The Daily Chronicle

Chad Taylor is publisher of The Chronicle. He and CEO Coralee Taylor are the owners of CT Publishing.

Publisher's Note: Want Safer Communities? Uncuff the Police

The police officer who strangled George Floyd is in jail, convicted of third-degree murder, now serving the first of his 22 years. Other officers on the scene that night also face charges. The … more

Commentary by Chad Taylor / For The Chronicle | 12/23/21

Lights illuminate characters and the words “Winter Wonderland” during the Christmas lights drive-through at Fort Borst Park in Centralia.

Brian Mittge Commentary: Let’s Keep our Lights Shining Through January

As soon as Christmas celebrations finish this weekend, I know that many proud Lewis County-area residents will consider it their duty to start taking down their lights and decorations. If not this … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 12/23/21

The Capitol Building is seen Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, in Olympia.

Commentary: All I Want for Christmas Is a Policy Wish List for Santa

One of my favorite Christmas songs is Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” While her wish list is fairly simple, my policy Christmas list for Santa is a little more … more

By Jason Mercier | 12/23/21

Bill Moeller Commentary: Looking Back at Meaningful Christmas Memories

I don’t suppose there’s any memory in this world that can’t — under certain circumstances — be both positive and negative. For us older guys, it might be the memory … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 12/22/21

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: Turn Down the Negative Noise This Christmas Season

Growing up, the season from around Thanksgiving until Christmas was always a magical time. The smells of baking, cooking the turkey and, of course, the anticipation of Christmas were exciting. … more

By John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 12/22/21

Hank Claycamp takes a minute to describe the concept behind the mural he was working on on the side of a buliding on Tower Avenue in Centralia in this 2012 Chronicle file photo.

Brian Mittge Commentary: Farewell to the Unforgettable Hank Claycamp

A few days after Thanksgiving, one of Lewis County’s most unique characters and voices left this world. Hank Claycamp, who trademarked and sold Mount St. Helens Volcanic Ash Glass around … more

12/20/21

Dan Duffy presents at the Christian Women's Fellowship meeting at the Church of the Nazarene last week.

Julie McDonald Commentary: Florist Shows How to Create Affordable Christmas Centerpieces

Go to the backyard. Clip greenery. Stick it in a vase. Add flowers. Sounds simple enough, but at the Christian Women’s Fellowship meeting in Centralia last week, longtime florist Dan Duffy … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 12/20/21

From left to right, former Miss Lewis County Angela March, Peter Abbarno, Franklin Taylor and Holly Abbarno run into Mayfield Lake during a Polar Plunge event to raise money for the Lewis County Special Olympics and Special Olympics of Washington last January near Mossyrock.

Guest Commentary: Making a Splash for Lewis County Special Olympics Athletes

Taking the plunge into Mayfield Lake in January does not sound appealing to a lot of people. Luckily, there are some crazy plungers eager to raise money and awareness for Lewis County Special … more

By Peter Abbarno | 12/20/21

John McCroskey Commentary: National News Consumption Requires Healthy Skepticism

For my own mental health, I have cut back on watching network news for a good while now, limiting myself to just a few minutes each day to catch the headlines. I can say without hesitation it was a … more

By John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 12/15/21

Bill Moeller Commentary: Remembering Jolene

I had wanted to submit this column to The Chronicle last week, but I also didn’t want to interrupt the series I was writing about the Gate schoolhouse and I knew my comments on her passing … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 12/15/21

Commentary: Study From UW Shows the $15 Minimum Wage Did Not Help Income Inequality

A recent study by the University of Washington has shown that Seattle’s $15 minimum wage “did little to offset widening inequality.” This conclusion matches the research done across … more

By Mark Harmsworth | 12/13/21

Volunteers Charlie Pruitt and Pat Caldwell staff the Toledo Community Library last week in this photograph by Julie McDonald.

Julie McDonald: Timberland Trustee Asks for Feasibility Study of Library in Toledo

Toledo volunteers who opened a community library in August 2014 wonder whether the Timberland Regional Library system will ever provide more than a computer kiosk to local patrons. That’s … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 12/13/21

Bill Moeller Commentary: More on Saving Gate’s School Building

When I wrote last week about the restoration of the old Gate school, I didn’t have enough space to also write about what has been done by volunteers to the building itself and to the grounds … more

By Bill Moeller / For The Chronicle | 12/10/21

Commentary: America’s Recovery Hinges on People Returning to Work

To “Build Back America,” people must return to work. In a U.S. Chamber of Commerce poll released in early December, the findings spell trouble for America’s employers … more

By Don Brunell | 12/10/21

Jonathan’s Christmas tree is pictured in this photograph provided by Richard Stride.

Richard Stride Commentary: ‘I Love You Son’: Loss, Pain and the Meaning of Jonathan’s Tree

Every year, Connie and I put up two Christmas trees, one for family and one for Jonathan. I have two sons, Brandon and Jonathan. Brandon is in his early 30s. Jonathan would have … more

By Richard Stride / For The Chronicle | 12/8/21

Some of the heaviest civilian damage during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor occurred at King and McCully streets. An incendiary bomb set fire to a drug store on the corner and flames spread to level a wide area before the fire department brought it under control. The photo above, taken by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, shows the drug store that Hatsue Hirata saw damaged.

Julie McDonald Commentary: Remember Pearl Harbor Eight Decades After the Attack

Eighty years ago today, on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, damaging or destroying 19 Navy ships, killing 2,403 people and drawing the United States into World War II. … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 12/6/21

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

Richard Stride Commentary: Considering Mother’s Words — ‘If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Would Ride’

My mom used to say, “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.” I never really liked it when she would say that, because I knew she was telling me that the world didn’t work … more

By Richard Stride / For The Chronicle | 12/3/21

For more information on the Holiday Kids’ Tree Project, visit www.bit.ly/awbkidstree2021

Guest Commentary: Chambers of Commerce Step Up to Help Fire Departments Play Santa

Throughout Washington, the leaders of local chambers of commerce are busy delivering bags of toys to rural fire departments, enabling the firefighters to play Santa Claus for the children who live in … more

12/3/21

Image from the 2016 Centralia Lighted Tractor Parade on Saturday, Dec. 10 in downtown Centralia.

Brian Mittge Commentary: Christmas Carolers Organize to Share Holiday Music

Well, we need a little Christmas Right this very minute Candles in the window Carols at the spinet... “Mame,” 1966 A new Lewis County group aims to be a cheer … more

By Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 12/3/21

McCroskey Commentary: Sheriff Could Have Responded Better to Commissioner’s Budget Questions

Recently a story was published by The Chronicle about a dustup between Sheriff Rob Snaza and Commissioner Lindsey Pollock over an increase in the sheriff’s budget. It reminded me of my … more

By John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 12/1/21