Leavenworth man fires on BNSF workers
- Written by Sheriff Brian Burnett, CCSO
Sheriff Brian Burnett reports on October 23, 2018 at approximately 10:43 p.m., Chelan County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 12000 block of Chumstick Hwy, approximately four miles north of Leavenworth, for the report of a male subject firing a gun at co-workers.
Burlington Northern Santé Fe (BNSF) employees were attempting to access a railroad crossing construction site via a private driveway off of Chumstick Hwy. The BNSF employees were in a large Freightliner truck and had utilized the driveway twice earlier in the day to access the work site. They were confronted by a male subject, James Carl Brown, carrying an AR style rifle. Brown advised the BNSF workers that they were on private property. As they attempted to leave and drive back down the driveway towards Chumstick Hwy, Brown shouted for the group to stop, raised the rifle and fired 3-5 rounds into the ground in front of the truck. They drove in reverse until James told them they were on BNSF right of way before James disappeared into the trees.
Fearing for their lives and not wanting to drive forward and unable to drive back down the driveway as the railroad crossing was completely torn up due to the construction, they radioed a co-worker who was approximately one mile south of their location. The BNSF workers were eventually able to escape south on the railway by using a railroad machine via the rail line.
Chelan County Sheriff’s Deputies were able to establish phone contact with Brown. Brown stated that Law Enforcement was not allowed on his property and refused to meet in person and would only talk on the phone.
Chelan County Regional SWAT was activated and utilized as negotiators continued to dialogue with Brown in an attempt for a peaceful conclusion. Brown eventually stopped communicating with Chelan County Deputies but was later located by members of the SWAT team and taken into custody without incident.
After securing search warrants for Brown’s residence, multiple firearms were located, secured for evidence and safe keeping.
Brown was booked into the Chelan County Regional Justice Center on (RCW 9A.36.011.1) Assault 1st Degree-assaults another with a firearm (four counts) and (RCW 9A.40.040) Unlawful Imprisonment (four counts).
Mystery shooting at social gathering
On 10-22-18 at about 11:19 PM Douglas County deputies were notified of a gunshot victim at the Central Washington Hospital emergency room.
Investigators learned the gunshot victim, a 21 year old male of Michoacan, Mexico, was attending a social gathering at a residence in the 5300 block of 4th ST SE.
At some point during the gathering the victim walked away from the group into an open field, to talk on the phone. While in the field talking on the phone an unknown subject, believed to be attending the same gathering, shot a firearm towards the open field. The victim was struck two times staining non-life threatening wounds.
The victim was transported to the hospital in a private vehicle. Investigators believe this was an isolated event and there is not a public safety risk.
The investigation is still underway.
Manson School District Emergency Drill October 26, 2018
- Written by Janice Stewart
Manson School District will be conducting emergency exercises on Friday October 26, 2018.
The purpose of these drills are to help students and staff prepare for possible emergencies.
The district will send out a reminder text message to parents regarding this drill occurring.
Please do not be alarmed if you observe emergency vehicles on our campus during this training.
Manson School Public Notices 10-22-18
- Written by Janice Stewart
MANSON SCHOOL DISTRICT
MANSON SCHOOL DISTRICT
PUBLIC NOTICE
Saturday, November, 17, 2018
WSSDA Conference/Joint Board MeetingThe Manson School Board of Directors will be attending the Annual WSSDA Conference in Spokane, WA from November 14-17, 2018.
The Manson Board of Directors will also be conducting a joint meeting with the Lake Chelan School Board on Saturday, November, 17 from 7:15 a.m.-8:30 a.m.
Topics of discussion will include: current ways in which the districts are working together, potential ways to partner in the future. No action will be taken at this conference or the joint meeting.
MANSON SCHOOL DISTRICT
PUBLIC NOTICE
BOARD WORKING SESSION
Thursday, October 25, 2018
The Manson School District Board members will be visiting Manson Elementary School located at 950 Totem Pole Road in Manson on Thursday, October 25th from 8:30-1:00 p.m.to learn more about the innovative programs and work that they are doing with students. No action to be taken.
Manson Staff participate in Active Shooter Training
- Written by Janice Stewart
All Manson School District Staff recently participated in an ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training which better prepares school staff to more proactively handle the threat of an armed intruder or active shooter event. The training is a part of an overall “layered” approach to improving student safety in which many different proactive and real time responses are being added.
