Local News | The Daily Chronicle

Ryan Verling, of Stanfield Oregon, rides a bucking bronc at the first night of the Southwest Washington Fair Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 16.

Pro-sanctioned SWW Fair Rodeo returns for two hot nights

This week was the Southwest Washington Fair’s first time hosting two nights of rodeo, and only the second year the annual event has been sanctioned by the National Pro Rodeo Association. more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 8/18/23

Jackson Arrington, 14 months, crawls to victory during the KELA/KMNT Diaper Derby at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Thursday.

Pe Ell toddler crawls away with Diaper Derby title at Southwest Washington Fair

At 14 months old, Jackson Arrington has always been a grandma’s boy. And with his grandma, Vicky Arrington, waiting at the finish line of the KELA/KMNT Diaper Derby at the Southwest … more

By Dylan Wilhelm / dylan@chronline.com | 8/17/23

Part of the Blakeslee Junction homeless camp in Centralia is pictured in this 2022 Chronicle file photo.

Death at Blakeslee Junction homeless camp reignites public health, safety concerns from Lewis County

It’s been at least nine years since the formation of a homeless encampment at the end of Centralia’s Eckerson Road, known locally as Blakeslee Junction. About 25 people live there … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 8/16/23

Little Miss Friendly Emma Britton smiles before cutting a ribbon to signify the official grand opening of the Southwest Washington Fair Tuesday morning.

In focus: Southwest Washington Fair up and running, heat be darned

Visitors to the Southwest Washington Fair this week may see some panting livestock, or may be panting themselves with the region seeing an “excessive heat warning” from the National … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/16/23

Clara Hansen reacts to being named Little Miss Friendly on Tuesday, Aug. 15, on the Saloon Stage at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.

Updated: Clara Hansen named 2023 Little Miss Friendly, ‘living logo’ of Southwest Washington Fair

“Amazing” was the word that came to Clara Hansen’s mind after the shock of being named this year’s Little Miss Friendly, the living logo of the Southwest Washington … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 8/15/23

Fire crews from across Thurston County respond to the scene of a fire that threatened multiple structures and triggered evacuation notices that lasted over two hours as crews worked to control the blaze near Bronson Street Southeast on Sunday, Aug. 13 in Tenino.

Updated: Fire officials expand burn bans across Western Washington as heat wave worsens fire conditions

Fire officials have expanded burn bans in Lewis County and the surrounding area due to critical fire conditions in the weather forecast for Western Washington through at least Wednesday, Aug. … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 8/15/23

4-H Curtis Cattle Club members Jesse Snodgrass, 13, of Chehalis, and Madi Hunter, 14, of Salkum pose for a photo with their goats Black Cadillac and Sassy at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Monday, Aug. 14.

In focus: Southwest Washington Fair begins Tuesday

The Southwest Washington Fair begins on Tuesday. With less than 24 hours before the gates open, Chronicle Photo Editor Jared Wenzelburger stopped by to photograph final preparations. … more

8/14/23

Lewis County Seniors President Carol Brock responds to comments about her made during a “prayer circle” event outside the Twin Cities Senior Center on Monday, Aug. 7.

Lewis County Seniors president expands on plan to roll back ‘no prayer’ rule; Commissioner seeks to oust her from advisory group

Controversy at the Lewis County Senior Centers in the last week has reached well beyond any game of cutthroat cribbage. In the six centers — in Morton, Pe Ell, Packwood, Toledo, the Twin … more

By Owen Sexton and Isabel Vander Stoep / The Chronicle staff | 8/14/23

Sarah Althauser and Kelly Smith Johnson smile while sporting George Washington shirts on Founder's Day at George Washington Park on Saturday, Aug. 12 in Centralia.

Centralia celebrates first annual Founder’s Day

Members of the Centralia community came together Saturday to honor and celebrate Centralia’s founders, George and Mary Jane Washington, as part of the city's inaugural Founder’s Day. … more

By Sean-Patrick McNeal / For The Chronicle | 8/14/23

William Kulakoski, of Missoula, Montana, competes in the tree topping event during the Morton Loggers Jubilee on Sunday, Aug. 13.

