Commentary | The Daily Chronicle

Commentary: The Last of the 'Big Lie' Cases Falls, as Democracy's on a Win Streak

Remember after the last presidential election, when even here in blue Washington state, scores of Republicans and other voters sued contending that the election had been stolen? The lawsuits, … more

Danny Westneat / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/2/23

Estafani (center) and other girls from Worldwide Heart 2 Heart Children's Village join Bethel Church mission team members to install new railings as part of work to repair infrastructure at the foster home in Honduras. Bethel has sent annual groups to the village for a decade. Sixteen Bethel members went on this year's trip.

Brian Mittge Commentary: ‘This Is What the Kingdom of God Looks Like’

ABOVE THE GULF OF MEXICO — There's an old journalistic truism that no one wants to read a story about your big trip or vacation. As important as it might have been to you, folks back home just … more

6/30/23

Brady "Bruz" Taylor, a sixth-grader at Chehalis Middle School, smiles as he answers a question about his speech on addressing homelesses as he competes in the final round of the state Civics Bee championship Nine middle-school students -- including three from Chehalis -- competed in the Washington Civics Bee championship, emceed by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, at the Museum of Flight in Seattle on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Photo: Brian Mittge/AWB)

Commentary: Inaugural State Civics Bee Puts Spotlight on Civic Life in America

Nine middle school students stood on a stage and listened as Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs asked them a series of questions about the inner workings of our system of government. … more

By Kris Johnson / Association of Washington Business | 6/28/23

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

Bill Moeller Commentary: There Comes a Time When ‘Bird Brain’ Is Not an Insult

This column was first printed in The Chronicle in July 2009, and it began with this line: “The other day (all right, so it will be ‘the other week’ by the time you read this), I had … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 6/28/23

Peter Abbarno Commentary: The Real Impact of Higher Gas Prices

The real impact of higher gas prices is not only felt at the pump. The real impact of higher gas prices is felt at the kitchen table. It is kitchen table issues such as the cost of food, utilities … more

By Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia | 6/27/23

Governor Jay Inslee talks during a press conference at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in Chehalis in 2019.

Commentary: On the Road Between 'Hogwash and Baloney' on Washington's High Gas Prices

"The oil and gas industry projections around any of this are halfway between hogwash and baloney." This was Gov. Jay Inslee, last winter, talking about the prospect that the state's new climate … more

By Danny Westneat / The Seattle Times | 6/26/23

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

Richard Stride Commentary: Looking Back at the Fear and Confusion Brought by Unabomber Ted Kaczynski

Ted Kaczynski died by suicide on June 10. Some may remember him, some may not. I am fascinated by what makes people like Kaczynski turn to killing other human beings. Was he abused as a … more

6/26/23

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: Embracing Uncomfortable Conversations and Unlocking Understanding

Reflecting on the state of discourse in our society, I am reminded of the invaluable virtue of engaging in conversations that challenge our perspectives. In an era where opinions often … more

By Chad Taylor | 6/26/23

At the giggling request of girls living at Heart 2 Heart Children's Village in Honduras, Sam Mittge reads a Spanish language Bible passage painted on the wall in the girls' dining area on June 22, the third day of a 10-day missions trip led by Bethel Church to serve and show love to the mostly orphaned or abandoned children who have been there. Roughly translated, the verse reads: "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure."

Brian Mittge Commentary: Meeting Heart to Heart in Honduras

OMOA, Honduras — Twenty-five years ago, in 1998, a young Centralia pastor and his wife began a lifelong journey to serve orphaned and abandoned children in Central America. After … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 6/23/23

Signs, flags and tags with children's names written on them decorate the fence of the now permanently closed Pearl Street Pool, which the City of Centralia has begun to fill in as it prepares to create something else with the property.

Commentary: Why Not a City Pool in Centralia?

The City of Centralia is filling in the Veterans’ Memorial Pearl Street Pool. This is a sad end to a 70-year era for the community. The campaign to get the city to reopen the pool kept the … more

By Jami Lund | 6/23/23

Workers begin filling in the Pearl Street Pool with dirt last week in Centralia.

