Life | The Daily Chronicle

"Caitlin Volk, Toledo, crosses the finish line of her marathon as part of the RunDisney Coast to Coast Medal Challenge. She began the Disney World Marathon Weekend with the Dopey Challenge on Jan. 4 with a 5K, Jan. 5 a 10K, Jan. 6 a half marathon, and Jan. 7 her first full marathon, which she finished with her mom, Kendra Meek. On Jan. 13, she began her Dumbo Challenge at Disneyland with a 10K and finished on Jan. 14 with her personal record half marathon, completing six races in 11 days and 67.9 miles of racing. Congratulations Caitlin Volk!" — submitted by Kendra Meek. To submit community news or photos to The Chronicle, email news@chronline.com.

Reader’s Lens: Toledo resident completes six races in 11 days

1/15/24

Centralia College Student at Green Hill School publishes his memoirs

Centralia College student and current Green Hill School inmate Caya Lenay, 22, started writing his memoir in May 2022. He knew he wanted to write it. He knew he had a lot of support. But, like … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/10/24

Attendees observe a display honoring Medal of honor recipient Franklin D. Miller after a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis on Jan. 5.

Green Beret’s Medal of Honor now on display at Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis

Fifty-four years to the day after a brutal battle unfolded in the Kon Tum province in Vietnam and nearly took the life of U.S. Army Green Beret Franklin Douglas Miller, his children, friends and … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 1/8/24

The yet-to-be-named calf, born to parents Jozi and King on Dec. 4, is up to 172 pounds from its birthweight of 100 pounds and has begun to explore the behind-the-scenes rhino maternity den, according to a release from the zoo.

Oregon Zoo’s baby rhino turns one month old

The newest member of the Oregon Zoo’s rhinoceros family crossed a milestone this week, turning one month old on Thursday, Jan. 4. The yet-to-be-named calf, born to parents Jozi and King on … more

Sean Meagher / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 1/6/24

Centralia High School Class of 2022 graduate Lucy Nowicki poses with fellow members of the UW Marching Band at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, in early January, 2024. Courtesy photo.

Centralia High School grad joins UW Marching Band on trip to National Championship

The University of Washington Marching Band, which includes Centralia High School Class of 2022 graduate Lucy Nowicki, will fly out to Houston, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 6, ahead of Monday’s … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/5/24

Hispanic Resource Fair coming to Centralia College Jan. 27

In an event organized by the Lewis County Youth Mentorship Program and the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs, Centralia College will be hosting a Hispanic/Latino Resource Fair on Jan. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/5/24

Puget Sound Energy donates $15,000 to Toledo Neighbors Program

The Toledo Neighbors Program, a nonprofit that helps people share food and other resources with their neighbors without restrictions, has received a $15,000 donation from Puget Sound Energy, the … more

The Chronicle staff | 1/5/24

Roughly 40 kayakers smile for a photo before heading out for a guided tour of Lake Mayfield on Monday, Jan. 1.

Kayaking into the new year: ‘Free Hike Day’ event draws 40 to Ike Kinswa State Park

The drive caused a bit of a concern. Shrouded by low-hanging gray clouds for much of the trip, I wondered what exactly I got myself into when I pitched a kayaking trip as my first story of 2024. … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com | 1/3/24

Gary Loomis, chairman emeritus and founder of the Coastal Conservation Association, is pictured at an event in 2022.

Centralia Alumni Association to award Gary Loomis with Distinguished Alumni Award

The Centralia Alumni Association has announced Gary Loomis as the recipient of the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Person Award. The award will be presented at halftime during a basketball game … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/3/24

Ted McGill, left, is pictured with an O Bee Credit Union member in this photo provided by the credit union.

