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Year: 2019

Linus F. Scheck

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Linus F. Scheck, age 85, passed away May 20, 2019 at Leisure Homestead, Stafford, KS.

He was born on Oct. 23, 1933 at Victoria, KS, the son of Joseph P. and Magdalena (Windholz) Scheck.

Linus was a resident of Macksville since 1961 and owner of A & S Repair automotive shop until 1995, later working for Walker Bros Mfg. He was in the U.S. Army from 1956-58.

On Nov. 28, 1959 he married Patricia S. (Martin) at Pratt, KS. She survives of the home. His memberships include, St. Bernard’s Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus, Belpre, KS; fire chief for the Macksville Fire Department for 20 years. He was an avid fan of Kansas Jayhawks basketball, Dallas Cowboys, KC Royals and loved playing cards, building model cars and was an all-around general tinkerer.

Other survivors include three sons, John L. Scheck, Wichita, KS, Jeffery J. Scheck (Angela), Macksville, KS, Jay A. Scheck, Great Bend, KS; a daughter, Julie K. Scheck (Bernadette Romero), Wichita, KS; a brother, Edwin Scheck, Russell, KS; a sister, Lena Meder, Victoria, KS; two grandchildren, Andrew Scheck (Kate) and Cody Rosenhamer.

He was preceded in death by five brothers, Peter, Seraphine, Victor, Melvin, and Gilbert and five sisters, Bertha Denning, Mary Weigel, Rubina Dinkel, Katie Scheck, and Leona Scheck.

Visitation will be on Thursday, May 23, 2019 from 1-7 PM in the Minnis Chapel, Macksville, KS with the family present from 5-7 PM. Rosary/Vigil service will be 11:00 AM Friday, May 24, 2019 in the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Belpre, KS. Funeral Mass will be 2:00 PM Friday, May 24, 2019 in the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church with Father Don Bedore. Burial with military honors, will follow in the Farmington Cemetery, Macksville, KS.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Stafford County Hospital in care of Minnis Chapel, P.O. Box 34, St. John, KS 67576.

Vivian M. Steerman

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Vivian M. Steerman, 87, of Osborne, KS, died Wednesday, May 22 at Phillips County Hospital of Phillipsburg, KS. She was born in Osborne Co., KS near Tipton, KS on December 8, 1931 to Frank & Katherine (Ketter) Brummer.

Vivian graduated from Tipton High School in 1949 and was a faithful member of the Catholic Church. She married Vernon Steerman & to this union 3 children were born. Vivan was a homemaker.

Vivian is survived by her husband, Vernon of the home: daughters Vicki Bodner of San Antonio, TX; Valerie Woznok of Worton, TX; VeAnne Depperschmidt of McPherson, KS; sisters: Ruth Ellen Dubbert of Downs, KS; Carol Suter of Aurora, CO; brothers: Wendell Brummer of Downs, KS; Wayne Brummer of Great Bend, KS; 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Services are in the care of Clark-Gashaw Mortuary.

Kan. man sentenced for 2017 shooting death in Wichita

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SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man was sentenced to prison Wednesday a shooting death over two years ago.

Suttle, Jr. photo Sedgwick County

Judge Stephen Ternes ordered Jimmy Suttle Jr., 33,  Wichita, to serve 288 months in prison, according to District Attorney Marc Bennett.

In May 2017, 52-year-old Leonard Childers of Wichita was shot outside a Wichita home. The shooting was the result of harsh words between Childers and Jimmy Suttle Sr.

Childers told the elder Suttle to get off his lawn. Witnesses say Suttle responded with a derogatory slur. Childers and Suttle then argued further. A short time later, Suttle Jr. approached Childers with a gun and fired twice. One bullet struck Childers in the abdomen.

Suttle Jr. pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter on Feb. 1. On Wednesday, Judge Ternes sentenced him to 165 months. With the shooting, Suttle violated his probation on a 2013 forgery case, a 2015 methamphetamine possession case, and a 2015 aggravated battery case. The underlying sentences on those cases along with the voluntary manslaughter conviction resulted in the 288 month term.

114-year-old St. Joseph’s Church steeple in Liebenthal gets facelift

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By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

LIEBENTHAL — A crew from Roofmasters is working more than 150 feet in the air to repair the steeple on the 114-year-old St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Liebenthal.

