Missouri Madness Continues

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A 64-year-old man on his way to his post as a school crossing guard in northeast Kansas City died after being hit by a pickup truck.

Kansas City police say James R. Suman died in the accident early Friday.

Suman, who lived near where he was struck, was wearing a reflective vest and carrying a plastic school crossing sign when he was hit. Investigators said he apparently was walking to a city bus stop to go to a school in the northeast area.

Some people were making the obvious jokes about this, but I'm just sad.  When a reflective vest and sign aren't enough, what is?  At least no kids were hurt, and I'm sure he would have been relieved to know that.

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. (AP) — Arrest warrants have been issued for a Grain Valley couple whose daughter lost several fingers to a pet ferret in January.

The warrants were issued after Ryan and Carrie Waldo did not appear for pre-trial conferences last Friday.

The Waldos were arrested in January after authorities found their ferret had chewed on their 4-month-old child's hands, leaving only two thumbs and part of a pinkie remaining. They were charged in June with first-degree child endangerment. The couple has pleaded not guilty.

The couple was charged in July, after seven fingers were amputated because of the damage.  This is on my list of articles I follow, so you can expect updates as they come.

Last week, I was asked where we are moving to.  West, away from tornadoes and stupidity steeped in generations of ignorance and stubborn spite.  You can't get away from tragedy, but you can put miles between stupidity and its (unofficial) headquarters.