Lewis County Sirens.com

Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza, left and Undersheriff Wes Rethwill, pose with a drug drop off bin inside the lobby of the Lewis County Law and Justice Center.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Newly elected Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza is suggesting people bring in their drugs.

Expired and unwanted medications, that is.

The sheriff’s office in late 2010 set up drop off sites, in hopes of reducing the potential for unused meds to fall into the hands of children, teenagers or adults who might misuse them.

Since they began keeping the numbers early the following year, more than 1,500 pounds of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications have been properly disposed of, according to Chief Deputy Stacy Brown.

The amount of drugs safely disposed of through the Drug Drop Box Program has increased each year, according to Brown.

Last year, the sheriff’s office collected almost 483 pounds, compared with almost 243 pounds in 2011.

Snaza says, in a news release today: “By using secure drug drop boxes instead of leaving expired or unused medications lying around we keep them out of the hands of teens and people who shouldn’t have them. We are also avoiding contaminating water sources by not flushing them down the toilet.

This program has been very successful and we encourage people to continue to utilize the drop boxes.”

Between them, the sheriff’s office and other agencies have five of them around Lewis County.

Bins for safe disposal are located at:
• Lewis County Law and Justice Center, 345 W. Main St., Chehalis
• Centralia Police Department, 316 N. Pearl Street, Centralia
• Morton Police Department, 260 Main St., Morton
• Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Packwood substation, 12990 U.S. Highway 12, Packwood
• Winlock Police Department, 323 N.E. First Street, Winlock

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – He said it wasn’t his and even though it was discovered inside his vehicle after impound, troopers were unable to make a clear enough connection to arrest the 24-year-old Tacoma man for possession of marijuana.

So they didn’t.

Zequane J. King was stopped early last week in Lewis County and was found to be driving with a suspended license, so he was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Washington State Patrol. Trooper Will Finn said a subsequent search of the vehicle turned up roughly one and a half ounces of marijuana.

King was adamant it didn’t belong to him, according to Finn.

Under the new law, it’s lawful for a person 21 or older to have up to one ounce.

Since troopers couldn’t establish ownership, the marijuana was put into safekeeping, the same way the state patrol would for a purse or other valuables from any impounded car, according to Finn.

Yesterday however, King arranged to meet up with the state patrol evidence custodian at the office in Chehalis, to retrieve his property, Finn said.

“He explained to the custodian he was calling to make arrangements to get possession of his marijuana that had been placed into safe keeping,” Finn said in a news release.

Once King signed paperwork stating the marijuana was his and took possession of it, he was arrested once again, this time for possessing a felony amount of marijuana, Finn said.

He was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

This time, the marijuana was placed in to the state patrol’s evidence system as evidence, according to Finn.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – On Jan. 19, 1995, a local group helped kick off a crime fighting program to collect anonymous tips regarding crimes in the Lewis County area.

The information would be forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency, and if police made an arrest and/or cleared the case, the tipster would be eligible for a cash reward.

Crime Stoppers of Lewis County, a non-profit organization, has continued to work over the past 20 years, leading to the arrests of more than 333 individuals, according to the group.

“The program works, the organization states in a news release. “It works because of strong community support, media advertising and hard work by the police agencies.”

In two decades, the tips have cleared more than 411 cases and recovered stolen property and drugs exceeding $3 million, according to the group.

A board of directors made up of Lewis County volunteer citizens administer the Crime Stoppers program. The board establishes policy, is responsible for fund raising and authorizes rewards.

It’s funded entirely from individuals, corporations, service clubs and business donations.

The way it works is, the group publishes a “Crime of the Week” each week. The information can be found on its web site and is also highlighted by local media partners.

People with information may call 1-800-748-6422 with their tip, and are given a tip number unique to them. Once the board authorizes any reward, the tipsters are notified (via that number) to phone Crime Stoppers of Lewis County.

Tipster are eligible for a reward up to $1,000.

In early 2013, Student Crime Stoppers was created for middle and high school students. School districts in Chehalis have been participating since then and Adna School District joined last year.  The group is hoping to add more school districts to the program this year.