Roofmasters Roofing and Sheet Metal workers have begun removing the copper from the steeple, which is 167 feet at the top of its highest cross. The company estimates the work will take about a month to complete.

St. Joseph’s was established by Volga Germans in 1876, and the current church building was was dedicated on May 28, 1905. Although the steeple has had repairs many times over the years, it has not had a major renovation for 55 years.

In March 2018, the steeple sustained significant storm damage, and the parish immediately began fundraising for a major overhaul.

In addition to water-damaged wood, the church was gutted by fire in 1917 and 1959. Some work will also likely need to be done to the steeple’s masonry.

The wood as well as the cooper covering will be replaced. The old copper that is being removed will be recycled.

There are four copper crosses on top of the tower that holds the church’s single steeple. Project foreman Andy Littrel will handcraft duplicate crosses to replace the originals that have been damaged by years of harsh Kansas weather.

The church is still fundraising for the steeple project. Insurance only paid $13,000 of the $80,000 needed for the copper work. The church was able to raise another $19,000 through donations, memorials and fundraisers.

The church continues to fundraise in hopes it will not have to dip into its savings to finish the project, Judy Hoffman, church secretary, said.

“I don’t know what we can do next because you fundraise your people to death,” she said.

The congregation is small, with only 50 registered individual parishioners and families. A typical Sunday Mass attracts 70 to 90 people, Hoffman said.

The parishioners had to dig deep into their pockets for the amount that has been raised thus far for the steeple renovations. This was on top of a costly renovation in 2014 during which the interior walls were restored and repainted. Leaks in the steeple have been dripping into the choir loft and damaging the latest interior renovation and paint.

Students from the Fort Hays State University Nursing Department threw a potluck fundraiser for the church’s steeple project last year, raising $200.

“That might not sound like a big deal, but to me, it was big. To us, it was big,” Hoffman said. “It was somebody outside the parish who cared enough to put some effort in to helping us fund this project. Those kinds of things are welcome if anyone wants to try that.”

St. Joseph’s has managed to stay open as many other small, rural Catholic churches have closed, including Loretta, Pfeifer and McCracken.

“Many of those people have come over to our church, and even if they haven’t registered, they are in the pew fairly often,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays as a child, but started attending the church in Liebenthal when she moved back to the area as an adult.

“Oh, I really love it there in Liebenthal a lot,” she said.

Anyone wishing to donate to the steeple project can do so directly through the church’s website. Go to rushcountycatholicchurches.com and click on the St. Joseph Parish Giving icon.

Summer Lunch Program moves to Hays Public Library

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By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Due to Early Childhood Connections moving, the Hays Summer Lunch Program will be at the Hays Public Library.

The program is free and open to children 18 and younger. Hot meals will be served in the Schmidt Gallery from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays May 28 through Aug. 2. No meal will be served on July 4. Adults can eat with children for $3.75 per meal.

Children do not have to live in or attend USD 489 schools to participate.

USD 489 will offer its snack program at the library again this year. Healthy snacks will be available free for children from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the children’s department on the second floor of the library.

In previous years, the program served meals to between 100 to 200 children and five to 20 adults per day. The snack program served 60 to 80 children per day last year.

Jessica Younker, USD 489 nutrition services director, said she is anticipating more children will participate in the program now that it has been moved to the library. Not only is it in a central location, but the library is coordinating some of its children’s programs around the lunch program’s hours.

“I think we can both benefit from this,” Younker said of the school/library partnership. “More importantly, the kids will benefit from having it all in one place at one time. We both want to serve the most number of kids we possible can, and we thought coming together would be the best option for both us and for the kids.”

Also new this year, USD 489 is trying to work with local growers to provide fresh produce. Younker attended the kick off meeting for the Hays Downtown Market. Prices and quality must be comparable to what the program can buy through its current suppliers.

For more information on becoming a supplier, contact Younker at 785-623-2400.

The library has added an Astronaut Training Academy at 11 a.m. weekdays for the children who come early for lunch. The program is for youth ages 3 to 11 and will include exercise, math and star charting.

Meagan Zampieri, children’s librarian, said the library tries to educate the whole child. For small children this includes working on fine motor skills. Older children work on not only literacy, but STEAM skills.

This summer’s reading program is space themed and is titled “Universe of Stories.”

During lunch, the library is providing small activities for children who may need to wait for a sibling or adult to finish eating. This will include books and coloring. The Friends of the Library is providing some free books for children to take home and keep.

