News

A 53-year-old resident Rochester man was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Seattle to seven years in prison for two federal felonies related to his armed drug trafficking activity, U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced in a news release.

Waylan Graves was arrested twice in a four-month period in 2023, each time drugs and loaded firearms.

On June 1, 2023, Graves was arrested by officers with the Thurston County Narcotics Enforcement Team. Law enforcement served a search warrant on Graves’ home and car. 

“In the home they found fentanyl pills, two firearms (one of them loaded) and nearly $5,000 in cash,” the U.S. Department of Justice wrote in the release. “In Graves’ car they found a third loaded firearm as well as fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. In the car was more than $10,000 in cash.”

Graves was charged with drug- and gun-related crimes in Thurston County Superior Court. He was released on bail. Less than four months later, he was arrested a second time for drug trafficking.

On Sept. 20, 2023, Graves was arrested with fentanyl pills, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine in his car. A loaded semi-automatic pistol was in the void under the center console. Investigations also seized a scale and more than $3,000 cash — proceeds from Graves’ drug dealing, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Graves was indicted federally in October 2023 for possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Graves pleaded guilty to the crimes in July 2024.

Prosecutors asked for a seven-year sentence, noting the harm fentanyl in particular has been causing.

“The drugs that Mr. Graves was distributing have been causing irreparable harm to the community,” prosecutors wrote. “As the Court is well aware, the influx of fentanyl has left a wake of destruction in the community. In King County alone, there have been 839 overdose deaths as of November 6, 2024, with 624 of those deaths involving fentanyl.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Puyallup Police Department, the Thurston County Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Casey S. Conzatti and Stephen Hobbs.

Since it began more than a century ago, the iconic red kettle has become a surefire sign that the holidays are near.

As the Christmas season approaches, a collection of local leaders gathered Thursday morning to kick off the annual Salvation Army fundraising drive that provides a bit of holiday cheer for the families who need it the most.

“Through contributions from fundraising breakfasts and bell ringing, lives are being changed in ways that are profound and lasting,” Lewis County Salvation Army Captain Gin Pack said Thursday morning. “Your donation may be the reason a single mother finds the strength to seek shelter, why a young boy can attend camp and experience joy and safety and hope for the first time. It’s the simple but significant acts that ripple outward.”

Known as the “Love Beyond Breakfast,” the event carries special significance for the organization ahead of the busy holiday season.

“The love that people show through their donations and through their time goes beyond that immediate need,” Captain Steven Pack said. “It goes on to a lot of different things.”

The fundraiser kicked off the annual Red Kettle drive, with 84 cents of every dollar going to help address community needs, according to the Salvation Army.

This year, the Salvation Army of Lewis County has set a goal of raising $85,000. The kettles represent the biggest fundraiser the organization holds, and the Salvation Army will need approximately 2,600 volunteer hours to operate the kettles. To learn how to volunteer, go to registertoring.com.

“Help from the Salvation Army provides not just relief, but a lifeline,” Gin Pack said. “The power of generosity is that it reaches beyond the immediate, and allows it to transform not just individuals, but families, and then families to community.”

The first kettle will be deployed at the Chehalis Walmart on Saturday, Nov. 16, with additional kettles arriving throughout the county on Nov. 29.

The Chehalis and Centralia police departments have both agreed to square off again in a bell-ringing battle to see which agency can raise more money, with the friendly competition scheduled to take place from noon to 2 p.m. on Dec. 10.

The Centralia Police Department narrowly won last year, raising $1,483.22 outside the Centralia Safeway, compared to the $1,476.45 Chehalis raised outside the Safeway on Market Boulevard.

The Salvation Army anticipates a greater need for the organization's annual toy drive, with a goal of collecting and distributing toys for more than 700, an increase over the 660 it provided in 2023.

“Our support doesn’t just provide a material object. It isn’t just about the object. It’s about changing lives,” Gin Pack said. “It helps people see light at the end of some of the very darkest times.”

Those who wish to donate can bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Chehalis Walmart, with additional giving tree locations to be announced.

“If you’ve ever been to a Christmas distribution here, it’s like absolute chaos,” Gin Pack said. “But for someone in that community, for a mom holding those toys, it’s a lifeline, it’s a vision of hope. It becomes this incredible, literal embodiment of what the community rallying around you means.”

For those looking for a holiday meal, The Salvation Army will host its annual Thanksgiving food distribution between Nov. 19 and 22 at its headquarters in Centralia. Those in need can pick up a holiday meal kit from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3 p.m.

