Local News
$500K bail: Man accused of slamming woman’s head on wall, choking her in Chehalis
A 36-year-old Minnesota man is being held at the Lewis County Jail following accusations he choked a woman out, slammed her head against a wall and attempted to destroy her phone to prevent her from …
Gifford Pinchot National Forest lifts closures for Skyo Fire near Packwood
The Gifford Pinchot National Forests has lifted the road closures for the Skyo Fire in the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District near Packwood, the U.S. Forest service announced in a news release this week. …
Intoxicated Centralia man accused of burglary, assault and harassment
A 35-year-old Centralia man on Thursday pleaded not guilty to several criminal charges after allegedly causing a ruckus at a property on Big Hanaford Road and later at Providence Centralia Hospital …
Southwest Washington Dance Ensemble introduces new staging, costumes for 29th production of “The Nutcracker”
Southwest Washington Dance Center’s performing company, the Southwest Washington Dance Ensemble, will present its 29th annual production of the full-length classic “The Nutcracker” this holiday …
Sirens: Man jailed for threats to kill; bags stolen at park; porch pirate strikes; local jail statistics
CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Fraud • A scam reported in the 1700 block of Providence Lane at approximately 2:18 p.m. on Oct. 22 is under investigation. Harassment • Erick L. …
Fishing closures begin Oct. 24 in many Western Washington rivers, including the Chehalis
Fishing for salmon and all game fish is closing Oct. 24 in many rivers and tributary streams across Washington’s Coastal Region due to low water conditions from the ongoing drought as well as …
City of Centralia lifts outdoor burn ban
Effective immediately, the City of Centralia, in collaboration with the Lewis County fire marshal, has lifted the burn ban that was applicable to all residents living within Centralia city limits. …
Lewis and Thurston county unemployment rates fall in September
The Washington state Employment Security Department (ESD) recently released the unemployment rates for September 2026, showing that unemployment decreased in both Lewis and Thurston counties from …
Cowlitz County man found guilty of killing longtime tenant, hiding body in barrel
A Cowlitz County jury found a 67-year-old Woodland man guilty of second-degree murder and unlawful disposal of remains after a four-day trial stemming from the death of his longtime tenant, whose …
‘The Safer Road Initiative’ class debuts at St. Joseph School in Chehalis
Kindergarten and first grade students at St. Joseph Catholic School in Chehalis are the first to take part in a new nationwide traffic safety campaign aiming to educate youngsters on how to safely …
A Look Back in Time: Sheriff’s legal pleading denied in Prohibition case; plaque dedicated to Centralia’s founder; Randle man named CEO of Bellevue tech firms
In this installment of A Look Back in Time, the Tuesday, Oct. 26, 1926, edition of The Chronicle featured a story about the ongoing saga of Lewis County Sheriff Frank Roberts, who along with his …
Open house held to celebrate renovations to new Chehalis DSHS office
Staff from the Washington state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) held an open house celebration on Wednesday, Oct. 21, to mark the completion of renovations to their new office, …
Let’s Go WA founder Brian Heywood appearance canceled in Olympia following ‘threats of violent protest’
The Thurston County Mainstream Republicans was set to have its regular Wednesday luncheon meeting in Olympia on Wednesday, Oct. 21, when the group was unexpectedly forced to cancel. The reason …
FEMA launches option to buy national flood insurance policy online
It is now easier than ever for Washington residents to prepare for the devastating financial consequences of flooding, a news release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stated this …
Chehalis woman accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from employer
On Monday, a warrant was issued for the arrest of a Chehalis woman facing five felony criminal charges for allegedly embezzling funds by writing checks to herself in her employer’s name and making …
Local Sports
Titans stave off Ravens, in position to snare playoff berth
Behind another stalwart performance from stars Lucas Lusk and Eddie Clements, the Pe Ell/Willapa Valley football team posted a 24-20 triumph over Raymond/South Bend on the road on Friday night. …
Adna stomps Napavine to control path to league title
Ever since the Pirates lost a one-score game to Forks two weeks ago, they knew what needed to be done in order to salvage their playoff hopes. Go 3-0, keep improving and see what happens. Safe …
W.F. West turns it on in second half to top Aberdeen
It wasn’t a pretty first half for the W.F. West football team on Friday night, but the Bearcats kicked it into gear after the break to pull away and beat Aberdeen 42-15. A touchdown pass with …
1B Roundup: Winlock, Oakville fall in Week 8
The Winlock and Oakville football teams both lost on Friday night, as the Cardinals lost to Chief Leschi 64-14 and the Acorns fell in Ocosta 34-12. In Week 9, the Cardinals (1-7) and Acorns …
Rochester-Centralia football game canceled due to safety concerns
The football game between Rochester and Centralia originally scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, has been canceled due to a “credible” threat and safety concerns. The Rochester School District …
Chronicle Podcasts

  • News Dump Ep. 297: Of Forums and Fake News
  • Sports Dump: Ain’t No Internet in Iowa
  • News Dump Ep. 296: THAT IS AN ORG CHART
Obituaries

Death notice: Oct. 23, 2026

• CAROL JEAN REISE, 84, Chehalis, died Oct. 21 at Harmony Living House. Arrangements are under the care of Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel in Toledo.

