Opinion | The Daily Chronicle

Dr. Richard J. Stride is the CEO of Cascade Community Healthcare.

Richard Stride commentary: Planting things we may never see

There’s something humbling about planting a garden. You turn the soil, place something small into the ground, and then … you wait. You don’t control the rain. You don’t rush … more

By Richard Stride | 4/6/26

Letters to the editor can be submitted to letters@chronline.com.

Letter to the editor: We are spending a billion dollars a day to be made fools of

While our armed forces have achieved an unbroken series of tactical victories in the Iranian "excursion," there is little evidence of a strategic purpose being served. Rather, the war began with … more

4/6/26

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, works on his computer during the last day of the legislative session on Thursday, March 12, in Olympia.

John Braun commentary: Tax supporters continue an Olympia trend — stifle the opposition

It seemed strange that the governor’s office waited until late on a Sunday afternoon to publicly announce he would sign the new state income tax the following morning at the Capitol. That’s … more

By Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 4/4/26

Letter to the editor: $83 million to buy six traffic lights?

I read an article where Sen. John Braun was saying he secured $70 million for Lewis County. He went on to explain where the money was going. However, just recently, the WSDOT spent $83 … more

4/4/26

Letter to the editor: A library without staff isn’t a library

Public libraries were never meant to be reduced to buildings full of books. The Timberland Regional Library system is moving forward with layoffs of 61 frontline workers and shifting some … more

4/4/26

Letter to the editor: As Trump insults the late Robert Mueller, what does Braun say?

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who died Friday night, March 20, 2026, was a Republican. He honorably served GOP President George W. Bush and Democratic President Barack Obama. Director … more

4/4/26

Letter to the editor: The score you’re missing in real estate

I spent 15 years building deeply energy-efficient homes as founder of Green Canopy, a deep green residential developer, and now as co-founder of Helix Build. In all those years developing, … more

4/4/26

Former Centralia Mayor Norm Chapman addresses the crowd for the first time as mayor during a Centralia City Council meeting at Centralia City Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 13.

Letter: Former Centralia mayor seeks to clear the air

It is nice to just be Norm, private citizen. I am Norm Chapman, former mayor and city councilmember for Centralia District 1. Before I resigned due to family and some health-related issues, I … more

By Norm Chapman / Former Centralia Mayor | 4/1/26

Letter to the editor: Where do our Republican lawmakers stand on Trump’s attack on elections?

Current Washington state lawmakers Sens. John Braun and Jeff Wilson and Reps. Peter Abbarno, Joel McEntire, Ed Orcutt and Jim Walsh, the moment has arrived where you either stand by your office’s … more

4/1/26

Letter to the editor: Marijuana expansion — a financial opportunity or a community cost?

I read the recent article regarding survey results showing support for marijuana sales in Lewis County. The article cites responses from roughly 1,000 individuals, which may offer a snapshot of … more

4/1/26

Letter to the editor: The case for owning an electric car

As communities across the country grapple with rising fuel costs, air pollution and the growing impacts of global warming, one solution is becoming increasingly clear — the widespread adoption of … more

4/1/26

Letter to the editor: Should presidents be able to start a war without a declaration from Congress?

Our founding fathers clearly did not want presidents getting Americans into wars. They wrote Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution to make sure that only Congress could declare war. Yet … more

4/1/26

Letter to the editor: What is happiness?

The United Nations sponsors a poll every three years to rate how well people view their governments. Averaging the results allows us to discover, in a vague way, where we may find “happy” … more

4/1/26

The Capitol building in Olympia, home to the Senate and House chambers, is lit up on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Commentary: Citizens are fleeing bad policy in Washington — here's the proof

The latest Census migration data tell a clear and consistent story: people are voting with their feet. In King County, Washington’s largest population center and economic hub, domestic … more

By Chris Cargill / Mountain States Policy Center | 3/31/26

Julie McDonald: Popular fiction authors headline Southwest Washington Writers Conference

Kristina McMorris, a former actress and New York Times best-selling author of the popular “Sold on a Monday” and six other historical novels, will keynote the 12th annual Southwest Washington … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald | 3/30/26

State Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, speaks during a Legislative Media Day at the Washington state Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Olympia.

John Braun commentary: Income tax gives people another reason to take their money and run

One of the many arguments Republicans made against the new state income tax is that it will lead to more capital flight. People will decide it’s time to flee from our state and take their financial … more

By Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 3/27/26

Letter: Friends of the Library groups address Timberland Library Board of Trustees

Editor’s note: Friends of the Library groups from across the Timberland Regional Library service area have issued a joint letter to the TRL Board of Trustees. The letter comes after the resignation … more

3/27/26

Letter to the editor: Staying silent has never created change

Students from W.F. West High School had planned to protest on Feb. 10 in response to the recent deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were both murdered by U.S. Immigration and Customs … more

3/27/26

Playquato Dance Hall at Claquato on opening night, July 4, 1938.

Julie McDonald: Playquato exhibit at Lewis County Museum likely to spark memories

Every Saturday night for 35 years in the mid-20th century, people flocked to the Playquato Ballroom three miles west of Chehalis to dance, compete in waltz and jitterbug contests and sometimes meet … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 3/23/26

Letter to the editor: Do we need a millionaire tax?

A millionaire tax — do we need it? Yes, for two reasons: 1. Millionaires should pay their fair share of taxes. 2. Washington has one of the most unfair tax systems in the country. … more

3/23/26