Local News | The Daily Chronicle

Centralia author brings 1930s hero back to life in new book

Sara Light-Waller, a local author and podcaster, has published her fourth “new pulp” book — “Shadow On the Moon.” The illustrated novelette brings the 1930s pulp … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/16/25

Firefighters use a hose while the Riverside Fire Authority and Chehalis Fire Department work to extinguish a house fire on Seminary Hill Road outside of Centralia on Wednesday, July 16. Look for updates on the fire as they become available at chronline.com.

In focus: Firefighters battle house fire on Seminary Hill in Centralia on Wednesday afternoon

7/16/25

The Yard Birds mascot welcomes attendees to a McMenamins Olympic Club History Pub presentation on Tuesday, July 15, in downtown Centralia.

Yard Birds: A transit system, the world’s largest (at the time) parking lot, free puppies, a punk rock album cover and more

Dozens of attendees, including several former Yard Birds employees, filled the McMenamins Olympic Club theater in downtown Centralia on Tuesday, July 15, for a Yard Birds Shopping Center History Pub … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 7/16/25

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, looks through documents during the legislative session at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Friday, April 25.

Sen. Braun urges Gov. Ferguson to get past fearmongering on 'big beautiful bill'

Six months after Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson took office with a moderate-sounding tone that encouraged many Republicans, state Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, says Ferguson has instead proven to … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 7/15/25

News Dump hosts Eric Schwartz, left, and Aaron VanTuyl.

News Dump Ep. 242: Releasing the Eckstein Files

On the 242nd episode of The Chronicle News Dump, hosts Aaron VanTuyl and Eric Schwartz welcome a special guest (Zac Eckstein of the Lewis County Democrats) to discuss the party’s work and the … more

7/15/25

Lewis County to sell historic Claquato Church property

As of Tuesday, one of the oldest standing buildings in the state of Washington — a historic church constructed just a few years after the founding of Lewis County itself — is up for … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 7/15/25

Zachary Howard Bynum, 53, appears virtually in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, July 14.

$500,000 bail: Randle man with long criminal history charged with domestic violence

A Randle man was charged with one count of second-degree assault, domestic violence, during a preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, July 14. The charge is a Class B … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 7/15/25

Rafael Fernandez-Hernandez, 51, appears virtually in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, July 14.

Chehalis man charged with child rape, molestation; bail set at $300,000

A Chehalis man was charged with three counts of first-degree child rape and two counts of first-degree child molestation during a preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, July … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 7/15/25

Michael Wayne Osborn, 30, of Ethel, makes a video appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Tuesday.

Bail set at $250K for Lewis County man charged with felony DUI

Bail was set at $250,000 in Lewis County Superior Court Tuesday for an Ethel man charged for felony driving under the influence. Michael Wayne Osborn, 30, was arrested in the early morning … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/15/25

Sean. C. Morgan is not wanted by law enforcement at this time; however, his criminal history places him in a category of offenders who could potentially re-offend.

Level 3 sex offender with history of indecent exposure charges registers as transient in Lewis County

A 37-year-old Level 3 sex offender with a history of indecent exposure charges has registered to live as a transient with no fixed address in Lewis County, according to a notification from the Lewis … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/15/25

Tractor stolen in Grays Harbor County recovered in Toledo, two placed into custody

On May 19, Grays Harbor Sheriff’s deputies Byron and Taylor were dispatched to a theft of a tractor stolen from the Neilton area of Grays Harbor County. It was reported that sometime … more

By The Daily World | 7/15/25

Kurt Cobain’s childhood home dedicated as a historical landmark in Grays Harbor County

Following more than five years of dedicated historical restoration led by Dani and Lee Bacon of The Music Project in downtown Aberdeen, the state of Washington Department of Historic Preservation … more

By The Daily World | 7/15/25

Will more timber sales on Southwest Washington public land reduce wildfires? Conservationists say no

While the mandatory sale of public lands in the West — potentially including the Gifford Pinchot National Forest — didn’t make it into the final congressional reconciliation bill, … more

Hayley Day / The Daily News | 7/15/25

Liz Oxford holds a sign and takes a video of public comment during the Tuesday, July 8, business meeting at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis.

Sanctuary county status unlikely to risk federal funding, Cowlitz County commissioners say

The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners signaled at a recent meeting that it is not interested in replicating a Lewis County resolution declaring itself a non-sanctuary county. The Lewis … more

By Minka Atkinson / The Daily News | 7/15/25

Former fire chief dies in early morning house fire in Thurston County

A former fire chief died in an early Monday morning fire in a double-wide mobile home near Black Lake in Thurston County, according to Fire Chief Leonard Johnson with the McLane Black Lake Fire … more

By Ty Vinson / The Olympian (TNS) | 7/14/25

Tenino native Adam Craig sings during a performance at the Stone City Event Center on Friday, July 11.

Tenino’s own Adam Craig rocks in first concerts at new Stone City Event Center

Adam Craig has checked off plenty of boxes from his bucket list since moving to Nashville from his hometown of Tenino in 2004. Write a radio hit? Check. Perform at the iconic Grand Ole Opry? … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 7/14/25

Cheese sandwiches are thrown to paradegoers during the 2025 Toledo Cheese Days parade on Saturday, July 12.

In focus: Cheese Days Parade rolls through Toledo

7/14/25

Joyy Lopez poses for a photo during the Centralia Fantasy Festival at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 12. This year’s theme was “Fantasy in Nature.” It was the festival’s third year at the fairgrounds.

In focus: Centralia Fantasy Festival brings magic to fairgrounds for a third year

7/14/25

Sirens: Man with loaded pistol arrested for DUI; juvenile allegedly propositions child; citation issued for camping on city property

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Arrests • Mimi Adams, 53, of Centralia, was arrested and released for camping on city property at the corner of West Main Street and North Pearl Street at … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/14/25

Fran Grove mows her own lawn at age 91 in this photo provided by Chronicle columnist Julie McDonald.

Julie McDonald: Nonagenarian’s rich history stretches to PNW pioneers

A year ago, while walking with my friend, we stopped to visit Frances Grove and her daughter, Sherry Bakotich, as they fixed fences around the Grove cow pasture northeast of Toledo. A week … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 7/14/25