We learned a little bit more about the actions of late Knox County Deputy Sheriff Nick Weist during a highway dedication ceremony in his honor over the weekend. It was all about a split-second decision in April of 2022 after finishing his shift and heading home, but then hearing on the radio that an armed suspect was heading toward the town of Alpha. Weist responded along Route 150 and his efforts stopped the suspect but led to fatal consequences for himself. That’s the ultimate sacrifice says retired Knox County Sheriff.
Alpha Mayor Dean Kernan says his community benefited greatly from Deputy Weist’s heroic work that April of 2022 morning.
Highway 150 from Alpha to Galesburg is now known as the Deputy Sheriff Nick Weist Memorial Highway, officially dedicated Saturday as the result of a House Joint Resolution sponsored by State Rep. Dan Swanson. Weist’s career included stops at the Aledo and Mercer County Sheriff’s departments, and he also served as a volunteer Viola firefighter.