The Daily Chronicle

The historic George Bush butternut tree, which grew for 176 years at the Bush homestead near the Olympia airport, collapsed at 7 a.m. on May 1, 2021. (Photo: Ray Gleason)

Brian Mittge Commentary: When a Tree Falls in the Forest of Time

Last Saturday at 7 a.m., a frail tree fell on a long-gone homestead near Tumwater. This quiet collapse would have gone unheeded, but this was a famous tree that had many good friends looking after … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 5/7/21

John McCroskey Commentary: Back to Writing: The State of the Country and Ever-Shifting Goalposts

After taking some time off from writing a column for The Chronicle, I was offered a chance to bring back my commentaries. After some thought, I’ve decided to do just that. These … more

By John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 5/5/21 | 3 comments

Bill Moeller Commentary: Reevaluating a Maligned President

I’ve had a quotation in my file cabinet for years now, and a note I wrote on it shows that I already included it in a column once, but recent action tells me it bears repeating. “I … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 5/5/21

Commentary: A Lesson in Gratitude: COVID-19 Reminded Us Death Always Lurks

A few weeks ago, a large yellow orb appeared in the sky and gave me a terrible fright. After delving into the deepest parts of my memory and figuring out what the warm, floating matter was, I did … more

By Jonathan Haukaas | 5/5/21

Cody Duncan holds up a map while overlooking TransAlta property near Centralia last month.

Michael Wagar Commentary: TransAlta Reneging on Promise of Using Mine Land for Economic Development

A week ago U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler added her voice in opposition to the proposal by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to acquire about 9,600 acres of … more

5/3/21

From left, Sally Vogel, Barb Glen, Geno Wilber,and Joanne Cobbs at Olequa Senior Center.

Julie McDonald Commentary: Spring Bursts Forth With Flower Baskets From Fundraisers

Last weekend marked an annual rite of spring — the day I pick up colorful bowls filled with DeGoede Bulb farm flowers sold by local high school students as a fundraiser. I had to scout … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 5/3/21

Chad Taylor is the publisher of The Chronicle and the owner of CT Publishing. He can be reached at chad@chronline.com.

Publisher's Note: Our History, Our Future and Why the TransAlta-WDFW Land Deal Is Bad for Lewis County

From the outside looking in, some might be perplexed by the vocal and consistent opposition to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s proposed acquisition of thousands of acres of … more

By Chad Taylor | 4/30/21

A dump truck working with Sterling Breen Construction drops a load of dirt on top of the Airport Road levee in Chehalis in this 2013 Chronicle file photo.

Our Views: Chehalis-Centralia Airport Pump Project Just One Success Story

The Chehalis River Basin benefits from the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority-funded airport pump project. An important component of the Chehalis Basin Strategy of reducing flood damage and … more

4/30/21

Bill Moeller Commentary: Recalling a Local Twist on the American Tragedy of Ruby Ridge

Not too long ago, TV channel 9 repeated a program about the sad event that happened in 1992 on Ruby Ridge, a small spot in the northern panhandle of Idaho. It was the epicenter for a small … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 4/28/21

Other Views: Legislature Must End Use of Title-Only Bills

Regardless of how one feels about the budget passed by this year’s Legislature, all Washington taxpayers should be appalled by the process. Lawmakers continue to embrace an opaque process that … more

By The Columbian Editorial Board | 4/28/21

Julie McDonald Commentary: Facelift for Veterans Museum’s Desert Fox Scheduled

The Desert Fox, a historic heavy fighter bomber moved three years ago to the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis, will receive a facelift this spring, courtesy in large part to the F-105 … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 4/26/21 | 2 comments

The Chronicle is located at 321 N. Pearl St. in Centralia.

From the Owners: Improvements in Chronicle Come With Support of Community

One year ago, the former owners of The Chronicle sounded the alarm in the form of a front-page editorial notifying the community this newspaper was in danger. As businesses shuttered and … more

By Chad and Coralee Taylor | 4/23/21

FILE PHOTO — Pikko Ranta smiles as she works with bison leather at Churchill Glove Co. in downtown Centralia in 2019.

Brian Mittge Commentary: It’s Time to Buy American

If there’s one thing that Americans agree on — and one thing that we actually have the power to control with our everyday actions — it’s that we want to build things in … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 4/23/21

The sun sets over foothills of Mount St. Helens on Thursday.

Richard Stride Commentary: Just Be and Let Be for a Healthy Mindset

In 1968, a song by the Beatles hit the airwaves — “Let it be.” Some of the most poignant words of this timely classic are, “and when the broken-hearted people living in … more

4/23/21

Guest Commentary: Why Volunteering Is Good for You

April is National Volunteer Month. I would like to share some of the reasons I volunteer and the benefits of volunteering. According to the American Psychological Association, some benefits to … more

By Sheila Johnson Teeter | 4/21/21

Bill Moeller Commentary: A Cat’s Tale Continues

In last week’s column, I wrote about a chance meeting with a large and seemingly suspicious cat who my own cat, Sam, and I encountered underneath a rhododendron shrub while doing some garden … more

4/21/21

Kevin Caserta poses for a photo in front of Providence Centralia Hospital earlier this year.

Guest Commentary: We Must Continue to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

With the beautiful weather and our state’s opening COVID-19 vaccinations to anyone 16 or older, there is a welcome sense of hope that we might finally be turning the corner in this pandemic. … more

By Dr. Kevin Caserta | 4/21/21

Scott Crossfield stands in his yard. The gravel pit can be seen behind him.

Julie McDonald Commentary: Army Veteran’s Search for Peace Thwarted by Gravel Mine

Two decades ago, in 2001, Chaplain Scott Crossfield parachuted into Afghanistan with 198 men in the U.S. Army’s 3rd Ranger Battalion and Special Forces — only five weeks after terrorists … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 4/19/21

FILE PHOTO — Tenino Mayor Wayne Fournier.

Michael Wagar Commentary: Through the Fire of Life, Tenino’s Mayor Proves He Is the Right ‘Solution’

The Tenino mayorship — the gift that keeps on giving, at least for us journalist types. Thankfully, this sordid tale of woe ends in the brightest of notes, with kudos to the current mayor of … more

4/16/21

Sean Swope holds his mask before being sworn in at the Lewis County Historical Courthouse in Chehalis earlier this year.

Sean Swope Commentary: Rising Gas Costs Brutal on Communities Like Lewis County

Washington state residents currently pay 49.4 cents per gallon in state taxes and an additional 18.4% in federal taxes at the pump. That’s currently the fourth-highest gas tax in the … more

By Sean Swope | 4/16/21