Avoid a Monster Mash on the Roads this Halloween

MoDOT Urges Drivers and Pedestrians to Stay Alert for Each Other

JEFFERSON CITY – As little ghosts and goblins embark on their quests for candy this weekend, the Missouri Department of Transportation is urging trick-or-treaters and drivers to stay alert for each other.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, children are three times more likely to be struck and killed by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year. And since 2015, Missouri has seen more fatal crashes involving pedestrians in October than any other month.

“In dark conditions with an influx of pedestrians, many of them children, Halloween night has the potential to result in increased risks,” said Jon Nelson, MoDOT’s assistant to the state highway safety and traffic engineer. “Drivers and pedestrians both have important roles to play to keep each other safe and avoid a real tragedy.”

Drivers should avoid distractions so they’re aware of any pedestrians walking on or near the roadways. Be especially cautious in the dark, as children in dark clothing may be difficult to see. Drivers should also slow down in areas where pedestrians are likely to be or where sight distances are limited, and never drive impaired.

Pedestrians should also make smart choices, such as bringing a flashlight to make yourself as visible as possible to passing motorists. Trick-or-treaters should always walk on a sidewalk wherever one is available. If one isn’t available, walk facing traffic and as far to the side as safely possible. Pedestrians should also cross with a traffic signal and crosswalk whenever they are available. Make sure traffic has stopped or passed before you begin to cross the road. And like drivers, pedestrians should also avoid distractions so you are alert to the traffic around you.

Missouri’s strategic highway safety plan, Show-Me Zero, identifies four key focus areas - distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding and buckling up - to help eliminate traffic deaths. For more information on the Show-Me Zero plan and to learn how all Missourians can help make the roadways safer, visit www.savemolives.com.

Obituary - Shawn Morgan Espey

Shawn Morgan Espey, age 21, Louisburg, Kansas died Monday, October 25, 2021 as the result of an automobile accident in Cass County Missouri. He was born on May 1, 2000 in Memphis, Tennessee the son of Carl Espey Jr. and Lynda Shearon. He graduated from Paola High School. 

Shawn was currently employed with Mo-Kan Dial as an I.T. Technician. He loved to spend time with his fiance, Gisselle Zelay and son Landon Espey. 

He enjoyed BMX and rebuilding Honda Cars. He was preceded in death by his mother. Shawn is survived by his fiance, Gisselle, son, Landon, father and stepmother, Carl and Carey Espey Jr., three brothers, Carl Espey III, Chace Espey and wife Brittany, Austin Espey and wife Tiffany, two sisters, Carlie Adams and husband Matt, and Sara Stafford, stepfather, Christopher Stafford, stepsister, Brie Stump and step grandfather, Fred Tucker.

Funeral service will be 10:30 am Friday, October 29, 2021 at The Truth Church, La Cygne, Kansas. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm Thursday, October 28 at The Truth Church. Contributions are suggested to Shawn Espey Family Fund, c/o Schneider Funeral Home, P.O. Box 304, La Cygne, KS 66040. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

Here comes the rain.... Again

Well, here comes the rain...again (we feel like there a song in there somewhere). Showers and thunderstorms will slowly overspread the area today from west to east. 

Rain expected to continue Wednesday night through Thursday before finally ending Thursday night/Friday morning. Widespread 1 to 3 inches of rain is expected. 

Severe weather and flash flooding is not expected although minor river flooding cannot be ruled out.

PSA: Archie Residents

PSA: Archie Residents:

The holidays are closely approaching and with all the rushing around between shopping and family events we can easily get distracted. Lots of people become very vulnerable during the holidays which is why we should take precautions now to keep yourself and your vehicle safe during this holiday season. Here are some tips to remind you of what to be aware of for the upcoming season.

1. Make sure you manually lock up your vehicle.

2. Park safely in a brightly lit area with other vehicles and people around.

3. Make sure you hide your valuables in your vehicle such as devices, chargers and exposed bags. Leaving these objects in plain sight of thieves makes your car a target.

4. Pay attention and stay off social media when in parking lots, driveways or at any store.

We recently had a vehicle that was broken into and with items stolen from our community so please take note of these helpful tips and make sure that your vehicles are locked up at night and your valuables have been removed from your car. Have a safe upcoming Holiday season from the Archie Police Department!

Obituary - Kevin Dean Weeks

Kevin Dean Weeks, 59, Peculiar, MO, passed away Saturday, October 23, 2021 at his home in Peculiar. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 29, 2021 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Adrian, MO with visitation from 10:00-11:00. Burial will be in Crescent Hill Cemetery in Adrian.

Kevin was born November 21, 1961 in Kansas City, MO, a son of Danny R. and Barbara S. (Ehrhardt) Weeks. He was a 1980 graduate of Adrian High School. He had lived in Olathe, KS before moving to Adrian in 1975. He had lived in Peculiar since 2009. Kevin married Sheila Ann Holland on September 17, 2021.

