1. Gorse

    Ulex europaeus Gorse - A thorny perennial shrub that closely resembles Scotch Broom and can grow to be 10+ feet tall.Leaves: Leaves are small, dark green and trifoliate — having 3 thin leaflets. As they mature, they become spiny. The leaf axils also have spines.Flowers: Flowers bloom April - September. Bright yellow pea-like flowers form clusters near branch terminals.Habitat: Can grow in most habitats, but is especially prevalent in coastal environments.Weed Classification: B DesignateWhy is it a Noxious Weed? Aside from "noxious" growth habits, gorse also creates large physical barriers and poses significant wildfire risk due to the concentration of …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 9:47 a.m.

  2. Poison Hemlock

    Conium maculatum Poison Hemlock - Very tall biennial that can grow up to around 12 feet in height. Stems will have purple splotches that help with identification.Leaves: Leaves are fern-like, toothed and finely divided. Look very similar to wild carrot leaves.Flowers: Flowers bloom from April-August. Flowers are small, white, and occur in 4–8-inch umbrella-shaped clusters.Habitat: Plant is highly adaptive, but prefers rich, moist soil.Weed Classification: B SelectWhy is it a Noxious Weed?The entire plant is toxic to animals and humans. Contains poisonous alkaloids, such as coniine. Poison Hemlock can spread quickly and infest large areas.Poison Hemlock should not be burned, …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 9:48 a.m.

  3. Reed Canary Grass

    Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canarygrass - A highly variable perennial plant, with rhizomes. Grows 3-6 feet in height.Leaves: Leaf blades are flat and smooth. The leaf has a wide connecting point to the stem.Flowers: Flowers bloom from June-July. Densely clustered flowers in panicles. 3 florets per spikelet and only one fertile spikelet. Flowers start out green-purple and change to tan/brown overtime.Habitat: Usually grows where ground is at least somewhat saturated during growing season. Habitats include: roadside ditches, river dikes, shallow marshes, wetlands, and meadows.Weed Classification: CWhy is it a Noxious Weed?A major threat to wetlands due to its aggressive nature. It …


    Weed Control - Oct. 6, 2022, 9:33 a.m.

  4. Press Release (Update): Investigation into fatal Randle shooting. (#2)

    Click here for full press release: PRESS RELEASE Date/Time: 07-07-17 @ 1345 Hours Contact: Chief Dusty Breen Phone: (360) 740-1327 Release #: 2 Investigation into fatal Randle shooting. An autopsy was completed this afternoon in reference to the July 4th fatal shooting in Randle. The decedent has been tentatively identified based on information found at the scene as a 51 year-old male transient. Next of kin for this individual have been notified, but a positive identification has not yet been made. Confirmation of identity will be released by the Lewis County Coroner’s Office. Detectives completed processing the scene on the …


    Sheriff - July 7, 2017, 1:53 p.m.

  5. Toledo Area Death Investigation.

    Click For Original Release PRESS RELEASE Date/Time: 04-30-18 @ 1145 Hours Contact: Chief Dusty Breen Phone: (360) 740-1327 Release #: 1 Toledo area death investigation. Detectives are investigating the death of a male located in the Toledo area on Saturday. On 04/28/2018, at approximately 1203 hours, deputies were dispatched to a report of a deceased male being located in the 300 block of Mandy Road, Toledo. The girlfriend of the decedent, a 41 year old female of Toledo, called and advised she had been looking for her 46 year old male boyfriend. She indicated she had last seen him late …


    Sheriff - April 30, 2018, 5 p.m.

  6. Press Release: Chemical exposure contained at the Lewis County Jail.

    Click here for full release: PRESS RELEASE Date/Time: 07-08-17 @ 1350 Hours Contact: Chief Dusty Breen Phone: (360) 740-1327 Release #: 1 Chemical exposure contained at the Lewis County Jail. A chemical exposure at the Lewis County Jail has been contained to the Kitchen area. Shortly after 3:30 pm this afternoon, an inmate working in the kitchen area of the jail inadvertently mixed household cleaning chemicals, causing an instant chemical reaction. The kitchen area was evacuated, and approximately eight inmates and two kitchen staff members present have been removed from the area and evaluated by jail medical personnel. The Chehalis …


    Sheriff - July 8, 2017, 4 p.m.

  7. Webex info re: Dept of L&I v. Spiffy, Inc 20-2-00772-21 for Jan 19, 2021 at 3:00 pm

    Following is information on how to connect to the Webex video system for L&I v. Spiffy Inc. 20-2-00772-21 hearing set in Lewis County Superior Court for Tues, January 19, 2021 at 3:00 pm being heard by Judge Lanese from Thurston County Superior Court via webex. There is very limited space in the courtroom due to covid-19 restrictions and many are appearing via webex. Media information is also listed below.Media: You may make any request to take pictures or record, on the record at the beginning of the hearing. Media needs to rename themselves on webex as "media" or by their …


    Superior Court - Dec. 24, 2020, 9:09 a.m.

  8. Milk Thistle

    Silybum marianum Milk Thistle - A large, sparsely branched thistle growing up to 6 feet tall. Easy to identify, due to the leaf patterning.Leaves: Alternate, deeply lobed, and pointed leaves. Leaves have a very noticeable white and dark green marbling. The basal leaves can get up to 20 inches long and 10 inches wide.Flowers: Flowers bloom from May-August. Rounded cluster of tubular flowers that have spine-tipped bracts (scales) around it.Habitat: Occurs in many places such as: overgrazed pastures, roadsides, waste areas, ditches, and disturbed areas.Weed Classification: AWhy is it a Noxious Weed?It is an aggressive invader that can grow into …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 10:57 a.m.

  9. Solid Waste FAQ

    What are the hours of the transfer station? The Centralia transfer station is open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with the inbound gates closing promptly at 5:15 p.m.The Morton transfer station is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Both sites are closed all major holidays. What items can I recycle for free at the transfer stations in Centralia and Morton? You need to separate your recycling into the following categories:Metal: Includes scrap metal, pots and pans, aluminum cans, tin cansPaper: Includes newspapers, magazines, office/school paper, mail, paper boxes and bags, paperback books. Please …


    Solid Waste - April 12, 2016, 1:20 p.m.

  10. Lewis County Community Development seeks consultant to assist with comprehensive plan update

    CHEHALIS - Lewis County and all cities in the county are required by the Washington State Growth Management Act to update their comprehensive plans. The Lewis County Comprehensive Plan identifies a vision for the future for the community, and establishes a set of long-term goals, policies and land use patterns for growth over a 20-year period. Updates will include changes to the zoning map and development regulations. The updates must be completed by June 2025.In July, the county expects to receive a grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to fund the mandated updates. The Lewis County Department of …


    News Room - June 29, 2023, 8:45 a.m.