“Together we create a cycle of compassion and renewal that impacts many lives in ways we may never fully understand,” Gin Pack said.

The Chehalis community will rally next week in a show of support for a W.F. West High School sophomore who was recently diagnosed with a rare bone marrow disorder.

On Tuesday, the Chehalis School District will declare Nov. 22 “Hunter Wilson Day” during a school board meeting. The day will recognize Hunter Wilson who was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) this summer.

During the awareness day, students, staff and community members are encouraged to wear orange to support Hunter. Schools in the Chehalis School District will also share messages with the community about how “average people can help with lifesaving donations.”

“Be it resolved on this day, November 19, 2024, by the Chehalis School Board, that the Chehalis School District stands with Hunter Wilson, her family, and the Chehalis community during her fight against cancer and to raise awareness of bone marrow donation,” the school board proclamation states.

Wilson, a high school sophomore, received the diagnosis this summer and has since undergone chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Her mom, Alyssa, describes the teen as “vivacious” and a “spitfire.”

“Everything she does is with pure intentions,” Alyssa said.

Following a difficult update last week, doctors at Seattle Children’s Hospital restarted chemotherapy in hopes of eliminating any remaining cancer cells. Despite the tough news, Alyssa said Hunter has maintained a positive spirit through her battle.

“She handled it way better than any of the rest of us,” Alyssa said.

In the proclamation, members of the Chehalis School Board wrote that Hunter “shows courage and bravery and is an example to her peers, staff, and the entire Chehalis School District, in demonstrating a positive attitude in the face of difficult circumstances.”

“She has inspired us all with her dedication and drive to fight back against cancer and the desire to help raise awareness of bone marrow donation,” the proclamation states.

On Nov. 23, Wilson’s family will host a “Hope for Hunter” breakfast fundraiser at McFiler’s Restaurant and Bar in Chehalis, located at 543 NW Pacific Ave. Breakfast will run from 8 to 11 a.m., and tickets cost $20, though attendees are invited to donate more. To learn more about the event, go to mcfilerschehalistheater.com/hope-for-hunter.

Hunter’s family has also established a gofundme account where community members can donate, which can be found online at https://tinyurl.com/y7mhara8. Donations can also be sent through CashApp to $HuntersBraveBattle.

Community members are also encouraged to go to bethematch.org to learn how to donate blood stem cells.

“Seeing the way that a smaller community comes together is awe-inspiring," Alyssa said. “It is a massive blessing to know that there are that many people that love and care.”

With fall in full swing, leaves are descending from the branches of many trees throughout the region. In Chehalis, city workers are still carrying out leaf collections, according to Chehalis Street and Stormwater Superintendent Fritz Beierle, who gave an update on leaf collection progress during the Tuesday, Nov. 12, Chehalis City Council meeting.

“We think we get the leaves picked up and then all of a sudden a (atmospheric) bomb goes off, and we’re six weeks behind,” Beierle said. “But I assure you, our guys are working as hard as they can to get them picked up with the staff that we have.”

The city’s new street sweeper is also being deployed to help keep storm drains clear of leaves. Residents clearing leaves from their property are asked to place leaf piles on the grass on the edge of their properties, not in the street.

“Do not put the leaves out on the parking strip. Put them on the grass and then we’ll come by with the Vactor truck and reach out and pick them up,” Beierle said. “If they’re in the parking strip, when we come by with the street sweeper, the street sweeper can’t pick it up. It runs over it and it leaves a pile and a pile and a pile. It doesn’t do us any favors. On the grass is where we need it.”

Residents are also asked to keep branches and twigs out of their leaf piles as they can plug up the workings of the street sweeper.

In addition to city workers collecting leaves around the city, Chehalis’ seasonal organic waste disposal program is still ongoinG for those who want to do more than just get rid of leaves on their property.

However, this weekend will be the last weekend it will be running, with items being accepted from those with passes at Stan Hedwall Park organic waste disposal site on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 17, from 2 to 5 p.m., weather permitting.

The only vehicles allowed to dump are trucks no bigger than three quarters of a ton or vehicles towing utility trailers no larger than 4 by 7 feet. Dump trucks and commercial businesses are prohibited from dumping. Passes to dump materials cost $50.

Passes can be purchased at the Chehalis Parks and Recreation Office at 1321 S. Market Blvd. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed daily for lunch from 1 to 2 p.m.

