News | The Daily Chronicle

The Thurston County Resource Hub, located in Olympia on-site at the Thurston County Courthouse Complex, is a drop-in resource center for people with behavioral health needs who are impacted by the justice system. The hub's current operating hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Third annual Thurston County Resource Hub Block Party is Aug. 19

Thurston County will hold its third annual Resource Hub Block Party on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event brings dozens of community agencies into one venue, 929 … more

By Thurston Chronicle staff | 8/14/26

Lucas Thummel, left, stands with his buddy, Marilyn Tevis, during the Barn Buddies event at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in Centralia on Thursday, August 13.

In Focus: Kids with disabilities show sheep at Southwest Washington Fair

Reliable Enterprises' Lewis County Parent to Parent program partnered with the local Friends and Fleece 4-H group to provide the experience of showing animals to children with disabilities on … more

8/14/26

Firefighters make progress on Backbone Fire in East Lewis County

Firefighting crews on Thursday continued to make progress fighting the Backbone Fire in East Lewis County, according to a joint statement from the Washington state Department of Natural Resources, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/14/26

The Chehalis Theater’s marquee features its most recent event on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

Chehalis Theater shut down in disagreement with city

The historic Chehalis Theater is closed after its certificate of occupancy was revoked earlier this week. Planned upcoming events are canceled until further notice, and five staff members — … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 8/14/26

Macgregor the dog, star of a new children’s book “Meet Macgregor,” by his owner Virginia Daniels, also a teacher, was set to join Daniels as a student in her Boistfort class that year, The Chronicle reported on Saturday, Aug. 14, 1976.

A Look Back in Time: Pilots perform flyovers over Morton Loggers Jubilee; Winlock teen shot by friend; Macgregor the dog joins Boistfort students in class

In this installment of A Look Back in Time, the Wednesday, Aug. 15, 1956, edition of The Chronicle featured a story about fighter pilots doing multiple flyovers over the annual Morton Loggers … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/14/26

Records case exposes ‘interference’ in Grays Harbor County election, judge says

OLYMPIA — A Thurston County Superior Court judge says a Grays Harbor County election was “not properly conducted,” sharply criticizing county officials for conduct that “shocks the … more

By Shauna Sowersby /The Seattle Times (TNS) | 8/14/26

Lewis County quilters donate 50 handmade quilts to victims of Spokane wildfire

As wildfires rage across large portions of Washington, a local quilting group decided to step up and help while using their talents. The Lewis County chapter of Project Linus, an organization … more

By Tyrus VanTuyl /Ty@Chronline.com | 8/14/26

Kayla Mounts begins her first Centralia School District Board meeting in Centralia on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

Centralia School Board accepting applications after director resigns

Centralia School Board Director Kayla Mounts has resigned from her position after serving for a year, the Centralia School District announced in a news release on Friday. Mounts was sworn in on … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/14/26

An image developed by the City of Centralia depicts the phases of its planned septic-to-sewer conversion, with the red zone referring to the first area that will be required to make the switch.

Centralia pushes forward with septic-to-sewer plans for 101 homes

The Centralia City Council is close to approving a new plan to require 101 Centralia homes to ditch septic tanks and hook up to the city’s sewer system. The Centralia City Council discussed … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 8/14/26

Rose McFarlane celebrates her 79th birthday at a family member's home on July 26, 2026.

‘An overwhelming challenge’: Family looks to rebuild as Toledo woman recovers from house fire

The Toledo woman injured in an oxygen tank explosion and subsequent house fire last month is out of the hospital and recovering, according to a family member. Now, the family looks to rebuild … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 8/14/26

Randy Pennington pitchforks yard waste from the back of his pickup truck during a community recycle event on Saturday, May 11, 2024.

Recycling event set for Aug. 29 to help Lewis County residents clean up

A free Community Recycle Event will offer Lewis County residents an opportunity to recycle several materials and offer proper disposal for others on Saturday, Aug. 29, at the old Meskill Drop Box … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/14/26

Dannie Clark introduced as new principal of Orin Smith Elementary

The Chehalis School District on Monday released a video introducing Dannie Clark as the new principal of Orin C. Smith Elementary School. Clark takes over from Kala Wofford after serving as the … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 8/14/26

Pre-7 a.m. morning light shines on Mount Rainier while the mountain reflects off of Reflection Lake in Mount Rainier National Park on Saturday, Aug. 8.

Reporter’s Notebook: A morning in Mount Rainier National Park

When the clock struck 6 a.m., we were off from Packwood en route to the fourth oldest U.S. National Park. A month prior, my girlfriend, Piper, had mentioned her family was planning a camping … more

By Cade Barker / The Reflector | 8/14/26

Lauri Johnson gestures to the crowd during the Sing Big Finale at Centralia High School on Wednesday, June 10. The Sing Big Finale was Johnson’s final performance after 38 years as a music teacher, including 25 at Centralia School district. The performance included Centralia alumni who attended Johnson’s program between 2001 and 2026 as well as a reception following the program at the Performing Arts Center.

Retired Centralia teacher Lauri Johnson named WSECU Teacher of the Week

Retirement may have marked the end of Lauri Johnson’s classroom career, but it certainly did not mark the end of her impact on the Centralia School District community. Johnson, a beloved … more

Submitted by the Centralia School District | 8/14/26

Members of the Thurston County Prosecutor's Office pose for a photo with retiring courthouse facility dog Marshal and his successor, Sky, at the Thurston County Courthouse on Thursday, Aug. 13.

Beloved Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office courthouse dog Marshal retires after over 10 years comforting victims

The Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday celebrated the retirement of its most-beloved and longest-serving employee, relative to their lifespan. Marshal, a 12-year-old black … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com | 8/14/26

Detectives investigating 55-year-old Centralia woman's death as a homicide

Detectives are investigating the killing of a 55-year-old woman found dead inside her Centralia home on Aug. 5. Police said the woman, Patricia Ann Marceaux, died from apparent gunshot … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 8/14/26

Lawmaker who lost home in fire urges governor to lift election rules

Twelve days after a complex of fires consumed hundreds of homes in Spokane County, a state lawmaker who lost her home in the fires is urging Governor Bob Ferguson to lift election rules that ban … more

Carleen Johnson | The Center Square | 8/14/26

Idaho judge ruling allows abortion if it protects mother’s health, prevents self-harm

A pregnant woman may receive abortions in many cases if there are serious risks to her health or if there’s a high risk she will harm herself, an Idaho federal judge has ruled. The … more

Laura Guido / Idaho Capital Sun | 8/14/26

Quanta Services crews building the Boardman to Hemingway transmission line repositioned their equipment to help crews fight wildfires along the Oregon-Idaho border.

Crews building transmission line use equipment to help fight wildfires near Oregon-Idaho order

Crews building the Boardman to Hagerman transmission line recently repositioned their crews and heavy equipment to help the effort to fight wildfires along the Oregon-Idaho border, company officials … more

Clark Corbin / Idaho Capital Sun | 8/14/26

$On June 18, while on duty and responding to a call McCleary Police Officer Edward Owen struck a pedestrian as the person crossed the street. The pedestrian was transported to Summit Medical Center with scraped knees and fractured nose cartilage. Owen was cited for using a personal electronic device while driving.$

Police officer in Grays Harbor County cited after striking pedestrian while looking at phone

On June 18, the McCleary Police Department posted on Facebook that an “on-duty officer with the McCleary Police Department was involved in a traffic collision with a pedestrian in the area of Bear … more

By Andrea Watts / The Daily World | 8/14/26