Archive for January, 2012

Read about Rochester residents get good news about power outages …

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Olympian reports that after almost a week without electricity, Rochester-area residents were told they should get their power restored by today.

Read about it here

Read about small earthquake south of Morton …

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The (Longview) Daily News reports a magnitude 3.4 earthquake occurred about 2:51 a.m. on Wednesday about 10 miles north of Mount St. Helens.

The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network described the quake as centered about 15 miles south of Morton and a little more than five miles deep.

Denise Salts: Drug charge decreased to misdemeanor

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
2012.0125.denisesaltstojail_2

Denise Salts, 52, was taken into custody this morning after pleading guilty to use of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

Updated at 4:05 p.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Prosecutors made a plea deal with Denise R. Salts to drop a delivery of methamphetamine charge admitting they were holding it over her head until after she testified in a triple-murder trial in which she was the only surviving victim.

Lewis County Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt expressed his displeasure with the attorneys’ agreement Salts should serve no time on a lesser charge, and sent her to jail for eight days this morning.

Salts, 52, was shot in the face when her boyfriend David West Sr. and two others were slain in August 2010 inside her Salkum-Onalaska area home.

Then, the following June she was labeled one of the main narcotics distributors in East Lewis County when the sheriff’s office arrested her, alleging she gave a small baggie of methamphetamine to an informant in exchange for a $20 bill.

Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher amended the charge to unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor that comes with a sentence of zero to 90 days in jail.

He and defense attorney Michael Underwood agreed to recommend Salts get credit for the two days she served when she was arrested and no more time.

Both said there was no deal in place when she testified last month against John A. Booth Jr.

Meagher did not say Salts was unwilling to testify, only that he had lost track of her and didn’t know where she was. It was always his intent to reward her, he told the judge.

Hunt asked why they made a plea agreement.

“To be quite candid your honor, I felt sorry for her,” Meagher said.

Salts had no criminal history and is a former successful graduate of Lewis County Drug Court.

Hunt calmly blasted Salts for using the resources of his drug court and returning old habits, calling it beyond explanation.

She replied, “I don’t know, I can’t even tell you … I don’t know.”

The judge sentenced her 90 days in jail, with 80 days suspended and gave her credit for two days served.

•••

For background, read:

• “News brief: “Big” drug dealers in court tomorrow” from Wednesday June 22, 2011, here

• “Salkum triple murder: Victims cry, defendant lashes out at sentence hearing” from  Friday December 16, 2011, here

News brief: Driver injured south of Chehalis on I-5

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
2012.0124.wreck.dist5.trim_2

Responders at one-car crash off Interstate 5 near exit 72 / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 5

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Firefighters called to a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 5 south of Chehalis this morning found a car that had collided with a light pole and several trees, according to Lewis County Fire District 5.

It happened just before 10 a.m. in the northbound lanes near exit 72, according to Fire Lt. Laura Hanson.

The driver – the car’s only occupant – was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital with injuries that called for an ambulance staffed with advanced life support personnel, according to Hanson.

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

FOUR ARRESTED FOR MARIJUANA

• A carful of people were arrested for possession of marijuana following a traffic stop on the 500 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia last night. The driver, Kevin I. Sines, 25, of Centralia, was pulled over about 10:30 p.m. for defective exhaust equipment and when the officer smelled burnt marijuana, Sines handed over a pipe, according to Officer John Panco. The officer also found a suspected Ecstasy tablet in the car, Panco said. Cited for misdemeanor possession of marijuana were Sines, Derek M. Malarz, 20, of Winlock, Matthew P. Paylor, 20, of Centralia, and Tucker W. Bethune, 18, of Rochester, according to the Centralia Police Department. They were all then release, Panco said. The case is being referred to the prosecutor’s office for a possible charge related to the tablet, he said.

“BLOODZ” GRAFFITI

• Police were called about 10 a.m. yesterday to the 2000 block of North Tower Avenue where someone used red spray paint to write the word “Bloodz” on the side of a van. Also painted were a fence, a motor home and a fire hydrant, according to the Centralia Police Department.

