The Daily Chronicle

The project will take place on a 15.91-acre property located along the Skookumchuck River. According to city documents, no development will take place within the floodplain or shoreline areas.

Centralia City Council Approves 79-Unit Subdivision on Centralia’s Waunch Prairie

The Centralia City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to sign off on the planning commission’s request to approve a 79-unit subdivision development that will include the construction of 33 … more

By Eric Rosane / ericr@chronline.com | 5/27/21

The Region 3 Critical Incident Investigation Team is on the scene of an officer involved shooting in the southbound lane of Interstate 5 near milepost 69 in Lewis County in this 2020 Chronicle file photo.

Judge Won’t Dismiss Attempted Murder Charge for Woman Accused of Shooting at Trooper in Lewis County

A motion to dismiss attempted murder charges against a Tacoma woman who allegedly fired a gun at a Washington State Patrol trooper in the Napavine area in May 2020 was struck down in Lewis County … more

By Emily Fitzgerald/emily@chronline.com | 5/27/21

Dawnette Wicks, 42, is accused of grabbing a 12- to 14-inch knife from her vehicle, holding the knife above her head and bringing it down “in a stabbing motion” while verbally threatening to kill the alleged victim.

Packwood Woman Who Allegedly Threatened to Kill Woman With Knife Claims Self Defense

A Packwood woman who allegedly threatened to kill another woman with a knife during a dispute early Wednesday morning is claiming that she acted in self defense, according to her … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 5/27/21 | 4 comments

Health workers sport masks as they talk outside the Lakeview Inn in Centralia.

News Dump Ep. 48: Quarantine Facilities, NIMBY Letters and One More Look at Old Man TransAlta’s Land

On this episode, Chronicle Associate Editor Aaron VanTuyl, Editor-in-Chief Eric Schwartz and VP Franklin Taylor cover Centralia’s quarantine facility, the TransAlta land saga, Tenino’s … more

5/26/21

Lewis County COVID Cases, Hospitalizations Still Spiking as Rates Decline Elsewhere in State

Lewis County continues to buck statewide trends of declining COVID-19 case rates, and as Washington sees more promising signs of a retreating pandemic, Lewis County is reporting more cases and … more

By Claudia Yaw / cyaw@chronline.com | 5/26/21 | 1 comment

Dennis Dawes talks about his time as mayor of Chehalis Tuesday afternoon at city hall.

After Four Decades of Service, Mayor Dennis Dawes to Step Away From City Council

Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes is all about public service — just look at the last 40 or so years as proof. He’s been a police chief, a city councilor, a school board member and even a … more

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

Chehalis Council Passes Adjustments to Fees, With Increases

The Chehalis City Council on Monday passed a resolution establishing a new schedule of fees and charges that will largely impact parking violations, parks and facility usage, the Chehalis-Centralia … more

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

Last weekend, an abandoned campfire along Forest Road 5290 in the Cowlitz Valley area ignited and grew “quite large” before firefighters were able to respond and get it under control, according to a statement and photos posted by the U.S. Forest Service and Gifford Pinchot National Forest on Facebook. “This is the second abandoned fire found in the area within the past few weeks,” the Forest Service wrote. “Never leave a campfire unattended and make sure your campfire is dead out before you leave. It has been a drier than usual spring and fire season is predicted to start earlier than usual this year. Recreating responsibly is more important than ever. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.”

Forest Service: Abandoned Campfire Blamed for Cowlitz Valley Blaze

5/26/21 | 2 comments

Charges Dropped Against Man Accused of Burglarizing Mother’s House in Toledo

All charges against a Yakima man who had been accused of burglarizing his mother’s house in Toledo in February have been dropped. The Lewis County Superior Court case against Daniel McEwen … more

By The Chronicle staff | 5/26/21

From left, state Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, and state Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, appear at a virtual town hall event Tuesday night.

Wilson, Walsh, McEntire Condemn Inslee’s ‘Dirty Dealing’ Vetoes

The 19th Legislative District’s Republican state lawmakers used their virtual town hall Tuesday to bash Gov. Jay Inslee over his controversial vetoes. The governor came under fire last week … more

By Claudia Yaw / cyaw@chronline.com | 5/26/21

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