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A longtime local worker and devoted father passed away at home in Richmond on Friday morning, September 18. James M. “Jim” Smith was 71 years old when he died. He leaves behind decades of hard work and a family that loved him deeply.

Jim’s story started in New Castle, Indiana, where he was born on March 24, 1955. He was the son of Glenn W. Smith and Mildred P. Thompson Alexander. As a young man, he went to Hagerstown High School and later attended Northeastern High School in the area.

For 30 years, Jim was a familiar face at the Dana Corporation. He clocked in day after day, working hard to support his kids and keep a roof over their heads. By the time he retired, he had earned the respect of everyone who worked alongside him.

When he wasn’t working, Jim loved spending time on his hobbies. You could often find him riding his motorcycle around town, checking out old classic cars, or tuning into good music. He was also a big sports fan who never missed a chance to watch a good game.

To his kids and grandkids, Jim was much more than just a hardworking guy. He was the best father, grandfather, and friend they could ever have. He never made a big fuss about things, but he was always the first person to show up when someone needed help.

His family will miss him more than words can say. Jim is survived by his son Rob Smith, his daughter Jamie Hay and her husband Brian, and Vicky Watson, his friend and the mother of his children. He also leaves behind four grandchildren: Kalleigh Smith, Taylor Smith, Morgan Vineyard, and Jaxon Hay.

Jim now rests reunited with his parents, his sister Sherri Lynn Bowman, and an infant brother, Ronald W. Smith. Family, friends, and neighbors can say their final goodbyes during a public graveside service at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, at Greens Fork South Cemetery.

Jim Smith spent his whole life showing up for the people he loved. On Friday morning, September 18, the 71-year-old Richmond resident passed away quietly at his home. His family and friends are now left grieving a man who was always there when anyone needed a helping hand.

He was born James M. Smith on March 24, 1955, over in New Castle, Indiana. His parents were Glenn W. Smith and Mildred P. Thompson Alexander. Growing up in the area, Jim attended Hagerstown High School and Northeastern High School before stepping out into the local workforce.

When it came to making a living, Jim was as steady as they come. He put in 30 years of hard work at Dana Corporation before finally taking his well-earned retirement. Day after day, he went to work with a simple goal: make sure his family had everything they needed.

Off the clock, Jim knew how to enjoy the simple things in life. He loved the freedom of riding motorcycles on open roads, kicking back to listen to good music, checking out classic old cars, and catching local sports games on TV.

Above everything else, Jim was known as the ultimate family man. He was the best dad, grandpa, and friend anyone could ask for. People in his circle knew he was always in their corner, no matter what came up. There really are no words to describe how much everyone will miss him.

Jim leaves behind a family that meant the world to him. That includes his son Rob Smith, his daughter Jamie Hay and her husband Brian, and Vicky Watson, who was his friend and the mother of his children. His grandchildren—Kalleigh Smith, Taylor Smith, Morgan Vineyard, and Jaxon Hay—will also carry his memory forward.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Sherri Lynn Bowman, and his infant brother Ronald W. Smith. Folks who want to pay their respects can attend a public graveside service set for 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, at Greens Fork South Cemetery.

Monday morning felt completely different inside the halls of Woodland Junior High School. Principal David McClure sent an email out to parents confirming the news every family dreads. Two of their own junior high students, Olivia Pamungkas and Savannah Parker, passed away in a weekend ATV crash.

Classes still met, but the energy in the building was heavy from the second the front doors opened. Kids gathered in small groups near their lockers, holding back tears and trying to make sense of losing two classmates overnight. Teachers stood in hall doorways, offering hugs to anyone who needed one.

School administrators moved fast to bring extra grief counselors onto campus for the week. Counselors set up shop in the library and quiet rooms, giving students a place to talk, cry, or just sit quietly away from class. Many kids spent their study periods writing notes to leave at the girls’ desks.

