Lewis County Sirens.com

Lewis County Fire District 13 Chief Gregg Peterson

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

BOISTFORT VALLEY – “He’s been teaching generations of firefighters how to do their jobs better,” he said. “He’s always been that anchor guy. I just want to say, we will miss you.”

– Dan Bosch, battalion chief with Valley Regional Fire Authority, speaking Sunday at the Baw Faw Grange where well over 100 individuals gathered to celebrate Lewis County Fire District 13 Chief Gregg Peterson’s retirement after 32 years as a professional firefighter in South King County.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports this morning that deputies were called three days ago to a Centralia area residence and believe a 22-year-old man was kidnapped.

Max Cross

Max Cross, 22, a Lewis County resident with no permanent address, is described as 5-feet 8-inches tall and weighing about 150 pounds, with black hair and blue eyes.

Deputies have not been able to confirm his welfare or his whereabouts and are concerned for his safety, the sheriff’s office stated in a news release this morning.

Deputies were called about 1:30 a.m. on Friday about a dispute at the 300 block of Big Hanaford Road, according to the news release. Information from witnesses led deputies to think Cross was taken against his will, the news release states.

Cross often frequents locations in Centralia, according to the sheriff’s office.

Further details were not readily available.

The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information on Cross or what occurred the night of the dispute to call 360-748-9286 or Lewis County crime Stoppers at 1-800-748-6422.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Jaws of Life are back in the hands of the Pe Ell fire department.

The extrication equipment for automobile accidents – with an estimated replacement value of up to $10,000 – were among the tools and other items carried off during a burglary at the fire station last month.

Fire Chief Michael Krafczyk said sheriff’s deputies called him to identify it and other recovered property this morning.

“I’m not positive where they found it but we’ve got our Jaws of Life back, two SCBAs back – self-contained breathing apparatus – and a medical jump bag,” Krafczyk said today.

Sometime between April 23 and 27, someone broke into the station on state Route 6 and stole more than $18,000 worth of property belonging to the volunteer fire department.

The Jaws – consisting of a spreader, cutters and a power unit – are a necessity for responding to wrecks, according to Krafczyk.

“If somebody get trapped and we’re unable to use tools to get them out, it could be life or death,” he said.

An automatic mutual response was put into place with the Boistfort fire district in case they got any calls for vehicle collisions.

Then, the Rochester-area fire department loaned them a set of Jaws, Krafczyk said.

Last week, the sheriff’s office reported they found the fire department’s stolen tool box, axe and industrial light in the possession of a 24-year-old Centralia man.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Chehalis attorney Dale McBeth was given an award of appreciation yesterday for giving out the largest amount of free legal help.

The honor came at the Lewis County Bar Legal Aid annual fundraising luncheon held in Chehalis.

McBeth, who has practiced law for some 35 years, took on the most pro bono cases during 2010 locally, according to Legal Aid Executive Director Larry Cook.

Retired Centralia lawyer Ralph Olson was given a special service award; selected by Legal Aid staff for outstanding assistance and support to the agency.

Centralia attorney Brian Rossiter – of Don McConnell and Associates – was the recipient of a lifesaving award, for the help he gave Legal Aid during 2010.

Lewis County Bar Legal Aid is a non-profit organization which helps deliver civil legal services to low income residents of Lewis County.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The bookkeeper at a Chehalis business was arrested yesterday for allegedly embezzling more than $200,000 from his employer.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports they found Stanley W. Sigler, the bookkeeper and office manager for the the past six years at Rakoz Electric, had been writing checks to himself and signing an owner’s name.

Sigler, 47, was arrested at the business on Bishop Road yesterday.

Sheriff’s Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said an investigation concluded Sigler wrote himself three to four checks each month for the past year, averaging each about $2,100.

Randy Rakoz, operations manager for the company, said it only came to light yesterday.

Rakoz Electric has eight employees. The Chehalis-based business has been doing commercial and residential wiring locally for some 30 years.

Sigler was booked into the Lewis County Jail for 10 counts of forgery, identity theft and second-degree theft, Brown said.