Salem-News.com Washington articles Page 29

Battle Ground Police arrest Graduation Committee Volunteer for Theft of Funds

Police say the suspect collected money from fundraisers to support the graduation party of the senior class, and also collected from the sale of tickets to the Battle Ground High School Senior graduation event.

(BATTLE GROUND, Wash.) - Battle Ground Police Detectives arrested 41-year old Dee Ann Brede of Battle Ground today for embezzling over $11,000.

Brede was the treasurer of the 2009 Battle Ground High School Grad Night Committee. The position is volunteer and not affiliated with the school district.

Pump Prices Dip Slightly after Increasing for Several Weeks

The Oregon average for regular unleaded drops a couple cents this week to $2.10, while the national average falls six cents to $1.90.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Gas Prices are are coming down a little after rising since late December. Oregon's average for regular unleaded drops two cents in the past week to $2.10, while the national average falls six cents to $1.90.

Crude oil prices have increased a few dollars in the past week, but have stayed between about $34 and $48 per barrel since early December.

Police Arrest Vancouver Man in Murder of Alicia Nipp

If anyone has information of the suspect's whereabouts between Saturday February 21st and Sunday February 22nd please call the Clark County Sheriff's Office Tip Line at 1-877-274-6311.

(VANCOUVER, Wash.) - Detectives from the Clark County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit arrested 30-year old Darrin Eugene Sanford of Vancouver today ar 6:30 p.m., for the murder of 13-year old Alicia Nipp.

"Sanford is one of a number of transient sex offenders living in the Hazel Dell area. Detectives, working in conjunction with Department of Corrections developed information regarding Sanford's whereabouts on Saturday and Sunday," Clark County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Scott Schanaker said.

Busy Weekend for Coast Guard in Pacific NW

One incident involved an overturned vessel near Coos Bay; the other rescue saw two surfers rescued near Grays Harbor.

(SEATTLE, Wash.) - It was a busy weekend for Coast Guard rescue crews over the weekend in both Oregon and Washington. The story serves as a good reminder of how treacherous NW waters can become, and how frequently the Coast Guard is able to complete lifesaving rescues.

The Coast Guard reports rescuing a 73-year old man near Coos Bay, Oregoln, Sunday. A Coast Guard watchstander at the Coos Bay lookout tower spotted a vessel overturned and a man in the water around 2:15 p.m.

UPDATE: Missing 13-Year Old Girl Found Dead in Clark County

Investigators say it appears that the young girl died of homicidal violence.

(VANCOUVER, Wash.) - Police say that on February 22nd at approximately 1:00 a.m., Clark County Sheriff's Deputies were called to a residence in the Hazel Dell area of Clark County on report of a missing 13-year old girl, Alycia D. Nipp of Vancouver.

Sgt. Scott Schanaker with the Clark County Sheriff's Office, says that upon arrival, deputies were told that Alycia had last been seen by family and friends around 5:00 p.m. when she had walked through a field north of the Goodwill on NE 78th Street.

AMBER ALERT Canceled for Two Washington Children

Washington's officials believe the children were in "grave danger"; they have now been located.

(TACOMA, Wash.) - Police in Washington say a one-year old girl and a three-year old boy were kidnapped by their mother and her boyfriend Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. from a state human services office.

Zariyah Brown is a black female who is one year old. She is two feet 8 inches tall, she weighs 24 pounds. The second victim is three-year old Deon Brown, a black male who is three feet 5 inches tall, weighs 43 pounds. Both children have black hair and brown eyes.

Police Locate Tacoma-area Kidnap Suspect and Victim in Salem

After a few tense hours, a female believed to be kidnapped out of Washington, was located safely.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon State Police SWAT team members working with OSP troopers, Pierce County Sheriff's Office, and Salem Police Department, arrested a 17-year old Salem male Wednesday afternoon related to a reported kidnapping of the suspect's 18-year old estranged girlfriend from the Tacoma area.

The victim was found missing from her grandmother's home on 78th Street Cr. E. in Tacoma at 7:15 a.m. this morning.

Oregon Gas Prices Edge Up Over the $2 Mark

Both national and state averages have jumped up about 14 cents in the past month.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Oregon's average for regular unleaded is now more than $2 a gallon, and the national average is close behind. Oregon's average jumps up nine cents in the past week to $2.05, while the national average increases four cents to $1.93. Both averages are up about 14 cents in the past month.

AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds says, "As pump prices rise, the cost of crude oil is still in the basement at about $40 per barrel. There's been a disconnect between oil and gas prices since the start of 2009 as U.S. refiners processed less crude oil and slashed their gasoline output."

Vancouver Police Investigate Double Homicide

The Vancouver Police Major Crimes Unit is investigating this incident; at this point there is no suspect information and no arrests have been made.

(VANCOUVER, Wash.) - Vancouver Police officers responded to a radio call of "Shots Heard" last night around 7:15 PM.

Officer Ilia Botvinnik with Vancouver Police, says that upon arrival at the location in the 7000 block of Indiana Street, officers found two adults lying on driveway of a residence.

"Both individuals were deceased, suffering from gunshot wounds," Botvinnik said.

Keizer Firefighters Join Stairclimb Event for Fifth Year

The stair climb takes place each year at the Columbia Center Building in Seattle, Washington. At 788 feet in height, it is the tallest building in Seattle and the second tallest building west of the Mississippi river.

(KEIZER, Ore.) - A team of twelve Firefighters from the Keizer Fire District will travel to Seattle, Washington on Sunday, March 8, 2009 to participate in the 18th Annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb.

Fire District Spokesman Jim Trett, says this event, of 1,500 entrants from around the globe, is the largest individual firefighter competition in the world and is a fund raising event for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.