Items that can be dumped include grass clippings, brush and shrubs, fruit and vegetable plants, leaves and tree limbs less than 4 inches in diameter and no longer than 4 feet.

Items not allowed include plastic materials of any kind, oil, grease, paint, garbage, hazardous materials, appliances, construction materials, wood, firewood, logs, tree stumps, dirt and rocks.

To dump items, residents must confirm they live within Chehalis city limits with a valid driver’s license and show the purchased pass to the RV caretaker at the park. The RV caretaker has the authority to approve or deny dumping material.

For more information, call the Chehalis Parks and Recreation Department at 360-748-0271 or visit the city’s website at https://tinyurl.com/wxftj28m. 

Centralia Police Department

Theft

• A witness reported a generator was possibly stolen in the 300 block of South Kong Street at about 9:34 a.m. Nov. 13. There were no victims to confirm the theft, according to police. 

• An individual was trespassed from a business in the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue at about 8:13 a.m. Nov. 14 after a report of third degree theft.

• Officers received the report of the theft of a wallet at about 2 p.m. Nov. 14 in the 2500 block of Mt. Vista Road. The perpetrator subsequently used the victim’s payment cards to make purchases. The case is under investigation.

Assault

• A 28-year-old Centralia woman was arrested for fourth-degree assault, domestic violence, at about 10: 49 a.m. Nov. 13 in the 300 block of South Street. She was booked into the Chehalis Tribal Jail.

Crash

• Minor injuries were reported following a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Reynolds Avenue and Johnson Road at about 1:31 p.m. Nov. 13.

• A hit-and-run crash was reported at about 3 p.m. Nov. 13 in the 1100 block of Belmont Avenue. No additional details were provided.

Warrant arrests

• A 31-year-old Centralia man was arrested for an outstanding warrant and booked into Chehalis Tribal Jail at about 3:52 p.m. Nov. 13 in the 1100 block of South Yew Street.

• A 30-year-old Centralia man was arrested for an outstanding warrant and booked into the Lewis County Jail at about 4:32 p.m. Nov. 13 in the 400 block of South Tower Avenue.

• A 45-year-old Longview man was arrested for an outstanding Centralia Municipal Court warrant at about 1:20 a.m. Nov. 15 in the 100 block of West Maple Street.

Broken window arrest

• Christopher A. Snipes, 47, of Chehalis, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree malicious mischief when it was discovered that he had broken the front window of a business in the 100 block of West High Street at about 5:37 a.m. Nov. 14. Snipes was also found to be in possession of suspected narcotics, for which he is being referred for additional charges.

Stolen signs, recycling bins

• Officers received a report of stolen recycling bins and signs from a local public facility in the 200 block of Centralia College Boulevard at about 8 a.m. Nov. 14. The case is still under investigation.

Burglary

• Officers received the report of an attempted burglary at about 11 a.m. Nov. 14 in the 1000 block of Kresky Avenue. The perpetrator spray painted security cameras, broke a window and attempted to kick open a door. No items are believed to have been stolen.

Protection order violation

• Crisbeth A. Apantipan-Cirilo, 28, of Centralia, was arrested for violating a protection order at about 12:40 p.m. Nov. 14 in the 100 block of West Maple Street.

• A male was referred for charges after an investigation revealed that, earlier in the day, he had violated a protection order he had with a family member. Officers received the report at about 1 p.m. Nov. 14 from the 2600 block of Seward Avenue.

Trespassing

• A subject from Vancouver was trespassed from property after acting disorderly at about 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the 900 block of South Scheuber Road.

Drug arrests

• Ethan Contreras, 34, of Arizona, and Eduardo R. Rodriguez, 37, of California, were arrested after a traffic stop yielded a large quantity of narcotics, including methamphetamines and fentanyl, at about 6:45 p.m. Nov. 14 on Interstate 5 in Napavine.

DUI arrest

• David Freer, 37, of Olympia, was arrested after allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol at about 10:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the 600 block of South Gold Street.

Chehalis Police Department

Family disturbance

• A 15-year-old caller in the 300 block of Southwest Third Street reported that a family member had jumped on them and hit them multiple times at about 7:47 a.m. Nov. 14.

Trespassing

• An individual was trespassed for life from a property in the 100 block of Ribelin Road after a report at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 14.

• Two people were reported for sleeping on a porch area of a private property in the 500 block of West Main Street at about 7:17 a.m. Nov. 15.

