Local News
Second Suspect Convicted in 2022 Theft at Oakville High School 
A second suspect has been convicted in Grays Harbor Superior Court following the June 2022 theft of an $80,000 skid-steer loader at Oakville High School, according to a news release from the Grays …
Demands of Aging Population Stressing Thurston County EMS, Hospitals
Thurston County's aging population needs more care and that's factoring into delays for emergency services, officials say. Calls for emergency medical services (EMS) increased from 26,570 in 2013 …
24 Washington Residents Indicted in 'Aryan Family' Drug Ring
A federal grand jury has indicted 27 people, many with ties to the "Aryan Family" white supremacist prison gang, for drug trafficking, prosecutors said Monday. Two dozen of those indicted are …
Level Three Sex Offender Registers in Mineral 
A Level 3 sex offender has registered at an address in Mineral, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.  Arthur R. Hetzel, 62, lives in the 100 block of Front Street …
News Dump Ep. 136: Breaking Down the Aron Christensen Info Dump
On the 136th episode of The Chronicle News Dump hosts Aaron, Eric Schwartz and Isabel Vander Stoep discuss the Aron Christensen case (please read the story before you listen!), the Centralia City …
Drunk Driver Accused of Crashing Into Centralia Home, Injuring Resident
A woman accused of driving into a Centralia home and injuring a resident while under the influence of intoxicants early Saturday morning has been arrested.  The driver, Ashley A. Campos, 28, …
‘Everything Is Just Part of the Adventure’: Former Bucoda Mayor and Army First Sergeant Reflects on Life of Service
Though he was only the town’s mayor for less than a year, Steve Purcell spent 20 years as one of Bucoda’s city council members. That was after spending 20 years in the U.S. …
Chehalis Rotary Club Hears Presentation on Opioids, Warnings of ‘Zombie’ Drug, ‘Tranq’
Ross McDowell, deputy director of Lewis County Division of Emergency Management and a Rotarian, presented to the Chehalis Rotary Club on Wednesday at the V.R. Lee Building about the opioid crisis in …
Suspect in Centralia Robbery Arrested After Pursuit Sunday
A woman accused of robbing a Centralia business, hitting an employee with a stolen car and leading law enforcement on a pursuit Sunday is expected to face felony charges in Lewis County Superior …
Republican Senate Leaders Say Budget Proposal Embraces ‘Spirit of Bipartisan Cooperation’
Republican leaders in the state Senate have released statements expressing support for the Senate’s proposed state operating budget.  Under the proposed Senate budget for the 2023-2025 …
Website Ranks Mount Rainier Top Mountain Climbing Destination in U.S. 
A study by the Journalists’ Research Department and the Family Destination Guide has named Mount Rainier as the top mountain climbing spot in the U.S. based on TripAdvisor ratings and reviews …
Republican Leader John Braun Criticizes State Supreme Court Ruling Upholding Capital   Gains Tax
State Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, released a statement on Friday criticizing the ruling by the Washington state Supreme Court in Quinn v. State upholding the capital gains tax …
State Sen. Jeff Wilson Highlights $125 Million in Proposed State Budget Funds for 19th District 
After the state Senate passed a capital budget proposal on Friday, state Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, released a statement highlighting the funds for Southwest Washington.  The capital …
Sirens: 'Trying to Eat a Stolen Sandwich'; Eluding Police; Burglary; Disorderly Conduct
CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT  Trespassing  • A Texas man was cited for trespassing on property in the 100 block of South Pearl Street just before 10:15 a.m. on March …
View the Best of Lewis County Winners
Local Sports
Bearcats Take Down Highclimbers
On a solid all-around day from the W.F. West girls golf team, the Bearcats defeated Shelton Monday afternoon on a sunny day, 91-45.  The Bearcats were led by Natalie Eklund’s 26 points, …
Beavers Shut Out by Bulldogs
The Tenino boys soccer team couldn’t make its way onto the scoreboard Monday night, falling at home to Montesano 3-0. The Bulldogs made it 1-0 in the 25th minute, then came right back to …
Tigers Upend Warriors Behind Johnston’s Strong Day
Playing in its best conditions of the season so far, the Centralia girls golf team defeated Rochester Monday afternoon, 52-39.  Everyone varsity starter for the Tigers scored in a …
Cardinals Sweep T-Wolves in Doubleheader
The Winlock baseball team eclipsed its win total from last season in an afternoon Monday, downing Morton-White Pass twice in a doubleheader, 10-6 and 12-2 in five innings. Both wins came on the …
Bearcats Hammer Their Way to Win
The runs came early and often for the W.F. West softball team, which put four crooked numbers on the scoreboard in a 15-5 win over Black Hills in five innings Monday. The Bearcats smacked five …

Chronicle Podcast

  • Sports Dump Ep. 55: Baseball is BACK (weather permitting)
  • News Dump Ep. 135: Bury Me in Blue Jeans (in the Front Yard)
  • News Dump Ep. 134: Your Replacement Podcast Is Abysmal
Obituaries

Death Notices: March 27, 2023

• WALLACE ‘BRUDDY’ C. SCOTT JR., 86, Morton, died March 23 at Arbor Health Morton Hospital. Arrangements are under the care of Cattermole Funeral Home. • JEANIE L. …

