The Daily Chronicle

Mel Canfield pauses near a white, wooden cross he built and installed at the Newaukum Hill Cemetery. Many of the graves do not bear markers, potentially because the interred may have died at a local poor farm.

The Keepers of History: Volunteers Care for Some of Lewis County’s Earliest Burials

Editor’s Note: This is the first article in a two-part series focused on pioneer cemeteries. Look for the final installment in Thursday’s edition. When Mel Canfield heard a … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 11/22/21

Olympia Mayor Cheryl Selby, riding center dressed as Maleficent, along with her City of Olympia crewmates wave during the Casket Parade outside Bucoda Town Hall Saturday afternoon before receiving the best dressed award.

BOO-coda’s Casket Races Put the ‘Fun’ in Funeral on Saturday

Bucoda, or BOO-coda during the month of October, claims to be the “World's Tiniest Town with the Biggest Halloween Spirit.” As one of the many events supporting its claim in the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 10/11/21

Jared Wenzelburger / jared@chronline.com From left, Executive Director Diane Paulson, Shastity Warren, Nannette Hoile, Sharon Wedam, Ellie Rowland, Teresa Heishman and board President Jami Lund pose for a photo during the unveiling for a new electrocardiography machine at Health & Hope Medical Outreach in Centralia on Tuesday inside Northwest Pediatrics Clinic Building B.

Health & Hope Medical Outreach Free Clinic Unveils New CCG Machine Purchased Through Donations

When five patients at Health & Hope Medical Outreach’s free clinic had to be referred to Providence for an electrocardiogram (ECG) — a noninvasive test used to diagnose common heart … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 10/6/21

Onalaska High School cheerleaders and band members walk to the music during the Onalaska Apple Harvest parade Saturday morning.

Photos: Apple Harvest Festival Rolls Through Onalaska

10/4/21 | 1 comment

Heidi Pehl smiles while talking about the "Back to School Dash," in her office at I-5 Toyota Thursday in Chehalis.

I-5 Toyota Back to School Dash Returns, Raises Money for Students

It started 15 years ago with a challenge from Toyota to its dealerships: Come up with a charitable event in your community. Local dealers set up galas and parties, but Heidi Pehl at I-5 Toyota … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 8/13/21

Little Miss Friendly Finalist are briefed before an event Friday inside the Vernetta Smith Chehalis Timberland Library.

Five Confident Girls Vie for Little Miss Friendly Title

If you walked into the Vernetta Smith Timberland Chehalis Library’s conference room on Friday, you might’ve assumed you stumbled into a meeting of the G7. Sitting around the fancy … more

By Claudia Yaw / cyaw@chronline.com | 8/9/21

Sophie Moerke smiles as she is crowned Miss Lewis County during a ceremony in Chehalis on Monday.

With Community Service in Mind, Sophie Moerke Crowned Miss Lewis County

None of the perks and a year of the work. That’s what Sophie Moerke has signed up for. But for her, service to the community is the most important perk to her position of Miss Lewis … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 7/14/21

Candy is thrown to crowds from a Toledo Cheese Days float during a parade on Saturday.

In Focus: 100th Cheese Days Parade Rolls Through Toledo

7/12/21

Residents wave at the annual Fourth of July Parade at Stillwaters Estates. Many activities like this are planned for residents who may not be able to travel to other parts of the area for community events.

Stillwaters Estates: An Atmosphere of Real Caring

Editor’s Note: This is Part Two in a two-part series on Stillwaters Estates. Find Part One at chronline.com. Talk to residents of Stillwaters about their community and certain words and … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 7/7/21

Marcy Anholt smiles while talking about stained glass artwork displayed in pictures around her studio.

Washington State Patrol ‘Fallen Heroes Wall’ Features Work of Chehalis Stained Glass Artist

For five years, a stained glass window created by Chehalis ARTrails regular Marcy Anholt has traveled to Washington State Patrol offices across the state. The window depicts a state trooper … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 6/30/21

A woman dressed as a clown smiles as she walks down the sidewalk during the annual Funtime Parade in 2018.

