Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The city of Centralia is offering sand bags and sand for residents beginning at 6 p.m. this evening and again tomorrow morning.

The move follows the mid-day upgrade of a flood watch to flood warnings on several Southwest Washington rivers, including the Chehalis River and the Skookumchuck River.

The distribution center is on the 100 block of West Center Street, in between Tower Avenue and Pearl Street. It will stay open until 9 p.m. tonight, according to a news release.

It will reopen at 7 a.m. tomorrow along with two other sites.

Police officers will be there confirming addresses since only city residents are eligible, according Police Chief Bob Berg.

Berg urges residents to listen to their local radio for updates as the situation develops.

Moderate flooding is forecast from the Chehalis River at Centralia and minor flooding from the Skookumchuck at Centralia.

More soon.
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Read the latest flood warnings, watches and weather statements here

Check the river level forecast for your area here

Check the weather forecast or your area here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Chehalis police are investigating a situation in which a 42-year-old man was found dead in his home by a friend.

Detective Sgt. Rick McNamara said yesterday it’s not obvious how the man died and they’ll wait for the coroner’s office to determine what happened.

Officers were called to the shared residence on the 100 block of Northeast Division Street about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Based on information at the scene, police are investigating whether its drug-related. It doesn’t look like foul play, according to Deputy Chief Randy Kaut.

McNamara said there was drug paraphernalia present. He didn’t specify what it was.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The sheriff’s office has referred a March homicide case to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, recommending a charge of second-degree murder in the death of 58-year-old Guy LaFontaine.

Guy LaFontaine

LaFontaine died from injuries following an assault the 11,000 block of U.S. Highway 12 in Randle, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

A relative, Erik R. Massa, 43, of Randle, was initially arrested and booked for second-degree murder, but was released pending further investigation. Sheriff’s Cmdr. Steve Aust said detectives are now requesting Massa be charged with second-degree murder.

LaFontaine, who lived in Federal Way, had been taken to a hospital closer to his home where he died March 13. He worked at Todd Shipyards in Seattle as a welder.

Aust said the sheriff’s office investigation was completed and yesterday sent to prosecutors.

They had been waiting for reports from the Washington State Crime Lab, according to Aust.

The dark green represents the areas under a flood watch. The pink areas are under a winter storm warning / Courtesy picture from National Weather Service

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The National Weather Service early this morning issued a flood watch for tomorrow afternoon through Monday afternoon for portions of Western Washington including Lewis County.

Heavy rains mean some rivers are certain to flood and some – such as the Chehalis River in Lewis and Grays Harbor counties which face at least a moderate threat of flooding, according to the advisory.

Even small streams could overflow their banks and urban flooding where drainage is poor is possible, according to the Weather Service.

The forecasters note it’s impossible at this point to say how much rain will fall and where.

The advisory comes as East Lewis County and other areas of the state are under a winter storm warning through noon today – with up to six inches of additional snow expected in some places.
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Check the weather forecast or your area here

Read the latest flood warnings, watches and weather statements here

Check the river level forecast for your area here