Local News | The Daily Chronicle

Democratic state Rep. Cindy Ryu of Shoreline

Will kimchi get its own day in Washington? Lawmaker, a Centralia graduate, makes proposal

A Korean-American state lawmaker is plating up a “delicious” kimchi bill she hopes will satisfy the legislative palates of her colleagues. Democratic state Rep. Cindy Ryu of … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 1/19/25

Gov. Bob Ferguson delivers his inaugural address in the House chambers at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Gov. Bob Ferguson orders flags to be temporarily raised for presidential inauguration

American flags at state buildings across Washington will be raised to full staff on Monday in recognition of the presidential inauguration, with flags to return to half-staff by sunrise Tuesday in … more

Mitchell Roland / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 1/18/25

Sirens: Driver flees on foot after crashing into business; boy says he was injured on school bus; Lewis County Superior Court proceedings

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Criminal trespassing • A 38-year-old Centralia man was arrested for trespassing and for an outstanding Centralia Municipal Court warrant in the 2000 block … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/17/25

FILE PHOTO — The stray pup found near the Skookumchuck River homeless camp gets a fresh can of dog food during The Salvation Army's annual point and time count in Centralia on Feb. 2

Point-in-time count found 952 people facing homelessness in Thurston County in 2024

An annual point-in-time count of the homeless population in Thurston County last year found there were 952 people experiencing homelessness, according to a news release from Thurston County Public … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/17/25

Hikers explore the Mount Fremont Lookout at Mount Rainier National Park on Sunday, Sept. 29.

Mount Rainier National Park implements new wilderness permit fee structure

Mount Rainier National Park has changed its wilderness permit fee structure from a flat $20 per trip to $10 per person per night, the National Parks Service announced Friday. Youth ages 15 and … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/17/25

Northwest Wind Symphony musicians perform during a previous concert in this Chronicle file photo.

The Northwest Wind Symphony’s first concert of 2025 set for Centralia College

The Northwest Wind Symphony’s first concert of the year will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18. It will be held at Corbet Theatre on the Centralia College campus. Tickets are … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/17/25

Reliable Enterprises, the Centralia School District and community partners in November 2023 announced the grand opening of the Reliable Homes II apartment complex in Centralia, housing aimed at serving students with families experiencing homelessness.

Reliable Enterprises in Centralia to receive $2.75 million in state funds for affordable housing expansion

Reliable Enterprises in Centralia will receive $2.75 million in state funds for expansion of its Reliable Homes II project, according to a news release from the Washington state Department of … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/17/25

People enter the Lewis County Courthouse on Election Day in Chehalis on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Lewis County to receive $571,200 grant for energy efficiency retrofits in public buildings

Lewis County is among 26 jurisdictions in Washington state that will receive state Department of Commerce grants “aimed at reducing emissions, enhancing the comfort of building occupants and … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/17/25

Guests are pictured aboard the two-hour “Valentine’s Sweetheart Dinner Train Ride” in the historic 1920s dining car.

Tickets available for Centralia-Chehalis Railroad’s Valentine’s Sweetheart Dinner Train Ride

The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum (CCRM) is selling tickets for a two-hour “Valentine’s Sweetheart Dinner Train Ride” in the historic 1920s dining car. The ride is … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/17/25

Lewis County Auditor Larry Grove locks up the ballot box on Election Day at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Lewis County Auditor’s Office: Ballots to be mailed Jan. 22

According to the Lewis County Auditor’s Office, 831 ballots will be mailed on Wednesday, Jan. 22, to all active registered voters within the Castle Rock School District No. 401, Evaline School … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/17/25

K9 officer Ruben Ramirez walks K9 Pax from a house during a JNET investigation in 2018 in Chehalis.

