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Judge Won't Dismiss Lawsuit From Washington Man Imprisoned for 23 Years in Murder He Didn't Commit

A federal judge has refused to dismiss civil-rights and malicious prosecution claims detailed in a lawsuit from a man who spent 23 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. U.S. District … more

Mike Carter / The Seattle Times | 8/26/22

Smoke is illuminated by lights on a truck as hoses stretch across a field between Elderberry Street Southwest and Interstate 5 Thursday night at milepost 88 in Grand Mound.

Fire That Closed Interstate 5 at Grand Mound Considered ‘Potentially Suspicious’

A fire that burned 13 acres and led to nearby roads and Interstate 5 being closed for nearly five hours Thursday is considered “potentially suspicious,” a West Thurston Fire official told … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/26/22

Shanelle Shanz, granddaughter of the man who coined the phrase “flying saucer” after seeing unidentified flying objects in 1947 over Mount Rainier, was one of the featured speakers at the first Chehalis Flying Saucer Party in 2019. She’ll be back in Chehalis for the Sept. 17 event.

Chehalis Flying Saucer Party Coming for 75th Anniversary of Famous Washington UFO Sighting

On June 24, 1947, Idaho-based pilot Kenneth Arnold took off from the Chehalis airport on what was supposed to be a simple business trip to Yakima. That routine flight made history when Arnold, … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 8/26/22

Port of Centralia is located at 3508 Galvin Road, in Centralia.

Port of Centralia's Yew Street Extension Contract Awarded to Midway Underground

In a Friday Morning meeting, Port of Centralia Executive Director Kyle Heaton announced the Toledo-based contracting company Midway Underground has been awarded the contract for the Yew Street … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/26/22

Experience Chehalis Director Annalee Tobey, center, talks about Experience Chehalis and Chehalis Coworks during a meeting of the Port of Chehalis commissioners on Thursday.

Experience Chehalis and Chehalis Coworks See Growth

During a Thursday morning meeting at the Port of Chehalis, Experience Chehalis Director Annalee Tobey gave the port commissioners a rundown of the program's successes as well as the recent growth at … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/26/22

Hens peck through dirt west of Chehalis in this file photo.

Bird Flu Detected in Cowlitz County; WSDA Launches Online Domestic Sick Bird Reporting Tool

In anticipation of the fall surge in highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) cases, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has launched the domestic sick bird online reporting tool. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/26/22

Pictured from left are Lewis County Sheriff's Office Operations Chief Dusty Breen, Undersheriff Wes Rethwill, Deputy Michael Anderson, Deputy Max Miller, Sheriff Rob Snaza, and Captain Rick Van Wyck.

Lewis County Sheriff’s Deputies Graduate From State Criminal Justice Academy

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is welcoming two new deputies following the officers’ graduation Thursday from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Basic Law … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/26/22

In Focus: Car Rolls on U.S. Highway 12 in Salkum Thursday

The Washington State Patrol responded to rollover crash on U.S. Highway 12 in Salkum on Thursday around 6:30 p.m. At least one motorist was treated for injuries. Additional information had not been … more

8/26/22

Death Notices: Aug. 27, 2022

• VIRGINIA MAY LEMMING, 91, Graham, died Aug. 20 at home. Arrangements are under the care of Sticklin Funeral Chapel. • TAYLOR LYN HINES, 22, Olympia, died Aug, 19. A celebration of life … more

8/26/22

Sirens: Attempting to Elude Police; Assault; Harassment; Burglaries

CHEHALIS POLICE DEPARTMENT Harassment • A case of harassment reported in the 600 block of Northwest Quincy Place just after 9:05 a.m. on Aug. 24 is under investigation. … more

8/26/22

Trucks drive across the Interstate 5 bridge that spans the Cowlitz River in this Chronicle file photo.

