Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The three residents of the home that caught fire in Glenoma last week died from smoke inhalation, according to the Lewis County Coroner’s Office.

Frost Creek Road

Coroner Warren McLeod this morning identified them as Alice M. Lauer, 83,  Lynn L. Lauer, 72, and Dennis L. Watson, 51.

The fire broke out in the single-story home on the 100 block of Frost Creek Road early last Thursday morning. Once the blaze was extinguished and the scene cooled down, responders were able to retrieve three bodies from inside.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and a fire investigator are jointly investigating the incident.

Chief Deputy Dusty Breen has said they knew the house was occupied by a husband, his wife and adult son, but the formal identification was made by the coroner’s office.

Coroner McLeod indicated this morning the cause of death for each victim has been ruled as asphyxia secondary to the inhalation of combustible materials.

Authorities have not not said what they think ignited the fire.
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For background, read “Glenoma fire, death investigation continues” from Friday February 10, 2017, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Firefighters were called out about 7:15 a.m. today after a car spun out and struck a school bus on state Route 507 between Centralia and Bucoda.

Tina Vanderhoof, administrative chief for Thurston County Fire District 12, said nobody was transported to the hospital, as far as she knew.

She said it happened in the curves around the 21000 block of state Route 507.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Flood warnings continue for area rivers including the Skookumchuck River near Bucoda, the Chehalis River around Doty and Grand Mound as well as the Newaukum River near Chehalis.

Late this afternoon, the National Weather Service advised a flood watch in Lewis County for the Skookumchuck, other portions of the Chehalis River and even East Lewis County.

In the past 24 hours, as much as two and a half inches of rain has fallen over some of the lowlands, with three to six inches dropping over the Cascade and Olympic mountains, according to the weather service.

A wind advisory is in place for tomorrow in the Southwest Interior.

The city of Centralia this afternoon reports the heavy rains have caused local rivers and streams to rise and some streets have been closed.

“There is a sand bag station open in the large parking lot behind the Bethel Church located near the corner of Center Street and North Pearl Street,” Centralia Police Department Public Information Officer John Panco stated in a press release.

The city asks motorists if they must drive through water over the roadway, to please go slow.

“The wake from vehicles may cause water to flow into houses and cause damage to property,” Panco stated.

The city does not expect the water to rise significantly, but will monitor for changes, according to Panco.

Haliday Road this afternoon has water over it but remained passable, Panco said.

Due to China Creek rising, the intersection of West Magnolia and North Iron streets has water covering the roadway. Also East Third at North Gold street is covered by water. Both have been closed off by the street department.

“If the road has been closed off by road closed signs do not drive past the signs. This is dangerous and it’s against the law.”

Minor flooding is occurring and both minor and moderate flooding are in the forecast.

Today’s  rain will lead to an increase in threat of landslides in Western Washington, which has already occurred in some places. State Route 7 was blocked by a mudslide this afternoon at Mineral Road South.

U.S. Highway 12 is closed in both directions around White Pass, because of multiple snow slides, and will remain shut down through the night, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. The closures are at milepost 138 to 183.

WSDOT will evaluate conditions and provide an update by 10 am tomorrow.

The public can monitor the changing conditions for their area by checking the the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. Information on current and forecasted river levels can be found here.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The National Weather Service this morning issued a flood warning for the Newaukum River near Chehalis, expecting it will overflow its banks today.

Minor flooding is forecast, which will inundate many roads as well as residential and commercial areas along the river and its forks, according to the weather service.

Later this morning flood warnings were issued for the Skookumchuck River near Bucoda and the Chehalis River around Doty and Grand Mound.

Heavy rain last night and today, with a little boost from melting
lowland snow, will drive the several rivers in southwest Washington
over flood stage today, according to the weather service.

A flood watch remains in effect for other areas of Lewis and surrounding counties with a weather system moving through the region and snow levels dropping.

“Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop,” the weather service states.

Today’s  rain will lead to an increase in threat of landslides in Western Washington.

A winter storm warning and avalanche warning are in effect in East Lewis County, with freezing rain expected. U.S. Highway 12 is closed in both directions around White Pas, because of multiple snow slides, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The public can monitor the changing conditions for their area by checking the the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. Information on current and forecasted river levels can be found here.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The 36-year-old man convicted in a case in which a woman standing on a Chehalis home’s porch was shot at twice following an early morning argument was sentenced yesterday to 12 years plus eight months in prison.

Andrew C. Skyberg previously made an Alford plea to second-degree assault and a straight plea of guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm.

Lawyers on the two sides had an agreed recommendation he should get 152 months and a judge yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court went along with that.

It happened outside a home on the  600 block of Southwest William Avenue in Chehalis in the early morning hours of Oct. 7. Prosecutors said Skyberg pointed his handgun in the air and fired off two to three rounds then shot twice toward the 52-year-old victim.

Nobody was injured but one bullet lodged in the railing along the front porch.

The Chehalis man was ordered to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation, as chemical dependency was found to have played a role in the offense, according to court documents. He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim for 10 years.
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For background, read “News brief: Suspect in Chehalis shooting incident pleads guilty” from Friday January 27, 2017, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office yesterday suspended the search for the 43-year-old man who was reported missing from the Blue Creek Boat Launch area along the Cowlitz River.

Friends came to meet up and fish with Prathana Nammavong on Saturday and found his vehicle, fishing poles and chair, but not him.

Attempts to locate the Des Moines resident were made during the weekend and Monday on the water and along the banks with no success.

Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said there are some areas of the river they’d like to go back to, but are evaluating how they can do that safely.

The boat launch is south of Ethel, off Spencer Road.
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For background, read “News brief: Des Moines man missing from Cowlitz River fishing area” from Monday January 30, 2017, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Three suspects were arrested last night at a Chehalis gas station just hours after a courier was assaulted and robbed of nearly a half million dollars worth of jewelry at a SeaTac hotel.

Courtesy photo by Rachelle Godsey

The victim was walking to his room when he was confronted by three masked men who took his bag of valuables, slashed a tire on his vehicle and then fled, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office. It was reported just after 6 p.m.

Just after 8 p.m., Washington State Patrol trooper spotted the suspect vehicle at the Arco station at the 13th Street and Interstate 5 interchange, according to authorities.

Chehalis resident Jennifer Moliga and her husband were on their way home from shopping and about to pull in to get fuel, but changed their minds.

“We get off the freeway and on the right side, at AM/PM, there were just cop cars everywhere,” she said. “We could see, we counted on one side six cop cars.”

Moliga said they seemed to be blockading the entrance and had two guys sitting in front of the store on the sidewalk.

King County sheriff’s Sgt. Cindi West said three suspects were arrested and transported back to King County to be booked for robbery.

The bag of jewelry is presumably inside the suspects’ vehicle, which was impounded and will be searched later today, West said.