Something you don’t see every day

  The two above photos show a phenomenon that doesn’t appear in this region very often. It is known as a cold air funnel, a funnel cloud that develops but rarely touches the ground. It was first spotted in Linn County Kansas around 6:30 PM, near the Amsterdam area around 6:45 and north of Passaic just before 7 PM. 

  At last check of radar, the small storm that developed this funnel had moved on toward Garden City, Missouri. 

  It should be noted that these types of funnel clouds rarely can be seen on radar due to their small size and the fact that they are not part of a cumulonimbus or ‘anvil’ cloud.

  Photo credits go to Angela Allen and Jamie-Mitchel Brooks with our thanks.

Preliminary Reports Indicate Eight Traffic Fatalities, Zero Boating Fatalities, & One Drowning Over July Fourth Holiday Counting Period

Preliminary Reports Indicate Eight Traffic Fatalities, Zero Boating Fatalities, & One Drowning Over July Fourth Holiday Counting Period.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the following 2024 July Fourth holiday statistics for the counting period of 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 3, through 11:59 p.m., Sunday, July 7, 2024:

2024 July Fourth Holiday Boating Statistics

Troopers worked ten boating crashes, which included seven injuries and zero fatalities. Troopers made 11 boating while intoxicated arrests. One person drowned over the holiday weekend. The drowning occurred in Troop D.

[In 2023, there were 11 boating crashes, which included two injuries and no fatalities. One person drowned during last year's July Fourth holiday. Troopers made 10 boating while intoxicated arrests over last year’s July Fourth holiday weekend.]

The drowning occurred on Saturday, July 6, 2024. Craig H. Olson, 60, of Shawnee, KS, was swimming near a vessel, went under the water, and did not resurface. He was not wearing a life jacket. Cedar County Deputy Coroner Joe Trussel pronounced Olson dead at the scene. The incident occurred at Stockton Lake in the first cove west of the Stockton Dam.

2024 July Fourth Holiday Traffic Statistics

Troopers worked 382 traffic crashes, which included 159 injuries and eight fatalities. Troopers also made 147 DWI arrests.

One traffic fatality occurred in the Troop I, Rolla area. Two fatalities occurred in both the Troop C, Weldon Spring, and Troop D, Springfield areas. Three fatalities occurred in the Troop B, Macon, MO, area.

[During the 2023 counting period, 15 people were killed and 646 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,505 traffic crashes. Last year during the counting period, troopers arrested 125 people for driving while intoxicated.]

Two people died on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Jared A. Thrapp, 45, Forsyth, MO, died when the driver of a westbound vehicle crossed the centerline, struck the left side of a second vehicle, then struck the front of the vehicle he was driving. All three vehicles traveled off the right side of the eastbound lanes. The crash occurred in Taney County on Highway F, east of Bull Creek. Thrapp was wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene by Taney County Coroner Elijah Goodwin. A passenger in Thrapp’s vehicle was wearing a seatbelt and sustained serious injuries. The driver of the westbound vehicle was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured. The driver of the second vehicle was wearing a seatbelt and sustained minor injuries. Two passengers in the second vehicle sustained minor injuries, and a third passenger sustained moderate injuries in the crash. They were all wearing a seatbelt.

William C. Sweet, 48, Monroe City, MO, died when the ATV he was driving traveled off the left side of the road and struck a tree. The crash occurred in Monroe County on Cincinnati Road, south of Ariel Lane, southeast of Monroe City. Sweet was pronounced dead at the scene by Monroe City EMS. He was not wearing a helmet.

One person died Thursday, July 4, 2024. Teven J. Blackwell, 20, Troy, MO, died when he lost control of the motorcycle he was driving, struck the side of a parked vehicle, ran off the right side of the roadway, and struck a parked trailer. Blackwell was ejected from the vehicle. He was wearing a helmet. The crash occurred on Pike County Road 255, east of Pike County Road 256. Dr. Pugh pronounced Blackwell deceased at Pike County Memorial Hospital.

Four people died on Friday, July 5, 2024. Trevor A. Benda, 21, Kirksville, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway, stuck an embankment, and overturned into a pond. The crash occurred on U.S. 63, two miles north of LaPlata. Benda was not wearing a seatbelt. He was pronounced dead at University Hospital in Columbia, Missouri, by Dr. Ubinas. The Patrol was assisted by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Adair County Ambulance, and the Kirksville and LaPlata Fire Departments.

Sheldonna A. Wood, 60, Joplin, MO, died when she was struck by a vehicle that traveled off the right side of Douglas Fir Road, one-half mile south of Joplin, in Newton County. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Newton County Coroner Dale Owen. The driver of the vehicle was not injured.

Darrell D. Rice, 56, Montrose, CO, died when he was struck by a vehicle on U.S. 24, west of Keytesville, in Chariton County. Rice was riding a bicycle west on U.S. 24 when he was struck. Rice was not wearing a helmet. He was pronounced dead at Moberly Regional Medical Center by Dr. Lammert. The driver of the vehicle was not injured. An occupant of the vehicle sustained minor injuries. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Chariton County Sheriff's Office.

