Columnists | The Daily Chronicle

Relatives of Tom and Idris Massey hope to change the road’s name between Spencer and the Cowlitz River — the land their family owned — to Massey Road, both to honor their parents’ contributions to the community and to simplify directions to the Massey Bar Boat Launch.

Julie McDonald Commentary: Family Seeks to Change Road’s Name to Honor Parents

A year before the United States plunged into Civil War, a 25-year-old Irishman born in County Cork boarded the HMS Edinburgh in Liverpool, England, and landed in New York April 13, 1860. Eight … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 11/14/22

Visitors tour the Veterans Memorial Museum on Veterans Day.

Commentary: Honoring Fallen Heroes Goes Beyond Lowering Flags to Half-Mast

Lowering our flags to half-staff is a solemn act that recognizes our fallen heroes, whether they be men and women in our armed forces or police officers killed in the line of duty. It is a vivid … more

By Don Brunell | 11/14/22

Pumpkin pie is prepared for meal bags at Gather Church on Thanksgiving in Centralia in 2021.

Brian Mittge Commentary: The Spirit of Thanksgiving Is a Tonic for Our Divisions

Election season is finally more or less finished (it’s all over but the countin’). I’m thankful for our American system of self-governance, but our elections always seem a little … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 11/11/22

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

Richard Stride Commentary: When Nazis in America Gathered Without Fear

I recently watched a new documentary on PBS by Ken Burns. It’s titled “The U.S. and the Holocaust.” I have always loved Ken Burns documentaries because of the thoroughness in … more

By Richard Stride | 11/9/22

Julie McDonald, a personal historian from Toledo, may be reached at memoirs@chaptersoflife.com.

Julie McDonald Commentary: Reflections on a Turbulent Summer and Election Season

When U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler narrowly lost to Joe Kent in the top-two primary election, I was disappointed but not surprised. A lot of former president Donald Trump’s fans in the … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 11/7/22

The stolen saws were similar to the one pictured here.

Brian Mittge Commentary: Scalawag Steals Stihl Scout Saws in Centralia

I received a call this week from Shannon Pancake, who is one of the good guys. He is a husband, dad, volunteer soccer coach and Boy Scout Leader. He’s the kind of guy who donates his … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 11/5/22

Julie McDonald Commentary: Tragedy in Seoul Triggers Concert Memories

News headlines over the weekend broke my heart. After Tropical Storm Nalgae brought heavy rains that triggered landslides, at least 45 people in the Philippines died and many more remain missing. A … more

10/31/22

A Tesla-sponsored electric car charging station is seen in this file photo on Lum Road near the outlet mall in Centralia.

Don Brunell Commentary: Recycling Lithium Batteries Must Accelerate for EVs to Succeed

Demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is soaring, accelerated by climate change concerns. EVs reduce tailpipe emissions from cars, trucks and buses, which are responsible for 30 percent of our … more

By Don Brunell | 10/31/22

Flames from the Goat Rocks Fire ignite trees earlier this month as seen from Cannon Road in Packwood over Butler Creek.

Brian Mittge Commentary: Seeing the Forest for the Burning Trees

Last week, I urged people to listen to a broad range of perspectives when it comes to how we should deal with wildfires and the smoke that has established itself as an unwelcome visitor to our late … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 10/28/22

Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, serves Washington’s 17th Legislative District.

Commentary: A Mainstem Columbia River Free of Non-Tribal Commercial Gillnets on the Horizon

Long-term efforts to remove non-tribal commercial gillnets from the mainstem Columbia River have taken a big step forward with a multi-million-dollar commercial license-buyout program that was … more

By Sen. Lynda Wilson | 10/28/22

Turf is rolled out onto a multisport athletic field at the Centralia College Campus last month.

Centralia College Commentary: Athletics Are Key to Success for Many Students

Taking shape right outside my building is the new Multipurpose Athletic Fields. The fields will be the new home to Blazer baseball, softball and soccer. It will be the first home field for Centralia … more

10/28/22

The grave of Willie Kei is pictured along with Al Crawford.

Julie McDonald Commentary: Pickled Pioneer’s Resting Place Sparks Toledo Man’s Memories

In a recent column, I mentioned the 1855 journey of Prussian Dr. Wilhelm Keil, who created a utopian community in Bethel, Missouri, and ventured west to establish a new one. He promised his … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 10/26/22

John McCroskey was Lewis County sheriff from 1995 to 2005. He lives outside Chehalis and can be contacted at musingsonthemiddlefork@gmail.com.

A Belated But Correct Decision on Centralia Officer’s Employment

Recently, a story appeared in The Chronicle about an officer in Centralia, Phil Reynolds, who was terminated for the second time for bad behavior. In the first case, which included some … more

By John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 10/26/22

The sun sets through smoke over Old Highway 99 Southeast on Wednesday near Tenino.

Brian Mittge Commentary: What Should We Do About Wildfires and Smoke Season?

I wonder if “smoke season” will be our new normal. For most of the past half dozen years or so, we’ve had days or weeks of choking smoke as summer ends. It usually hits in … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 10/21/22

Guest Commentary: Mineral YMCA Camp an Investment in Nature — and Ourselves

Swimming. Hiking. Singing around the campfire. Those who have experienced a YMCA summer camp tell us these and other activities help create great memories and lifelong friendships. … more

Gwen Ichinose Bagley / YMCA | 10/21/22

Commentary: DNR Fails to Disclose Environmental and Social Impacts of Carbon Scheme

The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is rushing to approve a “carbon project” that would lease 10,000 acres of forested state trust lands in western Washington to private … more

By Matt Comisky / American Forest Resource Council | 10/21/22

Commentary: Who Will and Won’t Pay New Payroll Tax in July

A window to apply for an exemption from a payroll tax that begins in July 2023 is still open, but it will only be open for about two more months. It closes Dec. 31. If you’re one of the people … more

By Elizabeth Hovde / Washington Policy Center | 10/20/22

FILE PHOTO — Former mayor Bill Moeller digs the first shovel into the Hub City Community Garden in this Chronicle file photo.

Bill Moeller Commentary: Winning or Losing — American Style

Ballots are mailing out this week. I think I can already hear the rustling of this newspaper being turned to something else because that old duffer, Moeller, is going to bore us again with another … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 10/20/22

An image of the plaque that will be installed in George Washington Park in Centralia.

Julie McDonald Commentary: Park Plaque Shows Wobbly Side of Centralia Tragedy; At-Large Council Talk Evokes Memories

For nearly a century, the Sentinel statue in Centralia’s Washington Park has shared one version of what happened on the streets of Centralia Nov. 11, 1919, when gunfire killed four American … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 10/17/22

Sean Swope is a Lewis County commissioner representing District 1.

Commentary: Empowering Accountability to Improve, Sustain and Save Lives Requires Focused Humanitarian Action With a Longer View

As county and city leaders work in concert, engaging cooperatively with community stakeholders, state and federal officials, other municipalities and leaders already addressing homelessness issues, … more

By Sean Swope | 10/17/22