• An officer suggested a man go to the Lewis County Gospel Mission after a caller reported he was sleeping in a parking lot in the 1000 block of Southwest State Avenue at about 8 a.m. Nov. 13. The man said he was trying to get out of the rain.

• A homeless man was reportedly sleeping on private property near Southwest Riverside Drive and Southwest Newaukum Avenue at about 9:25 a.m. Nov. 13.

• A possibly intoxicated woman with no shoes was asked to leave a pharmacy in the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue at about 10 a.m. Nov. 13. The woman left as an officer approached.

• A man was arrested for criminal trespassing after a caller reported a suspicious person at Northwest Ohio Avenue and Northwest Hood Place at about 7:58 p.m. Nov. 13.

Crash

• A crash was reported at about 8:26 a.m. Nov. 14 at the intersection of Southwest William Avenue and Southwest 15th Street. Additional information was not available.

• No injuries were reported after a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Northwest Chehalis Avenue and West Main Street at about 3:25 p.m. Nov. 14.

• No injuries were reported after a crash at about 5:15 p.m. Nov. 13 in the 1500 block of North Market Boulevard.

Suspicious circumstances

• A caller in the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana reported a suspicious “rug doctor” van at about 11:24 a.m. Nov. 14.

• A caller believed a driver was intoxicated after witnessing her erratic driving at about 3:05 p.m. Nov. 14 at the intersection of North Market Boulevard and Northeast Cascade Avenue. An officer determined the driver, a 90-year-old woman, was not intoxicated.

• Homeless people were reportedly seen setting up a camp at about 5:23 a.m. Nov. 15 in the 10 block of Southwest Chehalis Avenue.

• Social Security fraud was reported in the 300 block of North Market Boulevard at 12:55 p.m. Nov. 13. A bank employee told a resident their information was available on the “dark web.”

Malicious mischief

• An arrest was made after a caller in the 300 block of Southwest 16th Street reported that a vehicle had been damaged at about 10:12 a.m. Nov. 13. The vandalism was recorded by a surveillance camera.

Disturbance

• A disorderly male was asked to leave a property in the 1500 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. Nov. 14 after he was reportedly yelling and bleeding on a table.

• A homeless woman was talking to herself, beating on vehicles with a stick and “keeping everyone up,” according to a report at 1:20 a.m. Nov. 15 in the 400 block of Northeast Washington Avenue.

Vehicle prowl

• Multiple items were stolen during a vehicle prowl that was reported at 9:56 a.m. Nov. 13 in the 700 block of Northwest Liberty Place.

• According to a caller in the 700 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue at about 11:14 a.m. Nov. 13, $120 in cash and other items were stolen from an unlocked vehicle.

Sexual Misconduct

• Sexual misconduct was reported at about 12:20 p.m. Nov. 13 in the 500 block of Southeast Washington Avenue.

Election fraud

• A person in the 300 block of Northwest North Street reported election fraud at about 10 a.m. Nov. 13.

Juvenile program

• A student eventually returned to school after he reportedly walked off campus in the 100 block of Northeast Hampe Way at about 11:46 a.m. Nov. 14.

Burglary

• A caller reported a burglary at 6:15 a.m. Nov. 14 in the 100 block of Southwest 11th Street after a woman broke a window of a home and ran away down an alley.

Drugs

• A person was arrested for possession of methamphetamines at about 6:50 p.m. Nov. 14 in the 10 block of Southwest Chehalis Avenue.

JAIL STATISTICS

• As of Friday morning, the Lewis County Jail had a total system population of 141 inmates, including 128 in the general population and 13 in the Work Ethic and Restitution Center (WERC). Of general population inmates, 110 were reported male and 18 were reported female. Of the WERC inmates, 11 were reported male and two were reported female.

• As of Friday morning, the Chehalis Tribal Jail had a total system population of 20 inmates, including nine booked by the Centralia Police Department, nine booked by the state Department of Corrections, one booked by the Lummi Nation and one booked by the Tulalip Tribe.

•••

Sirens are compiled by assistant editor Emily Fitzgerald, who can be reached at emily@chronline.com. The Centralia Police Department can be reached at 360-330-7680, the Chehalis Police Department can be reached at 360-748-8605. If you were a victim of physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence or sexual assault, call Hope Alliance at 360-748-6601 or the Youth Advocacy Center of Lewis County at 360-623-1990.