News | The Daily Chronicle

Victim of fatal hit-and-run crash on I-5 in Tacoma Saturday identified by state patrol

A 39-year-old Texas man killed in a hit-and-run collision on Interstate 5 in Tacoma early Saturday morning has been identified as Lance E. Melder, according to the Washington State Patrol. The … more

By Becca Most / The News Tribune | 4/3/24

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders, right, shakes Christopher Burbank’s hand in this photo posted to the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Burbank was one of three officers acquitted in December of the shooting death of Manny Ellis in 2020 in Tacoma. Burbank was hired as a lateral patrol deputy. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that Burbank had resigned after the department faced backlash for hiring him.

Officer acquitted in Manny Ellis trial resigns from Thurston County Sheriff’s Office

Less than a week after the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) swore in controversial former Tacoma officer Christopher Burbank as a patrol deputy, Burbank has resigned from the position. … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/3/24

Lewis County Sheriff’s Office investigating after woman found dead near Rochester-area roadway early Tuesday morning

An investigation is underway after a woman’s body was found on the side of the road in the Rochester area early Tuesday morning, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office announced. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/2/24

Man accused of intentionally causing a crash in Centralia, breaking other driver’s leg, charged with vehicular assault

A man accused of intentionally side-swiping a vehicle, causing it to crash into a power pole and breaking the driver’s leg, in Centralia on Friday is facing multiple felony charges in Lewis … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/1/24

Chevron Manager and Lewis County Drug Court graduate Leah Rader of Napavine, left, stands next to her friend, Kristina Lopes of Napavine, as they hold signs advertising free hot meals they were handing out on Easter Sunday, March 31, at the Centralia Chevron.

Meals for those in need on Easter: Drug Court graduate continues free holiday meal handouts

With spring having just arrived and temperatures beginning to warm up, many celebrated this past Easter weekend with a traditional egg hunt or a sunrise church service. But for Leah Rader of … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/1/24

Alex Sirotzki, public health educator with Washington Poison Center, gives an overview of opioids during an Opioid Summit at Centralia College on Thursday, March 28.

Keynote speaker talks danger of illegal opioids, effective treatment

Effective treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) can reduce both crime and overdose deaths in a community, keynote speaker Brandon del Pozo said at the Lewis County Opioid Summit at Centralia … more

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com | 4/1/24

Lyla Kirkpatrick smiles with her SkillsUSA State Champion banner on Friday March 29. at Napavine High School.

Napavine SkillsUSA student to compete in national competition

Napavine High School sophomore Lyla Kirkpatrick will travel to Atlanta, Georgia, in June to compete at the national level after she placed first in the prepared speaking category at the Washington … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/1/24

St. Mary’s Catholic School students perform a stations of the cross enactment in Centralia on Friday, March 29.

Centralia and Chehalis Catholic parishes bring back Stations of the Cross enactment

With the early spring showers clearing up just in time for this past weekend, close to 200 local Catholics began their Easter weekend by watching as Centralia’s St. Mary’s and … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/1/24

A long exposure photo is taken from the SW Parkland Dr. overpass on I5 in Chehalis at sunset on Friday March 29.

In Focus: Fancy freeway photos at dusk

4/1/24

Replacement of Fryingpan Creek Bridge Approved for Mount Rainier National Park

The National Park Service (NPS), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), has approved a plan to replace the historic Fryingpan Creek Bridge in Mount Rainier National Park with … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/1/24

Adna Grocery, Uncle Jim’s Smokehouse hosting Inaugural Adna Sausage Fest in May

Adna Grocery, in partnership with Uncle Jim’s Smokehouse, are preparing to host the inaugural Adna Sausage Fest from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, May 11, at the Adna Grange Hall, located on 123 … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/1/24

From the left, Chehalis City Councilors John Six, Jody Kyes, Bob Spahr, Mayor Tony Ketchum, Mayor Pro Tem Daryl Lund, Kate McDougall and Kevin Carns during a regular council meeting on Monday, March 25.

Chehalis City Council approves more 2024 LTAC funding recommendations

The Chehalis City Council voted 4-1, with Chehalis Mayor Tony Ketchum and Councilor John Six abstaining, to allocate Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) funds at its regular meeting on Monday, … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/1/24

Lewis County Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Deputy Commander for senior members Dan Whalen talks to a family about the CAP does during an open house event in Centralia on Saturday, March 30.

Lewis County Civil Air Patrol hosts open house on Saturday

Though some may have spent their Saturday at one of the many Easter egg hunts going on throughout Lewis County, members of the Lewis County Civil Air Patrol (CAP) composite squadron spent the day … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/1/24

Sirens: Wigs found under stairs, street racing, injured bald eagle at Borst Park

CHEHALIS POLICE DEPARTMENT Assault • A man reportedly punched a woman in the throat in the 700 block of North National Avenue just after 11:05 a.m. on March 29. Officers responded but … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/1/24

Kids run to find Easter eggs at Sasquatch Family Farms during the inaugural Family Easter egg hunt in Toledo on Saturday, March 30.

In focus: On the hunt for eggs at Sasquatch Family Farms in Toledo

4/1/24

St. Timothy Episcopal Church to host Foster Care Information Night in Chehalis

St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Chehalis will host a Foster Care Information Night at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11. Chisana White of the Washington state Department of Children, Youth and … more

The Chronicle staff | 4/1/24

Court documents: Nanny charged with killing Washington infant gave multiple stories to police

A 59-year-old nanny charged with killing an Airway Heights infant provided several explanations as to what led to the fatal injuries, which a doctor compared to someone being thrown from a moving … more

Garrett Cabeza / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 3/31/24

The sun sets on Mount St. Helens on Saturday, March 16.

Snowboarder killed in avalanche at Mount St. Helens

A snowboarder was killed Saturday in an avalanche at the summit of Mount St. Helens, the Northwest Avalanche Center said in a preliminary report. Standing near the mountain peak, the snowboarder … more

Rebecca Moss / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/31/24

Partners in life Rachel Dreon and Jeff Grant are managers for the Back To Basics and Breaking The Cycle teams who faced each other at a March 17 tournament hosted by the Olympic Division of the Clean and Sober Softball Association at Rainier Vista Community Park in Lacey.

New clean and sober softball league comes to Thurston County after years-long effort

Jacob Sloboda faced drug charges in federal court about four years ago. As he waited for an inevitable prison sentence, he said he felt scared and isolated. That's when his wife suggested he start … more

Martín Bilbao / The Olympian (TNS) | 3/31/24

A moose uses the Resort Creek wildlife underpass (part of the Snoqualmie Pass East Project) to safely cross I-90, allowing for natural range expansion into the South Cascades.

Cascade critter crossings: How Interstate 90 became safer for wildlife, drivers

Interstate 90 fractures the spine of the Cascades at its midpoint. For wildlife that once freely roamed the region from Canada to Oregon, the highway was an impassable barrier — until the … more

Vonnai Phair / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/31/24