Uncle Sam billboard off I-5 near Chehalis bought by local tribe

The highly contentious “Uncle Sam Billboard” off Interstate 5 in Lewis County has a new owner: The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.

And yes, the tribe intends to take down the right-wing messages that have lingered on the 40-foot-by-13-foot sign for years.

The tribe closed on the 3.5-acre property hosting the billboard for $2.5 million in cash Friday morning, said Chehalis RE/MAX real estate associate Israel Jimenez who listed the site for sale on March 3. The property went up for sale when the owner’s family decided to reposition their assets, Jimenez told The Times in March.

The property, though small, has historical significance, said Jeff Warnke, the Chehalis Tribe’s director of government and public relations.

The sale presented an opportunity for  economic develop