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The Lewis County Health Building in Chehalis on Thursday, June 27.

Lewis County Public Health launches survey to guide future community services

Lewis County Public Health & Social Services has launched the 2025 Community Health Survey to gather public input on local health needs and priorities, according to a release from the county. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/1/25

Power of the Purse attendees pose for a photo at Centralia College on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. The event's theme was "Kentucky Derby."

United Way’s 20th annual Power of the Purse returns Aug. 5

United Way of Lewis County invited the community to celebrate two decades of philanthropy and fashion at its 20th annual Power of the Purse, scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 5, at 4 p.m. at the TransAlta … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/1/25

Clackamas Community College head wrestling coach Brett Sanchez, in gray, talks with campers during the Center Circle Wrestling Camp at W.F. West High School on Thursday, July 31.

Hundreds of wrestlers learn from elite clinicians during Center Circle camp at W.F. West

Approximately 265 high school wrestlers from around Washington state flocked to W.F. West High School from July 27 through July 31 for the Center Circle Wrestling Camp, hosted at the school in … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 8/1/25

Chehalis Awesome Chevy players pose for a photo after winning the 2025 American Legion Class A State Championship game at W.F. West High School on Wednesday, July 30.

Awesome Chevy triumphs in Class A State Legion Championship

Back in the day when W.F. West High School hosted the Class A American Legion State Tournament, the players for Awesome Chevrolet had to keep the field in tip-top shape amongst other … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/1/25

Chair of the Board of Equalization Tom Crowson reads through notes in the courthouse in Chehalis on Thursday, June 1, 2023. Crowson died on July 27, but his name will still appear on the ballot in a Napavine fire commissioner race.

One candidate dies, another suspends campaign in separate races leading up to Aug. 5 primary election

Some voters in the Lewis County primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 4, have two less candidates to consider on the ballot for Winlock mayor and Lewis County Fire District 5 commissioner in Napavine. … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/1/25

Ray Chapman-Wilson, Leah Sisemore and Chuck Kifer are running for the Centralia City Council District No. 2 seat in the Aug. 5 primary election.

Three candidates vying for Centralia City Council District No. 2 seat

The lone Twin Cities council race with three or more candidates on the Aug. 5 primary election ballot hails from Centralia as three candidates seek to earn the District No. 2 seat currently held by … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 8/1/25

David Edward Merrill appears in Lewis County Superior Court via video call from the Lewis County Jail for his preliminary hearing on Thursday, July 31.

$100K bail: Man, 22, charged with rape in Centralia

A local man was charged in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday, July 31, with crimes connected to an alleged sexual assault. David Edward Merrill, 22, was arrested earlier this week after … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 8/1/25

Matthew Alan Poston appears in Lewis County Superior Court via video call from the Lewis County Jail for his preliminary hearing on Thursday, July 31.

$250K bail: Centralia man faces charges linked to alleged ongoing domestic violence

A Centralia man was charged with five felonies and a gross misdemeanor on Thursday, July 31, including burglary in the first degree and violating a protection order. Matthew Poston, 38, was … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 8/1/25

Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston speaks about George Washington during a memorial for Founder’s Day at the Washington Lawn Cemetery in Centralia on Saturday, Aug. 10, 3034.

Centralia Founder’s Day celebration set for Aug. 9 at George Washington Park

The Centralia Downtown Association invites the community to come together and honor the legacy of Centralia’s founder George Washington during Founder’s Day on Saturday, Aug. 9, with a … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/1/25

Winlock Egg Days queen candidate Georgia Sayler speaks to the Winlock City Council during public comment on Monday, June 9, at Winlock City Hall.

