News | The Daily Chronicle

Julie McDonald: Mourning the loss of a dedicated volunteer — Jan Sylvester-Jamerson

I read with sadness late last week about the passing of Jan Sylvester-Jamerson, a 70-year-old Lewis County native and a longtime volunteer for the Lewis County Historical Museum who died of cancer on … more

5/19/25

From the left, Aquarium Pro owner Jamie Lanier poses with volunteer Jennalyn Jerry, employee Adriana Wyatt, along with intern The Evergreen State College student Charlie Ford, inside the Centralia fish store on Friday, May 16.

Cats in a fish store? Aquarium Pro partners with Red Rose Animal Rescue to foster cats as business prepares to expand

Aquarium Pro owner Jamie Lanier has steadily become a go-to resource for Lewis County aquarium owners, and the Centralia business has been doing it well. She is now preparing to expand the fresh and … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 5/19/25

South Thurston Fire & EMS Chief Andrew Schaffran, right, gives an update on response calls in Bucoda over the previous month during the Bucoda Town Council meeting on Tuesday, May 13.

Bucoda Town Council roundup: appointment of new councilor tabled until next meeting; bicycle survey being circulated around town; street addressing adjusted

Members of the Bucoda Town Council convened for their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 13, to discuss a number of agenda items, including consideration of appointing a new councilor. … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 5/19/25

Masonry repair work to begin on historic Lewis County Courthouse

The Lewis County Board of Commissioners awarded a bid on Tuesday, May 13, for a masonry repair project on the historic Lewis County Historical Courthouse in Chehalis. The repair work will … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 5/19/25

A Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum train makes its way over a trestle in this photo provided by the railroad.

Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum plans ‘BBQ and Train Ride With Dad’ Father’s Day excursion on June 14

The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum (CCRM) will celebrate Father’s Day at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, with a “BBQ and Train Ride With Dad” excursion. “Arrive at … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/19/25

Chris and DeeDee Judd hold up their catches of bluegill during a recent fishing outing at Swofford Pond.

Chris Judd: The case for the regionally maligned bluegill

If you’ve got a fishing rod and reel gathering dust in the corner of your garage and you’re getting the itch to spend some time in the great outdoors this spring, I hope this story … more

By Chris Judd / For The Chronicle | 5/19/25

The Centralia Downtown Association stopped by Centralia High School Friday morning to honor and reward students following the CDA's recent Spring Clean-up event downtown. "BIG congrats to the Senior Class of 2025 for winning this year’s Spring Clean-up Class Competition!" the CDA wrote. "Your teamwork, dedication and community pride really showed — and it paid off! You’re walking away with $500 for your class fund and the bragging rights as this year’s clean-up champions of downtown. Huge thanks to every class that participated — you all made a BIG impact in making our downtown shine. Stay rooted, stay involved, and stay awesome." Pictured from left to right are Centralia High School CTE teacher and CDA Board Member Levi Rodriguez, senior and CDA Junior Board Member Brianna Hernandez, CDA Executive Director MacKenzie McGee, CDA Board President Hallie Ralls and Centralia senior class President Trinity Burleson.

In focus: CDA awards check to Centralia High School senior class after spring clean-up event

5/19/25

Trump cuts halt local overnight weather forecasts for Eastern Washington, Oregon

The National Weather Service office providing forecasts and hazardous weather warnings for the greater Tri-Cities area will no longer be staffed at night because of Trump administration job cuts and … more

Annette Cary / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 5/19/25

Man, 31, died in the Pierce County Jail Friday afternoon, sheriff’s office says

A 31-year-old man in custody at the Pierce County Jail suffered a medical emergency and died Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department said Sunday. The man’s name … more

Rolf Boone / The News Tribune (TNS) | 5/19/25

‘Too fast for conditions’: Mason County woman injured in rollover crash

A 30-year-old Mason County woman was taken to an area hospital Saturday morning after a rollover crash on state Route 302, according to the Washington State Patrol. The crash took place opposite … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 5/19/25

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders shared two images of injured deputies from an area hospital on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The deputies fought a man suspected of felony harassment, Sanders said.