Longtime Centralia police officer Ruben Ramirez retiring alongside K9 partner after 23-year career

Centralia Police Department officer Ruben Ramirez will retire alongside his K9 partner Pax at the end of this month, interim Centralia Police Chief Andy Caldwell announced during the Tuesday, Jan. … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 1/17/25

A vehicle drives through the Fort Borst Park drive-thru light display in Centralia on Thursday, Dec. 19.

Fort Borst Park drive-thru Christmas light display raises more than $57K

The Fort Borst Park 2024 drive-thru Christmas light display brought in a total of $57,500 last December, according to Centralia Deputy City Manager Amy Buckler. Buckler gave the Centralia City … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 1/17/25

The Westminster Bells perform in Chehalis at Westminster Presbyterian Church in April 2023.

Christmas in January: Westminster Bell Choir concerts planned after cancellations

The Westminster Bell Choir was forced to cancel its annual Christmas concerts due to an illness that swept through the choir the weekend the concerts were meant to take place. To meet the demand … more

By The Chronicle | 1/17/25

Downtown Centralia is seen from the Seminary Hill Natural Area on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023.

Friends of the Seminary Hill Natural Area to hold annual meeting Jan. 25

All are invited to the annual meeting of the Friends of the Seminary Hill Natural Area on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Centralia Timberland Regional Library. The group’s annual business … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/17/25

Imagine Downtown Chehalis open house planned for feedback on downtown improvement proposals

Experience Chehalis, in partnership with the City of Chehalis, will host an open house event for its Imagine Downtown Chehalis project at Mint City Coffee from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/17/25

From left, Chehalis Mayor Tony Ketchum, Chris Gove, Ashley Bond, Alisha Watson, Richard Stride, Lisa Archer, Cate Owens, Wangari Gathungu and Christine Brower pose for a photo during a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce in Centralia on Friday, Jan. 15. The ceremony was held in celebration of Cascade’s expanded primary care clinic. Cascade Community Healthcare has been providing health care services in Lewis County and surrounding areas for more than 50 years. Cascade Community Healthcare opened its primary care clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic, but was unable to celebrate the grand opening with a ribbon-cutting. Since then, Cascade Community Healthcare has expanded its primary care clinic, as well as integrating physical health and mental health services. Prior to the event, Sierra Pecson, accreditation manager for Cascade Community Healthcare, described what she is most looking forward to with the grand opening of the clinic. “(I’m eager) for people to find out that the clinic is here and be able to get care in a rural service area that has very few providers,” she said.

In focus: Cascade Community Healthcare celebrates expanded primary care clinic in Centralia

A ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce was held at Cascade Community Healthcare in Centralia on Friday, Jan. 15. The ceremony was held in celebration of … more

1/17/25

Jeff Evans smiles as he wears a funny hat during his magic show at Prairie Days on June 22, 2024.

Timber River Connections to host ‘Night of Magic’ to raise money for Lewis County seniors

Timber River Connections, formerly Lewis County Seniors, will host a “Night of Magic” to raise money for programs and enrichment opportunities for local senior citizens, according to a … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/17/25

Lewis County accepting applications for Lewis County Cemetery District 9 in Napavine

The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is seeking Napavine-area residents interested in serving on the Lewis County Cemetery District 9 Board of Commissioners. The Cemetery … more

By The Chronicle staff | 1/17/25

Chehalis City Council to hold special meeting next month to choose new councilor

While the Chehalis City Council’s first meeting of 2025 on Monday, Jan. 13, didn’t have too much for the council to discuss, Chehalis City Manager Stacy Denham announced the council will … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 1/17/25

Baby goats, also known as kids, named Andy and Al play together in the parking lot of the Randle Dental Clinic on Saturday, Jan. 11. Andy and Al waited in the parking lot for their new owners to pick them up to go to their new home.

In focus: Andy and Al await new home in Randle parking lot

Chronicle photographer Ridley Hudson captured these photos while she was out and about in East Lewis County last week. To submit your own photos to The Chronicle for potential publication, … more

1/17/25