Local News | The Daily Chronicle

A Swift Water Rescue Team rescues Barbara Bennett and Mel Romero from an inundated fifth wheel near the Cowlitz River in Randle on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Lewis County declares emergency as flooding continues

The worst is likely yet to come as forecasts predict flood levels will return to recent highs or even higher in the coming days. The Lewis County Board of Commissioners declared a … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 12/9/25

Flood shelters open in Lewis County

The American Red Cross has opened a flooding evacuation shelter at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 2190 Jackson Highway, Chehalis, for those who have been displaced due to flooding. Anyone impacted … more

By The Chronicle staff | 12/9/25

This rendering of a proposed water retention structure on the Chehalis River near Pe Ell was provided by the Chehalis River Basin Flood Control Zone District.

Flood trumps flood meeting: Local meeting on flow-through dam canceled due to flooding

Locals prepared to attend a public meeting this week on a flood-related project, but that meeting was canceled because of, you guessed it, flooding. The Washington state Department of … more

By The Chronicle staff | 12/9/25

FLOOD CENTRAL: Lewis County declares emergency; rivers again on the rise

Lewis County has issued the following news release as the region faces the threat of severe flooding this week. This link will be updated throughout the current flooding event with updates as they … more

12/9/25

Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, left, participates in the extradition from California of Harjinder Singh, accused of causing a crash that killed three people in Florida. (Photo via Collins’ X account)

Washington state erred in granting hundreds of commercial driver’s licenses to noncitizens

Washington state mistakenly issued nearly 700 licenses to drive trucks and buses to noncitizens who don’t qualify over the past seven years. This issue has drawn heavy criticism from … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 12/9/25

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

TransAlta signs agreement to enable coal to natural gas conversion at Centralia plant

TransAlta has announced it will “perform coal-to-gas conversion on its Centralia Unit 2 facility in Washington state, with a planned contracted capacity of 700 MW.” The news comes as … more

By The Chronicle staff | 12/9/25

Tim R. Fredericks Jr., 48, Gig Harbor, makes a video appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, Dec. 8.

Man accused of ‘egregious’ beating outside Centralia Inn

A 48-year-old Gig Harbor man faces criminal criminal charges after he allegedly assaulted a man in what prosecutors called an "egregious” offense. Security cameras reportedly captured the … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 12/8/25

Heavy rainfall, rising rivers and landslide risk prompt concerns for Lewis County, state

With the first heavy rainfall of the flood season in the forecast this week, Lewis County and Centralia emergency management officials are actively monitoring conditions and preparing routine … more

By The Chronicle staff | 12/8/25

Santa waves to local children from the back of a fire engine on North Market Boulevard during the annual Santa Parade in Chehalis on Saturday, Dec. 6.

In Focus: Santa Parade brings crowd to Chehalis

Scenes from the 75th annual Santa Parade in downtown Chehalis on Saturday morning. The theme was “A Country Christmas.” KMNT 104.3 FM … more

12/8/25

Local boy Roman Wagner, 6, chosen to serve as Centralia Lighted Tractor Parade grand marshal

The organizers of the Centralia Lighted Tractor Parade, which is set for this Saturday night, have announced local boy Roman Wagner will serve as grand marshal. Wagner, 6, has been battling … more

By The Chronicle staff | 12/8/25

Vehicles drive through the Fort Borst Park drive-thru lights display on opening night Friday, Dec. 5, in Centralia. The display will run from 5 to 9 p.m. each evening through Dec. 25. The cost is $7 per car and $10 for small buses. Large buses are not permitted. Each night, a different nonprofit will accept admission costs at the gate, generating funds for a number of local causes. “We thank our City Parks team for their rapid response and dedication in ensuring Borst Lights will shine brightly for another Christmas season,” a news release from the city stated. The display’s opening came after recent vandalism caused up to $30,000 in damage. The Centralia Police Department is investigating what it called “an act of malicious vandalism,” it announced last week. The lights had been set up by Centralia City Parks employees over a period of days in advance of the annual Borst Lights event, which goes beyond providing a visual holiday spectacle and helps support local non-profits with fundraising and food donations. Police say the unknown individuals damaged approximately one-third of the displays sometime overnight between Tuesday, Nov. 25, and Wednesday, Nov. 26. According to police, the city parks employees were “deeply disappointed” to discover the damage, which is estimated to range from $20,000 to $30,000. The department said it is increasing its patrols in and around the park in response. To report information, call the Centralia Police Department during business hours at 360-330-7680 or contact the non-emergency dispatch line at 360-740-1105.

In Focus: Borst Park drive-thru display opens for season despite recent vandalism

12/8/25

Sirens: Man punches, kicks person already on the ground; DUI arrest after crash; items worth $2,600 stolen from business

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Arrests • Lorenzo A. Mauga, 26, Morton, was arrested in the 1900 block of Cooks Hill Road at about 2:26 p.m. Dec. 5 and booked into the Lewis County Jail … more

By The Chronicle staff | 12/8/25

The Labree Road interchange is pictured in this photo provided by Chronicle columnist Julie McDonald.

Julie McDonald commentary: Port announcement fulfills dreams of early industrial park members

I read with interest the announcement from the Port of Chehalis on Wednesday that Amazon wants to buy land to build an operations center that would employ between 500 and 1,000 workers. Although … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 12/8/25

Reader's submission: Beloved rocking horse recovered after plea from local resident

Editor’s note: Last month, Winlock area resident Spencer Hoven shared her story with The Chronicle’s Facebook followers about a beloved rocking horse that had been mistakenly donated to a … more

12/8/25

Toledo dog designated dangerous after killing beloved pet

A dog owned by a man living at a Toledo address was declared dangerous last week after a report that it killed another dog belonging to his neighbors. The Lewis County Dangerous Animal … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 12/8/25

Investigators say they found military equipment and Nazi flags in the home of two Lacey men arrested earlier this year.

Two Thurston County men appear on federal charges for brutal assault at JBLM in June

Two Thurston County men — both former members of the military — appeared in federal court in Tacoma on Friday for their alleged involvement in a brutal assault on Joint Base Lewis McChord … more

By The Chronicle staff | 12/8/25

The annual Lighted Christmas Parade rolled through the streets of Napavine on Saturday night. The annual event was organized by the Napavine Funtime Festival. It’s a precursor to the Centralia Lighted Tractor Parade, which is set to begin at 6 p.m. Saturday in downtown Centralia.

In Focus: Napavine Lighted Christmas Parade delights onlookers

12/8/25

A group of "golden ticket" holders, students nominated by their teachers for showing leadership and cultivating belonging, pose with the Chehalis Middle School Culture Kick-Off Award banner.

Chehalis Middle School named a recipient of 2025 Association of Washington School Leaders award

Chehalis Middle School has been named a recipient of a 2025 Association of Washington School Leaders (AWSL) “Culture Kick-Off Award.” The Chehalis School District school is one of … more

By The Chronicle staff | 12/8/25

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez smiles alongside Port of Chehalis employees during a tour of multiple farms in the Chehalis Valley on Monday, July 31, 2023.

Gluesenkamp Perez announces mobile office hours in Lewis County

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, has announced she will hold her 27th set of mobile office hours in Lewis County. Residents of Washington’s Third Congressional District will … more

By The Chronicle staff | 12/8/25

Let’s Play Something to host Storytime With The Grinch

Let's Play Something in downtown Centralia has announced it will be holding Storytime with the Grinch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, for free. The Grinch will be reading the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 12/8/25