Chonicle Online Gets Facelift!

Written on October 16, 2007 by diesel

Centralia’s Local Newspaper Hits The Web

Centralia’s local newspaper, The Chronicle, which has been in publication since 1889, offered a free online version on October 15, 2007. The Chronicle serves all of Lewis County and is published as an afternoon print edition Monday through Friday, and a morning print edition Saturday. It has no Sunday edition.

How is look?

I had a chance to review the new online Chronicle yesterday and today. The layout is easy to navigate around with links to Sports, Local News, Classifieds, Opinions, Blogs, Forums, Obituaries, and Multimedia.
The site is still being developed with a few of the images not loading and a few links not quite working. They are also working on the blog section. Overall though, the site was very informative and a great improvement over the online “subscription only” based site they had before.
Rick Pierce, the IT Administrator with The Chronicle, did a great job balancing advertising while keeping the real focus on the content.

Here’s What Gets An A+

The Multimedia section is a great idea for the Chronicle to step into the age of “YouTube” and expand on how news should be delivered. Like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words and a video can be priceless.I really liked the videos and think that Nick George did a fantastic job.

The Layout of the site was also done very well with navigation being used to easily locate information. No dropdown menus to get in the way of the news. No heavy use of flash and great flow.

Things To Change Or Consider

Overall, The Chronicle did a great job. There are just a few suggestion that I think would help with the usability of the site.

Having a list of events for the next 7 days in the sidebar instead of the calendar would be alot more useful than having a calendar with a highlighted date.

The Obituaries section needs to be styled like the rest of the site. Once you go there you think you are back on the old Chronicle site. The guestbook was a great idea though.

Offer a RSS subscription so that people can have it added directly to their RSS readers or email without having to check in with The Chronicle to see when new information has been posted.

Downloadable or at least embeddable multimedia.

I would like to see The Chronicle continue and expand their online version of the paper and keep it free. Go ahead, use the extra space in the sidebar and put up some ads. It’s a newspaper and a website, we’re used to it.

Hats Off!

Great job with the redesign. I was not a big fan of the old design, but will now become a reader of The Chronicle online. Everyone reading this, check out The Chronicle, I am sure you will become a fan also.

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2007 Live 95/KITI Wonder Truck Giveaway

Written on September 16, 2007 by diesel

Darcy Holt Wins the Live 95/KITI Wonder Truck for 2007

Live 95, the Twin Cities local FM radio station, held its annual Wonder Truck Giveaway Saturday at the Fairway Shopping Center in Centralia. It was a great time had by all. There was cake, Pepsi, Hot Rods, and of course Bubbles. This had all the makings for a great time.

The day started off with the Antique Car Show where local participates brought their custom cars and trucks to be oodled at. Our gallery shows photos of the vehicles. There where some gorgeous cars and trucks. Even the Live 95/KITI Wonder Truck from 9 years ago was on display. Thanks to all the guys and gals that brought down their automobiles. I had a chance to talk to alot of the owners, and there was plenty of blood, sweat, and tears that was put into those cars.

There was something for the whole family. Cake and soda was provided so that parents could cruise around and look at the cars while the kids played in the Bubble Pool! The pool and bubbles were provided by All Star Fun. The kids even had there own contest, where they had to dive for balls inside of the bubble pool for prizes.

The main event though was the Live 95KITI Wonder Truck Giveaway. Participants signed up at local Lewis County merchants earlier to enter a chance to win a key. The lucky winners of the keys each had an opportunity to sit in the Wonder Truck, put the key in, and turn. Only one lucky winner would actually have the key to start the vehicle. And that lucky winner was…

…Darcy Holt of Centralia!

Darcy stepped up to the Wonder Truck as the first participate ever not to wear the Live 95/KITI Wonder Truck T-shirt. She sat in the truck, put in her key, and the crowd got to her the roar of the 1977 Chevy Pickup. The crowd cheered as a joyful Darcy came out the truck smiling ear to ear. Immediately, her friends and family came out to congratulate her.

Congratulations Darcy and a big thanks to Live 95 for the event. Check out the gallery to view some great photos of the cars, the Wonder Truck, Darcy, and everyone just having a good time. Feel free to download the images, just provide a link back to centralia:live.

