EAST FIRST STREET - East of Newton, Kansas

Two killed in car wreck
Two people, including The Newton Kansan photo editor Medford Logsdon, were killed Tuesday when their vehicles collided on East First Street in Harvey County.   Logsdon, 36, of Elbing, photographer for the Newton newspaper for the past five years, was taken to a Wichita hospital, where he died.   Joyce M. Hett, 65, of Marion was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.  Harvey County sheriff's authorities said Logsdon was driving a mini-van west on First Street, and Hett was driving east. Logsdon's vehicle crossed the center line of the two-lane road and collided with Hett's four-door sedan.  Sheriff Byron Motter said it was unclear why Logsdon's vehicle veered left of the street's center line.  The head-on collision sent Logsdon's vehicle into a bridge abutment on the north side of First Street. Hett's car ended up in the south ditch. Rescue crews spent several minutes freeing Logsdon from the wreckage before taking him by ambulance to Wesley Medical Center. There were no other passengers in either vehicle.  The accident happened around 5:20 p.m. about one-half mile east of East Lake Road. (By the Kansan staff. The Newton Kansan, July 27, 2005)

Medford E. Logsdon, 36, died Tuesday (July 26, 2005) at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.  He was born Nov. 14, 1968, to Kimiko (Arasaki) and Richard Logsdon in Okinawa, Japan. They survive. He married Ann E. Hughes March 10, 2000, in Wichita. She survives of Elbing.  He graduated from high school at Santa Fe High in Osage County. He was a graduate of Highland Community College and obtained a bachelor of arts degree from Wichita State University. He loved photography and enjoyed sharing his photography with his many friends.  Other survivors include: three daughters, Brittani Williams, Elizabeth Logsdon and Marisa Logsdon, all of Elbing; and two brothers, Donald Logsdon and Kevin Logsdon. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Atha and Medford H. Logsdon and Kiku and Karo Arasaki.  Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday with family greeting friends from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home.  Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Meridian Baptist Church in Newton with Pastor Jerroll Martens officiating.  Graveside service will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Hartford Cemetery with Pastor Jerroll Martens officiating.  A memorial fund has been established as the Medford E. Logsdon Family Memorial fund at Midland Bank in Newton. Donations are welcome for the family's support. Donations can be made at Midland Bank by dropping by or sending checks. Make checks payable to:  The Medford E. Logsdon Memorial Fund  Midland's Address is:  527 Main Street  Newton KS 67114  If you have any questions or would like to verify any information with the bank their phone number is 800-810-9457. Ann, Brittani, Elizabeth, and Marisa thank you for all your help, love, prayers, and support. "Photographer recorded our lives"

EAST FIRST STREET - East of Newton, Kansas

Taylour M. Jantz, 7, of Burns, Kansas, died Sunday (March 11, 2001) at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born March 25, 1993, to Riley K. and Gina M. (Fine) Jantz in Marion. They survive.  She attended Peabody Elementary School. Other survivors include: a sister, Marissa Jantz of Burns; a paternal grandmother, Evelyn Jantz of Burns; a maternal grandmother, Wilma Giffney of Florence; a maternal grandfather, Michael Fine of Palm Harbour, Fla.; and paternal grandparents, Tom and Velma Fine of Osage City.  Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at Petersen Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Eden Mennonite Church with Alvin, Lowell, Tobe and Vernon Koehn officiating.  Burial will be in the Eden Mennonite Church Cemetery in Burns. Memorials have been established with the Taylour M. Jantz Memorial at Central National Bank in El Dorado in care of the funeral home.  (The Newton Kansan, March 12, 2001).

