By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A fire that destroyed a chicken coop in north Centralia this afternoon appears it may have involved a heat lamp, according to Riverside Fire Authority.
Assistant Chief Rick Mack said he thinks the owner lost a few chicks, although he wasn’t certain if they were turkeys or chickens.
It happened around 2:30 p.m. on West Carson Street. The structure was about 12 feet by six feet in size, according to Mack.
He said it is likely accidental.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Arson investigators are looking into a find yesterday at an old wooden warehouse in downtown Centralia, a spot where someone intentionally set fire to stairs leading into the building.
It’s a scorched area only about four inches by eight inches in size and was cold when he examined it, Riverside Fire Authority Assistant Chief Rick Mack said this morning.
Mack said he doesn’t know if it’s related to the early May arson spree that damaged three churches, a coffee stand and Centerville, the western store at the north end of the Centralia Outlets.
“Clearly it was set intentionally, Mack said.
The building on the 400 block of South Tower Avenue currently has multiple occupants, but originally was Sherwood Forest Farms, according to Mack.
It would have been a very devastating fire if it had not extinguished itself, he said. He said it appeared to have smoldered for a good period of time.
Centralia police said it appeared to have occurred sometime during the past week. Mack said he doesn’t know when it happened.
A team of police and fire personnel are continuing their investigation into the unsolved arsons.
“We’re still looking for information,” Mack said. “If anyone knows or hears anything, we want to talk to them, regardless of how remote they might think it is.”
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For background, read “Early May north Centralia church fire could also be arson, officials now say” from Monday May 20, 2013, here
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The Anchorage Daily News in Alaska reports a 25-year-old man from Chehalis is missing from a fishing boat west of Juneau.
Alan Young went overboard on Monday night and the skipper who tried to rescue him fell in as well, according to the news item published this morning.
KINY radio out of Juneau reports the Coast Guard found the skipper alive, but suspended its active search last night.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 42-year-old Rochester man was hospitalized last night after he was stabbed, allegedly by his wife.
Deputies and aid were called about 9 p.m. to a residence in the 7700 block of 196th Lane Southwest where the victim said, initially, the wound came from falling on some bricks, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
An investigation however concluded he and his 35-year-old wife had been arguing in the kitchen and she stabbed him in the back of his shoulder, according to sheriff’s Lt. Greg Elwin.
Sarah A. Horr, 35, of Rochester, was arrested for first-degree assault, according to Elwin.
Her husband was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital for treatment.
The investigation is continuing, according to the sheriff’s office.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Thirty-seven-year-old Lonzo W. Lawson II was convicted of burglary for breaking in to Frosty’s bar, convicted of theft for stealing some $15,000 from inside the Napavine business and convicted again for trafficking in stolen property because he gave some of the cash to two of his buddies.
A jury took only a couple of hours today to come up with a verdict in the trial that began last week in Lewis County Superior Court.
Prosecutors told the jury Lawson pedaled a bicycle seven miles to burglarize the Napavine establishment on April 9 and spent the proceeds on partying.
He faces as much as eight years and three months in prison.
Lawson also was found guilty of a special allegation of committing the crime with a deadly weapon – he took a knife from bar’s kitchen to break through its office door. The extra finding probably added three to four years to the potential sentence, Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Shane O’Rourke said.
Lawson, who has been described as a transient, was convicted today also of possession of heroin and methamphetamine. He was represented by Centralia attorney Don Blair.
His sentencing hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
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For background, read “Lawyers: Who broke into the safe at Frosty’s tavern?” from Wednesday June 12, 2013, here
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The Associated Press reports heroin use and related deaths have increased significantly across Washington in the past decade, especially among people younger than 30, according to a study released yesterday.
News reporter Donna Gordon Blankinship writes the largest increases were outside metropolitan areas, where drug treatment and awareness are lowest.
Read about it here
“State heroin use, deaths up, especially in youth” from The Yakima Herald-Republic on Wednesday June 12, 2013
Updated at 5 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A Toledo driver and his two passengers were hospitalized after an early morning wreck when their car ran into a tree in Pierce County.
Troopers called about 3:45 a.m. to state Route 507 three miles north of Roy found a 1994 Honda Civic was totaled, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Joshua Brake, 22, of Toledo, was traveling northbound at a high rate of speed when his vehicle left the roadway to the right and collided with a tree, according to the state patrol. He was transported to Madigan, according to the state patrol.
Passenger Anthony Hill, 22, of Olympia, was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center and a third male who was unidentified was taken to Tacoma General Hospital, the investigating trooper reported.
Only the driver was wearing a seat belt; speed and alcohol are blamed. Charges are pending.
Update: The previously unidentified occupant is Beau A. Dawson, 26, of Seattle, and he passed away at St. Joseph Medical Center, according to the state patrol.
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