Life | The Daily Chronicle

Former Miss Lewis County Wins Pageant, Will Compete for National Title

Emily (Parnham) Skeers, competing as Mrs. Olympia, was crowned Mrs. Washington in the United States of America’s Miss Oregon and Washington Pageant on Sunday, Sept. 18, at the Richard E. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/28/22

Rena Kreis receives a kiss from Titus Sickles, 4, Tuesday afternoon at Kemp Olson Memorial Park in Toledo.

Toledo Family Creates Wishlist for Son, 4, Who Has a Terminal Heart Condition

Titus Sickles is the second youngest of five boys. All two years apart, the brothers have nearly identical buzz cut blond hair, freckles and blue-green eyes, strongly resembling their mother. On … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 9/28/22

Alan Carr waves from inside a pine box during the Casket Parade in 2021. The races take place this Saturday.

Bucoda Becomes 'Boo-Coda' With a Month of Halloween Fun Ahead

With October being the official spooky month, Bucoda is preparing for its month-long Halloween celebrations with the Boo-Coda Spook-Tacular festival. Aside from changing the town’s name to … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/28/22

United Way of Lewis County’s affinity group, Women United, delivered donated period supplies to Centralia Middle School (CMS) staff and students Monday afternoon. Pictured are, from left, CMS counselor Laura Hoff, CMS student Amy Ensell, United Way community impact director Chastity Pennington, CMS student Angel Carmen, CMS principal Lara Gregorich-Bennett, CMS assistant principal Cherie Calhoun, CMS student Alyssa Hicks-Avron, CMS counselor Melia Livingstone, Women United co-chair Jacki Jewell, Nancee Alvord of Women United and Centralia School District superintendent Lisa Grant.

Women United Donates Menstrual Products to Centralia Middle School as Launch of the ‘Supplies Period’ Initiative

Pads, tampons and other menstrual products are typically handled discreetly, hidden in pockets or long sleeves during the walk to the bathroom and discussed in low voices, if they’re discussed … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 9/28/22

Elee Fairhart, left, smiles while talking about exhibit pieces alongside Becky Starr-Justice, curator for the Morton Historical Museum.

Morton Historical Museum Honors a Local Immigrant Family’s Legacy

Elee Fairhart has searched several times, unsuccessfully, for another man in America with his name. The Morton resident who made his career in physical therapy has a backstory as unique as his … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 9/26/22

Nationally Known Gospel Music Group Coming to Chehalis’ First Christian Church On Oct. 16

The Liberty Quartet, a gospel music group from Boise, Idaho, consisting of Royce Mitchell, bass; Paul Ellis, lead; Philip Batton, tenor; Will Arasmith, baritone; and Doran Ritchey, piano/baritone, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/26/22

Alexandra Sullivan stands alongside Sanine, a Borzoi dog, as Pastor Zachary Taylor smiles and gives pets during “Blessing of the Animals” at the Chehalis United Methodist Church on Saturday. PAWchella, a free pet fair, was held in the parking lot of the Chehalis United Methodist Church. The event featured free professional pet photography by Beast Friends, Blessings of the Animals Booth, local vendors and free fun activities. All well behaved pets were welcome.

In Focus: 'Blessing of the Animals' Held at Chehalis United Methodist Church Event

Chehalis United Methodist Church Pastor Zachary Taylor smiles and interacted with pets during “Blessing of the Animals” on Saturday. PAWchella, a free pet fair, was held in the parking … more

9/26/22

A float at a previous Onalaska Harvest Festival is pictured.

Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival Brings Back Full Lineup

Over the years, the Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival has grown and changed, but organizer Cathy Murphy said members of the Onalaska Alliance have always had one goal in mind when it comes to their … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 9/25/22

Mount Rainier scrapes the skies as the meadows of Paradise begin to turn to fall colors on Wednesday.

In Focus: Scenes From Paradise as Summer Comes to an End

9/23/22

One candidate for the 2022 Oktoberfest Swiss Miss will be Grace Huber.