7-year-old Burns girl dies in wreck   Collision throws sisters from truck at First, East Lake
A 7-year-old Burns girl, thrown from a vehicle Saturday in a collision east of Newton, has died from her injuries. Taylour Jantz died around noon Sunday at a Wichita hospital about 24 hours after the pickup her father was driving clipped a sports utility vehicle near First and East Lake roads and flipped into the ditch, Harvey County Sheriff's Deputy Rick Van Rossun said.  Her sister, 10-year-old Marissa, also was thrown from the vehicle but suffered only minor injuries. Driver Riley Kevin Jantz, 39, was not thrown from the vehicle. He was treated for his injuries and released from Newton Medical Center after the collision.  The three were not wearing seat belts, Van Rossun said.  The Jantz vehicle clipped the front end of a Chevy Blazer driven by 19-year-old Nevada Smith of Andover.  Van Rossun said Smith, who was southbound on East Lake, had stopped at the intersection, but his view may have been hampered by a hedge row along the road. Smith started to cross the intersection, then saw the westbound Jantz vehicle and attempted to back out of the intersection.  Smith was not injured and no charges are likely to be filed, Van Rossun said. "He stopped. It was just an accident," he said.  The Jantz vehicle "clipped the corner" of the Blazer and then rolled into a ditch on the west side of First. Taylour was a middle passenger in the vehicle. Marissa, thrown onto the road, was able to walk back to the crushed vehicle and use a cell phone to call her mother, who in turn called 9-1-1 shortly before 1 p.m., rescue workers at the scene said.  (By Barry Owens of The Newton Kansan, March 12, 2001).

u.s. highway 50 - west of Newton, Kansas

Tiffany Ann Mathews, 15, of Mulvane, died Saturday (June 8, 2002) in rural Newton.  She was born Aug. 6, 1986, to John Walter Mathews and Nonie May Fisher in Newton. Her mother survives of Mulvane. Her father survives of Hutchinson.  Other survivors include: a stepfather, Randall Green of Mulvane; a brother, Aaron Mathews of Mulvane; a sister, Jennifer Mathews of Mulvane; a stepsister, Hilary Williams of Wichita; two half sisters, Jessica George of Hesston and Deanna Strubhar of Wichita; and grandparents, Gerald Dean Fisher and Lenora Slaven, both of Hutchinson, Jim and Mary Green of Wichita and Patricia Boyd.  Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Mulvane.  Burial will be in Littleton Cemetery in Mulvane.  Memorials have been established with the Benevolence Fund at Mulvane Baptist Church in care of Senter-Smith Mortuary, 501 SE Louis, Mulvane, KS.  (The Newton Kansan, June 12, 2002).
 

Gerald Dean Fisher Jr, 37, died Saturday (June 8, 2002) in rural Newton. He was born Aug. 3, 1964, to Gerald Dean Fisher Sr. and Lenora Nichols in Hutchinson. They survive of Hutchinson. He married Pamela Sue Moore Dec. 22, 1994, in Hutchinson. She died June 8, 2002. Other survivors include: a son, Jarod Fisher of Hutchinson; a stepfather, Gary Slaven of Hutchinson; two half-sons, Bobby Ramey and Rusty Wilson, both of Hutchinson; ; a half-daughter, Krystal White of Albuquerque, N.M.; three sisters, Tammie Faulconer of South Hutchinson, Nonie Mae Fisher of Mulvane and Roberta Fisher of Haven; four stepsisters, Christy Bishop of Lyons, Rose Burditt of Hutchinson, Shawn Burditt of Cottonwood Falls and Loretta Spielman of Newton; two stepbrothers, Bruce Burditt and Charles Burditt II, both of Cottonwood Falls; a half brother, Jerry Sutherland of San Diego; and a step-grandson. He was preceded in death by a half daughter, Amber Marie Ramey. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Petersen Funeral Home.  Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Betty Pinkston of Full Gospel Assembly in Hutchinson officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Memorials have been established with the Fisher Family Fund at Midland National Bank in care of the funeral home. (The Newton Kansan, June 12, 2002).

Pamela Sue Fisher, 43, died Saturday (June 8, 2002) in rural Newton.  She was born Dec. 15, 1958, to Frank and Mary (Graves) Moore in Kismet. They preceded her in death. She married Gerald D. Fisher Dec. 22, 1994, in Hutchinson. He died June 8, 2002.  She was a school bus driver with Durham Services in Hutchinson.  Survivors include: three sons, Jarod Fisher, Bobby Ramey and Rusty Wilson, all of Hutchinson; a daughter, Krystal White of Albuquerque, N.M.; two brothers, Bill Moore of Valley Center and Bob Moore of Beaver, Okla.; five sisters, Jodi Burnette of Independence, Mo., Carolyn Gowger and Mary Herrington, both of Woodward, Okla., Shirley Jones of Dodge City and Ida Sullivan of Stoney Point, N.C.; and a grandson.  She also was preceded in death by: a daughter, Amber Marie Ramey.  Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Petersen Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Betty Pinkston of Full Gospel Assembly in Hutchinson officiating.  Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.  Memorials have been established with the Fisher Family Fund at Midland National Bank in care of the funeral home  (The Newton Kansan, June 12, 2002).

