Posts Tagged ‘By Sharyn L. Decker’

Chehalis resident killed when tree falling task goes wrong

Tuesday, July 18th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 63-year-old Chehalis area man is dead after an accident during a tree clearing operation west of Napavine yesterday morning.

Multiple firefighters, EMTs and medics responded to the call just before 9 a.m. to residential property on the 800 block of Pleasant Valley Road.

The now-deceased man and his 68-year-old brother had been using a tree processor when a tree fell in an unexpected trajectory, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

“The victim tried to outrun the falling tree but was unable to do so,” sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said this morning.

The older brother said he cleared away the tree debris and began CPR which he continued until aid arrived, Breen said. The younger brother sustained severe injuries to his head and chest, Breen said.

Breen said both men are experienced loggers, but were doing the work on their own property.

The sheriff’s office is conducting a death investigation.

Lincoln Creek Road: One airlifted after car, motorcycle wreck

Tuesday, July 18th, 2017

Updated at 12:18 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – One person was critically injured when a car and motorcycle collided yesterday evening west of Centralia.

Firefighters called about 6 p.m. to the 600 block of Lincoln Creek Road report the male patient was transported by medical helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

The Washington State Patrol and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office responded as well, according to Fire Capt. Casey McCarthy.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said a 16-year-old Rochester girl was eastbound in a 2003 BMW 530 and began to make a left turn into a driveway when the westbound motorcycle hit her car, flipping its driver over the vehicle.

The 26-year-old Centralia man sustained major injuries to his head area leaving him unconscious, Breen said.

He was driving a 2002 Honda XL400. Her car had major front-end damage, according to the sheriff’s office.

As of 8 p.m., both lanes remained closed for the investigation, according to McCarthy.

Breen said this morning no criminal charges or citations have been issued at this point as the collision is still under investigation.

‘Cereal burglar’ captured, hog tied for law enforcement in East Lewis County

Monday, July 17th, 2017
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Intruder detained by Glenoma family. / Courtesy photo by Gharrett Lamping

Updated

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Here’s just one reason to lock your doors at night.

A 29-year-old Glenoma man found a stranger in his house helping himself to breakfast at the crack of dawn today.

Lewis County sheriff’s deputies called at 5:20 a.m. to the 100 block of Glenoma Road were told a resident found the man standing in his kitchen.

“Basically, the suspect goes into the residence … and apparently pours himself some cereal, puts some milk in it and is eating it,” Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said.

The uninvited guest fled, but the 29-year-old and his father-in-law apprehended him about 500 feet away along the road and ordered him to the ground at gun point, according to Breen.

They remained with him until deputies arrived. “They did have him tied up,” Breen said.

Jerald L. Couch, 52, was arrested for residential burglary and booked into the Lewis County Jail.

Breen said the suspect talked about being out in the woods, using a new kind of drug and said he’d been in Florida a few hours earlier. He’s is listed as transient, out of Tampa, Florida.

The doors to the home had been unlocked, according to Breen.

News brief: Fire danger leads to burning restrictions

Monday, July 17th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Make sure you’re finished with any outdoor brush pile burning when the clock strikes midnight tonight.

Restrictions will go into place for outdoor burning in unincorporated Lewis County because of potential fire danger beginning at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow.

The Lewis County fire marshal, Lewis County Community Development director and Board of (Lewis) County Commissioners made the decision after careful review of the current and extended weather forecast

Lewis County Community Development Director Lee Napier indicates in a press release today that conditions have created substantial fire dangers.

The action means any current open burning permit expires at midnight, according to Napier.

Still allowed however are recreational campfires in designated campgrounds or in fire pits on private property that meet specific criteria.

The county’s restrictions will remain in effect until lifted by the Board of County Commissioners.

For further information concerning outdoor burning, Fire Marshal Doyle Sanford can be reached at 360-740-2696. The fire marshal’s office is in the Lewis County Public Services building, located at 2025 NE Kresky Avenue in Chehalis.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, July 17th, 2017
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•••

Updated at 3:34 p.m.

STRANGER INSIDE HOUSE

• Deputies were called about 5:45 a.m. yesterday to the 1100 block of North Fork Road east of Chehalis where a resident alerted by the family dog found a 45-year-old man standing in his living room, yelling, cussing and demanding keys to their vehicle, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The resident tried to talk with him and calm him down and deputies arriving 10 minutes later arrested Stephen D. Cobb for residential burglary and attempted motor vehicle theft, according to the sheriff’s office. During the ordeal, Cobb had thrown a can of chewing tobacco outside, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said. The Onalaska man was booked into the Lewis County Jail, Breen said. Prosecutors evaluated the case for non-felony charges.

FACE INJURED

• Chehalis police were called to the 500 block of Northwest Pacific Avenue about 10 p.m. on Saturday for an assault in which a man was struck and left with facial injuries. The incident is under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ROCK THROWING

• The rock was somewhere between the size of a large jaw breaker and a baseball and a 60-year-old Ethel man who allegedly threw it at his nephew, operating a tractor, striking him in the back, was arrested on Saturday afternoon for third-degree assault, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies called about 1:25 p.m. to the 100 block of Tucker Road booked Jerry L. Larson into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

THEFT CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called about 12:25 a.m. today regarding plants, dishes and cash stolen from a house at the 1500 block of Grand Avenue during the past several days.

