Posts Tagged ‘By Sharyn L. Decker’

Election: Bulk of ballots counted, but not all fire service issues certain

Wednesday, November 4th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The fire chief in Mossyrock says he’s on pins and needles watching the numbers coming from yesterday’s election.

It’s the second time Lewis County Fire District 3 has asked voters to approve a bond to build a new station. It failed narrowly in April, and now, the tally is still a bit shy of the 60 percent yes votes needed, according to Chief Doug Fosburg.

When the preliminary results were released last night in the all vote-by-mail election, 244 people had said yes, coming to 58.65 percent. Rejecting the measure were 172 people, or 41.35 percent.

The district ran the proposal again, thinking there would be a better turnout during a general election, Fosburg said.

Local voter turnout overall so far is just over 30 percent, according to the Lewis County Auditor’s Office elections department.

Officials indicate there are an estimated 3,000 ballots left to count from throughout Lewis County, and they will release the results of a second count this afternoon.

The Chehalis Fire Department won’t need to wait for today’s updated numbers as among the nearly 1,000 votes cast for their emergency medical services levy renewal, almost 82 percent of the people voted yes.

It, like other levies on the ballot need only a simple majority to pass.

Another measure with such a wide spread that it looks like a done deal, is the Napavine area fire department’s request for an increase in their fire services levy. Voting no on Newaukum Valley Fire and Rescue’s proposal are 65.58 percent.

Lewis County Fire District 11’s fire services levy is passing, with 65.57 of their Pe Ell area voters giving their approval.

A closer vote is Cowlitz-Lewis Fire District 20’s emergency medical services levy. Voters in the Vader area are supporting it so far with 54.72 percent yes votes.

Three fire districts in Lewis County have contested commissioner positions.

For Lewis County Fire District 15 in Winlock, candidate Jerry Craft got the vote from 64.96 percent of the people, compared with 30.04 percent casting their ballots for Stan Hankins.

For Lewis County Fire District 2 in Toledo, 64.38 percent voted for Mike Thomas, while 35.62 percent want Dale Nielsen.

The race in Lewis County Fire District 8, Salkum is somewhat closer. Candidate Rick Wood took 54.51 percent of the vote while Don Taylor has 45.49 percent.

The election won’t be final and certified until November 24.

Unrelated to the fire service, longtime Morton Police Chief Dan Mortensen who will retire at the end of this year, is running for mayor. The race is uncontested, and 132 votes have been cast for Mortensen.

Updated preliminary results can be found this afternoon at the Lewis County Auditor’s Office, Elections Department, here.
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For background, read “Election Day: Numerous fire departments and candidates seeking support” from Sunday November 1, 2015, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Wednesday, November 4th, 2015
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REPEATED BURGLARY CHEHALIS

• A 79-year-old Chehalis woman who has noticed items missing since August went ahead and called police yesterday to investigate. An officer responding to the 1200 block of Southwest 22nd Street learned that first it was beer, then in September it was a doll and then last month, a doll collection and painting supplies disappeared from her studio, according to the Chehalis Police Department. There are no suspects at this time, according to police.

THEFT OF FIREARMS

• A deputy was called yesterday about a break-in to a Chehalis area home along the 200 block of Rodgers Road in which a Ruger pistol was among the stolen items. An 84-year-old man reported that he and his wife returned from an Easter time vacation, they found footprints inside their house, but nothing seemed to have been disturbed and there was no sign anyone forced their way inside, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Also missing is a machete and a shovel, according to the sheriff’s office.

• A K-Mart shopper called police last night after finding his vehicle prowled. The victim said it was about 7 p.m. and he locked his doors, but when he came back out, the vehicle doors were unlocked, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Among the items missing is a 45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, according to police.

THEFT OF FOOD

• A 27-year-old man was arrested yesterday evening after allegedly walking out of a store without paying with a cart full of groceries. Police called about 7:15 p.m. yesterday to the 500 block of South Tower Avenue arrested Daniel J. Phillips, of Centralia, for third-degree theft and then released him, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, driving under the influence; responses for dispute, hit and run, vandalism, possible fraud, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor assault, elevator rescue, collision on city street, possible child abuse, teenager who won’t get out of bed and go to school … and more.

News brief: Baseball bat attack suspects still at large

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Nobody has been arrested following the weekend baseball bat beating of a 40-year-old man by a group of people in Centralia.