Return of the Fun: Napavine Plans One-Day Funtime Festival

As organizers of community festivals throughout Southwest Washington began announcing this spring they would be bringing back their events in 2021, Jerry Owens of the Napavine Funtime Festival held … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 6/14/21

Tenino City Historian Richard Edwards smiles while talking about items inside the Tenino Depot Museum on Tuesday.

Historian Who Finds Joy Uncovering Tenino's Secrets Identifies First Known Photo of Stone City

Magic can rarely exist in the face of investigation. To many, the city of Tenino is filled with mystique and enchantment. The town’s swimming pool is an old sandstone quarry. The source of … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / For The Chronicle | 6/11/21

Anne Stedham, president of the Friendly Neighbors Garden Club, and Chip Duncan, the Veterans Memorial Museum executive director, pose for a photo outside the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis.

Veterans Museum to Gain New Memorial Thanks to Friendly Neighbors Garden Club

A Blue Star Memorial, given to the Veterans Memorial Museum by the local Friendly Neighbors Garden Club, will be dedicated at 1:30 p.m. on June 12 on the lawn across from the museum in … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / The Chronicle | 6/9/21

Robert Zozaya and Rainy Karnes, owners of Raven's Wind Farm in Toledo, have been growing mushrooms for 12 years and said the COVID-19 pandemic was a blessing in disguise for them since it forced them to stay home and focus on growing their business..

Raven's Wind Farm: Toledo Couple Grows Mushrooms for Culinary, Health Benefits

Rainy Karnes and Robert Zozaya have been perfecting their mushroom growing techniques together for the last 12 years. But the inspiration for the co-owners of Raven’s Wind Farm to begin … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 6/4/21

Charlie is one of several cows living out their lives at Misspits Rescue in Oakville.

Founded to Save Pit Bulls, Misspits Rescue in Oakville Now Protects Many Animals

When Melissa Nolan started Misspits Rescue in 2013, it was focused on saving pit bulls. Eight years later, in addition to pit bulls, Nolan’s farm near Oakville is home to cows, goats, … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 5/24/21

Lovers Hermia (portrayed by Celeste Haugan) and Lysander (portrayed by Christian Bolduc) make plans to run away and marry in secret because their families disapprove of the match.

A Comeback to Give Back: TOAD and Evergreen Playhouse to Bring Live Theater, Renaissance Faire

The COVID-19 pandemic took a lot of things away for a while. And one upcoming theater production is not only bringing live theater back to the community, but also giving back to a group of kids who … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 5/19/21

Oak is cuddled by a young patient at Providence Centralia Hospital. The dog also worked at the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in Chehalis.

'An Incredible Boy:' Lewis County and Providence Hospital Therapy Dog Oak Remembered

Service dogs are typically raised and trained to help one person. Oak, the nearly 9-year-old black lab who worked as a therapy dog at both the Lewis County Law and Justice Center and Providence … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 5/17/21

A train races past the historic Winlock hatchery and renowned giant egg in the city of Winlock. In the foreground is the painted wooden thermometer sign showing current fundraising efforts to purchase a rare Winlock history collection before it’s too late, for the Winlock Historical Museum.

Saving History: Grassroots Effort Nets Winlock Historical Museum $25,000 and Counting

Tucked into the downtown core of the city of Winlock and guarded by a beady-eyed oversized rooster, the red and white facade of the 1914-era Winlock firehouse and jail now houses a well-displayed … more

By Victoria Stewart / For The Chronicle | 5/12/21

Blippi and Sage Fournier are recorded by a crew from Moonbug Productions last week in Tenino.

YouTube Star Blippi Returns to Tenino

Education YouTuber Stevin John — known by his young fanbase as Blippi — stopped by Tenino for another visit last week to film segments for an upcoming video. Mayor Wayne Fournier said … more

By Eric Rosane / ericr@chronline.com | 5/10/21 | 2 comments

Photos: Vader May Day Rings in the Festival Season

The town of Vader on Saturday played host to the first festival in Lewis County in well over a year. Like other events and gatherings, Vader May Day had been on pause in order to stay in line with … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/3/21