goldendale
Wildfire now covers five square miles
A wildfire that has burned one home near the Columbia River in southern Washington has grown to more than 5 square miles.
Authorities in Klickitat County said Tuesday the wildfire started Saturday but rekindled Monday afternoon and rapidly spread west and south toward the Sundale area.
As of Tuesday morning, the 3,500-acre fire had burned one home and threatened a few dozen others.
Firefighting efforts and improved weather, however, allowed authorities to lift mandatory evacuation orders. Residents are now urged to be ready for a potential evacuation or be set to leave.
Old Highway 8 has been closed from state Route 14 to Sundale Road and officials were urging the public to avoid the area.
port angeles
Man gets 23 years in child rape, molestation
A 58-year-old Port Angeles man has received a prison sentence of over 23 years for multiple counts of child rape and molestation.
The Peninsula Daily News reported Steven Pope was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to two counts of second-degree child rape and single counts of second- and third-degree child molestation for crimes that occurred over seven years.
Each count included a special allegation for an ongoing pattern of sexual abuse.
On April 7, victims agreed to let police listen to a phone conversation in which Pope admitted to years of sexual abuse. Port Angeles police arrested Pope later that day.
Pope sat with his head down for most of the sentencing hearing and said in court he never meant to hurt anyone.
chehalis
Park & Ride cleared of homeless campers
Authorities said efforts to clear homeless campers out of a Park & Ride area along Interstate 5 in Chehalis have been successful.
The Chronicle reported residents complained in the past month of increasing garbage and other concerns at the parking area.
That prompted city officials to post signs closing the area to use from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Police have been monitoring the site during those times and abandoned vehicles have been removed.
Chehalis Police Department Deputy Chief Randy Kaut said although the issues at the Park & Ride have been addressed, campers have mostly just moved elsewhere.
wapato
Dogs kill five animals at farm’s petting zoo
The director of a Yakima County farm said several dogs attacked and killed five of the farm’s petting zoo animals.
Campbell Farm director Carmanita Pimms said staff made the grisly discovery Monday morning. The attack left three goats, a pig and a miniature horse dead. A donkey was also mauled but survived.
The Herald-Republic reported that three dogs were still in the corral when Yakima County animal control officers responded. The officers shot and killed two of the dogs, a pit bull and a German shepherd. A third dog was not shot because it did not appear threatening.
The dogs did not have microchips, tags or other identifying information.
The 40-acre farm and retreat center is in Wapato, about 15 miles south of Yakima.