Kevin worked as an electrician for City Wide Electric in Shawnee, KS for 26 years and was a member of the IBEW Local Union #124 for 36 years. He was a member of the Thursday Night Adrian Ping-Pong Club

Kevin is survived by his wife, Sheila, of the home; two sons, Jason
Weeks and his wife, Danielle, Raymore, MO and Brant Weeks, Grandview, MO; two daughters, Kristy Noel and her husband, Tim and Tarrah Dyal and her husband, Kenny, all of Independence, MO; one step-daughter, Crystal Francis and her husband, Kyle, Grain Valley, MO; one step-son, Matt Cason, of California; his parents, Dan and Barbara Weeks, Butler, MO; one sister, Lisa Wolfe and her husband, Vernie, Butler and 11 grandchildren.

Obituary - Vicki Sue Thornhill

Vicki Sue Thornhill, age 66, a resident of rural Mapleton, Kansas, died unexpectedly Friday, October 22, 2021, at her home. She was born February 19, 1955, in Garnett, Kansas, the daughter of Kenneth Adams and Violet McQuay Adams. Vicki had worked at the high school and also served as a bus drive for the Ballard, Missouri, school district. At the time of her death, she was serving in the same capacity for the Jayhawk Linn School District. 

She liked horses and dogs and also enjoyed going to auctions. Vicki loved her family and was always ready to go on an outing with them or to attend any of her grandchildren’s activities. While in Missouri, Vicki was a member of the Heart of Life Church in Adrian.

Survivors include her three children, Kenny Allen (Destiny) of Ft. Scott, Kansas, Rocky Wheeler (J.R.), of Butler, Missouri and Richie Allen (Aimee) of Mapleton, Kansas; a daughter-in-law, Ann Allen of Waukee, Iowa; sixteen grandchildren, Kolby Allen (Megan), Kori Belcher (Darren), Damon Allen (Torie), Austin Collins, Jordyn Allen, Savana Allen, Kailee Allen, Morgan Wheeler, Jailynn Wheeler, Garrett Allen, Jackson Allen, Kendall Earnest, Spencer Allen, Zoie Wheeler, Nellie Earnest and Kenadee Allen; and three great-grandsons, Atlas, Oliver and Gage with one more great-grandchild on the way. Also surviving is a step-son Jason Lewis and his family of the Florida Keys; a brother, Gary McQuay (Nyoka Simrell) and a sister, Sandra Dunfield (Lloyd) all of Nevada, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents, and two sons, Robert Garwood who died in infancy and Tony Allen.

Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Friday, October 29th at the Community Christian Church. Burial will follow in the Centerville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary - James "Jimmy" Leister

James "Jimmy" Leister, 57, of Amsterdam, Missouri, passed away on Sunday, October 24, 2021 at the Butler Center Nursing and Rehab in Butler, MO. A Masonic service will be held at 11:30 am on Monday, November 1, 2021 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Adrian, MO. A memorial service will follow. The family will receive friends 10:00-11:30am on Monday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the family.

Jimmy was born on September 5, 1964 in Butler, Missouri to Mike and Linda (McGuire) Leister. Jimmy graduated from Miami High School in 1982. Following graduation, Jimmy worked various jobs before joining the Union as a laborer and operator. Jimmy married Shawna on July 12, 1986 in Nevada, MO. During this 25-year union, two daughters were born: Erika Jimmi and Somer Jo.

Jimmy was a member of the Amsterdam Masonic Lodge #141 AF&AM in Amsterdam, MO. He enjoyed farming until his health deteriorated in 2015. Jimmy also enjoyed playing slow-pitch softball, attending the Bates County fair with his daughters, avidly attending jackpot shows, and spent many days at the lake with his family and friends. Recently he enjoyed watching his grandchildren show 4H animals during the fair. He departed this life with his longtime best friend, Jimmy Booth, as his roommate.

Jimmy is preceded in death by his son, Blake Leister; parents, Mike and Linda Leister; brother, Jeff Leister; grandfather, Cotton McGuire; and grandparents, Clifford and Thelma Leister. He is survived by his daughters: Erika (Homer) Irwin of Hume, MO; and Somer (Luke) Leister of Grandview, MO; his sister, Jackie (Gary) Silvia of Williamsburg, VA; his brother, John (Sandi) Leister of Amsterdam, MO; sister-in-law, Beth Leister of Amsterdam, MO; six grandchildren: Lane, Kenzee, Kamee, Ava, Sophee, and Mia; as well as, many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces.

Woman arrested after showing bag of meth on recorded online jail visit

According to officials with the Sheriff’s Office, a Nevada resident is in custody after detectives with the Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant early Monday morning at a residence on N. Oak St in Nevada, MO. Vernon County Sheriff Jason Mosher said Investigators discovered video on the jails electronic visitation system, which is recorded. 

During the online recorded video visitation, the suspect showed a bag of drugs to an inmate in the jail. Detectives then located the address where the video was being recorded from. One suspect was arrested without incident and suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia was located during the search. 

The suspect has been identified as 43-year-old Joyce Wyant of Nevada, Mo. Wyant was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance and Keeping or Maintaining a Public Nuisance. She’s being held at the Vernon County Jail with a $2,500 bond.