The library moved its children’s afternoon activities to coordinate with the afternoon snack. Activities for elementary-age children will be at 3 p.m.

Zampieri also said she hoped the reading program and other library programs will grow with the partnership with the lunch program.

“I am excited, because I know how many kids are physically hungry in the summer,” Zampieri  said. “They rely on free school lunches during the school year. Their parents aren’t making enough money in order to feed them three whole meals. That money doesn’t increase in the summer, but the kids needs increase. I am just really happy I was able to say yes and the team here was as excited about saying yes as I was.”

The Summer Reading Program already has 800 children signed up. The reading program for young adults kicked off Friday and the kickoff for younger children was Tuesday morning.

You can find a complete list of summer activities for both children and adults on the Hays Public Library website.

Dolly Rose Reese

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Dolly Rose Reese, 91, was born to Henry and Carrie Kaehn on January 26, 1928, in Ringwood, Oklahoma. She passed away May 22, 2019 at Diversicare of Larned.

She grew up among extended family who ventured on regular travels between Oklahoma and Florida.

In her teens, with the onset of World War II, she moved to Hutchinson, Kansas where her brother had joined the Navy to become a pilot. She worked her way through Salt City Business College and became a secretary and stenographer. On her 20th birthday in 1948, she married Vernon (Bud) Reese, who was a registered nurse and administrator at the Kansas State Reformatory. Dolly and Bud raised three children and were founding members of the Hutchinson Kennel Club and the 4-H club in Hutchinson. They moved to Larned in 1966 where they were active in the community for many years.

She is survived by her three children, Benji Reese of Larned, Mindy Ploeckelmann and husband Jerry of Bel Aire, and Jill Garza of San Antonio, Texas. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Abby Hannaford and husband Bryan of Wichita, Evie Marcotte and husband Kurtis of Wichita, Ryan Walker of Seattle, Washington, Aaron Walker and wife Lorelei of Seattle, Washington and Jason Walker and wife Lidia of Fort Washington, Maryland. Dolly had nine great grandchildren.

Dolly was preceded by her husband, parents, three sisters; Margaret Posey, Alice Crapson and Flora Belle Sutton, and a brother, Lewis Kaehn.

Funeral will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Jack Singer presiding. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the mortuary. Graveside service will be 3:00 p.m. Saturday at Poheta Cemetery, Salina, Kansas.

Memorials may be given to the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation or Diversicare of Larned, both in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Randy Paul Bane

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Randy Paul Bane, age 71, died Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at Morton County Senior Living Community in Elkhart, Kansas. He was born December 17, 1947, in Liberal, Kansas, the son of Gilbert R. and June (Johnson) Bane.

Randy grew up in Rolla and graduated from Rolla High School. He then attended Fort Hays State University and majored in English and Physical Education. He received his Master’s Degree in Guidance Counseling. While in college he was the President of Student Council. Randy’s first job was in Hoxie, Kansas. He taught junior high English and coached basketball.

In 1971, he moved to Fowler, Kansas. He taught high school English, coached high school boys’ basketball and was the Guidance Counselor. Randy moved to Rolla in 1975 and taught high school English, coached girls’ volleyball, track and was the sponsor for National Honor Society. He was also the Rolla Librarian for a number of years. He was a member of the Rolla United Methodist Church where he was a sponsor for Sonshine Singers and MYF. He was one of the founders of Kansas Scholars’ Bowl and was inducted into the KSHSAA Hall of Fame where he served in the Leadership Group. Randy had a stroke in 2004 and retired from teaching. He continued to coach Scholars’ Bowl and tutored students until 2014. Randy served on the Morton County Fair Board and was a 4-H sheep leader for a number of years. He served as a Morton County Commissioner and was awarded the Morton County Pioneer Man of the Year Award in 2018. He was also a tissue donor.

Randy married Sandra L. Little on September 2, 1967 in Rolla, Kansas; she survives.

Other survivors include his son, Andy Bane and wife Shara of Elkhart; daughter, Jenny Faimon and husband Aaron of Olathe; sister-in-law, Jean Bane of Elkhart; and three grandchildren, Noah Bane, Evan Faimon and Abi Faimon.

Randy is preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Gary Bane.

