News brief: Low interest loans available for January flood victims

February 3rd, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS –  Low-interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are available for those impacted by the flooding last month.

The SBA offers up to $200,000 for homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, according to the agency. Renters and homeowners both are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Also, businesses of any size and most non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

The SBA indicates in a news release that interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations, and 1.938 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

The SBA acted under its own authority to make the disaster declaration last week, following a request from Gov. Jay Inslee.

The SBA can also lend additional funds to homeowners and businesses to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future. Other kinds of loans can help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster, and are available regardless of whether a business suffered any property damage.

The declaration makes assistance available for those affected by severe storms, flooding and landslides from Jan. 3 to Jan. 6 in Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston counties.

Heavy precipitation and rising snow levels caused minor flooding on January 5 around Lewis County.

The deadline for most of the applications is March 30. The following are several places to get information:

• Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela

• A Disaster Loan Outreach Center was set to open yesterday in heavily impacted Aberdeen at Grays Harbor County District Court, 2109 Sumner Ave., where individuals can ask question and get help filling out applications.

• Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 1-800-659-2955 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call 1-800-877-8339. For more information about SBA’s disaster assistance programs, visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster

• Additional questions can answered by Lewis County Emergency Management at 360-740-1151.
•••

For background, read “News brief: Flood damage scattered and limited” from Friday January 9, 2015, here

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Numerous Centralia College athletes suspended after underage party

February 2nd, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Twenty-one Centralia College athletes are suspended for the season and seven others received lesser punishments for an off-campus alcohol and marijuana party that ended with a fight and numerous arrests for underage drinking.

Centralia police responded to a report of a large fight in front of a home on Earl Street about 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 24 and subsequently arrested 40 people between the ages of 18 and 20 for minor in possession and/or consumption of alcohol.

Police said several student athletes hosted the gathering for their peers; the hosts were under 21 and had been drinking. Two 17-year-old girls got in trouble for the same offense, according to the Centralia Police Department.

Centralia College Athletic Director Bob Peters said today the student athletes were disciplined based on their code of conduct and team rules.

The suspensions hit the men’s baseball team especially hard with 11 of them out for the season, according to Peters.

“If this had happened a month from now, that would have been half the team,” he said.

Typically this time of year, they still have 30 to 35 individuals in baseball, and haven’t yet finalized their roster, he said.

In a news release issued on Friday, the college noted its investigation revealed 28 of their athletes attended the party, representing five different athletic programs but not all consumed alcohol. One of the two individuals who got into the fight was a college athlete, according to the news release.

The coaches recommended the discipline and the college administration concurred.

The full season suspensions also included five from the women’s softball team, two from the women’s volleyball team, one from the women’s basketball team and two from the men’s basketball team, according to Peters.

Seven other athletes were given suspensions of at least one game and up to 10 games, according to the college.

Robert Cox, vice president of student services, indicated they take situations like this very seriously.

“We hope that during the time of the suspensions the athletes will move ahead with a renewed focus on academics, athletics, and most importantly positive citizenship,” Cox stated.

All 28 will be required to complete an alcohol assessment, participate in alcohol abatement education provided by the college and engage in 10 hours of community service, according to Peters. He said they will ask the other athletes in the programs to participate, but it won’t be mandatory.

College President Robert Frost called it an unfortunate incident and told his colleagues the students deserved praise for their honesty and for taking immediate responsibility.

Centralia police the night after the party arrested a 20-year-old Chehalis resident for second-degree assault in connection with the fight, alleging he punched the other male in the face several times, breaking his nose. The suspect was booked into the Lewis County Jail but released the following day with no charges filed.
•••

For background, read “Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup – COLLEGE PARTY ENDS WITH NUMEROUS ARRESTS from Sunday January 25, 2015, here

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Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

February 2nd, 2015

Updated at 3:10 p.m.

LOST AND FOUND ALERT

• Somebody lost a bunch of money at the Twin City Town Center and one honest citizen picked up what was left of it, according to the Chehalis Police Department. A 25-year-old Centralia woman called police about 2 p.m. yesterday to turn in cash that had been blowing around in the parking lot near Grocery Outlet at the 1300 block of Louisiana Avenue in Chehalis, according to police. She said she saw people picking up money and she was able to collect what remained, according to police. She also found an envelope in the lot marked with a dollar amount that it may have been in, Chehalis Police Department spokesperson Linda Bailey said. The difference in the amount she found and the number on the envelope is roughly $200, according to police. Bailey is hoping the owner can contact the office and describe the envelope and how much they lost so it can be returned.

