Local News
Two arrested, 1,600 plants seized Wednesday at location of previous marijuana bust, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports 
Law enforcement arrested two people and seized over 1,600 growing marijuana plants and 50 pounds of processed marijuana during a bust of an illegal manufacturing operation in the area of state Route …
Washington State Patrol graduates 47 new troopers from basic training
The Washington State Patrol (WSP) added 47 newly commissioned troopers — including Winlock resident Alexander C. Carro, Littlerock resident Kane B. Palmer and Tumwater resident Shelby V. …
Arbor Health Morton Hospital honored with Trailblazer Award
Arbor Health Morton Hospital was recently selected for its first Foundation for Health Care Quality Trailblazer Award. The organization stated that Arbor Health is included in the first group to …
Reward fund for missing Oakville girl Oakley Carlson reaches $100,000 
A reward for information regarding missing 6-year-old Oakville girl Oakley Carlson has reached $100,000, according to the fund’s organizers.  Oakley, who was 4 years old at the time, …
New York resident connected to illegal cannabis operation accused of mortgage fraud in Napavine
A New York resident accused of committing mortgage fraud in Napavine to get a loan on a house that has since been busted as a cannabis growing operation pleaded not guilty to a felony charge in Lewis …
Lou Whittaker, legendary mountaineer and Mount Rainier guide, dead at 95
Lou Whittaker, a Seattle-born and -raised mountaineer and glacier travel guide who climbed Mount Rainier more than 250 times, died Sunday at 95. His nephew, Leif Whittaker, on Wednesday morning …
New legislative district map likely to be used in 2024 after appeals court declines to intervene
A legislative map that shifts some voters in South Thurston County from the 20th Legislative District to the Second Legislative District will likely be used in the upcoming election after a federal …
East Lewis County veterans and family members attend Veterans Stand Down in Randle
Lewis County staff and the Lewis County Veterans Advisory Board held their first Veterans Stand Down event in Randle on Saturday, March 23, as part of an effort to give veterans and their families …
Chehalis finance director retires after six years of service to the city
Retiring Chehalis Finance Director Chun Saul attended her final Chehalis City Council meeting on Monday, March 25, and was honored for her six years of service to the city. Both Chehalis Mayor …
Lewis County’s unemployment rate continued to rise in February
Lewis County’s unemployment rate is continuing to rise, reaching 7.8% in February, up from 7.1% in January and 6.3% in December. The rate remains one of the highest per-county rates in …
At Centralia town hall, state GOP chair touts Republican victories
Following the passage of three initiatives to the state Legislature, success in the 2023 election and promising data in the presidential primary, the Republican Party is poised for success, state …
Sirens: Graffiti found on church; Woman booked for DUI after crash; Teens 'drinking, smoking weed and doing acid'
CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Malicious mischief • Graffiti was reported on the outside wall of a church in the 300 block of North Tower Avenue just after 9:55 a.m. on March 25. …
Death Notices: March 27, 2024
• JAMES ROBERT RICHTER, 87, Centralia, died March 23 at Providence Centralia Hospital. Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives of Washington. • DEBRA LYNN SEABOLT, 66, …
Chehalis City Council moves to create two new emergency funds for the city
With many economists still predicting a recession in the near future, the Chehalis City Council passed a pair of ordinances on first reading during its Monday, March 26, meeting, establishing an …
Local roundup: Where to hunt for eggs and meet the Easter Bunny this weekend
The sun is starting to come out and spring is in the air, just in time for Easter weekend. The Chronicle has compiled a list of free events celebrating the spring holiday across Lewis County and …
Local Sports
Toledo boys come out on top in Naselle
Victories in thirteen different events helped the Toledo boys take first and the Toledo girls take third at a league meet in Naselle on Thursday. The boys scored 159 points across 17 events, …
Pe Ell boys take third at Hoquiam
Carter Phelps and Calan McCarty led the Pe Ell boys to a third-place finish in a league meet at Hoquiam on Thursday. Phelps won the 110-meter hurdles, finishing in 16.0 seconds, while McCarty …
Rainier girls clip Eatonville for league meet triumph
The Mountaineers secured at least one top-five finisher in 15 of the 18 events and those depth points were enough to edge past Eatonville 132-128.5 on Thursday night in a league meet hosted by …
Trodahl, Sancho-Carrillo push Winlock to home meet win
Three victories apiece from distance standout Chase Trodahl and mid-distance key cog Xavier Sancho-Carillo pushed the Cardinals to a total of 133 points to claim a five-team league meet on Thursday …
Onalaska boys pick up more wins, beat Napavine
In small track and field meets, it turns into a numbers game. No better case of that logic than in a seven-team league meet that featured Onalaska and Napavine held in Toutle Lake. The numbers …

