Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Chehalis police were called on Saturday night by a woman who said someone in her neighborhood had shaved her cat.

She had seen the cat about 11:30 a.m. that day and then at 10:30 p.m. when she saw it again, the hair on its belly, back legs and butt area had been shaved very short, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

The woman told police the cat wouldn’t let anyone touch it. The pet resides at the 300 block of Southeast Fairview Avenue.

Chehalis police spokesperson Linda Bailey said they don’t have any leads.

Three fire departments responded to Third Street in Morton yesterday. / Courtesy photo by Rochelle Ashe

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A fire investigator is returning this morning to Morton to try to find what sparked a blaze yesterday at a two-story house.

Crews were called around 9 a.m. to the 200 block of Third Street for the fully engulfed residence; police who arrived first said they had evacuated three people, according to Lewis County Fire District 4.

Nobody was hurt, but the home is unlivable, according to Fire Chief Dan Powell.

“What didn’t burn was water damaged, so it’s a total loss,” Powell said.

His department was joined by firefighters from Mossyrock and Mineral, and then they returned about 6 a.m. to deal with a re-ignite, Powell said.

Fire investigator Jay Birley said he responded yesterday and did some digging around, but was headed back out today for a closer look.

“It looked like it may have started up on the second floor,” Birley said.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Two young people showed up at a local hospital reporting they’d been in an altercation at a house party south of Chehalis, a gathering where deputies and other law enforcement rushed upon hearing shots were fired and one person had possibly been hit.

It turned out the female who hunched over and fell down after hearing gunfire wasn’t hurt, but had a panic attack, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

It began with a complaint of a loud party on the 300 block of Bolduc Road at about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, according to the sheriff’s office.

While law enforcement was enroute, several people were reporting shots had been fired, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

Deputies found a large number of people at the residence, most of whom were eventually allowed to leave, although some who were underage had been drinking, Brown said.

Nobody there saw or knew anything about the shooting, other than it occurred outside and they thought the shooters had left, Brown said.

It was a 22-year-old from Centralia and a 19-year-old from Chehalis who went to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to Brown. She didn’t indicate any details about their injuries. It is still under investigation, she said.

Cases for five people under 21 are being forwarded to prosecutors for charges of minor in possession and/or consumption of alcohol, according to Brown. They are 20, 18,  17 and 14 and from Olympia, Chehalis, Mossyrock and Centralia.

Brown said most of the people at the gathering who were under 21 had not been drinking.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – While Brenda Wing was supposed to be sentenced yesterday for her role in the death of the toddler she and her husband were caring for in Vader, the hearing was postponed.

Prosecutors need more time to interpret some information, according to Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead.

Jasper Henderling-Warner

A large crowd assembled in the courtroom a month ago for the sentencing, but instead, the judge agreed Wing would take another polygraph test.

Three-year-old Jasper Henderling-Warner died on Oct. 5 of last year from what the coroner called chronic battered child syndrome.

Conflicting stories and an inability to figure out just what occurred led to deals with the Wings this past spring which required them to truthfully describe what happened, in exchange for guilty pleas on first-degree manslaughter and third-degree assault, and then recommendations they be locked up for about 16 years.

Danny Wing failed the lie detector test and was sent to prison in September for 34 years and eight months.

Danny Wing is back in the Lewis County Jail and expected in Lewis County Superior Court this afternoon.

Halstead indicated he was brought back to enter findings that he did not sign when he was originally sentenced.
•••

For background, read “Vader toddler: Lawyers argue instead of proceeding with sentencing hearing” from Saturday November 21, 2015, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Thefts of packages delivered to front porches aren’t a new thing, but are becoming increasingly common in Centralia.

The police department has gotten several reports in recent weeks of residents getting a confirmation their item has been delivered, but then discovering it’s been stolen.

They’ve advised the public if they can’t be home when their expected parcel arrives, they should try to find a friend or neighbor to wait for it.

“(Or) have them watch for the delivery and grab the package as soon as it’s been delivered,” Officer John Panco said after one was stolen from the 900 block of North Pearl Street last week.

Even that may not be enough.

Yesterday, officers were called to a home on the 200 block of King Street just before 1 p.m. because a Kindle delivered to the front steps was taken, even while somebody was at home, according to the Centralia Police Department.

“UPS dropped it off, her kid saw somebody grab the package and take off,” Sgt. Kurt Reichert said.

The only description officers had was that the thief was wearing a red shirt and had a beard, Reichert said. Officers looked around and weren’t able to find him, according to Reichert.

The department is asking citizens to keep an eye out and if they see suspicious activity, to immediately call 911 or the non-emergency number of 740-1105.

Here is what to watch for, according to Panco:

• Vehicles driving slowly through residential areas. This can indicate the occupants are checking porches for items, especially if a mail truck or other type of delivery truck was just in the area.

• Watch for pedestrians that are looking closely at the front of the houses. Watch to see if they head up the walkway towards the front porch not carrying anything but when they are walking away from the front porch they are carrying packages.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – So many people locally are seeking permits to carry concealed pistols, the sheriff’s office is recommending making an appointment.

The sheriff’s office attributes the dramatic increase in requests to recent major events around the country, according to Lewis County Undersheriff Wes Rethwill.

On average, six to 10 individuals visited the sheriff’s office in Chehalis for that purpose each day over the past few months. Last week, however, as many as 30 people each day came in to apply for concealed pistol licenses, according to the sheriff’s office.

The license isn’t required to own a handgun, only to carry it concealed on your person out in public.

To avoid long waits, citizens are advised to make an appointment, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said. Individuals can still walk in to get an application, but those already scheduled will be served first, according to Brown.

Appointments can be made Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. by phoning 360-748-9286.

Individuals can apply for a CPL at the local law enforcement agency that serves the jurisdiction in which they live. The sheriff’s office accepts applications from residents, regardless of where they reside in the county.

The sheriff’s office received 167 applications in November, already higher than any other months previous during 2015.

The jump in requests follows the mass shootings on Nov. 27 in Colorado Springs and Dec. 2 in San Bernadino, California.

The last time the sheriff’s office saw a noticeable jump in applications was following the December 2012 elementary school shooting in Connecticut, with well over 250 requests that month.