Cowlitz River Bridge Work Expected to Cause Significant Delays on Southbound Interstate 5 Aug. 26 to Sept. 16

People living and driving near Toledo and Vader in Lewis County will need to plan for extended delays on southbound Interstate 5 between Monday, Aug. 29, and Friday, Sept. 16, the state Department of … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/26/22

Commentary: Climate Math of AG Ferguson’s Natural Gas Protest Doesn’t Add Up

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson recently announced he opposes the expansion of a natural gas pipeline in Washington state, claiming “This pipeline is bad for the environment and … more

By Todd Myers / Washington Policy Center | 8/26/22

Richard Stride is the current CEO of Cascade Community Healthcare. He can be reached at drstride@icloud.com.

Richard Stride Commentary: Great Principles Don’t Get Lost Once They Come to Light

Do we have an identity crisis in America? Some say “yes.” Some say “no.” Others say, “well, maybe.” If you are in the category of those who believe we do, let … more

By Richard Stride / For The Chronicle | 8/26/22

Power Rankings Commentary: A Guide to Recognizing Your Committees

In a meeting last Monday, Lewis County commissioner Sean Swope again called for more accountability as to how the funding for homeless services is spent — going so far as to suggest the … more

By Aaron VanTuyl / For The Chronicle | 8/26/22

Mackenzie McGee and Naomi Snell hand out free goodie bags to kids during Kiddin Around Downtown’s Back to School event at the Centralia Farmer’s Market on Friday. The non-profit prepared 300 bags to give away to kids during the two-hour event, but gave away more than half that amount during the first 40 minutes, according to Snell.

In Focus: Kiddin Around Downtown Provides Fun in Centralia With Back to School Event

8/26/22

A garlic arch welcomes attendees to the Washington State Garlic Fest at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Friday. The festival runs through Sunday.

In Focus: Washington Garlic Festival Opens at SWW Fairgrounds

The Washington State Garlic Festival, once a backyard celebration held west of Chehalis, made its grand return to the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds this weekend after a two-year pandemic-related … more

8/26/22

George Waunch is pictured with two of his children in this 1845 photo. Waunch was the first white settler in the Lewis County area. On the left is Amelia Waunch Mauermann as a toddler and on the right is George Waunch Jr. — Waunch's son from a previous marriage. After George Jr. was born, Waunch left Lewis County for the gold mines of California. His first wife grew weary of waiting for his return and moved back home to her parents where she eventually got a divorce. Waunch returned to this area with a second wife, Mary. He had met Mary in Portland. They raised eight children on Waunch Prairie and Lincoln Creek in Lewis County.

A Look Back in Time: Two Men Taken to Lewis County Jail After Robbery Marked by ‘Dumbness’ in August 1942

Two “young” bandits were being held in the Lewis County Jail after they held up and robbed a “girl attendant” of a service station west of Centralia on Aug. 25, 1942. The two … more

Compiled by Matthew Zylstra / matthew@chronline.com | 8/26/22

A bald eagle prepares to land in a tree above Offut Lake on Thursday.

In Focus: Bald Eagle Soars at Offut Lake Near Tenino

8/26/22

Algae and other vegetation is pictured from above at Offut Lake near Tenino on Thursday.

'Overtaken by Plant Life': Offut Lake Residents Want to Tax Themselves to Battle Algae, Weeds

Some Offut Lake property owners want to form a new lake management district (LMD) to reduce toxic algae blooms and limit weed growth. The Thurston County Board of Commissioners reviewed the … more

By Martín Bilbao / The Olympian | 8/26/22

Clockwise from top left, the entrance to Visiting Nurses Thrift Store on Chehalis Avenue, a sign on the facade of Visiting Nurses Thrift Store in Centralia, a sign advertising a 50% off sale outside Thrift Center next to Chehalis Outfitters and a sign outside the Reliable Enterprises New Life Thrift Store.

Reporter’s Notebook: My Ultimate Twin Cities Thrift Crawl

A haiku: Life is tough at times One thing helps me feel better Going thrift shopping Imagine a mom-and-pop shop with clothing, art, shoes, games, toys, books and all other sorts … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 8/26/22