Funeral service will be Saturday, May 25, 2019, at 1:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Rolla, Kansas, with Pastor Mary Courtney officiating. Interment will follow at the Rolla Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, May 24, 2019, from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM with family present from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart. Please bring your stories of Randy to share.

Memorials may be given to Rolla Library or Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.

Sandra Kay Dayton

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Sandra Kay Dayton, 71, of Great Bend, KS, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at Hays Med Center in Hays, KS, with family and friends by her side. She was born Jan. 27, 1948, in Liberal, KS to Roy and Eunice (Hutson) Broadfoot. She married Steve Dayton on Sept. 9, 1966 in Fargo, OK. He survives.

Coming from Alva, OK in 1969, Sandy worked for the Great Bend Public Library for 25 years as the children’s librarian. This was a big part of her life as she loved working with children. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Great Bend. Sandra loved spending time with her family and especially spoiling her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She touched the hearts of many and was a true blessing to all who knew her. Her favorite thing to say to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was “Love you Big!” and that she truly did.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Eunice Broadfoot; sisters, Margaret Ann Broadfoot and Maybelle Mitchell: brothers, Karl Broadfoot and Benny Broadfoot. She is survived by her husband, Steve Dayton of the home; sons, Matt Dayton (Lara) of Overland Park, KS and Mark Dayton (Shane) of Derby, KS; daughter, Melissa McNeill (Scott) of Overland Park, KS; brothers, Danny Broadfoot (Jacque) Beaver, OK, Ronnie Broadfoot (Kareen) of Smithton, IL, and Troy Broadfoot of Coweta, OK; and sister, Nancy Elliott of TX; plus 7 grandchildren, Grace Whitson (Scott), Emilie Dayton, Camden Dayton, Elise Dayton, Caleb Dayton, Kaylee McNeill, and Braden McNeill; and 2 great-grandchildren, Malachi Whitson and Eden Whitson. All of these she loved and touched deeply.

Family will be receiving friends, from 5 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 30, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home. Please join us in celebrating her life, at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 31, 2019, at Trinity United Methodist Church, Great Bend, with Pastor Seong Lee officiating. Private Family Inurnment will be in Great Bend Cemetery North.

Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

🎥 City to discuss 37th St. extension; commissioner offers alternative

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Four traffic roundabouts are included in the North Vine Street Corridor Improvement Plan, as well as extension of 37th Street to the west.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Hays city commission will discuss a portion of the North Vine Corridor Improvements project during their meeting tonight, specifically the 37th/Skyline/41st connection.

Staff will present a detailed review of the connection to Vine Street, the options explored and the underlying factors that led to the choice.

During last week’s work session, Commissioner Sandy Jacobs, who lives in the area, suggested an alternative to the current plan.

“I’ve been driving the area, looking for some possibilities,” Jacobs said, adding that she has talked to City Manager Toby Dougherty about her idea. “There’s two sets of stop signs up there, one at 35th and Fort and one at 37th and Fort. They actually stop north/south traffic.

“I think it would be a good idea to consider changing the direction of those stop signs.”

Jacobs said she and the other commissioners have heard from residents in that area.

“I think their concerns about traffic going through their [neighborhood] quickly can be waylaid if [traffic on 37th] has to stop at Willow, then they have to stop at Fort, then they have to stop at Skyline,” she said.

“If I were driving it, I would route myself around 41st where there is no stop sign,” Jacobs said. “I’d like to recommend that we look into that and possibly move forward with that.”

“They [stop signs] can easily be switched around,” said Dougherty.

Four traffic roundabouts are to be constructed on Vine Street/U.S. Highway 183 at 32nd/33rd, 37th, 41st Streets, and a partial roundabout  at the eastbound exit ramp of Interstate 70.

A portion of the engineering contract for the Vine Street traffic roundabouts includes extension of 37th Street to the west. (Click to enlarge)

In addition, the corridor project calls for W. 37th to be extended west to the new development area and for West 41st — the west frontage road — to be realigned to meet West 37th further west than the existing intersection location. A new public street would be constructed south of the new intersection to maintain access to the existing gas station south of West 37th.

Nearby homeowners spoke to the commission last month about their opposition to the proposed 37th Street extension, citing concerns about increased traffic and the possibility of falling property values.

