Updated at 7:20 p.m.
TWO CHILDREN RESCUED FROM RIVER
• Two little boys who could not swim and ended up in water over the heads yesterday afternoon in the Skookumchuck River were pulled to safety by a pair of individuals at Rotary Riverside Park in Centralia. Firefighters called to the area about 3:10 p.m. found the children, ages 6 and 7, sitting up and talking but very scared, according to Riverside Fire Authority. Capt Erik Olson said estimates of the length of time they were submerged ranged from 20 seconds to two minutes and if not for the good samaritans, they most likely would have drowned. There were a lot of people enjoying the swimming area and a male and female noticed the little ones struggling and then go under the water, he said. The river is moving quickly enough to drag away an adult, even this time of year, he said. The boys were transported to Providence Centralia Hospital to be checked out, according to Olson.
SHERIFF: MAN THREATENS TO CUT GIRLFRIEND OPEN
• A 43-year-old Ethel man angry about getting woken up by his live-in girlfriend allegedly kicked their dog and chased her with a pocketknife, telling her he was going to slice her up and put the dog inside of her. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports Jerry D. Armstrong told the 27-year-old woman he would kill her if he caught her on Thursday evening at their home on the 2200 block of U.S. Highway 12 but she called 911 from a location in Onalaska. She said she had arrived home from shopping and had rattled the locked door, according to the sheriff’s office. When deputies contacted the 43-year-old man at his home, he was highly intoxicated, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail for felony harassment but was expected to be seen in Lewis County District Court today where they handle misdemeanors.
SHERIFF: GLENOMA MAN RAMS CAR
• A 62-year-old Glenoma man was arrested at his home on Saturday after a brief standoff during which he reportedly presented himself wearing a large knife on his hip, pulled it from its sheath and threw it into the bed of his truck. Deputies arrived at the residence of Lyle R. West about 3:30 p.m. and tried to call him out using a PA system, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Criminal Deputy Stacy Brown said they went there because around 2 p.m., West had rammed a vehicle in a driveway on the 1000 block of Peters Road in Randle when asked what he was doing there, and knocked a 34-year-old man backward with his fender as he turned to leave. Brown said deputies heard West was trying to get a firearm to confront police and that earlier in the day he had been traveling in excess 100 mph on a motorcycle on U.S. Highway 12 passing cars on the shoulder. Deputies were able to take West into custody and booked him into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree assault, according to the sheriff’s office. On the way there, in a patrol car, he allegedly repeatedly threatened to kill a deputy, Brown said. He was also booked for felony harassment and hit and run, according to the sheriff’s office.
DISPUTE
• Three Centralia residents were arrested when police responded about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday to the 100 block of South Ash Street. Robert P. Alexander, 35, was booked for fourth-degree assault, Aaron J. Alexander, 22, of Centralia, was cited for the same as well as third-degree malicious mischief and then released; and Kayla J. Cambren, 25, of Centralia, was arrested and booked for violation of a no contact order, according to the Centralia Police Department.
BURGLARY CENTRALIA
• Police were called about 7:30 p.m. yesterday to the 300 block of West Cherry Street regarding the theft of a lawn mower, a table and other items from a vacant house.
THEFT MOSSYROCK
• A 1992 Kawasaki motorcycle went missing from a covered storage area beside a house on the 200 block of Mossyrock Road West in Mossyrock, Morton police reported today. The $1,700 bike was reported stolen a week ago, and vanished sometime in the previous two weeks, according to police.
CAMPGROUND BATHROOM PILFERING
• A 58-year-old Vancouver woman woman reported her bag of prescription drugs were taken while she was cleaning up in a busy campground bathroom on Friday, at the 200 block of Ajlune Road outside Mossyrock. The loss is estimated at $80, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
• A 55-year-old Centralia man reported to the sheriff’s office that while he showered at a campground restroom on the 100 block of Beach Road near, someone went through the pockets of his pants he set outside the shower door and took his wallet, containing a driver’s license, bank card, social security card and medical cards, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning.
GNOME-BE-GONE
• Morton police today reported a hand-carved wooden gnome went missing from a fenced yard on the 500 block of Division Street sometime before last Monday. The approximate value is listed at $250, according to police.
