DELAWARE COUNTY, Okla. – A stretch of Oklahoma 59 about a mile and a half south of Jay has been shut down due to a traffic collision, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported Monday.
Monthly Archives: October 2022
Aurora teenager dies from his injuries after being hit by a car
AURORA, Mo. — A 15-year-old boy has died from his injuries days after being hit by a car in Aurora Thursday, Oct. 27.
Troy Clifton Devine Jr., 15, was crossing Highway 60 with a friend around 8:46 p.m on Thursday evening when he was hit, according to the Aurora-Marionville Police Department.
The AMPD wrote on the department’s Facebook page “We are aware of the social media rumors and allegations. As law enforcement, we are probably more keenly aware than most of how false, malicious, untrue, and unverified information spreads across the internet. All we can recommend is that you consider the source of your information and remember that the 1st Amendment protects all free speech, including lies.”
According to the Aurora-Marionville Police Department, there is no evidence of impairment by any party involved and the driver of the vehicle has fully cooperated with the AMPD.
The crash is still under investigation.
Grove woman found "incompetent" to stand trial in neighbor's death
TULSA, Okla. – A Grove woman accused of stabbing an elderly man multiple times, possibly with a pair of scissors, was found incompetent to stand trial, according to online federal documents.
Kellie Lee Crawford, 55, is charged in U.S. District Court in Tulsa with first-degree murder in Indian Country in the stabbing death of Richard Strade, 69, of Grove. Her trial was set to start in November.
Crawford had been heard by others as “making death threats” against Strade and “gave inconsistent versions of how she killed him, including with scissors and a cookie jar,” court documents show.
Strade died on Sept. 7, 2021, from strangulation and had 15 lacerations to his body, according to an autopsy report.
Crawford suffers from “schizophrenia spectrum and other disorders rendering her unable to understand the nature and consequences of the revocation proceedings and to properly assist in her defense,” according to a federal court order.
The order was based on a competency report dated Oct. 11. It was recommended Crawford undergo competency restoration treatment. A competency review hearing is set for April 25, 2023.
Missouri doesn't have a red flag law, renewed legislation aims to change that
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – As the investigation continues into Monday’s school shooting in St. Louis and how the gunman reacquired a weapon used in it, St. Louis police say officers lacked the authority to temporarily seize the gun because the state of Missouri does not have a red flag law in place.
A 19-year-old gunman killed two people Monday morning in a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. Police later shot and killed the gunman, who hurt several others in the incident.
On Oct. 15, the family of the gunman, identified as Orlando Harris, reported to police that he had acquired an AR-15-style rifle from a private seller after an FBI background check stopped him from buying a weapon from a licensed dealer earlier in October.
The family hoped officers would either seize the weapon or transfer it elsewhere. The gun ended up with a third party, then eventually ended up back in Harris’ hands. Police could not take possession of the weapon at the time due to Missouri’s lack of a red flag law.
“There is no existing law which would have prevented the private sale between the original purchaser and the suspect in this case,” said the St. Louis Police Department in a statement Wednesday.
Following Monday’s shooting, FOX 2 has confirmed that two Missouri lawmakers are working on legislation that could possibly change that.
Missouri State Rep. Ian Mackey (D – 87th District) first pushed for such legislation around two years ago. He introduced HB 126 ahead of the 2021 legislative session, which called to establish extreme-risk protection orders, enable police to issue warrants for gun seizures and ban domestic violence offenders from owning a firearm. Two years ago, the bill was unable to make it past a general laws committee.
Rep. Mackey is preparing to refile legislation with near-identical language in December.
“Police in St. Louis have been pretty clear that this would have prevented the tragedy,” said Mackey in a phone interview with FOX 2. “When they were called to the house, they really wanted to be able to take that gun, and they just couldn’t do it. … I think this is the clearest instance of lives that could have been saved with legislation in place.”
Mackey says he has talked with many Missouri legislators in recent days and believes his legislation could have bi-partisan backing. He says he is open to conversations and possible amendments if it leads to more support.
“From my perspective, there’s plenty of due process involved,” said Mackey. “When someone is experiencing a mental illness or some period in their life, where the mental state is not in a healthy place, they shouldn’t have access to guns during that time. I think that’s a reasonable common sense approach.”
Mackey hopes gun control is one of the first topics discussed in Missouri’s next legislative session come January, regardless if it’s over his bill or one from another political party.
