Business | The Daily Chronicle

CEO Richard Stride, left, poses for a photo with employees and chamber members after Cascade Community Healthcare receives the 2024 Chamber Business of the Year Award during the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce annual banquet at Centralia College on Friday, Jan. 24.

Cascade Community Healthcare named 2024 Business of the Year

More than 300 local business owners, employees, elected representatives and others attended the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce annual banquet on Friday, Jan. 24, at Centralia College’s … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 1/27/25

From the right, Battle Lounge co-owners Barret Daniels, Kyle Dyer and Derrick Stenson pose for a photo inside their new business on Saturday, Jan. 25, in Centralia.

Battle Lounge opens in Centralia, offering hobbyists, gamers and role-players space to play and socialize

For hobbyists who enjoy the Warhammer franchise — a sci-fi tabletop military strategy game featuring customizable plastic scale model pieces — finding fellow enthusiasts to play against … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 1/27/25

Customers wait in the checkout line at a Costco Wholesale store on December 15, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Costco Wholesale beat expectations for the company's Q1 earnings with a 16.6 % increase. The retailer's board also declared a special cash dividend of $15 per share to investors. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Costco shareholders reject anti-DEI proposal pushed by activists

Costco shareholders overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to probe its diversity, equity and inclusion practices for legal risks. The Issaquah-based company’s board characterized the proposal … more

Alex Halverson / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 1/26/25

The Home Show will be held at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds at 1909 S. Gold St. IN Centralia, on both Friday, April 11, from noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vendors can sign up now for Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce’s 59th annual Home Show

Vendors are signing up now for the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce’s 59th annual Home Show. Those interested in having a presence at the show should register for a booth now, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/24/25

The location of the proposed battery energy storage system between Bucoda in Thurston County and Centralia in Lewis County.

Massive battery energy storage site proposed near Bucoda and Centralia

A subsidiary of a business called BrightNight LLC has proposed a battery energy storage system (BESS) in South Thurston County near the town of Bucoda, according to Thurston County information. … more

By Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 1/24/25

Owners Peter and Rachael Atkinson smile for a photo outside of Hutch Menswear in downtown Chehalis on Monday, Jan. 20.

Couple opens Hutch Menswear in downtown Chehalis

In September 2023, Bartel’s Clothing and Shoes — a menswear store that had been operating in downtown Chehalis for 101 years — closed its doors. It was the last of several … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 1/22/25

WinCo is pictured under construction Centralia late last December.

WinCo Foods to begin hiring for new Centralia Station location at end of February

Though an opening date has yet to be announced, WinCo Foods is gearing up to begin hiring employees for its new Centralia Station location, which is still under construction, according to the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/22/25

Costco Teamsters vote to authorize strike

More than 18,000 Costco workers, including drivers, warehouse and store employees, will go on strike at the end of the month if the union and America’s third-largest retailer fail to sign a new … more

Kristine Sherred / The News Tribune (TNS) | 1/21/25

From the left, Chehalis Mayor Tony Ketchum, Critter Care Owner Brittany Toepelt, Tim Toepelt, Liam, Logan, Caden, Khaleesi and Declan Toepelt and Christine Brower pose for a photo during a ribbon-cutting for Chehalis Critter Care hosted by The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce on Friday, Jan. 17. The grooming service is located at 561 U.S. Hwy 12.

In focus: Chehalis Critter Care celebrates grand reopening

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Chehalis Critter Care was hosted by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce on Friday, Jan. 17. The grooming service is located at 561 U.S. Highway … more

1/20/25

The Darigold factory in Chehalis is pictured on Monday, Jan. 20.

EPA fines Chehalis Darigold facility almost $250,000 for allegedly polluting stormwater

Darigold’s Chehalis facility was fined $249,500 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in September for allegedly violating the Clean Water Act multiple times between September 2018 … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/20/25

Permit denied for Tenino area event center as owner says he will appeal decision

Hillside Farms, a Tenino area event center that residents have opposed because of noise and other factors, has hit another roadblock after its special use permit was denied by the Thurston County … more

By Rolf Boone / The Olympian | 1/20/25

The Packwood Flea Market is viewed from above in September 2024.

