News brief: Deputies endorse challenger for prosecutor

August 6th, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Lewis County Deputies Guild has decided to endorse challenger Jonathan Meyer for Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney.

More than 75 percent favored Meyer in secret balloting, according to a news release today.

The Guild is the labor relations group representing the 36 deputies and sergeants at the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Early last month, the membership invited candidates for the offices of prosecutor, sheriff and coroner to address their group.

Meyer, a Centralia defense attorney, is running against current Lewis County Prosecutor Michael Golden.

“Jonathan Meyer in the opinion of the Guild best represents the attributes required for the office of prosecuting attorney,” the group wrote in its news release. “He is diligent, honest, hard working and will bring a fresh perspective to the prosecution of criminals in Lewis County.”

The Guild’s bylaws require a candidate to receive at least 75 percent of the vote in order for the group to make an endorsement.

Thirty-two members participated in the voting. In the race for sheriff and coroner, no candidate got above the 75 percent threshold; so they won’t be making an endorsement in those races, according to the Guild.

News brief: Rochester resident injured in rollover crash

August 6th, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The driver of a car that rolled over and wrecked in Rochester late yesterday afternoon was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to the West Thurston Regional Fire Authority.

Firefighters and troopers were called about 5:30 p.m. to the collision on James Road near Albany Street. James A. Saccotelli, 58, of Rochester, was pinned beneath the 1998 Ford Explorer, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Trooper Brandy Kessler said he was cited for driving under the influence.

His condition was not readily available.

News brief: Couple escaped rollover wreck on I-5 at Napavine with minor injuries

August 6th, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Authorities said an oscillating and whipping trailer behind a sport utility vehicle driven by a Canadian couple on a camping trip caused the wreck yesterday on Interstate 5 at Napavine.

Firefighters and troopers called about 10:30 a.m. found the vehicle and trailer flipped over the center concrete barrier near the Rush Road interchange. Lewis County Fire District 5 had to break a window to extinguish a small fire inside the 1993 travel trailer.

Angela D. Neilson and Calvin R. Mojak, both of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, suffered only minor injuries.

District 5 Firefighter Brad Bozarth attributed that in part to front and side air bags in the 2003 Ford Explorer.

“For a bad situation, it turned out alright,” Bozarth said this morning.

Washington State Patrol public information officer Trooper Steve Schatzel said its something that can happen especially when traveling down hill.

“Basically the trailer starts trying to pass the car and once it gets far enough out, it actually pulls the car onto its side,” Schatzel said.

Most older trailers don’t have anti-sway brakes which can prevent that, he said.

Schatzel said he didn’t know which direction the pair were initially traveling. Bozarth said he thought they were southbound.

For yesterday’s news brief and photograph, either scroll down or click here.

Read about a criminal investigation into activities of a one-time Chehalis police chief candidate

August 6th, 2010

Montesano Police Chief Ray Sowers was one of the four finalists for the chief position with the Chehalis Police Department in November of 2006.

The (Aberdeen) Daily World published a story today about the conclusion of an investigation into his spending by the Washington State Patrol.

You can read the news story in The Daily World or The Olympian.

Not Crime: Just a newborn alpaca

August 5th, 2010
2010.0805.alpacas

Imax, born last week, pauses with his mother at his rural Chehalis farm.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Not crime. The opposite of crime.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office this morning said they had no crime to report.

So here is a one-week-old alpaca enjoying today’s sunshine with his mother in rural Chehalis.

He lives at Black Hills Alpacas and belongs to Penny Holbrook. His name is Imax.

Breaking News: Car and trailer crash onto freeway barrier at Napavine

August 5th, 2010
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Tow trucks prepare to remove a car and trailer from the center barrier of Interstate 5 near exit 72 at about 11 o'clock this morning.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

NAPAVINE – A car and trailer flipped over landing with one on each side of the center barrier of Interstate 5 at Napavine this morning.

The 10:35 a.m. accident left southbound traffic crawling nearly as far back as the Labree Road interchange almost an hour later.

The man and woman involved escaped serious injury and seemed to be okay, Napavine Police Officer Silas Elwood said after troopers arrived.

“They were pretty lucky,” Elwood said, adding the woman looked like she just had a scraped knee.

Troopers, members of Lewis County Fire District 5, personnel from the state Department of Transportation and tow trucks were one the scene.

More later.

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

August 5th, 2010

VACANT HOMES VANDALIZED

• The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning a caretaker for a bank-owned house discovered intruders had removed bathroom sinks, wall fixtures, mirrors and even the kitchen’s granite counter top from a vacant Rochester home. A deputy called about 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday to the 16,800 block of Leitner Road Southwest was told all was fine a week earlier but when the caretaker returned on Tuesday, the back french doors were open and several items stolen, sheriff’s Lt. Chris Mealy said. Among the many valuables missing was the alarm system, according to Mealy.

• Centralia police took a report yesterday morning that somebody kicked in the front door of a home being renovated on the 600 block of South Silver Street.

CHURCH BREAK-IN

• Centralia police reported this morning somebody went inside an unlocked church on the 500 block of South Washington Avenue and kicked open a door to steal computer equipment and an unspecified amount of cash from the office. An officer was called about the break-in about 11:30 a.m. yesterday.

DRUGS

• A 29-year-old Centralia man was arrested for possession of heroin and an outstanding felony warrant when he as contacted by an officer yesterday afternoon near the 800 block of West First Street, according to police. Thomas C. Pennypacker was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police arrested someone about 4 a.m. today near Wal-Mart during a traffic stop for possession of methamphetamine. Further details were not readily available.

• Chehalis police were called about 10:45 a.m. yesterday to an unspecified location about the theft of hydrocodone from a residence.

SMASHING WINDOWS

• Aid was summoned to North Tower Avenue overnight for a teenager with blood on his hands and scratches. The call followed police arresting a 17-year-old male just after midnight for allegedly smashing out the windows of two cars elsewhere in Centralia. The un-named teenager was booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center for malicious mischief, according to the Centralia Police Department.

THEFTS

• Chehalis police responded to a report of the theft of jewelry yesterday morning following another theft of unspecified property, both at unspecified locations in Chehalis.

• Chehalis police were called about 8:40 a.m. yesterday to an unspecified address about counterfeit money received by an un-named person.

STICK USED TO STOP DIESEL LEAK

• A pair of jeans that got caught up beneath a semi-truck apparently ruptured a fuel line and caused a diesel spill on Interstate 5 last night that drew a fire department, Department of Transportation personnel and a tow truck driver. Lewis County Fire District 5 was called about 11 p.m. to the east side of the freeway near the U.S. Highway 12 and Avery Road interchange where the truck driver had pulled over after hearing “a lot of noise,” fire Lt. Laura Hanson said this morning. About 30 gallons of diesel had escaped when one of the firefighters plugged the hole in the fuel line with a stick from the side of the road, Hanson said. Responders built a trench to catch the liquid and used absorbent pads to soak up what they could, she said. Hanson said the fuel tank had to be emptied and the truck towed off the freeway.