Lewis County Sirens.com

Updated on Monday Sept. 19, 2011 at 11:04 a.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 94-year-old Centralia man is dead after fire broke out inside his home and then apparently self-extinguished before it was discovered this morning.

A family member who went to check on the man at the 1400 block of Johnson Road found the occupant dead inside and called 911 about 8:45 a.m. today, according to Riverside Fire Authority Chief Jim Walkowski.

The chief said they determined the fire had occurred sometime in the previous 24 hours, based on when the man was last seen.

The man is identified as Robert R. Zorn.

The cause is undetermined, but it’s not suspicious, Walkowski said.

He described it as a slow burning fire in the front portion of the single-story house, in the living room and dining room area.

From the outside, the only evidence there had been a fire was the windows were sooted over, he said.

It just ran out of fuel and went out, Walkowski said.

“It’s not very common, but we do see it every once in awhile,” Walkowski said.

Members of Riverside Fire Authority and the Centralia Police Department are investigating.

Walkowski said there was high heat and smoke damage to probably about 90 percent of the interior, and estimated the material loss at $15,000.

The death is apparently due to the fire, but an autopsy is expected, according to the chief.

There were smoke detectors in the house, but Walkowski took the opportunity to note the department strongly encourages detectors in each living area, including inside and outside each bedroom and on every level of a home.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A Lacey man was arrested yesterday after he allegedly solicited to kill a judge, offering an “eight-ball” of methamphetamine for the hit.

James R. Burnett, 27, was booked into the Thurston County Jail for  solicitation to commit first-degree murder, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

His target was District Court Judge Kalo Wilcox who had sentenced him to jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff’s Lt. Greg Elwin said Burnett was in the Nisqually Jail and  the investigation revealed he asked an inmate who was getting out to deliver a note with the offer “to my homies, or anybody who would do it.”

“He basically put a bounty on the judge’s head,” Elwin said.

An eight-ball is worth about $300, according to Elwin.

Law enforcement officers had not yet found the man who took the note as of yesterday afternoon. There’s no indication anyone at this point has tried to harm the judge, the sheriff’s office said in a news release yesterday.

Barnett was also arrested for other suspected crimes yesterday; felony harassment and two counts of making a bomb threat, in connection with calls to a bail bond business and a hotel, Elwin said.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 63-year-old Mossyrock man was hospitalized after he wrecked his log truck this morning in Kelso and then another log truck collided with his trailer.

Teddy D. Nelson, 63, was taken to St. John Medical Center in Longview with lacerations to his head, arm and a leg, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Troopers were called about 9:35 .m. to the scene near Interstate 5′ exit 36, according to the state patrol.

According to the state patrol, Nelson was southbound and exiting on westbound state Route 432 when his truck failed to negotiate the curve, crossed both lanes and ran into a concrete barrier. His load of logs spilled and his 1984 Kenworth came to rest on its side, according to the patrol.

A 2001 Kenworth log truck swerved to avoid the logs and hit Nelson’s trailer, the state patrol reported. That driver was reportedly unhurt and the damage to his truck was minor.

The investigating trooper reported Nelson was traveling too fast and had defective brakes. Nelson was cited for second-degree negligent driving and for not having insurance.