New vacation rental company Fairly launching in Packwood and Ashford

Fairly, a new vacation rental management company with a focus on empowering local real estate agents and housekeepers, is launching with properties in Packwood and Ashford, according to a news … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/20/25

Seats on the New Flyer hydrogen fuel cell bus accepted by Lewis County Transit on Monday, March 18, sit ready for riders once drivers are trained and certified for it.

Lewis County Transit board meeting set for Jan. 28

The next regular board meeting of the Lewis Public Transportation Benefit Area, which does business as Lewis County Transit, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28. The meeting is open to … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/17/25

From left, Chehalis Mayor Tony Ketchum, Chris Gove, Ashley Bond, Alisha Watson, Richard Stride, Lisa Archer, Cate Owens, Wangari Gathungu and Christine Brower pose for a photo during a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce in Centralia on Friday, Jan. 15. The ceremony was held in celebration of Cascade’s expanded primary care clinic. Cascade Community Healthcare has been providing health care services in Lewis County and surrounding areas for more than 50 years. Cascade Community Healthcare opened its primary care clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic, but was unable to celebrate the grand opening with a ribbon-cutting. Since then, Cascade Community Healthcare has expanded its primary care clinic, as well as integrating physical health and mental health services. Prior to the event, Sierra Pecson, accreditation manager for Cascade Community Healthcare, described what she is most looking forward to with the grand opening of the clinic. “(I’m eager) for people to find out that the clinic is here and be able to get care in a rural service area that has very few providers,” she said.

In focus: Cascade Community Healthcare celebrates expanded primary care clinic in Centralia

A ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce was held at Cascade Community Healthcare in Centralia on Friday, Jan. 15. The ceremony was held in celebration of … more

1/17/25

Boeing was forced to reassess its safety and quality management after a 737 MAX fuselage blew a hole on an Alaska Airlines flight a year ago. MAX production in Renton, seen here in June, slowed dramatically for all of 2024, ceding more of the narrowbody market to Airbus.

Crisis-hit Boeing delivered less than half as many jets as Airbus in 2024

Year-end jet orders and deliveries figures released Tuesday by Boeing reveal how much Airbus dominated its crisis-ridden U.S. rival in 2024. In the smaller narrowbody jet sector that services … more

Dominic Gates / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 1/16/25

Jake Panther squats during a workout at Get Fit Tenino on Jan. 9.

Get Fit Yelm expands with new Tenino location

South Thurston County residents now have a new option for their fitness needs as Get Fit Yelm has expanded into a second location in Tenino. Get Fit Tenino officially opened Jan. 1 for a soft … more

By Dylan Reubenking/dylan@yelmonline.com | 1/14/25

A light snowfall covers the mountains on Riffe Lake in Mossyrock on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

East Lewis County Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and auction

The East Lewis County Chamber of Commerce last week announced its annual meeting and auction will take place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Bob Lyle Community Center, 700 Main Ave., … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/13/25

O Bee Credit Union named one of America’s best by Newsweek

O Bee Credit Union has been named one of America’s Best Regional Credit Unions for 2025 by Newsweek. According to a news release from the credit union, it is a prestigious honor … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/13/25

Cascade Community Healthcare announces ribbon-cutting for primary care clinic

Cascade Community Healthcare (CCH) has announced a ribbon-cutting ceremony in celebration of its newly expanded primary care clinic. The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce will host the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/10/25

TJ Guyer rebranding to Northwest Property Managers after partnering with local couple

With the coming of the new year, TJ Guyer Inc. — a Chehalis-based rental property management company — will now be known as Northwest Property Managers, according to a news release from … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/10/25