Local News | The Daily Chronicle

The U.S. Small Business Administration sets up shop in the basement of the Lewis County Courthouse to help residents apply for disaster loans for damage caused by late 2025 flooding and storms.

Small Business Administration opening disaster loan outreach center in Packwood

After opening a disaster loan outreach center in the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis last week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is bringing its resources to Packwood, which was among … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/26

The book was originally compiled by Mossyrock Grange members in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration.

Mossyrock Area Historical Society partners with grange to republish 1976 ‘Red Book’

While it may not have been official city business, during public comment at last month’s Mossyrock City Council meeting, Mossyrock Area Historical Society member Buddy Rose announced the society is … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 3/6/26

Representatives of the Thurston County Food Bank, JustServe and the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pose for a photo in front of a semi truck during a delivery of 40,000 pounds of self stable food to the food bank's warehouse in Tumwater on Thursday, March 5.

Thurston County Food Bank receives 40,000 pounds of food as part of America250 initiative

The Thurston County Food Bank accepted a full semi-truck load of food from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Humanitarian Aid & Welfare Program on Thursday, March 5. The … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com | 3/6/26

Measles remains a growing concern in Washington as U.S. surpasses 1,100 cases

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed 26 measles cases across four counties this year, marking an increase from the three cases reported in a single county Jan. 16, a news … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/26

Podcaster Brandi Kruse speaks during a “listening session” with Republican state lawmakers concerning Initiative IL26-638 that would bar transgender athletes from competing in girls’ athletics at the Washington state Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Restraining order filed in federal court following Legislature’s press credentialing controversy

The Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF) has filed an emergency temporary restraining order on behalf of plaintiffs Ari Hoffman, Brandi Kruse and Jonathan Choe in their lawsuit against the Washington … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/26

Ayn Mann, 16, was a page in the Washington state House of Representatives Feb. 23-27. She’s pictured here with her sponsors, 20th Legislative District state Reps. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, and Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis.

Napavine student pages in Washington state House of Representatives

Ayn Mann, 16, was a page in the Washington state House of Representatives Feb. 23-27, according to a news release from her sponsors, 20th Legislative District state Reps. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, and … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/26

The Bezos Academy section of the United Learning Center in downtown Centralia is pictured on Thursday night, March 5, as construction continues.

Tuition-free Bezos Academy Centralia accepting applications for 2026-27 school year

Bezos Academy Centralia — the soon-to-launch, tuition-free preschool located in the United Learning Center of Lewis County — is now accepting applications for the 2026-27 school year. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/26

Centralia Prevention Coalition to host town hall to inform about substance use risks

The Centralia Prevention Coalition will hold a town hall meeting for area families of older students on March 19 at Centralia High School. The night is intended for families of teenagers, but … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/26

Dmitri Matheny, an American flugelhornist based in Centralia since 2014, has been lauded as “one of the most emotionally expressive improvisers of his generation,” according to International Review of Music.

Jazz artist Dmitri Matheny and his band to play at The Juice Box in Centralia

By The Chronicle staff Jazz artist Dmitri Matheny and his band will appear at The Juice Box Public House in downtown Centralia from 8 to 10 p.m. on Friday, March 27. The performance, part … more

3/6/26

The W.F. West Cheer Team poses for a photo with Lewis County commissioners, from left, Lindsey Pollock, Sean Swope and Scott Brummer on Tuesday at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis. The team recently secured two state championships — non-tumbling medium category and 2A/3A gameday large crown — following its state crown in 2025. More recently, the W.F. West Cheer Team excelled at the 2026 USA Spirit Nationals in Anaheim, California, Feb. 19-23. The team finished second in the nation in the “varsity show cheer intermediate non-tumbling medium” category. The Bearcats also finished third in the “game day fight song large” category and fifth in the “crowdleader large” finals. Additionally, they placed 14th in the “game day band chant large” category.

