Local News | The Daily Chronicle

Pheasant pens and hatcheries at the Bob Oke Game Farm in Centralia on August 26, 2025.

Centralia mayor, councilors call for closure of WDFW-operated game farm

Although no official vote was taken, the Centralia City Council seemingly aligned with the opinion that the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) should close the Bob Oke Game Farm, … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 8/27/25

Pheasants in their pen on the southwestern edge of the Bob Oke Game Farm in Centralia on August 26, 2025.

At meeting, WDFW officials stop short of accepting full blame for nitrate contamination

At the most recent public update on the ongoing nitrate contamination affecting the water supply for a number of Centralia residents, Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope called for the relocation of … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 8/27/25

Officials take record of the scorebook after the 2B District 4 Championship Game was postponed due to darkness in Centralia on Thursday, May 15. According to Centralia Deputy City Manager Amy Buckler, the field’s old lights had to be removed in 2023 because the wooden poles supporting them had started to rot away.

Borst Park Softball Complex to receive new stadium lights with $1M grant

The Centralia City Council approved a contract with the Washington state Recreation Conservation Office (RCO) to accept a $1,000,050 grant for replacement of the Borst Park Softball Complex stadium … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 8/27/25

Visitors create marine sculptures at a recent clay pop-up at the Monarch Sculpture Park outside Tenino.

Artful seascape takes shape at Monarch Sculpture Park outside Tenino

Two ceramic artists with a deep love of community, art and the natural world have inspired creation of an artful rocky seascape brimming with lifelike marine life at a rural setting outside Tenino. … more

By Lyn Craig / For The Chronicle | 8/27/25

Sirens: Organized retail theft arrest; man spits in officer's face; home ransacked in burglary; possible animal abuse reported

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Arrests • Jared S. Armitage, 21, of Centralia, was arrested at about 12:20 p.m. Aug. 25 and booked into the Chehalis Tribal Jail for fourth-degree assault, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/27/25

‘Off and away’: New policy to limit cellphone use at Rainier’s middle and high schools

Students at Rainier Middle School and Rainier High School can expect new cellphone restrictions to start the school year. According to John Beckman, Rainier’s middle and high school … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 8/27/25

Nathan Bartlow, a U.S. Air Force and Army veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, accepts the Rust or Shine Car Show director's choice award for his 1985 Ford Escort on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis.

Rust or Shine Car Show and Music Festival: Lewis County’s largest car show returns to Veterans Memorial Museum

While most traditional car shows focus on having completed project cars, the Rust or Shine Car Show and Music Festival also welcomes rusty rides alongside polished paint and chrome, as long as the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/27/25

Lewis County Democrats Chair Zac Eckstein speaks during a pancake breakfast hosted by the Lewis County Democrats at the Twin City Senior Center on Saturday, June 14.

Lewis County Democrats launch community-wide survey to understand local priorities

The Lewis County Democratic Central Committee has launched a Community Priorities Survey to better understand what residents across the county see as the most pressing issues facing their families … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/27/25

The Chehalis Tribal Emergency Management Team demonstrates its Deployed Logic (DLX) ASAP Shelter system at the Tribal Administration Center in Oakville on Friday, Aug. 22.

Chehalis Tribal Emergency Management Team demonstrates new shelter system

The Chehalis Tribal Emergency Management Team demonstrated its Deployed Logic (DLX) ASAP Shelter system at the Tribal Administration Center in Oakville on Friday, Aug. 22, according to a recent news … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/27/25

Cartel-connected drug distribution ring that used semi-trucks to transport shipments disrupted with multiple arrests

Over the last three weeks, federal, state and local law enforcement have been working to dismantle a cartel-connected drug trafficking ring distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/27/25

From the left, Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association members Kain Wallen, Christie Easter, Mike Turner, Flenn Palmer and Rick Sundstrom perform inside the Lewis County Historical Museum for a Lewis County Historical Society meeting on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, in Chehalis.

Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association to hold music jam in Chehalis

The Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association will host an acoustic music jam on Friday, Sept. 5, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lewis County Historical Museum, located at 599 NW Front Way in downtown … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/27/25

A pile of trash stacked by volunteers sits not far from where the trash was originally found during a community clean-up near Hayes Lake in Centralia in 2019.

Centralia increasing litter cleanup, leaf collection and knotweed removal with flurry of council-approved contracts

The City of Centralia is focusing on litter cleanup and removal of noxious weeds as the city council approved three contracts Tuesday night to further those efforts. The first such contract is … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/27/25

The Axon Taser 10 represented a major upgrade for the Battle Ground Police Department when the new system was announced earlier this year.

Centralia Police Department to purchase 30 Tasers from Axon

The Centralia Police Department (CPD), through approval from the Centralia City Council Tuesday, has purchased 30 new Tasers from Axon in a five-year contract. CPD’s current Tasers were … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/27/25

Chehalis receives $1.75M in grant funding to improve pedestrian, bicycle safety for schools

The City of Chehalis has received a Safe Routes to School grant award in the amount of $1,751,000 from the Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for pedestrian and bicycle safety … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 8/27/25

Flooding from the Newaukum River inundates fields and roads near Stan Hedwall Park Thursday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Chehalis near Interstate 5 at milepost 76.

Chehalis City Council approves increasing funding for joint Flood Strategy Investment Plan with port

The Chehalis City Council unanimously approved $208,834 in increased funding for the joint Flood Strategy Investment Plan (FSIP) with the Port of Chehalis during the council’s Monday night … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 8/27/25

Chehalis City Council to consolidate planning, historic preservation commissions

The Chehalis City Council is planning to combine the city’s planning commission and historic preservation commission due to a lack of interest in filling vacant seats. Councilors approved … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 8/27/25

Southwest Washington Dance Center tap dancers perform “Set Fire to the Moon” during the annual Dance Festival Northwest at Corbet Theatre in Centralia on Saturday, March 22.

Southwest Washington Dance Center class registration opens

The Southwest Washington Dance Center will begin fall class session on Monday, Sep. 8. Registration is open for all classes and is available online at www.swwdance.org or in the dance center office … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/27/25

Southwest Washington Dance Center dancers perform “Call Your Mom” during the 31st annual Dance Festival Northwest at Corbet Theatre in Centralia on Saturday, March 22.

Local arts organizations receive thousands of dollars in grants through ArtsFund

ArtsFund and Allen Family Philanthropies — formerly known as the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation — recently announced $10 million in funding to 930 grantees in the third year of the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/27/25

The Centralia mascot poses for a photo ahead of the Tigers’ homecoming game versus Foster on Friday, Sept. 20.

Calling all Tigers: Centralia High School alumni and homecoming football game set for Oct. 3

All Centralia High School Tigers, past and present, are being called upon to gather for a night of reunion at the third annual Centralia High School alumni and homecoming football game on Friday, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/27/25

Downtown Centralia is pictured from above South Tower Avenue facing the north in September 2024.

Centralia Downtown Association seeks input on what businesses the city is missing

The Centralia Downtown Association has recently released a new survey seeking input from local citizens on how to improve downtown Centralia. The Close the Gap & Shop the Core Survey asks … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/27/25