Local News
News Dump Ep. 186: More like defiling week
On the 186th episode of The Chronicle News Dump, hosts Aaron VanTuyl and Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Eric Schwartz discuss filing week, raccoons on the golf course, the internet coming to Winlock …
Former Centralia employee accused of destroying emails, hacking into employee computers 
The former information services director for the City of Centralia was arrested Tuesday on allegations he destroyed thousands of archived emails dating back to 2002, hacked into several Centralia …
Lewis County Master Gardeners Foundation to host plant sale
The Lewis County Master Gardeners Foundation will host a plant sale at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19. The sale will be held in the Blue Pavilion from …
Bridge installation scheduled on Forest Road 76
Beginning on June 3, bridge installation work will take place in the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District. The new bridge will be installed at Covel Creek on Forest Road 76. Motorists should …
Mossyrock water system receives $265,000 in state funds for improvements
Lewis County Water and Sewer System District No. 6, which operates around the greater Mossyrock area, has received $264,500 in state grant and loan funds to improve the system’s capacity and …
Sirens: Naked man reported in Centralia; 'suspicious man acting like a spider' reported; citizen scammed out of $9,000
CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Malicious mischief • Just before 8:20 a.m. on May 6, there was a report that a vehicle’s tires were slashed in the 400 block of North Tower Avenue …
‘Suspicious’ item left outside of Law and Justice Center in Chehalis draws bomb squad on Tuesday
The Chehalis Police Department blocked off the entrance to the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in the 300 block of West Main Street for several hours Tuesday afternoon after a suspicious package …
Kindergarten Dairy Days returns to Southwest Washington Fairgrounds
Kindergarteners from across Lewis County visited the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Tuesday morning for Dairy Days. Eleven schools arrived at the fairgrounds eager to see the cows. Each …
Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum: Cost to repair steam engines will near $1M, but passengers are flocking back for rides
The cost to repair two Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum steam engines will be close to $1 million each, the railroad announced as part of an update on operations this week. The railroad …
As expected, Pollock earns challenge from county party-backed candidate for Lewis County commissioner seat
Unsurprisingly, Lewis County Commissioner Lindsey Pollock has drawn at least one challenger vying to represent District 2 on the Board of Lewis County Commissioners. On Monday, the first day …
Grist Urban Stone Mill Flour Shoppe & Grainery opening in downtown Centralia
Whether you’re an artisan baker looking for a custom flour blend or just someone looking for healthier options and regionally grown grains, there’s a new store in downtown Centralia that …
Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad embarks on restoration project for Porter No. 5 steam locomotive
The nonprofit Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad (MRSR) nonprofit on Wednesday announced its plans to restore the iconic Porter No. 5 steam locomotive to its former glory.  Built by H.K. Porter …
Toledo police become first department to formally recognize missing and murdered indigenous women
While they may be first, Toledo Police Chief Duane Garvais Lawrence hopes his department isn’t the last. “The blight of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, men and children is a …
Washington congressional members urge funding small business development centers
The former operator of a small auto repair shop in Portland, Third Congressional District Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washougal, joined a bipartisan collection of more than 70 U.S. lawmakers in …
Endangered American red wolf from Wolf Haven in Tenino released into the wild, produces pups
An endangered wolf born at the Wolf Haven International in Tenino has been released into the wild and produced a litter of pups, according to a news release from the sanctuary. In October 2023, …
Local Sports
Tumwater rallies back, but falls to Columbia River in semifinal
RIDGEFIELD — The rally was nearly complete. After entering the top of the seventh down two runs, Tumwater scored two runs on an error to tie the game, and then it took the lead on an RBI …
Rochester’s season ends with loss to R.A. Long
RIDGEFIELD — As the Warriors walked off the field, it was difficult to find a dry eye. The Warriors went blow-for-blow early against R.A. Long on Wednesday, but they couldn’t keep up …
Offensive outburst pushes Tigers past Beavers
The Napavine softball team woke up from an early inning slumber with 14 runs in two innings to breeze by Tenino 14-3 on Wednesday in a non-league contest at home. Eight runs in the bottom of the …
Adna wraps up perfect league record with dominant win
The defending Class 2B state champions continued their winning ways on Wednesday with an 8-0 C2BL victory over Kalama at home to finish a perfect 9-0 in the league. Behind 15 strikeouts from ace …
Toledo falls into early deficit in loss to R/SB
The Riverhawks dug themselves into a hole they couldn’t get out of in an 11-3 non-league loss to the Ravens on Wednesday night in the penultimate game of their regular season. Toledo …

Chronicle Podcast

  • News Dump Ep. 185: Getting to the chopper with Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders
  • News Dump Ep. 184: A ‘chaotic’ episode according to the haters
  • News Dump Ep. 183: Trying to scare off clandestine fornicators
Obituaries