Great-granddaughter of founder joins O Bee Credit Union as chief financial officer

O Bee Credit Union has appointed Martha Prestin, the great-granddaughter of the credit union’s founder with decades of experience in the industry, as chief financial officer. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/2/24

Freya Jeanne Meisling: Thurston County’s first baby of 2024 arrives

Freya Jeanne Meisling is Thurston County’s first baby of 2024, Providence St. Peter Hospital announced. Meisling was born at 12:48 a.m. Jan. 1, weighing 7 pounds, 14 ounces and … more

By Rolf Boone / The Olympian | 1/2/24

Mabel Lee Fleming weighed 6 pounds, 13.4 ounces and was 18 and a quarter inches long.

Meet Mabel: The first baby of 2024 at Providence Centralia Hospital

The first baby of 2024 born at Providence Centralia Hospital came into the world at 7:27 p.m. Jan. 1. Mabel Lee Fleming weighed 6 pounds, 13.4 ounces and was 18 and a quarter inches … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/2/24

Good Buzz Brewing Co. owner Forrest Chesvick offers samples of his mead to customers at the bar while other customers enjoy a game of Sorry! at a table inside the Good Buzz Brewing Co. taproom in Centralia on Friday, Dec. 29.

Get a good buzz at new veteran-owned mead brewery in Centralia

While some think of those in ancient civilizations as avid wine drinkers, many believe mead — an alcoholic beverage brewed by fermenting honey along with other ingredients, such as fruit, herbs … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 1/1/24

Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association hosting acoustic music jam in Chehalis on Friday

Musicians are invited to participate in the Washington Old Time Fiddlers Assocation’s acoustic music jam this Friday, Jan. 5, at Faith Baptist Church in Chehalis. Faith Baptist Church is … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/1/24

Julie McDonald: Birthday of Upper Cowlitz Native Mary Kiona provides opportunity to examine her legacy

Tomorrow marks a birthday celebration, the date when a well-known Upper Cowlitz woman was born beside the banks of the Cowlitz River near present-day Randle about 170 years ago. Official Yakama … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 1/1/24

Polar Plunge participants jump into Offut Lake near Tenino on Jan. 1. Approximately 150 people, jumping in groups of eight, participated in the Offut Lake Resort’s New Year’s Day tradition this year. The annual event began with breakfast at Lady of the Lake. This year, donations were raised for Bucoda Mayor Rob Gordon, who is battling cancer. Donations can be made to the Robert Gordon Cancer Fund at any WSECU branch. Money can also be donated to Gordon and his family on Venmo: Miriam-Gordon-13.

In focus: New Year’s revelers take the plunge at Offut Lake Resort

1/1/24

A mountain goat walks down a ridge at sunset near Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park in Ashford on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023.

The Chronicle's 2023 Photos of the Year

The Chronicle's photographers and reporters capture thousands upon thousands of photographs of the communities we cover each year. The photos included here represent some of the most compelling … more

1/1/24

Kevin Aselton, right, hugs Mayor Lonnie Willey, left, upon being greeted during a surprise ceremony at Pe Ell Town Hall Thursday afternoon, Dec. 28.

Pe Ell surprises beloved UPS driver with flag flown over U.S. Capitol

As more and more shopping shifts online, with anything from toilet paper to a TV available with a few clicks of a mouse, the job of a delivery driver can often be anonymous and, at times, thankless. … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com | 12/29/23

Medal of Honor recipient Franklin D. Miller, back row on the right, is pictured with a joint American-Vietnamese unit he was on patrol with while deployed in Vietnam.

Vietnam veteran’s Medal of Honor to be permanently displayed at Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis

Franklin Douglas Miller was a U.S. Army command sergeant major who was awarded the Medal of Honor on June 5, 1971, by former President Richard Nixon. He was given the Medal of Honor for his … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 12/29/23

Hundreds of native trees, shrubs planted at Chehalis River Discovery Trail by students and volunteers

During two events in November, the Lewis County Stream Team partnered with the Chehalis River Basin Land Trust to organize and gather volunteers to plant native trees and shrubs along the Chehalis … more

By The Chronicle staff | 12/29/23