The accident happened over the weekend when the girls were riding an ATV together near Fayetteville. Off-road vehicles are common across Northwest Arkansas, making the sudden crash hit even closer to home for local families. News of the wreck spread through text messages long before the school day even started.

For Olivia’s family and friends, the shock has not even begun to wear off. Classmates described her as a sweet, quiet presence who always had a kind word for people in the hallway. Her absence leaves a blank seat in class that nobody wants to look at.

Parents across Fayetteville spent Sunday night holding their own kids a little tighter at dinner. Group chats among neighborhood mothers were flooded with messages about how fast life can turn upside down. The local community center cancelled evening youth activities out of respect for the grieving families.

As the week moves forward, Woodland Junior High plans to keep support services open for as long as students need them. The school district is working with student leaders to plan a proper memorial service on campus grounds. Fayetteville is a close community, and everyone is coming together to lean on each other through the hard days ahead.

Folks around Northwest Arkansas woke up this past Sunday to news nobody ever wants to hear. Savannah Grace Parker, a bright student at Woodland Junior High, died in an off-road ATV crash over the weekend. She was out riding when the utility vehicle went down, taking her life alongside her classmate, Olivia Pamungkas.

Savannah was full of energy and well known in the local community. People who grew up around her family knew how much she loved being involved in local events. She had deep roots in the area, and her family has been a staple in Fayetteville for generations.

Her mother, Erin Wheatley-Parker, is now left picking up the pieces alongside her other children and parents. The loss hit the family hard, leaving a spot at the dinner table that can never be filled. Friends close to the family say Erin was always Savannah’s biggest fan, standing by her through every school milestone.

The crash happened suddenly during what was supposed to be a normal weekend hangout. Details from local reports confirm both middle schoolers were together on the trail when the accident occurred. Paramedics made it to the scene, but there was nothing anyone could do to save either girl.

Word spread quickly through the Miss Arkansas pageant community, where the family holds deep connections. A message sent out to members asked local families to lift up Erin and the whole Legacy family in prayer. Tributes started pouring in online from folks across the state who knew Savannah through those circles.

Losing a child at such a young age leaves a mark on a town that does not fade quickly. Neighbors have been stopping by the Parker home, dropping off warm meals, flowers, and handwritten notes on the front porch. Nobody quite knows what to say, so they just show up to hold space for a grieving mother.

Savannah leaves behind memories of laughter in school hallways and quiet moments at home with her brothers and sisters. For Erin and the rest of the Parker family, the days ahead are going to be long and heavy. But the town of Fayetteville is standing right beside them, promising never to let Savannah’s memory slip away.

Columbus police detectives are hunting for a hit-and-run driver who fled the scene of a fatal crash on Interstate 670 early Sunday morning. The multi-vehicle wreck took the life of 22-year-old Jordan Decker and injured several others near the State Route 315 exit ramp. Investigators believe a smaller SUV involved in the chain reaction sped off into the night before officers reached the crash site.

The crash happened around 1:27 a.m. on I-670 westbound near Grandview Avenue. Decker was driving a Hyundai Elantra when her car collided with a Dodge Challenger and a Dodge Ram pickup truck. The force of the collision threw debris across the highway and left all three vehicles heavily damaged in the middle of the road.

Emergency dispatchers sent police officers and paramedics to the scene within minutes of the initial 911 calls. First responders found Decker inside her damaged Hyundai, but efforts to save her failed, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Hospital units transported the surviving drivers and passengers to local medical centers for urgent treatment.

Witnesses at the scene told officers that a fourth vehicle, described as a compact or smaller SUV, was right next to the crash when it happened. Instead of stopping to render aid or talk to officers, the driver of the SUV accelerated and fled the scene westbound down the freeway. Police are reviewing regional traffic cameras and license plate readers along I-670 to identify the fleeing car.

