Vera Ann “Vee” Eagleson, 72, co-owner
of Country Creations in Holden since 1983, passed away unexpectedly
at her home on Thursday, December 30.Eagleson was a 1950 graduate of Holden High School, a member of the First United Methodist Church in Holden, the Holden Saddle Club and the Holden Chamber of Commerce. Funeral services were held Sunday, Jan. 2 at Williams Funeral Chapel in Holden. See full obituary on inside pages. Area firefighters
spent 36 hours battling a blaze that occurred after a propane tanker
overturned on 50 Highway three miles east of 131 Highway December 29
during decreased motorist visibility in foggy conditions.The accident occurred as a 1997 International propane tanker hauling approximately 2,500 gallons of liquid propane, traveling westbound on 50 Highway, attempted to pass another vehicle. While attempting to pass, the driver realized another vehicle was in the passing lane, swerved to the right and traveled off the road. The tanker struck a culvert, overturned and caught on fire. According to Johnson County Sheriff Chuck Heiss, citizens who witnessed the accident pulled the driver from the burning truck to safety before emergency personnel arrived on scene. The driver of the tanker, Matthew D. West, 29, Chilhowee, suffered injuries described by Highway Patrol reports as serious and was transported from the scene to Research Hospital. Because of the nature of the accident and the danger involved, a large radius of 50 Highway was closed down for most of the day last Wednesday, and the westbound lane, east of Highway 131 stayed closed part of Thursday. “The suggested evacuation zone for such an incident is about one-half of a mile,” Heiss explained. “By diverting traffic, we eliminated the possibility of motorists entangling themselves in something they didn’t need to be in.” According to Heiss, eastbound traffic was diverted south through Holden, where they could continue east on Highway 58 to Warrensburg or destinations further east. Westbound traffic was diverted to M Highway, where motorists could go to I-70 for travel to western destinations. Heiss said the main concern of emergency personnel on the scene was the possibility of an explosion, due to the high flammability of the propane on board the truck. “We were concerned because the back of the truck was burning,” Heiss said. “If the remainder of the propane inside the tank were to boil and explode, we would have had a secondary incident far worse than the initial incident.” It was because of this concern, according to Heiss, a high priority of fire personnel was to take every measure to keep the propane tank and its contents cool. “We need to take our hats off to the Johnson County Fire District and all fire department personnel,” Heiss commented. “They did a tremendous job... They were in harm’s way the whole time they were there, but they contained the situation and prevented it from becoming any worse.” Heiss explained protocol for such an incident would suggest fire fighters set up unmanned monitor stations, utilizing fire hydrants and other sources to provide water to the scene, thus allowing fire personnel to back off one-half mile, removing themselves from danger. “Here in rural Johnson County we don’t have that luxury,” Heiss said. “They could not back off one-half mile because they had to shuttle water... We don’t have fire hydrants out in the county.” West was the only person injured in the accident, and no emergency personnel were injured while working on scene. By Christi Stowe News Editor |
A homicide investigation by detectives with the Johnson County Sheriff’s
Department is underway in connection with a fatal stabbing that occurred
in the early morning hours on New Year’s Day. According to Johnson County Sheriff Chuck Heiss, the department was contacted January 1 at 5:01 a.m. in reference to a disturbance at 1193 SW 1101 Road in the southwestern section of the county (between Chilhowee and Blairstown), involving multiple stabbing victims. Three victims were transported to Kansas City area hospitals by air ambulance with life-threatening injuries. According to Heiss, a fourth victim presented himself to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton at a later time with head injuries thought to be a result of the incident. At 12:15 p.m. a victim identified as Jeffery C. Coulter, 27 of the Chilhowee area, was pronounced dead at St. Luke’s Hospital by hospital officials as a result of his injuries. According to the initial press release from the sheriff’s department, other victims remain hospitalized in serious condition. According to Heiss, the incident is thought to have occurred during a large New Year’s Eve party in which 50-60 people were in attendance. At some point during the celebration, Heiss says an altercation occurred when several uninvited guests arrived at the party and were asked to leave. He added after a short disturbance, the individuals left as requested. Officials with the sheriff’s department believe the real trouble began when those individuals later returned to the party with more people and weapons, which ultimately resulted in the multiple stabbing that occurred. “Right now we are just trying to put this whole picture together,” Heiss explained. “We do not have any suspect information available at this time.” The exact cause of Coulter’s death is pending the results of an autopsy being performed by the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office. The incident is being aggressively investigated by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department at this time. By Christi Stowe News Editor Fifty-eight area
children had a much brighter Christmas this year thanks to the efforts
of officers with the Holden Police Department and other city hall employees
with the “Kops For Kids” program.Officer Lisa Ambrusko, who has worked for the department for the past six months, spearheaded the event this year, and according to her fellow officers, worked very hard to ensure the program’s success. A Christmas party was held at city hall on December 23, to which local families in need were invited. Once at the party, children of the families received two Christmas presents a piece. Refreshments were served, and craft projects were provided for the children. Much to the children’s surprise, Santa even made an appearance at the event. Two food baskets were given away at the event to ensure those families would be able to have Christmas dinner. Three of the children also received bicycles which were purchased with donations and given away at the event. According to Ambrusko, the assistance of the local schools was sought in order to ascertain which local families with children were in the most desperate need of help. Each school gave Ambrusko five names of families who school officials thought to be struggling financially this Christmas season. The First United Methodist Church also gave Ambrusko some idea of who might be needing the “Kops For Kids” program. With names in hand, Ambrusko typed a letter to each family, inviting them to come to the Christmas party. She then went to local businesses, seeking donations of money, toys and food to be given to the families. According to Ambrusko’s fellow officers, she worked the night shift and used the daytime when she would ordinarily be sleeping to do most of the leg work on the “Kops For Kids” event. “I am very pleased with it (how the event turned out),” Ambrusko said. “I had a good time.” According to Ambrusko, everyone in the department, as well as other community organizations, including the Holden Octagon Club, chipped in and helped organize the event. “We just worked together as a team,” Ambrusko said. “Nobody really had a specific job to do. We just worked together.” According to city employees present at the party, some of the parents of these children said if it was not for “Kops For Kids,” their child would not have been able to have Christmas presents this year at all. “Most of the parents stayed for the party...They said, ‘Thank you, I had a good time,” Ambrusko said. “Some of them didn’t leave for awhile... They stayed and did crafts and had a good time.” According to Acting Police Chief Rick Martin, the Holden Police Department has been participating in the “Kops For Kids” program for approximately the past ten years and has seen a fluctuation in the number of children helped over that time. “It’s cyclical,” Martin said. “It depends on the economy... It depends on a lot of things.” Both Martin and Ambrusko said they felt the children really benefited from the program and had a good time at the party. “They really liked it, especially the kids who won the bikes,” Ambrusko said. “The smaller children were really surprised to see Santa... I think a lot of families were really happy with the outcome.” Anyone interested in donating new or used toys in good condition to the “Kops For Kids” program should contact any officer at the Holden Police Department at (816) 850- 4154 or city hall at (816) 732-4811. By Christi Stowe News Editor |
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