Opinion | The Daily Chronicle

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

Letter to the editor: Unanswered questions heading into the new year

Year-end questions seeking answers: Why hasn’t the person that confessed to killing Aron Christensen been charged under RCW 9.41.240, illegal possession of a firearm? He was a minor … more

1/3/25

Letter to the editor: We need immigrants at all levels of workforce

I want to ring in on immigration and in particular, H-1B visas. We are a nation of immigrants. Immigrants enrich our culture and boost our workforce. H-1B visas allow highly skilled people … more

1/3/25

Former President Jimmy Carter, right, works on ceiling beams of a building being rehabilitated on New York’s Lower East Side in 1985.

Commentary: For Jimmy Carter, faith was always front and center

Editor’s note: Centralia resident John Martin wrote this on the occasion of former President Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday. Carter died on Dec. 29, 2024. James Earl "Jimmy" Carter … more

By John Martin / For The Chronicle | 1/1/25

James Turner, born near a fork of the Cumberland River in Harlan County on Aug. 15, 1836, was likely related to the Hatfields in Kentucky, according to his great-great-grandson Cary Collins, of Maple Valley, a teacher in the Tahoma School District who shared stories of his notorious ancestors with the Toledo Historical Society in a presentation I attended at the Toledo Community Library.

Julie McDonald: Devil Jim Turner settled at Toledo in 1891 after release from Kentucky prison

More than a decade ago, John Alexander, of Chehalis, mentioned to me that descendants of the Hatfields and McCoys lived in East Lewis County near Mayfield and Mossyrock, their ancestors having … more

Commentary by Julie McDondald / For The Chronicle | 12/30/24

A home glows as Christmas lights and decorations illuminate the night on Saturday, Dec. 21, on Main Avenue in Morton.

Brian Mittge: Let the Christmas bells keep ringing

Folks, I know some of you are already taking down the tree and hauling down the holly, but I’d encourage you to keep the holly jolly ho-ho-hoing going for a while longer. The 12 days of … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 12/27/24

Letter to the editor: What is a war? And how long does it take to win one?

“How many times can a man turn his head, pretending he just doesn’t see?” What exactly is a war, and how long does it take to win one? Let’s look at a few examples in … more

12/27/24

Letter to the editor: Will those who read the full John Braun opinion articles please stand up?

Several studies have shown that during this time of instant news, blogs and all kinds of social conversation that travels in cyberspace at the speed of light, people do not read long opinion articles … more

12/27/24

Letter to the editor: Those playing blame game on Green Hill should look to judicial system

This letter is in response to Frank Dare’s letter to the editor of Dec. 13. He states he was a counselor at Maple Lane, that neither Maple Lane or Green Hill was a “school.” I … more

12/27/24

Other Views: Don’t block the will of voters on natural gas

Nearly 2 million residents voted to approve Initiative 2066, which aims to protect the use of natural gas as an energy source in state law and within Washington’s building codes. This month, … more

By The Seattle Times Editorial Board (TNS) | 12/24/24

Richard Stride is the current CEO of Cascade Community Healthcare.

Richard Stride commentary: American obsession with sneakers has a rich history

As Americans, we are obsessed with shoes. Shoes are a fashion statement. Shoes say something about us, our style, and sometimes our character. Let’s talk about our obsession with one … more

By Richard Stride | 12/24/24

In this handout provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Earth, as seen from a distance of one million miles by a NASA scientific camera aboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory spacecraft on July 6, 2015. (NASA via Getty Images/TNS)

Commentary: Carbon-capture promises require an unrealistic land grab

Because it’s apparently too hard to cut the carbon emissions heating up the planet, many countries plan to sweep much of their pollution under the rug instead. This might be fine, except the … more

By Mark Gongloff / Bloomberg Opinion | 12/24/24

Letter to the editor: Stand up and demand justice for Bruce Allen Kim and his family

I am writing to express outrage and disgust at the recent decision by Lewis County Superior Court to vacate Tommy Ragan's guilty plea and conviction for the heinous murder of 11-year-old Bruce Allen … more

12/23/24

Letter to the editor: Politicians have never seen a tax they didn’t like

Surprise, surprise. The county commissioners are raising every tax they can get their hands on. Of course, they all profess dislike of raising taxes, but “had to” in order to balance … more

12/23/24

Commentary: A center-right Democrat’s view from Washington state

I’m a center-right “Scoop Jackson” moderate Democrat marooned on an island in today’s deep-blue Washington. My friends and I celebrate local election victories while our … more

12/23/24

Commentary: New legislators face significant choices with funding shortfall

Newly elected legislators in the Washington State House of Representatives gathered in Olympia recently beginning their orientation for the upcoming 105-day session that begins Jan. 13. The biggest … more

12/23/24

Lee Coumbs and Brandon Best serve up hamburgers at the Pete Dykstra dairy in Curtis on Dec. 20, 2007, during cleanup work after the Chehalis River flood. Coumbs died earlier this month at age 82.

Lee Coumbs: Goodness and grilling, service and sausages

There’s a photo of Lee Coumbs I rediscovered while writing these farewell tribute columns that shows how his spirit warmed our community even during dark, cold times. In one way, … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 12/20/24

Sen. John Braun listens during a meeting in the Centralia High School library on Thursday, Dec. 19.

John Braun: This year’s passage of four initiatives is already making our state better

Earlier this month, the City of Federal Way released data showing crime rates overall had fallen 11% from a year ago. That’s great news for any community, especially one of the larger … more

Commentary by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 12/20/24

Lewis County PUD Commissioner Michael Kelly, right, walks to the entrance of the Lewis County Law and Justice Center acompanied by his lawyer ahead of making his first appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, Dec. 2.

Publisher's Note: Stark reminder of ethical boundaries, professionalism in government

I served as a member of the Chehalis City Council for 18 years, a position that operates within a structure common to many local elected boards, such as school boards and public utility districts … more

Commentary by Chad Taylor / For The Chronicle | 12/20/24

John McCroskey was Lewis County sheriff from 1995 to 2005. He lives outside Chehalis and can be contacted at musingsonthemiddlefork@gmail.com.

John McCroskey: Hang onto your wallets — the state legislative session is coming

As we approach the end of the year, it can only mean one thing: Another legislative session is approaching and, based on what our governor has said recently, we’d best hang onto our wallets. … more

Commentary by John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 12/18/24

Richard Stride commentary: Nothing is so urgent that you can’t take the time to just breathe

I recently remembered a song that came out in the 1990s by a country and rock group called Alabama. The song was titled “I’m in a Hurry (and Don’t Know Why).” Here are … more

By Richard Stride | 12/18/24