The Chronicle

06/04/2026

🎉 Happy Retirement, Cindy! 🎉

Today we celebrate an incredible milestone as we congratulate Cindy on her retirement!

For the past 21 years, Cindy has been a familiar face and a dedicated member of our team—16 years with Sunbirds and the last 5 years with Chehalis Outfitters. Throughout her career, she has brought hard work, dedication, kindness, and outstanding customer service to everyone she met.

Whether you stopped by the customer service counter with a question, needed help finding something, or just enjoyed a friendly conversation, Cindy was always there with a smile and a willingness to help. Her commitment to our customers and coworkers has made a lasting impact, and she will be greatly missed by all of us.

Cindy, thank you for your 21 years of service, loyalty, and dedication. We are so grateful for everything you've done and for the relationships you've built along the way.

Please join us in wishing Cindy a happy, healthy, and well-deserved retirement! ❤️

Congratulations, Cindy—we'll miss seeing you at the customer service counter, but we're excited for this next chapter in your life!

06/04/2026

Following a chemical tank implosion that killed 11 people at a mill in Longview, Washington, the plant’s owner said Wednesday it would pay employees at least until early August even if stoppages at the damaged facility prevent them from working.

“Nippon Dynawave Packaging wants to ensure all employees are supported,” said Sam Jefferies, spokesperson for the company. “We are committing to paying staff through August 8, even if they are instructed not to come in because of the May 26 incident.”

The paper mill employs 550 people. It’s unclear how many employees are unable to work but will be compensated.

Employees who are required to report to work will receive additional pay for each shift through August, according to the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers.

“This continues to be an incredibly difficult and emotional situation for our members, their families, and the entire Longview community,” said Josh Estes, spokesperson for the union.

Following a chemical tank implosion that killed 11 people at a mill in Longview, Washington, the plant’s owner said Wednesday it would pay employees at least until early August even if stoppages at …

06/04/2026

BAIL SET AT $75K FOR DUI SUSPECT WHO LED POLICE ON CHASE: Thurston County deputies used a Grappler device to disable a suspect’s truck during a multi-county chase that ended in Tenino early Monday.

After he allegedly refused their commands, deputies used a “less lethal” 40-mm round and tackled the suspect, according to prosecutors.

Jake D. Johnson, 31, of Olympia, is charged with one count each of attempting to elude a police vehicle, driving while under the influence, ignition interlock violation, resisting arrest and third-degree driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Johnson made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday. Judge Paul Strophy set Johnson’s bail at $75,000 cash or bond and ordered that Johnson not operate a motor vehicle under any circumstances as part of his release conditions.

Prior to his ruling, Strophy cited Johnson’s prior offenses, his concern for “escalating conduct,” and the risk that Johnson could commit a future offense with violent consequences.

“These crimes are very serious, (and) it’s a mystery to the court why the Legislature doesn’t treat them as serious,” Strophy said.

According to court documents, Johnson has past convictions for reckless driving and DUI, along with felonies such as first-degree theft, first-degree trafficking in stolen property and second-degree unlawful firearm possession.

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders in a Monday Facebook post referred to Johnson as a “repeat fleeing DUI driver.” Sanders did not name Johnson in the post.

According to a probable cause affidavit, a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office sergeant began pursuing Johnson’s Chevrolet Silverado northbound on Interstate 5 shortly after 12:08 a.m. June 1.

Earlier, the suspect had allegedly fled from Chehalis police.

The I-5 chase reportedly reached speeds up to 105 mph, before Johnson eventually took Exit 88 and continued onto state Route 507 toward Tenino.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) was waiting.

Full story: https://tinyurl.com/4m6hcs6m

06/04/2026

Michael Boone waited until a big game against the top team in the league to flex his muscles. He crushed a grand slam and it was all his team needed to win very big game. I played side by side with his uncle for years. He comes from good stock. Welcome Michael to the Willie’s Sport Shop Home Run Club we are proud to have you!

06/04/2026

Former Grays Harbor County Commissioner and new Community Integrated Health Services CEO Vickie Raines struggled to contain her shock Tuesday as she realized that Lewis County had never passed a local sales tax to fund local police and the criminal justice system.

