Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Two sergeants at the Centralia Police Department will be promoted to commander positions effective Jan. 1.

They are Sgt. Stacy Denham and detective Sgt. Pat Fitzgerald, who have been working as acting commanders since the chief demoted the two officers who were commanders when he took over the department in May.

Centralia Police Chief Carl Nielsen said testing was done last week for the positions. His announcement of the change is on the agenda this evening for the Civil Service Commission meeting, Nielsen said.

Former Cmdr. Dave Ross was reassigned to a sergeant position on June 1 and Cmdr. Jim Rich moved to a sergeant position on July 2. Rich was, along with Nielsen, one of the finalist to replace outgoing Chief Bob Berg earlier this year.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 34-year-old man was stabbed in Centralia yesterday during a dispute believed to be over a drug deal.

“I don’t know how seriously the victim was injured,” Officer John Panco said this morning. “But it’s not life-threatening.”

The man is from Tacoma, he said. He was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital.

Police are still investigating the incident associated with a location at the 600 block of South Silver Street, according to the Centralia Police Department.

Officers were called about 11:15 a.m. and arrested a man and woman who were there together, according to Panco.

“Somehow meth was exchanged, somehow payment was not made,” Panco said. A physical altercation then ensued, according to police.

Sasha A. Morgan, 29, allegedly stabbed the 34-year-old with a knife, and was booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree assault, according to the Centralia Police Department.

Jesse Bartley, 25, described as transient, was arrested and booked for attempted delivery of methamphetamine, Panco said.

The two are likely to be brought before a judge this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 52-year-old Oakville woman is at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after she was ejected from a car that rolled several times when its driver lost control on Interstate 5 in south Thurston County yesterday.

Troopers called about 1:40 p.m. to the northbound lanes  about five miles north of Grand Mound, report the 1997 BMW 740 was headed north and traveling too fast when its 21-year-old driver wrecked.

Carla J. Thomas, 52, of Oakville, was transported to the Seattle hospital, according to the Washington State Patrol. This morning Thomas was listed in serious condition in the intensive care unit there.

The driver was also injured. Jonathan M. Jack, 21, of Rochester was taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, according to the state patrol.

A spokesperson for Sr. Peter’s said this morning Jack was not a patient at the hospital. An individual with the same name has been booked into the Thurston County Jail for vehicular assault, according to jails’ online roster.

The BMW was impounded to the state patrol’s bullpen in Tacoma.

Water still covers the roadway on Sunday at state Route 131 just south of Randle. / Courtesy photo by Laci McEachin

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 75-year-old woman was pulled from her water-filled car by another motorist after she drove around a road closed sign in Randle on Saturday night.

The Glenoma man likely saved the woman from drowning, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said this morning.

The woman was headed northbound on Forest Service Road 25 when she encountered the roadway covered with water approaching state Route 131 near Skinner Road, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said this morning.

The Vancouver woman went around the warning sign and her Toyota Scion went off the road and became partially submerged, Brown said.

It was about 9:30 p.m. when a vehicle coming up the 25 road behind her saw what happened and the 25-year-old Glenoma man jumped into the water. He was able to drag her out of her car to safety, Brown said.

The passenger compartment by then was nearly filled, according to Brown.

The victim was transported to the hospital for evaluation.

The Randle area was among those that experienced what weather forecasters described as minor flooding this weekend, and another rain storm could serve up even higher waters in the next few days.

The Lincoln Creek Road area northwest of Centralia sees some sun on Sunday. / Courtesy photo by Sandi Spencer

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A new flood watch has been issued for late tonight through late Wednesday night, with a warm wet weather system headed into the area.

The National Weather Service also says prepare for a windstorm tomorrow.

This storm could bring heavy rain to the Cascade and Olympic mountains for up to 36 hours with a snow level rising to as high as 7000 feet, according to the weather service. Rainfall amounts of five to eight inches with locally higher amounts are expected.

Because of the recent and ongoing flooding, rivers are not likely to have receded to normal levels before this storm hits, forecasters said. Some rivers could rise to higher levels than they have in recent days.

Minor flooding has been occurring along the Chehalis River near Grand Mound since yesterday, according to the NWS.

The threat of landslides will increase as well.

Additionally, a winter storm warning remains in effect for East Lewis County with accumulations of one to two feet of new snow likely by late tonight in the mountain passes, before turning to rain.

A flood watch means conditions are favorable for flooding but
flooding is not imminent or occurring. The NWS advises the public to monitor their latest forecasts and be ready to act quickly if flooding is observed or a warning is issued
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Follow the forecasts and watch for weather advisories and warnings:

The link for the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle can be found here and also always on the right hand column of this page, labeled “Weather Alerts, forecasts”

The link for the National Weather Service’s river level observation and forecast for Western Washington can be found here and also  always on the right hand column of this page, labeled “River levels”

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Heavy rain in the mountains tomorrow afternoon through Saturday morning could cause flooding this weekend, according to an outlook issued yesterday by the National Weather Service.

The forecast is two to three days ahead and on Monday it appeared the bulk of the precipitation could fall on British Columbia, but on Tuesday the models aimed the heaviest rain at Western Washington, although newer models could send the storm in another direction, according to the NWS.

Rainfall this heavy – eight to 10 inches over the Cascade Mountains – would cause flooding on many area rivers. Of note in Lewis County are the Cowlitz River, the Chehalis River and their tributaries.

•••

The link for the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle can be found here and also always on the right hand column of this page, labeled “Weather Alerts, forecasts”

The link for the National Weather Service’s river level observation and forecast for Western Washington can be found here and also always on the right hand column of this page, labeled “River levels”

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Centralia police want residents to be wary of door-to-door salespeople, revealing that in the past, some of them contacted by local police had extensive criminal histories and used the job as a ruse to collect personal information for fraudulent purposes later.

Police Sgt. Pat Fitzgerald indicated the department isn’t attempting to disparage or discourage legal operations, but given the coming holiday season, felt an advisory was in the community’s best interest.

“When dealing with these individuals trust your instincts,” Fitzgerald said. “If that little voice in your head is telling you that something does not seem right, it probably isn’t.

“Report anything you perceive as suspicious at anytime.”

Many of the door-to-door sales companies are from out of state, and do not have a local business license anyhow, according to the Centralia Police Department.

Fitzgerald warns the public to be cautious and says do not allow these individuals inside your home.

Do not give them personal or debit or credit card information and if necessary, call law enforcement and report any misconduct by these individuals, Fitzgerald said.

He offers up a reminder of who to call: Central Dispatch at 360-740 1105  or for emergencies, dial 911.