Life | The Daily Chronicle

Ron Moeller stands with his montage of 30 Bible-themed paintings.

Centralia man lights up his neighborhood with Bible-themed paintings

People who drive along busy Johnson Road in Centralia are accustomed to seeing the elaborate Christmas decorations Ronald A. Moeller sets up in his yard each winter, as well as the large murals he … more

By John Martin / For The Chronicle | 7/16/24

Cyclists make their way down North Pearl Street in Centralia during the 2024 Seattle to Portland Bike Ride on Saturday, July 13. The Kaiser Permanente Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic presented by Alaska Airlines is a 206-mile ride through western Washington. This year, 6,000 riders took part in the ride, with many staying overnight at Centralia College, Recreation Park and other locations between the starting line in Seattle and the finish line in Portland.

In focus: Thousands of STP riders pedal through region

7/15/24

Competing dogs stand to be judged at the Show Up & Show Out American Bullies Dog Show, held at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 13.

In focus: Bullies on display at Southwest Washington Fairgrounds

7/15/24

Big Cheese Carl Buswell sprays water onto the crowd during the Toledo Cheese Days Parade on Saturday, July 13. The 2024 Big Cheeses are Don Buswell Sr. and his sons Don, Carl, Guy and Alan. The Big Cheeses are essentially grand marshals at Cheese Days, which began on Thursday with the Big Cheese Social and ended with activities on Sunday. It was the 103rd Toledo Cheese Days festival.

In focus: Toledo celebrates its cheesy heritage at annual parade

7/15/24

Local author Sara Light-Waller models her flying saucer costume she made on Saturday, July 13, at the Lewis County Historical Museum in preparation for the upcoming Chehalis Flying Saucer Party "Alien Invasion" parade on Sept. 14.

In focus: Costumes created ahead of ‘Alien Invasion’ parade in Chehalis

7/15/24

FILE PHOTO — Seated on the left, Onalaska resident Jasmine Preslicka poses with fellow competitors after the fourth annual Statewide Inspirational Speech Championship last year at Centralia College.

Centralia College to host the fifth annual Statewide Inspirational Speech Championship

Centralia College’s Jamie Cline will compete for the title of Statewide Inspirational Speech Champion on July 27. This year’s competition will mark the fifth year since the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/15/24

Recipients of the Kinder Scholarships pose for a photo during a graduation party at the TransAlta Centralia Generation on Wednesday, July 10.

TransAlta awards scholarships 12 years after challenging kindergarteners

Twelve years after the students of Liz Meldrum’s Mossyrock kindergarten class were brought together and promised a $2,500 college scholarship from TransAlta after they won a competition that … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com | 7/12/24

Attendees chat during Nature Nurture Farmacy’s Enchanted Herbal Evening in 2023.

Nature Nurture Farmacy builds community through Enchanted Herbal Evening

For the third year in a row, Nature Nurture Farmacy in Chehalis will practice what they preach by creating community with the building blocks of fresh local food and inspired local chefs. Nature … more

By Brenna Witchey / brenna@chronline.com | 7/12/24

FILE PHOTO — Vendor Jon McNeely of Chehalis shows cards for sale to potential customers during the Keiper's Cards and Memorabilia Show in downtown Centralia on Sunday, May 5.

Centralia trading card and sports memorabilia shop to host free trade night for local card collectors

Whether someone is looking for a rare rookie card of their favorite player or just looking to browse fellow collectors’ cards to see if there’s anything they might want to trade for, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/12/24

From the left, Guy, Alan, Carl, Don and, sitting down, Don Buswell Sr. pose for a photo after being named the 2024 Big Cheeses during the Big Cheese Social at Kemp Olson Memorial Park in Toledo on Thursday, July 11.

‘Big Cheeses’ honored as Toledo Cheese Days gets underway

Toledo’s 103rd annual Cheese Days festival kicked off with the Big Cheese Social on Thursday night at Kemp Olson Memorial Park. There, this year’s Big Cheeses — … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/12/24

People paddle board in Snow Lake at Mount Rainier National Park on Monday, July 8.

In focus: Scenes from the Bench and Snow Lake Trail at Mount Rainier National Park

The Bench and Snow Lake Trail is a 2.2-mile trail near Paradise within Mount Rainier National Park that can be accessed from Stevens Canyon Road. It takes about two hours to hike in and out with … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/12/24

The Baker Family is composed of mother, Carrie Baker, playing bass, and her three adult children: her sons, Trustin (fiddle and banjo) and Elijah (guitar and bass), and daughter, Carina, (mandolin and fiddle).

Adna Grange to host Missouri-based bluegrass band

The Baker Family, a four-piece bluegrass band from Missouri, will perform at Adna Grange No. 417 on Tuesday, July 16. The Baker Family is composed of mother, Carrie Baker, playing bass, and her … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/12/24

Slade Bailey and Kelsy King have formally announced their engagement. Both the bridal shower and the groom party will be held in Washington state. They will give their vows in a private ceremony at Glacier National Park in October. A wedding reception will follow in Missoula, Montana.

Engagement announcement: Slade Bailey and Kelsy King

Slade Bailey and Kelsy King have formally announced their engagement. The groom, Slade Bailey, graduated from W.F. West High School in 2016. He attended Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, … more

Submitted to The Chronicle | 7/12/24

Stars shine over Mt. St. Helens as a shooting star, left, and airplane, right, pass by in this long exposure photo, taken from the top of Windy Ridge Viewpoint on Tuesday, July 9.

In focus: Stunning views amid solitude on road to Windy Ridge at Mount St. Helens

Chronicle photographer Kody Christen collected these photos as he ventured to the recently-opened Windy Ridge Viewpoint at the Mount St. Helens National Monument on Tuesday afternoon and evening. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/12/24

Emily Durbin goes down a slide at the Gail and Carolyn Shaw Aquatics Center in Chehalis on Tuesday, July 9.

In focus: Cooling down at the Gail and Carolyn Shaw Aquatics Center in Chehalis

7/10/24

A man and his dog ride a jet ski during a hot day at Mayfield Lake in Mossyrock on Tuesday, July 9.

In focus: Beating the heat Mayfield Lake

7/10/24

Angie Twining scoops ice cream at The Creamery LC Coffee Co. located at 1622 S. Gold St. in Centralia on Tuesday, July 9.

Lewis County Coffee Company ventures into the ice cream world

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream month. Between that and the extreme heat, this month seemed like the perfect time for Lewis County Coffee Company to open … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 7/10/24

Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum President Mary Kay Nelson talks about railroad opperations on Monday, July 8, at a Chehalis City Council meeting.

Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum president looks to continue train excursions, explore steam engine repairs

In April, the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum (CCRM) resumed train excursions after a two-year hiatus that came due to the loss of its liability insurance coverage in 2022, which was partly … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 7/10/24

Tents cover a pavilion as bikers prepare to leave Centralia College, the official half-way point of the 2023 Seattle to Portland Bike Ride, Sunday morning, July 16, 2023

STP bike ride expected to bring 6,000 cyclists to Western Washington’s roads

Keep your eyes out for bicyclists this weekend. The annual Kaiser Permanente Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (STP) takes place Saturday, July 13, and Sunday, July 14, bringing thousands of … more

By Brenna Witchey / brenna@chronline.com | 7/10/24

Northwest Salmon Smokehouse owners Frank and Danielle Pfannes pose in this photo provided by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce.

Northwest Salmon Smokehouse to celebrate six months of business in Chehalis

The Northwest Salmon Smokehouse, located at 486 N. Market Blvd. in downtown Chehalis, will celebrate six months in business with a ribbon-cutting ceremony provided by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/10/24