The actions of a Cole County Sheriff's Department deputy meant so much to a local woman she wanted to make sure everyone knew the story.
On June 4, as they were traveling into Jefferson City on Route B coming back from Wardsville, Donna Speckhals and her sister ran over something on the road that flattened the driver's side tire.
"We tried to get the jack out of the trunk of the car, but we couldn't," Speckhals said. "Cars kept on going by, and nobody stopped."
A Cole County Sheriff's Department vehicle also went by, but what Speckhals didn't know was the deputy radioed in asking a deputy to check out the situation.
Deputy Travis Owens, a 15-year member of the department, who currently serves in the Wardsville-Taos area, made it to Speckhals and was able to get the jack and tire out of the trunk.
"He got down on the ground and changed the tire," she said. "He was concerned about me. I told him I'd just had surgery, and it was very hot. And we had no air conditioning in the car."
Speckhals told Owens they were going to go to Walmart to get a new tire, but when they found out it was going to cost them more than they could afford, Speckhals and her sister drove to Big O Tires where they were going to purchase a used tire for $25.
"I circled the Walmart parking lot three times looking for them," Owens said. "I found out they were at Big O and talked with the manager there."
"Travis came in and said, 'Don't worry about the bill; it's been taken care of.' And he paid for a new tire," Speckhals said. "My sister and I couldn't stop crying. In a situation like that, what usually happens is they call a tow truck to come and help, but he did all this himself."
Owens said: "I just remember you saying how things hadn't been going well for you, so I hoped that maybe this would be the start of turning things around."
Friday, Speckhals went to the sheriff's department and presented Owens with a medal she made to thank him for his kindness.
"This wasn't the first time I changed a tire, and I'm sure it won't be the last," Owens laughed.