In loving memory of Marilee Wilber: 1950-2026

Marilee A. Wilber, 76, of Edgerton, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. She was born in Danville, Illinois, on May 20, 1950, the daughter of the late Gene and Paulette …

In loving memory of Marlene Barrett: 1956-2026

Marlene Lorraine Barrett (Gallagher) passed away on Sept. 23, 2026, at the age of 69, surrounded by love. If you knew Marlene, you knew there was rarely a dull moment. She was funny, goofy, and …

Death notices: Oct. 21, 2026

• WILLIAM B. MARSHALL, 86, Onalaska, died Oct. 17 at Chehalis West Assisted Living. Arrangements are under the care of Cattermole Funeral Home. • BERT R. DEMARIS, 79, Winlock, died Oct. 18 …
Jackie Rayan: 1936-2026

In loving memory of Jackie Rayan: 1936-2026

It is with great sadness that we announce that our beloved mother and grandmother, Jaqueline “Jackie” Marie Rayan, 90, passed away peacefully on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, under hospice care at her …

Death notices: Oct. 19, 2026

• CARRIE ANNE AMES, 70, Chehalis, died Oct.   9 in Centralia. There are no services scheduled at this time. Arrangements are under the care of Sticklin-Brown Funeral Chapel. • JAMES LEE …
State & Regional News

NFIB warns of small business exodus unless voters repeal Washington income tax

The National Federation for Independent Business is sounding the alarm about impacts on small businesses in Washington if the recently passed income tax remains in place. Washington State …

Schools
Mossyrock School Board meeting ends early amid tensions between superintendent and staff, parents
Approximately 100 attendees, including school district staff and parents, filled the Mossyrock School District office on Monday, Oct. 19, for the district’s regular monthly board of directors …
Second annual Raise the Axe dinner to benefit the Onalaska Sports Foundation Oct. 24
The Onalaska Sports Foundation is preparing to host its second annual Raise the Axe dinner and auction on Oct. 24 at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds Community Building. The evening promises …
Napavine students lace up, raise $20,000 during fun run fundraiser
Napavine students in kindergarten through sixth grade came together on Saturday, Oct. 16, for the first Napavine Fun Run, organized by the Napavine Parent Teacher Association (PTA). The event …
Centralia High School theater program returns to stage after nearly a decade
After nearly a decade without a regular presence, the curtain has lifted on the Centralia High School theater program thanks in part to a donor. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William …
Parents raising concerns after two Mossyrock school employees placed on administrative leave
Two employees of the Mossyrock School District have been placed on “standard non-disciplinary paid administrative leave,” according to a Thursday, Oct. 15, post on the school district’s …
Commentary

Our Views: Abbarno has earned a new term in Washington state Legislature

State Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, represents a brand of conservatism that combines traditional Republican principles with an emphasis on compassion, community service and opportunity for those …

Our Views: Walsh, McEntire best suited to represent 19th Legislative District

The 19th Legislative District is represented by two lawmakers with distinct approaches to conservative leadership. Reps. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, and Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, share commitments to …

Zac Eckstein commentary: Closing the rural-urban divide — why this election matters for Lewis County

Happy election season, Lewis County. As your ballot arrives, and we all hunker down to make our decisions, I’d like to talk to you about an idea called the rural-urban divide. It's a name for the …

Commentary: What people and computers say about the Northwest power supply

When you use an artificial intelligence system like ChatGPT, what it gives you depends on the prompt you enter. The answer is likely to be most useful if the prompt is carefully crafted. This …

Letter: After 16 years, Lewis County coroner wants four more

I have had the honor of serving as your coroner for the past 16 years. In 2011, we created the office mission statement, which is we determine the cause and manner of reported deaths by …
Outdoors
Outdoors
Hunting Highlights: Young hunters find success in early deer season
Whether it’s hunting, fishing, hiking, clamming, foraging or something else, The Chronicle is happy to share photos and details from local folks in the great outdoors. To be considered, just email …
Digging into the health reasons for the recent coastal razor clam dig closures
The scheduled start of recreational clam season was Oct. 9, but on Oct. 6, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced a postponing of the season until further notice due to the …
After delay, WDFW approves four days of razor clam digs at Copalis and Mocrocks beaches beginning Monday, Oct. 26
The Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on Tuesday confirmed the first round of razor clam digging opportunities at Copalis and Mocrocks beaches only from Oct. 26 to Oct. 29. …