Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Four fire departments responded to a three-acre brush fire just north of Winlock today.

Firefighters called just before 1 p.m. to a logging area about a mile west of the 2700 block of Highway 603 noted the blaze appeared to have been sparked by a piece of logging equipment.

The fire was limited to brush and slash – the remains of a logging operation, according to a spokesperson for Lewis County Fire District 5.

Personnel from the state Department of Natural Resources responded as well, according to Fire Lt. Laura Hanson. She said crews will remain on the scene to take care of hot spots.

Yesterday at about the same time, a grass and brush fire broke out in Grand Mound off of Nutmeg Street.

The fire threatened a barn and spread to about 50 feet by 50 feet before it was extinguished, according to West Thurston Regional Fire Authority Lt. Eric Smith.

Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A fire investigator is looking into the cause of an overnight fire that “pretty much almost completely” destroyed a Centralia house.

Firefighters called about 1:30 a.m. to the 1900 block of Van Wormer Street found the home well-involved in flames; it was vacant, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

The Chehalis Fire Department and West Thurston Regional Fire Authority assisted, according to Fire Capt. Erik Olson.

The single-story home was probably built in the 1930s and had a tin roof that trapped a lot of the heat, Olson said.

Riverside Chief Jim Walkowski reports the fire extended into the grass and trees. The structure had been vacant approximately 15 years, according to Walkowski.

Crews had to extend hose across train tracks because the nearest hydrant was 1,200 feet away, which shut down rail traffic during the fire fight, according to the chief.

Olson said there have been trespassers noted over previous months.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The man who died in a motorcycle wreck in Centralia on Tuesday night was Christopher Carper, a 45-year-old Chehalis resident, according to the Lewis County Coroner’s Office.

Police say excessive speed seemed to be the cause of the collision on First Street near G Street at around 11:30 p.m.

Carper’s motorcycle slammed into a street sign, according to responders.

He was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the Centralia Police Department.
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For background, read “News brief: Motorcyclist killed in Centralia collision with pole” from Wednesday August 29, 2012, here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A Chehalis man died after his motorcycle slammed into a metal sign pole in Centralia last night.

Police say the 45-year-old was traveling on First Street near G Street when he lost control and hit the no parking sign ripping it out of the ground. It happened near a curve in the road and appears to have been related to excessive speed, according to Sgt. Carl Buster.

The man was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital and firefighters ordered an airlift for him but he was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to responders.

His name has not been released pending notification of his next-of-kin.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Tenino police say they are looking for a pair of men considered to be armed and dangerous following an incident last week in which a hitchhiker was robbed and beaten by someone who picked him up in Tenino.

Andrew B. Miller

Police responded to the 700 block of Huston Street in Tenino about 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday after citizens reported hearing someone yelling for help, according to the Tenino Police Department.

The victim, a 25-year-old Tenino man, said he was hitchhiking and picked up by a red Jeep with two males and a female inside, according to a news release from police.

“At one point the driver pointed what appeared to be a Glock .40 caliber handgun at the victim ordering him to empty his pockets or get shot. ,” Police Chief John Hutchings stated in the news release.

Then, outside the Jeep, the driver punched the 25-year-old in the mouth and again ordered him at gunpoint to empty his pockets, according to Hutchings. The victim fled on foot yelling for help, Hutchings wrote.

Tony L. League

Police suspect Andrew B. Miller, 20, of Yelm and Tony L. League, 23, of Olympia, but have not been able to find them, according to the news release.

The chief is asking anyone with information on their whereabouts to contact Tenino Officer Chris Davis at 360-489-8466, Thurston County dispatch at 360-704-2740 or Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Centralia man accused of assaulting a trooper alongside the freeway last month was finally arraigned yesterday and pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Don K. Gonzales, 23, was suffering from some type of mental issue when the events occurred but has gotten stabilized during his time in jail, according to his attorney.

“He’s made a remarkable recovery,” Defense attorney Ken Johnson said yesterday afternoon.

Gonzales was walking along the shoulder of Interstate 5 near Main Street in Chehalis on July 3 when Trooper Rob Moore contacted him. After Moore told him to drop a knife, Gonzales allegedly threw a semi truck lug nut at the trooper’s face, breaking his nose and his glasses.

He is charged second-degree assault, plus three counts of third-degree assault regarding the wrestling match in which three passersby jumped in to help the trooper detain him.

Gonzales has been locked up on a no-bail hold, but yesterday Lewis County Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey set bail at $250,000. A trial date was scheduled for the week of October 8.

Johnson says there is the potential of an insanity plea.

“There’s nothing that went on that was at all logical,” Johnson said of the events of July 3.
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For background, read:

• “View from the ground: Helping trooper take down fighting suspect” from Sunday July 15, 2012, here

• “Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup” from Thursday July 5, 2012, here