Updated at 6:12 p.m.
ACRE OF BRUSH IN NORTH CENTRALIA BURNS
• Members of Riverside Fire Authority spent the better part of five hours today extinguishing a fire on property next to the abandoned Centralia Plywood Mill at the north end of town. Crews were called about 10 a.m. to the area where Central Boulevard dead ends after they began to get calls about a large amount of thick black smoke, Chief Mike Kytta said. “We did find fire in vegetation, so it was in grass, brush and some trees,” he said. “It spread out over about one acre.” The chief said they had reason to suspect it may have been burning all night, as they found deeply charred logs. The smoke began when the rubber on old conveyors and tires laying around ignited, he said. They were joined by an engine from Chehalis. Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Rick Mack is looking into the cause, he said. The area is overgrown with berry vines, and not really frequented, he said. Representatives of the property owners, Jorgensen Timber LLC, were bringing in an excavator and planned to sit on it and watching for spot fires, according to Kytta.
RANDLE HOME CATCHES FIRE
• Firefighters responded about 9 o’clock this morning to a fire in a double wide mobile home in Randle that appeared accidental, according to Lewis County Fire District 14. Chief Jeff Jaques said nobody was home at the time at the residence on the 100 block of Kiona Road. “There was fire damage to the kitchen but there was smoke damage throughout,” Jaques said. It was extinguished by 11 members of the fire departments in Randle and Glenoma. The cause is being looked into by a fire investigator, he said.
ASSAULT
• Police were called to the emergency room at Providence Centralia Hospital about 5:10 a.m. today after a patient allegedly punched a nurse in the face. Further details were not readily available.
THEFT
• Centralia police were called about 4:20 p.m. yesterday to the 1600 block of Johnson Road regarding the theft of jewelry.
• Chehalis police were contacted yesterday about a compound bow missing from Northwest Middle Street.
DRUGS
• A 22-year-old woman was arrested yesterday in Chehalis for alleged possession of heroin in connection with a search of a vehicle discovered unoccupied after a short police pursuit early last week. Sarah J. Branam, of Centralia, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department.
• Centralia police arrested two underage males yesterday evening for possession of marijuana at the 1200 block of Woodland Avenue. Grant T. Brandt, 20, of Centralia, and Dakota J. Tryon, 18 of Olympia, were cited and then released according to the Centralia Police Department.
DOG FIGHT
• An Onalaska pet already labeled a potentially dangerous dog from a June incident is in trouble again after allegedly fighting with a neighbor dog and biting the neighbor who tried to break it up last night. A deputy called to the 500 block of Burnt Ridge Road was told by the 64-year-old man he heard his dog yelping as they walked back from the mailbox, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said he got bit near his thumb and his pet had injuries on its stomach and leg but didn’t note what if any injuries the Pit Bull sustained. Its owner, a 28-year-old Onalaskan, will be getting a citation in the mail, Brown said. The case will also be referred to animal control for review, according to Brown.
AND MORE
• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence, resisting arrest; responses for disputes, misdemeanor theft, violation of protection order; complaint of surly subject in a wheelchair at freeway offramp, woman screaming at children to quit crying in Wal-Mart parking lot … and more.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter