By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The (Longview) Daily News writes about volunteer Toledo police officer Randy Pennington who for 25 years has worked close to full-time hours, patrolling several evenings each week after a full shift as a trucker.
Toledo Police Department Chief John Brockmueller says the 61-year-old Pennington is “like a 21-year-old rookie with 30 years of experience,” news reporter Natalie St. John writes.
Read more here
Updated at 12:25 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The Seattle TImes reports two snowboarders in their early 20s were stranded overnight on Mount Rainier in heavy snow.
More than two dozen searchers are trying to reach the men, who are equipped only with winter gear, smart phones and a compass, but no overnight gear, according to the Associated Press news item.
Kevin Bacher, spokesperson for Mount Rainier National Park reports Derek Tyndall and Thomas Dale checked in by cell phone this morning and said they had made a snow cave for the night, were cold but otherwise in good condition.
The weather overnight was severe, with high winds and 20 inches of fresh snow at Paradise, according to Bacher.
Read more here
Update: The two were found alive about 11 a.m. Tuesday November 13, according to park officials.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Prosecutors filed criminal charges against the 79-year-old Dryad woman from whom dozens of foxhounds were seized last month.
The 65 dogs which included 18 puppies were living in what authorities called deplorable conditions, most seemingly well enough fed but in kennels which were overrun with feces and breeding amongst themselves.
Nancy Punches
Two of the animals are fox terriers – the rest foxhounds – belonging to Nancy Punches who resides on River Road.
Multiple charges were filed on Friday in Lewis County District Court in Chehalis. Punches will receive a summons to appear in court for an arraignment.
One dead puppy was found when numerous animal control employees, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and at least one non-profit rescue group rounded up the canines on October 19.
The following day, at least three puppies were euthanized because of positive tests for Parvo Virus, and five of the 17 dogs taken to Pasado’s Safe Haven in Snohomish County tested positive for a parasite called Giardia which is deadly to puppies, according to charging documents.
Punches said in an interview she didn’t intend for the animals to multiply, but their fencing had deteriorated. Authorities said they did not think she was selling them.
Punches’ dog kennel Oct. 19, 2012
The longtime breeder of show dogs admitted she realized it was bad, saying the situation got away from her as she works long hours out of town – and that it’s hard to find good help.
According to Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher, the law doesn’t necessarily protect someone who has good intentions.
Punches is charged with 65 counts of second-degree animal cruelty, alleging at the very least she knowingly allowed them to live in conditions that caused unnecessary pain.
She is also charged with one violation of another state law regarding dog breeding: keeping more than 10 dogs who are able to reproduce in enclosures without meeting certain conditions regarding sanitation, lighting, fire safety measures, protection from extreme temperatures, and being kept separate from other animals with whom they’re not compatible.
All are misdemeanors with a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail or a $5,000 fine or both.
Three of the foxhounds are survivors of the December 2007 flood when Punches lost her home and 16 champion show dogs to the Chehalis River.
A foxhound named Hawk saved himself, while two of them were five-week-old pups she placed in a styrofoam shipping container when floodwaters inside her home rose to within inches of her ceiling. Punches nearly lost her own life as well.
Punches said last month she refused an offer from the Lewis County Animal Shelter in which she could get back four of the dogs if they were fixed as long as she signed away rights to the rest of the dogs. She said they are valuable to the breed.
Punches couldn’t be reached for comment this weekend.
Charging documents describe that on the day the animals were confiscated, a deputy could not see the floor of some kennels because the water, mud and feces was so deep.
A veterinarian there that day said the unsanitary conditions subjected the animals to contagious viral and bacterial diseases which would or could cause considerable suffering, according to the charging documents.
The documents also allege the following:
In the indoor kennel building, the deputy found four dogs standing on top of garbage, mud and feces.
In one pen, eight nine-week-old puppies had no overhead shelter, and appeared very thin. Four of them were lethargic, one had diarrhea and one was dead.
The veterinarian at Pasado’s Safe Haven noted several of the dogs had minor wounds and she saw signs of signs of abuse, including a strong fear of humans.
