Commentary | The Daily Chronicle

Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, represents the 20th Legislative District in the state Legislature.

Peter Abbarno Commentary: Make State Government More Open, Transparent and Accountable

When I talk to constituents in the 20th Legislative District about issues affecting our communities and state, many have expressed to me a deep distrust in our governing institutions. … more

By Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia | 5/10/23

Commentary: It’s That Time of the Year — Let's Celebrate and Support Washington Agriculture

Some would argue that spring is the most wonderful time of the year in Washington. Throughout our state, fruit trees blossom, vibrant tulip fields bloom and colorful lentils carpeted the … more

By Don Brunell | 5/10/23

Bill Moeller smiles for a portrait outside The Chronicle in Centralia on Jan. 24, 2023.

Bill Moeller Commentary: A Question for the Times — Is America Winning or Losing?

We seem to be smugly sitting back and thinking that we're still the leaders of the world in all things. Let's take a few minutes to see if that works out to be true. First, we … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 5/10/23

Brigham Buswell is pictured with his wife and seven children in this photo provided by his grandson, Toledo resident Don Buswell.

Highlighting Lewis County: Toledo Native’s Grandfather a POW in Civil War

Brigham Buswell, the grandfather of 100-year-old Toledo resident Don Buswell, wrote about fighting in the Civil War and his incarceration at a hospital for wounded prisoners of war. On July 1, … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 5/8/23

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

Richard Stride Commentary: Peace, Calm, Nostalgia and the Soothing Sound of a Clock

Growing up, I loved the sound of my grandpa’s mantel clock. It was an old Howard Miller pendulum wind-up clock. The clock key was for both the time and chimes. I can still remember … more

By Richard Stride / For The Chronicle | 5/5/23

Sheriff Rob Snaza speaks about safety to a Christian Women’s Connection luncheon held at the Church of the Nazarene in Centralia in 2022.

Rob Snaza Commentary: We Need Better Funding for Programs to Keep Kids on Right Path

When the citizens of Lewis County chose me as their sheriff, they entrusted me with the responsibility to keep our communities safe. As part of that mission, I have worked with my team at the Lewis … more

By Rob Snaza / Lewis County sheriff | 5/5/23

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

John McCroskey Commentary: Sheriff Owes More Information on Aron Christensen Case

For some seven months or so, there have been reports chronicling the tragic death of Aron Christensen and his dog Buzzo near Walupt Lake. It’s a very sad situation and while we think we know … more

By John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 5/3/23

Kris Johnson is president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s chamber of commerce and manufacturers association.

Commentary: Legislative Session Yields Decidedly Mixed Results

Depending on how you measure success, the recently concluded Washington legislative session was either really great, not as terrible as normal or a frustrating combination of progress and setbacks … more

By Kris Johnson / Association of Washington Business | 5/3/23

Bill Moeller Commentary: Reaching Another Milestone in Life

Whether you are reading this on Thursday, May 4, in the newspaper or viewing it online, you may not be aware that tomorrow — Friday — is a momentous day in the life of this struggling … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 5/3/23

Brigham Buswell is pictured in a Union uniform while holding a rifle in this photo provided by his grandson, Toledo resident Don Buswell.

Highlighting Lewis County: Toledo Centenarian’s Grandfather Chronicled Civil War Battles

Few people alive today can say their grandfather fought in the Civil War, but a Toledo man can. Don Buswell, who still lives in the house where he was born more than a century ago, is proud of his … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 5/1/23

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

Sen. Braun Commentary: Failure to Fix State’s Disastrous Drug-Possession Law Looms Over Session Successes

Republicans came into this year’s legislative session vowing to fix the state’s drug-possession law so offenders would have more incentive to enter and complete treatment. We remain … more

By Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 4/28/23

A rack of guns, on Friday, May 24, 2019, that were at one point seized by Lewis County deputies during either criminal or civil matters. The guns are stored in a secured property facility maintained by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Julie McDonald Commentary: Irresponsible Gun Users Should Be Prosecuted — Especially When Someone Dies

Back in the 1980s, home from college, I visited my sister’s new rental house in Vancouver one night and, as the evening progressed, I ran to the store for something. When I returned, I opened … more

4/28/23

Brian Mittge Commentary: A Tale of Twin Cities

It was the best of times in Chehalis, it was the worst of times in Centralia. With apologies to Charles Dickens, one could write a novel about Lewis County's largest school districts this … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 4/28/23

Bill Moeller smiles for a portrait outside The Chronicle in Centralia on Jan. 24, 2023. Bill Moeller is a former entertainer, mayor, bookstore owner, city council member, paratrooper and pilot living in Centralia. He can be reached at bookmaven321@comcast.net.

Bill Moeller Commentary: Searching For Lost Artists of the Great Depression Era

In one of the columns I started to write — prior to my taking a rest from 15 years of writing weekly columns for this newspaper — I touched on the topic of artists who found their own way … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 4/26/23

Commentary: Washington Democrats, You Had One Job

The failure of state lawmakers to do anything about the surging drug crisis is one of the worst policy face-plants I've seen in local politics going back 30 years. Rarely is the gap so wide … more

Danny Westneat / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/26/23

Don Brunell Commentary: Consequences Are Too Extreme to Ditch Carbon Fuels

President Joe Biden is unwisely “throttling up” plans to ditch carbon fuels unilaterally despite the extreme consequences of doing so. He wants to accelerate the replacement of gas/diesel … more

By Don C. Brunell | 4/25/23

Visitors from across the Pacific Northwest display signs in protest while demanding answers in the deaths of Aron Christensen and his dog Buzzo outside the Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia on Sunday, April 23, 2023.

Aaron VanTuyl Commentary: Time for Officials to ‘Pull Out the Finger’ in Christensen Case

My father spent my childhood in a constant state of impatience. On family outings, his measured requests to “get this show on the road” would inevitably come to a head. In those cases, … more

By Aaron. VanTuyl / For The Chronicle | 4/24/23

Gordon MacCracken is pictured in this photo from The Chronicle’s archives.

Commentary: Farewell to a Fantastic Writer Who Nurtured Cub Reporters for Three Decades

Years ago, when I arrived in The Daily Chronicle newsroom to work as a reporter, news editor Gordon MacCracken assigned me to cover East Lewis County and the Lewis County Public Utility District … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 4/24/23

Chad Taylor is publisher of The Chronicle and CT Publishing. He and his wife, Coralee Taylor, are the owners of The Chronicle. They can be reached at ctaylor@chronline.com.

Publisher's Note: Democrats Ignore Complexities of Gun Violence With Weapons Ban

The Democrats in Washington state have pulled off yet another disastrous move, this time in their quest to address gun violence. They’ve passed an assault weapons ban, which is nothing more … more

Commentary by Chad Taylor / chad@chronline.com | 4/24/23

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