Wednesday, April 29, 2009

A Yates Center, Kansas, man killed in this week's floods will be laid to rest Saturday.

Joshua Smith, 20, was a 2007 graduate of Yates Center High School. He was raised with his family in rural Piqua, Kansas.

Smith died Monday night after a truck he and two friends were riding in was swept off a rural Greenwood County road around 11:00pm. Tyrell McDonald and Adam Slater, both 21, were able to swim to safety.

Smith enjoyed fishing, hunting, four-wheeling and being outdoors. Visitation will be Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. Funeral services will be Saturday morning at 10:30 at the Yates Center HS Gymnasium, with burial to follow at the Yates Center cemetery.

Smith's younger brother is battling cancer. Memorial donations will be used to help in his fight. The funeral home is handling gifts and donations for the family. Those wishing to send condolences may stop by or mail them to:

Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel
c/o Robert Smith family
16 N. Buckeye
Iola, Kansas 66749

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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Severe flooding in Greenwood County is being blamed for the death of a 20-year-old man from Yates Center in neighboring Woodson County.

Greenwood County Sheriff Mark Kenneson says Joshua Smith drowned overnight after a truck he was riding in with two friends was swept from a rural dirt road near the Verdigris River in the eastern part of the county.

Tyrell McDonald and Adam Slater, both 21 years old and also from Yates Center, were able to swim to a nearby shore and run for help.

Residents living along the Verdigris River near DD Road and 200th Road say water often overruns the area during heavy rains. Signs along 200th Road warn drivers not to drive along flooded roads.

But on Monday night, authorities say barricades put in place for added emphasis also washed away. It's believed the barricades were missing by the time Smith, McDonald and Slater were making their way home around 11:00 at night.

Sheriff Kenneson says McDonald was in the driver's seat. McDonald and Slater were able to exit the black four-door Ford F-150 and make it to shore. Kenneson says the men last reported seeing Smith on the roof of the truck as it was swept downstream.

A search and rescue mission began late Monday night, but was called off after about two hours because waters were so high, conditions were unsafe even for emergency crews.

Kenneson says rescue teams resumed their search at 6:00 Tuesday morning, and discovered Smith's body about 30 minutes later. Smith was found about 80 yards from the truck, which came to rest nearly half a mile from the road.

Smith was a 2007 graduate of Yates Center High School. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel in Iola, Kansas. A date and time for services has not been finalized.