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Various signs remind visitors that face masks are required before entering a security check inside the Lewis County Law and Justice Center on Thursday.

News Dump Ep. 41: Security Concerns, Masking Controversy, the Opinion Page and Facebook Comments of the Week

On this episode, Chronicle Associate Editor Aaron VanTuyl, Editor-in-Chief Eric Schwartz and Reporter Claudia Yaw cover: A guy with COVID symptoms walking right into court Morton police not … more

3/23/21

Vancouver Man Charged for Allegedly Raping 14-Year-Old in Mossyrock

A 19-year-old Vancouver man has been charged for allegedly raping a 14-year-old Mossyrock girl in January. Haydn Matthew Gerard Wurzer faces one count of third-degree rape of a child, a … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/23/21

FILE PHOTO — Staff at the Providence Hawks Prairie drive-up COVID-19 testing site work through the rain in Lacey last November.

Two Cases of South Africa's Coronavirus Variant Have Been Identified in Thurston County

A concerning coronavirus variant has been identified in two Thurston County residents that tested positive for the virus last month. The Washington state Department of Health notified Thurston … more

By Martín Bilbao / The Olympian | 3/23/21

Thurston County Standoff Ends Peacefully When Domestic Violence Suspect Surrenders

An overnight standoff in the Rainier area ended peacefully after the 47-year-old domestic violence suspect surrendered, a spokesman for the Thurston County Sheriff's Office said. About 11:15 … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian | 3/23/21

Stephanie Eschenwald holds up a drink at the Station Coffee Bar and Bistro in Centralia on Monday.

Lewis County Sails Into Phase 3 of State Reopening Plan

Monday morning ushered in more leniency for restaurants and other businesses across Washington, with the entire state moving into Phase 3 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s reopening plan. The … more

By Claudia Yaw / cyaw@chronline.com | 3/22/21

Former student Alexa Black painted this mural in Rochester High School during the 2016-17 school year. Administration hoped the artwork could reframe their “Warrior” mascot, which has historically been paired with Native American imagery.

As Bill Progresses, Rochester Prepares to Again Reevaluate its Native Imagery

For Rochester School District — home of the Warriors — 2021 isn’t the first time a bill in the state Legislature has pressured administrators to rebrand. Currently, a bill … more

By Claudia Yaw / cyaw@chronline.com | 3/22/21

Lucy Harrigan smiles while picking daisys and carring her doll as she walks with her family along the bank of the Borst Park pond Monday morning in Centralia.

Photos: Signs of Spring at Fort Borst Park in Centralia

3/22/21

Court Releases Two of Four People Arrested for Alleged Connection to Winlock Drug Sales Due to Insufficient Probable Cause for Arrests

The Lewis County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET) arrested four people on March 18 as part of an investigation into illegal narcotic sales in Winlock, but a Lewis County Superior Court … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 3/22/21

A full rainbow is seen from Maple Street in Centralia on Friday as bands of rain pelted the region. According to the National Weather Service, Tuesday could see mostly sunny skies before the rain returns on Wednesday. The rest of the week is predicted to be clear at times with temperatures potentially reaching 63 degrees by Saturday.

Photo: Rainbow Over Downtown Centralia

3/22/21

Lewis County Public Health and Social Services Releases Developmental Disabilities Request for Proposals

Lewis County Public Health & Social Services announced Monday it is accepting requests for proposals from qualified applicants for community projects that provide support for individuals with … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/22/21

FILE PHOTO — U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler talks about medical marijuana with veterans during a public meeting at the Chehalis Veterans Memorial Museum.

Herrera Beutler Reintroduces Legislation to Protect New Parents From Surprise Medical Bills

Last week, Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, reintroduced bipartisan legislation to protect new parents from surprise medical bills. The No Surprise Bills For New Moms Act is … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/22/21

FILE PHOTO — Lewis County Auditor Larry Grove, right, talks with members of the canvassing board as ballot counting continues in this Chronicle file photo.

Lewis County Auditor’s Office Mailing Overseas and Military Ballots

According to the Lewis County Auditor’s Office, 142 ballots will be mailed March 26 to all military and overseas voters for the April 27 special election, 30 days prior to the election as … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/22/21

FILE PHOTO — U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler talks with Lewis County community leaders at the Virgil R. Lee Building in Chehalis.

Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler to Host Telephone Town Hall

Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, will be hosting a live telephone town hall on Thursday, March 25. The event will begin at 5:25 p.m. “All residents of Southwest … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/22/21

From top left: State Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet; State Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview; State Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia; State Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama; State Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia; and State Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen.

How They Voted: A Look at Recent Decisions by 19th, 20th District Lawmakers

State lawmakers last week continued to focus on committee action, as a key cutoff deadline for this session approaches. March 26 is the last day for policy committees to pass bills sent to them by … more

By WashingtonVotes.org | 3/22/21

Chehalis City Manager Jill Anderson speaks during a 2019 event in this Chronicle file photo.

Chehalis City Manager Receives Mostly Positive Council Evaluation; Centralia City Manager Not Evaluated in 2020

Chehalis City Manager Jill Anderson received a generally positive 2020 evaluation from the city council. Centralia City Manager Rob Hill’s performance was not evaluated by the council in 2020 … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/22/21

Sirens: Found Children; Hit-and-Run; Assaults; Abandoned RV; Minor in Possession of Alcohol

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Vehicle Prowls • A stereo and GPS were reported stolen from a vehicle in the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue just after 7:40 a.m. on March 19. • … more

3/22/21

Washington State’s March 31 Studded Tire Removal Deadline Is Almost Here; $136 Fine Kicks in April 1

With the arrival of spring, drivers in Washington have just a few more weeks to remove studded tires from their vehicles. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reminds … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/22/21

Herrera Beutler Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Help Residents Access Job Training

On Thursday, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, along with a bipartisan group of representatives, reintroduced the Jumpstart Our Businesses By Supporting Students (JOBS) Act that expands … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/22/21

AmeriCorps members wrap up a day of service with a sunset backdrop.

Boots on the Ground: AmeriCorps Members Support Skookumchuck River Restoration

In fall and winter 2020, three of the state Department of Ecology Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) field crews assisted the Thurston Conservation District on a large-scale restoration project … more

3/22/21

Tulip blossoms poke through the earth in the fields of the DeGoede Bulb Farm in 2018.

Tulips Unlikely to Return to Mossyrock’s DeGoede Bulb Farm

Mossyrock’s iconic tulip fields are unlikely to return, as DeGoede Bulb Farm has discontinued the crop. Last spring, the farm’s fields normally brimming with colorful tulips were … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/22/21