“As long as it does something to prevent another tragedy like [the CVPA shooting],” said Mackey. “I think this is something that needs to be addressed right away during session. … We’ve received testimony from officers from families to understand the impact of this and how it can be stopped in the future and hopefully move some legislation forward.”
He isn’t the only lawmaker planning to file gun control legislation for Missouri either. State Sen. Doug Beck announced Friday he will also file legislation next session in an effort for a red flag law in Missouri.
“Right now, Missouri is wrestling with a gut-wrenching, but simple truth: If Missouri had a Red Flag Law, a child and a teacher would still be alive,” said Sen. Beck via a news release. “The need for a Red Flag Law in Missouri has never been clearer. I am calling on legislators who previously opposed this legislation to search their hearts and change their minds before any more children are killed in our state.”
Beck says his proposed legislation would enable courts to issue “an extreme risk order of protection with the preponderance of evidence indicates that an individual poses an extreme risk to him or herself or others by their possession or control of firearms.” Such individuals would also be required to surrender weapons in their possession.
Sen. Beck filed similar legislation over the last two years in the form of SB 145 and SB 894, but neither bill passed a general laws committee.
One potential obstacle either of these bills could face would be the support of Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, who has expressed his opposition to red flag laws throughout the past week. Just last year, Parson also signed the Second Amendment Preservation Act into law, which could lead to $50,000 fines for police departments if they navigate around state law to retrieve firearms.
“We try to make it a gun issue every time [after a mass shooting], and it’s not the gun issue,” said Parson earlier this week. “If you look where mass shootings occur, the vast majority of them across the United States or where the violent crime is, they mostly are the urban areas that have some of the strictest gun laws.”
The governor prefers a push in mental health resources instead.
“What triggered that young man to do what he did, I’m telling you, the mental health side of that, I guarantee you, will be a bigger factor in this than [how] he became in possession of the gun,” said Parson.
Parson visited St. Louis police officers, in addition to some CVPA students and staff, just days after the shooting. Despite his possible opposition to upcoming legislation, he did note that people with mental health illnesses should not have weapons.
“That’s a separate issue in the state of Missouri that we look at, whether somebody has mental health issues or not,” said Parson. “I don’t think there’s any question, [for] people [that] have mental health issues, you can take their weapon.”
Mackey, Beck and others can prefile legislation for Missouri’s 2023 legislative session as soon as Dec. 1.
According to Nexstar affiliate WFLA, nineteen states and Washington D.C. currently have red flag laws in place. That includes neighboring state Illinois and some Republican-governed states like Florida.
U.S. president Joe Biden also signed a gun control measure in June to toughen background checks for the youngest gun buyers, keep firearms from more domestic violence offenders and try to help more states put red flag laws in place.
The Mike Shade 100-yr. Gingko Tree in the shadow of Cornell Center for the Arts
JOPLIN, Mo. — Mike Shade was former chairman of the city of Joplin Tree Board. He passed away Friday, October 28, 2022 in Joplin. Mike will be remembered for his business, The Botany Shop, which he operated in town for decades.
But he will also be remembered for the Mike Shade Gingko Tree. The 100-yr-old tree stands in the shadow of the new Cornell Center for the arts near 7th and Wall Ave.
“The Mike Shade Gingko Tree. This 100 yr. old gingko tree was saved from destruction by Mike Shade and will forevermore be known as the Mike Shade Gingko Tree.”
— Foot stone, base of tree
Family of Shade told us the story in 2018 and we remember it today as he is laid to rest at Ozark Memorial Park in Joplin.
The Mike Shade Gingko Tree near 7th and Wall in Joplin. Google Street View Map June 2019.
About 2010 Mike was chairman of the city’s Tree Board. The tree was to come down as a new parking lot was being created. However Mike moved to save the rare tree.
The parking lot was delayed for years and designed to save the tree. This Gingko Tree is more than 100 years old.
Gingko trees are native to China, in some monasteries the Gingko trees are 1,500 years old.
This tree was saved long before the idea to create the new Cornell Arts Center, where Spiva Art Center Connect2Culture are located, which opens November 12, 2022 at 7th and Wall.
How appropriate it will continue to stand close-by as a living memory of Shade. A man who brought so many plants and trees, breathing life, into the city of Joplin.