Centralia police detectives don’t even know how the victim is doing.

Detective Sgt. Pat Fitzgerald said the man was conscious and able to speak to an officer, but said he didn’t want to, when asked to give a taped statement.

Without the victim’s cooperation, detectives can’t get his medical information from the hospital, Fitzgerald said today.

Police were called at 3:36 a.m. on Sunday, not by the victim, but by a friend who said he just wanted him to get some medical help. The friend said the 40-year-old was attacked earlier at West Fourth Street and Washington Avenue, Fitzgerald said.

Officers and aid responded to that call, to the 200 block of North Ash Street. The victim, who has a Chehalis address, had been repeatedly struck in the head and body by as many as five individuals, according to police.

“He told the officer he’d been jumped, and it was in retaliation for something to do with his ex-girlfriend,” Fitzgerald said.

The person who phoned for help left the scene, he said. Detectives know the victim was transported by AMR to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia.

But without his cooperation, detectives don’t know much more, and there’s not much more they can do, the sergeant indicated.

“We know it was a group of people, he may have known some of them, he was not sure,” he said.
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For background, read “News brief: Violent Halloween night in Centralia puts one male in hospital” from Sunday November 1, 2015, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015
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HOME HEATING FIRE

• A mattress ignited when a Centralia resident noticed a paper bag too close to a wall heater, and went to remove it but dropped it on the bed yesterday evening. Firefighters called at 6:20 p.m. to the 1300 block of View Avenue found the occupants had extinguished the fire but both the mattress and box spring burned, according to Riverside Fire Authority. The mattresses were taken out of the house and and residual smoke was removed with a ventilation fan, according to the fire department. Capt. Erik Olson indicated nobody was hurt and there was no damage to the home.

CAMP HEATING FIRE

• Chehalis firefighters called about smoke seen off Interstate 5 late yesterday afternoon found two people had built a campfire, and helped them extinguish it. It was a guy and his mother, who are on a waiting list for a shelter, trying to stay warm, according to the fire department.

AUTO THEFT

• Centralia police yesterday afternoon recovered a stolen vehicle that reportedly had been in the Denny’s parking lot on the 1000 block of Harrison Avenue for several days. It was missing from Thurston County, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called yesterday afternoon after the discovery of a vehicle prowl in which a GPS device was stolen on Northeast Washington Avenue near Main Street. A passenger door was unlocked and the vehicle had not been driven for a couple of days, according to the Chehalis Police Department

• Among the items stolen in a car prowl discovered yesterday morning at the 600 block of Northeast Franklin Avenue in Chehalis was Halloween candy, the vehicle registration and its title, according to police. An officer responding to the approximately 9:45 a.m. call found someone had entered through the unlocked truck, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called to the parking lot at K-Mart just after 9 o’clock yesterday morning following the discovery of a car prowl in which a bank card, $1, a cigarette case and cigarettes were stolen. The vehicle had been there a couple of hours, and left unlocked, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Centralia police were called just after 6 p.m. yesterday to retrieve a backpack that had been left on someone else’s porch on the 400 block of South Pearl Street. Inside was about $1,000 worth of property that had gone missing the day before in a Chehalis car prowl, according to the Centralia Police Department. The valuables, including binoculars and a GPS device, were turned over to the Chehalis Police Department so they could be returned to their owner, according to police.

OTHER THEFT

• Chehalis police were called about 2:45 p.m. yesterday to take a report of a burglary from a storage unit at the 1900 block of Northeast Kresky Avenue. Further details were not yet available.

• An officer was called to W.F. West High School in Chehalis yesterday afternoon about the theft of a front license plate from a vehicle.

ASSAULT

• Police yesterday arrested a suspect from an incident last Friday in which he allegedly attempted to stab a companion with a sword over an argument about a marijuana transaction, at 1700 block of Harrison Avenue. James C. Tryon was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree assault, according to the Centralia Police Department. However, prosecutors declined to file the criminal charge and he is to be released.

• Officers was called to the 100 block of Main Avenue in Morton just before 2 a.m. on Sunday to a dispute outside with about 20 people. The fight dispersed before the officer arrived, but the officer stayed around until the remaining customers cleared the area, according to the Morton Police Department.