BREAK-IN AT GAME STOP

• Chehalis police responded about 4:45 a.m. today to a burglary at the Game Stop store on the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue. Officers are investigating and don’t yet know exactly what is missing, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ASSAULT

• Centralia police took a report about 2:15 p.m. yesterday from the 1400 block of Lewis Street where an individual was struck with a metal bar, allegedly by an acquaintance who left before officers arrived. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Two men were arrested for disorderly conduct following a fight at a bar on the 500 block of North Market Boulevard in Chehalis on Saturday night. An officer responding to the 8:40 p.m. call witnessed one of them strike the other in the face repeatedly, and the men were separated, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Stafford P. Horner, 48, of Arlington, said Phillip N. Spruell, 72, of Chehalis, hit him first, according to police. Neither wanted to pursue assault charges so they were issued their citations and then released, according to police. Both appeared to be intoxicated, department spokesperson Linda Bailey said.

THREAT OF ASSAULT

• A 36-year-old Mossyrock man was arrested last night for allegedly threatening to cut his ex-wife’s throat, in a phone call. A deputy responding about 10:15 p.m. to Cinebar to talk to the woman listened to the suspect call her names as he phoned twice while the deputy as there and she put him on speaker phone, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.  When the deputy went to the man’s home, he could see through the window and hear the man on the phone, yelling and cussing at the woman, according to the sheriff’s office. Shane C. Goin was booked into the Lewis County Jail for harassment, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

• A 26-year-old man was arrested for harassment on Saturday after he allegedly threatened to use a computer monitor to break an employee’s nose at the drug and alcohol treatment center on the 500 block of Southeast Washington Avenue in Chehalis. Anthony Balay Magana, from Grandview, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

UNDER INVESTIGATION

• Chehalis police took a report on Saturday morning about alleged sexual misconduct. The matter is still under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

DRUGS AND THEFT

• A 30-year-old Winlock resident was arrested yesterday for allegedly stealing two boxes of personal checks from her boyfriend’s mother’s bedroom and using them on five occasions to obtain $690. Deputies investigating were able to get video images on Friday from the Cedar Village IGA store showing their suspect cashing a stolen check and on Saturday made a traffic stop of a vehicle in which she was a passenger, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Lucia D. Spross was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail on an outstanding warrant, as well as 60 counts of second-degree theft and the case was referred for other possible charges such as forgery and third-degree theft, according to the sheriff’s office. Chief Stacy Brown said Spross admitted also to a small baggie of suspected methamphetamine found in her purse.

AUTO THEFT

• A vehicle stolen from Longview turned up in Centralia yesterday, stripped and abandoned on the side of the road at the 200 block of Tilley Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Morton police called about 8:35 p.m. yesterday to the 600 block of Main Avenue ended up arresting 22-year-old Jacob E. Olson for second-degree vehicle prowl and trespass, according to the Morton Police Department. An individual said they’d seen Olson getting into a vehicle in the driveway, but he left, according to police.

DUI WRECK

• A 45-year-old Onalaska man was arrested for driving under the influence after a deputy responded about 7:15 p.m. yesterday to a single-vehicle collision into a ditch at the intersection of Middle Fork and Krueger roads in Onalaska. Roderick D. Johnson was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, probation violation, driving under the influence; responses for alarms, disputes, suicide attempt, suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor domestic assault, misdemeanor theft, collision on county road … and more.

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Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

February 1st, 2015

DRUGS

• A 40-year-old Centralia resident was arrested for possession of methamphetamine after contact with police about 8:20 p.m. yesterday at the 100 block of East Fourth Street. Jason D. Bush was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, trespass, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, an 18-year-old allowing a 14-year-old to drive a vehicle … and more.

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Ony fire department aiming for new building, doubling number of EMTs

February 1st, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Onalaska Fire Department wants members of the public to be able to ask questions about a new main fire station in the works on state Route 508 near Alexander Road.

The property across from Brenda’s Country Market has already been purchased, newly installed Fire Chief Andrew Martin said.

A special business meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, at the current main station, at 244 Carlisle Avenue, according to Martin.

“We’ll have the architect here and they can ask questions of him and the board,” Martin said.

The department serves more than 3,100 residents over an 82-square mile area in Lewis County Fire District 1.

The building on Carlisle Avenue is about 70 years old and has been through a fire, and when they looked at putting a new roof on, it appeared they would have to spend some $90,000, Martin said.

The department will be giving a presentation also on Tuesday at the Onalaska Alliance’s meeting, Martin said. But the board may take action at Thursday’s meeting, he said.

