest payments from Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s case against companies that fueled … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/21/24

Anthony Rogers, of the Veterans Advisory Board, listens during a public meeting in Chehalis on Wednesday, March 19.

Lewis County commissioners appoint new members to Veterans Advisory Board

Anthony Rogers has been appointed as the newest member of the Lewis County Veterans Advisory Board. During Tuesday’s Lewis County Board of County Commissioners meeting, Board Chair Ken … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com | 3/21/24

News Dump hosts Associate Editor Aaron VanTuyl and Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Eric Schwartz.

News Dump Ep. 180: Breeding giant sheep for fun and profit

On the 180th episode of The Chronicle News Dump, hosts Aaron VanTuyl, Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Eric Schwartz and special guest Jami Lund discuss advisory committees, needle exchanges, big-ol’ … more

3/21/24

State Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, stands by his Chevrolet Bolt in this photo provided by his office.

Governor signs 19th District lawmaker's bill to study electric vehicle battery fires

Legislation that would direct the Washington State Patrol to study the fire hazards posed by electric vehicle batteries and establish best practices for firefighting, towing, storage and cleanup was … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/20/24

Public seedling sale set for Saturday at Weyerhaeuser’s Rochester Nursery

Weyerhaeuser will host a public seedling sale at its Rochester Nursery on Saturday, March 23. The event runs from 8 a.m. to noon at the nursery, which is located at 7935 U.S. Highway 12 in … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/20/24

From left, Eric Girton, Emily Girton, Sharon Madsen and Sam Madsen smile for a photo at Coal Creek Tree Farm in Chehalis.

Coal Creek Tree Farm named Lewis County 2024 Tree Farm of the Year

A typical household garden runs on an annual cycle, with gardeners planting their plots in the spring and harvesting later that same year. Sam Madsen’s garden, however, runs on a 50-year … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 3/20/24

A collision at 1570 N. National Ave. in Chehalis near the intersection of Coal Creek Road snarled traffic and led to an emergency response on Wednesday, March 20. The extent of injuries caused by the crash, which occurred late in the morning and impacted traffic into the early afternoon, was not known as of The Chronicle’s deadline on Wednesday afternoon. Check for updates at chronline.com and in Saturday’s edition of The Chronicle.

Photos: Crash snarls traffic in Chehalis Wednesday

3/20/24

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez answers questions from attendees during a town hall event at the Packwood Senior Center on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez introduces bipartisan bill to study pandemic-related learning loss

Third Congressional District Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washougal, has introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at studying the effects of learning loss for students with disabilities during the … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com | 3/20/24

Man accused of assaulting trooper who arrested him for DUI in Lewis County

A man who crashed his car into a ditch off of Interstate 5 in Chehalis while intoxicated early Sunday morning is facing felony charges after he allegedly assaulted a Washington State Patrol trooper … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 3/20/24

Lisa Perry, with Sierra Pacific, speaks into the microphone during the Women in Business Seminar at the Loft in Chehalis on Tuesday, March 19. With her on stage, from left, are fellow panel members Joy Templeton of Once Upon a Thyme, Hedi Pehl of I-5 Cars and Mary Ferris of Rainier Eye.

Lewis County Economic Alliance hosts second annual Women in Business Seminar

The Economic Alliance of Lewis County held its second annual Women in Business Seminar in Chehalis on Tuesday, inviting working women and their supporters to learn from the experiences of notable … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/20/24

Sirens: Girl says man followed her in Centralia; Man revived from overdose; Jail statistics

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Found property • A wallet was turned in at the Centralia Police Department in the 500 block of North Pearl Street just after 10:10 a.m. on March 18. The … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/20/24

Lewis County Public Utility District Commissioner Michael Kelly shakes hands with members of one the PUD’s tree trimming crews.

Lewis County PUD commissioner tours tree control, broadband efforts

Lewis County Public Utility District (PUD) Commissioner Michael Kelly went on a tour on Friday, March 15, to learn more about the PUD’s broadband infrastructure and the work being done to keep … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/20/24

Held on Thursday, March 14, at The Loft in Chehalis, the Visiting Nurses Foundation’s Road to Respite Gala brought together supportive individuals, businesses and organizations from around the area in a night of celebration and fundraising.

Visiting Nurses Foundation’s Road to Respite Gala exceeds expectations, raising more than $70,000 for new program

The Visiting Nurses Foundation’s first Road to Respite Gala exceeded expectations, raising more than $70,000 for the nonprofit’s new Respite Care Grant Program, according to a news … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/20/24

Food Establishment Inspection Scores: From the Lewis County Public Health Department

Editor’s Note: These are reports from health inspections in Lewis County between December 2023 and March of this year. Lewis County Public Health’s inspections happen at various … more

Compiled by The Chronicle | 3/20/24

Students learn about a career as a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy during the inaugural Career on Wheels at Onalaska high school on Friday, March 15.

Onalaska hosts Career on Wheels event to expose students to potential jobs

Onalaska High School hosted its first Career on Wheels event on Friday, March 15. The event, planned and hosted by the school’s counseling department, provided students with four 20-minute … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/20/24

Jim and Laurie Judd hug their daughter, Jocelyn, during Timber Patch Brewing's fourth anniversary weekend on Saturday, March 16, when the brewery's first canned beer, the Full Recovery IPA, was also released.

In focus: Timber Patch Brewing celebrates fourth anniversary in Morton

Over St. Patrick's Day weekend, Timber Patch Brewing in Morton celebrated its fourth anniversary with live music and a raffle for customers. The brewery's first canned beer, the Full Recovery … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/20/24