SEXUAL ASSAULT

• Chehalis police were called just after 12:30 p.m. yesterday to take a report of a possible sexual assault. A detective will be investigating, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VANDALISM

• An officer yesterday morning to the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia to take a report of the letters REXS were found spray painted on the side of a business.

HALLOWEEN SCARE

• Officers responded about 8:45 p.m. on Halloween to the 100 block of East State Street in Mossyrock to a report of a child finding a knife in her candy after trick-or-treating. It was determined that the child actually found an opened pocketknife inside the vehicle on the way home and not in the candy according to the Morton Police Department.

ON THE ROAD

• A 57-year-old Vancouver, Washington resident was arrested for driving under the influence following a two-car non-injury collision about 8:30 p.m. yesterday at Northwest West Street and Rhode Island Avenue in Chehalis. John T. Eggen  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, malicious mischief; responses for alarm, harassment, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street, ruckus at Wal-Mart, seemingly intoxicated person sleeping beneath the big black Yard Bird … and more.

Prosecutor: Daughter of dying Packwood man used debit card to steal thousands

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015
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By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 56-year-old woman has turned herself in to authorities, after allegedly admitting she stole nearly $3,000 from her dying father when she went on a four-day shopping spree with his debit card.

It began with a call to a dispute at a Packwood residence in the summer of 2003 and after a warrant was issued for her arrest, Nancy K. Copelin disappeared.

Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher said yesterday he finally recently found Copelin, living in Alaska.

Meager got a governor’s warrant for her extradition but Copelin contacted him before it was served.

“I told her if she got right down here, I’d put a hold on it,” Meagher said.

The former Packwood woman flew down last week, and appeared before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court on Tuesday to hear her charge of first-degree theft. Meagher allowed her to be released on an unsecured bond pending trial, as her plane ticket to return home the next day was already paid for, he said.

According to the nearly 12-year-old charging documents, two deputies were called to the 100 block of Holiday Lane in Packwood on June 5, 2003, regarding a assault.

The documents offer the following account: There had been a dispute over the ownership of a van belonging to Thomas Barnes who lived there.

“Mr. Barnes was in the process of dying, and the issue of who would receive his van had come up,” then-Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Michael Maltby wrote.

One of the parties was asked by his grandmother to move the vehicle, to take it out of the possession of Barnes’ daughter, Copelin.

In the process, her purse was retrieved, it fell to the ground and among the items that tumbled out were wads of cash and receipts.

There was $1,020 in $20 bills. There were also five receipts from Sears, Wal-Mart and an un-named business for the purchase of numerous items, totaling $1,787.44.

Copelin, then 43, was asked about the receipts and stated they were because her father had provided her with his ATM card and pin number, and told her she could go out and get whatever she needed.

When deputies spoke with Copelin a second time, she reflected her dad did not intend for her to make withdrawals from his savings account, and did not intend for her to buy most of the items that she had.

Meagher said the Alaska woman has been cooperative.

Her arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 3.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, November 2nd, 2015
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Updated at 7:13 p.m.

POLICE: SOLDIER ARRESTED AFTER BARGING INTO CENTRALIA HOME

• A 22-year-old active duty soldier from Joint Base Lewis-McChord was arrested early yesterday morning after allegedly breaking down the front door of a Centralia home and assaulting a man inside and prompting several females and children to hide inside a bedroom. Officers called about 1:15 a.m. to the 700 block of H Street arrived and subdued the suspect inside the apartment, according to the Centralia Police Department. Bryce C. Gregory was booked into the Lewis County Jail for for first-degree burglary and charged today with the same offense in Lewis County Superior Court. According to court documents, the resident and Gregory had been arguing outside the apartment and the resident went inside and closed the door. The resident, Russell Charnell, told officers Gregory smashed his way through the glass front door and attacked him, including biting him on the hand and then tried to beat down the bedroom door after Charnell retreated there. Some small furniture was broken during their fight, according to court documents. Bail for Gregory, who has no criminal history, was set at $25,000. The judge was told this afternoon Gregory lives on the base and because he earns only about $800 per month, he qualified for a court-appointed lawyer.