Leaving the scene of a fatal crash carries severe legal consequences under Ohio law, ranging from license suspensions to major felony charges. Law enforcement officials noted that this stretch of I-670 has seen similar hit-and-run incidents in recent months, making safety along the downtown corridor a growing concern for local authorities.

Crash investigators shut down the westbound lanes of I-670 beyond State Route 315 for several hours to record evidence and clear the wreckage. Officers mapped out impact points, gathered physical fragments from the vehicles, and interviewed drivers who pulled over to help after the crash.

The Accident Investigation Unit is urging anyone with information about the small SUV or the crash to speak up immediately. Witnesses can reach Columbus police investigators at 614-645-4767 or submit confidential details to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.

A late-night drive turned into a tragedy on a Columbus highway over the weekend, leaving a local family grieving the loss of a 22-year-old woman. Jordan Decker was driving through the city early Sunday morning when a sudden collision on Interstate 670 ended her life. The crash happened right before 1:30 a.m. near the State Route 315 interchange, pulling emergency crews onto a dimly lit stretch of road scattered with wreckage.

Decker was at the wheel of a Hyundai Elantra traveling westbound when her car collided with two other vehicles—a Dodge Challenger and a Dodge Ram. The impact smashed the cars across multiple lanes, blocking traffic near the Grandview Avenue exit ramp. First responders rushed to the scene within minutes after receiving emergency calls about a severe pileup.

Paramedics tried to treat Decker at the scene, but her injuries were too severe. She was pronounced dead right there on the highway. At just 22 years old, Decker had her whole future ahead of her, and her sudden death has left her family, close friends, and neighbors in deep shock as they process the news.

Other people involved in the multi-vehicle wreck suffered injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals by ambulance. Authorities have not yet released their identities or updated their medical conditions. Paramedics worked quickly to clear the injured from the wrecked vehicles while police shut down the highway.

As officers began sorting through the wreckage, witnesses told police that another vehicle might have caused or been involved in the crash. According to investigators, a smaller SUV was seen at the location right after the impact, but the driver sped away before police cruisers arrived. Detectives are now treating the missing SUV as a key element in understanding how the crash started.

Police officers closed the westbound lanes of Interstate 670 past State Route 315 for several hours to examine skid marks, vehicle positioning, and debris patterns. Crash reconstruction teams worked straight through the night to map out the sequence of collisions before reopening the freeway to morning traffic.

The Columbus Division of Police Accident Investigation Unit is asking anyone who was driving on I-670 around 1:30 a.m. or who has dashcam footage to come forward. Members of the community can contact accident investigators directly at 614-645-4767 or leave anonymous tips with Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477 as the investigation continues.

Drew Harm, 60, was found dead inside a Hill Street home after state police arrived for a scheduled welfare check. Officers entered the Brushton house around 8:30 a.m. on a Wednesday morning after getting no answer at the door.

Inside the quiet home, troopers found Harm dead next to 68-year-old Martine Decarr. Both had died from gunshot wounds before help ever got to the scene.

The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation took over the property immediately. Specialized crews from the Violent Crimes Investigation Team and Forensic Investigation Unit came out to gather evidence and sweep every room.

Autopsies performed two days later at Glens Falls Hospital gave investigators clear answers about what went down. Dr. Michael Sikirica examined both bodies to figure out the exact cause of death.

Harm suffered severe skull fractures and brain injuries from a single gunshot wound. Pathologists ruled his death a suicide, while declaring Decarr’s death a homicide.

The physical evidence pointed to a clear timeline for investigators. Harm shot Decarr before turning the gun on himself in the middle of the house.

The Franklin County Coroner handled the removal of the bodies while troopers stayed behind to process the crime scene. The quiet town of Brushton is still trying to make sense of what happened on Hill Street that morning.

State police officers walked up to the house on Hill Street in Brushton on a Wednesday morning for a routine welfare check. Nobody answered the door when troopers knocked around 8:30 a.m., but inside, they made a grim discovery. They found 68-year-old Martine Decarr dead alongside Drew Harm.