Lewis-Pacific Swiss Society to Host 53rd Annual Oktoberfest at Swiss Hall on Oct. 1

The Lewis-Pacific Swiss Society will celebrate its 53rd annual Oktoberfest at the Swiss Hall in Frances on Saturday, Oct. 1. Throughout the day, patrons will be able to compete in bowling, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/23/22

70th Anniversary Announcement: LeRoy and Bertha Bluhm

Bertha (Muller) and LeRoy (Lee) Bluhm met at a Napavine High School game in February 1950. She was in her senior year, and he had just finished two years in the Navy. She was 18 and he was 20. … more

Submitted to The Chronicle | 9/23/22

N.E. Greenleaf, a building contractor in the late 1920s and early 1930s, is said to have built many houses, businesses, Nugent Hospital, apartments and schools. In this photo his name appears on the site of the Logan School as it was being built.

A Look Back in Time: Lewis County Residents Support Richard Nixon Following His 1952 ‘Checkers Speech’

Lewis County was reported by The Chronicle as showing its support for Richard Nixon on Sept. 24, 1952. At the time, Nixon was a U.S. senator from California running with Dwight Eisenhower as the … more

Compiled by Matthew Zylstra / matthew@chronline.com | 9/23/22

A new boardwalk was constructed on the Kiser Trail at the Seminary Hill Natural area during a volunteer work party Sept. 17.

Volunteers Build Boardwalk on Seminary Hill to Protect the Kiser Trail During Rainy Season

By Emily Fitzgerald emily@chronline.com The leaves are changing in the Seminary Hill Natural Area, and with it the prospect of fall and winter rains that turn a section of Kiser Trail near the … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 9/23/22

Alice Shinn and Dan Duffy smile and pose for a photo with their art at the Centralia Train Station on Tuesday.

Last Call for ARTrails Studio Tour This Weekend Showcasing Lewis County Artists

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And in the Centralia Train Depot. Not just for its historic architecture, but for the ARTrails of Southwest Washington’s showcase that’s been on … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 9/21/22

Patty and Joe Dolezal talk about fall prevention Tuesday morning at the Twin Cities Senior Center in Chehalis.

Senior Safety: Lewis County Has Highest Fall Rate Leading to Injury or Death in the State

Autumn is around the bend, but local health care providers encourage senior citizens to take whatever safety measures they can to prevent a fall. “As much as possible, you want to avoid … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 9/21/22

For nearly 15 minutes fireworks were launched in celebration of Mexican Independence Day at Klickitat Prairie Park in Mossyrock Saturday night. Photo by Owen Sexton.

In Focus: Mexican Independence Celebration Held in Mossyrock

9/19/22

Michael Duquette and his finished horse sculpture on the playa at the Burning Man festival.

Winlock Artist Brings Art to Burning Man

Winlock artist Michael Duquette always wanted to go to the Burning Man Project but never found the time or money to go. After experiencing the iconic event this year, his one piece of advice to … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 9/19/22

Chanelle Schanz, her daughter Summer, decendants of Kenneth Arnold, and Lewis County Historical Museum Director Jason Mattson continue to throw mini frisbees out to the crowd in front of the museum to celebrate the Chehalis Flying Saucer Party. These saucers, unlike the ones Arnold saw in skies above Mt. Rainier on June 24, 1947, were identifiable. Photo by Owen Sexton.

Chehalis Celebrates 75th Anniversary of 1947 Historic UFO Sighting With Flying Saucer Party

The fact that the “flying saucers” famously spotted by pilot Kenneth Arnold in 1947 remain unidentified to this day didn’t stop around 900 people — according to an estimate by … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 9/19/22

Rick Sundstrom shows an incredibly small quilting needle to Judy Cobd and Susy Carpenter during a meetup of the In Stitches quilting group, which will hold its final public show Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at Centralia Christian School.

In Stitches Quilt Group Pulls Out Stops for Last Show

For decades, the In Stitches quilting group has been a gathering place where what some might call old fashioned arts are celebrated. Its members have seen each other through life’s ups and … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 9/19/22

Tenino Mayor Wayne Fournier introduces Don Bowman of Olympia and Jan Wigley of Centralia at the ribbon cutting ceremony to open the restored caboose at the Tenino Depot Museum on Saturday morning. Photo by Owen Sexton.

Caboose Unveiled at Tenino Depot Museum to Celebrate 150 Years of Tenino Railroad History

The City of Tenino celebrated 150 years of railroad history on Saturday by unveiling a newly-restored Great Northern Railway caboose originally constructed in 1923 to begin festivities at the first … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 9/19/22