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

• A Chehalis area woman called 911 after she began to respond to a faint knock on her front door and was confronted by a stranger who opened the door up and walked inside. The 54-year-old resident on the 1000 block of Logan Hill Road pushed the woman outside, and told her she didn’t belong there, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The intruder said she’d been dropped off by a taxi and left, according to the sheriff’s office. A 35-year-old homeless woman subsequently located in the area by a deputy said she’d just been released from jail and was trying to get to the DOC office to check in, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said. It happened about 12:45 p.m. on Friday, according to Brown. Julie A. Jordan was arrested for a drug violation when residue on needles and a pipe she had tested positive for amphetamine, Brown said. The case is also being referred for a charge of first-degree trespass, Brown said. Jordan was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

• A 26-year-old Centralia area man was arrested after law enforcement went to his home on the 900 block of West Roanoke Street in Centralia on Friday and were told by the mother of his child he had freaked out when she told him he would have to stop using drugs to be around the baby. Robert E. Chandler had allegedly begun breaking things, punched a hole in a wall, broke a picture frame and pushed her up the stairs. When he was arrested, residue was found in a baggie in his shorts’ pocket, according to charging documents. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail and charged today with possession of methamphetamine, fourth-degree assault and third-degree malicious mischief. The judge allowed Chandler to be released from jail on a $10,000 unsecured bond but said he may have no contact with the victim and their 18-day-old infant. He plans to retain his own lawyer and relocate to Toledo, the judge was told.

• A 15-year-old Chehalis boy was arrested for allegedly consuming alcohol after an officer checked on a possible party with underage drinking near Quincy Avenue and West Street about 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. The boy was turned over to parents and the case is to be submitted to juvenile prosecutors, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

STEALING FROM THE DEAD

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning they arrested a 48-year-old man who allegedly made seven withdrawals using his recently deceased mother’s debit card, in the amount of $719. The 73-year-old woman passed away on Oct. 9, family reported the activity on Oct. 16 and a deputy contacted the son on Thursday,  according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Steven S. Knittle was arrested for unlawful factoring transactions of debit cards and booked into the Lewis County Jail, on a date unspecified by the sheriff’s office. The unemployed man was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court of only four counts and his bail was set at $10,000.

OTHER THEFT

• Deputies over the weekend arrested a 30-year-old man for his alleged involvement in a residential burglary last December on the 400 block of Coal Creek Road outside Chehalis in which a safe, two guns and other valuables were stolen. Wesley L. Davis was picked up on Friday at his home in Longview and booked in to the Lewis County Jail on Saturday. When he was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with one count of residential burglary, defense attorney Joely O’Rourke said Davis is from Tenino and that it appeared the only information in charging documents linking him to the crime was testimony from someone incarcerated in another jail for several felonies. Bail for the unemployed father of three was set at $10,000.

• Centralia police were called to the 1300 block of West Main Street about 11:35 a.m. yesterday regarding the theft of tools and other materials. The victim has a possible suspect in mind, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called to the 500 block of West Main Street in Chehalis on Friday afternoon about a possible theft. The case is under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• An officer was called about 12:45 p.m. yesterday to the 500 block of South Washington Avenue in Centralia where someone had stolen a bicycle from an open garage. The bike was described as a blue fat tires bicycle with hubs that contain electric motors, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called to the area of Southwest 15th Street and Mills Avenue in Chehalis about 9:50 p.m. on Saturday when an individual confronted two males who appeared to be stealing mail from mailboxes. The suspects fled and numerous mailboxes were found open, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• An officer was called about 10:40 a.m. yesterday to the 500 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue in Chehalis about an overnight vehicle prowl. Binoculars and a GPS device were stolen, and the lock appeared to be have been tampered with, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Change and paperwork were among the items missing when a car prowl was discovered about 7:40 p.m. yesterday in the parking lot at Wal-Mart. An officer responding to the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue noted the door had been left unlocked, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

UNCOOPERATIVENESS

• A deputy was forced to use his Taser on a patient inside Morton General Hospital who was getting released and was being picked up for a warrant early yesterday morning, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The 30-year-old Morton man reportedly got behind his hospital bed, crying and yelling he would not got to jail, according to the sheriff’s office. When he approached the deputy and pushed at the deputy, he was tased, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said. Brett E. Sapp was subsequently arrested for resisting arrest and booked for that as well as his warrant, Brown said