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

ATTACK WITH MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SEND TWO TO HOSPITAL

• Police called to a dispute at an apartment on the 500 block of Hillkress Street in Centralia on Saturday night learned that two Centralia men had been beaten with a clarinet. A 26-year-old man had injuries to his face and a 31-year-old had gashes on his head, according to the Centralia Police Department. Neither the victims who were taken to the hospital nor the suspect were at the home when police arrived and the victims left the hospital before giving further details to officers, according to Officer John Panco.

PATIENT ATTACKS NURSE

• A nurse was punched in the chest by a patient at Providence Centralia Hospital last night, drawing officers to the facility on South Schueber Road about 10:40 p.m. The suspect, a male, has not been arrested as police were taking possible “mental issues” into consideration, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BAR BRAWL LEADS TO HALF DOZEN ARRESTS

• Six people were arrested after a melee outside a Chehalis bar about 1 a.m. on Saturday. Officers called to the Paradise learned the doorman was trying to eject a group at the 300 block of Northwest Chehalis Avenue and they started fighting with him, Sgt. Gary Wilson said. Two were booked for disorderly conduct; Ross R. Johnson, 24, of Centralia and Tiffany M. Anderson, 23, of Olympia, Wilson said. The others, all in their 20s who reportedly interfered with police, were arrested for disorderly conduct and then released, he said. Officer had been called just two hours earlier to a disturbance at Garbe’s Tavern nearby, according to Wilson.

FIGHT DRAWS DEPUTIES TO CINEBAR

• A deputy was called to the 300 block of Cinebar Road on Saturday evening after a tussle that included a rifle between a 53-year-old man and a 30-year-old Olympia resident. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said that Michael W. Cairns, 30, had taken refuge inside a motor home to get warm when the older man outside fired a gun into the air, prompting Cairns to burst out of the RV into the man. The two struggled in the snow on the ground for several minutes before Cairns gathered up his belongings and walked away, Brown said. The men have some “previous history” with each other, she said. Cairns said he had permission to be in the motor home, but its owner said he did not, according to Brown. Cairns was arrested on a warrant and also referred for a possible charge of trespassing, according to Brown.

THEFT

• A deputy was called Sunday to a burglary at a residence on the 1400 block of Highway 603 outside Chehalis in which a floor safe was among the valuables missing, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The victim said someone had broken in between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. the previous evening and also stole an X-Box and 32 games, various silver certificates and old silver coins, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. Brown did not say what was inside the safe.

• A maroon-colored 1990 Chevrolet pickup was reported stolen about 7:30 a.m. yesterday from the 700 block of West Fourth Street in Centralia.

• Police were called about 10:15 a.m. on Saturday to take a report of a stolen vehicle from the 100 block of Alfred Street in Chehalis. Missing is a red Ford Ranger.

• Police were called about 7:10 p.m. yesterday to a car prowl on the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia. A purse was missing from an unlocked vehicle, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• A traffic stop on the 1200 block of South Market Boulevard in Chehalis on Saturday night led to the discovery of a small amount of methamphetamine and some drug paraphernalia, according to Chehalis police. Robert M. Church, 46, of Silver Creek was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and a warrant, Sgt. Gary Wilson said.

News brief: Blood donors needed

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Authorities are repeating an appeal for blood donations during the coming week as the winter storms have caused the regional blood supply to drop to emergency levels.

Yvette Olive, the donor resources representative for Lewis County, notes the inventory has taken a huge hit.

The Puget Sound Blood Center’s Dr. James P. AuBuchon said in a news release this morning they have a ways to go before normal levels will be restored.

“If you haven’t given blood recently, we’re asking donors to make a special effort this week to donate,” AuBuchon stated. “Donors provide a live-saving gift, and we’re counting on sustained support from donors and the community to replenish our blood supply by the end of this month.”

Two opportunities are available tomorrow to give in Lewis County:

• Lewis County Mall at 151 N.E. Hampe Way in Chehalis from 10 a.m. until noon and 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

• Thorbeckes gym parking lot at 91 S.W. Chehalis Avenue in Chehalis from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Olive says if someone is unsure about their eligibility, they can phone 1-800-398-7888. Walk-ins are welcome at the mall but an appointment can be made here