Punches had described some of them as “unsocialized”.
Lewis County does not require kennels to be licensed but does prohibit individuals from keeping more than 50 unaltered dogs, although there is no limit on the number of puppies.
State law requires breeders with more than 10 unaltered dogs to meet certain conditions.
•••
For background, read: “Aged flood survivor loses her stock of prize-winning canines for the second time” from Sunday October 21, 2012, here
Updated at 9:36 p.m.
POLICE: WINLOCK OFFICER ARRESTS TWO WITH METH, SCALES ETC.
• A pair of Winlock residents were arrested last night for possession of methamphetamine with intent deliver after a traffic stop on Roe Road in Winlock. Officer Steve Miller and his partner Misha – the drug sniffing Belgian Malinois – searched the vehicle and found scales, baggies, a pipe and suspected meth, Police Chief Terry Williams said. Zachery E. Torres, 23, and Jessica D. Church, 23, were booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to Williams. “This was a good score,” Williams said, noting everything fell together.
FURNITURE IGNITES FROM FIREPLACE
• Firefighters were called about 10 p.m. yesterday to a home on the 1000 block of Elm Street in Centralia where flames from a fireplace escaped and burned some furniture. Logs too long for the fireplace were being used, according to Riverside Fire Authority. Firefighters used minimal water to put it out, removed the burnt wood and ventilated the smoke from the house, Capt. Tim Adolphsen said. Nobody was injured, according to Adolphsen.
BREAK-IN IN CENTRALIA
• Centralia police are investigating a burglary to a business at the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue. An officer responding about 4:15 a.m. yesterday noted the lock on a door had been broken, according to the Centralia Police Department.
HIT AND RUN ARREST
• A 34-year-old Centralia woman was arrested for first-degree negligent driving as well as hit and run regarding an incident on the 600 block of J Street in Centralia last night. Alexandria Carmel-Snyder was cited and then released, according to the Centralia Police Department.
VEHICLE PROWL
• Someone rummaged through a vehicle parked inside a locked fenced compound on the 1700 block of Lum Road in Centralia, police learned just before 5 o’clock this morning.
• A stereo faceplate was stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked on the 200 block of West Magnolia Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police on Friday afternoon.
• Centralia police took a report of a car prowl about 9:40 a.m. on Friday in which someone took a new pair of shoes from an unlocked vehicle on the 100 block of West Magnolia Street.
• Centralia police took a report about 6:40 a.m. today regarding a window smashed out of a vehicle on the 1100 block of Mellen Street.
Updated at 1:07 p.m. and 6:06 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 50-year-old Rochester woman was critically injured in a single-vehicle collision just west of Tenino last night in which her truck struck a fence.
Troopers called just before 7 p.m. to Old Highway 99 near Mima Acres Road found the 2002 Toyota pickup in a field, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Colleen L. Stuart was traveling westbound when her truck left the roadway to the right striking a fence, according to the state patrol. She was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to Trooper Guy Gill.
The cause of the collision is under investigation.
There were no indications of alcohol or drug involvement, nor of excessive speed, Gill said. There were no witnesses, he said,
Stuart was struck in the head and neck by a fence board, he said.
“The chances of survival after that happens are very slim,” Gill said. “With these types of injuries, the chances are very slim.”
As of 12:26 p.m. today, she was still listed in critical condition by the hospital, according to Gill.
A Rochester woman with the same name, age 49, survived a collision that killed three others almost a year ago on Brooklyn Road in Grays Harbor County. It’s not clear if it’s the same woman.
Update: Gill reported at 5:48 p.m. today that Stuart passed away today.
TAKIN’ A BREAK
• Chehalis police were called about 3 p.m. yesterday regarding an unresponsive man sitting in a vehicle in the middle of the street on the 100 block of South Washington Avenue. Eric M. Myhre, 27, of Centralia, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance when pills were found in his pocket, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Myhre was also arrested for being in physical control of a vehicle under the influence, according to police. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to Officer Linda Bailey.
