News | The Daily Chronicle

From the left, Lewis County Commissioner Scott Brummer; Lewis County Parks and Recreation Administrator B.J. Kuykendall; Southwest Washington Fair Association President Jerry Owens; state Rep. Peter Abbarno; Southwest Washington Fair Advisory Board Acting Chair George Dodd pose for a photo at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Monday, April 8. The group met to discuss future improvements to the horse arena.

State, local officials eye indoor horse arena at Southwest Washington Fairgrounds

Standing in the vacant horse arena at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds Monday, a collection of state and local officials envisioned a new facility that would spur the local economy while helping … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com | 4/10/24

Joe Kent, left, and Jaime Herrera Beutler.

Joe Kent endorses Jaime Herrera Beutler’s bid for public lands post

As he makes a second bid for public office, congressional candidate Joe Kent has endorsed the previous Third Congressional District Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in her bid for Washington state public … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchellroland@chronline.com | 4/10/24

Retiring Chehalis City Manager Jill Anderson hugs Chehalis Mayor Tony Ketchum while being honored during her last city council meeting on Monday, April 8, at Chehalis City Hall.

Retiring Chehalis city manager honored, new Chehalis finance director introduced

With her official last day approaching next week, it was a bittersweet final city council meeting for retiring Chehalis City Manager Jill Anderson on Monday, April 8. During the meeting, she was … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/10/24

Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston congratulates Centralia High School Wrestler Antonio Campos after presenting him with an Outstanding Citizen Achievement Award during the Tuesday, April 9, Centralia City Council meeting following his wrestling state championship win earlier this year.

State champion wrestler honored with Outstanding Citizen Achievement Award by Centralia City Council

After winning the Mat Classic XXXV Washington state high school wrestling championship in the 2A 120-pound division earlier this year, Centralia High School wrestler Antonio Campos was honored with … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/10/24

Stacks of studs sit in Hampton Lumber’s Morton mill in this Chronicle file photo.

Hampton Lumber announces $25,000 endowment at Centralia College

Hampton Lumber has established a permanent endowed scholarship with the Centralia College Foundation for the benefit of Centralia College students enrolled full time in trades programs, the company … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/10/24

Sirens: Sick wild goose reported; construction crew breaks water line; minors reportedly drinking at ball parks

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Sick goose • A call regarding a “sick wild goose” in the 1800 block of Collision Street was turned over to the state Department of Fish and … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/10/24

Staff from Centralia Point Assisted Living and Memory Care help cut the ribbon at last year's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, from left, owner Terri Waldroff, Trisha Shipp, LPN, Executive Director Bryce Bower, Pam Devekos, CRD, and Director of Operations Nanette Wilkins.

Chamber’s Business After Hours event set for Centralia Point Assisted Living & Memory Care

Centralia Point Assisted Living & Memory Care will host the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce’s April Business After Hours event from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 18. Centralia … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/10/24

Jessica and Devin Britton, co-owners of JJ’s ToGo.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony set for JJ’s ToGo as it opens in former Dawn’s Delectables space

JJ’s ToGo is celebrating its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday, April 22, in downtown Centralia. Jessica Britton began JJ’s in a 10-foot galley kitchen … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/10/24

From the left, Chehalis City Councilors John Six, Jody Kyes, Bob Spahr, Mayor Tony Ketchum, Mayor Pro Tem Daryl Lund, Councilors Kate McDougall and Kevin Carns are pictured together for the first time on Monday, Jan. 22, during the council meeting at Chehalis City Hall.

Chehalis City Council moves to raise fees for park usage, various city services and public records requests

Last amended in June 2021, the Chehalis City Council voted unanimously to update the city’s fee schedule on first reading during the council’s regular meeting Monday, April 8. The … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/10/24

Bradley Chester Odman, 51, of Packwood, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, Oct. 30.

