Local News
Lewis County sues Chehalis over homeless shelter
Lewis County has filed a lawsuit against the City of Chehalis over a stalled plan to open a night-by-night shelter in the city. The suit, filed in Thurston County Superior Court on April 23, …
Sirens: Man struck in the face with ax handle; 'hello' to child generates police report; three homeless men banned from business for life
CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Vehicle accidents • A vehicle struck a road sign in a center island at the intersection of H and West First streets at approximately 12:55 p.m. on May 13. …
Winlock man accused of raping a woman in Centralia in 2023
A Winlock man accused of raping a woman in Centralia in 2023 is now facing a second-degree rape charge in Lewis County Superior Court. The victim reported the rape the same day it occurred on …
Residents can drop off scrap metal, appliances, tools at Lewis County recycling event
Lewis County residents will have a chance to drop off scrap metal, household appliances and gently used tools from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, at the old Winlock Drop Box, 1105 Winlock-Vader …
Mossyrock man accused of assaulting a woman in February charged
A Mossyrock man accused of assaulting a woman in February is now facing one count of second-degree assault in Lewis County Superior Court. An officer with the Morton Police Department, which …
Cascade Community Healthcare continues offering Medication-Assisted Treatment for those recovering from substance use
Cascade Community Healthcare continues efforts to bring Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT) services to those throughout Lewis County who are struggling with addiction. The treatment reduces a …
Taxing district led to $1.2 million spent on Chehalis transportation projects last year
From improvements on Southwest Chehalis and Northwest Pacific avenues to annual re-striping and roadway repairs, the City of Chehalis completed six transportation projects costing a total of …
Elma man hospitalized after crashing into two parked cars along U.S. Highway 12 in Porter on Tuesday
An Elma man was transported to Summit Pacific Medical Center on Tuesday after a medical emergency at the wheel caused him to crash into two unoccupied vehicles parked in a driveway along U.S. Highway …
Winlock-based ‘Caregivers 4 Mom & Dad’ administrator issued cease-and-desist order for practicing without a license
The Washington state Department of Health’s Unlicensed Practice Program last month notified Betty Jo Kitchen, who operated the in-home services agency Caregivers 4 Mom & Dad in Lewis …
Centralia College and partners host three-day energy and STEM academy in June
High school students are invited to participate in Lewis County’s first Southwest Washington Energy/STEM Academy supported by the Foundation for Water and Energy Education (FWEE) June 25-27. …
Spirit Lake infrastructure project work to take place this summer
After 40 years, continued improvements are needed to support operations and maintenance of the Spirit Lake infrastructure that controls water levels in Spirit Lake, according to a news release from …
Could a Washington volcano erupt again in our lifetime?
The most destructive volcanic eruption in United States history happened less than half a century ago in Washington state. On May 18, 1980, the north side of Mount St. Helens, in Southwest …
Fire destroys home in Oakville
A Sunday afternoon fire tore through an Oakville residence, leaving only charred remains of the structure. The initial call came in at 1:57 p.m. for a structure fire, said Chief Carlton Rhoades …
News Dump Ep. 187: The boy who cried ‘I could take that wolf’
On the 187th episode of The Chronicle News Dump, hosts Aaron VanTuyl and Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Eric Schwartz are joined by photographers Ridley Hudson and Kody Christen to talk shooting the …
Thirteen people indicted in drug trafficking operation that included seizure in Lewis County
Thirteen people were indicted in a large drug trafficking investigation in Western Washington and 10 of them were already in custody as of Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced in a news …
Local Sports
Three Warriors sign NLIs at Rochester signing event
ROCHESTER — Two weeks after Jaden Nichols signed with Linfield to continue his football career, three more Rochester student-athletes signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their …
T-Birds season ends in opening round of state
The 16th-seeded Tumwater boys soccer team saw its season come to a close in an 8-0 opening round loss to top-seeded Sehome in the Class 2A state tournament on Wednesday night at Civic Stadium in …
Prep softball: Phelps' go-ahead homer extends Titans season
When Karli Phelps steps to the plate, one thought crosses her mind more often than not. Be aggressive early in the count. “Usually, I swing on the first pitch,” Phelps stated. …
Pirates find footing twice, advance to district title game
The Pirates didn’t come out of the gate strong on Wednesday. Adna didn’t score in the first four innings of its district quarterfinal matchup against Raymond-South Bend, and it …
Prep softball: Riverhawks run out of rallies in semifinal setback
Every time the Toledo High School softball team cut into its deficit on Wednesday night, it would rise the next half-inning. The gap began too monumental to shrink. Regular season P2BL …