TAKIN’ A WALLET
• A 28-year-old man was arrested yesterday afternoon at the Centralia Outlets on Lum Road after he allegedly stole a $100 wallet from the Coach store and then tossed it over a fence as officers arrived to confront him and his companions. Police were called about 3:50 p.m. after an employee checked security footage after feeling suspicious about a group of shoppers, according to the Centralia Police Department. Jose Rentria Hernandez, of Fresno, Calif. was booked into the Lewis County Jail for obstruction and third-degree theft, Officer Angie Humphrey said. “His friends were like appalled, they were not happy with him,” Humphrey said.
TAKING A BUNCH OF STUFF
• Chehalis police were called to Wal-Mart yesterday afternoon when security footage turned up someone walking out of the store with a computer system and two home surveillance systems, according to police. The person had apparently left with the items on Tuesday without paying, according to police.
WHISKEY HEIST
• Chehalis police were called about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday to a report a man left Safeway on South Market Boulevard with an unpaid-for half gallon of Jack Daniels whiskey. No arrest was made, according to the Chehalis Police Department.
SUV VERSUS BIG RIG
• Police and aid were called about 3:15 p.m. yesterday when an SUV ran into a semi truck at the 3000 block of Galvin Road in Centralia. It destroyed the front end of the SUV but the 30-year-old driver declined aid, according to responders. “He said he was not injured,” Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Greg Schwartz said. “Probably quite surprised, but not injured.” However, the driver Steven M. Mullins, of Centralia, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for an outstanding warrant, according to police.
TAKE THAT LAMINATOR AWAY
• Firefighters were called to Centralia’s Oakview Elementary School about 9:40 a.m. yesterday for an overheated laminating machine. Smoke from the same piece of equipment on Monday morning sent the students outside and drew firefighters. The school thought they had the problem solved, according to Fire Capt. Greg Schwartz. “They’re taking that machine out of service,” he said.
RESPONDERS SAVE DOT WORKER WHOSE HEART STOPPED
• Toledo and Winlock firefighters and medics called to a possible seizure along side Interstate 5 near Vader this morning found a state DOT worker in cardiac arrest, according to Lewis County Fire District 2. They were able to successfully resuscitate the 42-year-old man who was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to Fire Chief Grant Wiltbank. He was transferred to a hospital in Olympia for further treatment, Wiltbank said.
POLICE: HOMELESS MAN CHOOSES JAIL INSTEAD OF SUICIDE
• The Olympian reports a “down on his luck” 54-year-old transient is accused of robbing a Yelm bank of a single $20 bill on Wednesday, leaving the building, lighting a cigarette and waiting for police to arrest him. Read more here
Reginald L. Juntunen pleads guilty to child molestation in Lewis County Superior Court.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Winlock man accused of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl in a Mossyrock area campground restroom pleaded guilty this afternoon following a deal that will give him a sentence of 25 years to life.
Reginald L. Juntunen, 24, was arrested this summer after he was identified through DNA as a suspect in the unsolved case from September 2007.
Juntunen admitted he had sexual contact with the girl when asked by Judge Richard Brosey what he did that constituted first-degree child molestation.
His mother, father and sister left the courtroom without comment after the brief hearing.
The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office initially charged him with first-degree rape of a child, but altered the allegations early on to include “or in the alternative, first-degree child molestation.”
At the time, Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Joely O’Rourke said it was a precaution in case there were discrepancies in the victim’s statement.
The victim just turned 13.
O’Rourke said it was a good outcome in the case and the girl was “really happy” when she learned he would plead guilty.
Chehalis defense attorney Chris Baum said it’s a stiff penalty, but his client faced the possibility of “quite a bit more time” if he went to trial and lost.
Juntunen also pleaded guilty today to unrelated charges from incidents that took place this year; a burglary and selling stolen jewelry.
Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 12.
•••
“Suspect pleads not guilty to modified charges in Mossyrock sexual assault of girl” from Friday Aug. 3, 2012, here
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