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Friends and family decorated a cross for Zachary Hines-Rager along the Willapa Hills Trail near Adna.

Divers Recover Body from Chehalis River; Believed to be Drowned Centralia Teen

Divers have recovered what is believed to be the body of Zach Hines-Rager, the Centralia teen who drowned in the Chehalis River on March 24. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Dive … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/19/21

An American flag, large enough to take up most of the width of Tower Avenue in Centralia, is carried through the downtown streets during the Summerfest parade in 2017.

Summerfest 2021 Will Be ‘Summerfest Lite’ as Centralia City Staff Work to Make Event COVID-Safe

The city of Centralia’s Fourth of July festival, Summerfest, has been canceled for the second year in a row — but the city is hoping to host a “low-calorie version” of the … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/18/21

FILE PHOTO — Gov. Jay Inslee talks during a tour of the cold weather shelter at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in Chehalis in 2019.

Republican Lawmakers Still Pressing for Action to Limit Governor’s Emergency Powers

As the 2021 legislative session nears its end and state officials warn of an impending “fourth wave” of COVID-19 , calls from Republican lawmakers to limit the governor’s emergency … more

By Sara Gentzler / The Olympian | 4/18/21

Business of The Year: Leco Supply Honored by Chamber for Providing PPE During Pandemic

Leco Supply, an independent Chehalis-based janitorial supply company that has been doing business in Southwest Washington for 34 years, was recognized as the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce … more

By Eric Rosane / erosane@yelmonline.com | 4/16/21

Joey McCalden and Kollin Jurek smile while posing for a photo in a weight room they designed and renovated at the Pe Ell school.

Strength Through Friendship: Pe Ell Seniors Rebuild School Weight Room

Pe Ell seniors Kollin Jurek and Joey McCalden have seen some tough times, but through it all, their friendship kept them going. They met on the Pe Ell School playground in preschool. This was … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / The Chronicle | 4/16/21

Owners of Timber Patch Brewery & Taproom (left to right) Laurie Judd, Jim Judd, Rich French and Brenda French opened their business one year ago in March.

Timber Patch Brewery Finds Foothold, Support in Morton

As far as first years in business go, Timber Patch Brewing & Taproom had an uphill battle to reach its first anniversary celebration in March. Opening just two weeks before non-essential … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 4/16/21

Gov. Jay Inslee hosts a press conference outside of the governor’s mansion Thursday, April 15, to announce the new “take it outside” initiative intended to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Inslee Urges Residents to ‘Take It Outside’

Gov. Jay Inslee has made a new call to action in the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, asking for Washington residents to “take it outside” as much as possible as more … more

By Rick Bannan / For The Chronicle | 4/15/21 | 1 comment

Outside the front door of The Praxis Laboratory in Centralia. (John Stang for Crosscut)

Centralia Pot Lab May Be the First in Washington to Lose Its License

Data analyst Keegan Skeate agonized for more than a year about telling the state about some suspicious test results at a marijuana testing lab. In a converted 107-year-old former bank building … more

By John Stang / crosscut.com | 4/15/21

Jim Merrill spreads ashes into the Chehalis River during the Pe Ell River Run on Saturday.

After 43 Years, Pe Ell River Run Has ‘Life of its Own,’ Founder Says

At least 60 different boats and flotation devices ranging from canoes and kayaks to rafts and inner tubes traveled roughly 8 miles down the Chehalis River on Saturday during a beloved annual river … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/14/21

Twin Transit Rolls Out New Routes

New routes announced this week by Twin Transit will allow local residents to connect with Intercity Transit in Tumwater, meaning travelers will be able to reach Olympia, Lacey, Aberdeen and beyond, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/21

Jim Merrill holds up his oar and cheers with Dave Mullenix as Austin Oberbillig films on his cellphone after the trio went down Rainbow Falls on a raft during the Pe Ell River Run on Saturday. Those on hand Saturday said it was the 43rd Pe Ell River Run which, aptly, begins in the Chehalis River near Pe Ell and ends with a splash over Rainbow Falls. The unofficial event occurs each April.

Photos: Making a Splash on the Pe Ell River Run

4/12/21

W.F. West college prep advisor Kerri Chaput is pictured in this photograph from the Chehalis School District.

W.F. West Receives ACAC 2020 School of Excellence Award

W.F. West High School in Chehalis has received a School of Excellence award from the American College Application Campaign (ACAC), a national effort to increase the number of first-generation college … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/12/21

From left, volunteer coordinator Payton Zandofsky, warehouse volunteer Dan Gleichman, organizer Melodee Bailey and Executive Director Brian Carlton pose for a photo in front of the Love INC truck parked at Cooks Hill Community Church on Saturday in Centralia during a “Souper Supper” event.

Love INC Raises Funds for Rent and More With Locally Made Soup

On Saturday evening, Love In the Name of Christ (INC) held a drive-through “Souper Supper,” serving 200 bowls of soup in exchange for donations. Soups were provided by Sweet … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / For The Chronicle | 4/12/21

A letterboard in front of the Lewis County Public Health building in downtown Chehalis urges travelers to get vaccinated.

Walsh Bill Would Preemptively Ban Vaccine Passports

Nineteenth District Republican Rep. Jim Walsh introduced a bill this week to prohibit the use of so-called “vaccine passports,” controversial systems that prove individuals are vaccinated … more

By Claudia Yaw / cyaw@chronline.com | 4/9/21 | 2 comments

Gov. Jay Inslee addresses the media earlier this year.

Inslee Calls for Greater Funding for Homelessness, Discusses Possible COVID-19 Phase Rollbacks

The escalation of homelessness in Washington state due to COVID-19 has the governor calling for some late action by state legislators to fund potentially hundreds of millions of dollars more in … more

Rick Bannan / For The Chronicle | 4/9/21 | 1 comment

The Boccata Restaurant is seen during an open house event on Friday in Centralia.

Centralia Staple Boccata Remodeled and Reopened

The story of Boccata’s journey through the last two years is a love story. In July 2019, Darin Harris, chef and owner of the Centralia Mediterranean restaurant, got married. His wife, Kim … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / For The Chronicle | 4/7/21

Sam Rinker is seen behind the controls of his 1946 Aeronca Champ.

Toledo Teen Completes First Solo Flight in 1946 Aeronca Champ

Sam Rinker has been flying right-hand to his dad, Kraig, for as long as he can remember. But last month, the 16-year-old flew solo for the first time: a major milestone for every budding pilot … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/7/21

Body of Missing Woman Found Near Oakville

The body of a missing woman was recovered from a sunken vehicle in the Chehalis River near Oakville Monday The victim, 45-year-old Sabrina Lynn Cole, had been missing since March 20. Her … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/6/21

Independent volunteer divers Corey Cooper, Jefferson Greenwell, and Jim Baker use a rope during a search for missing teen Zach Hines-Rager in the Chehalis River near Adna.

Volunteers Lead Renewed Search for Body of Drowned Centralia Teen

Volunteer divers and community members have organized a renewed search for Zach Hines-Rager’s body after local law enforcement called off their search efforts last week. A YouTube content … more

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

Bentley Derrick Teter, 4, smiles as he hugs the Easter Bunny at Bethel Church in Chehalis on Saturday.

Photos: Bethel Church Gives Out 2,000 Baskets at Easter ‘Eggstravaganza’

4/5/21