News | The Daily Chronicle

From left, Centralia School District Executive Director of Fiscal Services Joe Vetter, school board member Deb Parnham, board member Vickie Jackson, board chair Tim Browning, board vice chair Mandi McDougall and Superintendent Lisa Grant go through a working document of possible budget cuts during a special meeting at the district office in Centralia on Wednesday.

Centralia School Board Begins Discussing Budget Cuts After Levy Failed by 74 Votes

With the failure of the Centralia School District’s levy all but certain days before election certification, the Centralia School Board held a special meeting Wednesday to take the first steps … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 5/5/23

Feds Indict Pair Accused of Renting Equipment From Washington Stores, Selling It

A man and woman accused of leading a retail-theft scheme and stealing more than $800,000 in merchandise, including from home improvement stores in Western Washington, were indicted Wednesday. The two … more

By Jared Gendron / The News Tribune (TNS) | 5/5/23

Rochester Woman Killed in Car Crash Near Lacey

A 66-year-old Rochester woman was killed in a car crash on state Route 510 east of Lacey on Friday morning, according to the Washington State Patrol (WSP). Her name has not been released by WSP … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/5/23

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: This photo was originally published April 25, 1959, with the following caption: "White Pass High School's 1959 graduating senior class poses for a pre-graduation picture on the school grounds at Randle. There are 36 prospective graduates at the school this year. They are: Carmen L. Beeks, Brenda Cheney, Sue Core, Karen Fuller, Carolyn Goble, Sharon Goble, Carolyn Helt, Bronwyn Hillstrom, Susan Johanson, Donna Lagerquist, Judy Cheney, Sandra McMillion, Janet Morgan, Anna May Morris, Virginia Mullins, Jessie Mullins, Jean Robbins, Julia Lee Shoemaker, Phyllis Stiltner, Jere Bowen, Doyle Dickey, Ronnie Dodrill, Clay Dunaway, Gerald Goble Jr., Wayne Harper, William Heinrich, Robert Hornby, Chad Hunt, Gary Kruger, Curt Owen, James Pierson, Robert Pratt, Norman Selchert, Alfred Watkins, William Westall and Gary Woods. Mrs. Wallace Rowland, senior class advisor, is pictured at top left. Baccalaureate will be May 24. Graduation has been set for May 27 at the school."

A Look Back in Time: Centralia High School Freshman Does Her ‘Bit’ to Support War Effort in 1943

Joye Nelsen, a 13-year-old Centralia High School freshman, had reportedly achieved her goal of wanting to do her “bit” for “Uncle Sam,” The Chronicle reported on Thursday, May … more

Compiled by Matthew Zylstra / matthew@chronline.com | 5/5/23

From left, Vern Nelson, 82, Dave Lawson, 82, and Dick Sullivan, 83, smile for a photo outside the Edison Elementary School located at 607 H Street in Centralia.

Three Octogenarian Friends Relive Their Childhood Memories Riding Bikes in Centralia

Vern Nelson rode his bike to Edison Elementary School in Centralia every day as a boy, often beside his best friends, Dave Lawson and Dick Sullivan. They all three delivered The Oregonian and … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 5/5/23

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez smiles while touring the proposed site of the Southwest Washington Agricultural & Innovation Park in Tenino with Mayor Wayne Fournier and Perry Shea, with Dragonwheel Investment Group Inc., earlier this year.

Gluesenkamp Perez Asks for $44 Million in Federal Funding for 3rd District Projects

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesencamp Perez, D-Skamania County, on Thursday announced she has nominated 15 community projects in the 3rd Congressional District for a total of $44 million in federal funding in … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/4/23

Authorities from the sheriff's office, coroner's office and the Washington State Patrol process the scene of a robbery and murder at a Toledo area Shell station on Thursday.

Three Teens Arrested Following Robbery, Shooting Death of Toledo Worker

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office plans to book three teens into juvenile detention for first-degree robbery and murder following the Wednesday night shooting death of a worker at a Toledo area … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/4/23

Adna School District Defrauded $346,000 in Phishing Scam

The Adna School District was defrauded of $346,000 through what school officials have called a “sophisticated phishing scam,” according to Adna Superintendent Thad Nelson. The … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/4/23

No One Has Claimed $8.6 Million Lottery Ticket Purchased in Rochester

A lottery player who bought their ticket in Thurston County's Rochester on Saturday still has an $8.6 million winning ticket to claim, but other Washington Lottery players should check their tickets, … more

Karlee Van De Venter and Jared Gendron / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 5/4/23

Governor Jay Inslee looks on before taking questions from members of the press last January inside the John A. Cherberg Building in Olympia.

