By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The Olympian reports a Littlerock area boy was sentenced to at least three and half years for fatally shooting his sleeping father last year.
News reporter Jeremy Pawloski writes the plea deal stems from the October 2011 death of Jimmie Asher Jr. at his home on the 10900 block of Delphi Road.
Read about it here
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Fire crews completed a 150-acre “burnout” along Forest Service Road 2115 in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest south of Packwood yesterday and continued battling the forest fire today.
The burnout creates a line between the fire and Packwood which is about 10 miles to the north and also is meant keep it from reaching Johnson Creek, according to the officials.
Gifford Pinchot National Forest spokesperson Ken Sandusky said in a news release this afternoon that two hand crews would be on the ground to ensure the edge remains secure.
A helitanker – a combination heavy helicopter and water tanker – has been dropping water on the fire, concentrating on the north flank, according to Sandusky.
The blaze, including the intentional burn, covers about 450 acres now, Sandusky stated. It began on a ridge called South Point in early September.
If all goes well, Forest Service Road 21 will open tomorrow, the Forest Service says.
Campfire closures remain in place in the Gifford Pinchot.
For updates and other information, go to Gifford Pinchot National Forest: Wildfire information, here
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The Seattle Times published a story today that says a new study indicates almost a quarter million people have been arrested for marijuana possession over the past 25 years in Washington State.
Associated Press writer Gene Johnson says the report released today is based on data from the FBI.
Read about it here
Seattle Times reporter Jonathan Martin looked in more detail and reported arrests are estimated to have cost at least $300 million.
Read Martin’s story here
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The (Everett) Herald published a story today about how exceptionally cheaper and extraordinarily more potent methamphetamine is being smuggled into U.S. markets from Mexico compared with five years ago.
And lots more of it.
Read the Associated Press news story about the changes that come in part with a new recipe that tuns out a clearer, glassier product.
The Associated Press writer quotes a DEA agent as calling the manufacturers “marketing geniuses” who are expanding their customer base by getting more people hooked.
Read about it here
BULLYING AT THE PLAYGROUND
• Chehalis police called to Penny Playground yesterday afternoon by an individual who said three teenage girls were screaming and yelling at another girl for more than 30 minutes arrested the trio for disorderly conduct. The 15-year-old target of their discontent told an officer one of them had been bullying her for almost a year, according to the Chehalis Police Department. A 15-year-old and a pair of 14-year-olds, from Chehalis and Centralia, were cited and then released at the scene, Officer Linda Bailey said.
FULL MOON OVER CHEHALIS
• In the 12 hours that began about 4:30 p.m. yesterday, police in Chehalis were called to eight more incidents of people yelling, arguing or otherwise flipping out around town, including to the 400 block of North Market Boulevard in which the caller said a couple in the apartment above were throwing things at each other and a box of goldfish crackers came down at the caller from a window. None resulted in any arrests.
TAVERN TROUBLES
• When police responded to a complaint of assault at a Centralia bar around closing time last night, a 25-year-old man who allegedly kept shoving his phone in the officers’ faces was arrested for obstruction. Police Sgt. Kurt Reichert said the man was told it was fine to take video but he needed to step back and refused to do so. Patrick D. Eastman was cited for interfering and then released, according to the Centralia Police Department. It happened on the 200 block of North Tower Avenue. Officers completed a report from a patron who said when an employee tried to take his drink away, the glass bumped him in the mouth. The matter is being passed along to the city attorney for evaluation of any possible charge, according to Reichert.
JEWELRY BOX GRABBED THROUGH WINDOW
• A 29-year-old Onalaska man was arrested for burglary after someone reported they saw him open a bedroom window, reach in and steal a jewelry box from a nightstand at the 200 block of Allison Road in Ethel. A deputy called at 10 a.m. yesterday to the home of his ex-girlfriend also noted a violation of a protection order, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Jonathan I. Shipp was located later elsewhere and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.
BURGLARY IN SILVER CREEK
• A deputy took a report yesterday evening from the 2900 block of U.S. Highway 12 in Silver Creek about a burglary to a trailer belonging to a 67-year-old woman who is locked up in jail. It apparently occurred sometime between Oct. 6 and Wednesday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MISSING
• A child’s clarinet was stolen at school, according to a report made to Centralia police yesterday morning from the 200 block of East Oakview Avenue.
CAR PROWL
• A stereo was reported stolen out of a vehicle on the 500 block of South Ash Street in Centralia yesterday. It apparently occurred overnight, according to the Centralia Police Department.
• Chehalis police were called just after 1 p.m. yesterday about a vehicle prowl on Northeast Kresky Avenue.
• Police were called yesterday morning about windows being found broken out of a vehicle at the 1400 block of Delaware Avenue in Centralia.
SUSPECTED DRUGS INSIDE JAIL, INMATE
• A 27-year-old inmate was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital for an “in-depth search and observation” after she allegedly introduced contraband into the jail. A deputy was informed yesterday morning that Jobie K. Watson was in a holding cell when a corrections officer heard a metal tin drop onto the floor, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The officer entered and found half a tin, two pills and other unspecified personal items, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. The hospital reported finding nothing, Brown said. The partially dissolved tablets are being sent in for analysis, according to Brown. Watson had been booked the night before for possession of methamphetamine.
