Winlock resident falls on Egg Day, insurance denied

During Egg Days, a longtime Winlock resident, Freda Steveson, who is 89 years old, tripped on the sidewalk in front of the former Nichols Wilson building, now owned by Mayor Brandon Svenson. Freda has contacted the City of Winlock and the insurance company, who hung up on her.

Freda has lived in Winlock for decades, her children graduated from Mt. St. Helens High School here in Winlock. She is very discouraged with how she has been treated, she stated, "Myself and six members of my family were walking on the sidewalk on E. Walnut from SE First to get a bite to eat. I stubbed my toe on a crack, fell, injured my lip and cracked a tooth. I sat at a table at the restaurant and started feeling like I was going to pass out so my son took me to the fire station to be checked out by paramedics. By then, all my vitals were normal so my son took me home."

Freda continues, "I went to the dentist on Monday. They said I should report it to the city, I did. I got them all the paperwork they wanted. In a few days, the insurance company called for my statement. The insurance man did not call on the day he said he would so a few days later, I called. I was told it was still not decided. When he finally called back, I was telling him how disappointed I was and my feelings about being denied and the insurance agent then hung up on me."

Freda had no choice but to attend a city council meeting, she continued, "So I went to a city council meeting, said what happened and how I felt about the insurance company. Not a single reply from the mayor or anyone. Also, I said I thought their seniors should be treated better."

Freda has lived in the county until 1993 when she became a resident of the city, she stated, "I've been a city resident since 1993. I always pay the city bill on time. I shop in the city. The city should take better care of their citizens."

The response from the insurance company was that the city sidewalk was well maintained. When the editor of the Lewis County News walked the sidewalk, grass was growing and it was easy to see how Freda fell.