• Kimberly R. Terrell, 40 of Chehalis, was arrested and booked for second-degree burglary and an outstanding warrant in an approximately 2 p.m. case yesterday associated with the 100 block of South King Street in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called to the 1000 block of F Street in Centralia about 4:14 p.m. on Friday where an individual reported the theft of money from her bank account. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AUTO THEFT

• A 2007 Kia Rio was reported stolen about 1:25 p.m. yesterday but was recovered later that night in a case associated with the 500 block of South Pearl Street, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 11:05 .m. on Saturday to take a report a gray 1990 Honda Accord had been stolen during the night from the 1100 block of South Pearl Street. It has a license plate reading BFD 5466, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called just before 8 a.m. yesterday about two vehicles prowled during the night at the 100 block of Southwest Fourth Street in which as much as $4,700 of valuables were removed. Among the stolen goods were a stereo, a Kerwood CD player, Milwaukee impact drill and hacksaw, an 8-inch SoundQubed subwoofer, a Rigid cube light package, a Hise light package, two 20-inch Auxbeam LED light bars and a 50-inch Rigid LED light bar, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called just before 6 p.m. on Friday to the parking lot at Wal-Mart after a woman spotted someone reach into her purse she had set in her car while she returned a shopping cart. Two hundred dollars was taken but witnesses got a license plate for a suspect who was subsequently located at the 700 block of South Market Boulevard, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Brandon S. Salice, 33, of Winlock, was for third-degree theft, according to police.

• Centralia police were called about 12:10 p.m. on Friday to take a report that approximately $150 worth of fuel had been stolen from two vehicles that were parked in the area of Grand and Kresky avenues.

• The Morton Police Department reported today they have no suspects in a vehicle prowl reported at 1:36 p.m. last Wednesday at the 200 block of Seventh Street. A backpack and some medications were stolen, according to police.

BRUSH FIRE

• A tree on a power line ignited a brush fire at the 700 block of Silverbrook Road in Randle on Saturday, spreading to about one and a half acres on a steep slope, according to Lewis County Fire District 14.

BATHROOM FIRES

• The Morton Police Department reported today they were informed last week there have been several attempts of someone starting fires in the women’s restroom at Gust Backstrom Park. The case is pending further information, according to police.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 62-year-old Toledo man was arrested for driving under the influence following a two-vehicle collision with minor damage at Antrim and North Military roads in Winlock. Deputies called to the scene about 2 p.m. yesterday found the suspect vehicle at the 700 block of North Military roads and booked Harold E. Reynolds into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• Firefighters called about 5:45 p.m. on Saturday when a pickup truck began to smoke and stopped in the roadway off Wallace Road in Chehalis found the vehicle fully involved in flames and extinguished it, according to Lewis County Fire District 6. The truck was a total loss, Firefighter-EMT Mike Goodwillie said.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, obstructing, third-degree theft, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, protection order violation; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, trespassing, misdemeanor theft, disorderly person, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances, barking neighbor dog … and more among 509 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 72-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Chehalis steam train strikes Curtis man’s pickup

Sunday, July 16th, 2017
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Bystanders and pickup truck through window of steam train / Courtesy photo by Maria Castaneda

Updated 5:54 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – An 82-year-old motorist was injured when his pickup truck collided with the steam train in Adna yesterday evening.

The Washington State Patrol reports that Jeremy W. Mullins was traveling eastbound on state Route 6 and didn’t see warning lights that a train was approaching. The train struck the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, according to the state patrol.

Troopers and medics called to the scene near Twin Oaks Road about 6:40 p.m. found the truck totaled, according to the investigating trooper.

Members of the Chehalis Fire Department arrived first, as Lewis County Fire District 6 was just clearing a vehicle fire. They were joined by personnel from Lewis County Fire District 5.

Chehalis Fire Capt. Casey Beck said the patient was conscious and alert.

“His legs were pinned, not crushed, but we had to use the Jaws to relieve pressure and then pop the door open,” Beck said.

Mullins, from Curtis, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital. He was treated and then transferred, according to hospital spokesperson Chris Thomas.

Beck said there were as many as 70 people on the train, none were hurt and some said they didn’t even feel the collision. The train was traveling about 12 mph, he said.

Both Beck and District 6’s Firefighter-EMT Mike Goodwillie said they were pretty certain the pickup truck had been traveling westbound when it happened.

“I think the sun got in his eyes, and he wasn’t expecting a train there,” Beck said.

The state patrol blamed the wreck on Mullins’ failure to yield the right of way.

•••

CORRECTION: This news story has been updated to reflect that Jeremy W. Mullins was treated at Providence Centralia Hospital and was not released but was then transferred to an unspecified facility.

News brief: Centralia house fire under investigation

Sunday, July 16th, 2017
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Smoke rises from fire on West Reynolds Avenue. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Nobody was injured but a Centralia home is now uninhabitable after a fire broke out last night.

Firefighters called at 7:52 p.m. to the 1100 block of West Reynolds Avenue saw heavy involvement on the cedar shake roof, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

Crews were joined by members of the Chehalis Fire Department, Lewis County Fire District 6 and West Thurston Regional Fire Authority.

The fire was extinguished and mop up ongoing at 11 p.m., according to Fire Lt. Mark Stahl.

The house was heavily damaged, according to Stahl. The cause is being investigated.