Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Coroner’s Office has released the names of the family who were found dead in their Winlock-area home Tuesday night.

They are Rodney Walter, 57, Cathy Lee Walter, 65 and their 18-year-old son Devon Walter.

The Walter’s, their three dogs and a cat were found dead of apparent gunshots in what the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office believes was a double murder and suicide.

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Read “Winlock family and pets shot dead in suspected murder-suicide” from Wednesday March 16, 2011, here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Sheriff’s detectives are investigating “a scene” in South Lewis County.

Aid and deputies were called about 9 p.m. to a report of someone unconscious in the Winlock area.

Chief Criminal Deputy Gene Seiber said just before midnight they are investigating a scene and that’s all he would say.

More later

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office announced last week a 50-year-old local level two sex offender is now registered as living homeless in Lewis County.

Sheldon M. Moren 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.

Moren is not new to the area. He has previously lived in Chehalis. He was just released from jail on unrelated charges, according to detective Jamey McGinty

He was convicted in 1989 for indecent liberties related to two different 9-year-old children, according to the sheriff’s office. Each involved contact of a sexual nature.

One victim was a boy he is related to and the other a girl who was known to him, according to McGinty.

Moren is designated as a level two sex offender, meaning the sheriff’s office believes he is a clear risk to the community. Those at the highest risk to reoffend are labeled level three.

Moren is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Because Moren has no permanent address, he is required to check in with Detective McGinty weekly.

To see more details and a photo of Moren, visit the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Offender Watch page, here.

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

Two local people are among 45 new troopers who will receive their commission and oath of office during a ceremony tomorrow in Olympia.

The graduation for the 98th Washington State Patrol basic training class will take place in the Capitol Rotunda.

Among the graduates are Tara L. Hicks of Silver Creek who will be assigned duties in Hoquiam and Nicholas B. Macomber of Napavine who is assigned to Naselle, according to a news release from the state patrol.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A trio of teenagers told police they belong to a gang called Korrupt Thugs after getting caught tagging with red spray paint last night in Centralia.

Police were called around 10 p.m. to the 600 block of West Main Street where a man saw a boy spray painting his building and tried to grab him, but the youth fled, according to the Centralia Police Department.

Not too long after, an officer observed three males walking in the area and found paint on two of them, according to police.

The teenagers, 17, 16 and 14, all Centralia residents, admitted to tagging the building as well as locations on the 400 block of South Rock Street, South Iron Street and South Pearl Street, according to police. They also led officers to a can of spray paint hidden in some bushes.

It’s not a gang local authorities know anything about, Officer Chris Fitzgerald said today.

The youth said “KT” stand for Korrupt Thugs and “23” stands for west side, police reported.

“These kids are not as far as we know, gang members,” Fitzgerald said. “They’re taggers.”

The teens were arrested and then released to their parents. The damage is estimated at $2,000.

“It’s getting to be a huge problem,” Fitzgerald said. “I just took another report today.

The Food Mart on the 100 block of Harrison Avenue had just painted their building and today reported tagging covering the majority of an exterior wall on the building, she said.

The police department is asking anyone with information about persons involved in tagging to call police of Lewis County Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers accepts anonymous tips and offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest of persons involved in vandalism.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A Thurston County sheriff’s deputy on patrol last night spotted a burning garage and helped rescue a wheel-chair bound resident in his 70s, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

Lt. Mike Ware at about 5:15 p.m. saw smoke coming from the eves coming from the garage north of Yelm and alerted two residents of the detached but adjacent house, according to a news release. The wheelchair access to the house was blocked by fire and Ware and the man’s 40-year-old son carried the man out another door, according to Lt. Greg Elwin.

The fire damage was limited to the garage at the home in the Nisqually Pines development, according to Elwin.  The man’s handicap-equipped van, however, was destroyed.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Lewis County Emergency Management is monitoring the tsunami alert for the Washington and Oregon coast following last night’s 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan.

If a tsunami occurs, Lewis County would serve as a shelter point for coast evacuees, according to emergency management.

Staff will distribute pertinent information as it becomes available, according to a news release from emergency management.