In Focus: State champs honored by Lewis County commissioners

3/6/26

Mike Morgan, co-op manager and one of the artists of Gallery 505, and Pat Caldwell, co-owner of the former Toledo Pharmacy, are shown here with pharmaceutical bottles to be part of the Community Collections show. The painting of the old pharmacy, which usually hangs in the Toledo Library, is by Toledo artist Janice Sutherland.

Gallery 505 in Toledo celebrates Community Collections

What do people collect? Pretty much anything. A Community Collections exhibition opened this month at Gallery 505 in Toledo as a means of connecting people through the interesting things … more

By Lyn Craig / For The Chronicle | 3/6/26

Details emerge in death of ‘Deadliest Catch’ fisher Todd Meadows, who was from Grays Harbor County

Todd Meadows learned to fish when he was old enough to hold a pole, recalled his mother, nearly a week after her son died at sea. “We put this little rubber fish on it so he could just learn … more

By Isabella Breda / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/6/26

A Lacey Fire District 3 crew uses a rope system to rescue a 14-year-old black Lab, Boone, from the bottom of a 60-foot ravine near Baird Road Northeast in Olympia on Saturday, Feb. 28.

Firefighters in Thurston County rescue two dogs in separate calls

Firefighters rescued an elderly dog who fell down a 60-foot ravine in the Olympia area on Saturday, Feb. 28. The dog, a 14-year-old black Lab named Boone, wasn’t hurt in the fall, but his bad … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com | 3/6/26

The Cowlitz River is pictured from above in Packwood on Thursday, Dec. 11.

Washington state approves bill requiring landlords to disclose flood risk to renters

The Washington Legislature passed a bill Tuesday requiring landlords to disclose if a rental property is at risk for flooding and recommend tenants consider buying flood insurance. The bill now … more

Alexis Weisend / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/6/26

The podcast room is pictured at The Chronicle in Centralia on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The News Dump and Sports Dump are recorded weekly in the on-site studio.

News Dump Ep. 268: Reefer Madness in Lewis County

On the 268th episode of The Chronicle News Dump, hosts Aaron VanTuyl and Editor-in-Chief Eric Schwartz discuss the longstanding marijuana moratorium in Lewis County and why it persists. One host … more

3/4/26

Walter Lewis, with the Chehalis Tribe, performs the awakening ceremony at Cedar Creek Corrections Center on Monday, March 2.

Cedar Creek Corrections Center raises authentic totem pole with ceremony

Those entering the Cedar Creek Corrections Center in South Thurston County will now be greeted by a totem pole carved, painted and awakened by indigenous inmates and their supporters and tasked with … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 3/4/26

The Ceres Hill Road Bridge in Lewis County pictured on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

Lewis County plans to raise speed limit in Adna and begin Ceres Hill Road Bridge repairs

Lewis County plans to raise the speed limit along Bunker Creek Road through the unincorporated community of Adna. It will also soon close the nearby Ceres Hill Bridge over the Chehalis River for … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 3/4/26

The entrance of Green Hill School in Chehalis on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024.

Inmates exiting Green Hill, Echo Glen now eligible for expanded health care coverage

Young people at Green Hill School and Echo Glen Children’s Center are now eligible for health care insurance 90 days before their release and will have support to set up medical appointments and … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/4/26

Members of Rural Lewis County Indivisibles hold up signs during a sign-waving demonstration against President Donald Trump’s State of The Union at George Washington Park in Centralia on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Rural Lewis County Indivisibles to hold pro-Planned Parenthood demonstration

Rural Lewis County Indivisibles has announced in a news release it will hold a sign-waving demonstration from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on March 7 at 1020 W. Main St., Centralia. The location is … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/4/26

The Centralia TransAlta plant is shown here in an aerial photograph taken on Thursday, Oct. 23.

AG Nick Brown files petition against federal order to keep TransAlta burning coal this year

Washington state’s attorney general is asking the courts to reject an order from the federal government to keep the last coal-burning generator at TransAlta Centralia operating. Attorney … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 3/4/26