You can read Shade’s obituary here and sign the linked guestbook.
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Nell Ruth Finley
Nell Ruth Finley, age 98, of Lamar, Missouri passed away October 26, 2022, at St. Luke’s Nursing Center in Carthage, Missouri.
Nell was born May 19, 1924 in Mortons Gap, Kentucky to Lewis Johnston and Blanche (Allen) Johnston. Nell was married to James B. Finley from 1944 until his passing in 1993. Their son James Anthony Finley was born in 1944 and passed in 2014. Nell married Gerald Voorhees in 2004 and he passed away in 2016.
During WWII Nell was a welder on airplanes. She volunteered with the Red Cross for over 50 years, and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lamar. Nell would often take in animals and care for them until they could be reunited with their owners.
Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Lynn Finley of Lamar, MO; one grandchild, Kelly Finley of Carthage, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Lacey Finley and Dru Finley, both of Lamar.
Nell was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; one son, James Anthony Finley; one grandson, Joshua Aaron Finley; two sisters, Robbie Sue King and Betty Jo Prieskorn.
Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m., Monday, October 31, 2022, at Daniel Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from starting at 3:00 p.m., until service time at the funeral home.
Contributions are suggested and made payable to the American Red Cross in care of Daniel Funeral Home.
Shirley Jean North Coffey
Shirley Jean Kelly North Coffey of Commerce, OK passed from this life Thursday, October 27, 2022 at Integris Miami Hospital in Miami, OK. She was 73.
Shirley was born September 7, 1949 in Houston, TX to B.G. and Mary (Kliem) Kelly. She attended Quapaw School in Quapaw, OK where she met Kenny North and they married July 24, 1967 in Conroe, TX. Shirley and Kenny had on daughter, Leslie Ann. Shirley and Kenny later divorced and she married Duaine Coffey.
She worked as a manager for May’s Drug in Tulsa, OK and Joplin, MO and later for AT&T in customer service.
Shirley was preceded in death by her daughter, Leslie Ann, her husband Duaine Coffey, her father, B.G. Kelly and her brother, Jim Kelly.
Shirley is survived by 3 grandchildren, Desiree, Jeremy and Josh, her mother, Mary Kelly of Commerce, OK, her sister, Tina (Kelly) Spencer and her husband Doug of Chanute, KS and many nieces and nephews.
No services are planned. Arrangements have been placed in the care of Paul Thomas Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Miami, OK. Online condolences may be made at www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com.
Rev. Ed McFall
Rev. Edward Allen “Bro. Ed” McFall of Miami, OK passed from this life Thursday, October 27, 2022 at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, MO. He was 89.
Bro. Ed was born in Coalton, Oklahoma September 17, 1933 to Sidney and Vida Heath. He was later adopted by a great, very strong Christian farmer and master carpenter, Ivan McFall, due to his father dying in an accident. He grew up attending country school that was the community church on Sundays. When Bro. Ed was 13 he was saved and by 15 was teaching junior age boys Sunday School class. He attended Methodist youth camp in the Summer of 1948 and there responded to God’s call to special service. After graduating high school from Welch, Oklahoma and in his second year at NEO A&M in Miami, Oklahoma, God reminded him of that surrender. He was rebaptized in First Baptist Church of Welch and on Easter Sunday night in 1953, Pastor Roy Durham invited him to preach. Director of Missions, M.R. Dareing kept him busy all summer and Ottawa Indian Baptist Church called him to be their pastor in November of 1953.
While pursuing his formal education at Kansas State Teacher’s College in Pittsburg, Kansas; he stayed busy pastoring his church, raising four kids as a single dad and working at BF Goodrich. While he never was able to complete his teaching degree, God has been good to have schools invite him to be a substitute Language Arts teacher, even beyond the age of 80! In lieu of attending seminary, Bro. Ed took advantage of every minister’s training course available. His most enjoyable times have been associational conferences held monthly at area churches. Great mentors such as LL Zimmerman, Russell Moudy, Junior Leslie Couch, Tom Cossairt, CE Bergan, Jay Murphy, OC Bean, Ward Allen, just to name a few, provided him religious education that was truly priceless!
