The Daily Chronicle

Bill Moeller Commentary: Critique of a Critic and Other Things

All I can say about the start of this column is “Look out! Crochetyman is on the loose again!” First, though, a brief summary of why this is happening. I’ve been receiving … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 2/2/22

Commentary: Long-Term Care Program Needs More Than a Short-Term Delay

When the Legislature convened the 2022 session last month, lawmakers made long-term care their first order of business. It’s probably not a topic you thought about much until recently, but news … more

2/2/22

Columnist Julie McDonald, right, rides a horse in Ensenada.

Julie McDonald Commentary: COVID Testing and Cruising During a Pandemic

Somebody’s making money off COVID-19 testing for travelers. In the past, I’ve occasionally run away to a hotel or retreat to focus on writing a book, but last fall, I stumbled upon … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 1/31/22

Commentary: A UW Expert Just Called the End of the Pandemic. Why Is Nobody Celebrating?

When officials announced that the Spanish Flu pandemic was on the wane in Seattle back in 1918, people poured into the streets in celebration. It happened to coincide with the end of World War I, … more

Danny Westneat / The Seattle Times | 1/31/22

Washington State Parks owns 175 acres of forest in Packwood near the confluence of Skate Creek and the Cowlitz River.

Brian Mittge Commentary: Cooperation, Friendship Key to Preserving Packwood’s Park

It’s been many years since I’ve walked the trails of what folks in Packwood call “Skate Creek Park,” but I clearly remember the natural beauty in that hidden corner of east … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 1/28/22

Don Brunell Commentary: We Must Foster Environment Where Small Businesses Can Grow

We are only a couple of weeks into 2022 and it is already shaping up to be another challenging year for America’s 5.5 million family businesses dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Rampant … more

By Don C. Brunell | 1/26/22

Bill Moeller Commentary: More Memories on Wheels

I recently wrote about some vehicles owned by the Moeller Family when — starting in 1960 — we lived on Curtis Hill Road. In 1969, we moved into town and the type of vehicles we needed … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 1/26/22

Chad Taylor is co-owner and publisher of The Chronicle.

Publisher's Note: State Would Benefit From Imagination Library as County Has

On June 26, 2020, The Chronicle Editorial Board shared its support of the newly launched Lewis County participation in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The Chronicle also noted the success of … more

By Chad Taylor / For The Chronicle | 1/26/22

Lisa Blomdahl is pictured with her kids Anne Peterson and David Blomdahl.

Julie McDonald Commentary: Centenarian Recalls Five Decades of Life in the Mint City

Last week, I shared the story of Lisa Pettersson’s early life in Sweden before she married George Blomdahl of Seattle. As the late great Paul Harvey would say, here’s the rest of the … more

By Julie McDonald | 1/24/22

Salmon are pictured in a net pen in Onalaska in this file photo.

Being Frank: Salmon Recovery Will Take More Than Money

There’s no doubt about it. The Biden administration is working hard to pay the price for salmon recovery. The $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill is just an example. We have never seen … more

By Ed Johnstone | 1/21/22

Memories on Wheels: A Look Back at Moeller Means of Conveyance

Perhaps no one else is interested in this but I recently started trying to recall the number of cars I’ve owned in my lifetime. The list doesn’t contain the 1923 three-door sedan I … more

Commentary by Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 1/20/22

Jason Mercier Commentary: Should Citizen Ballot Measures Be Banned in Odd Year Elections?

A bill scheduled for a public hearing this week (HB 1727) would ban citizen ballot measures in odd years, but still allow local governments to call special elections to increase taxes. A similar bill … more

By Jason Mercier | 1/18/22

From left, David Blomdahl, Lisa Blomdahl, Anne Peterson and Suzi Vander Stoep

Julie McDonald Commentary: Sweden Native in Chehalis Celebrates a Century of Life

A century ago, on Jan. 11, 1922, Axel and Johanna Pettersson welcomed a baby girl into their home along the Baltic Sea on the southeast coast of Sweden, the fourth of what would grow to be a family … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 1/17/22

FILE PHOTO — A nutcracker stands guard illuminated by Christmas lights near the entrance of a lighted tunnel at Borst Park in Centralia last December.

Brian Mittge Commentary: National News Comes a-Knocking in Lewis County as ‘January Lights’ Go National

“Nothing is as powerful as an idea whose time has come.” - Victor Hugo Driving around as our communities dry out from the flood, I’ve noticed that more homes than … more

1/14/22

Commentary: Supporting Law Enforcement, Punishing Crime Necessary for Safe Communities

“Centralia Man Accused of Attacking Grocery Store Employees with Knife” “Suspects Sought in Centralia ATM Explosion” “Man Killed in Chehalis Stabbing; 12-Year-Old … more

By U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler | 1/14/22

Bill Moeller Commentary: Random Thoughts on Life

I recently finished writing a column for this space, but when I had a good night’s sleep to think about it, I decided to just stash it away in my old World War II vintage Army file cabinet and … more

By Bill Moeller | 1/12/22

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

Richard Stride Commentary: Remembering a Special Dog After Death of Washington K9

On the news yesterday, I listened to a story about a Seattle police dog who was fatally stabbed by a robbery suspect. An officer on scene was also injured. If you are a dog lover like me, and you too … more

By Richard Stride / For The Chronicle | 1/12/22

Interstate 5 traffic in Lewis County is seen stalled Friday in this photograph from the Washington State Patrol.

Julie McDonald Commentary: A Flooded Freeway? Not That I Could See

As rain pelted the roof Thursday night, I surfed the Internet for news about road closures due to flooding. Despite closure of the Rush Road interchange at Exit 72, I read assurances that closure of … more

1/10/22

West Thurston Fire crews evaluate a crash victim with a head injury at the Moon Road intersection to U.S. Highway 12 in Rochester before having them enter an aid unit on a gurney to be transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia through road closures Saturday afternoon.

Commentary: In Wake of Severe Flooding, Appreciation for a Community That Came Together

Thankful is one of the first words to come out of my mouth while discussing the January 2022 flood. Thankful the flooding was not worse. Thankful to the countless volunteers and state, county and … more

By Peter Abbarno | 1/10/22

The Capital Building is seen Monday, January 8, 2018 in Olympia.

Commentary: Time to Replace State’s Ill-Thought Long Term Care Law

The first order of business as Washington’s Legislature convenes in Olympia is replacing the state’s new long-term care law. It is fatally flawed. Gov. Jay Inslee and Democrats who … more

By Don Brunell | 1/10/22