Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Pieces of a vehicle found at the scene of Saturday night’s hit and run accident that left a 77-year-old pedestrian dead on Interstate 5 are being analyzed in hopes of finding the driver.

Washington State Patrol detective Matt Hughes said they are still looking for witnesses to the incident that killed Lily M. Rowland of Chehalis.

Rowland was found deceased about 10 p.m. on northbound Interstate 5 near the Labree Road interchange south of Chehalis.

They had been getting 911 calls of a person walking in or near the lane of travel before she was hit, Hughes said.

Her family had been looking for her, he said.

“My understanding is she was experiencing dementia-like issues and had walked away from her residence,” Hughes said.

Her home is about a mile from where she was found, according to Hughes. They think she was walking south and he believed she had been missing less than an hour, he said.

Troopers retrieved a rear view mirror and front end parts at the scene.

Hughes said he is expecting later today to learn more about the type of vehicle that was involved.

Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call detective Hughes at 360-449-7944.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A Galvin resident was killed when his motorcycle struck a tree yesterday west of Centralia.

Troopers were called about 12:19 p.m. to the 200 block of Joppish Road where Mycol E. Turner, 35, was dead at the scene, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Turner was traveling northbound when he failed to negotiate a curve to the right, ran off the road and down the shoulder before impacting the tree, according to the state patrol.

His 1983 Harley Davidson was totaled. The investigating trooper blamed the collision on speeding.

This news item was updated at 12:30 p.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Troopers are looking for witnesses to a fatal hit and run on Interstate 5 south of Chehalis last night that left a 77-year-old pedestrian dead.

The Washington State Patrol was called about 10 p.m. to the northbound lanes near the Labree Road interchange where Lily M. Rowland of Chehalis was killed when she was struck by a vehicle, according to Trooper Steven Schatzel.

Rowland was walking southbound when she was struck, according to Schatzel.

“My understanding is she was walking in the lane of travel,” Schatzel said today.

Schatzel said troopers don’t know why she was walking on the freeway. He didn’t believe she had left a disabled vehicle nearby, he said.

Lewis County Fire District 5’s public information officer Lt. Laura Hanson said crews responded, found the victim and proceeded as they normally would in such a situation. Hanson had no further details.

Rowland was dead at the scene, according to the state patrol.

Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call detective Matt Hughes at 360-449-7944.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Employees of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office working to erect a memorial to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty are aiming for a bronze statue which would sit outside the county courthouse in Chehalis.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Association in recent months has begun raising money for the project.

They are hoping to unveil the monument in August of 2012, according to sheriff’s Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown.

The idea is to honor the men and women of Lewis County who have died in the line of duty, Brown said.

The committee likes the idea of a bronze statue, something that would be long-lasting, according to Brown.

Most recently, sheriff’s Deputy Stephen Mike Gallagher Jr. lost his life after his patrol car struck an elk on his way to a call in East Lewis County. Gallagher, 34, of Adna, died in August 2009.

A fundraising event is set for next week at the McDonalds restaurant on Northeast Kresky Avenue in Chehalis.

It’s called a “McTakeover” where sheriff’s office employees will work the counter, cook up burgers and fries and serve customers.

A portion of the profits will go toward the memorial.

The McTakeover is set for Thursday, May 26 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

•••

Officers to be memorialized are:

Deputy Mike Gallagher, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, end of watch: Aug. 18, 2009

Deputy Richard Snider, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, end of watch: Feb. 8, 1986

K-9 “Ward”, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, end of watch: Oct. 15, 1985

Deputy Ernest Runke, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, end of watch: Sept. 19, 1957

Deputy Seth “Riv” Jackson, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, end of watch: April 7, 1937

Deputized Civilian John M. Haney, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, end of watch: Nov. 15, 1919

Officer William H. Smith, Centralia Police Department, end of watch: Dec. 23, 1910

Marshal James C. A. Parsons, Centralia Police Department, end of watch: June 30, 1903

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office announced a level three registered sex offender returned to live in Glenoma after leaving the state in 2002.

Bobby D. Perkins, 59, is registered as living on the 8000 block of U.S. Highway 12.

Perkins is not wanted by law enforcement, but notification to the community is meant to inform the public and enhance public safety, according to the sheriff’s office.

Perkins was released from prison nine years ago after serving time for his 1985 convictions in Grays Harbor County for second-degree kidnapping, first-degree statutory rape and indecent liberties, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

One of his crimes involved taking a 4-year-old girl from her mother’s bed and then dropping her off on a country road about five miles from the home, according to sheriff’s detective Jamey McGinty.

His other crimes involved three girls, ages 3 to 5 years old, according to McGinty.

The sheriff’s office designated him as a level three sex offender, meaning they believe he has a high risk to reoffend.

Perkins is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 220 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.

To see more details from the bulletin and a photo of Perkins, visit the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office web site level three sex offender page, here.

Questions? The sheriff’s office says call 360-748-9286 for detective McGinty or Chief Criminal Deputy Gene Seiber.
•••

To search for registered sex offenders living within a specified radius from your home, work or school, visit the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Offender Watch page, here.  There, you can also find safety tips and other information, as well as register to receive email alerts if a new offender registers with an address near you. The same link can always be found on the sidebar of Lewis County Sirens.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A kitchen fire early this morning has Country Cousin restaurant in Centralia shut down.

Fire investigators are on the scene trying to determine the cause. Nobody was reported injured.

Firefighters were called about 4:45 a.m. to the eatery on the 1000 block of Harrison Avenue just west of Interstate 5.

An employee called for help and got himself out; the restaurant was not otherwise occupied, said Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Casey McCarthy.

It originated in the cooking appliances.

“The sprinklers held the fire to under the hood system, and we were able to get in there and finish putting the fire out,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy described the damage as moderate and confined to the appliances.