Lewis County Sirens.com

A backhoe operator moves around the remains of a house donated for a practice burn in Napavine. / Photo by Sharyn Decker

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

NAPAVINE – A two-story house on Rush Road in Napavine served as a training site today for firefighters from Lewis County Fire Districts 5 and 6.

Some 30 members of the two departments practiced various aspects of dealing with structure fires, according to Fire  Lt. Laura Hanson.

“We got watch some live fire behavior, do some hose work, it was great,” Hanson said.

Members of the rural fire districts out of Napavine and Chehalis pause for a group picture during training at a Rush Road house. / Courtesy photos by District 5 Chief Eric Linn

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Smoke and flames may be visible from Interstate 5 on Saturday when firefighters conduct a training burn at a house on Rush Road in Napavine.

Members of Lewis County Fire Districts 5 and 6 will begin about 8 a.m. and practice all aspects of dealing with structure fires there until about 2 p.m., according to Lt. Laura Hanson.

The home is at the top of the hill as Rush Road heads into Napavine.

Hanson said folks who want to get a good glimpse of the action likely won’t find any good places to park in the area.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Washington State Bar Association announced yesterday Thurston County Prosecutor Jon Tunheim was given a local hero award in recognition of his efforts to reduce crimes of domestic violence, sex abuse and child abuse.

Tuneheim, who joined the Thurston County Prosecutors Office in 1990 after graduating from law school, was a leader in an effort to form what is known as Monarch Children’s Justice and Advocacy center, according to the Bar Association. The organization provides coordinated services to child victims of abuse and neglect, according to a news release.

He became the elected prosecutor in January and has set a priority for his administration of a commitment to serious reduction of domestic violence and sexual assault in Thurston County, according to the news release.

The award was presented last week.

Also presented last week was a local hero hero award to Olympia attorney Martha Trupp for her extraordinary efforts on behalf of a pro bono client.

Trupp, who grew up in Lewis County, recently facilitated the reunification of a teenage boy with his biological mother who lost her parental rights when he was a toddler, according to the news release.

Also announced was that Olympia attorney Jeffrey D. Goltz was selected as the 2010 recipient of the WSBA Administrative Law Section Frank Homan Award.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said the 45-year-old Lacey man who went missing on Wednesday has been found and is safe and back with his family.

Marcos A. Sanchez

Marcos A. Sanchez was discovered walking along a road in the Nisqually Valley area about 10:30 last night, sheriff’s Lt. Greg Elwin said.

“He was wandering around lost, he was under the influence of something, we don’t know what,” Elwin said.

The lieutenant called it very bizarre.

“He’s physically okay, but he was not real cognizant of where he was,” he said.

Sanchez, a construction contractor, left his home on Wednesday morning and had a job site that day on the Tacoma waterfront.

He was reported missing Thursday night and his truck was found abandoned in a shopping center parking lot in the Hawks Prairie area.

Elwin said he was transported home last night.