Packwood man accused of assaulting woman, threatening neighbor in October is back in custody

A Packwood man charged in October 2023 for allegedly assaulting a woman and threatening to kill a neighbor who attempted to intervene is back in custody after a surety company surrendered his bail. … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/10/24

Washington state gubernatorial candidate Dave Reichert speaks during the annual Lower Columbia Republicans United fundraiser at McClelland Arts Center on Saturday, April 6 in Longview. Lower Columbia Republicans United raises money outside the official Cowlitz County Republican Party.

A smaller faction of local Republicans held a Saturday fundraiser featuring opponents of the main local party's endorsed candidates. For about nine years, the seven-board member Lower Columbia … more

By Brennen Kauffman / The Daily News | 4/10/24

A shooting suspect is in custody after a lengthy pursuit on April 7 that ended after the suspect crashed into incoming traffic on I-5 near Rochester.

Bail set for man accused of shooting man, causing wrong-way I-5 crash in South Thurston County

A 32-year-old Puyallup man accused of shooting another man and leading Lacey police on a high-speed pursuit is being held in the Thurston County jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. Frank … more

By Martín Bilbao / The Olympian | 4/10/24

Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis speaks during a news briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on August 28, 2018. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images/TNS)

Former Defense Secretary James Mattis accepts WSU's inaugural Thomas S. Foley Award for Distinguished Public Service

In accepting the first Thomas S. Foley Award for Distinguished Public Service, former Secretary of Defense and retired general James Mattis on Tuesday called on those in the audience to reject … more

Amanda Sullender / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/10/24

Mark Smalley, an engineer for Rayonier, leads a field trip April 5 as part of the Washington State Society of American Foresters’ annual meeting, which took place at Grays Harbor College.

Washington forestry leaders talk 50 years of forest practices

In 1974, working in the woods changed forever. Those who make that their livelihood, and others with a stake in Washington's forests, are looking back at the successes and failures of 50 years of … more

Clayton Franke / The Daily World (TNS) | 4/10/24

Teen with Islamic State ties accused of planning attack on Idaho churches claims he was self-radicalized

Like countless students, Alexander Mercurio spent his time during COVID browsing online. Unlike most students, the Coeur d'Alene teenager ended up in the dark corners of the internet. And for a … more

Emma Epperly Alexandra Duggan and Elena Perry / The Spokesman-Review | 4/10/24

Attorney General Bob Ferguson smiles while talking with members of the press during a legislative meeting inside the John A. Cherberg building in Olympia in February 2023.

Judge rules Washington's ban on high-capacity magazines unconstitutional, case now heads to state Supreme Court

OLYMPIA — When a judge ruled Washington's ban on high-capacity gun magazines to be unconstitutional Monday, the state sought and received an emergency order minutes later to keep the law on the … more

Ellen Dennis / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/10/24

NAIA ruling to ban transgender women from competing in sports will affect Northwest colleges

A pair of colleges in the Inland Northwest whose sports teams are overseen by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics face a new reality: transgender athletes will soon be … more

Lauren Rendahl and Ellen Dennis / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/10/24

'Gone for good:' U.S. workers flee farms, leaving Washington growers struggling under old rules

The beating heart of Washington's agriculture industry is in danger, but a central Washington lawmaker has a plan to help shore up the most critical issue farmers are facing — a disappearing … more

Cory McCoy / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 4/10/24

Suspect found with four knives, an ax, a saw blade and metal claw, police in Thurston County say

A 38-year-old man was arrested late last month on suspicion of smashing a vehicle with an ax at the Olympia Auto Mall, according to police. About 5:45 p.m. March 28, police were dispatched to … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 4/10/24

'It's just an instinct': Pierce County police officer recounts how he saved drowning teenager

Police officer Steve O'Neal and his colleagues were having lunch Monday at a Tacoma Police Department substation when they heard over the radio that a teenager was drowning in Wapato Lake. Realizing … more

Puneet Bsanti / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/10/24