What started as a simple check on a neighbor turned into an active crime scene in minutes. State police immediately roped off the property and called in specialized teams. Investigators knew right away that something went terribly wrong inside the house.

Medical examiners later confirmed the worst news for the small town. An autopsy at Glens Falls Hospital showed Decarr died from severe skull fractures and brain trauma caused by a gunshot wound.

Dr. Michael Sikirica, the forensic pathologist on the case, officially declared her death a homicide. The test results proved someone shot Decarr inside the home long before officers knocked on the front door.

Decarr lived in the quiet Franklin County community for years. Neighbors along Hill Street knew the block as a peaceful neighborhood where folks usually noticed when something seemed off.

State police worked fast to calm the surrounding area. Troopers reassured nearby families that they were safe and that the person responsible was already dead inside the building.

Detectives spent several days searching the house and collecting physical evidence under court-issued warrants. For those living nearby, the loss leaves a painful gap where a familiar neighbor used to be.

People across Mobile, Alabama are coming together to remember a local man whose life touched many around him. The news of Brandon Shute passing away has brought a wave of grief through the community. Friends, neighbors, and relatives are finding it hard to put their pain into words.

Social media feeds and neighborhood conversations are filled with shared memories of Brandon. People keep using the same words to describe him. They call him a genuine, caring soul who was truly one of a kind. In a world where people can be distant, Brandon was always present and real.

The messages left in his memory paint a clear picture of what he meant to local residents. He was the guy who could make you laugh when you had a bad day. He was also the guy who sat with you when you needed real advice. His presence brought warmth to every room he walked into.

Among all the tributes, the ones from his family carry a special weight. Loved ones describe him as a best friend and a second father. To his nieces and nephews, he was simply the coolest uncle they could have asked for. He took on those roles naturally and gave everything he had to his family.

Folks in Mobile are holding tight to old photographs and retelling favorite stories to keep his spirit alive. Each picture posted online shows a moment of joy or a quiet memory shared with Brandon. These posts show just how deep his roots went in the local community.

Losing someone like Brandon leaves a quiet gap that cannot easily be filled. Neighbors are checking in on each other and offering support to his immediate family. The whole town is sharing in this loss together, standing shoulder to shoulder in their grief.

As Mobile says its final goodbyes, the impact of Brandon Shute’s life remains clear. His kindness and laughter stay behind in the hearts of everyone who knew him. He may be gone from sight, but his memory will stay strong in the city he called home.

The town of Mobile is quiet this week as folks process the loss of Brandon Shute. People across the city knew him as someone who stood out by simply being himself. He was the kind of person who stayed genuine no matter what. Now, friends and family are left trying to make sense of a reality without him in it.

Brandon built a reputation in his local area for being down-to-earth and dependable. Those who spent time with him describe him as a real one. He brought laughter into rooms when people needed it most. He gave steady support when times got tough.

For his family, the loss hits at the very core. Tributes coming in highlight the special place he held in the lives of younger family members. One relative called him the coolest uncle ever. He was not just an uncle to those around him. He was a best friend and a second father figure.

That kind of bond is not something that happens by accident. Brandon earned that place by showing up for people. He shared solid advice and guided people through hard times. He stayed consistent day in and day out.

The weight of his absence is heavy across Mobile. People are holding onto the small moments now. They remember the casual conversations, the shared jokes, and the quiet guidance he gave. Those everyday interactions are what people miss the most.

His memory now lives on through the pictures and stories people keep sharing. Friends are posting old photos and recounting stories of his kindness. Every story shared points back to the same thing. He made people feel cared for and valued.

Mobile is saying goodbye to a man who truly mattered to those around him. The grief is deep, but the affection people have for him is even deeper. Brandon Shute leaves behind a legacy of love, real friendship, and memories that time will not erase.