Harry Morgan- Colonel Potter on M*A*S*H*- Dead at Age 96

Actor Harry Morgan passed away Wednesday at his Los Angeles-area home from pneumonia at age 96- according to this ASSOCIATED PRESS story via MyWay news.


An actor in 50 films- on Broadway and in television- where he was most acclaimed.


Mr. Morgan came to the TV show M*A*S*H* in 1975 in a role as Col. Sherman Potter after McLean Stevenson quit his role as commander of the ficticional mobile hospital unit during the Korean War.


Mr. Morgan was also well-known for his TV role of Joe Friday in the program Dragnet.


Harry Morgan is survived by three sons, Charles, Paul and Christopher; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.



Like Hawkeye in M*A*S*H*- I don't salute many people- but I'm returning your salute "Sherm."

CSW BREAKING: Fatality Crash on Southeastern Downtown KC-MO Freeway Loop

Kansas City MO emergency crews are working a reported multi-vehicle- critical-injury crash on westbound I-670 just east of the Locust Street overpass.


The crash was reported about 10:45 p.m. Wednesday night and accoding to police reports- one vehicle "left the scene" of the crash.

Police are preparing to close I-670 at the accident scene- that will affect drivers going both northbound on U.S. 71 going west on I-670- and southbound I-70/35 going west on I-670.


At 11:34 p.m. KC-MO Police were calling this a "fatality" crash.

CSW BREAKING: Gasoline Tanker Truck Crash "With Extrication" Reported in Olathe

At 4 p.m.- several Olathe Fire companies and MEDACT-EMS were dispatched on an injury crash "with extrication" of a vehicle occupant at "U.S. 169 and I-35."


First fire department reports from the scene at 4:03 p.m. say the vehicle involved is a gasoline tanker truck "on it's top" with "the driver out of the vehicle" with no extrication required.


A name of the tanker company mentioned is "Groendyke-" and the truck is reportedly carrying several thousand gallons of fuel in several compartments on the tanker trailer itself.

An Olathe FD "Haz-Mat" crew has responded- as pumper companies (additional companies ordered to the scene) are "standing by with foam" to apply on the scene.


Reports are that at least "15 gallons a minute" of gasoline is leaking from the overturned tanker truck.


The KC SCOUT system is reporting the southbound ramp to 151st Street from I-35- as well as U.S. 169 at I-35- is closed to traffic.


At 4:24 p.m.- the OFD has requested "a 2nd-alarm" fire response- as a "Waffle House" and "a restaurant next door" to the Waffle House was "being evacuated" of patrons and workers.



As of 6:35 p.m. Wednesday eveing- emergency crews were still working this incident with all closures mentioned above still in effect.

CSW BREAKING: Multiple-Injury Crash near Longview Lake in S.E. Kansas City MO

Four ambulances have been sent as well as additional fire department units with extrication tools to a 2-vehicle- multiple-injury crash at the intersection of Raytown Road and West Longview Parkway.

This incident- initially reported around 3:10 p.m. Wednesday afternoon- is just west of the Longview Lake dam.


Extrication is being performed on at least two people trapped in vehicle wreckage- and serious injuries have been indicated.


Northbound Raytown Road has been closed to thru traffic at Longview Road. I haven't heard regarding the disposition of southbound Raytown Road traffic- but it is more than likely severely restricted by this crash.


Preliminary injury reports from KC-MO FD-EMS are that "one" patient "was ejected" during the crash and has "pretty serious injuries."

There were two other injuries mentioned in that EMS report- both female- one of them termed as "walking wounded."


One female transported to a Metro hospital was "a 47-year-old female driver" with a broken leg- according to EMS-30.


The disposition of any other patients had not been reported as of 4 p.m..

Person Dead By Gunshot at Zona Rosa in KC-MO Northland

Around 11:45 a.m. Wednesday morning- KC-MO emergency services were called to a parking garage in the Zona Rosa shopping district near I-29 and Barry Road on a reported shooting.


Police arrived and found aa adult male with a gun in his hand dead on-the-scene.


This incident appears to be a self-inflicted shooting according to KC-MO police.

CSW BREAKING: Fire in Kansas City KS Commercial Structure

Around 12:26 p.m. Tuesday afternoon- six companies of the KC-KS Fire department were sent to a reported fire in a building in the 1100 block of Merriam Lane.


Heavy smoke was showing from the rear of a 2-story structure when the first fire company arrived at 12:32 p.m..

At 12:40 p.m.- an interior firefighting crew reported "propane tanks in the rear" of the building.

So far- none of those tanks have become involved in fire- which continues to burn uncontrolled as of this post.

At 12:51 p.m.- another pumper company was sent to this fire.

No injuries have been reported.

The fire was reportedly "knocked down (under control)" at 12:57 p.m..

