Regional briefs for August 5

The Olympian • Published August 05, 2008

DOC system aims to help track offenders

The Department of Corrections on Monday implemented a new offender information management system designed to improve the agency's ability to track, manage and supervise offenders as they progress through the correctional system.

The new system is made up of the Offender Management Network Information (OMNI) system that will provide access to information about an offender's confinement status, rehabilitation programming, treatment, sentencing, discipline and community supervision. The Offender Supervision Plan System (OSPS) is a new case management application that will help assess an offender's risk classification level, identify rehabilitation programming needs and determine the level of supervision required for offenders living in the community.

"The successful implementation of OMNI and OSPS is a critical milestone in our strategic plan to help improve public safety for Washington's citizens," DOC Secretary Eldon Vail said.

Chehalis

Comment sought on truckers' fuel costs

A community forum to discuss the effects of high fuel costs on local truck operators will take place Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the W.F. West High School in Chehalis.

Sherrie Bond of Northwest Log Truckers Cooperative said U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, a member of the House Transportation Committee, will attend.

A question-and-answer session will follow the first hour presentation by industry panelists.

The high school is located at 342 S.W. 16th St.

For those preferring not to speak at the forum, written testimony and comments will be accepted.

Also, at noon that day, Baird will deliver a federal grant to Tenino to pay for downtown redevelopment. At 5:45 p.m. he will meet with Lewis County farmers recovering from the disastrous storms of December at Dave Feen's Farm, 1191 Wildwood Road, in Curtis.

Olympia

Wire theft leads to $10,000 in repairs

Copper wire was stolen from a Puget Sound Energy substation, resulting in a $10,000 repair bill to reinstall the wire.

The $500 worth of wire was stolen between July 7 and Aug. 3, when a PSE inspector discovered the theft at 41st Avenue Northwest and Steamboat Island Road Northwest, a report by the Thurston County Sheriff's Office says.

The site is inspected once a month.

Lewis County

Tenino motorcyclist hurt after crash with tractor

A farm tractor collided with a motorcycle in rural Lewis County Monday.

Michael A. Rice, 43, of Tenino suffered hip and arm injuries. He was riding his 1978 Honda eastbound on Vader Road passing through the intersection with Plomondon Road in Toledo around 2:10 p.m., the Washington State Patrol reported.

David E. Hays, 17, was driving the 1982 Ford tractor. He was not injured. He also was eastbound on Vader, but was turning left onto Plomondon. The state patrols says Rice failed to yield and struck the left side of the tractor.

The Olympian