Jarod Fisher, 5, died Saturday (June 8, 2002) at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.  He was born March 4, 1997, to Gerald Dean Jr. and Pamela Sue (Moore) Fisher in Hutchinson. They preceded him in death. Survivors include: two half brothers, Bobby Ramey and Rusty Wilson, both of Hutchinson; and a half sister, Krystal White of Albuquerque, N.M.  Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Petersen Funeral Home.  Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Betty Pinkston of Full Gospel Assembly in Hutchinson officiating.  Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.  Memorials have been established with the Fisher Family Fund at Midland National Bank in care of the funeral home.
 

John Murray Jr

Wreck claims 5
In Harvey County's deadliest accident in decades, a Hutchinson family, their 15-year-old niece and a Wichita man were killed Saturday in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 50 west of Newton.  Weather may have been to blame for the wreck that happened about 2:45 p.m. between West Road and Hoover, the Highway Patrol said.  Tiffany Mathews, 15, of Mulvane and her uncle and aunt, Gerald D. Fisher, 37, and Pamela Fisher, 43, both of Hutchinson, were pronounced dead at the scene. The Fishers' 5-year-old son, Jarod, who was taken to Wesley Medical Center by Newton ambulance, died of head injuries just before midnight Saturday.  Also killed in the wreck was John Murray Jr., 58, of Wichita, who was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, Jonita C. Murray, 59, the wreck's only survivor, was taken to Wesley Medical Center by helicopter and is in critical but stable condition today in the hospital's surgical intensive care unit.  She had several broken bones, including two broken legs and two broken wrists, and chest injuries. "It is a frustrating feeling to get to a scene like that and not being able to do anything for them," said Mark Willis, Newton fire/EMS deputy chief, one of the first rescue workers to arrive at the accident. Kansas Highway Patrol 2nd Lt. Chip Westfall said a brief storm that moved through the Newton area caused the 1989 black Ford pickup truck that Gerald Fisher was driving to hydroplane and cross the center line sideways.  Law enforcement authorities said years of traffic have left grooves on the highway that tend to fill with water during storms. The Highway Patrol said neither truck was exceeding the 65 mph speed limit.  The Murrays' vehicle, a 1998 red Ford truck which was headed in the opposite direction on U.S. 50, struck the passenger side of Fisher's truck. Both pickups are extended-cab F-150s.  After Jarod Fisher and Jonita Murray were taken to the hospital, it took rescue workers about two hours to free the remaining victims from the mangled wreckage.  It was unclear whether Jarod Fisher was thrown from the vehicle, Westfall said. A child safety seat remained strapped in the Fishers' pickup.  When paramedics arrived, a passer-by was performing CPR on the child. "It was just a devastating scene," Willis said. Relatives of the Fishers said the family was driving to Newton Saturday afternoon to see a dying relative, Pat Boyd, when the accident occurred. Boyd, Tiffany's grandmother, died at her Newton home about half an hour after the accident. ''All in one day ... it's a little bit too much,'' Stacey Mathews, Tiffany's cousin, said Sunday. ''It's kind of hard.'' Randall Green, Tiffany's stepfather, said relatives became concerned when the truck did not arrive in Newton when expected, so he drove west on U.S. 50 with another of Tiffany's uncles to see if something had happened. They came across the accident scene about two miles west of town.  ''It was my worst nightmare,'' Green said. Local law enforcement officials and rescue workers said this was the worst accident they have seen in Harvey County. "To our knowledge, we've never had four or more dead on the scene from an accident of any sort," Willis said. There have been several vehicle accidents that have killed three people in Harvey County, including one last year that claimed the life of a woman and two young girls near Walton. (by Chris Strunk, The Newton Kansan June 10, 2002).

u.s. highway 50 - west of halstead, Kansas

Bradley L. McIntosh, 18, died Friday (Jan. 28, 2005) at Newton Medical Center as the result of an automobile accident in rural Harvey County.  He was born Feb. 23, 1986, to Sondra McIntosh in Hutchinson. She survives of Newton.  He worked as a cabinet maker for Norcraft Industries in Newton. He enjoyed collecting football and baseball cards and comic books. He greatly enjoyed his new car.  Other survivors include three sisters, Amber McIntosh of Newton, D.D. McIntosh of Chicago and Audrey McIntosh of Hutchinson.  Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Petersen Funeral Home.  Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Petersen Funeral Home with Pastor Sandy Killfoil of Community Church of God officiating.  Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.  Memorials have been established with the Bradley McIntosh Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home.

Hutchinson teen killed on U.S. 50
A slick section of U.S. 50 may have been to blame for Friday morning's fatal wreck on U.S. 50 near Spring Lake Road, authorities said. Bradley L. McIntosh, 18, of Hutchinson was killed when he lost control of his vehicle, slid sideways and was broadsided by a pickup truck driving west. Both vehicles ended up in the ditch.  The accident happened about 7:30 a.m., just as snow and drizzle began falling Friday. McIntosh's vehicle apparently went out of control at a spot on the highway that is shaded by a shelterbelt of tall evergreen trees east of Spring Lake Road, Harvey County Sheriff Byron Motter said. "We always have problems with that area," he said. McIntosh was taken to Newton Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.  The driver of the Toyota pickup, Troy S. Scarlett, 38, of Sedgwick, was taken to Newton Medical Center in serious condition. According to a Kansas Highway Patrol report, it was unknown whether the drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the wreck.  Meanwhile, snow continued to fall throughout Friday afternoon, making driving conditions in the area more hazardous and prompting the National Weather Service to issue a winter weather advisory. Walton and Newton rescue workers responded to a one-car rollover accident on U.S. 50 west of Walton. The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries, but was pinned in the vehicle for several minutes.  Also late Friday afternoon, dispatchers rolled ambulances to a one-car rollover near the U.S. 50 and I-135 interchange and a one-car wreck near the Hesston exit from I-135. No one was seriously hurt.  The weather forecast called for snow through early this morning, with a total around 3 inches and lows 25 to 30. Chance of snow 60 percent. Today should be mostly cloudy with highs near 40. A chance of rain or snow will return after midnight tonight with lows near 30.  There will be a 50 percent chance of rain or snow Sunday with highs 35 to 40 and lows near 30. The chance of snow will continue through Monday. (The Newton Kansan, Jan. 29, 2005).
 

ne 60th - west of walton, kansas

                               Mark - details unknown.

u.s. highway 50 - west of halstead, Kansas

Dorothy A. "Dot" Mowery, 53, died Sunday (Nov. 10, 2002) in Harvey County.  She was born Aug. 22, 1949, to William L. and Margaret (Lawrence) Lewis in Garden City. Her mother survives of Garden City. Her father preceded her in death.  She was raised in Garden City and graduated from Garden City High School in 1967. She graduated from Kansas State University in 1971 with a degree in home economics and received her master's degree in counseling from Wichita State University. She worked at the Hutchinson office of Social & Rehabilitation Services. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Hutchinson. She served as an elder and deacon at the church. She was a member of the Chapter HQ P.E.O. and Pi Beta Phi sorority.  Other survivors include: a daughter, Megan Mowery of the home; and three sisters, Mary Wolf of Overland Park, Pattie McGurk of Great Bend and Jane Clark of Oklahoma City.  Visitation will be until 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Elliott Mortuary in Hutchinson.  Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Tim Soule officiating.  Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Friday at Valley View Cemetery in Garden City.  Memorials have been established with the P.E.O. Educational Fund in care of the funeral home, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501. (The Newton Kansan, Nov. 12, 2002).

Woman killed in wreck on U.S. 50
HALSTEAD -- A 53-year-old Hutchinson woman was killed Sunday when her vehicle collided with a semi on U.S. 50.  Dorothy L. Mowery was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck near Spring Lake Road, northwest of Halstead.  Mowery was the mother of Bethel College student Megan Mowery, a senior from Hutchinson.  The Kansas Highway Patrol said the semi was traveling west on U.S. 50 about 6 p.m., while Mowery was driving east. An unidentified vehicle was passing the semi and entered the eastbound lane. Mowery's vehicle swerved to avoid the passing vehicle. Her 1995 Toyota Camry hit the shoulder of the highway and went out of control.  Mowery's vehicle slid sideways into the lane of the oncoming semi. The semi struck Mowery's vehicle on the passenger side.  The unidentified vehicle did not stop at the accident.  The driver of the semi, Lawrence E. Glesmann of Edgemont, S.D., was not hurt. A. Adrianna Glesmann, a passenger in the semi, suffered minor injuries.  Sunday's accident was the second fatal wreck this year on U.S. 50 in Harvey County. Five people were killed in a two-vehicle crash June 8 on the highway west of Newton. (By Chris Strunk, The Newton Kansan, Nov. 11, 2002).

u.s. highway 50 & old main street - newton, kansas

Helen Louise Jividen, 83, homemaker, died Thursday (May 15, 2003) at Via Christi-St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita.  She was born Jan. 16, 1920, to Walter and Opal (Kile) Tracy in Drumwright, Okla. They preceded her in death. She married Leo Schill Feb. 29, 1936, in Newton. He preceded her in death Aug. 28, 1966. She married Thurman Jividen. He preceded her in death.  She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Mary's Altar Society, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed dancing, cooking, traveling, sewing, church work, rummage sales, wedding and graduation dinners. Survivors include: a daughter, Virginia Frost of Newton; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.  Visitation will be until 9 p.m. today with family greeting friends from 7 to 8 p.m. at Petersen Funeral Home.  Graveside service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery with Father John Hotze of St. Mary's Catholic Church officiating.
Memorials have been established with the donor's choice in care of the funeral home. (The Newton Kansan, May 19, 2006).

Newton woman killed at intersection
An 83-year-old Newton woman was killed Thursday night in a two-vehicle wreck at U.S. 50 and Old Main. Helen L. Jividen was taken to a Wichita hospital after her car collided with a sports utility vehicle at the intersection. Jividen was pronounced dead at the hospital, authorities said. Jividen was driving a 1988 Buick four-door vehicle east on U.S. 50. Police said she turned north onto Old Main into the path of the westbound SUV. The driver of the SUV, 57-year-old Paul L. Dominy of Springfield, Ore., was not injured. The collision pushed Jividen's vehicle into a ditch on the northwest corner of the intersection. The accident happened about 6:30 p.m. The U.S. 50 and Old Main intersection has been the site of several accidents during the past five years. Two people, including a teenage bicyclist, were killed in separate accidents at the intersection in 1998. (The Newton Kansan, May 16, 2003).

u.s. highway 50 - east of walton, kansas

Jamie L. Ward, 20, died Saturday (May 24, 2003) at HCA Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born Feb. 19, 1983, to Charlene Lawrence in Marlow, Okla. She survives of Florence. She was a 2001 graduate of Marion High School. She attended Good News Christian Fellowship Church in Marion. She was a waitress at Town and Country Cafe in Florence and a cashier at Wal-Mart in Newton.  Other survivors include: a stepfather, Dale Coe of Florence; a stepbrother, Dale Coe Jr. of Oklahoma City; four sisters, Cristina Newman of Wichita, Jennifer Swanson of Meadowgrove, Neb., and Naomi Coe and Debra Coe, both of Florence; and grandmother, Dorothy Asmus of Florence. Memorial service was earlier today at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Marion. Pastor Larry King officiated. Memorials have been established with the American Red Cross in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 104 W. Fifth Street, Florence, KS 66851. (The Newton Kansan, May 27, 2003).

Woman hospitalized after wreck on 50 near Walton
A 20-year-old Florence woman was hospitalized in critical condition Friday afternoon after the vehicle she was driving collided with a semi on U.S. 50 in northeast Harvey County. Jamie L. Ward was taken to Wesley Medical Center by LifeTeam air ambulance from the scene of the accident about two miles east of Walton.  Highway Patrol Trooper Carson Nuss said Ward was driving a 1990 Pontiac west on U.S. 50 when her car drifted left of the center line into the path of the eastbound semi. The car struck the trailer and slid into the rear tires. It was unclear why Ward's vehicle left the westbound side of the road, Nuss said. The wreck happened about 3:15 p.m. LifeTeam landed at the scene of the accident less than 30 minutes later.  The driver of the semi was not hurt, and no citations have been issued, Nuss said. The wreck completely closed the highway for at least an hour. It re-opened to both lanes of traffic nearly four hours after the accident. (Chris Strunk, The Newton Kansan, May 24, 2003).

Woman dies after collision on U.S. 50
A Florence woman, who was hospitalized after her vehicle collided with a semi Friday on U.S. 50 in Harvey County, died Saturday. Jamie L. Ward, 20, was pronounced dead at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, a day after being air-lifted from the scene of the wreck, two miles east of Walton. Kansas Highway Patrol officials said Ward's vehicle drifted across the center line of the highway into the path of the westbound semi. The collision happened about 3:15 p.m. It was unclear, troopers said, why Ward's vehicle crossed into the westbound lane.  Ward, a 2001 Marion High School graduate, was a waitress at Town and Country Cafe in Florence and a cashier at Wal-Mart in Newton. A memorial service will be 2:30 p.m. today at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Marion. (The Newton Kansan, May 27, 2003).
 

sw 24th - west of newton, kansas

Olin E. Harper

Wichita man killed in train wreck
Investigators believe a 64-year-old Wichita man killed Wednesday morning in a truck-train accident was talking on a radio in the seconds just prior to the crash.  Harvey County Sheriff Byron Motter said Olin E. Harper, 1001 E. Macarthur, No. 89 in Wichita, was observed by train engineers talking on a truck radio seconds before his dump truck was struck broadside in the cab area. The accident occurred at 11:33 a.m. Wednesday on Southwest 24th three quarters of a mile west of Anderson Road.  The 75-car train, a Burlington Northern northeast bound for Chicago from Arkansas City, slammed into the dump truck Harper was driving at approximately 50 miles an hour at an intersection marked with crossbucks (white X-shaped signs with "railroad crossing" in black lettering), the standard rural marking, Motter said.  Harper's dump truck, owned by A-Plus Trucking of Wichita, was knocked some 100 feet off the track down into a swail, where it overturned and, according to eyewitnesses, exploded twice. Harper was unable to escape the cab of the truck.  He was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was discovered by emergency crews after the fire that totally engulfed the truck was extinguished.  A long-distance witness to the accident at the Harvey County Sanitary Landfill, two miles west of the accident scene, said he knew immediately that the victim of the accident had been at the landfill just minutes before.  "I saw an explosion," said Tim Howell, who was operating a scraper at the landfill. "I called in on the radio (to the main landfill office) and said, 'That truck that was just here has been hit by a train.' " Howell said he jumped into his truck and left the landfill in hopes of helping the victim.  "When I got there, I couldn't see a driver," he said. "So I started screaming for the driver. I was hoping and praying he'd been thrown out." Seconds later, the gas tanks blew again, toward the stopped train. "I knew then there wasn't anything I could do," Howell said.  The accident was the first fatality at the intersection since 1989, when a rural Newton man, Steve Burton, was killed in a truck-train collision. (Bill Wilson, The Newton Kansan, Mar 19, 1999).

 

sw 24th & essex heights - east of halstead, kansas

Marsha Thompson, 35, died Sunday (Jan. 18, 2004) in rural Halstead.  She was born Jan. 23, 1968, in Dallas. She married Dusty Thompson Dec. 19, 2003, in Newton. He survives of Newton.  She worked for Graber's Hardware as a bookkeeper and accountant. She was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and the Harvey County Safe House for battered and abused women. She served as the residential manager for the Harvey County Safe House until December 2003. She was a dedicated child advocate. She helped with tutoring those in need and enjoyed friends and family.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, all at Petersen Funeral Home.  Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel with Minister Buddy Aldridge of Columbus Avenue Church of Christ officiating.  Memorials have been established with Kansas Heart Hospital in care of the funeral home. (The Newton Kansan, Jan. 21, 2004).

Woman dies in train wreck
A Newton woman was killed Sunday afternoon when her vehicle collided with a train east of Halstead.  Marsha Thompson, 35, was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck.  The accident happened about 2:15 p.m. at the railroad intersection with Essex Heights, one mile east of Halstead and one-half mile south of Southwest 24th.  Harvey County Sheriff Byron Motter said Thompson was driving a 1995 Ford mini-van north on Essex Heights. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe train, which included three engines and no other cars, was traveling west about 70 mph.  There were no signs of Thompson attempting to stop at the intersection, which does not have flashing lights or gates. The so-called unprotected intersection does have wooden crossbucks. Sheriff's officials said the intersection is clear of trees and other vegetation.  Motter said it has been at least 30 years since there was a wreck at that intersection.  After the impact, the vehicle was dragged about one-half mile on the tracks.  None of the train's three-man crew was hurt in the wreck.  Sheriff's officials said the engine's lights, bells and horn were working. The train was on its way to Hutchinson to pick up cars before returning to Newton.  BNSF officials responded to the scene of the accident. The van was removed by a Halstead wrecker service about three hours after the accident.  (Chris Strunk, The Newton Kansan, Jan. 19, 2004)