The Timeless Observational Humor of Samuel Clemens

CSW BREAKING: Raytown Police Officer Receives a "Minor Injury"

Raytown EMS is enroute to "68th Terrace and Raytown Road" where it's reported "a police officer on a motorist assist" has received an "injury to his hand" by a yet unknown means.


It could well be somehow associated with the about 1/4-inch of snow that Metro Kansas City received during the pre-dawn hours.

CSW BREAKING: House Fire Reported in Grandview MO

Around 9:50 a.m.- all of Grandview's fire companies were sent on a house fire in the 7000 block of East 132nd Street.


The first arriving company reported "heavy smoke" coming from the story and a half structure at 9:56 a.m.- and 3 minutes later report "fire in a bedroom just off the front door" of the house.

By 10 a.m.- it was believed the fire had made it into the attic of the residence- and a mutual aid engine (pumper) from the South Metro Fire department in Raymore and a ladder truck from Belton was requested.


Thus far- there have been no reports of anyone found inside or any injuries reported.

More on this post as information is received....

MetroRegion Kansas City NEWS: Hostess Brands Inc. Freezes Pension Plan For Workers at Emporia Dolly Madison Plant

Among the new developments of the 21st Century- besides blatant corporate greed- is corporations reneging on union contracts and pension plans.


The latest corporate liar is Hostess Brands- who last week announced they are freezing union pension plans- in other words not paying the company's share- for all their union production workers.

Hostess Brands is a re-organized spin-off of Interstate Bakery Inc. that used to be headquartered here in Kansas City and was regrouping after a 2009 bankruptcy.

In the MetroRegion- this affects a Dolly Madison bakery and distribution center in Emporia Kansas- about 90 miles southwest of downtown Kansas City.

According to this story in the EMPORIA (KS) GAZETTE- the Bakery and Confectionery Union and Industry International Pension Fund said in a letter to their members that Hostess Brands hadn't paid their share of the pension plan for the past four months.


It's not mentioned in the GAZETTE story whether the executives of Hostess Brands Inc. will still received their bloated salaries AND retirement benefits....

Owners of (Former) Wizards Soccer Team Asks KC-MO For More Corporate Welfare

A corporate spinoff of the owners of Metro KC's pro soccer team is asking for corporate welfare to develop a Downtown building.


Sporting Innovations LLC is slated to ask Kansas City MO's corporate-generous City Council for a $2.8-million tax abatement for the old Hanna Rubber Company building at 1511 Baltimore- according to a story in The KANSAS CITY BUSINESS JOURNAL. 

CSW BREAKING: Lived-In Mobile Home Fire in Lawrence KS

A fire has ruined the Christmas season for a family in Lawrence... 



The incident was dispatched to the Lawrence Fire department at 10:18 a.m. to the 1900 block of East 19th Street.

Dispatch said "all occupants (got) out without injury.



When the first company arrived at 10:25 a.m.- they reported "heavy smoke" showing from a mobile home- and the firefight was on.



At 10:45 a.m.- the fire was reported "under control." 

CSW BREAKING: Woman Sets Fire To Herself in Warrensburg MO

The call came in at 11:31 p.m. Saturday night: "a female was burned after setting herself on fire" at a convenience store/gas station in Warrensburg.


The incident reportedly occurred at the "Everyday Conoco at 312 North Maguire."


Apparently- the woman was burned by gasoline- as the dispatcher told responding units that "gas was running down the parking lot" there.


Reports were that the "20-year-old" had "burns to her face and arms-" but her condition was unknown as she was probably transported to the Warrensburg hospital (Western Missouri Medical Center).

It is not yet known if this was an accident or otherwise.

Glass Family Tells Frank White He's Done as Royal's Broadcaster

Years ago- I was as dyed-in-the-wool of a Kansas City Royals baseball fan as one could be...

That was years ago- before WalMart exec David Glass bought the Royals and made the team the WalMart Royals.

Cheapest owner and players anywhere.

The latest slap in KC Royals fan's faces is the team is not renewing Frank White's TV broadcasting contract for next year.


Me too Frank- I'm finished with this WalMart team- but few will really show their disgust and the stands will be packed with sheeple opening day. 

CSW BREAKING: Incoming Aircraft Emergency at Kansas City International Airport

Five regular fire companies- as well as all 3 apparati of the airport rescue and firefighting force have responded on a standby at K.C.I. airport for an inbound aircraft experiencing problems.



The incident was reported at 9:43 p.m. Friday night.


About 10 minutes later the plane- reported to be a Delta Airlines flight from the East Coast with 45 people on board- landed safety.


The aircraft was escorted to a secure area of KCI- for it was reported there was possibly some sort of explosives on the aircraft.


The aircraft was searched- apparently without incident with no other details yet available.