Bill Moeller Commentary: Feeling Angry and Disappointed About Pearl Street Pool

Words cannot begin to express how I felt when I read a recent story in this newspaper that was accompanied by a photo of fill being dumped into a children’s swimming pool. The … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 6/21/23

John McCroskey Commentary: Still More Questions in Aron Christensen Death Investigation

Several weeks ago in May, I wrote about the death of Aron Christensen and what appeared to be many questions resulting from the investigation that had been done to that point — at least … more

By John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 6/21/23

Commentary: Snake River Whac-A-Mole Needs to Stop in Dam Removal Discussions

To supporters of the four Lower Snake River Dams, the latest news that President Joe Biden continues to pursue dam breaching is not shocking, but it is surprising, considering the growing shortfall … more

By Don Brunell / For The Chronicle | 6/21/23

Commentary: Can We Act Now? Washington's Overdose Deaths Are Fastest Rising in the Nation

One guidepost I've had over the years has been to write about a variety of topics, to avoid the urge to use this space to bang the drum. I'm about to break that rule again. The reason is that … more

Danny Westneat / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/21/23

Beginning in 1903 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed a road to Paradise on Mount Rainier. In 1911 the road was sufficiently completed for the use of wagons and autos. President William H. Taft traveled to Paradise Lodge in the first auto to reach the area. The auto had to be towed by horses for the last several miles. Included in that travel were the touring buses and cars such as those seen in this photo. They were called the original mass transit system at Mount Rainier National Park and carried thousands of tourists to the mountain each year. This photo and information was originally submitted by Dan Duffy for Our Hometowns.

Other Views: Run Buses to Mount Rainier

One of Mount Rainier's most impressive features is its topographic prominence, or how far it rises above the surroundings. On approach, the mountain swells to fill the sky like a god suddenly … more

The Seattle Times Editorial Board (TNS) | 6/20/23

FILE PHOTO — Harold Borovec stands in front of the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum's 1916 vintage logging locomotive in Chehalis.

Highlighting Lewis County: Goodbye, Harold Borovec, Chehalis and Railroad Icon

Chehalis lost a historical icon June 10 with the passing of Harold Lee Borovec, a hardworking and talented 96-year-old with a vast knowledge of local history and a deep love for his wife. Most … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 6/19/23

Richard Stride Commentary: A Trip to the United Kingdom Provokes Memories of World War II

My wife and I returned recently from a trip to the United Kingdom. The British people were welcoming, helpful and very accommodating, not at all like some other countries we have visited that seemed … more

By Richard Stride / For The Chronicle | 6/19/23

Mount Rainier as seen from U.S. Highway 12 between Packwood and White Pass on Nov. 23, 2022.

Commentary: Mount Rainier Is Melting — Can Anything Be Done to Stop It?

Scott Beason has worked on and around the ice of Mount Rainier for nearly two decades. When I asked if he could see it changing in that time, he gave a kind of rueful laugh. "Lately we've had … more

Danny Westneat / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 6/17/23

W.F. West graduate Samuel Mittge, left, prepares to turn his tassel at Bearcat Stadium in Chehalis on Saturday, June 10.

Brian Mittge Commentary: Graduation Gratitude

The past few months have seen milestones flying by as our firstborn son graduates from high school. That beautifully bittersweet trip culminated last Saturday for us with a really wonderful … more

6/17/23

Rep. Peter Abbarno and his daughter, Sophia, choose a raffle winner by picking a business card out of a basket outside Althauser Rayan Abbarno LLC in Centralia on Thursday, June 15 during the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours event.

Commentary: Taking Time to Consider the ‘True Meaning’ of Father’s Day

We hear about the “true meaning of Christmas” every December. Why don’t we hear about the “true meaning of Father’s Day” every June? The first official … more

By Peter Abbarno | 6/16/23