🌱 Topeka Road Closures + Topeka Goodyear Fined For Fatal Accident

Hello, neighbors! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Topeka Patch newsletter — here to tell you all the most important things happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Breezy, warm. High: 83 Low: 56.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny and warm. High: 80 Low: 59.

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Here are the top three stories in Topeka today:

1. The City of Topeka announced that SE 21st and Indiana Avenue are closed for all eastbound traffic due to emergency gas work. According to officials, the closure will tentatively last three days but may extend further. (WIBW)
2. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined Topeka Goodyear $15,625 for a fatal 2022 accident. Goodyear machine operator Tim Cole was fatally injured when he was caught between the clutches of two machines. Topeka Goodyear was fined for the incident due to a "lack of engineering controls and work procedures at the plant as well as inadequate protective equipment." (WIBW)
3. Topeka police arrested 19-year-old Courtney D. Cannon of Topeka in connection to a Jan. 24 drive-by shooting incident in Topeka. Cannon has been charged with the reckless criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied dwelling and felony interference with LEO. Topeka police previously arrested three others in connection to the incident. (KSNT News)

From our sponsor:

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Today and tomorrow in Topeka:

Wednesday, April 12

• Open Mic Comedy Night At Happy Basset Barrel House (6:30 PM)

Thursday, April 13

• 2023 Fiber Arts Juried Show "Seasons" At NOTO Art Center (11:00 AM)
• Paint, Sip, Sing! At Studio 62 (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• On Apr. 11, Jeffrey James Exon of Topeka was convicted of murder in relation to the 2021 death of his two-year-old daughter. For the felony charge, Exon faces a sentence of life in prison with 25 years served before the consideration of parole. (WIBW)
• Angel, an appropriately-named Australian cattle dog and blue heeler mix, is searching for her forever family in the Topeka area! See Angel and other adorable adoptable pets in the Topeka area at the link. (Topeka Patch)
• On the market for a new place to live, or just interested in what else is out there these days? Check out the latest homes for sale in the Topeka area, including a three-bedroom on SE Madison Street for $114,950. (Topeka Patch)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday! I'll see you around.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.