Other agenda items for May 23 include:

  • Award of bid and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant application for a new airport truck and snow plow
    • Bruckner Truck Sales Inc., Hays, presented the low bid of $271,039 for a Mack Granite 42FR truck and a 16 foot snow plow. The bid award is contingent upon an FAA grant for federal funding which would decrease the total city share to $27,103.90.
  • Award of bid for sewer cleaning and video inspection of lines
    • Pro-Pipe, Denver, has the low bid of   $97,854.51 to perform light cleaning and video inspection of 105,759 linear feet of sanitary sewer .
  • Award of bid for a dump truck for the Water Resources Department
    • The low bid is $101,717 from Summit Truck Group, Salina, for a 2019 HV607 International Truck with the Henderson Mark E body.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hal, 1507 Main.

Dan A. Keener

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Dan A. Keener, 74, Hutchinson, Kansas, formerly of Rush County, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at Wesley Towers Thorne Care Center, Hutchinson, Kansas.

Dan was born December 9, 1944, in Great Bend, Kansas, the son of John and Della (Folkerts) Keener. A 1962 graduate of La Crosse High School, La Crosse, Kansas, and a graduate of Barton County Community College, Great Bend, Kansas, he was a businessman, volunteer firefighter, EMS educator, and the Rush County EMS Director for 17 years before his retirement.

He was a lifelong member of Hope Lutheran Church, Rush Center, Kansas; a 40 year member of Walnut City Masonic Lodge #215, Rush Center, Kansas; a 37 year member of the ISIS Shrine, Salina, Kansas; and a member of the Fort Hays Shrine Club, Hays, Kanas.

On July 13, 1968, he married Ann Baalmann. They later divorced. On December 9, 2006, he married Pat Edwards.

Survivors include: his wife, Pat Keener, Hutchinson, Kansas; one son, Don Keener, Shawnee, Kansas; two daughers, Anjeanette “Angie” Roth (Jamey), Victoria, Kansas, and Anamarie “Amie” Keener (John Dollus), Dallas, Texas; three grandchildren, Joseph Roth (Emily), Hays, Kansas, Jacob Roth, Victoria, Kansas, and Adella “Addie” Roth, Victoria, Kansas; two foster grandsons, Ryan Downing, Victoria, Kansas, and Kevin Malek, Victoria, Kansas; two step sons, Rick Storm, Wilmington, Delaware, and Mark Storm (Wendy), Topeka, Kansas; three step daughters, Lori Hall (LaBan), Hutchinson, Kansas, Toni Landon (Terry), Hutchinson, Kansas, and Tracy Jenkins (Randy), Hutchinson, Kansas; 10 step grandchildren, Hilary Holtz, Roni Galimore (Ethan), Carl Bengston (Callie), Devin Storm, Rachel Storm, Sophia Storm, Jessica Woodyard (Greg), Turner Landon (McKenzie), Joshua Jenkins, and Courtney Jenkins (fiancé, Tyler); five step great grandchildren, Layla Holtz, Katilynn Holtz, Hudson Holtz, Jovie Harrison, and Jhett Woodyard; two sisters, Donna Schmidt (Galen), and Dena Irvin (Don), many cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Dan Keener, Jr.; and his foster grandson, Stephen Paul Reed.

Visitation will be Friday, May 24, 2019, from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Janousek Funeral Home, La Crosse, Kansas, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Church visitation will be Saturday, May 25, 2019, from 12:00 Noon to 12:50 P.M. at Hope Lutheran Church, Rush Center, Kansas.

Funeral service will be Saturday, May 25, 2019, at 1:00 P.M. at Hope Lutheran Church, Rush Center, Kansas, with Pastor Wayne Baldyga officiating. Interment will be in Locust Hill Cemetery, Rush Center, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorials to the Dan A. Keener Memorial Fund to be used for local community needs.

Condolences or remembrances may be left for the family at www.charterfunerals.com/locations/janousek-lacrosse.php.

Arrangements were by Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine Street, P O Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785/222-2517.

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 5/23/19

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khaz cheesy joke logo 20110802A Flying Turtle?

Deep within a forest a little turtle began to climb a tree. After hours of effort he reached the lowest branch, jumped into the air waving his front legs, and dropped to the ground. He slowly climbed the tree again, jumped, and fell to the ground.

The turtle tried again and again while a couple of birds sitting on a branch watched his efforts. Finally, the female bird turned to her mate.

“Dear,” she chirped, “I think it’s time to tell him he’s adopted.”