A look at the candidates for Winlock mayor, school board and Napavine’s fire district in Tuesday’s primary election

While the majority of candidates running for office in Lewis County this year automatically advanced to November’s general election — as there were no more than two candidates running in … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/1/25

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez talks to visitors at Kemp Olson Memorial Park in Toledo during a town hall event on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

Gluesenkamp Perez, colleagues introduce legislation to establish national fiscal contingency plans

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, along with Reps. Ben Cline, R-Virginia, Jared Golden, D-Maine, and Jack Bergman, R-Michigan, this week introduced the bipartisan Fiscal Contingency … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/1/25

Conditions of Thurston County river basins improve modestly, new report shows

Thurston County is home to multiple watersheds and basins — areas of land where rivers, streams or other flowing surface waters converge. According to a Thurston Regional Planning Council … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/1/25

Historic High Rock Lookout, shown here in an aerial drone photo taken by Mary Prophit in 2018, is perched on a 5,685-foot peak, offering visitors a spectacular view of Mount Rainier. It is one of the most popular destinations for hikers in the area.

Volunteers rebuild historic High Rock fire lookout near Mount Rainier after vandalism

One of Washington state’s most photogenic hikes, the High Rock Trail — known for its dramatic cliffs and panoramic views of Mount Rainier — is temporarily closed through … more

By Ian McCluskey / Oregon Public Broadcasting | 8/1/25

Eva Borst McElfresh is seen in this 1937 photograph showing three students the nightcap she wore when she lived at Fort Henness, the stockade on Mound Prairie, during the Indian Wars of 1855-56. She was taken to the fort as a 6-wek-old baby and was old enough to walk by the time her family left the fort. The girls are Donna Tisdale, who wrote the story of the Borst Family, Dorothy Rigg, who wrote an account of local Indian tribes, and Evelyn Walkling, whose history of Fort Henness and the Indian Wars makes up the early part of the history of Centralia. At the time, Eva McElfresh was one of the only living former residents of Fort Henness. This photo was found in a box in The Chronicle's building.

Man stealing gas ‘blown to pieces’ in Morton; drunk Chehalis teen hits deputy with beer bottle; Seven women seek Chehalis City Council seats

In this installment of A Look Back in Time, the Friday, Aug. 2, 1935, edition of The Chronicle featured a story about an unidentified man who was “blown to pieces” in a Morton tool shed … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/1/25

Bear Gulch fire in Olympic National Forest expands, prompting evacuation

A Level 3 “GO” evacuation was ordered for areas near Lake Cushman in Olympic National Forest Thursday as the Bear Gulch fire grew to more than 3,000 acres and was only 3% contained. … more

By Ty Vinson / The Olympian (TNS) | 8/1/25

Gov. Bob Ferguson speaks during the Washington Labor Council convention in Vancouver, Wash. on July 23, 2025. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)

Where’s Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson?

With most jobs, you have to give your boss an idea of where you are and what you are doing during the workday. Gov. Bob Ferguson, who works for the people of Washington state, has not been doing this … more

By Bill Lucia / The Washington State Standard | 8/1/25

The site of the proposed Westport Golf Links.

Quinault Indian Nation issue letter opposing Westport Golf Links project

Last week, Ryann Day, Mark Merkelbach and U.S. Army Col. (Ret.) Xander Bullock of Westport Golf Links were afforded the opportunity to brief civic and business leaders on the status of the project at … more

By Jerry Knaak / The Daily World | 8/1/25

An Alaska airliner docks at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona.

Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 crew members sue Boeing over blowout

The four flight attendants on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 are suing Boeing, claiming they suffered physical and psychological injuries after a panel flew off the 737 MAX 9 in January 2024. … more

Lauren Rosenblatt / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/1/25

Cruise ship traveler needs help 120 miles off Washington

A cruise ship passenger having a medical emergency needed help 120 miles off Washington, rescuers say. Rescuers got the message at about 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, west of Grays Harbor, the U.S. … more

Helena Wegner / The News Tribune (TNS) | 8/1/25

Man charged in Lummi Nation police officer shooting

A 23-year-old man suspected of firing 10 times at a Lummi Nation police officer on Monday is being held without bail in the Whatcom County Jail on a charge of first-degree attempted murder. The … more

Catalina Gaitán / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/1/25