Posts Tagged ‘news reporter’

News brief: Hiker plucked from Packwood Glacier by helicopter

Friday, August 19th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Local search and rescue personnel assembled yesterday to retrieve a 62-year-old hiker perched on a small ledge after slipping and sliding at the Packwood Glacier.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office learned about the woman’s situation at about 12:30 p.m. and made preparations for the five-hour trek to the Pacific Crest Trail but then called for air support instead, given her precarious position, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

The woman had been hiking alone from Trout Lake headed to White Pass and used her satellite phone to call for help, Brown said. A distress beacon came from the area of Old Snowy Mountain, southeast of Packwood.

The woman used her backpack to prop herself and keep from falling farther downhill.

An Air Force helicopter was able to reach the victim and flew her to Yakima, where she planned to wait to be picked up, according to Brown. She was uninjured.

Sunbird employee accused of inappropriately touching developmentally disabled worker

Thursday, August 18th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Chehalis police arrested a 33-year-old man following an investigation that began when a special needs student told a school district employee that he grabbed her hand and put it in his crotch area during a program in which students go to local businesses to learn job skills.

The 20-year-old student allegedly said he’d done it several times before and she was afraid to tell him to stop, according to court documents.

Rodney R. Cook, the shipping manager at Sun Bird Shopping Center in Chehalis, was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with one count of indecent liberties, according to temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke. If convicted, he could face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Police were contacted on June 1 and spoke with a Chehalis School District employee who said the alleged victim told her what happened that day after she returned from Sunbirds, according to court documents.

Police Sgt. Rick McNamara was told the two were working on one side of a table pricing items while her job coach and other students were on the other side, court documents relate.

The documents don’t include any information indicating police interviewed the alleged victim or the suspect.

The school district’s program called Visions works with special needs children. The alleged victim has “a specific” learning disability” and an IQ of 71 or 72, according to court documents.

Cook, who lives in Olympia, was arrested yesterday and booked into the Lewis County Jail.

A judge this afternoon set his bail at $50,000.

Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello said Cook has a March 2009 conviction in Wyoming for second-degree sexual assault, victim under 12.

His arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 25.

News brief: Centralia bans campfires

Thursday, August 18th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The city of Centralia is also implementing a prohibition on outdoor recreational fires, because of the fire danger.

The Riverside Fire Authority Fire Marshal, in coordination with the chiefs for local fire districts, strongly urge residents and property owners to be attentive to the conditions of their properties through proactive fire prevention measures.

The restriction in the city begins at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, as does the same restriction in unincorporated Lewis County.

Still allowed however are liquid gas or propane camp stoves which have on/off controls and don’t utilize briquettes.

The change will remain in effect until rescinded by the city of Centralia.

For further information, contact Riverside Fire Authority at 36-330-9854.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Thursday, August 18th, 2016
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Updated 12:15 p.m.

THEFT, THEFT, THEFT

• Sometime yesterday between 6 a.m. and noon, someone kicked open a door to a shop at the 200 block of Jordan Road southwest of Chehalis and left with an industrial car dryer valued at $400, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• An individual called Chehalis police about 10:30 a.m. yesterday to report someone had stolen his fish cooler from the 400 block of Southwest 15th Street, which he found in some bushes nearby. Located with the cooler was a bicycle and a gas can, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning that someone came on to property at the 3600 block of state Route 508 in Cinebar sometime between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday and left with a battery charger and a towing cable.

AUTO THEFT

• Chehalis police were called about 3:40 a.m. today by an individual at the 900 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue who woke up and discovered his 1996 Honda Civic was missing. It was subsequently located abandoned a few blocks away, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Some kid’s clothing had been removed, according to police.

• Chehalis police called just after 9 a.m. yesterday about a car abandoned at the 700 block of Southwest Pacific Avenue discovered the 1996 Honda Accord had been reported stolen out of Centralia.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called about 6:45 a.m. today for a vehicle prowl at the 900 block of B Street. Taken was a fishing pole and battery charger, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about 7:50 p.m. yesterday for a vehicle prowl at the 700 block of Liberty Place in which a pair of specialty computers valued at $9,000 were stolen. The victim said the computers, which can only be used to run a power asphalt machine, were inside a black shock-proof case measuring three feet by three feet by one foot.

• An officer was called to the 2600 block of Cooks Hill Road in Centralia just before 2 p.m. yesterday following the discovery that engine wires were removed from a vehicle.

