Hey readers, you may have already seen this, but if not, The (Longview) Daily News published a story yesterday afternoon about the Cowlitz County prosecutor’s decision not to prosecute a man who shot an arrow into the buttock of a suspected fleeing burglar.
You can read news reporter Tony Lystra’s story at www.tdn.com
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A Tenino teenager was hospitalized this morning after a truck in which he was a passenger crashed into a tree in Grays Harbor County.
William L. McBride, 14, was taken to Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen as a precaution after the approximately 9 a.m. collision, according to the Washington State Patrol.
John H. Abrahamson, 65, of Forks, was traveling south along U.S. Highway 101 about three and a half miles north of Amanda Park, near the Jefferson County line, when he fell asleep and drifted to the right into a tree, according to the state patrol.
The 24-foot U-Haul truck was totaled. Abrahamson was hospitalized with a broken arm and a back injury, the patrol reported
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Lewis County Prosecutor Michael Golden’s office announced the negligent driving case against the 18-year-old who was driving the pickup truck involved in a December collision on U. S. Highway 12 at Mossyrock in which his passenger, 17-year-old Ryan Rashoff, was killed is back on now.
Lewis County District Court Commissioner Wendy Tripp yesterday agreed with the prosecutor’s early July motion for reconsideration after Tripp had dismissed the case in June, according to a news release.
Benjamin Lamotte of Silver Creek was cited with second-degree negligent driving after the deadly crash with a logging truck.
A new hearing date has not yet been set.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The oldest building in downtown Centralia was evacuated overnight when a fire broke out in the basement, apparently caused by a transient who had made a home down there without the owner’s knowledge.
Firefighters from Centralia and Chehalis were called just before 1 a.m. to the two-story building on the southwest corner of Tower Avenue and Main Street. The main floor houses Centralia Perk Cafe and it has apartments on the second floor, according to Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Casey McCarthy.
Smoke had made its way up to the upper floor and about 16 people were evacuated, McCarthy said. Crews quickly located the source in the basement, he said.
An unknown person had “tapped” into the power there and it appeared a lamp had fallen onto a pile of clothes and ignited, Riverside Fire Capt. Scott Weinert said this morning.
It left a small charred spot on the floor, but there was a “decent amount” of light smoke damage on the upper floors, according to McCarthy.
The masonry building, constructed in 1888, once held National Bank.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Now if you’re out in the woods and come across a poacher you want to turn in, it’s as easy as sending a text message.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is offering a text tip system to report fish and wildlife violations directly and anonymously to its dispatch center, according to a news release.
With a limited number of WDFW officers in the field, the public plays a critical role in protecting natural resources by reporting illegal activity, according to Chief Bruce Bjork, head of the WDFW enforcement program.
Tips should be sent to 847411 (TIP411); the message must begin with WDFWTIP followed by a space and the a brief description of the violation and the location, according to authorities.
Enforcement officials advise against confronting a suspicious person, but say helpful information includes a license plate number, vehicle color and make, the type of suspected violation, time it occurred and a brief description of the persons involved.
For more information about various ways to report violations, go to http://wdfw.wa.gov/poaching/
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Accidental overdose deaths from prescription pain medications have surpassed automobile crashes in Washington state as the leading cause of injury deaths of residents between the ages of 35 and 54, the Washington State Department of Health reported yesterday.
With these types of drugs being prescribed so much more often since the late 1990s, misuse and abuse has grown, the state agency said in a news release.
“Taking these powerful drugs with alcohol, illegal drugs and other prescription medications can be dangerous, and even deadly,” the Wednesday news release says.
The statewide death rate from accidental pain medication overdoses increased 90 percent between 2003 and 2008, according to the DOH.
Parents, patients and others can find more information on ways to prevent such deaths at the Department of Health website “Take as directed”
The state agency reminds the public the recently passed Good Samaritan Law allows immunity for anyone witnessing or experiencing an overdose when they call for help.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Six local fire districts have been awarded what totals up to thousands of dollars meant to help rural fire districts pay for equipment, training and protective gear.
The Volunteer Fire Assistance grant funds are provided by the U.S. Forest Service and administered by the state Department of Natural Resources.
Districts which serve fewer than 10,000 residents and provide wildland fire protection to private, state and federal land are eligible for the money, according to a news release from DNR.
Lewis County Fire District 1 serving the Onalaska area was awarded $3,861, according to the news release. Others are:
• Lewis County Fire District 5, Napavine area: $2,597
• Lewis County Fire District 15, Winlock area: $2,393
• Thurston County Fire District 16, Bucoda area: $1,589
• Lewis County Fire District 2, Toledo area: $1,147
• Lewis County Fire District 4, Morton area: $565
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