 

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

 

 

 

3 deaths in Missouri as tornado strikes state capital

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A tornado caused heavy damage in Missouri’s capital city as severe weather swept across the state overnight, causing at least three deaths and injuring nearly two dozen people as homes and businesses were ripped apart.

The National Weather Service confirmed that the large and destructive tornado moved over Jefferson City shortly before midnight on Wednesday.

“Across the state, Missouri’s first responders once again responded quickly and with strong coordination as much of the state dealt with extremely dangerous conditions that left people injured, trapped in homes, and tragically led to the death of three people,” Governor Mike Parson said.

Tornado damage in Jefferson City photo courtesy WDAF

Missouri Public Safety said the three were killed in the Golden City area of Barton County, near Missouri’s southwest corner, as the severe weather moved in from Oklahoma, where rescuers struggled to pull people from high water. The tornado hit during a week that has seen several days of tornadoes and torrential rains in parts of the Southern Plains and Midwest.

No deaths were reported in the capital, but Jefferson City Police Lt. David Williams said about 20 people were rescued by emergency personnel.

The weather service reported that a “confirmed large and destructive tornado” was observed over Jefferson City at 11:43 p.m. Wednesday, moving northeast at 40 mph (64 kph). The capital city has a population of about 40,000 and is located about 130 miles (209 kilometers) west of St. Louis.

“It’s a chaotic situation right now,” Williams said.

Storm damage in Jefferson City Photo courtesy KCRG TV

Williams spoke from the Cole County Sheriff’s office, where debris including insulation, roofing shingles and metal pieces lay on the ground outside the front doors. Authorities were discouraging people from beginning clean-up efforts until power is safely restored. Area hospitals set up command centers in case the need arises.

Missouri Public Safety tweeted that there was a possibility of more tornadoes and flash flooding.

Austin Thomson, 25, was in the laundry room of his complex of two-story apartment buildings to do his wash and noticed the wind started picking up. He saw sheets of rain coming down and a flagpole bend and then slam to the ground. The windows broke and he dove behind the washers and dryers.

After it calmed down, he walked outside to check the damage, and retrieved a stuffed animal for his daughter from his damaged apartment.

“There’s basically one building that’s basically one story now,” he said.

The National Weather Service said it had received 22 reports of tornadoes by late Wednesday, although some of those could be duplicate reporting of the same twister.

Storm damage in Jefferson City photo courtesy KRCG TV

One tornado skirted just a few miles north of Joplin, Missouri, on the eighth anniversary of a catastrophic tornado that killed 161 people in the city. The tornado caused some damage in the town of Carl Junction, about 4 miles (6.44 kilometers) north of the Joplin airport, where several injuries were reported.

Storms and torrential rains have ravaged the Midwest, from Texas through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois.

Two barges broke loose and floated swiftly down the swollen Arkansas River in eastern Oklahoma on Wednesday, spreading alarm downstream as they threatened to hit a dam.

Authorities urged residents of several small towns in Oklahoma and Kansas to leave their homes as rivers and streams rose.

The Arkansas River town of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, was one such town. Town officials ordered a mandatory evacuation Wednesday afternoon because of the river’s rising level.

But Wednesday evening, a posting on the town’s official Facebook page sounded the alarm about the runaway barges for its 600 residents: “Evacuate Webbers Falls immediately. The barges are loose and has the potential to hit the lock and dam 16. If the dam breaks, it will be catastrophic!! Leave now!!”

There was no word by midnight Wednesday where the barges were on the river, but local television stations showing live video of the river and the lock and dam said they had not yet arrived.

The Arkansas River was approaching historic highs, while the already high Missouri and Mississippi Rivers were again rising after a multi-day stretch of storms that produced dozens of tornadoes. Forecasters predicted parts of Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas could see more severe weather on Thursday.

Deaths from this week’s storms include a 74-year-old woman found early Wednesday morning in Iowa. Officials there say she was killed by a possible tornado that damaged a farmstead in Adair County. Missouri authorities said heavy rain was a contributing factor in the deaths of two people in a traffic accident Tuesday near Springfield.

A fourth weather-related death may have occurred in Oklahoma, where the Highway Patrol said a woman apparently drowned after driving around a barricade Tuesday near Perkins, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northeast of Oklahoma City. The unidentified woman’s body was sent to the state medical examiner’s office to confirm the cause of death. Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Cain said she isn’t yet listed as what would be the state’s first storm-related death.

 

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