• A socket set and medication were among the items stolen in a vehicle prowl at the 500 block of South Market Boulevard in Chehalis, according to a report made to police about 1:40 p.m. yesterday.

• Chehalis police were called about 9:40 a.m. yesterday regarding a vehicle prowl at the park and ride at the 800 block of West Main Street, in which someone stole a post office box key and used it to remove whatever mail was in the box. The victim, from Pe Ell, discovered the car doors were locked, but the handles loose and the dome light was on, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Somebody messed with the ignition and stole keys and paperwork, according to police.

INDECENT

• A 33-year-old Olympia resident was arrested yesterday for indecent liberties in connection with a complaint made to Chehalis police on June 1. Rodney Cook was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, vandalism, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street, protection order violation, receipt of counterfeit bill … and more among 177 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Total burn ban goes into place tonight

Thursday, August 18th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Worsening dry season conditions have prompted a prohibition on all campfires in unincorporated Lewis County.

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With the arrival this week of the most dangerous fire weather of the year, the Lewis County Board of Commissioners and Lewis County fire marshal will expand the burn restrictions effective 12:01 tomorrow, according to Lee Napier, director of Lewis County Community Development.

Still allowed however are liquid gas or propane camp stoves which have on/off controls and don’t utilize briquettes.

For further information, Napier can be reached at 360-740-1146.

News brief: Small wildfires spring up in north Lewis County

Thursday, August 18th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Centralia’s firefighters battled two brush fires yesterday, the first on land in the far northwest corner of the county and the second along railroad tracks off Reynolds Avenue.

Crews were called just after 11 a.m. to a wildfire in the area of Garrard Creek Road and Coyote Crest, where they found about a half acre burning, consisting of grasses, berry vines and scrub alder trees, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

No homes were threatened, according to Fire Chief Mike Kytta.

They were joined by members of Grays Harbor County Fire District 1 and kept the flames from spreading, according to Kytta. The scene was turned over to personnel from the state Department of Natural Resources for mop up and investigation.

Just after 4 p.m., a fire broke out along the railroad tracks at the 1600 block of Reynolds Road, at the intersection with Blakeslee Junction, according to Firefighter Chris Layton.

They were assisted by the Chehalis Fire Department, Lewis County Fire District 6 and DNR.

The rail line was shut down for several hours while crews extinguished the flames, which covered an area approximately 600 feet long and 40 feet wide, according to Layton.

Just yesterday, the National Weather Service issued warnings that the combination of high temperatures, dry fuels and breezy weather is conducive to serious wildfire danger into the weekend.

This morning’s message from the weather services states that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur starting late tonight, and advise the public to monitor forecasts for possible red flag warnings.

Tomorrow’s high in Chehalis is forecast at 98 degrees. Randle residents can expect temperatures of 93 degrees today and 89 degrees tomorrow.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Wednesday, August 17th, 2016
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JAIL STASH CONFISCATED

• After syringes were found inside the Lewis County Jail yesterday, camera footage showed they fell out of the pant leg of a female inmate and a subsequent search turned up other contraband among the belongings of two women, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. All of the female inmates were removed from the unit, according to the sheriff’s office. Also located was brown tar heroin, methamphetamine and suspected tobacco, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said. A deputy responding about 8 p.m. arrested Andrea A. Parker, 34, of Chehalis; and Jade L. Gillaspie, 19, from Centralia; for possession of drugs by a prisoner, Brown said.

CHAIR VANISHES FROM PORCH

• Someone stole a red wooden rocking chair from a front porch on the 300 block of West Summa Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 9 o’clock yesterday morning.

AUTO THEFT

• A Nissan passenger car was reported stolen from the 1500 block of View Street in Centralia at about 6:40 a.m. today.  The vehicle was located several blocks away, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FAKE BILL

• A counterfeit 100 bill was passed at a retail store on the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia, according to  report made to police at about noon yesterday.

VANDALISM

• Centralia police were called to the 600 block of North Washington Avenue about 8:35 a.m. yesterday to take a report of a rock thrown through the window of a car.

KID ALONE IN CAR

• A 22-year-old Olympia resident was arrested about 10 a.m. yesterday for allegedly leaving a child unattended in a running vehicle at the the 200 block of Downing Road in Centralia. Sabrina N. Jaco was issued her citation and then released, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, drugs, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, hit and run, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more among 149 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.