Heat doesn’t deter determined Morton Loggers Jubilee competitors

Last week’s cold spell burned off just in time for the “Grandaddy of All Logging Shows” to heat up in Morton for the 80th year in a row. After lawnmower races on Friday … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/14/23

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez tours a timber sale with environmental groups, crews from the Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service officials and concerned citizens in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest on Thursday, Aug. 10.

Officials tour timber sale in Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Clear cutting versus thinning, wildfire management, spotted owls, carbon sequestration. Forestry in Washington is and always has been a slew of complicated and often controversial topics. Take … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 8/11/23

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez takes questions from attendees at a town hall event at the Packwood Senior Center on Thursday, Aug. 10.

Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez hears local, federal concerns in Packwood town hall

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washougal, took a trip to East Lewis County on Thursday. The congresswoman toured Alta Forest Products in Morton, a timber sale in the Gifford Pinchot … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 8/11/23

D. Dalton, who goes by "Mr. D," speaks out during public comment voicing his opposition to Lewis County Seniors' (LCS) new prayer and politics ban during a LCS board meeting at the Twin Cities Senior Center on Thursday, Aug. 10.

Lewis County Seniors board revising prayer, political discussion policy following outcry

The Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging (LMTAAA) spoke out on Wednesday against a policy announced by Lewis County Seniors nonprofit board president Carol Brock that stated prayer and politics … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/11/23

Attendees at a “prayer circle” event hosted by Elizabeth Rohr confront Lewis County Seniors President Carol Brock about recent rule changes that prohibit praying aloud at the senior centers on Monday, Aug. 7, outside the Twin Cities Senior Center.

Area Agency on Aging says Lewis County Seniors’ ban on prayer unconstitutional

The Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging (LMTAAA) is speaking out against a policy announced by Lewis County Seniors nonprofit board president Carol Brock that stated prayer and politics are not … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/9/23

Packwood resident Brenda Sponholtz captured this photo of "Hammock Head" with his newest headwear, a camp chair, along Snyder Road in Packwood on Aug. 2.

Packwood’s ‘Hammock Head’ has done it again, this time with a chair

One member of Packwood’s abundant elk herd, dubbed “Hammock Head” by locals, earned regional notoriety for getting himself caught in a hammock late last year and spending the winter … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 8/9/23

A flag blows in the wind as Maxwell Lloyd competes in the speed climb event inside the Morton Loggers’ Jubilee Arena in August of 2022.

Morton to host 80th annual Loggers Jubilee starting Thursday

The 80th annual Morton Loggers Jubilee will kick off on Thursday, Aug. 10, with events and competitions being held through Sunday. Logging competition events will include log rolling, ax throwing, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/9/23

Hailey Sturdevant, a sophomore at W.F. West High School, talks about the Ocean Team’s Rube Goldberg machine during a University of Washington Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) camp in Chehalis on Tuesday, Aug. 8.

W.F. West High School hosts annual summer STEM camp

W.F. West’s halls are typically quiet over the summer as students and teachers enjoy their well-deserved summer break, but this week, the school was full of activity as students from around the … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 8/9/23

In focus: Little Miss Friendly finalists featured at SWW Fair Association picnic

Little Miss Friendly finalists Clara Hansen, Aria Hoffman, Emma Elder, Kimber Serl and Riot Anderson gathered along with current Little Miss Friendly Emma Britton during a picnic event sponsored by … more

8/9/23

St. Joseph School on Sixth Street in Chehalis, established 1923, marks its 100-year anniversary in 2023.

St. Joseph School in Chehalis celebrates 100 years

Chehalis has undergone many infrastructure changes in the last century, but not at the corner of Southwest Sixth Street and Southwest McFadden Avenue, where St. Joseph School still stands. … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 8/8/23

Marine Corps veteran Danny Draper talks about freedoms he fought for during his service as Lewis County Seniors President Carol Brock reaches for the microphone on Monday, Aug. 7, outside the Twin Cities Senior Center.

Lewis County Seniors prayer, politics policy sparks controversy

More than 40 people joined a protest outside the Twin Cities Senior Center on Monday to voice opposition to a controversial new policy implemented by the Lewis County Seniors nonprofit that seemingly … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/7/23