Crime Stoppers signs have been erected throughout the county and more locations are being sought where the owner would allow a sign to be placed.

The organization is also involved in what’s called My ID Club, which creates a laminated card that contains identification with a child’s photo, fingerprint and identifying information and is given to the parent or guardian to put in a safe place in the event it is ever needed.

The group says while its board has worked hard, new members and volunteers are always needed to make the program a success.

Crime Stoppers of Lewis County will mark its 20th anniversary on Tuesday and is showing its gratitude by holding an open house.

“Please stop by, look at the history of our program, enjoy the refreshments, and help us celebrate the success of this program,” the group states in its news release.

Where: Lewis County Law and Justice Building, in the training room on the first floor, at 345 W. Main Street, Chehalis
When: Tuesday, January 20th from noon until 6 p.m.

The charred commercial structure on the 300 block of state Route 508, just east of Interstate 5 is an uninsured loss. / Courtesy photo by Derrick Paul

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The cause of the fire that destroyed Fire Mountain Farms’ main building and its contents east of Napavine on Thursday night will go down as undetermined.

Fire Investigator Derrick Paul said the area of origin was near the wood stove inside the fabrication shop, but exactly what ignited first is unknown.

The large metal structure contained equipment and other items belonging to the diversified family business.

Fire Mountain raises cattle on other property, but tons of barley to feed them were ruined, along with hundreds of bales of hays which would have been sold, according to Ryan Thode, vice president of operations. Fire Mountain also recycles treatment plant biosolids and lost three dredgers used for clearing lagoons.

Paul said this morning the loss of the building and its contents is close to $1.8 million.

It wasn’t insured, according to Paul.

The fire on the 300 block of state Route 508 was reported just before 8 p.m. on Thursday, and arriving firefighters found the building filled with flames.

The building was large – 150 feet by 40 feet – with a lean-to attached shed on the back and a loft area. The wood stove heated the part of it where they handled their own fabrication needs, according to Paul.

Also inside the structure was his father’s motorcycle room, according to Thode. Two of eight or nine of those were insured, according to Paul. A recreational vehicle that was parked outside and burned also was insured, he said.
•••

For background, read “Napavine area business loses building, equipment in fire” from Friday January 16, 2015, here

Equipment, stored livestock feed and all the contents of the large building lay in ruins. / Courtesy photo by Derrick Paul

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Riverside Fire Authority announced today that its year end report shows it answered more than 4,200 calls for service in 2014, with about 87 percent of them involving emergency medical incidents.

“This continues a trend where the RFA has set new incident total record in each of the last four years consecutively,” the department’s spokesperson Capt. Scott Weinert writes.

There were 130 fires reported in their coverage area last year, according to Weinert.

The balance of the remaining responses consisted of fire alarms, hazardous conditions and other types of service calls (10 percent), Weinert notes.

Riverside provides services to the area from Centralia and the Hanaford Valley out to Garrard Creek.

To learn more about their stats, visit their web site.

Team Noah, working to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A group of firefighters from rural Chehalis are going to tackle the 69 flights of stairs at the Columbia Tower in Seattle in March, outfitted in their full gear to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

It’s an event that happens all over, but the Seattle stair climb is the largest of its kind, according to Mike Goodwillie, of Lewis County Fire District 6.

Goodwillie said he did it last year, but the newly formed team, mostly from his department, is contributing to the cause in other ways as well.

A cousin of one of the members has leukemia, he said.

“We’re like basically climbing for him” Goodwillie said. “He’s our honoree.”

Four-year-old Noah McDaniel was going to be in the hospital over the holiday, so the firefighters organized a Christmas for him and his family, according to Goodwillie.

Their fundraising effort includes a dinner, raffle and auction in downtown Chehalis on Jan. 31.

The evening will feature the Vancouver Pipes and Drums. Contact Goodwillie for tickets.

Where: Mackinaw’s Restaurant, 545 N. Market Blvd.
When: Jan. 31, 2015, at 7 p.m.
What: Firefighters Auction for a Cure
Why: For the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Who: All are welcome