Opinion | The Daily Chronicle

Fireworks light up the night sky as attendees look on during the City of Vader’s Red, White & Boom Fireworks Show on Saturday, July 4, at the Vader Pre-K property on D Street.

Richard Stride commentary: 250 candles on America's birthday cake

"The best birthdays aren't measured by the number of candles on the cake, but by the people gathered around it." This Fourth of July feels a little different. It isn't every year a nation … more

By Richard Stride / For The Chronicle | 7/6/26

Commentary: A child in ‘the Jungle’ and when disorder becomes dangerous

A missing child from Arizona was recently found in an Olympia homeless encampment after investigators suspected she was being sex trafficked. That fact alone should disturb every one of us. … more

By Sarah Mittelman | 7/3/26

Podcaster Brandi Kruse introduces high school students Frances Staudt, of Tumwater High School, and Ahnaleigh Wilson, of Eastmont High School, at a Let’s Go Washington rally supporting initiatives concerning parental rights and barring transgender athletes from participating in girls’ athletics at the Washington state Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Commentary: Don’t expect bans on trans athletes in girls’ sports in Washington, even with ruling

If you’re celebrating the United States Supreme Court Tuesday ruling that keeps in place state laws banning transgender athletes from participating on women’s and girls’ sports teams, you might … more

By Ken Vance, ClarkCountyToday | 7/3/26

Commentary: Celebrating 250 years of civic life in America, from Lyle to Washington, D.C.

Imagine being told you have to leave your home, perhaps forever. You only have a couple of hours to pack, and you can only take what fits in your car. Calista Christiansen, a seventh-grader from … more

By Kris Johnson, Association of Washington Business | 7/3/26

Sean Swope: Miracles, declaration and legacy — the birth of a nation

Editor’s note: This is the second installment in a two-part series on America’s founding. The first installment can be found online at https://tinyurl.com/yrsy9paz . Imagine an army of … more

7/3/26

Letters to the editor can be submitted to letters@chronline.com.

Letter to the editor: Claims of Swope and Murphy incompatible

Was I at the same forum that's being talked about from last month between the Lewis County sheriff candidates? The one I attended at times seemed like a training session for used car salesmen. … more

7/3/26

Letter to the editor: The fossil fuel industry’s control of our government

The world as we know it today was built on the back of burning fossil fuels. Unfortunately, this process has come at a tremendous cost. Emissions from burning fossil fuels are rapidly … more

7/3/26

Letter to the editor: Democrats provide lower taxes for families and increase services

The level of dishonesty regarding the initiative to roll back the millionaires’ tax passed by our Democratic Legislature is mind-boggling. You aren’t being told that it applies only to those … more

7/3/26

Letter to the editor: If America falls to authoritarian rule, it is our fault

I am not a resident in Lewis County, but I have friends who are, and I hold their best interests in my heart. I am a board-certified professional chaplain. I believe our founders framed the … more

7/3/26

A dairy cow grazes in a pasture grown with chicory, plantain and clover to reduce emissions and promote health for the cows during a National Farmers Day livestream presentation with the Organic Valley in Curtis on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025.

Maureen Harkcom: Thoughts on raw milk from the child of a dairy farm

Every human being on this earth is made into the person they are by their experiences, by the things they are exposed to. Our basic values and beliefs are based largely on our early years. … more

Commentary by Maureen Harkcom / For The Chronicle | 7/1/26

Kelly Smith-Johnston, author of this commentary, receives the Buck Hubbert Staff Award during the Economic Alliance of Lewis County 2026 Annual Banquet at Jester Auto Museum in Chehalis on Friday, Feb. 6.

Commentary: Questions that led me to vote no on more distribution warehouses

Author’s note: This represents my point of view and not the full Centralia City Council. Centralia is a place where people still stop to talk in the grocery store aisle, where we know each … more

By Kelly Smith Johnston, deputy mayor of Centralia | 7/1/26

John McCroskey was Lewis County sheriff from 1995 to 2005. He lives outside Chehalis and can be contacted at musingsonthemiddlefork@gmail.com.

John McCroskey: Frase for sheriff, Stickley for coroner and Braun for Congress

Each election season provides more entertainment than the last. In 1994, my first election, there were a total of eight candidates competing to become Lewis County sheriff. One of the … more

Commentary by John McCroskey | 7/1/26

Roy George Gardner is pictured in a mug shot during one of his times being booked into jail.

Julie McDonald: Speaker shares fascinating story of smiling train bandit Roy Gardner

Editor's note: To ready part one of this two-part installment, visit https://tinyurl.com/kth99h8u . At McMenamins Olympic Club in Centralia earlier this month, Seattle speaker Casey … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 6/29/26

Sean Swope: The Road to 1776 — Revolutionary War: The Gathering Storm

Editor’s note: This is the first installment in a two-part series on America’s founding. The second installment will be published later this week. Imagine a people who had crossed dangerous … more

Commentary by Sean Swope | 6/29/26

Washington state’s gas tax goes up in July and will automatically increase yearly; that’s a big problem

Washington state’s third-highest-in-the-nation gas tax is going up again on July 1, 2026. It will be the first “automatic” or “inflation-based” increase since ESHB 2711, signed … more

By Bob Pishue / Mountain States Policy Center | 6/29/26

Former U.S. Ben Sasse accepted the Alexander Hamilton Award on May 6, 2026. Sasse has a terminal diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Brian Mittge: All-American wisdom from a life cut short

I’ve admired Ben Sasse for many years. I appreciated his respectful, moral and strong approach to public policy as a U.S. senator from Nebraska. Dare I say it, he seemed to … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 6/26/26

John McCroskey: The state has proven it can’t be trusted with our money

It’s becoming more and more clear that Washington's state Legislature continues to spend like crazy. And while the blame is placed on the eternal boogyman, President Trump, that … more

Commentary bu John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 6/26/26

Letter to the editor: Respect for working people and making decisions based on evidence

As I have listened to recent discussions about economic development in Centralia, one thing has continued to concern me. At a recent council meeting, questions were raised about whether people … more

6/26/26

Letter to the editor: I ask that the community take notice of systemic flaws

My name is Chase Nathaniel Ettner, and I am writing to bring urgent attention to the ongoing and often understated indigent defense crisis in Lewis County, Washington. As someone currently … more

6/26/26

Letter to the editor: Master Gardeners thank community

The Master Gardener Foundation of Lewis County extends its sincerest thanks to the community for its continued support of our annual Spring Plant Sale. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, this event is … more

6/26/26