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Tim McKern of the Western Washington Type 3 Incident Management Team explains the containment situation of the Donkey Fire, burning 7 or 8 miles southwest of Pe Ell, from the incident command post at the Pe Ell School on Monday, July 15.

‘Donkey Fire’ southwest of Pe Ell has scorched just under 38 acres

A wildfire that started in timberland southwest of Pe Ell on Friday has burned just under 38 acres as of Monday morning, according to the Western Washington Type 3 Incident Management Team. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/15/24

Buildings at Green Hill School are pictured in this photo from the Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families.

State eyes new youth detention facility for offenders with ‘severe mental health and behavioral health needs’ amid strain at Green Hill School

The Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) plans to open a new medium security facility with up to 16 beds in unincorporated “urban” Pierce County to house young … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com | 7/15/24

People look through free stuff during a closeout at Yard Birds in Chehalis on Tuesday, April 30.

New Yard Birds building owner plans to make repairs; options considered for future use of property

Last week, PISTON LLC purchased the Yard Birds shopping mall property in Chehalis from its former owners for $2.4 million. PISTON LLC is owned by Douglas LeMay in partnership with the … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 7/15/24

Local author Sara Light-Waller models her flying saucer costume she made on Saturday, July 13, at the Lewis County Historical Museum in preparation for the upcoming Chehalis Flying Saucer Party "Alien Invasion" parade on Sept. 14.

In focus: Costumes created ahead of ‘Alien Invasion’ parade in Chehalis

7/15/24

FILE PHOTO — Seated on the left, Onalaska resident Jasmine Preslicka poses with fellow competitors after the fourth annual Statewide Inspirational Speech Championship last year at Centralia College.

Centralia College to host the fifth annual Statewide Inspirational Speech Championship

Centralia College’s Jamie Cline will compete for the title of Statewide Inspirational Speech Champion on July 27. This year’s competition will mark the fifth year since the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/15/24

Chehalis woman injured in crash on Sunday

A 66-year-old Chehalis woman was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital after another driver failed to yield and struck her vehicle at Exit 76 on northbound Interstate 5 in Chehalis on Sunday. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/15/24

Centralia woman asks for support after young son snuck out of house, drowned in a pool

A Centralia woman is asking for community assistance to raise enough money to give her young son a proper burial after he drowned in a pool on Thursday, July 11. Elijah Ortega reportedly snuck … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/15/24

Lewis County Transit's first hydrogen fuel cell bus sits parked at the Transit's headquarters in Centralia after being delivered from Alabama on Monday, March 18.

Lewis County Transit to hold board meeting Tuesday

The next board meeting for the Lewis Public Transportation Benefit Area, which does business as Lewis County Transit, was announced last week. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 16 at … more

7/15/24

Attorney General Bob Ferguson smiles while talking with members of the press during a legislative meeting inside the John A. Cherberg building in Olympia in February 2023.

Judge: Attorney General can’t force Seattle Archdiocese to give up sex abuse documents

A King County Superior Court judge ruled Friday that Washington’s Attorney General’s Office could not force the Seattle Archdiocese to turn over documents showing how the Catholic … more

Caitlyn Freeman / The Seattle Times | 7/15/24

Feds award $1.5 billion toward replacement Interstate 5 bridge

Federal transportation officials on Friday awarded $1.5 billion toward a replacement for the Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River. The grant, awarded from the U.S. Department of … more

Elliot Njus / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/15/24

Chehalis Little League team wins opening state contest

Ignited by shutdown pitching from Luke Hartley and Adam Elder, the Chehalis Little League baseball team out of District 3 defeated Pacific from District 1, 9-0 on Sunday afternoon at Aberdeen in the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/15/24

Volunteers and organizers of the Sally Strong Summer Event pose for a photo on Saturday at Summit Lake Park in Olympia.

Family, friends join forces to honor Sally Otton

OLYMPIA – Summit Lake was going to be the future home for Tim Otton and his late wife, Sally. They were ready to move into a house and start a new chapter. In 2022, Sally Otton passed away … more

By Zach Martin / zach@chronline.com | 7/15/24

One dead, two missing, two rescued after boat capsizes in Columbia River bar

Good Samaritans rescued two people in the Columbia River bar on Saturday after their 26-foot pleasure boat capsized, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. An additional person pulled from the water … more

Beth Slovic / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/15/24

4,153 stolen Lego sets worth over $200,000 recovered in Oregon, police say

A three-month investigation recovered 4,153 stolen Lego sets worth more than $200,000 in Eugene, according to Springfield police this month. The owner of Brick Builders, 47-year-old Ammon … more

Beth Slovic / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 7/15/24

Pedestrian who was hit and killed by driver in Thurston County identified

A 50-year-old pedestrian who was hit and killed on U.S. Highway 101 in Thurston County Friday night has been identified, according to the Washington State Patrol. About 7 p.m. Friday, July 12, … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 7/15/24

Thurston County sheriff stops to answer call of nature, discovers domestic violence suspect

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders had a well-timed bathroom break Saturday night, according to his own post on social media. About 11 p.m. Saturday, his department was responding to multiple … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 7/15/24

At Washington universities, enrollment questions persist

Last year, Eastern Washington University unveiled plans to revamp campus housing. One residence hall, Morrison, was demolished last summer; another, Dryden, is slated for the same fate this … more

Claire Lyle / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 7/15/24

A wallaby was captured Sunday morning in south Pierce County after it had escaped from an area petting zoo.

Wallaby hops from cops in Pierce County before eventual capture

Washington State Patrol troopers and Pierce County sheriff's deputies hopped to it early Sunday morning when they got reports of a kangaroo near the intersection of 158th Street East and B Street … more

Nicholas Deshais / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/15/24

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he is rushed offstage by U.S. Secret Service agents after being grazed by a bullet during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania.

In Milwaukee, Trump shooting stuns RNC delegates from Washington state

MILWAUKEE — Scott Hogg was at a downtown Milwaukee hotel bar on Saturday, unwinding after days of meetings to help craft a platform before the Republican National Convention this week. … more

Jim Brunner / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/15/24

Mariners take switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje from Mississippi State in 1st round

After three straight years of selecting high-school hitters in the first round of the MLB draft, the Mariners bucked that trend Sunday evening, selecting Mississippi State pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje … more

Scott Hanson / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/15/24