“I’m just surprised that you haven’t done this before,” she said Tuesday afternoon during the first meeting of the Lewis County Law and Justice Council

“Lewis County takes a certain amount of pride in being lean and being efficient and making every dollar stretch,” Lewis County Manager Ryan Barrett said in response. “Unfortunately, we are staring down the cold hard fact … That our current revenue streams are being outstripped by rising costs.”

The cost of maintaining the criminal justice system in Lewis County is rising. Whether it is the cost of paying police officers, attorneys and jail staff, or paying for medical and mental health services and liability insurance, just like at the pump, it seems to many local officials that the price is always going up.

The new 24-member Lewis County Law and Justice Council convened Tuesday afternoon and spent most of its first meeting confirming exactly that.

Lewis County Undersheriff Kevin Engelbertson and Lewis County Sheriff's Office Corrections Chief Chris Sweet confessed to leaving positions unfilled at the county jail out of the necessity to save costs.

A sudden hike in the cost of providing medical services in the Lewis County Jail reportedly forced the department's hand.

“We've had to leave positions open, specifically our corrections have had to leave three to five open in the last couple of years,” Engelbertson said. “We've got at least one deputy position open, and a lot of that's generated by increased cost, primarily by jail medical.”

Centralia Police Chief Andy Caldwell warned that rising costs, including those paid to the local jail, threaten useful tools like the department’s Flock Safety camera system.

“You know, we had to increase our jail budget by about $130,000 last year, and we're still looking at blowing that out of the water this year,” Caldwell said.

Former Grays Harbor County Commissioner and new Community Integrated Health Services CEO Vickie Raines struggled to contain her shock Tuesday as she realized that Lewis County had never passed a …

06/04/2026

"I have found in my experience that there is much more incompetence than corruption in local government.

"I’m not suggesting there is no corruption, just that I’ve only seen it in very small ways, and usually it's been at the employee level, not the elected official. None that I know of made off with millions and moved to Hawaii; they’re still coming to work and around here.

"However, names of local folks have been tossed out in comments as corrupt even though, as of yet, not a single fact supporting any of it has been produced.

"As far as I can tell, it’s simply gossip.

"Years ago in Pierce County, the appointed sheriff was in fact investigated for a series of serious crimes and arrested because there were facts and evidence. The investigation was carried out by federal agents, if I recall correctly, and was treated seriously and adjudicated properly.

"If someone has facts, evidence or other information suggesting criminal behavior of any of the named principles being tossed around, they should get it to the proper authorities.

"It’s not hard. The FBI has confidential phone numbers to call.

"But, somehow, I just don’t think such evidence exists.

"As far as I can tell from actual reporting, Tracy was let go for being untruthful, which, if true, is a serious issue. But it’s also true if there were any truth to the gossip he’d likely have used the proper channels to get it investigated. In his previous role as the JNET supervisor, he’d know how to do that.

"As far as I know, it hasn’t happened."

I’m sure if you are like me, you generally get your news from social media, such as Facebook or one of the other social platforms. Because, as we all know, the stories and claims on the …

06/04/2026

SENIORS FISH WITHOUT BARRIERS AT POND IN CHEHALIS: In the first photo, Earlene Tiffany, front, reels in a fish with the help of Kurt Johnson at the Noel Cole Fish and Wildlife Project pond in Chehalis on Wednesday, June 3.

About 44 years ago, the late Noel Cole began allowing people who might not otherwise get the opportunity to go fishing to drop a line at the Cole family property in Lewis County.

That tradition continues today as his son Greg Cole continues the Noel Cole Fish and Wildlife Project, providing barrier-free fishing to many who otherwise would be unable to experience the beloved outdoor activity.

Trout Unlimited and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have helped with the project from the beginning, according to previous reporting by The Chronicle.

“It is an amazing feeling just to see the look on the people’s faces when they catch a fish when you weigh them, measure them, clean them and put the fish in a bag,” Greg Cole said in 2024. “It’s a lot of work, and it’s very heartening.”

Each year, the pond is stocked for fishing for the first week of June.