Prosecutors charge Thurston County man accused of harassing attorney, assaulting deputies

A 26-year-old Thurston County man accused of assaulting deputies is being held in the county jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. Garett Francis Merlino attended his preliminary appearance in Thurston … more

Martín Bilbao / The Olympian (TNS) | 5/19/25

North Fork Survivors owner Joe Bongiovanni poses for a portrait by his museum sign Tuesday, May 6 in Toutle. Bongiovanni says the Washington State Department of Transportation's signage for road closure has impacted his business, not the actual road closure.

Business on the road to Mount St. Helens say closure signs hurting traffic

Sitting in the gravel parking lot of North Fork Survivors in Toutle is a camouflage Humvee. The military doesn’t use it, but rather museum and shop owner Joe Bongiovanni. He bought … more

Andrew Lwowski / The Daily News | 5/19/25

Litter is seen alongside an Interstate 5 off ramp near Lacey, Washington. (Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)

New Washington state law increases penalties for litter, delays plastic bag requirements

Washington residents will soon face heftier fines for littering and higher prices for plastic grocery bags. A new law signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson on Saturday toughens the punishment for … more

By Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / The Washington State Standard | 5/18/25

U.S. Sen. Murray says Trump zeroes out $500M for Washington state fish passage project

Washington's U.S. Sen. Patty Murray is raising the alarm over a new spending plan by the Trump administration that doesn't include $500 million in funding for a fish-passage project on the Green … more

Lynda V. Mapes / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 5/17/25

Tumwater School District to hire investigator after students protest alleged sexual harassment

Students at Tumwater Middle School protested Friday morning at the start of school against alleged incidents of student-to-student sexual harassment. As a result, Principal John Neal said the … more

Ty Vinson / The Olympian (TNS) | 5/17/25

Judge orders probe in information leak on NBC 'Dateline' episode about Bryan Kohberger

An Ada County judge has ordered a probe into leaked information to media about the ongoing murder case of four University of Idaho students. The information leaked to NBC's "Dateline" about … more

Alexandra Duggan / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 5/17/25

Sharon Van Gilder, pictured center in an undated family photo, was murdered in Spanaway in March 2002. Her alleged killer was arrested March 14, 2023.

Man extradited from Mexico for 2002 murder of Western Washington woman, FBI says

A suspect arrested in Mexico by the FBI for the 2002 murder and rape of 39-year-old Sharon Van Gilder and the rapes of three other people was booked into Pierce County Jail on Thursday following his … more

Peter Talbot / The Peninsula Gateway (TNS) | 5/17/25

Hunting advocates petition for removal of four Washington Fish and Wildlife commissioners

A national hunting advocacy group wants four Washington Fish and Wildlife commissioners gone, citing a trove of internal documents that the group says shows the commissioners acted improperly. … more

Michael Wright / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 5/17/25

State Rep. Jim Walsh walks with other tour attendees during the Chehalis Basin Strategy Legislative Site Tour at China Creek in Centralia on Friday, Sept. 27.

Gov. Ferguson accuses President Trump of ‘constitutional crisis;’ GOP leader calls that ‘hysterical’

In a brooding speech made Thursday to fundraisers, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson blasted the Trump administration for its alleged assault on the U.S. Constitution. “I’m pretty careful … more

Eric Rosane / The Bellingham Herald (TNS) | 5/17/25

Roughly 50 people pose for a photon at the start of a remembrance walk during an overdose awareness event held at George Washington Park in Centralia on Thursday, Aug. 39.

Washington state sees largest drop in overdose deaths in a decade

Last year, Washington recorded the state's largest decline in drug overdose deaths in almost a decade, preliminary federal data shows. Nearly 3,200 Washingtonians died from overdoses in 2024, … more

Elise Takahama / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 5/17/25