“As violent attacks have evolved our approach on how to best protect our students and staff has changed” says Superintendent Matt Charlton. We are teaching staff and older students option-based tactics vs. the traditional lockdown only approach. We believe these strategies will give our staff the tools they need to keep our students as safe as possible.”
On October 12th all staff were led through a series of training scenarios by two Manson staff members, Brad Soliday and Michelle Rogge who are ALICE Certified Instructors. Manson Elementary teacher Brandy Sampson shared “Upon completing the program, not only did I feel more empowered and knowledgeable, but also more confident about the safety all Manson staff can provide for our students.”
Chelan County Sheriff Deputy/Resource Officer Nigel Hunter assisted in the training as did community member (and former CCSD Deputy) Dale England. Charlton shared “Dale England served on our safety committee and offered to help our District. He understands the importance of preparedness and training.”
The District will next look to train students and put the recent staff training to the test with a district-wide drill on October 26, 2018. Parents and the community will also be offered an opportunity to learn more about student safety improvements on November 8th at a Manson Inc. parent night.
For more information about ALICE go to www.alicetraining.com.
State Autonomous Vehicle Work Group meets to consider initial recommendations to Legislature
- Written by Reema Griffith, WSTC Executive Director
OLYMPIA – With new and evolving technology advances in vehicle operations, the Washington State Legislature enacted a law in 2018 creating the Autonomous Vehicle Work Group. The body is convened by the Washington State Transportation Commission and is required to make recommendations on possible laws and regulations that will address the operation of autonomous vehicles on public roadways in the state.
The work group will meet from 12 – 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, in the Nisqually Board Room at the Department of Transportation Headquarters Building, 310 Maple Park Ave SE, Olympia. The meeting is open to the public.
The work group held its first meeting in June and established five subcommittees charged with assessing regulatory and legal needs for autonomous vehicle deployment on roadways. The subcommittees bring together public and private sector interests to collaborate on assessing potential implications and effects of autonomous vehicles across five topical areas:
- Vehicle and driver licensing/ rules of the road
- Safety/ enforcement
- Infrastructure and systems
- Liability/ insurance
- System technology and data security
The work group will receive status reports and recommendations from the five subcommittees at their Oct. 24 meeting. The work group will then forward the recommendations on to the commission for consideration during its Dec. 11 and 12 meeting in Olympia. The work group will also provide the commission with a proposed work plan for the next two years (July 2019 – June 2021) which will outline the major efforts they will undertake in their ongoing review and assessment of autonomous vehicle deployment in Washington state.
The commission will submit a report of findings and initial recommendations, along with the proposed two-year work plan, to the Legislature in January 2019.
For more information on the work group, visit: wstc.wa.gov/Meetings/AVAgenda/AutonomousVehicleWorkGroup.html
For more information on the Transportation Commission, visit: wstc.wa.gov/
State Transportation Commission adopts SR 99 tunnel toll rates
- Written by Reema Griffith, WSTC executive director
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Transportation Commission today voted to approve toll rates for the State Route 99 tunnel under downtown Seattle. Drivers will not be charged tolls when the tunnel first opens in early 2019, and an exact date to begin tolling has not yet been determined.
The adopted toll rates will range from $1 to $2.25 for drivers with a Good To Go! pass, depending on time of day. Drivers without a Good To Go! account will pay an extra $2 per toll. Toll rates will also be higher for vehicles with more than two axles.
On weekdays, tolls will be $1.50 during the morning peak commute (7 a.m. to 9 a.m.), $2.25 during the evening peak commute (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.), and $1.25 during non-peak hours between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Overnight (11 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and weekend tolls will be $1.00. Toll rates will increase by 3 percent every three years beginning in July 2022, subject to annual review by the Transportation Commission.
The Transportation Commission has previously determined that there will be consistent exemptions on all toll facilities for public transit, emergency responders, highway maintenance vehicles, school buses and qualified private buses, which serve the public or commuters.
State law requires that SR 99 tunnel tolls be used to repay $200 million borrowed to build the tunnel as well as related debt service costs, and ongoing operations, maintenance, and safety costs.
The Transportation Commission engaged in a five-month long public input process before finalizing toll rates. The commission considered over 1,900 written public comments during this time, and held three public meetings in Seattle during June 2018.
