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Adna's Avery La Fontaine lays down a bunt against Toutle Lake April 21.

ADNA — Keeping up its trend of shortened games due to run-rule, the Adna softball team easily dispatched Toutle Lake in four innings Friday afternoon at home in a Central 2B League contest, … more

By Alec Dietz / alec@chronline.com | 4/21/23

W.F. West players celebrate with the Chronicle Cup after their 1-0 win over Centralia on April 21.

Bearcats Only Need 1 Goal, Win The Chronicle Cup

The postseason might be still be two weeks away, and the 2A EvCo title might be out of their control, but the W.F. West boys soccer team still found itself in trophy-clinching time Friday at Tiger … more

By Josh Kirshenbaum / josh@chronline.com | 4/21/23

W.F. West catcher Rachel Gray smiles after a double against Tumwater April 21 at Rec Park.

Bearcats Clinch Season Series With Home Victory Against T-Birds

Despite heading into the seventh with its largest lead over rival Tumwater in over two years, W.F. West softball coach Kevin Zylstra was far from comfortable in yet another rendition of the … more

By Alec Dietz / alec@chronline.com | 4/21/23

District Warns Fentanyl-Laced Candy Found at Western Washington School

Bellingham school officials are warning staff, students and families about the synthetic opioid fentanyl after an incident where gum or candy was found laced with the potentially deadly prescription … more

Robert Mittendorf / The Bellingham Herald | 4/21/23

FILE PHOTO — Rep. Debra Lekanoff, D-Bow.

Washington Launches Cold Case Unit for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People

A new Washington law will create a cold case unit focused on investigating unsolved cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday, House Bill 1177 … more

Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/21/23

Toddler Critical After Being Shot, Left at Western Washington Fire Station

A toddler was reportedly shot and then left at a fire station in Tukwila on Friday morning, according to the Tukwila Police Department. Officers responded to reports of a woman screaming on the … more

Vonnai Phair / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/21/23

Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza, in an interview last week, ponders questions on the case of Aron Christensen, a Portland man who was killed alongside his dog on a trail near Packwood in August 2022.

Records From Prosecutor’s Office Cast New Light on LCSO’s Investigation Into Death of Aron Christensen

The right and the duty to seek justice is outlined in nearly all texts informing government and spirituality. It is a core of human nature. While records related to the investigation … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 4/21/23

Coroner Warren McLeod, right, talks about facts in the Aron Christensen case alongside Chief Deputy Coroner Steven Wilson in Chehalis on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

Lewis County Coroner’s Office Details Investigation Into 2022 Death of Aron Christensen

The Lewis County Coroner’s Office is among the county agencies under fire for how the investigation into the August deaths of Aron Christensen, 49, of Portland and his puppy, Buzzo, were … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/21/23

An osprey lifts a fish out of the river by the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery in Salkum on Monday.

In Focus: An Osprey on the Hunt at Barrier Dam in Salkum

4/21/23

From left to right, veterans Ken Paulson, Jens “Tony” Thompson, Doreen Schweikl, Ruben Segovia, Brando Skanes, Billy Clark, William “Bill” Murdock, Erle Cooper, Robert Heaney and Curtis Steffen stand with their new handmade quilts wrapped around their shoulders at the Veterans Memorial Museum.

Ten Veterans — Including Two From the WWII-Era — Honored With ‘Quilts of Valor’ at Veterans Museum

The Veterans Memorial Museum Quilts of Valor chapter has been hard at work fulfilling requests for Lewis County veterans. Ten more veterans were honored Thursday afternoon at the museum with their … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/21/23

Death Notices: April 22, 2023

• JOHN M. HEENAN, 47, Rochester, died April 11 at his residence. Arrangements are under the care of Cattermole Funeral Home. • WILMA J. GOBLE, 77, Battle Ground, died on April 15 at … more

4/21/23

$A non-injury, two-vehicle collision was reported in the 1700 block of Harrison Avenue at 3:40 p.m. on April 19. A vehicle reportedly crossed the double yellow line to go around stopped traffic and was struck by a vehicle taking a left turn into traffic. The passing driver was issued an infraction.$

Sirens: Sex Offenses Investigated; Teens Throw Eggs; DUI Arrest; Burglary; Criminal Trespassing

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Criminal Impersonation • A Centralia woman was arrested in the 1300 block of Delaware Avenue at approximately 10:40 a.m. on April 19 and was … more

4/21/23

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, takes part in a news conference Nov. 29, 2022.

Braun Commentary: Democrats’ Ban on Certain Firearms Won't Make Our Communities Measurably Safer

Legislative Democrats will hail the passage of House Bill 1240 as a highlight of this year’s annual session at the Capitol. That is the bill to ban the sale, import, manufacture and so on of a … more

By Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 4/21/23

Tim Wright is the Centralia College dean of instruction, arts and sciences.

Commentary: Beyond Earth Week — It’s Earth All Year at Centralia College

All week, Centralia College students have been celebrating Earth Week by attending lectures, participating in green crafts, and considering ways to incorporate sustainable habits into their routines. … more

By Tim Wright, Centralia College dean of instruction, arts and sciences | 4/21/23

From left, Hank Kirk, former president of Centralia College, Reverend Doctor Howard Matiya Nkhoma and wife of over 55 years, Mariya, Owen Singini, the chief of his village of 80 residents who has worked as a driver for over 35 years, and Jenny Kirk, who, with husband Hank, helped the Nkhomas to establish the University of Livingstonia in Malawi.

Brian Mittge Commentary: Neighbors Across the Globe

There is a theory called “seven degrees of separation” that suggests any one of us can be connected to anyone else on the planet by no more than seven personal … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 4/21/23

Captain Hook, played by Tess McMurry, and Peter Pan, played by Wesley Wilhelmi, commence in a fight sequence during dress rehearsals for Peter Pan presented by the Centralia Ballet Academy on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Community Calendar: Peter Pan Ballet; Borst Park Fishing Derby; Lewis County Repair and Sustainability Fair

Peter Pan Ballet April 22 and 23 at the Centralia High School Performing Arts Center; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday The Centralia Ballet Academy will perform a brand new … more

4/21/23

Mike Prentice, of Centralia, has donated 13 units of blood in his lifetime adding, two of those during a blood drive at Cascade Community Healthcare in Centralia on Thursday, April 20, 2023.

In Focus: Cascade Healthcare Hosts Blood Drive

4/21/23

Bill Addressing Overdoses by Banning Private Use of Pill Presses Signed Into Law

In a statement released on Tuesday, state Rep. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, announced Washington state would join Mississippi and British Columbia in July as the only three jurisdictions to ban the private … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/21/23

Tractor drivers gesture toward one another while traveling in opposite directions over the Chehalis River bridge along state Route 6 on the morning of Thursday, April 20, 2023.

Photo: Passing Tractor Drivers Exchange Waves in Chehalis

4/21/23

Southwest Washington Lawmakers Oppose New Tolling Bill for I-5 Bridge Replacement

The Washington state House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 5765 on Tuesday, April 18, which would open the door for tolling on the Interstate 5 bridge replacement project between Vancouver and … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/21/23