In Loving Memory of Mildred Dunham: 1921-2023 

Mildred Alice (Looper) Dunham passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ surrounded by her family.  Mildred was born in Colorado Springs, …

In Loving Memory of Marlane Eastman: 1934-2023 

Marlane "Marty" Ruth Eastman was born in Denver, Colorado, to parents Aldor and Ruth Olson. She married Orville "Digger" Eastman in 1958. Together, they had three children, Geoff, Jennifer and Joel. …

In Loving Memory of Gary Davis: 1935-2023

Gary Arnold Davis was born on Dec. 8, 1935, to Clyde and Beuala (Bee) Davis in Carnation, Washington. He passed away at age 87 on March 12, 2023, in Centralia, Washington. He was preceded in death by …

In Loving Memory of John Dee Sill

John Dee Sill, a beloved father, grandfather and friend, went to heaven on March 14, 2023, at the age of 69. He was born in Centralia, Washington, to Rezin and Gloria Sill. He was the third child of …

Death Notices: March 24, 2023

• COLBY LENZ, 37, Died Feb. 3. Arrangements are under the care of Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel. • TRUDY DARLENE HOWELL, 70, Rochester, died March 12 at Providence St. Peter Hospital. …
State & Regional News

Defendant in Pierce County Shooting That Injured Baby Shot Nearly Two Dozen Bullets, Charges Say

A 40-year-old Lakewood man accused of shooting into his neighbor's apartment Friday in Lakewood, injuring a baby boy, fired at least 22 times, according to charging documents. Earnest Lee Hamilton …

Nation/World News

Poland to Send Four Fighter Jets to Kyiv

Poland will send four Soviet-era fighter jets to Ukraine in the coming days as the nation moves ahead with deliveries to bolster Kyiv’s air power, President Andrzej Duda …

Schools
The Math Problem Part 2: Chehalis School District Aims to Conquer Its Biggest Hurdle With Innovative Teaching
Editor’s Note: This is the latest installment in an ongoing series focused on the Chehalis School District and the success of its Student Achievement Initiative, which was launched in 2013. The …
Achieving Success: The Math Problem: Chehalis — And America’s — Biggest Academic Hurdle
Editor’s Note: This is the latest installment in an ongoing series focused on the Chehalis School District and the success of its Student Achievement Initiative, which was launched in 2013. The …
‘The New Buzzword’: How the Chehalis School District Prioritized STEM and Technical Education to Give Students a Brighter Future
Editor’s note: This is the latest installment in an ongoing series focused on the Chehalis School District and the success of its Student Achievement Initiative, which was launched in 2013. The …
Chehalis School District Awarded $1.05M Grant for Student Achievement Initiative
The Chehalis School District will receive $1,050,000 from the Washington Student Achievement Council over the next 18 months to benefit the district’s Student Achievement Initiative. …
‘A Partnership That May Go On Forever’: How The Chehalis School District and Chehalis Foundation Achieved Success
Editor’s note: This is the third installment in an ongoing series focused on the Chehalis School District and the success of its Student Achievement Initiative, which was launched in 2013. …
Commentary

Julie McDonald Commentary: Saying Goodbye to Ed Fund, a Faithful Friend and Family Man

Lewis County lost a stalwart supporter of the community Thursday afternoon when Edward Lawrence Fund passed on to his heavenly reward just a month shy of his 93rd birthday. I met Ed nearly two …

Isabel Vander Stoep Commentary: A Chehalis Rotary Club Story That Spans Generations

Some friendships span generations. In tight-knit Lewis County, we’re blessed to find these more frequently.  They are a privilege. I get to enjoy them because my grandparents, parents …

Braun Commentary: Supreme Court’s Income-Tax Ruling Clouds Encouraging News About Budgets

The no-new-taxes operating-budget proposal introduced in the Senate this session is a welcome turnaround. To be clear, there is no more need for new taxes this year than there was in either 2019 …

Erik Martin Commentary: Lewis County’s Future Is Bright

In 2009, I was hired as an engineer in the Lewis County Public Works Department. The Great Recession was in full swing, the housing bubble had burst and communities here had, in the span of less than …

Richard Stride Commentary: A Look Back at a Legend: Who Was the Real Lone Ranger?

Do you like the show “Yellowstone” or its spinoffs, “1883” and “1923?”  If you have not seen them, you should give them a try. Western TV shows and movies …
Outdoors
Outdoors
WDFW App Keeps Anglers Up to Date
OLYMPIA — Fishing limits, regulations and more are just a phone signal away. In 2021, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife rolled out its FishWA for Apple and Android devices. The …
WDFW Approves Razor Clam Digging at Long Beach; Digs Still on at Other Coastal Beaches
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers on Wednesday confirmed coastal razor clam digging will reopen at Long Beach on Thursday, March 23, in addition to digs planned at …
Spring Chinook Salmon Sportfishing Seasons Set for Lower Columbia River
Despite a significant increase in the predicted 2023 spring chinook salmon run, anglers will get just one day longer than last year to keep hatchery spring chinook through early April. Oregon and …