Local News
Gov. Bob Ferguson orders flags to be temporarily raised for presidential inauguration
American flags at state buildings across Washington will be raised to full staff on Monday in recognition of the presidential inauguration, with flags to return to half-staff by sunrise Tuesday in …
Sirens: Driver flees on foot after crashing into business; boy says he was injured on school bus; Lewis County Superior Court proceedings
CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Criminal trespassing • A 38-year-old Centralia man was arrested for trespassing and for an outstanding Centralia Municipal Court warrant in the 2000 block …
Point-in-time count found 952 people facing homelessness in Thurston County in 2024
An annual point-in-time count of the homeless population in Thurston County last year found there were 952 people experiencing homelessness, according to a news release from Thurston County Public …
Mount Rainier National Park implements new wilderness permit fee structure
Mount Rainier National Park has changed its wilderness permit fee structure from a flat $20 per trip to $10 per person per night, the National Parks Service announced Friday. Youth ages 15 and …
The Northwest Wind Symphony’s first concert of 2025 set for Centralia College
The Northwest Wind Symphony’s first concert of the year will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18. It will be held at Corbet Theatre on the Centralia College campus. Tickets are …
Reliable Enterprises in Centralia to receive $2.75 million in state funds for affordable housing expansion
Reliable Enterprises in Centralia will receive $2.75 million in state funds for expansion of its Reliable Homes II project, according to a news release from the Washington state Department of …
Lewis County to receive $571,200 grant for energy efficiency retrofits in public buildings
Lewis County is among 26 jurisdictions in Washington state that will receive state Department of Commerce grants “aimed at reducing emissions, enhancing the comfort of building occupants and …
Tickets available for Centralia-Chehalis Railroad’s Valentine’s Sweetheart Dinner Train Ride
The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum (CCRM) is selling tickets for a two-hour “Valentine’s Sweetheart Dinner Train Ride” in the historic 1920s dining car. The ride is …
Lewis County Auditor’s Office: Ballots to be mailed Jan. 22
According to the Lewis County Auditor’s Office, 831 ballots will be mailed on Wednesday, Jan. 22, to all active registered voters within the Castle Rock School District No. 401, Evaline School …
Christmas in January: Westminster Bell Choir concerts planned after cancellations
The Westminster Bell Choir was forced to cancel its annual Christmas concerts due to an illness that swept through the choir the weekend the concerts were meant to take place. To meet the demand …
Friends of the Seminary Hill Natural Area to hold annual meeting Jan. 25
All are invited to the annual meeting of the Friends of the Seminary Hill Natural Area on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Centralia Timberland Regional Library. The group’s annual business …
Imagine Downtown Chehalis open house planned for feedback on downtown improvement proposals
Experience Chehalis, in partnership with the City of Chehalis, will host an open house event for its Imagine Downtown Chehalis project at Mint City Coffee from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23, …
In focus: Cascade Community Healthcare celebrates expanded primary care clinic in Centralia
A ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce was held at Cascade Community Healthcare in Centralia on Friday, Jan. 15. The ceremony was held in celebration of …
Timber River Connections to host ‘Night of Magic’ to raise money for Lewis County seniors
Timber River Connections, formerly Lewis County Seniors, will host a “Night of Magic” to raise money for programs and enrichment opportunities for local senior citizens, according to a …
Lewis County accepting applications for Lewis County Cemetery District 9 in Napavine
The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is seeking Napavine-area residents interested in serving on the Lewis County Cemetery District 9 Board of Commissioners. The Cemetery …
Local Sports
Warriors drop heartbreaker to Grizzlies
After leading most of the night and in prime position for a league win, the Rochester High School boys basketball team were on the wrong end of a comeback, losing to Hoquiam 51-50 on Friday night at …
Mossyrock erases double digit deficit, triumphs in OT
Ignited by a renewed effort defensively and some clutch shots from Brooke Schwartz plus Maci Rashoff, the Vikings picked up a rivalry C2BL overtime win, triumphing over Morton-White Pass 42-40 on …
Adna takes over in middle two quarters to dispatch of Onalaska
In the blink of an eye, the Pirates turned a one-point lead to 13 and then piled on in the second half en route to a 70-37 statement victory over the Loggers on Friday night in a C2BL showdown in …
Napavine crushes Toutle Lake, creates frenzy atop league
Another stout defensive performance, this time with some 3-point shooting to boot, fueled the Tigers to a convincing 53-34 triumph over the Ducks on Friday night in Toutle. For the second …
Wolves nab first league win, blow by Tigers
Thanks to a 22-point spree in the first eight minutes on Friday night, the Black Hills High School girls basketball team secured a 55-35 victory over Centralia at home in Evergreen Conference action. …

Chronicle Podcast

  • News Dump Ep. 219: Striving for potential estrangement
  • Sports Dump: Back After a Long Winter’s Nap
  • News Dump Ep. 218: Trying to catch a falling (Morning)Star
Obituaries

Death notice: Jan. 17, 2025

• KIMBERLY KAY BRESS, 62, Winlock, died Jan. 12 at home. Arrangements are under the care of Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel.

