Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Centralia police detective Rick Hughes has been honored by the Washington State Patrol for his role in helping subdue a man who allegedly assaulted a trooper this summer along side on Interstate 5 in Chehalis.

Detective Rick Hughes

It was July 3 when Trooper Rob Moore contacted the 23-year-old Centralia man near the Main Street off ramp and ended up tackling the man after a lug nut was thrown in his face, breaking his nose and glasses.

Two passing motorists stopped to help, and then detective Hughes and another passerby, Robert Gordon from Washington County in Oregon, stopped to assist.

Don K. Gonzales, 23, was subsequently charged with second-degree assault, plus three counts of third-degree assault related to the brawl as well as  attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer. His attorney said he was suffering from some type of mental issue when the events occurred.

Hughes and Gordon were honored the week before last in Vancouver with awards of merit.

A citation of the events read during the ceremony thanked the men for their life-saving efforts.

“The actions of Detective Rick Hughes and Robert Gordon not only helped, but also may have prevented further significant injury to Trooper Moore,” Trooper Will Finn wrote in a news release.

The two men sprung into action and assisted Moore in getting the subject under control and into custody, Finn wrote. Hughes was reportedly kicked in the chest before it was over.

State Patrol Capt. Ron Rupke commended the two for their courage.

The state patrol’s award of merit is presented to law enforcement officers or citizens who risk their own safety to assist a state patrol employee in the performance of a hazardous act, according to Finn.

Finn said he wasn’t sure of Gordon’s background, if he is a civilian or possibly a retied police officer.

The pair of local civilians who jumped in Timothy Tyrell Daily, 25, of Napavine, and his brother-in-law Jared Kasinger, 24, of Chehalis, are expected to recognized this coming spring for their actions, according to Finn.

“They’re being honored with a higher award in May,” Finn said. “They haven’t been forgotten.”

Gonzales has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
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For background, read “View from the ground: Helping trooper take down fighting suspect” from  Sunday July 15, 2012, here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Santa Claus will be making his pre-Christmas rounds in Centralia and Chehalis this week, collecting donations for the needy as well as handing out candy canes and safety information to good little girls and boys.

In Centralia, members of Riverside Fire Authority are hosting the visit that winds through the community from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each evening beginning tonight and continuing through Thursday.

His helpers will be happy to accept non-perishable food items and new toys.

The sleigh will park at the end of each route each night and hang out until 8 p.m. where children can pose for photos with Santa.

In Chehalis, the Santa Mobile travels tomorrow night and Thursday night from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., arranged by the Chehalis Fire Department.

Coordinator Steve Emrich offers sincere apologies for the postponement from last Thursday, noting that circumstances beyond their control got in the way.

CHEHALIS –
Tuesday:
• 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Southwest 13th Avenue though Southwest 16th Avenue general area
• 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Southwest Snively Avenue general area through Southwest 19th Avenue
• 8 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Southwest 20th Avenue through Southwest 22nd Avenue and Southeast Washington Avenue
Thursday:
• 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Northwest Westside neighborhoods
• 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Southwest Chehalis Avenue and Southwest William Avenue area
• 8 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Southwest Cascade Avenue and Southwest First Street through Southwest 12th Street

CENTRALIA –
Tonight:
• 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.: Jefferson Lincoln Elementary School area starting at West Plum and South King streets and ending at Jefferson Lincoln Elementary School
Tuesday:
• 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.: Oakview Elementary School area starting at West Reynolds Avenue and Hillview Avenue and ending at Oakview Elementary School
Wednesday:
• 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.: Edison Elementary School area starting on West First Street and ending at Edison Elementary School.
Thursday:
• 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.: Fords Prairie area starting at Fords Prairie Avenue and Eshom Road and ending at Riverside Fire Authority Headquarters Station at 1818 Harrison Avenue.

For more Centralia details, click on Firefighters Association Santa Mobile, where you can find a map, here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – An autopsy on the  94-year-old man hit by a car in Chehalis earlier this week showed he died from probable cardiac arrhythmia due to heart disease and COPD, but the trauma and shock from the accident sped up his death, according to the Lewis County coroner.

George Benton

George Benton, a retired Chehalis firefighter, was in a crosswalk on South Market Boulevard riding his power wheelchair when he was struck by a 1990s Buick passenger car on Monday evening, according to police.

Chehalis police reopened the accident investigation following Wednesday’s death.

Benton was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital with an injury to one side of his chest, a broken ankle and a cut to his ear. Police said the injuries seemed minor at the time. He didn’t even want to go to the hospital, but was talked into it, according to Chehalis Deputy Police Chief Randy Kaut.

He was transported later that night to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle to get his ear repaired and back home by Tuesday night. He died Wednesday morning at the adult family home where he lived.

Benton was a widower who resided on Southwest 12th Street but still owned his house on Southeast Washington Avenue where he spent time “puttering” in his shop or yard, according to his caregiver Leah Jensen. Each are about a block from where he was hit.

Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod said he is listing the manner of death as accidental.

Specifically, McLeod said the findings were probable arrhythmia due to arteriosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease and COPD, with other significant conditions being blunt force trauma to one ear, the side of his chest and his right leg.
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For background, read “Elderly Chehalis man struck in crosswalk dies” from Thursday December 6, 2012, here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Two women were hospitalized today after a single-vehicle wreck on Interstate 5 north of Centralia which left their Toyota Corolla totaled.

Troopers were called about 11:15 a.m. to the northbound lanes  just north of the Harrison Avenue interchange where the car had collided with the concrete barrier.

Debera L. Hamlin, 77, lost control of her car after nearly striking another vehicle in an attempted lane change, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Hamlin and her passenger, both Centralia residents, were taken to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the state patrol.

Trooper Brian Ashley said Hamlin had neck and back pain while Toni Maier, 41, complained of some pain to her neck and face. They were treated and have been released from the hospital.

Meanwhile, a truck that ran off the freeway into some trees at the south end of the county about 11:20 p.m. last night was towed out this afternoon.

It happened on the northbound side near milepost 57, according to Trooper Will Finn.

Finn said they wanted to wait until daylight to remove the truck to avoid rupturing the tanks. The driver had a hand injury but wasn’t hospitalized, according to Finn.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Nearly a year after she was arrested, the former director of the Lewis County Historical Museum has still not gone before a jury on theft charges that arose after the discovery the endowment fund of more than $460,000 was drained.

Deborah Sue Knapp

Deborah Sue Knapp, now 53, was in Lewis County Superior Court yesterday as attorneys asked a judge to postpone the trial until March.

Prosecutors allege Knapp routinely issued herself extra pay through payroll draws and used the museum debit card for personal expenses. Knapp has pleaded not guilty and is free on an unsecured bond.

Lawyers have previously asked for postponements based on the tremendous amount of financial records being analyzed but yesterday’s request was more to accommodate several other upcoming trials, according to her attorney Ken Johnson.

Judge Richard Brosey approved the choice to schedule Knapp’s trial for the week of March 4.
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For background, see “Prosecutor: Former museum director gave herself thousands of dollars in fraudulent payroll draws” from Friday December 30, 2011, here