.

CSW BREAKING: Two-Alarm Fire in Midtown KC-MO

A 2nd-alarm has been struck on a fire at 39th Street and Garfield.

The fire is at the old Horace Mann elementary school.


Initially at 12:26 p.m.- a pumper and a ladder truck (then a battalion chief was sent) was sent here- when those companies arrived they reported a "working fire" in a "2-story" structure.

All fire crews were pulled out of the building- reportedly an empty school building- by 12:40 p.m.- and a 2nd-alarm was requested at 12:44 a.m..

There have yet been no reports of injuries- the structure burning had reportedly "previously burned" earlier this morning- so no occupants were thought to be inside.

CSW BREAKING: Armed Business Robbery in Midtown Kansas City MO

Police are looking for two suspects who reportedly robbed a business in the 3800 block of Main Friday morning.


The incident was reported at 11:43 a.m. at the "Rent-A-Center" store at "3807 Main."


Police report 2 black males- heights ranging from 5-foot 7-inches to 5-foot 9-inches and wearing dark-colored hoodies- pants and wearing ski masks- robbed the business of a yet undisclosed sum and ran (according to witnesses) either north or southbound.


No one was hurt.

MetroRegion Kansas City News: Cole Camp Teen Missing

A 14-year-old girl has been missing from her empty bed in Cole Camp since the morning of November 27- reports the SEDALIA (MO) DEMOCRAT news Internet site.

Savannah Stetzenbach- shown here in a photo courtesy of the SD-  was last seen going to bed the prior Sunday night- when a family member went to wake her Monday morning she was gone.


The SD story does not state whether any personal effects of the teen were also gone- but suspect "a boy" had something to do with her disappearance.


If you see this girl- tell her to phone home or call the police.

Central States News: Missouri Driver Dies After Crashing Into Firetruck

This happened early this morning on I-70 in the eastern Missouri community of Saint Peters...

Emergency crews were wrapping up another EMS call on the freeway when the male driver of the pickup truck swerved into the back of the Central County Fire and Rescue rig.


The pickup driver died instantly- one firefighter on the truck had minor injuries- according to the ST. LOUIS (MO) POST-DISPATCH story.

Kansas City News Media and Coverage of Don Harman's Death

Viewing the comments here and on other local Internet sites- I've noticed a number of commenters wondering A) why it took so long to report Channel 4 weatherman Don Harman's death and/or B) by what means of suicide did Don Harman end his life.

I'll first address A)- the time issue.

Police report that Harman's death came around 5 p.m. Tuesday- but it was only on Wednesday's noon WDAF newscast that it was formally announced.

That was due- if people will read the reports- because Mr. Harman's father who was travelling- could not be immediately notified of his son's death.

Bear in mind- most news media organizations do not report confirmed suicides unless there are extenuating circumstances (a person threatening to jump off a bridge and the resulting traffic snarls for instance) or- as in this case- a celebrity or public figure is involved.

I have sent photographers on more than a few shootings that have turned out to be suicides- but unless someone else is harmed- those don't get reported.

On homicide scenes-photographers get their pictures in and around where the killing occurred as a matter of news sense.

In the vast majority of these cases- no news photog is going to stick their microphones in the faces of family or friends unless those people WANT to talk on-camera.

Then comes Point B- what mode of suicide did Don Harman choose.

To the news media or most other sensible people- this point is really irrevelent.

Whether Mr. Harman killed himself by hanging- with a gun or suffocation- what does it matter?  A well-liked TV personality is dead by his own hand and THERE lies the tragedy.


Bear in mind- I hear a LOT of suicide attempts during my news monitoring shifts: by overdose- shooting- hanging- carbon monoxide- you name it.

I've also handled a surprising number of suicidal people on Internet chat rooms.

It wrenches my heart enough to hear what I do about these incidents- and it really serves no one to report specifics- name names or- if no one else is harmed- any part of the incident at all.


We need to really focus on the tragedy and finality of suicide as in was there anything whatsoever we can or could have done to help prevent same.

CSW Weather: Meteorological Winter Begins Today

Although current temperatures here in south Kansas City are in the lower-50's- today begins what is called "meteorological winter."


What is considered the calendar winter or the official start of winter begins December 22- but to weather people the first day of a month when a season starts is what is considered the start of that season, so although spring for instance begins later in March- the first day of March is considered meteorological spring.

As if the celebrate- it's looking more and more like Mother Nature will bring up at least a look at wintry weather this coming weekend.


There is a good to excellent chance of a rain Saturday- and current indications are that the rain will change over to snow before it ends early Sunday.

It's still too early to forecast any accumulations in Metro or MetroRegion Kansas City- but there is at least a likely hood that those awake in the predawn hours of Sunday will see snowflakes in the air from the city west and northward.