News | The Daily Chronicle

Thurston County Reports Increase of COVID-19 Cases as 615 are Tallied

Thurston County reported 615 new COVID-19 cases and no deaths during the period of July 10 through July 17. The previous week there were 533 cases reported and 13 deaths between July 3 to July … more

By Nisqually Valley News staff | 7/19/22

Spokane Police Officer Killed in Golf Cart Crash

The Spokane Police officer who was killed in a Priest Lake golf cart crash has been identified as Cpl. Jeff McCollough. McCollough, 52, had been with the police department for 22 years, … more

Emma Epperly / The Spokesman-Review | 7/19/22

TwinStar Credit Union Announces Plan to Merge With Oregon-Based Credit Union

TwinStar Credit Union, which is headquartered in Lacey, announced Thursday a plan to merge with an Oregon-based credit union. The planned merger is subject to regulatory approval and a vote of … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian | 7/19/22

WSU Investigating Misconduct Allegations Within Campus Police Department

The top leaders of Washington State University's police department have been temporarily reassigned, pending investigations into allegations of misconduct. Police Chief Bill Gardner and … more

Nick Gibson / The Spokesman-Review | 7/19/22

FILE PHOTO — An official ballot drop box sits locked outside the Lewis County Auditor’s Office in Chehalis.

Republican Activists Organizing 'Surveillance' of Ballot Drop Boxes in Washington

As midterm voting kicks into high gear, Republican activists in Washington are organizing surveillance of ballot drop boxes, generating complaints and concern from some elections officials. Over … more

Jim Brunner / The Seattle Times | 7/19/22

These Are the Issues That Matter Most to Washington Voters, New Poll Indicates

The issues that matter most among Washington voters are abortion and inflation, according to a new statewide poll. When asked to choose from more than a dozen issues, 28% of voters who said they … more

Daniel Beekman / The Seattle Times | 7/19/22

Southwest Washington Real Estate Market Begins to Cool

Around the nation, real estate markets are cooling. The same is true in Southwest Washington: pending sales are down, closed sales are down, but don't expect prices to fall substantially. Rising … more

Sarah Wolf / The Columbian | 7/19/22

Washington Hospital Leaders Call on State to Help With 'Unprecedented' Capacity Crisis

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Hospital Association is asking the state for help in addressing "unprecedented" capacity issues at hospitals. Many hospitals statewide, including most on the … more

Laurel Demkovich / The Spokesman-Review | 7/19/22

Washington Woman Guilty of Abusing Toddler to Death Won't Receive a New Trial

A 30-year-old woman found guilty by a jury last month of abusing a 3-year-old Bellingham girl to death in 2019 will not receive a new trial. Defense attorneys for Kamee Nicole Dixon filed a … more

Denver Pratt / The Bellingham Herald | 7/19/22

Washington Hospitals Are Far Over Capacity, as Backlogs and Staff Shortages Add Up

Washington's hospitals are again "dramatically over capacity," as challenges discharging patients worsen and staff shortages persist, the state's health care leaders said Monday. In a news … more

Elise Takahama / The Seattle Times | 7/19/22

French Toast and Co. Mercantile owner Tammie Krist, left, celebrates her business's one-year anniversary on Saturday with her daughters Staci, middle, and Amberly.

French Toast & Co. Mercantile Brings a Vintage Touch to Centralia, Celebrates One Year Anniversary

When Tammie Krist was looking for a place to set up her French Toast & Co. Mercantile store one year ago, as an Olympia resident, she didn’t have any connections to the Centralia area. But … more

By Matthew Zylstra / matthew@chronline.com | 7/19/22

MaKayla Maynard was crowned Little Miss Friendly at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in Centralia on opening day in 2021.

Applications Open for Little Miss Friendly to Determine Official Hostess of Southwest Washington Fair

The Southwest Washington Fair is returning on Aug. 16 and applications are open for the Little Miss Friendly program. Applications are available at … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/19/22

Democrats Seek to Win Washington Secretary of State Race for the First Time in More Than 60 Years

Do you remember Victor Aloysius Meyers? A Depression-era jazz-band leader, Meyers was goaded into running for Seattle mayor as a stunt, lost, but ultimately had a decadeslong career in Washington … more

By David Gutman / The Seattle Times | 7/18/22

A cow eats hay pushed into reach by the Lely Juno automatic feed pusher, affectionately nicknamed after the Pixar character “WALL-E” by its owners, at Sun-Ton Farms in Adna on Friday.

Sun-Ton Farms Incorporates Robots in Adna Dairy Operation

Sun-Ton Farms has taken on several new employees to help with its organic dairy operation near Adna, though they’re not the typical farm hands the fourth-generation family farm has hired in the … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 7/18/22

Alexandra Gonzales, owner of Peaks & Valleys Plants and Props in Morton, with one of her most popular offerings, an air plant in a hand-blown glass planter that looks like a jellyfish.

Peaks & Valleys: Morton Woman Wants Everyone to Own Plants

In a way, playing in the dirt saved Alexandra Gonzales. Several years ago, she was in the midst of many personal and professional struggles, including bouts of postpartum depression as well as … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 7/18/22

Confederate troops fire a canon during an American Civil War battle reenactment in Chehalis on Sunday. Named the “Battle of Chehalis River,” the reenactment was held Saturday and Sunday at 313 Tune Road. It was hosted by the Washington Civil War Association. “Come to beautiful rural Lewis County, just south of Chehalis, and experience the sites, sounds and smells of the American Civil War, the bloodiest war in American history. The men, women and children of the Washington Civil War Association invite you to step back into time to a different world,” the association wrote prior to the event. “You will be educated and entertained by civilians from many walks of life: cavalrymen with their horses, artillerymen with their imposing cannon and infantrymen with a wide variety of rifles and revolvers. Get up close and personal to a battle reenactment. Visit the camps and speak to the living historians who love to share their history. Observe various demonstrations that will bring the 1860s to life.” The association’s next local event will be the “Battle for Klickitat Creek” in Mossyrock on Aug. 6. Learn more at www.wcwa.net.

In Focus: ‘Battle of the Chehalis River’ Civil War Reenactment

Named the “Battle of Chehalis River,” the reenactment was held Saturday and Sunday at 313 Tune Road. It was hosted by the Washington Civil War Association. “Come to beautiful … more

7/18/22

Sirens: Stolen Chickens; Counterfeiting; Employee Assaulted; K9 Pax Involved in Drug Arrest

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Counterfeiting • A fake $50 bill was reported at a business in the 600 block of Harrison Avenue at approximately 1:30 p.m. on July 15. Retail … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/18/22

From top left, Joseph, Jacob, Paul and Gustave Salzer. From bottom left, Dan, Gottlob, Frederick and John Salzer.

Julie McDonald Commentary: Salzer Sons Left Mark in Lewis County

The sons of Joseph and Anna Marine Salzer helped shape Lewis County and their progeny scattered throughout the Pacific Northwest, although tragedy struck one son’s family and three of their … more

7/18/22

Lewis County Auditor’s Office Announces Eight-Day Registration Deadline Ahead of August 2 Primary Election

An eight-day registration deadline for the Aug. 2 primary election was announced by the Lewis County Auditor’s Office on Monday. July 25 will be the last day to register to vote by mail, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/18/22

Ty Herndon, left, and Michelle Wright will perform in Chehalis Friday for a free concert.

Big Time Country Artists to Perform at Free Music in the Park Event in Chehalis

Chehalis will be hosting a free Music in the Park event on Friday, July 22. The country music-themed event will be the first of three Music in the Park events that will be held over the course of … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/18/22