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Racing in Centralia

Written on August 27, 2007 by diesel

2007 Hub City Grand Prix

The 2nd Annual Hub City Grand Prix was held in Centralia, WA this weekend. The event was a huge success.
There was a huge turnout this year as cooler and lawn chair toting race fans lined the streets around the Centralia College campus. The smell of gasoline and barbecues filled the air as go-karts and motorcycles whizzed by. Speeds were clocked as high as 84 miles per hour coming down the straight away.
I didn’t get a chance to go to the races last year, so I made it a point to go this year. What a blast. I missed the time-trials that they had on Saturday, but had a chance to see the afternoon races on Sunday before heading off to the Garlic Festival. I will make it a point not to miss the Grand Prix next year. Next year we will be camping out on the streets with food and drink to enjoy the activities.

After talking with several Go-Kart fans, it seems that this year was bigger and better than last year. More racers, faster speeds, more hay bails to line the streets, and more race fans participated in the annual event. Everyone I talked to is planning on making this an annual event and look forward to the 2008 Grand Prix.

I had a chance to get some racing photos of the Go-Karts and motorcycles as well as an awesome video that we posted on YouTube. We hope that everyone had as good of a time as my family and I did. See ya next year!

Update!

We found another great video by Motostrano. He has a video with of the race from a helmet cam! Good stuff. Thanks Motostrano.

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Hub City Grand Prix

Written on August 23, 2007 by admin

Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

The 2nd annual Hub City Grand Prix on the streets of Centralia, Washington is August 24th-26th. It is a grand prix-style Go Kart and Super Motard street race around the campus of Centralia College. These are not the Go-Karts you had as a kid. This is serious. These little cars will reach speeds up to 70 mph! Grand prize is $3600. According to Seattle Karting Club, this was recognized by racers as the best single race of last year and 2007 promises to be bigger and better this year. Get your Grand Prix Schedule and arrive early.

Like 2006, the race will be held on a .8 mile temporary course through the city streets around the Centralia College. Spectator grand stands, TV cameras, vendor displays, and the beer garden will line the outside of the circuit. There will be an infield that will provide food and drink. The beer garden will be sponsored by The Shire, barbecued burgers and dogs will be flame grilled and served up by Dr. George Mahoric, and authentic British & American Food will be brought to you by Sowerby’s. We have a list of all the infield vendors for you.

The popularity of the event has caught the attention of national and local broadcast media. The 2007 Hub City Grand Prix will be featured nationally on the Outdoor Network and regionally by KING/KONG TV.

Online registration for racers is now closed, but you can get a registration form and register in person at the event.

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What To Do With Dad On Father’s Day in Centralia

Written on June 12, 2007 by admin

Father’s Day

Father’s Day is just around the corner and you may be asking yourself what to do with dear ol’ dad. Centralia:live has found a couple of special events that are going on to celebrate that special day.

Steam Train Ride

The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad will be offering a special gift for dads. Whistles blowing, steam plumes rising, and wheels click clacking along the steel tracks. A classic 1916 Baldwin steam engine pulls a modest 1920s dinner and passenger cars on this one and three quarter-hour excursion. Passengers are served a catered three-course dinner with a main course of either prime rib, chicken or salmon during the 18-mile roundtrip that runs along the Chehalis River and through the tranquil Lewis County countryside. On fine weather days, open-air cars allow for unobstructed views of the scenic landscape. Cost per person is $51.95 (inclusive of tax and gratuity). Call 360-748-9593 for reservations. Info provided by festivals.com.

Hit the Links

Invite dad down to the local golf courses for an enjoyable round of golf. The Newaukum Valley Golf Course has a lunch special between 11am-1pm where Dad can get 18 holes of golf and a free lunch for $30. At the time of this post, Riverside Golf Course was also looking at a Father’s Day Special. We will keep you posted.

A Night of Blackjack

The King Oscar Motel and the Lucky Eagle Casino are offering a Father’s Day Extravaganza during the weekend of June 15 through June 17. This exceptional weekend will consist of one night’s accommodations, dinner for two and a casino fun package for the low price of $85.00 plus tax. For more info and reservations, call the King Oscar Hotel at 360-736-1661.

Contact us to let us know of any other special events that are going on for dad. We would love to share them with everyone.

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