In the past 64 years in God’s work, he pastored eight churches, was music and youth director in two and served as transition pastor in two others: Ottawa, Maybelle, Spring River Indian as youth and music director, Quapaw First, Commerce First as youth and music minister, Mount Zion Baptist, Southern Hills Baptist, Carr Baptist, Northeast Baptist, Spring River Baptist Church, where he retired due to health issues and now is serving as Adult II Sunday School teacher at Mound Valley Baptist Church. His ministry at Commerce First is where he met the most elegant lady, faithful companion and wife, described in God’s word as “help meet”, Minna Louise Holt McFall.
It was during their Commerce First ministry that the honored couple met and began their life together! They were married June 7, 1969. They have two children together, Connie Laue and Shellie Baker. They served together first as a music team. Minna played the piano and even the birds would stop to listen! Her up-tempo and enthusiasm encouraged everyone to join in the singing. Bro. Ed could raise his arms and lift his voice knowing she was right on meter and could lead with confidence. Wow, what a joyous time!
During their ministry together, they made beautiful music with various choirs, conducted many revivals as the music team and as the visiting preacher, worked in the pastorate ministries together. Bro. Ed and Minna taught adults and children how to read English, due to the large Hispanic population that had begun to move into the area. They also remodeled an old house for them to have a place of worship. They worked together building and remodeling many churches and camp cabins throughout the Northeastern Association. Minna studied her bible with vigor and taught Sunday School classes, was the secretary for Bro. Ed, and many behind the scenes activities that so many pastor’s wives take care of! They did all of this for God’s glory!
Minna preceded him on January 10, 2017. He was also preceded by his parents, his brother, Milton Leroy Heath and 2 sisters, Hazel Helton and Anna Mardlin.
Bro. Ed is survived by his children, Shellie Baker and her husband Bryan and their children Kyle and Shelbie, Connie Laue and her husband John David and their children Jeffrey and Lindsay, Toni Reeves and her son Joel, Mark McFall and his wife Laurie, Terri Kerns and Deborah Tipps, and a total of 14 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at Paul Thomas Funeral Home in Miami, OK with Rev. Stephen Hunter officiating. Interment will follow in Williams’ Timberhill Cemetery west of Miami, OK with Bryan Baker, John David Laue, Jeffrey Laue, Rick Nutting, Joel Reeves and David Payton serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Mark McFall, Rowdy McFall, Bryar Chandler and Kyle Jolley. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Paul Thomas Funeral Home in Miami, OK. Memorials are suggested to Gideons International in honor of Bro. Ed. Services have been placed in the care of Paul Thomas Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Miami, OK. Online condolences may be made at www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com.
Edward Moses Burleson
Edward Moses “Ed” Burleson of Wyandotte, OK passed from this life Friday, October 28, 2022 at Integris Grove Hospital in Grove, OK. He was 80.
Ed was born July 13, 1942 in Wyandotte, OK to Charlie Roscoe and Edith Lorene (Tosh) Burleson. He had lived in the Wyandotte are most of his life.
Ed was a self-employed logger. He was a member of Wayside Assembly of God Church in Wyandotte, OK.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Roy Burleson.
Ed is survived by his wife, Donna Burleson of the home, 1 son, Bob Dunn and his wife Shari of Benton City, WA, 1 daughter, Shiela Barnes and her companion Rodger Kassel of Gasquez, CA, 1 brother, Charles Daniel Burleson and his wife Sudy of Wyandotte, OK, 4 grandchildren, Christopher Dunn, Joshua Barnes, Kendra Barnes and Ashley Dunn and 1 great granddaughter, Violet Dunn.
Services are pending at this time. Arrangements have been placed in the care of Paul Thomas Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Miami, OK. Online condolences may be made at www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com.
Russell Anthony Locascio
Russell Anthony Locascio age 53 of Webb City, Missouri passed away on October 27, 2022 at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Charles Vincent Locascio, III. and Judith (Wright) Swartz on February 8, 1969. Russell loved to spend time with his family especially if it was a barbeque, he loved to read, go swimming, and play disk golf. He will forever be known as a man that liked to keep it simple. Russell is survived by his wife, Clara Locascio; sisters, Pam Lakey, Mary Roberts; brothers, David Locascio, Charles Locascio, IV., a daughter, Misty Lynn Riley; a son, Richard Alan Rodgers, II.; 9 grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Russell’s wishes were to be cremated and no services have been planned at this time. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Simpson Funeral Home in Webb City. Visit www.simpsonfh.com for online condolences.