Regional briefs for August 24

The Olympian | • Published August 23, 2008

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THURSTON COUNTY

Dental records to help identify woman's body

The remains of a woman thought to have committed suicide by walking into the path of an oncoming train will be identified through dental records, the Thurston County Coroner said Saturday.

Police think the remains belong to a woman in her 20s who had been reported missing. Coroner Gary Warnock said he expects to check dental records Monday.

The woman was struck by a southbound freight train Friday near where state Route 510 crosses the tracks just east of Lacey, said Lacey Fire Battalion Chief Tim Hulse.

Warnock confirmed that the death likely was a suicide, based on the train conductor's description of what happened.

LACEY

Autopsy might be today of woman found in car

The body of a woman in her 50s found dead last week slumped over in a vehicle in a parking lot in the 100 block of College Street was not identified Saturday and will undergo an autopsy today or Monday, Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock said.

Lacey detectives found the woman Friday afternoon between Denny's and the Super 8 Motel in Lacey.

Detectives think she had been deceased for more than 24 hours.

The cause and manner of the woman's death are under investigation. Her name is being held pending notification of next of kin by the coroner's office.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lacey police detective division at 360-459-4333 or Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222.

OLYMPIA

Event to get state health insurance for children

The Apple Health Bus, promoting a state initiative to enroll uninsured children in state-sponsored health coverage, will be at the playground near the end of the Percival Landing boardwalk at 1 p.m. today.

Department of Social and Health Service caseworkers and others will be at the bus from about noon to 5 p.m. to talk to parents about the program and help families fill out applications.

State Medicaid director Doug Porter and Thurston County Public Health Director Sherri McDonald will hold a short discussion about children's health care at 1 p.m.

For more information, go to http://applehealthforkids.wa.gov.

Olympia woman named Order of Eagles president

Pat Durham of Olympia has been installed as grand madam president of the 1.1-million member Fraternal Order of Eagles.

During her yearlong term, Durham will spend about 300 days traveling to FOE auxiliaries throughout the U.S. and Canada to increase membership and build a stronger relationship between aeries and auxiliaries, according to the FOE.

Durham joined FOE Olympia auxiliary No. 21 in 1975 and has held several positions at various levels, including Olympia auxiliary conductor and president and state auxiliary president.

She was honored during the annual FOE International Grand Convention in Louisville, Ky., during the past week.