Tuesday, August 28, 2012
An annual kickball tournament held in Eureka to benefit the KMA Foundation brought competitiveness and fun from all ages. For Eurekans who remember Kaela Archambault before the fatal accident, it's bittersweet.
Twenty-two teams competed in the annual KMA Foundation kickball tournament in Eureka Saturday, with one team traveling all the way from Iowa to participate. Games were held at Lion's Park. Proceeds went to KMA (Keeping Memories Alive, Kaela Marie Archambault) and OneCurveAtaTime non-profit organization launched by Shawn Archambault when his daughter, Kaela, died in a head-on collision accident on Nov. 18, 2010, on a dangerous curve of Route FF. "Since Kaela, there have been five others who died on FF; that's a lot of people lost," said Shawn, while he jumped in and out of meditating about the delicate balance of life and death Saturday in-between kickball games. There are 21 curves on Route W and 19 on Route FF, depending on what one …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
VIDEO: Look what a great memorial one Eureka resident did for two local women who died in auto accidents on Highway FF within about a half mile of each other. This roadway's crash rate is at least 25 percent more than state average for two-lane roads.
Raising awareness about road safety was what Saturday morning was about for a group of 70 Eureka volunteers. Most were acquainted with fatality victims on a personal level. Tim Schulte has known the Turnbo family of Eureka ever since they started attending Eureka United Methodist Church together more than a decade ago. He said he faced Saturday's dedication to the lives of auto accident victims Karen Turnbo and Kaela Archambault with "sadness about what happened but joy about what has come of it." Schulte is the director of Eureka United Methodist youth ministries. He served with Karen Turnbo before she was killed last September in a single-truck accident on Highway FF, saying she was a "reflection of God wherever she went." "I think Karen…
Monday, May 7, 2012
Locales know those two names associated with the lives of Eureka residents lost to the dangers of Highway FF. But near the intersection of Highways FF and W Saturday, there was an aura noticed by many at the dedication of a new safety billboard.
When the blue plastic cover rippled down off the new, large safety billboard Saturday near the intersection of Highways FF and W at Kirkwood Material Supply and revealed the beaming smile of Kaela Archambault, I admittedly teared up even though I was focused on taking photos of the unveiling and the crowds' reactions. It was a split second of both joy and pain. Seeing Kaela's face, I was immediately transported back to that November day when she lost her life not that many miles down the road, and I was on the scene of the accident. Missouri Highway patrol officers would not let media near the scene, but I was there when a SUV from the accident was hauled away. As a photojournalist, I snapped a shot, and was one of the few—if not the only …
Stephanie Stemmler
8:11 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
What a wonderful tribute! Thanks to everyone who came out and participated and who continue to support the efforts of the families and One Curve At A Time. Please take the time to contact the Dept of Transportation. We have until early July to submit comments advocating for funding of shoulders on Hwy FF. www.modot.gov. The more that do, the more they will listen and know that the entire … more ›