METH ARREST
• A 28-year-old Randle man was arrested for possession of methamphetamine when deputies were called to assist a Department of Corrections officer yesterday morning and an incident of an alleged violation of a protection order at the 300 block of Kiona Road in Randle. Eldon J. Purdy was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
WRECK
• A 17-year-old Centralia girl was taken to the hospital with leg pain after she lost control of her vehicle and rolled it onto its top yesterday morning on the 200 block of Brim Road in Onalaska. A deputy called to the scene about 7:45 a.m. cited her for speeds too fast, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
An audit issued for the Onalaska area fire department found the department violated parts of the state law requiring competitively bidding projects and purchases.
An elected three-member board governs Lewis County Fire District 1 and it has one part-time employee. The Washington State Auditor’s Office noted the district had several staffing changes during the audit period – the four years ending on Dec. 31, 2011 – and couldn’t locate documentation to support some of the transactions.
Specifically, they obtained quotes for fire gear and a vehicle totaling $80,867 but should have formally bid the purchases, according to report issued on Monday. The district did not retain records to support why it didn’t choose the lowest bidder on one of the purchases, the report states.
Also, it used another fire district’s bid to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus, but didn’t have a formal agreement with that district allowing the use of the bid, according to the report.
Also, while the district used Lewis County’s so-called small works roster for construction of a new fire station, it hadn’t formally adopted the use of the roster as required, the report states.
The auditor notes the effects of the conditions are the district limited competition for the new fire station and its purchases, and cannot demonstrate it adequately safeguarded resources by getting the best price and / or bidder.
The auditor recommended the fire district ensure its staff get adequate training and understand the importance of compliance with bid laws
The fire district’s response to the auditor was its board will formally adopt the use of the small works roster process; it will review the law and follow required procedures in the future; and it did get multiple quotes to find the best price while staying with like equipment, the report notes.
District one changed fire chiefs and its secretary, as well as had six different commissioners serving during the audit period.
There were no shortcomings identified in other areas examined, such as payroll, general revenue, financial condition and open public meetings act. Nor have any findings been made in the previous three audits.
The fire district, with approximately 30 volunteers, operated on an annual budget of $400,000 which comes from property taxes and an EMS levy, according to audit.
Updated at 12:26 p.m.
WOMAN ACCOSTED ON CENTRALIA STREET
• Centralia police were called about 3:20 p.m. yesterday to the 1200 block of Mellen Street after a homeless man allegedly attempted to steal a cell phone from a pedestrian. “The guy approaches her, talks to her, reaches in a grabs her cell phone from her pocket,” Sgt. Kurt Reichert said. She screamed, he was arrested, according to Reichert. Andre Smith, 34, from the Los Angles area, had blocked the 27-year-old woman and asked where she’d been all his life, according to Reichert. The sergeant indicated he had the impression Smith was less than stable. Smith was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree robbery.
SCRAP STOLEN
• An officer took a report about 5 p.m. yesterday from an auto repair business on the 1600 block of South Gold Street in Centralia of stolen scrap metal. The loss as estimated at almost $1,700, according to the Centralia Police Department.
PROPANE TANK KEY LIFTED FROM SERVICE STATION
• Centralia police were called to a gas station on the 1000 block of Ellsbury Street about 9:20 p.m. yesterday when a key mysteriously vanished along with a pair of males men who had asked for change. When the clerk returned with the change, the key for the propane filling station was missing and the customers were gone, according to police. Jeremy D. Jackson, a 30-year-old homeless man, was subsequently identified and arrested for third-degree theft, according to Sgt. Kurt Reichert. A police dog found the discarded key in some weeds nearby, Reichert said.
DRUGS MISSING
• Police were called about 9 p.m. yesterday to a home on the 1400 block of Johnson Road in Centralia where a woman said someone came into her unlocked residence and stole a bottle of medication.
CAR PROWL
• A wallet and money were among the items taken in a vehicle prowl on the 300 block of South Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police yesterday at around 11:15 a.m. Some 45 minutes later, another car prowl was reported in the same area, according to the Centralia Police Department.
DRUGS FOUND
• A package containing suspected drugs which was left behind on a motel room on the 1300 block of Belmont Avenue in Centralia is being sent to a lab for finger printing, according to the Centralia Police Department.
• A 27-year-old Centralia woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamine at the 1300 block of Lakeshore Drive in Centralia last night. Jobie K. Watson was booked into the Lewis County Jail after contact with an officer shortly after 11:30 p.m., according to the Centralia Police Department. She is to be released with no charges pending further investigation.
DOG POOP CALL
• Chehalis police were called about 4 p.m. yesterday when someone phoned 911 to say two men let their dog poop right in front of Security State Bank on Northwest Louisiana Avenue, although they did clean it up. No arrests were made.
HUMONGOUS BRUSH PILE FIRE
• A giant pile of timber and brush that ignited near Rochester was contained overnight but is expected to burn for days, according to fire officials. Firefighters were called about 9 p.m. yesterday to the acreage near Interstate 5 at the 16500 block of Case Road, according to West Thurston Regional Fire Authority. An assistant chief from one of the seven fire departments which joined them said it was described to him as 300,000 cubic feet of material harvested from along the freeway. Spokesperson Lanette Dyer indicated it covered two to three acres.
Courtesy photo by West Thurston Regional Fire Authority
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