Chronicle Podcast

  • News Dump Ep. 181: It was that damn sasquatch
  • News Dump Ep. 180: Breeding giant sheep for fun and profit
  • News Dump Ep. 179: Wide roads and wider defensive stances
Obituaries

In loving memory of James Wilfred Tharp: Aug. 9, 1944 - March 15, 2024

In loving memory of our husband, dad, papa, basketball and football coach, teacher and mentor James Wilfred Tharp. He passed away peacefully March 15, 2024. We have to say goodbye to a …

Death Notices: March 25, 2024

• TIMOTHY G. HINKLEY, 63, died March 17 at Providence St. Peter Hospital. Arrangements are under the care of Cattermole Funeral Home. • STEVEN R. LUURS, 68, died Jan. 18, 2024. …

In loving memory of Elizabeth F. “Jill” Feuchter: 1936-2024 

On March 4, 2024, Mom passed peacefully into the arms of God while surrounded by family in her home.  Elizabeth F. “Jill” Feuchter was born Oct. 3, 1936, on Puget Island in …

Death Notice: March 22, 2024

• LORRAINE DELORES PIERPOINT, 65, Tenino, died March 14 at her residence. Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives of Washington.

Death Notices: March 20, 2024

• WAYNE L. SPRIGGS, 91, Centralia, died March 13 at his residence. Arrangements are under the care of Cattermole Funeral Home. • CHARLES BERGMAN, 93, Longview, died March 14 at …

In loving memory of Mary Kidrick: March 24, 1929 - Dec. 1, 2023

Mary Katherine Kidrick (nee Jessup) passed away quietly at home in Centralia on Dec. 1, 2023.  She was married to Edward Grant Kidrick, who preceded her in death, and is survived by …
State & Regional News

18 frozen puppies intended as snake food seized in Oregon, sheriff says

Columbia County sheriff’s deputies in Oregon searched a house in Goble last Friday and found 18 frozen puppies allegedly being used as snake food, the sheriff’s office said. …

Schools
Napavine High School third quarter honor roll
Following are members of Napavine High School’s third quarter honor roll, as provided by the school district. Students are listed in alphabetical order.   12th grade …
Napavine Middle School third quarter honor roll
Following are members of Napavine Middle School’s third quarter honor roll. Students are listed in alphabetical order.   Eighth grade Superintendent’s list: 3.5 to 4.0 …
Toledo High School second trimester honor roll 
Following are members of Toledo High School’s second trimester honor roll. Students are listed in alphabetical order.  12th grade  Principal’s list: 3.75 to 4.0  …
Chamber of Commerce: Nine scholarships available to Centralia, Chehalis and Adna high school students
The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce has announced April 19 as the deadline for nine different scholarships available to high school seniors from Centralia, Chehalis and Adna.  New …
In focus: Centralia High School hosts chamber’s Business After Hours event
The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce’s March Business After Hours event was held at Centralia High School on Thursday, March 21. It was the first time a school district has hosted a …
Commentary

John McCroskey: Sasquatch, underwear and an about-face for Bob Ferguson

The past week, The Chronicle had several stories I found of interest, two of them local. The stories focused on bigfoot, an underwear-masked alleged thief and a candidate for governor who …

Commentary: In a sign of distrust, voters reject two out of three local school bond proposals

In the latest sign of declining public confidence in the education system, voters in February turned down two-thirds of proposed local school bond measures, rejecting 14 out of 21 proposals. The …

Commentary: Coming about! What it means that Bob Ferguson just tacked right on cops

About a year ago, Bob Ferguson made what looked at the time to be a political blunder. For his burgeoning governor's campaign, the Democrat sent out an endorsement announcement that went down …

Maureen Harkcom commentary: Food Hub is a great way for farmers, consumers to work together

We can find so much on the internet today, but it is getting harder and harder to know what to believe. I have seen some things that were totally fake — created by artificial intelligence …

Julie McDonald: Amy Grant concert in Olympia takes me back to the 1980s

I’ve always been a fan of Amy Grant’s music, but I doubt I would have attended her concert last month if not for the movie “I Can Only Imagine.” When I saw an ad about …
Outdoors
Outdoors
WDFW approves six days of coastal razor clam digs with additional tentative digs planned for April
Razor clam diggers can look forward to more digging opportunities on coastal beaches beginning Tuesday, March 26, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) coastal shellfish managers …
Mineral Lake’s 31st annual fishing derby scheduled for end of April, tickets on sale on April 26
Editor’s note: This updated story corrects inaccuracies included in a previous version published last week.  Mineral Lake’s 31st annual fishing derby is scheduled for the …