Chronicle Podcast

  • News Dump Ep. 186: More like defiling week
  • 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
Obituaries

Death notice: May 15, 2024

• MICHAEL JOSEPH BROTHERSON, 71, of Fruitland, Idaho, and formerly of Centralia, died May 12 in Fruitland. Arrangements are under the care of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel in Payette, Idaho.

Celebration of life: Debra L. Mitchell 

The family of Debra L. Mitchell would like to invite you to come and celebrate the memory and life of a wonderful wife, mother, sister, aunt and a beautiful friend to so many.  One of Deb's …

In loving memory of Marlene Carol Ahmann: 1935-2024

Marlene Carol Ahmann died peacefully on May 5, 2024, in Centralia at the age of 88. She was born on Aug. 18, 1935 in Iron Mountain, Michigan, to Jalmar and Catherine Bjorkman. The family moved to …

In loving memory of Carmen Bartlett: 1937-2024

Carmen was born to Joe and Carmen Schiller of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Dec. 11, 1937.  Carmen passed away peacefully on Feb. 12, 2024, surrounded by family. Mom (Carmen) married young and …

In loving memory of Vicky A. Baker: 1952-2024

Vicky A. Baker passed away May 3, 2024, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. She was born April 9, 1952, to Kenneth and Nona Taylor in Centralia, Washington. She had resided in Winlock, …

Death notices: May 10, 2024

• COLTON ISAIAH TALLEY, 45, Onalaska, died April 29 at his residence. Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives of Washington. • VICKY ALICE BAKER, 72, Winlock, died May …
State & Regional News

Car crash deaths in Washington reach highest levels in over 30 years after 10% increase

Washington saw 810 traffic deaths in 2023, according to the state Traffic Safety Commission's annual fatalities report which was released on May 13. That figure is up from 743 the previous year and …

Schools
Lewis County Parent to Parent engages Onalaska elementary students with presentation on autism
Recently, Lewis County Parent to Parent Coordinator Shawna Haller and Cassandra Whitaker presented to several classes at Onalaska Elementary School on the topic of autism in order to educate, raise …
‘Out of Towners’: Rochester High School’s spring musical highlights graduating seniors 
With nearly half of its theater students graduating this year, Rochester High School is using its spring production, “Out of Towners,” to highlight the drama program’s past …
Centralia High School inducts 31 students into National Honor Society 
Centralia High School inducted 31 students into the National Honor Society on Tuesday, May 7.  To be eligible for membership in the National Honor Society, students must be in grades 10 to …
Top Centralia and W.F. West students honored at Rob Fuller Scholarship Luncheon
In the week leading up to the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce’s annual Rob Fuller Scholarship Luncheon, STEM Scholarship award presenter Amanda Singleton received a postcard from a W.F. …
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 …
Commentary

Julie McDonald: September weekend features writers’ conference and AAUW fundraiser

I missed perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the Northern Lights from my backyard on Friday night, but I certainly enjoyed seeing all the gorgeous photos posted online. My friend …

Richard Stride commentary: This month and always, pay attention to the state of your mental health

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so let's talk about this important topic. We all know problems in our lives can cause anxiety. Those problems can be relationship issues, pressure at work …

John McCroskey: College students throw tantrums as some call for ludicrous loan forgiveness

Watching the past few weeks on college campuses has really been inspiring.  Seeing so many young adults acting like tantrum-throwing children just makes you proud, doesn’t it? And our …

John Braun: Slam the door on Democrats and their anti-Hispanic grab for more power

With candidate filing week now behind us, the 2024 election season is in full swing. Democrat leaders in our state are no doubt looking ahead to the August primary and November general election …

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 …
Outdoors
Outdoors
Missed the aurora borealis? Watch for these upcoming celestial sights
Like a thief in the night, the aurora borealis arrived suddenly — and seemingly unannounced, if you weren't paying close attention — across the upper half of the globe this past weekend. …
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, …
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 …