• A 30-year-old man who allegedly gave his father’s name and his brother’s birthdate when identifying himself to a deputy yesterday morning was arrested for making a false statement. A deputy had responded about 9 a.m. to the 2600 block of Sawall Avenue in Centralia regarding an argument between a landlord and tenants, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. When the deputy located one of the tenants, allegedly driving with a  suspended license, he made contact with the passenger who turned out to be Eivind Bakkie, according to the sheriff’s office. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail as was the driver, Brittney L. Reierson, 31, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

YARD PROWLER

• Police were called about 8:50 a.m. on Saturday to the 1100 block of Southeast Evergreen Drive in Chehalis where a resident said items were moved around in their yard, their chickens were loose and items not their were left behind.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called about 6:35 p.m. on Saturday about graffiti spray painted onto a  plywood sign at the 1600 block of North National Avenue.

• An officer was called on Saturday morning to the 1400 block of Windsor Avenue in Centralia to take a report of a work truck getting spray painted.

• Someone spray painted a business at the 1100 block of Johnson Road in Centralia during the night, according to a report made to police on Saturday morning.

• A Chehalis officer took a report of a sign tagged with spray paint in front of an apartment building on Northeast Washington Avenue near Market Boulevard on Friday morning.

ON THE ROAD

• A 58-year-old driver was arrested for driving under the influence after allegedly causing a two-vehicle accident at Reynolds Avenue and North Pearl Street in Centralia on Saturday evening. Nobody was injured, but Raphael F. Scarbury, of Centralia, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 24-year-old driver was arrested for driving under the influence after his vehicle left the roadway and struck a utility pole on Saturday night at Main and Yew streets in Centralia. An officer responding about 11:55  p.m.  booked Brandon D. Dolman, Centralia,  into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, hit and run, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, allowing an unauthorized person to drive; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, suicide threat, misdemeanor theft, receipt of counterfeit bill, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street, collision on county road … and more.

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CORRECTION: The item on the incident on Logan Hill Road has been updated to correct the location at which it took place.

Election Day: Numerous fire departments and candidates seeking support

Sunday, November 1st, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Election day is near, with initiatives, local measures and races for municipal councils, school boards and, commissioners who govern local fire districts.

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Five fire departments in Lewis County are asking voters to support them in various ways. Three districts have contested commissioner positions.

Ballots must be postmarked on or by Tuesday or hand delivered before 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Check with the Lewis County Auditor’s Office, Elections Department for information, at 351 NW North Street in Chehalis or 360-740-1164 and 360-740-1278.

BONDS FOR NEW FIRE STATION

Lewis County Fire District 3, Mossyrock:
Commissioners are asking the public to approve up to $1.2 million in general obligation bonds to finance the construction and equipping of a new fire station on property already acquired at 238 Mossyrock Road East.

INCREASE FIRE SERVICES LEVY

Lewis County Fire District 5, Napavine:
Commissioners are asking citizens to permanently increase property tax levy from .83 per $1,000 of assessed value up to $1.25 to pay for maintenance, operations and capital facilities, and set the limit factor at 103 percent for each of the following five years.

FIRE SERVICES LEVY

Lewis County Fire District 11, Pe Ell:
Commissioners are asking citizens to permanently increase property tax levy to an amount of $1 per $1,000 of assessed value for maintenance, operations and capital facilities, and set the limit factor at 106 percent for each of the following five years.

EMS LEVY

Cowlitz-Lewis Fire District 20, Vader:
Commissioners asking the public to permanently increase property tax levy for emergency medical services up to.50 per $1,000 of assessed value, and set the limit factor at 106 percent for each of the following five years.

RENEW EMS LEVY

Chehalis Fire Department
The city is asking voters to renew an expiring levy for emergency medical services, of up to .50 per $1,000 of assessed property value for the next six years.

CONTESTED RACES FOR COMMISSIONER POSITIONS

Lewis County Fire District 2, Toledo:
Commissioner position No. 1
• Mike Thomas
• Dale Nielsen

Lewis County Fire District 8, Salkum:
Commissioner position No. 1
• Don Taylor
• Rick Wood

Lewis County Fire District 15, Winlock
Commissioner position No. 1
• Stan Hankins
• Jerry Craft

• See a sample ballot for details

• Read more details in the online Voters’ Guide

• On Tuesday shortly after 8 p.m, see the preliminary results from the Lewis County Auditor’s Office, Elections Department.