Local News | The Daily Chronicle

Ribbon falls during a ceremony inside George Murdock Gymnasium on Friday at Toledo high School.

After a Long Road, Ribbon Cutting Marks Official Opening of New Toledo High School

It took five bond measures, a multi-million-dollar state grant and two years of construction to complete, but the highly-anticipated new Toledo High School is officially open. The new school … more

The Chronicle staff | 4/24/22

Judi Bell directs volunteers during the Friends of the Seminary Hill Natural Area Earth Day Work Party in Centralia on Saturday.

In Focus: Friends of the Seminary Hill Natural Area Hit the Trails for Earth Day Work Party

4/24/22

W.F. West's Dakota Collins leaps over the bar in the pole vault April 23 at the Chehalis Activators Classic at W.F. West.

Photo Gallery: Activators Track Meet Attracts Hundreds of Regional Athletes

After the COVID-19 pandemic halted the annual event, the Chehalis Activators Classic returned to the spring track schedule, welcoming over 25 schools to the Mint City for a huge invitational meet … more

4/24/22

Thurston County Correctional Deputy Fired, Arrested for Using Job to Solicit Sex

A Thurston County corrections deputy was fired Thursday after being arrested on suspicion of abusing his position to solicit sex. Mingyang Xu, 33, is accused of first-degree computer trespass and … more

Martín Bilbao / The Olympian | 4/23/22

Thurston County Coroner Identifies Man Who Died in Deputies' Custody April 12

A 56-year-old Thurston County man who died in law enforcement custody on April 12 has been identified. Trey C. Hanson died after Thurston County Sheriff deputies put him in handcuffs, but it's … more

Martín Bilbao / The Olympian | 4/22/22

Jordan Bowers, left, and missing Oakville girl Oakley Carlson.

Jordan Bowers Receives Maximum Penalty for Charges Unrelated to Missing Daughter

Jordan Bowers, the biological mother of missing Oakville 5-year-old Oakley Carlson, has received the maximum sentence of 20 months in prison for crimes she accepted a plea deal for earlier this … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/22/22

Police officers remove plants from a structure in the 100 block of Carroll Way off Frogner Road Thursday afternoon in Chehalis following the arrest of one individual while serving a search warrant that also located firearms.

One Suspect Arrested, Two Firearms and 1,250 Plants Seized in Adna Marijuana Grow Bust

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) and the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Marijuana Enforcement Team arrested one man and secured a large number of marijuana plants, as well as firearms, … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/22/22

Pamella Johnson smiles for a photo in her office Tuesday morning.

Rochester Educator Ready to Get to Work After Being Appointed to State Board

The bustling halls of Rochester High School, lined with colorful art displays celebrating women and people of color throughout history that Pamella Johnson helped create, are what Johnson calls her … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/22/22

Department of Children, Youth and Families Calls for More Lewis County Foster Parents

There are around 150 Lewis County children in the state Department of Children, Youth and Families’ (DCYF) foster care system, yet only 74 registered Lewis County homes. Furthermore, only … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 4/22/22

An earlier concept for Centralia Station, a 43-acre multiuse development off of the Mellen Street interchange, is shown in this rendering.

Centralia Station Project Moving Forward With Upcoming Yew Street Extension

The next infrastructure-related step in the Port of Centralia’s longtime pursuit of its Centralia Station project development could be days away from coming to reality, even if some of the … more

By Daniel Warn / dan@chronline.com | 4/22/22

Joe Clark talks about goals for the Lewis County Energy Innovation Coalition during a lunch hosted by the Economic Alliance at Jeremy’s in Chehalis.

Economic Alliance Talks Plans for Hydrogen-Power Initiatives as Part of New Energy Innovation Coalition

Hydrogen-powered conversations gripped the Economic Alliance of Lewis County’s luncheon Wednesday as community members spoke about hydrogen as a renewable energy source. Twin Transit … more

By Daniel Warn / dan@chronline.com | 4/22/22

A Twin Transit bus is seen parked near the construction site as crews continue work on the new Mellen Street charging station in Centralia in May 2021.

Twin Transit Opts to Discontinue Mask Mandate on its Buses

Due to recent court decisions, Twin Transit will no longer require the masking of passengers who use its services, according to a new policy. The policy refers to the Monday ruling of the U.S. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/22/22

Customers and vendors are seen from above during the Country Chicks Spring Show Friday at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in Centralia. The show, in its 13th year, continues through Saturday with more than 150 vendors. Cost of admission is $6 and $5 for senior citizens. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In Focus: Country Chicks Market Springs Into SWW Fairgrounds

4/22/22

Thurston County Corrections Deputy Allegedly Used Jail Messaging System to Solicit Woman for Sex

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has fired a 33-year-old corrections deputy after he was arrested Thursday evening for allegedly using the jail visitation system to solicit for sex a woman … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/22/22

Sirens: Mossyrock and Morton Incidents; Assault; Theft; Open Container

CHEHALIS POLICE DEPARTMENT Assault • At approximately 9:15 a.m. on April 20, a custodial assault that occurred in the 300 block of Southwest 11th Street on March 28 was reported. … more

4/22/22

The Chehalis Police Department continues to investigate a break-in to the 13th Street Market, located at 1249 South Market Blvd. in Chehalis, that occurred around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The store, pictured above, was previously burglarized on March 30, but that burglary is also still under investigation and no arrests have been made, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

Photo: 13th Street Market Burglarized Again Thursday Morning

4/22/22

From the April 1958 Chronicle archives: “GETTING READY for the opening of the derby, a group of youngsters gather around Centralia Junior Chamber of Commerce members as they make preparations. The big derby will provide numerous prizes for the youths in Centralia. All parents are asked to sign an application blank and turn them over to the Jaycees. - Chronicle Staff Photo.”

A Look Back in Time: Lewis County Prepares for World War II Sugar Rationing in 1942

Initial preparations for the public registration for wartime sugar rationing in Lewis County were set for May 4-7, 1942, as disclosed by Centralian Reid R. Conrad, Lewis County rationing … more

Complied by Daniel Warn / dan@chronline.com | 4/22/22

Jaime Herrera Beutler smiles while on a tour of Riverside Park in Centralia following flooding earlier this year.

Herrera Beutler Invites President to Meet With Lewis County JNET on Overdoses, Addiction

Earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, sent a letter to President Joe Biden inviting him to meet with the Lewis County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET), a … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/22/22

The inside of the Roxy Theater is pictured last year.

Trust Grants $275,000 to Roxy Theater in Morton

In its winter grant report, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust listed Fire Mountain Arts Council, the nonprofit that runs Roxy Theater in Morton, as the beneficiary of a grant for theater renovations. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/22/22

Congresswoman Presents Flag From Capitol to Morton WWII Veteran

Earlier this week, while on a trip to East Lewis County, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, stopped by the home of World War II veteran Paul Ghosn to present him with a flag that was … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/22/22