Life | The Daily Chronicle

Kailani Vidal, Seaside High School, submitted the winning lumber wrap design for the company’s Cowlitz Valley sawmills in Lewis County.

Hampton Lumber announces winners of 2026 lumber wrap design competition

Hampton Lumber on Monday announced the winners of its 2026 Lumber Wrap Design Competition, highlighting student creativity from communities across its operating regions. The competition invited … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/17/26

From the left, Rainier City Clerk/Treasurer Tami Justice, Mayor Bob Shaw, City Attorney William Cameron and Councilors Amy Baker, Ryan Roth, Tom Arnbrister, Ron Kemp and Maureen Baker listen as Ken and Kathy Borgen ask for approval for a memoral sign for their slain grandchildren, gunned down in Lacey last year, during their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 9, inside Rainier City Hall.

Grandparents of slain Borgen brothers ask Rainier council to support memorial sign

While members of the Rainier City Council didn’t have too long of a monthly meeting last week on Tuesday, June 9 — the only agenda item was approval of the South Thurston County community’s … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 6/17/26

Stitched Quilting to hold quilting workshop in Chehalis

Stitched Quilting will host a quilting workshop in Chehalis, led by Corrie Hadaller. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 8 and 9 at the Forest Grange, 3397 Jackson Highway, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/17/26

Thurston County Commissioners pose for a photo with organizations involved in Pride Month after declaring June as Pride Month in Thurston County at The Atrium in Olympia on Tuesday, June 16.

Thurston County recognizes June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month

The Thurston County Board of Commissioners celebrated Pride Month on Tuesday with its annual proclamation and celebration. Since 2018, Thurston County has been officially recognizing the month … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com | 6/17/26

The "World's Largest Egg" in Winlock sports a new paintjob courtesy of Emily von Flotow on Sunday, June 14, celebrating America250, the nationwide celebration of the upcoming 250th Independence Day holiday.

‘EGGSTRA PATRIOTIC’ Winlock Egg Days festival starts this Friday

Starting on Friday, June 19, residents in South Lewis County and beyond are invited to the annual Winlock Egg Days festival, which celebrates the city’s egg-producing history. This … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 6/16/26

Brooklynn Bell tosses the rope while practicing breakaway roping at Stick Horse Arena in Tenino on Thursday, June 5, 2025.

Thurston County teen qualifies for National High School Finals Rodeo in breakaway roping

Brooklynn Bell, a ninth grade homeschooled student from Rainier, punched her ticket to the 78th annual National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) in Lincoln, Nebraska, in the breakaway roping … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/16/26

An adult spring Chinook salmon awaits release into South Coldwater Creek during a historic reintroduction effort led by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and partner agencies on Wednesday, June 10. The project aims to restore salmon access to habitat above the Sediment Retention Structure in the North Fork Toutle River Basin.

Chinook salmon return above MSH sediment retention structure

For the first time in roughly four decades, spring Chinook salmon were released above the sediment retention structure in the North Fork Toutle River watershed. State, federal, tribal and … more

By Cade Barker / The Reflector | 6/15/26

Water flows from the Deschutes River through Tumwater Falls.

Olympia Tumwater Foundation launches Friends of the Falls membership program

The Olympia Tumwater Foundation has announced the launch of “Friends of the Falls,” a new membership program created to support the long-term stewardship, preservation and future of Brewery Park … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/15/26

Connor looks at a treat at the Lewis County Animal Shelter in Chehalis on Thursday, April 25.

Chehalis Tractor Supply to hold pet adoption event

Chehalis Tractor Supply is inviting customers to attend a pet adoption event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 27. “As an active advocate and supporter of pet rescue and adoption, Tractor Supply … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/15/26

Samba OlyWa begin their performance on NW Front Street at the Chehalis Flying Saucer Party Parade in Chehalis on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.

Chehalis Flying Saucer Party canceled as museum director departs

This year’s Chehalis Flying Saucer Party, originally scheduled for Sept. 11 and 12, has been canceled, according to event organizers, who made the unexpected announcement on Thursday, June 11. … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 6/15/26

Lea Green and her family, of Multiculturally Minded Lewis County, accepts a proclamation from Mayor Kelly Smith Johnson during a Juneteenth celebration at George Washington Park in Centralia on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

'Founded through the generosity of George Washington': Centralia to hold Juneteenth celebration

All community members are invited to the Juneteenth celebration planned for Friday, June 19, at Centralia’s George Washington Park. This celebration will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon and … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/15/26

A Union Pacific diesel locomotive sporting a U.S. flag livery passes by the the "World's Largest Egg" in Winlock, bearing a new patriotic America250 paintjob itself, on Flag Day, Sunday, June 14.

Winlock’s ‘World’s Largest Egg’ sports new patriotic paint job for upcoming America250 and Egg Days

With the summer sun shining down, the “World’s Largest Egg” in Winlock sported a new America250 paintjob, which fit in perfectly with the dozens of U.S. flags lining the streets of the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/15/26

Graduates celebrate at the end of the Oakville High School class of 2026 graduation ceremony at Oakville Middle/High School on Saturday, June 13.

In Focus: Oakville class of 2026 celebrates at graduation

6/15/26

Graduates shoot confetti overhead after turning their tassels during the Pe Ell High School class of 2026 graduation ceremony at Pe Ell School on Friday, June 12.

In Focus: Pe Ell School class of 2026 graduation

6/15/26

Team BrightNight, left, races Don’t Have a Clue through Main Street in Bucoda during the Boo-Coda Spook-Tacular Casket Race on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Future of Boo-Coda Spook-Tacular, Bucoda Gym and community garden still in limbo amid liability concerns

Close to 20 attendees filed into the Bucoda Community Center on Tuesday, June 9, for the regular monthly meeting of the Bucoda Town Council. Tensions were high during the meeting as, over the … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 6/15/26

Orange County, California, resident Kelso Bradshaw holds up the only clue his friend gave him eight days prior when he dropped him off in Mississippi with the challenge to find his way to Winlock without a smart phone or GPS, during the Winlock City Council meeting on Monday, June 8.

From Eggville to ‘World’s Largest Egg’: Man goes on cross-country challenge trip to Winlock

While meeting attendees and councilors discussed a number of official agenda items at the Winlock City Council meeting on Monday, June 8, there was an out-of-towner among the attendees who also spoke … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 6/15/26

Traffic drives past the building that once housed Van Cleve Motors Inc. in Morton on Sunday, June 14.

Long-established Morton dealership, auto repair building comes under new ownership as Jim Van Cleve retires

Van Cleve Motors Inc. in Morton is no longer open after C.J. and Heidi Cooper of Ed’s Morton Auto Parts announced the dealership’s former owner, Jim Van Cleve, has finally retired in a post on … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/15/26

The Lewis County Health Building in Chehalis on Thursday, June 27.

Food Establishment Inspection Scores:From the Lewis County Public Health Department (March-May)

Editor’s Note: These are reports from health inspections in Lewis County between December 2025 and January of this year. Lewis County Public Health’s inspections happen at various intervals, so … more

6/15/26

Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run coming to Centralia June 22

The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, an international torch relay, will be coming to Centralia on Monday, June 22. An estimated 50,000 children in over 1,000 cities and towns along the route … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/15/26

Toledo Community Foundation’s Backpack Program provides 1,682 students with food

As the school year wrapped up, the Toledo Community Foundation’s “Backpack Program” sent home 1,682 weekend food backpacks to Toledo students. The community food barrel added another 500 … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/15/26