Local News
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 …
Port Approves Payments for Ongoing Centralia Station Project
As work continues on Centralia Station, mainly focused on stormwater pipe installation as Yew Street is extended, the Port of Centralia recently approved two more pay estimates to construction …
Boistfort Blueberry Farm Explains Setup After County Scrutiny on Housing
After a February Lewis County Board of Health meeting cast doubt over the adequacy of housing and water hookups at a blueberry farm on Wildwood Road in Boistfort, the farm’s owner, Jeff Rauch, …
Two Centralia Councilors Critical of Mayor for Speaking Out Against Shop With ‘Whites-Only’ Religious Ties
At a meeting last week, Centralia City Councilors Leah Daarud and Elizabeth Cameron, both in at-large positions, used their meeting reports to criticize a statement made by Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston …
Vader May Day Festival Scheduled for Saturday, May 6
The Vader May Day Festival will take place on Saturday, May 6, and will have an outer space theme.  The schedule is still being finalized but there is expected to be a breakfast followed by a …
Planning Commission to Hold Meeting on Packwood Subarea Plan
The Lewis County Planning Commission will continue discussion of the Packwood Subarea Plan at a meeting at 6 p.m. March 28 at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis.  The public is invited …
Tenino Arts Spring Market to Be Held March 24-26
The Tenino Area Chamber of Commerce, Tenino Arts and Tenino Creative District are holding the third annual Tenino Arts Spring Market on Friday, March 24 through Sunday, March 26. The event will be …
Experience Chehalis Seeks Earth Day Designs for Upcoming Promotions, Clean-up Event 
As Earth Day approaches in April, Experience Chehalis is looking for artists to submit proposals to be used in the upcoming Earth Day Community Clean-up event on Apr. 22 according to an Experience …
Ribbon-Cutting for Dirty Thumb Nursery Scheduled for March 28
The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce has announced it will hold a ribbon-cutting for Dirty Thumb Nursery to celebrate its reopening under new ownership at 1580 state Route 6, across the field …
Sirens: DUI Arrest; Fraud Reported at Church; Resisting Arrest; Lewis County Jail Statistics
CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT  Hit-and-Run  • A hit-and-run reported at the intersection of West Pine and North Pearl streets just after 9:35 a.m. on March 20 is under …
Two Doctors Lose Medical Licenses in Lewis, Thurston Counties
Two doctors, one in Lewis County and one in Thurston County, are among those who can no longer practice medicine on direction from the Washington Medical Commission, according to a series of news …
Adna Coffee Stand Marks Three-Year Anniversary of State Patrol Trooper’s Death With Scholarship Fundraiser 
To honor the three-year anniversary of the day Washington State Patrol Trooper Justin R. Schaffer was fatally struck by a vehicle while placing spike strips on Interstate 5 in Chehalis, Adna coffee …
Lewis County Home Prices See Small Year-Over-Year Decline as Home Listings Increase
Western Washington home prices fell slightly year-over-year from February 2022 to February 2023, according to new data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS). “It’s a …
WDFW Accepting Public Comment on Status Review for Mardon Skipper Butterfly
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking public input on a draft periodic status review for the mardon skipper, a species of butterfly classified as endangered by the …
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Local Sports
Vikings Blast T-Wolves For First Win
Led by a strong day at the plate and shutdown performance by Erin Cournyer, the Mossyrock softball team defeated Morton-White Pass up the road at White Pass High School, 15-1.  The Vikings …
2A Track Teams Hold Several Local Duals
The Tumwater track and field team rolled to a pair of dual wins over W.F. West on Tuesday, with the boys beating the Bearcats 93-50 and the girls winning 80-58. The Thunderbirds took 22 of the 34 …
Warriors Outdone on the Road Against Spudders
In another matchup against a Greater St. Helens foe, the Rochester softball team fell on the road Tuesday afternoon to Ridgefield, 5-2.  The Warriors were virtually neck-and-neck with the …
Titans Split Twin Bill With Spartans
In another set of league matchups, the Pe Ell-Willapa Valley baseball team took the first game against Forks, 7-2, thanks to a dominant day from Garrett Keeton, before falling in the second game, …
T-Birds Run Wild to Beat Shelton
The Tumwater baseball team’s 2A EvCo opener may have gone a little closer than expected, but while the big innings never came, the Thunderbirds loaded the pressure on the Highclimbers on the …