'Clean Energy Revolution.' Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Signs Seven Energy Bills Into Law

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee came to the energy hub of the Pacific Northwest — the Tri-Cities — to sign seven clean energy bills passed by the Legislature in the session just ended. … more

Annette Cary / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 5/4/23

Man Accused of Shooting a Washington State Trooper Deemed Unfit to Stand Trial

Brandon O'Neel, the Walla Walla man accused of shooting Washington State Patrol Trooper Dean Atkinson Jr. on Sept. 22, 2022, has been deemed incompetent to stand trial and will undergo "competency … more

Jeremy Burnham / Walla Walla Union-Bulletin (TNS) | 5/4/23

Washington Judge Fines State AG's Office, DSHS in 'Cavalier' Withholding of Lawsuit Evidence

The state attorney general's office and Department of Social and Health Services have been fined $200,000 — and face the prospect of forking over hundreds of thousands of dollars more in legal … more

Jim Brunner / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 5/4/23

Former West Thurston Fire Authority Chief Robert Scott watches alongside crews from the Department of Natural Resources as a helicopter flies overhead dumping water on a forest fire near Bucoda in August 2022.

West Thurston Fire Authority to Again Ask Public for More Funding, This Time Through a Levy Lid Lift

The West Thurston Regional Fire Authority has announced a new plan to maintain funding for services, if the public approves it. After all, it's only been six months since voters shot down the RFA's … more

Ty Vinson / The Olympian (TNS) | 5/4/23

Justin G. Hammond, 34, of Randle, appears in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday.

Man Accused of Threatening Someone With Machete in Packwood Arrested

A man accused of threatening someone with a machete and then trying to hit them with his truck in Packwood on Sunday, April 30, is now facing an assault charge in Lewis County Superior … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 5/4/23

One Dead, One Injured After Airborne Vehicle Strikes House Roof in Pierce County

A car in Spanaway went airborne and struck the corner roof of a home early Thursday morning, leaving the driver dead and a passenger in critical condition, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department … more

Jared Gendron / The News Tribune (TNS) | 5/4/23

Shawn Kemp attends Players' Night Out 2018 hosted by The Players' Tribune on July 17, 2018, in Studio City, California. (Leon Bennett/Getty Images for The Players' Tribune/TNS)

Ex-NBA Star Shawn Kemp Appears in Court on Felony Assault Charge

TACOMA, Wash. — Former Seattle SuperSonics star Shawn Kemp appeared for arraignment in Pierce County Superior Court on Thursday for an assault charge stemming from a March 8 shooting at the … more

Peter Talbot / The News Tribune (TNS) | 5/4/23

The fleeing suspect vehicle from the fatal Toledo shooting appears to be an extended cab white Dodge Dakota or similar model, according to the Lewis County Sheriff's Office. It matches photos of a truck used in a previous incident in Florence, Oregon.

UPDATED: Three Teens Arrested Following Robbery, Shooting Death of Toledo Worker

Detectives with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a homicide that occurred Wednesday night at a Toledo area business. At about 8:49 p.m., Lewis County 911 received a … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/4/23

Commissioners Sean Swope, Scott Brummer and Lindsey Pollock attend a meeting at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis last week.

Lewis County Talks Email Signatures; One Commissioner Wants to Ban Pronouns

In recent years, it’s become fairly common for people to use pronouns in email or over social media, identifying how they’d like people to refer to them. While the practice helps … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 5/4/23

Age-Progression Image of Missing Oakville Girl Oakley Carlson Released

The Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office has released an age-progression picture showing missing Oakville girl Oakley Carlson at her current age, 6 years old. Oakley was reported … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/3/23

Dr. Brandy Fay — who has over a decade of experience in veterinary work with law enforcement including K9 care and animal cruelty investigations — explains inconsistencies between two necropsies done on Buzzo the dog and shows X-rays taken by the Thurston County Coroner’s Office on the dog. The Lewis County Coroner’s Office does not have X-ray equipment, so usually, X-rays are taken at Providence Centralia Hospital. Because these were for an animal, though, Buzzo was sent to Thurston County.

Aron Christensen Case: Report Suggests Second Wound on Buzzo the Dog Occurred After Death

Editor’s Note: This story contains descriptions of a dog that was killed along with details about forensic necropsy and other information readers may find disturbing. New evidence in the … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 5/3/23