CAR PROWL
• Centralia police took a report of a vehicle prowl in which someone stole a firearm while the victim was inside shopping at the 500 block of Harrison Avenue just before 9 a.m. on Saturday.
• Police were called about 11:35 a.m. on Friday to the 400 block of North Ash Street in Centralia regarding an overnight vehicle prowl.
DRUGS
• Centralia police say a 40-year-old Centralia man resisted arrest for a warrant on Friday afternoon at the 300 block of South Silver Street and had to be Tased. Richard D. Thoreson reportedly tried to dispose of a bag of methamphetamine but it was found by officers, according to the Centralia Police Department. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.
• Jason R. Dunham, 30, of Chehalis, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and an outstanding warrant after a deputy responded to a report of a no-contact order violation on Friday night at the 1600 block of J Street in Centralia. A deputy found a glass pipe with white residue which field-tested positive for met, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Dunham booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.
LOST AND FOUND
• Morton police reported today that officers were called to a residence in the 100 block of Mossyrock Road West at about 5:40 p.m. on Thursday to help locate a missing child. After searching the area, the child was located sleeping in a tent in the back yard, according to the Morton Police Department.
FIRE DEPARTMENT LEVY QUESTIONS?
• The board of commissioners for the fire department which protects Centralia and its surrounding area will hold one of its regular meetings on Wednesday night at the Lincoln Creek Grange so that afterward they can hold a public meeting to discuss the upcoming new levy. The gathering for usual business begins at 5 p.m. and then after adjournment, at 6:30 p.m., the topic will turn to Riverside Fire Authority’s maintenance and operations levy. It’s the first of three public meetings in which the department hopes to impart information and answer questions about its budget and why it is proposing a new tax.
SEMI RUNS INTO CAR
• A 44-year-old Mossyrock man was hospitalized after a semi truck plowed into the back of his Ford Thunderbird when he stopped to make a left turn off U.S. Highway 12 this morning. Troopers called about 10:40 a.m. to the scene eight miles east of Morton report the car was totaled and Johnny O. Jacobson was transported to Morton General Hospital. The 2006 Mack tractor- trailer combination sustained some damage but was able to be driven from the scene, according to the Washington State Patrol. Its driver, Jacob V. Hoffman, 25, from Silver Lake, is to be cited for second-degree negligent driving because of inattention, according to the state patrol. He was not injured, the investigating trooper indicated.
SEMI RUNS INTO SEMI
• A 2001 Peterbilt semi was described as totaled after it rear-ended a 2002 International tow truck about 1:30 a.m. today on Interstate 5 roughly four miles north of Toledo. Troopers responding report both big rigs were traveling northbound in the right lane near milepost 65. Bryson T. WIlson, 33, from Portland, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the Washington State Patrol. His International was removed by Carl’s Towing. Daniel J. Cundiff, 50, from Sacramento, was reportedly uninjured. The collision remains under investigation, according to the state patrol.
MOTORCYCLIST RUNS INTO RIDING PARTNER
• A pair of Centralia resident traveling side by side on Harley Davidsons up Interstate 5 south of Chehalis yesterday afternoon collided when the one on the left side went to exit at northbound 72 and struck the one on the right. Troopers called about 3:30 p.m. blamed 47-year-old Matthew A. Hardin for inattention. He was reportedly unhurt but Christiana E. Hardin by taken by ambulance to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the Washington State Patrol. His was a 2006 Harley Davidson XL1020 and her was a 2003 XL883, according to the state patrol. He will be cited for improper lane travel, according to the investigating trooper.
AND MORE
• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence, reckless endangerment, possession of marijuana by a minor; responses for alarms, dispute, suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor assault, violation of a restraining order, misdemeanor theft, collision on city street; complaints of noisy fireworks, thirsty dog, howling dog, overheated dogs in vehicles … and more.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Another dumb motorcycle rider story. Riding side by side is great in movies, when it is done by professional stunt riders. Smart group riders ride staggered and two seconds apart. Riding in a small clump, like is Wild Hogs, makes a good movie but is sure to lead to accidents and injuries. Again, the MSF class is a smart investment if you want to ride.
Holy moley, what a busy news day.
Where were the parent’s of the 6 & 7 year olds, who almost drowned???
Sounds like those two kids on the river were very lucky an adult showed up. Where the heck were the parents?