Darrell J. Williams, 35, St. Louis, MO, died when the front of the vehicle he was driving was struck by a southbound vehicle that crossed the center of the road. The crash occurred on Bellefontaine Road, South of Quiet Lane, in St. Louis County. Williams was pronounced dead at Barnes Jewish Hospital by Dr. Montes. It is unknown if he was wearing a seatbelt. The driver of the other vehicle sustained serious injuries. It is unknown if he was wearing a seatbelt.

There were no traffic fatalities reported on Saturday, July 6, 2024.

One person died in a traffic crash on Sunday, July 7, 2024. Joseph R. Bialczyk, 20, Belle, MO, died when the vehicle he was operating failed to negotiate a curve, began to skid, ran off the left side of the roadway, and overturned. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 42, three miles off Missouri Highway 28, in Maries County. Bialczyk was not wearing a seat belt. Maries County Deputy Coroner Sandbothe pronounced Bialczyk deceased at the scene. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Maries County Sheriff’s Office.

NOTE: The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, if other departments report fatalities after this news release was sent out, or if a fatality is determined to be caused by a medical condition rather than a traffic/boating/drowning incident.

Obituary - Curtis Ryan Platt

Curtis Ryan Platt, age 38, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, July 4, 2024, at the Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada, Missouri. He was born March 28, 1986, at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, to Alan Joe Platt and Linda Kratzberg Platt. 

Curtis graduated from Central Heights High School in Richmond, Kansas with the Class of 2004. He started his career with Holland Quarry as a plant operator with his dad. He then worked road construction for Lexico with his Uncle LeRoy where he inherited the nickname, Gilligan. 

After Lexico, Curtis worked for Doherty Steel in Paola, Kansas before going to work as a supervisor for Fabcon Precast in Pleasanton, Kansas where he worked until his death. Curtis was united in marriage on February 2, 2013, in Ft. Scott, Kansas to Tausha Malone. Curtis and Tausha were married for eleven wonderful years. 

Not only was Curtis committed to Tausha, but he was also committed to his new stepdaughter, Hayley who he loved as his own. Curtis and Tausha were also blessed with a son, Jase Ryan on August 27, 2014. 

Curtis enjoyed working on four wheelers and razors for family and friends. One of his favorite pastimes was hopping in the razor with Jase and going on a night ride with all his friends. Curtis also enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, and playing softball, which is how he and Tausha met. His greatest enjoyment was spending time with Tausha, Hayley and Jase. Curtis and his contagious smile will be lovingly missed by his family and many friends.

Survivors include his wife, Tausha and son, Jase of the home, a stepdaughter, Hayley Bean and grandson, Kyson Castleberry of Arkansas, his parents, Joe and Linda Platt of Richmond, Kansas, two brothers, Erik Platt and wife, Chloe of Princeton, Kansas and Chad Platt and girlfriend, Victoria McMoran of Garnett, Kansas and his grandmother, Elsie Kratzberg of Greeley, Kansas. Also surviving are his in-laws, Brandon and Kathy Malone of Ft. Scott and Linda Rogers and Al Schaffer of Jefferson City, Missouri, brothers and sisters-in-law, John and Sara Kottwitz of Barnett, Missouri and Heather and Thaine Geiger of Ft. Scott. Curtis was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Nick Kratzberg and Edward Platt, his grandmother, Waunita Porter, three cousins, Kris Stockard, Rebecca Jones and Ricky Jones and a sister-in-law, Leesa Haehn.

The family will receive friends 5 to 7 Friday evening at the at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, July 13th at the First Presbyterian Church, 308 S. Crawford, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Cindy Molini will conduct a graveside service at 1:30 P.M. Saturday, at the St. Boniface Cemetery in Scipio, Kansas. Following the graveside service, the family will gather at St. John’s Hall, 406 Prairie St., Greeley, Kansas for a time of fellowship. Memorials are suggested to the Jase Platt Education Fund 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.

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Obituary - Sue Ann Goens

Sue Ann Goens, age 83 of Louisburg Kansas passed away on July 5th 2024. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday, July 11, 2024 in Rockville Cemetery, Louisburg, Kansas. There will be no visitation. Services under the direction of Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel (816-657-4400). Memorial contributions may be made to Disabled Veterans. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at Mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

Sue was born on February 23, 1941, in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of Claude and Helen Greisen Stone.

She grew up in the Kansas City, Missouri area, where she graduated high school from Southeast High. She attended the University of Central Missouri for a short time.

Sue met and married Robert F Goens 57 years ago, they moved to Louisburg and established their family farm. They raised cattle, pigs, chickens and enjoyed canning the vegetables from their garden. Sue enjoyed cooking, quilt piecing, and watching the hummingbirds.

She always worked in the medical field, and when the doctor she worked for retired she began her 23 year career at Walmart. She enjoyed volunteering at the Louisburg Library (sorting, organizing) and finding new books to read.

She was proud of her family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She had many friends and was always willing to lend a helping hand. She always enjoyed spending time with her family, especially during the holidays.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Helen Stone. She is survived by her husband, Robert F. Goens, son Greg Goens and wife Airene, grandson Alan Goens and wife Lindsay, granddaughters, Kelli Goens (Steve Smith) and Allen Pepito (Julio Alvarez), along with great-grandchildren, Wesley Goens and Hudson Flores.

Sue will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

What's Up by LeRoy Cook

 

The Museum Minute

 

Corey's Comments from City Hall