Regional News Briefs

Olympian staff and wire

SHELTON

Soldier dies in training exercise

Sgt. Clifton J. Decklar, 22, of Shelton was one of the three soldiers killed in a live-fire training exercise in California on Friday.

The men died when a 120mm mortar round fired from an armored vehicle exploded prematurely during a training exercise at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.

Decklar entered the Army in January 1998. All three of the victims were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor, as indirect fire infantrymen.

Spc. Bobby L. Newton, 27, of New Orleans, and Pvt. 2 Oscar Perez-Jimenez, 19, of West Covina, Calif., were the other victims.

Decklar is survived by his wife, Danielle, 21, and a daughter, MaKenzie Marie, who is 10 months old.

"He was a good father, he was a good husband and a good soldier," said Mike Westfall, Danielle's father.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

ROCHESTER

County considers paramedic cuts

A public meeting on a proposal to reduce the number of contractors providing paramedic services in south Thurston County will be at 6 p.m. Monday at Rochester High School.

A reduction in the number of contractors could affect service in Rochester, Grand Mound, Littlerock, Tenino, Gibson Valley and Bucoda.

"Essentially, we're attempting to maintain the current service level in south Thurston County," said Russ Kaleiwahea, captain of Fire District 1 and a meeting organizer.

Thurston County Commissioners Kevin O'Sullivan and Diane Oberquell plan to attend.

For more information, call 360-455-2915.

TUMWATER

Fund-raiser to help fire vicitims

A fund-raiser is planned for Tuesday morning for the Tumwater family that lost its home to fire Wednesday.

A $2 biscuits-and-gravy breakfast will be served starting at 7 a.m. Tuesday in the first-floor lobby of Building 5 of the Town Square complex at Plum and Union streets in Olympia.

The benefit is for the family of Steve Kenney, who is in the medical assistance administration of the state Department of Social and Health Services.

For more information, call 360-902-7604.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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