Greg, the family and volunteers then feed the fish a couple of times a day and chase off any bird predators, such as herons and eagles.

In a 2019 interview with The Chronicle, Noel Cole, who died in 2021, said he started raising steelhead in the pond sometime around 1982.

A couple years later, he had a conversation with a woman who said the special needs students at W.F. West were having some trouble getting into certain outdoor activities.

See more on the photos here: https://tinyurl.com/3htnzvv7

Photos by Chronicle photographer Otto Rabe.

06/04/2026

DON TERRY CHOSEN AS OAKVILLE INDEPENDENCE DAY GRAND MARSHAL: The Oakville Chamber of Commerce this week announced Don Terry as the 2026 Oakville Independence Day Parade grand marshal.

“You are most likely to know Don from his work as the City of Oakville’s Building Official for the last 30 years, and the Chehalis Tribe’s Building Official for 18 years,” the chamber wrote in a news release. “After a career of service to the Oakville community, Don retired in April, so we are taking this opportunity to see him out in style.”

Terry was born in Centralia, attended grade school in Rochester and graduated from Lake Quinault High School. Before graduating, he spent his summers working with his father cruising old growth timber and laying out logging roads.

Terry is a Vietnam-era veteran, having served honorably aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway as a gunner's mate, according to the chamber. After service, he married his high school sweetheart, Gail.

Terry supported his family working in the woods for a few years. Don and Gail Terry moved their family to Oakville in 1981, where their three kids completed their schooling. The Terrys have been married 50 years and have 12 grandchildren.

Terry spent 14 years as a general contractor engaging in commercial and residential projects around Washington. In 1994, he contracted with the City of Oakville as their part-time building official, and in 2006, Terry was hired full-time by the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation as their building official, where he worked on several projects in Grand Mound, Tumwater and on the Chehalis Reservation.

In his spare time, Terry enjoys camping, spending time with his grandkids, woodworking, tinkering with his old classic cars, clam digging and beach combing, the chamber stated.

Terry will head up the Oakville Independence Day Parade on Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m.

(Oakville Chamber of Commerce information and photo)

06/04/2026

As many of you have heard, CJ and I bought the Van Cleve building. As of Monday, June 1st, it is now Cooper Auto & Tires. What this means for our customer and friends at both Van Cleve’s and Ed’s Morton Auto Parts:

We have kept all the shop/ service staff at Van Cleve’s with no changes to anything at this point except we are selling tires!!! We will also expand our scope of services. Lift kits installs etc. No, we didn’t buy Rod’s tire as rumored. When you call or stop by you will still get James, Patty, Todd, Darrin, and Mark with the addition of Terry Zook, who started his career at Van Cleve’s, who had been doing our shop work at Ed’s Auto.

In the hopefully near future, as we have to do a little remodeling, we will be moving Ed’s Morton Auto Parts to the Van Cleve building. We are excited to have everything available at one location. As most of you know, we like to be a one stop shop and this will make it even better!

In case you are wondering, we will not be selling cars…..

We are so excited for Jim and Julie VanCleve to move to the next phase and start enjoying the retired life!

CJ and I are excited to carry on what our family friends, the Van Cleve’s have started. We are also happy to carry on as the 5th generation of Coopers to own businesses in our little town of Morton!

06/04/2026

A federal agent and his spouse face criminal charges after allegedly shooting a Centralia neighbor during target practice.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Crime Laboratory recently determined that the bullet that struck the female victim had been fired from one of the handguns obtained during the initial investigation last year.

Ray O. Critchfield, 42, and Crystal A. Brown, 42, are both charged with one count of reckless endangerment, a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and $5,000 in fines.

Critchfield and Brown made preliminary appearances in Lewis County Superior Court Tuesday following a summons. They remain out of custody and await arraignment hearings on June 18.

As part of their release conditions, Critchfield and Brown are prohibited from participating in recreational shooting activities, though Critchfield’s conditions allow exceptions for any employer-required shooting.

Court documents do not specify Critchfield’s exact role in federal law enforcement.

A federal agent and his spouse face criminal charges after allegedly shooting a Centralia neighbor during target practice. According to a probable cause affidavit, the Washington State Patrol …