Lewis County Sirens.com

Courtesy image of suspects from Lewis County Sheriff’s Office

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Authorities are looking for three females who reportedly coordinated to steal bank bags from behind the counter of an Onalaska store yesterday while it was open.

It happened at about 1 p.m. at the Justice General Store on the 100 block of Main Street, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said one of the suspects distracted the clerk by asking questions about merchandise, while another stood guard and a third crawled behind the counter.

The employee discovered the theft later, according to Breen. Taken was cash in the amount of $1,985 and checks totaling $167, according to the sheriff’s office.

Breen said the suspects left in a white sport utility vehicle, possibly a Suburban or Cadillac.

The sheriff’s office is looking for the public’s help. The only description offered was they were “possibly of Hispanic descent” and surveillance photos.

Anyone with information on the identity or whereabouts of the three suspects is asked to contact the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office at 360-748-9286, or Lewis County Communications at 360-740-1105.

View through window into laundry room on Chilvers Road. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 6

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Nobody was hurt but an Adna home is uninhabitable after fire broke out there yesterday afternoon.

Firefighters called about 2:40 p.m. to the single-story house on the 500 block of Chilvers Road were joined by four other fire departments, according to Lewis County Fire District 6.

One of the residents had come home and discovered it and called it in, Fire Chief Tim Kinder said.

It took about 25 minutes to bring the fire under control, he said.

“It appears it might have started in the laundry room,” Kinder said. “There was significant damage there and heavy smoke and heat damage in the rest of the residence.”

Chehalis Fire Department Chief Ken Cardinale was the first chief on the scene and took over incident command, Kinder said.

Crews were on the scene about three and a half hours, he said.

Red Cross was contacted to assist the family, according to Kinder. The cause is under investigation.

Fire started in the garage on South Third Street in Pe Ell / Courtesy photo

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The cause of the fire that erupted in a Pe Ell house early yesterday morning remains under investigation.

Crews from three fire departments responded to the approximately 1 a.m. call to the 500 block of South Third Street.

Fire Investigator Jay Birley said the owner said he had heard a small explosion that drew his attention to the attached garage, but when he opened the man door to the garage, he saw a lot of fire, so he shut the door.

He grabbed his cell phone and his dog, got out and called 911, Birley said. He was also able to move his travel trailer and vehicle away from the home so they didn’t catch fire, he said. He was uninjured.

“I think he’s in his 80s and his dog is like 18 years old,” Birley said.

Closing that door helped slow the fire from spreading somewhat, but what wasn’t damaged by fire was damaged by water, Birley said.

The resident will be able to stay temporarily in his trailer, according to Birley.
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For background, read “News brief: Pe Ell home burns” from Monday June 26, 2017, here

Volkswagen Jetta at scene of deadly crash. / Courtesy photo by Oregon State Police

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Oregon State Police report they are continuing to investigate a single-vehicle collision in which a Centralia man died and his passenger was seriously injured.

It happened on Saturday afternoon in Baker County in Eastern Oregon.

Troopers and emergency personnel responded about 3:37 p.m. to the crash on Highway 245 near milepost 11 in Hereford, according to OSP.

Preliminary investigation revealed a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta was traveling northbound when it drifted out of its lane, crossed the oncoming lane and continued off the roadway, where it struck a tree, according to a press release issued yesterday. The driver, Luis A. Barrera Mendez, age 29, of Centralia, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The passenger, Octavio Castro Valdez, 25, of Centralia was transported by Life Flight to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise for treatment of his serious injuries, according to OSP.

Assisting were Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Baker City Fire Department, Blue Mountain Ambulance and Oregon Department of Transportation.

OSP indicates further information will be released as it becomes available.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A house in Pe Ell is a total loss after it caught fire during the night.

Personnel from three fire departments responded after the approximately 1 a.m. call to the blaze on Third Street, according to Lewis County Fire District 11.

Chief Michael Krafczyk said everyone got out okay.

The fire appeared to have started in the garage but is under investigation, according to the chief.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 53-year-old motorcyclist died last night when his bike wrecked about a mile north of Morton.

Troopers called at 7 p.m. to state Route 7 determined the motorcycle was traveling southbound when it left the road to the right and struck the guardrail, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Dead is Kris G. Bailey, 53, of Morton, according to the state patrol. He had been wearing a helmet.

His 2013 Yamaha XVS1300 was impounded.

The scene was cleared about 9:15 p.m., according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.