Chronicle Podcast

  • News Dump Ep. 135: Bury Me in Blue Jeans (in the Front Yard)
  • News Dump Ep. 134: Your Replacement Podcast Is Abysmal
  • News Dump Ep. 133: Oh You Love Papa Pete’s? Name Five of Their Pizzas 
Obituaries

In Loving Memory of Jean Schieck: 1929-2023

Jean Schieck peacefully went to be with the Lord on March 1, 2023, at 94 years of age. She was a loving, devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  Jean was married to Don for …

 In Loving Memory of James ‘Jim’ Richey: 1945-2022

On Dec. 30, 2022, James “Jim” Arnold Richey passed away peacefully while being comforted by his wife at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington, as a result of exposure to …

Death Notices: March 23, 2023

• THOMAS EDWARD DAUDET, 65, Olympia, died March 16 at home. Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives of Washington.  • MILDRED A. DUNHAM, 101, Goldendale, died March …

Death Notice: March 20, 2023

Death Notices • LEROY BRATLIEN, 97, Chehalis, died March 17 in Chehalis. Arrangements are under the care of Newell-Hoerling’s Mortuary.

In Loving Memory of Carolyn McCann: 1939-2023

Carolyn Jean McCann, of Chehalis, left this world on Jan. 12, 2023, to join the two loves of her life — her late husband, Roland, and her lord and savior, Jesus Christ. She was surrounded by …

Death Notices: March 17, 2023

• MICHAEL D. TREAT, 70, Chehalis, died March 9 at Providence Centralia Hospital. Arrangements are under the care of Cattermole Funeral Home. • GARY A. DAVIS, Napavine, 87, died March 12 …
State & Regional News

Plans to Bring Grizzly Bears Back to Cascades Moving Forward Again

The latest efforts to restore grizzly bears in the North Cascades appear to be on track to take another big step forward in June. U.S. Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Andrew LaValle recently …

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

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 …

Commentary: Sacrifices of Medal of Honor Recipients Should Refocus America

Earlier this month, when President Joe Biden fastened the Congressional Medal of Honor around retired U.S. Army Col. Paris Davis’ neck, it was a welcome pause to the endless venomous rhetoric, …

Bill Moeller Commentary: The Beat Goes On — More About Kenneth Kimball

Last week's column was written and ready for submission to The Chronicle for printing when a newspaper with a little more "clout" did a feature on jazz in the Seattle area.  But my column …

Julie McDonald Commentary: Speakers Talk Trash and Recycling Do’s and Don’ts

Last year, Lewis County threw away 101,060 tons of garbage — the equivalent of more than 200 Boeing 747s, according to Melanie Case, the county’s solid waste recycling program coordinator …

Our Views: Passage of Centralia School Levy Is Critical to Success of Our Students

The Chronicle Editorial Board, consisting of diverse individuals, including fiscal conservatives, business owners and one senior, stands behind our belief that higher property taxes and …
Outdoors
Outdoors
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 …
With Runs Rising, State Questions How to Manage Smelt in the Cowlitz, Columbia Rivers
The public is being asked to give their opinion on an environmental analysis focused on managing Eulachon in the Columbia River basin. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife drew up a …
Bill to Require Licenses for Smelt Dipping Moves Through Washington Legislature
Whenever smelt dips open along the Cowlitz River, thousands turn out to catch a bucket of the small silver fish. Part of the dip’s popularity is that smelt are one of the only species of …