Posts Tagged ‘By Sharyn L. Decker’

Column: Rain, rain, go away; and other stuff

Monday, October 25th, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The rain this weekend got me thinking about river levels.

Personally, I keep my eye on the Newaukum River, even though my neighbors tell me it’s never gotten so high as to cross the road where my house is.

A quick look this morning eased my mind, and reminded me I ought to share the web address to the National Weather Service’s river level observation and forecasts for Western Washington.

So I’ve added, under “Other useful web links” a new link called “River levels”

It has super good information. You can click on “Centralia-Mellon Street” for example and bring up a graph that shows you the Chehalis River at that spot has risen over the past two days to just over 51 feet and is expected to peak Tuesday afternoon at just under 54 feet.

But not to worry, since flood stage there is 65 feet.

It’s a great resource. You can of course see the same information about the Cowlitz River, the Skookumchuck River and more.

Right now, the only river showing near flood stage is the Skokomish northwest of here.

Another of my favorite places to check when mother nature starts getting squirrelly is the National Weather Service’s forecast office in Seattle.

Similarly is a map of Western Washington with colored areas for such things as winter storm warnings and flood advisories. Just click on your town and you can see a detailed seven-day forecast.

Today? Chehalis, rain. Morton, rain.

But also, in the east end, you’ll see a “winter storm warning” and see that very early this morning, the weather people posted an urgent message about the central and north Cascades seeing the first significant snowfall of the season.

So under “Other useful web links” on the right-hand column of Lewis County Sirens I’ve added “Weather forecasts”

Enjoy.

By the way, if my news stories have captivated you to the point you’ve never looked at the right-hand sidebar on this web site, take a looksie.

You can link to places to check who’s in the Lewis County Jail, the Thurston County Jail and even look up basic information about Superior Court cases.

You can jump to read local newspapers that surround Lewis County, plus a couple more.

If you have an idea about a web link you think would be useful, shoot me an email – sharyn.decker@lewiscountysirens.com

One more thing: my postings get stored under four basic categories; Top story of the day, Sharyn’s Sirens roundup, News briefs and Columns and commentary.

I rarely write anything like a column, but do publish occasional guest columns and commentary. If you have something to say that seems worthwhile and interesting for readers, let me know.

News brief: Benefit for Chehalis Police Department family brings in more than $2,000

Monday, October 25th, 2010
2010.1023.bagpipes.birley.gebhart_2

Firefighters Jay Birley, left and Rob Gebhart brought Vancouver Firefighters Pipes and Drums to the Eagles on Saturday night.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A huge crowd gathered Saturday night to support the Jeff and Angie Elder family and listen to Chehalis firefighters Jay Birley and Rob Gebhart play their bagpipes.

2010.1023.elder.keeton_2

Jeff and Keeton Elder

The fundraiser was held at the Chehalis Eagles to help the couple with medical expenses for their daughter, 9-year-old Keeton Elder who has an undiagnosed condition.

Donations came to more than $1,600, and then the Chehalis firefighters union added $100 and the Lewis County Corrections Officers Guild gave $500, according to Chehalis Police Department Officer Jeff Elder.

News brief: Oakville woman hurt in morning wreck

Sunday, October 24th, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

An 55-year-old woman was hospitalized after a single-vehicle collision this morning on U.S. Highway 12 four miles east of Oakville.

Ruby K. Grunenfelder of Oakville was traveling eastbound when her Honda CRV struck debris in the roadway and veered down an embankment hitting a tree, according to the Washington State Patrol. A trooper called just after 5 a.m. to the scene reported she was injured and taken by ambulance to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia.

Grunenfelder’s vehicle was described as totaled. The object in the road she hit was not specified.

News brief: Randle woman hospitalized after U.S. Highway 12 crash

Sunday, October 24th, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A Randle resident was injured in a two-car wreck on U.S. Highway 12 in Silver Creek yesterday, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Heather L. Barnes, 20, was transported to Morton General Hospital with back pain after the collision near Fischer Road, the state patrol reported.

A trooper called about 12:30 p.m. reported the Toyota Camry in which Barnes was a passenger was headed west but stopped to make a left turn when a westbound Toyota Rave4 struck the rear of the Camry.

The Camry was totaled and the Rave 4 sustained an estimated $5,000 damage, according to the investigating trooper.

The driver of the Camry, Connor F. Green, 19, of Onalaska, was reportedly uninjured as was the driver of the Rave, according to the patrol.

The driver of the Rave, Barbara A. Eastman, 61, of Silver Creek, was to be cited for failure to yield, according to the trooper.

News brief: Fire departments issue challenge to Bearcats, Tigers

Friday, October 22nd, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Firefighters are hoping to capitalize on the rivalry between high schools in Centralia and Chehalis during tonight’s big football game at Tiger stadium to raise money to send a child to camp with the Northwest Burn Foundation.

Members of the Chehalis Fire Department and Riverside Fire Authority will be on hand at Tiger stadium beginning at 5:30 p.m. when the gates open, according to a news release.

“Show your team spirit by donating to the boot of your choice,” the challenge reads. “Whichever team raises the most funds will get the honor of putting a pie in the face of the opposition.” The pie in the face is set to occur at the end of the third quarter.

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Friday, October 22nd, 2010

CHEVY CAN’T ROLL THAT WAY

• Somebody removed all four fancy tires and wheels from a Chevrolet Impala parked outside an auto shop on the 2100 block of North National Avenue in Chehalis, according to a report made to police yesterday morning.

MALL SHOPLIFTING

• Surveillance cameras captured a shoplifting incident at a business on the 1300 block of Lum Road in Centralia yesterday evening, according to the Centralia Police Department. Two females left before police arrived but the investigation is ongoing. Twice last week police were called to the Outlet Mall; once on Saturday to the Coach Outlet, a high-end handbag shop, when a purse valued at $200 was stolen and two days before that when a female stole a number of the expensive purses and fled in a white mini van.

PILLS IN POCKET LEAD TO ARREST

• A 25-year-old Rochester resident was arrested after a traffic stop in Chehalis yesterday when police found suspected prescription drugs in a container, but not in a pill bottle with his name on it, in his pocket, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Mathew R. Takacs was driving with a suspended license when he was pulled over about 1:30 p.m. on Northeast Kresky Avenue, according to police. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail for possession of a controlled substance.

VAN MISSES DEBRIS BUT HITS CONCRETE BARRIER

• Two passengers were injured when a van ran into the inside concrete barrier on Interstate 5 in Chehalis yesterday afternoon. A trooper called about 3:25 p.m. to the northbound lanes near Chamber of Commerce Way reported the driver was traveling too fast when swerved to avoid debris in the road and lost control of the vehicle. The damage to the 1991 Ford van was limited to about $1,000 and the driver, Jacob N. Petty, 22, of Rochester was reportedly uninjured according to the Washington State Patrol. Passenger Corey J. Hickman, 25, of Chehalis, was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital with an ankle injury, according to the state patrol. A 22-year-old passenger from Tumwater had minor injuries but declined to go the hospital, the state patrol reported.

News brief: New “Safety City” to be unveiled today

Friday, October 22nd, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Guided tours begin next week for grade school students through the newly renovated “Safety City.”

Kindergarten through third graders will learn about railroad crossings, pedestrian safety, school bus safety and more when they are escorted through a maze of miniature streets and buildings set up at Centralia’s former wastewater treatment plant on Mellen Street.

Seventeen-year-old Thayer Lund, a Centralia student, took on the remodel as his Eagle Scout leadership project, according to a flyer from Melody Nelson, traffic safety coordinator with Lewis County.

An open house to unveil the upgraded Safety City is being held from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. today.