South Sound briefs for Aug. 26

The Olympian • Published August 26, 2008

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Lewis County

900 pot plants found in raid by task force

More than 900 marijuana plants with a street value of more than $900,000 were seized in the Vader-Ryderwood area, the Lewis County Sheriff's Office reported Monday.

Detectives with Regional Crime Task Force seized the plants from an outdoor grow last week. The plants ranged in size from 2 feet to 5 feet in height.

No suspects were located.

In addition to the plants, detectives found a small amount of processed marijuana, a hand-dug water source, gardening tools, food, supplies and a camp set up for overnight stays.

Three people hurt in two-car collision

Three people were injured in a two-car crash on state Route 603 two miles north of Winlock on Monday.

The Washington State Patrol reported that about 2:45 p.m., Alvin Chapman, 71, of Winlock collided with Heidi Uhri, 31, of Centralia.

Chapman, who was driving a 1991 Chevy Geo Prism, was cited for failure to yield. He sustained chest and neck injuries and was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital.

Uhri, who was driving a 1988 Honda Accord, received a chest injury and arm laceration and was taken to the same hospital, along with her passenger, Jeremiah Johnson, 24, of Napavine, who was injured on his left side.

Chapman's vehicle was northbound and Uhri's southbound when Chapman attempted a left turn onto Hale Road, and the vehicles collided in the southbound lane, the State Patrol reported.

Fort Lewis

Helicopter-unit soldiers return today from Iraq

About 270 soldiers in a Fort Lewis helicopter unit are scheduled to return home today after a 15-month deployment in Iraq.

The Army says the 4th Squadron, 6th Air Cavalry killed 135 enemies and wounded 56 in combat.

The unit deployed with more than 600 soldiers in May 2007 and was stationed in northern Iraq. The remaining soldiers will return through September. The unit flew UH-58 Kiowa Warriors and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters in air attack and support operations out of forward operating bases.