The Daily Chronicle

Thurston County Coroner Identifies Girl, 17, and Man, 61, Who Died in Separate Crashes Over the Weekend

There were two fatal collisions over the weekend in Thurston County. The victims in both situations have been publicly identified, and two arrests have been made. Jessie Ciara Uch, 17, from … more

Ty Vinson / The Olympian | 3/6/23

This sketch from the Mount St. Helens Institute shows an aerial view of its hopes for an expanded campus. For more information about the institute’s long-term goals, visit mshinstitute.org/about_us/MSHLEC/.

Cowlitz Tribe Donates $900K for Mount St. Helens Institute

In one of the largest donations it has ever made, the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation this week announced the earmarking of $900,000 for upgrades for the Mount St. Helens Institute. The institute called … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 3/6/23

FILE PHOTO — Winlock 6th-grader, Dylin, center, and 8th-graders Tucker and Xavier stand with their signs protesting Winlock School District staff layoffs last month.

Winlock Retains School Employees, Will Reconsider at End of School Year

The Winlock School Board has decided to table a proposal to terminate five employees and return to the issue at the end of the school year. Charlie Tuckness, the executive assistant at the … more

By Matthew Zylstra / matthew@chronline.com | 3/6/23

Twin Transit Begins Weekday Service Between Centralia and Morton

Twin Transit is now providing weekday service between Centralia and Morton. The service began on Monday, according to a release by Twin Transit. The newly created Brown Line will run Monday … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/23

FILE PHOTO — A notice is displayed inside the Lewis County Mall requiring face masks in April 2021.

Washington’s Mask Requirements for Health Care, Other Facilities to Lift in April

The Washington Department of Health (DOH) has announced statewide mask requirements for health care, long-term care and correctional facilities will be lifted on April 3. According to Lewis … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/23

In-Person Clinic for Lewis County Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Reopens

The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program is open again to in-person visits on the second floor of the Lewis County Public Health building at 360 NW North St. in Chehalis. WIC … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/23

Co-owner Tim Filer smiles alongside family, friends and staff during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for McFiler’s Chehalis Theater on Friday. The theater in downtown Chehalis is now offering dining and entertainment after reopening under new ownership earlier this year. The Friday ceremony was hosted by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce. The theater is located at 558 N. Market Blvd., Chehalis. Learn more by following the business on Facebook.

In Focus: A Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Held for McFiler’s Chehalis Theater

3/6/23

Lane Closures, Delays Coming to I-5 in Thurston County Over the Next Two Weekends

You can expect delays during your morning commute if you’re traveling through Thurston County over the next two weekends. The Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) … more

By The Olympian | 3/6/23

Tenino area residents gather outside the Washington State Capitol building in Olympia while holding signs and protesting Supreme Living in late January.

Lawmakers Welcome Supreme Living Decision While Calling for Action on Sex Offender Housing

State Reps. Dan Griffey and Travis Couture, both Republicans from Allyn, released a statement on Thursday praising the recent decision by Supreme Living to not locate housing for sex offenders at a … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/23

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, walks alongside State Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, outside the Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia in early January.

Sen. Braun Criticizes Bill Passed by Senate Allowing Children to Stay at Shelters Without Parental Notification

State Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, criticized legislation passed in the state Senate on Wednesday that he believes would provide a “troubling” excuse to withhold the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/23

Glen Morgan uses a microphone to address attendees of the Lincoln Day Dinner in Chehalis in February 2022.

Lewis County Republican Party to Hold Lincoln Day Dinner Fundraiser on March 18

The Lewis County Republican Party is holding its annual Lincoln Day Dinner fundraiser on March 18 at 6 p.m. The speakers include talk radio host Todd Herman, comedian Josh Novey and Center … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/23

Yard Birds is located at 2100 North National Avenue in Chehalis.

Chehalis Drops Yard Birds Shopping Center Lawsuit

The City of Chehalis has voluntarily dismissed a lawsuit against the owners of the Yard Birds Shopping Center, according to a news release from the city. Originally filed in May of 2022, the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/23

Nathaniel A. Blough, 30, of Puyallup, is pictured in the Lewis County Jail over Webex appearance in court.

Suspect in ‘Terrifying’ 2021 Chehalis Burglary Arrested

Bail has been set at $25,000 for a man accused of a Chehalis burglary in December 2021. The Chronicle reported on the burglary after a homeowner’s testimony of a “terrifying … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 3/6/23

Sirens: $250 in Candy, Drinks Stolen; Tools Taken in Burglary; Rock Thrown Through Business Window

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Theft • Over $250 worth of candy and drinks were reported stolen from a convenience store in the 900 block of Harrison Avenue just after 12:50 p.m. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/6/23

New Police Vehicles, Construction Among City of Centralia’s $3.1 Million in American Rescue Plan Spending

The Centralia City Council and staff spent nearly three and a half hours of a regular Tuesday, Feb. 28, meeting discussing how to spend the city’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 3/6/23

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez smiles while touring the proposed site of the Southwest Washington Agricultural & Innovation Park in Tenino with Mayor Wayne Fournier and Perry Shea, with Dragonwheel Investment Group Inc. last month.

Gluesenkamp Perez, Murray Co-Sign Letter Urging USDA to Better Support West Coast Fishermen

Last week, U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, and nine other West Coast members of Congress wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture … more

By Carlos Fuentes / The Columbian | 3/6/23

Harlan Knowles is pictured with his dogs Lou and Brownie in this photo provided by his family.

Silver Creek Man, Founder of ‘Lazy HK Rodeo,’ Remembered as ‘Legend’ in Rodeo

Harlan Knowles, of Silver Creek, who founded the Lazy HK Bar Rodeo Company and supplied rodeos across the nation with bucking bulls, died on Feb. 20 at the age of 87. Knowles will be … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 3/6/23

A Riverside firefighter works with Chehalis Fire crews to put out flames inside the former location of Papa Pete’s and Shari’s Cafe in Centralia on Sunday.

Updated: Man Arrested for Arson After Fire Destroys Vacant Centralia Restaurant Building

A 31-year-old man was arrested for first-degree arson after a fire destroyed a vacant former restaurant building on Harrison Avenue in Centralia Sunday morning. Lewis County 911 … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 3/6/23

Adna High School First Semester Academic List

Following are members of the Adna High School’s first semester academic list. Students are listed from highest to lowest GPA. Students with the same GPA are in alphabetical order. 12th … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/5/23

‘Senseless Loss of Life’: Girl, 17, Killed in Thurston County Crash; Driver Facing Charges

A 17-year-old girl is dead and an 18-year-old man is facing vehicular homicide, driving under the influence and vehicular assault charges after a crash in Thurston County Saturday, according to the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/5/23