In loving memory of Ann Marjorie Gates: 1940-2024

It is with heartfelt sorrow that we commemorate the life of Ann Marjorie Gates, who passed on Dec. 20, 2024, in Olympia, Washington. Born on Feb. 5, 1940, in Tacoma, Washington, Ann spent 84 full and …

In loving memory of Byron Frank Babka: 1950-2024

Byron Frank Babka, born Oct. 31, 1950, in Seattle, Washington, passed away on Dec. 26, 2024, in Pasco, Washington. He was 74 years old. Byron was the beloved husband of Patsy and a devoted …

In loving memory of Charles Lee Pollock: 1952-2024

Charles Lee Pollock, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully at his home on Dec. 30, 2024. Born in Chehalis, Washington, on May 4, 1952, to Joseph A. Pollock and …

In loving memory of Colleen Atkins: 1939-2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Colleen Atkins, age 85, of Chehalis, Washington. She passed away peacefully on Jan. 6, 2025. She was fondly called Coke by friends and family …

In loving memory of Byron Amburgy: 1933-2024 

Byron Lee Amburgy, a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away peacefully at his family home in Lacey, Washington, after a short battle with liver cancer. He was 91 years …
State & Regional News

Robber accused of chemical assault after using bear spray at Eastern Washington stores

At least one person needed medical attention after a 24-year-old accused shoplifter allegedly used pepper spray to make his getaway. Miguel Angel Martinez Donis allegedly deployed the chemical …

Schools
Gluesenkamp Perez again urges House leadership to extend lifeline for rural schools
Recently, U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, sent another letter urging House leadership to immediately prioritize a three-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program to …
Reykdal says Washington risks lawsuit if school funding isn’t hiked
Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal warned Thursday that Washington is not living up to its constitutional obligation to cover the cost of basic education and faces the “very …
Black Hills High School teacher honored with Presidential Award for math and science teaching
A math teacher at Black Hills High School in Tumwater is one of 336 teachers and mentors from around the country that President Biden has awarded the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics …
Chehalis preschool teacher charged for allegedly assaulting two students in October 
A James W. Lintott Elementary School teacher is facing misdemeanor assault charges in Chehalis Municipal Court for allegedly assaulting two preschool students in October 2024.  The teacher, …
Washington state bill would limit cellphone use in schools
SEATTLE — A group of state lawmakers want to crack down on cellphones in schools. Reps. Stephanie McClintock, Mari Leavitt and Liz Berry introduced a bill requiring school districts to …
Business Stories
Lewis County Transit board meeting set for Jan. 28

The next regular board meeting of the Lewis Public Transportation Benefit Area, which does business as Lewis County Transit, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28. The meeting is open to …

Commentary

Commentary: Why Washington-grown food is facing a crisis (and how Olympia is making it worse)

Even though locally- and regionally-grown food is celebrated in Washington state, the reality is that fewer and fewer types of crops are being grown in the state, particularly west of the Cascades. …

Brian Mittge: Proposed Washington bills would continue eroding local control of schools

The Legislature opened the 2025 lawmaking session this week, and again, some proposed laws push divisive social policies into classrooms.  A number of bills, including some that will have …

John Braun: Rent control isn’t a real answer to the shortage of affordable rentals

Senate Republicans believe in lowering rental costs by increasing the supply of rentals. For all their talk about the need for affordable housing in our state, our Legislature’s majority …

Richard Stride: How to handle those unwanted holiday gifts without being rude and unkind

It’s 2025? Wow! How did that sneak up on us? We have made it through the holidays. Maybe you have even returned those gifts or quietly put them up for sale on eBay. It’s not because …

Julie McDonald: Laughter abounds as hundreds pay tribute to Bill Brumsickle

As the nation mourned the death of former Democratic President Jimmy Carter last week, closer to home, nearly 300 people gathered inside Corbet Theatre on the Centralia College campus on Friday to …
Outdoors
Outdoors
WDFW announces tentative Cowlitz River smelt fishery dates 
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has announced a new tentative schedule approach for the Cowlitz River recreational smelt fishery.  “This approach is designed to …
Washington State Parks announces 12 days in 2025 when Discover Passes won’t be needed
The Washington State Discover Pass Program has designated 12 days when a Discover Pass will not be needed to visit state parks and other state lands in 2025.  On these days, visitors will …
New study planned to reveal more about Southwest Washington black-tailed deer populations
Starting this month, biologists from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will begin conducting a study in southwest Washington that will help the department develop a new method for …