Mail theft in Sunnyslope area
- Written by Chief Jason Reinfeld, CCSO
Sheriff Brian Burnett reports on October 15th, 2018 the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office took several complaints of mail theft. This included a report from a postal carrier who found mail littering the roadway along the their route. This took place in the Sunnyslope area including Lower Sunnyslope Road, Easy Street, Sunset, Knowles Road, American Fruit Road, Viewmont, and Lovell Road.
Deputies responded and assisted in gathering mail from the roadway. They have been assisting in returning mail to residents in the area. This will continue into tomorrow as well. At this point there is no suspect information.
The Sheriff’s office is asking the public for assistance in locating the suspect(s). If you believe you have information to include surveillance video of the thefts, please contact the Sheriff’s Office tip-line at 509-667-6845. You can also submit a tip at the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office website: www.co.chelan.wa.us/sheriff/forms/submit-a-tip.
This is the time of year where valuable items are often sent through the mail. It is important to protect yourself from mail theft for outgoing and incoming mail. The US Postal Inspector recommends delivering valuable items through the slot at the post office or by handing it to the postal carrier. For incoming mail, If you don’t receive an expected check or credit card, contact the issuing agency immediately.
There are many other suggestions for safeguarding your mail available at the US Postal Service Inspection website: https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/
NOTE: If you are charged with mail theft, you could face up to five years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000.
Two arrested in connection with recent vehicle prowls
- Written by Captain Jim West, Operations Bureau Commander, Wenatchee Police Department
On 10/11/18 Wenatchee Police Officers responded to a suspicious call at the Holiday Lodge located in the 700 block of N. Wenatchee Ave. The caller reported that two males were acting suspicious around the property for several hours. Both suspects left the property before officers arrived.
The caller discovered that it appeared a couple of the hotel rooms had been entered and possibly a blanket was missing. The Holiday Lodge requested that officers contact the suspects and advise them to not return to their property.
Wenatchee Police Officers eventually located the two suspects identified as Makaella A. Leonardo, a 23 year old female from Visalia, CA and Patrick J. Malone, a 31 year old male from Wenatchee.
During this contact officers noticed that the suspects had several items under some shrubs and Malone had a silver Apple Mac laptop in his possession. At this time both suspects were advised not to return to the Holiday Lodge.
After the officers left they spoke about the contact they had with Leonardo and Malone. Another officer advised that he took a vehicle prowl report on 10/10/18 where a silver Apple Mac was stolen. Officers returned to the area where Leonardo and Malone were contacted but they had left. Officers located items in the same shrubs which included items linked to several vehicle prowls and thefts that have been occurring the past several weeks.
Officers began checking pawn shops to see if the laptop had been pawned. At Pawn Fathers, located in the 500 block N. Wenatchee Avenue, employees stated a couple matching the description of Leonardo and Malone came in on 10/10/18 with two bikes to pawn. Officers looked at the bikes and they recognized one of them as recently reported stolen. Officers reviewed video footage at Pawn Fathers and identified Leonardo and Malone as the suspects who brought in the stolen bike. At the time the suspects brought in the bikes, Leonardo used identification that had been stolen during a vehicle prowl in Carson, WA.
A short time later officers located Leonardo and Malone walking along N. Wenatchee Ave. Both suspects were arrested without incident and were booked into Chelan County regional Jail for Trafficking Stolen Property, Possession of Stolen Property, Identity Theft, and Possession of Methamphetamine.
The investigation into the vehicle prowls and theft is ongoing and officers have collected items of evidence from the suspects relating to several vehicle prowls that have been reported in Wenatchee.
Exercise equipment doubles as academic tool
- Written by Janice Stewart
Two new machines made their debut in the weight room this week at Manson High School.
Sarah Wiggum and Kami Kronbauer, both teachers at the high school, submitted a proposal through the CWU GEAR UP program to purchase ergometers (commonly known as rowing machines) for the Manson Secondary School.
"We are incredibly excited to find an avenue to integrate math and physical education," says Mrs. Wiggum. "Not only will students be able to learn about kinesthetic awareness and timing while they are challenging their cardiovascular system, but they will also be diving into a unit embedded with subjects like rate, power, and momentum."
The mind-body connection can be incredibly powerful when it comes to recall of knowledge, and for some students, being able to make these connections both mentally and physically helps solidify and expand their learning. Wiggum states, "they won’t just be able to remember the process but FEEL the process."