Martin, a volunteer chief who took over on Jan. 1, said the department has 24 volunteers, six of whom are also EMTs. Five more are currently in training to become EMTs, he said.

The district has a measure on the Feb. 10 ballot to continue its same EMS levy to support the program, he said.

Property owners have been paying 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for the past six years, and commissioners would like voters to agree to another six years at the same rate, according to Martin.

Money from the EMS levy covers supplies for three ambulances and purchased the third ambulance they placed at Station 1-3 at 3030 State Route 508 to ensure faster response time for occupants on the other side of the bridge, according to Martin. The levy also ensures that the residents who are critically ill receive advance life support care, he said.

Also on the ballot, Lewis County Fire District 2 in Toledo is asking voters to continue an EMS levy that would collect up to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for property owners.

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Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

January 31st, 2015

VANDALISM

• Centralia police took a report about 8:20 a.m. yesterday of graffiti spray painted onto a building at the 1000 block of Mellen Street.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for misdemeanor assault, misdemeanor  theft, collision on city street … and more.

FINN SAYS, ‘DON’T FUMBLE’

• Trooper Will Finn reminds football fans and others the state patrol will step up patrols this weekend, in an effort to eliminate DUI-related collisions. They will partner with county and city law enforcement agencies to remove impaired drivers from the roadways, in an effort to reach zero serious injury and all traffic fatalities by 2030, according to Finn. He advises people to be responsible, reminding it only takes a few minutes to make a plan that could prevent a tragedy with life-lasting impact. “Some good alternatives might be designating a sober driver, taking a taxi, calling a sober friend to drive or staying put until you are completely sober,” Finn states. The Washington State Insurance Commissioner joins the state patrol’s call to be extra careful tomorrow, citing some numbers from Nerd Wallet: The cost of a driving under the influence (DUI) ticket in Washington state ranges from $6,500 to more than $10,000, including fines, attorney’s fees, ignition interlock fees and insurance rate increases. Auto insurance may increase from $500 to $1,000 per year after a DUI conviction, according to Kreidler. Finn adds: It is important to remember, in Washington state, impaired driving is defined as:
• Driving while impaired by alcohol
• Driving under the influence of any drug, including marijuana
• Driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or above

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Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

January 30th, 2015

Updated at 2:03 p.m.

INDECENT EXPOSURE

• Centralia police are investigating an incident in which a man in Thorbekes pool exposed himself to children during an open swim yesterday, according to Sgt. Jim Shannon. Police were called just after 1 p.m. yesterday to the facility on the 2000 block of Borst Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Department. Shannon said four young people reported seeing it.

SNEAKY THIEF

• Chehalis police were called about 8 o’clock yesterday morning to the 200 block of Northwest State Street where prescription medication was stolen during the night. The victim said her apartment was unlocked, but she doesn’t know who would have taken it, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

MORE SNEAKY THIEVES

• Police were contacted yesterday after a Chehalis resident sold about $100 worth of Avon products to someone out of state but received a check for more than $1,000 and was requested to send back the difference via Western Union. It appears to be a scam, police said. They are still investigating.

• Chehalis police are investigating after an individual from another state said someone used their credit card information to order something and have it delivered to a Chehalis address.

AUTO THEFT

• Centralia police were called at 12:40 p.m. yesterday about a car stolen from the 200 block of West Hanson Street. The white 1992 Honda Accord has a license plate of AAP0636, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A deputy leaving an address on the 1800 block of Bishop Road in Chehalis yesterday morning after taking a report of a stolen truck came upon the 1997 Toyota pickup near Rush Road, parked in a turnout section. It’s owner said it was taken between 4 a.m. and 7:40 a.m., according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The truck was returned to its owner undamaged, but missing was a wallet with $500 inside, the sheriff’s office reports.

PROTECTION ORDER VIOLATION

• Jennifer L. Duncan, 61 of Chehalis, was arrested and booked yesterday for violating a Lewis County Superior Court protection-harassment order in connection with the 1900 block of Johnson Road in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called about 1:25 a.m. today to the 500 block of Jefferson Street in Centralia after a resident saw a strange male going through her belongings inside her vehicle. The individual fled without taking anything after being confronted by the victim, according to the Centralia Police Department.

OTHER THEFT

• Twice yesterday morning cell phones were reported stolen at the 800 block of Eshom Road in Centralia to Officer Wayne Compton, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, hit and run, misdemeanor theft, driving under the influence, minor in possession and/or consumption of alcohol; responses for alarm, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more.

Posted in Sharyn's sirens roundup | 6 Comments »

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