The Daily Chronicle

Sirens: Burglary and Theft; Hit and Run; Assault; Custodial Assault

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Burglary and Theft • Jonathan C. Siler, 26, of Centralia, was arrested in the 1600 block of South Gold Street just before 10:45 a.m. on May 24 and was booked … more

5/26/21

Mikey Green, Carson Edminster and Sean MaHaffey remember their friend Riffe Holmes at a vigil held on May 21.

Community Shaken by Rainier High School Senior’s Death

A Rainier High School student on the precipice of his young adult life died just two weeks before his high school graduation. Hundreds of community members came out for a vigil Friday, May 21, on … more

By Daniel Warn / For The Chronicle | 5/26/21

Twin Transit Executive Director Joe Clark discusses plans for a new hydrogen fueling station station near the Bishop Road Twin Transit office in Chehalis earlier this month.

Twin Transit Employee Makes Allegations Against Director

A three-year employee of Twin Transit has levied allegations of harassment and policy violations against the authority’s top leader, Executive Director Joe Clark, saying he acted in a … more

By Eric Rosane / ericr@chronline.com | 5/26/21 | 1 comment

Lewis County Fares Worse Than State in Unemployment, Better Than Neighbors

Washington’s unemployment rates appear to be plateauing after months of recovery from the pandemic, according to the state Employment Security Department’s (ESD) most recent monthly … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/26/21

Chronicle reporter Claudia Yaw walks along fallen trees last week at the Trail of Two Forests.

The Trail of Two Forests a Hidden Treasure South of Mount St. Helens

The Trail of Two Forests Interpretive Site offers a short jaunt for those returning from the recently reopened-Ape Cave on the south side of Mount St. Helens. There, a boardwalk trail elevates … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/26/21

Children slide down a super slide at the Thurston County Fair in 2018.

Thurston County Fair Canceled for the Second Year in a Row, But Not for These Kids

The Thurston County Fair has been canceled for the second year in a row, but a small event that will be closed to the public will still be held for youth development programs, the county announced … more

Martín Bilbao / The Olympian | 5/26/21

Thurston County COVID-19 Cases Remain High as State Sees Decline

Thurston County reported 316 new confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past week as disease activity remains high and the county adjusts to new masking guidance. The case count is slightly higher than … more

Martín Bilbao / The Olympian | 5/25/21

Rep. Wilcox Decries Policy Requiring Employers to Confirm Vaccination of Employees

House Republican leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, is speaking out against a Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) policy requiring employers to confirm and record the vaccination … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/25/21

2018 CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO — Jacobi Gronseth leaps for a frisbee thrown by Chris Brewer at Rainbow Falls State Park in June 2018.

No Discover Pass Needed on Juneteenth, State Land Managers Say

Following passage of a bill designating Juneteenth a state holiday, recreationalists now won’t need to display a Discovery Pass for day-use parking at many Washington state public lands during … more

By The Chronicle Staff | 5/25/21

Man in Rollover Crash on Interstate 5 Near Castle Rock on May 17 Has Died

A Tacoma man who was injured in a rollover crash May 17 after he suffered a medical emergency while driving on southbound Interstate 5 just north of Castle Rock has died, the Washington State Patrol … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/25/21

Former Logger Accused of Intentionally Misrepresenting Injuries as Part of Worker’s Comp Scam

A Kalama man has been charged with first-degree theft for allegedly misrepresenting the severity of injuries in order to collect nearly $300,000 in workers’ compensation benefits between 2016 … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/25/21

Centralia Woman Accused of Abusing Toddler Enters Guilty Plea, Doesn’t Admit Wrongdoing

A Centralia woman accused of abusing a 3-year-old between July and September 2019 has entered an Alford guilty plea to two counts of third-degree assault of a child, domestic violence. The … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/25/21 | 1 comment

A firefighter works through the ash and smoke to reach one of the last hot spots in a wildfire in this file photo.

State Fire Marshal’s Office Urges Residents to Be Cautious During Yardwork

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is urging residents to use extra caution when doing yard work as part of Wildfire Awareness Month. More than 1,500 wildfires were reported in 2020, and … more

By Nisqually Valley News Staff | 5/25/21

Tony Robinson and Bernie Madison pose for a photo in front of their 17-foot Sasquatch carved with chainsaws into a sequoia 7-feet in diamete in downtown Oakville.

Sasquatch Emerges From Sequoia in Oakville

One piece of advice heard among successful advertisers, artists and authors alike is “know your audience.” Tony and Shanna Hawes, the married co-founders of Chehalis Valley Slabhaus in … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / The Chronicle | 5/24/21

Ernie Valdez (right) poses with his brother John and sister Sam.

Vader’s Ernie Valdez Remembered as Sentimental, Jokester

Ernest “Ernie” Valdez was a keeper of memories. If you ask his son, Jeremy, he’ll tell you his dad kept every karate belt, hockey puck and Father’s Day present, plus every … more

By Claudia Yaw / cyaw@chronline.com | 5/24/21

Visitors ask about a tree that fell on the Centralia Timberland Regional Library on Monday while City of Centralia crews work to remove the remaining sections using chainsaws and ladders. “A tree fell on the library, but don’t worry, the building is just fine,” library staff posted on Facebook. “Thank you to the City of Centralia crews who are working on it now! We expect to open normally tomorrow.”

Photos: City Crews Respond After Tree Falls on Centralia Timberland Library

5/24/21 | 2 comments

Bucoda Mayor Alan Carr smiles while seated in front of a pine box inside City Hall on Friday.

Bucoda’s ‘Doer’ Mayor Recounts Decades of Small-Town Public Service

For much of the last 20 years, Alan Carr has led the small Thurston County town of Bucoda, or “Boo-Coda,” depending on the time of year, as its mayor. That includes through two … more

By Eric Rosane / ericr@chronline.com | 5/24/21

Boy Scouts stand outside the Veterans Memorial Museum in this 2020 Chronicle file photo.

Veterans Memorial Museum Hosting Drive-In Movie, Memorial Day Event

This Saturday, the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis will host its first “Movies By The Dashboard Light” event. The first of many movies shown by the museum on the last Saturday of the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/24/21

No Injuries in Wednesday Trailer Fire in Centralia

The cause of a trailer fire in the 1100 block of Long Road that completely destroyed the trailer and damaged an adjacent vehicle is still under investigation. The Riverside Fire Authority and the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/24/21

A property owned by TransAlta located at 913 Big Hanaford Road is seen in this 2020 Chronicle file photo.

Fire at TransAlta Plant Contained by Building’s Fire Suppression System

The Big Hanaford power plant in Centralia suffered a fire last week that was contained and suppressed by the building’s fire extinguishing system. The fire reportedly began in the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/24/21