Death notices: May 8, 2024

• IGNACIA G. WEHRLI , 87, Rochester, died April 26 at Providence St. Peter Hospital. Arrangements are under the care of Cattermole Funeral Home. • LANA J. STEVENS, 80, Centralia, died …

In loving memory of Pamela (Courtney) Clifford: 1951-2024 

Pamela Jeanne (Courtney) Clifford was born in Portland, Oregon, on Dec. 28, 1951, to William and Helen Ada Soderstrom Clifford. She was an only child. All her life, Pam resented her birthday’s …

In loving memory of Sheriden Tufts-Martinez: 1936-2024

Sheriden S. Tufts-Martinez was born to Jack LaRue Tufts and Dorothy Evelyn Beatty on Dec. 23, 1936, in Fresno, California, at Saint Agnes Hospital. At the age of 15, she worked during the summer as a …

In loving memory of Maribeth Fitzgerald: 1946-2024

Maribeth Fitzgerald was born on Sept. 11, 1946, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Dr. Paul and Bea Walsh. She passed away after a long illness at home in Centralia on April 30, 2024. Maribeth graduated …

Death notices: May 6, 2024

• WHITNEY J. DUNN, 58, Onalaska, died May 1 at The Dada’s Adult Family Home. Arrangements are under the care of Sticklin Funeral Chapel. • MARIBETH FITZGERALD, 77, Centralia, …

In loving memory of Jean Ethel Hinchen: 1937-2024

Jean Ethel Hinchen, 86, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2024. She was a beloved mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Jean was …
State & Regional News

Agencies preparing for flood of WA Cares opt outs if initiative passes

The Washington State Employment Security Department is making plans for a flood of opt-outs from WA Cares should voters decide this November to pass Initiative 2124 , making the state’s …

Schools
Should Washington’s public schools ban students from using cellphones?
Smartphones gripping people’s attention isn’t anything new. But following the pandemic, Kris Hagel recalls seeing a troubling rise in public school students distracted by their phones …
Black Hills High School teacher named Regional Teacher of the Year
Andrew Landowski, the band teacher and music coordinator at Black Hills High School in the Tumwater School District, has been named Regional Teacher of the Year by the Capital Region Educational …
Winlock High School second semester honors and principal’s lists 
The Winlock High School principal’s list and honors list for the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year has been announced. Students named to the principal’s list received …
Winlock Middle School second semester principal’s and honors lists 
The Winlock Middle School principal’s list and honors list for the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year has been announced.  Students named to the principal’s list …
Onalaska Middle School term three honor roll
Eighth grade Perfect 4.0 Tayla Coyner, Ferra Gust, Janelle Hanson, Misha McCranie, Miranda Quillan Principal's list: 3.50 to 3.99 Huddson Barnes, Noland Brady, Carlos …
Commentary

Julie McDonald: NPR shines national spotlight on Centralia and TransAlta

In the past month, National Public Radio has focused on TransAlta and Centralia as an example of the right way to phase out a coal-fired power plant, the last such plant in Washington state. A …

John Braun commentary: Legislators don’t need to address property-tax cap — we already did

Blocking a bad piece of legislation can often be as important as passing a good bill. That’s why Republican senators took a moment to cheer a few months ago when, in the face of intense …

Leslie Lewallen commentary: It’s time for the Supreme Court to clean up the 9th Circuit’s mess on homelessness

Editor’s note: Republican Leslie Lewallen is a candidate for Congress in the Third Congressional District. The Chronicle has previously published commentaries from incumbent Rep. Marie …

Brian Mittge: Want to buy a cemetery? 

This is a deal that doesn’t come along very often: you can buy your very own pioneer cemetery in the heart of Centralia’s Fords Prairie, and it could cost you as little as $2,000 plus …

Commentary: Unfortunately, it is animal fighting season in our state

Unfortunately, it’s animal fighting season in the Pacific Northwest. The Washington state Gambling Commission encourages reporting of animal fighting to help stop these terrible acts. Our …
Outdoors
Outdoors
WDFW Commission taking comment on science policy
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is taking public comment on a draft policy that guides its use of science in making decisions. The commission announced in a news release that a draft …
WDFW: ‘Long season of uninterrupted digging’ to end with final slate of clam digs
The final seven days of coastal razor clam digs of the season will proceed as planned from May 6-12, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) coastal shellfish managers confirmed Friday. …
Northern pikeminnow bounty season opens on Columbia and Snake rivers; $107,800 made by last year’s top earner
The 2024 northern pikeminnow bounty season on the Columbia and Snake rivers opened May 1, with decent money to be made. "Catch cash, save salmon," says the Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward …