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Lewis County
Serving the communities of Lewis County, Mo. since 1862 (USPS 088-820) Vol. XL New Series, No. 18 Canton, Mo. 63435 • 20 Pages • 2 Sections • 55 cents
BREAKING NEWS UPDATES AT
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Gas Leak Forces Evacuation Area of Canton briefly evacuated after gas leak reported April 24
LAGRANGE NATIVE HURT IN SCOTLAND COUNTY CRASH A LaGrange native had apparently serious injuries in a one-car accident at 6:50 a.m. on Route A, a mile south of Arbela on April 24. Mary E. Norton, 36, of Arbela and formerly of LaGrange was taken by Air Evac to University Hospital in Columbia. Norton, a Lewis County 911 dispatcher was returning home after her shift. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Norton’s 2001 Dodge ran off the left side of the road, impacted a bridge railing and impaled the rail in the vehicle, then ran off the left side of the bridge and overturned. The vehicle was totaled. Norton was wearing a seat belt. Assisting the patrol were Scotland County Fire and Rescue, Gorin Fire Department, Scotland County Ambulance, and Lakeside Towing.
CANTON MAN HURT IN ROLLOVER ACCIDENT A Canton man had apparently serious injuries in a one-vehicle accident Friday night. Kelvin G. Nelson, 47, of Canton had apparently serious injuries in the accident and was taken by Lewis County Ambulance to Blessing Hospital. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Nelson was driving south at 9:25 p.m. on U.S. 61 at the Route C junction, and swerved, causing his 2001 Ford truck to drive off the left side of the road, struck the median, overturned, then crossed the northbound lanes of U.S. 61 and came to rest on the east side of the road in a ditch. The truck was totaled. It wasn’t known if he wore a seat belt. Assisting the Patrol were the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, LaGrange First Responders, and Ace Elder Towing.
Photo by Dan Steinbeck
This is the scene where a gas main break was reported April 24, when the car at the left hit the gas main while being backed off a trailer. This lead to the evacuation of several Canton residents.
BY DAN STEINBECK Editor dan@lewispnj.com
A two-block area of Canton was briefly evacuated after a gas leak at Fourth and Jamison April 24. Canton Fire Chief Jeff McReynolds said the evacuation of a block south and north of the break was just a precaution in the event there had been an explosion. People were allowed to return almost
LEWISTOWN MAN HURT WHEN LAWN TRACTOR, TRUCK COLLIDE A Lewistown man had apparently moderate injuries when the lawn tractor he was driving collided with a pick-up truck Saturday. Jeffery C. Smith, 32, Lewistown, was taken by Lewis County Ambulance to Blessing Hospital. According to the Missouri Sate Highway Patrol, a 1995 Ford Ranger pick-up truck driven south by David B. Moss, 47, Bethel, on 164th Avenue a mile south of Lewistown at 11:43 a.m. Saturday, when he came over a hillcrest, saw Smith turning around his Ford lawn Tractor in the road, and was unable to stop and struck Smith’s tractor. There was extensive damage to the truck and the tractor was totaled. Also assisting the Patrol were the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lewis County First Responders, Heartland Towing, and Ace Elder Towing.
exactly an hour after the incident when Atmos Energy repaired the break. The half-inch gas main apparently broke at ground level below a gas meter after a car being backed off a trailer at the David Budde residence struck the meter, and the gas main began hissing loudly. The call for the fire department came at 4:45 p.m. McReynolds said natural gas rises in the air, and was dissipated in the gentle breeze of the day.
Year Long Investigation Leads To Several Lewis County Arrests On Drug Related Charges KELLEY
HICKMAN
SMITH
GOODWIN
BARTZ
MCDOWELL
On April 25, the Lewis County Sheriffs Office and Northeast Missouri Drug Task Force made six narcotic related arrests to conclude a yearlong investigation. Some of these arrests are the result of the collaboration between the city of LaBelle and the Lewis County Sheriffs Office. Currently, the city of LaBelle and Lewis County contract to provide a Deputy Sheriff on a part time basis. Those arrested include: Jeremy S. Kelley, 28, and Erin J. Bartz-Thomas, 29, both of Knox Ciy; Lindsey L. McDowell, Jr., 20, Adam L. Hickman, 22, and Lenny J., Smith, 33, all three of LaBelle; and Kirk D. Goodwin, 31, of Lewistown on various drug charges. All were lodged in the Lewis County Jail. Kelley and Bartz-Thomas each face on one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance, (marijuana), a class B felony, stemming from an April 2011 incident. Each is being held in lieu of $10,000 cash only bond..
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McDowell, is charged with two counts of Distribution of a Controlled Substance, (marijuana), class B felonies, stemming from two July 2011 incidents and is being held in lieu of $100,000 cash only bond. Hickman, faces two counts of Distribution of a Controlled Substance, (marijuana), class B felonies, stemming from incidents in August and September of 2011 and remains lodged in the jail in lieu of $100,000 cash only bond. Smith, faces three counts of Distribution of a Controlled Substance, (marijuana), all class B felonies, stemming from an investigation in 2011 and remains lodged in the jail in lieu of $100,000 cash only bond. Goodwin, was arrested on one count of possession of controlled substance, a class C felony, (prescription medicine) stemming from an October 2011 investigation and remains in jail in lieu of $10.000 cash only bond. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
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There was a brief moment of concern when two bicyclists were seen riding bicycles in the alley directly behind the property and were warned by a Canton Police Officer. An Atmos official was seen with a shovel and other tools near the meter and got the leak repaired in less than 15 minutes after arriving. The all clear was given, almost exactly an hour after the incident was reported. There was no fire or injuries.
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