Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – With the count of more ballots coming in since election night numbers were released, Lewis County Steve Mansfield’s edge over challenger sheriff’s Sgt. Ken Cheeseman has grown.

Mansfield gained almost one percentage point and Cheeseman lost almost one point.

Steve Mansfield

The Lewis County Auditor’s Office election department released the latest numbers this afternoon in the vote-by-mail election.

They can be found online on the Auditors Office website.

Mansfield, a Winlock resident, was a bit surprised on Tuesday night that Cheeseman has gained so much support since the primary.

On the night of the primary election in August, Cheeseman had only 40.87 percent of the votes.

Ken Cheeseman

Both men started their law enforcement careers at the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office in the early 1980s, both are 53 years old and both are Republicans. Mansfield became sheriff almost six years ago.

The incumbent sheriff now leads with 52.38 percent of the vote while Cheeseman, who lives in Randle has 47.62 percent.

On Tuesday, the gap between them was only 614 votes. Tonight it has grown to 1,336.

There are some 42,000 registered voters in Lewis County and the numbers released Tuesday reflected only about 23,000 ballots, according to the Auditor’s Office. This afternoon’s numbers are based on about 31,000 ballots, putting voter turnout at almost 74 percent.

The election won’t be certified until Nov. 23. The Auditor’s Office will post the next count on Nov. 10.
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Read Tuesday night’s news story, “Mansfield leads, but sheriff’s race undecided” here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Richard J. Roth, 65, is expected to go before a judge this afternoon, accused of yesterday fatally shooting a neighbor in the Frost Road Trailer Park in Winlock.

Jackie Lawyer, 66, was dead at the scene when deputies and aid arrived after the call shortly before 11 a.m.

Roth was one of two people who called 911, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. “He advised he had just shot a woman at the park,” Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said this morning.

The pair who lived on opposite sides of the park were outside arguing before the shooting, according to the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff’s detectives worked into the evening, and recovered a small caliber firearm during a search of Roth’s vehicle and home, according to Brown.

The sheriff’s office yesterday was still looking for answers as to what the dispute was about.

Roth was arrested and booked for first-degree murder. He has not yet been charged.

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For more details and photos from yesterday’s events in Winlock, scroll down to read “Woman, 66, fatally shot in Winlock trailer park, neighbor arrested” or click here

The Lewis County Sheriff's Office is investigating a fatal shooting in the Winlock area today.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

WINLOCK – Sheriff’s deputies were called to a shooting this morning at a trailer park in the Winlock area and one female is dead.

The call to the 700 block of Frost Road just east of Interstate 5 came in at 10:55 a.m.

Chief Criminal Deputy Gene Seiber said the suspected shooter, a male, is in custody.

The trailer park is virtually locked down as deputies conduct interviews.

At noontime, Seiber had no information as to the ages or names of the victim or the shooter.

The male lives in the park, he said. He didn’t know their relationship.

The deceased female was outside in a driveway.

Aid was also called to the scene, but didn’t stay long.
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More to come

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 36-year-old Salkum resident survived being hit by a car in the dark on U.S. Highway 12 early this morning.

The Washington State Patrol reported Raymond B. Schoenfeld was walking in the center of the lane when he was struck by a westbound car.

Troopers and aid were called about 3:45 a.m. to the scene near milepost 79, about a half mile east of the Salkum fire station.

Lewis County Fire District 8 Assistant Chief Don Taylor said when he arrived, the man was sitting on the shoulder of the highway holding his leg. Firefighters got out their infrared lights and began walking the road looking for a body, not believing a person could be hit by a car on Highway 12 and survive, he said.

The motorist, Glenn F. King, 65, of Mossyrock, only knew that he’d hit “something”, according to authorities.

Schoenfeld suffered a broken leg, according to the state patrol. He was reportedly intoxicated. He was taken by ambulance to Providence Centralia Hospital where was treated and has already been released.

The 2000 Toyota Avalon sustained an estimated $1,000 damage.

“It was, I guess, one of those amazing things,” Taylor said. “You do this and you think you’ve seen it all.”

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

An Ethel man’s response to an inconsiderate and aggressive driver grew into a road rage incident Sunday night that led to multiple shots being fired from a Ford pickup at the Ethel man’s truck southwest of Olympia, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Nobody was injured but troopers believe four shots were fired and three struck the Dodge Ram being driven by 58-year-old Donald Palmer of Ethel, according to a new release yesterday.

Palmer and his passenger, Margaret Eldridge of Elma, pulled off state Route 101 and called 911 after the approximately 9 p.m. incident. A pair of 22-year-old men were subsequently arrested. Two handguns were confiscated.

Detectives are asking any witnesses to call the state patrol at 253-538-3172.

It began on state Route 101 in Mason County and ended near the Black Lake Boulevard exit in west Thurston County, according to the news release.

The state patrol reported that after the pickup truck tailgated Palmer and then pulled ahead of it and slowed down, Palmer responded by flashing his lights, tailgating and honking his horn, according to the news release.

This kind of incident is completely avoidable, state patrol Capt. Jeff DeVere said in a news release.

While motorists can’t control the behavior of other drivers, they can control their own attitude and actions, he wrote.

“It’s not worth your life or anyone else’s life just to have the last word,” DeVere wrote.

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Read The Olympian’s news story from today here for more about the incident and arrests.