From the Cedar County Sheriff's Office

On 10/09/18 Sgt. Jeffries made a traffic stop south of Stockton. The vehicle was traveling 103 mph in a 55 mph zone and was uninsured.

The vehicle was towed. During an inventory search of the vehicle an illicit controlled substance was discovered in the vehicle. A female was taken into custody and transported to the Cedar County Sheriff’s.

On 10/10/18 the Cedar County courts issued a warrant for Sarah Hutchens for possession of controlled substance, exceeded posted speed, and no insurance.
Copyright Mid America Live News 

Disclaimer: Arrest records are public information. Any indication of an arrest does not mean the individual identified has been convicted of a crime. All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Traffic stop leads to arrest in Cedar County

On 10/14/18 Sgt. Jeffries made a traffic stop south of Stockton. The passenger of the vehicle Riccardo Zanoni was arrested for out of county warrants. The uninsured and improperly registered vehicle was towed. 

During an inventory search of the vehicle an illicit controlled substance and a loaded hand gun were discovered in the vehicle. Mr. Zanoni was taken into custody and transported to the Cedar County Sheriff’s.

On 10/15/18 the Cedar County courts issued a warrant for Riccardo Zanoni for possession of controlled substance, and unlawful use of a weapon.

Copyright Mid America Live News 

Disclaimer: Arrest records are public information. Any indication of an arrest does not mean the individual identified has been convicted of a crime. All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Obituary - Thomas E. Phillips

Thomas E. Phillips, 69, of Hiawatha, KS died peacefully Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at the Maple Heights Nursing Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, October 22, 2018 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO.

Tom was born September 15, 1949 in Parsons, KS, the youngest of six children to Eldred and Elsie Ginn Phillips. He grew up in Parsons, KS and graduated from Labette County High School with the Class of 1967. Tom moved to Harrisonville, MO, where he married Gail Hammontree. The two had a daughter, Ginger, but later divorced. Tom worked for Old Mill Seed and Grain as an Ag Chemical Applicator. In later years, he worked for Family Center Farm and Home. Three years ago, he moved to Hiawatha, KS.

Tom is survived by his daughter, Ginger Phillips-Farr of Harrisonville, MO, brother, Robert Phillips of Oakley, KS, sisters, Kathryn Shanholtzer of McCune, KS, and Lois Tredway of Parsons, KS, granddaughters, Syria Castaneda and Sydney Farr, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Bill Phillips and a sister Peggy Kolb.

A special message or remembrance may be sent to the family at www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com

Obituary - Mildred Raffety

Mildred Raffety, 86 of Drexel, Missouri passed away peacefully Saturday, October 14, 2018 at Villa St. Joseph in Overland Park, Kansas. Funeral services will be Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel (660-679-0009). 

A visitation will be held prior to the service Wednesday from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, also at the chapel. Burial will follow in Sharon Cemetery, Drexel, Missouri. 

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Drexel United Methodist Church. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com



Complete obituary information will be published soon.

Obituary - Raymond Eli Hiebert

Raymond Eli Hiebert, 88, Sheldon, MO, passed away on Sunday, October 14, 2018 at Freeman Health System West, Joplin, MO, following a lengthy illness. Raymond was born on July 21, 1930 in Hitchcock, OK to Henry James and Rachel (Nusz) Hiebert. He married Darline Potter on May 5, 1954 in Enid, OK and she survives of the home.

Raymond was raised in Hitchcock, OK and resided on the farm that was homesteaded by his family until it was sold in 1948. The family then purchased a farm in the Sheldon area of Barton County which he and Darline later purchased and continued to reside to this day. Raymond was drafted into the US Army in 1951 and served in Korea during the Korean War until he was discharged in 1953. Following the service he continued to serve in the Army Reserves for a number of years. He and Darline lived and worked in Oklahoma for a time where he drove a dairy truck before returning to the Sheldon area. Raymond worked as a postal carrier for 30 years in the Sheldon area retiring in 1992. Following retirement he continued to farm for a number of years. He was a long time member of the Assembly of God Church in Lamar.

In addition to his wife Darline, survivors include his three children, Steven Ray Hiebert, Sheldon, Mary Ann Blauvelt and her husband David, Sheldon, and David Eugene Hiebert, Nevada; three grandchildren, Aaron Blauvelt, Emily Kranz and James Blauvelt; great grandson , Jakoda Kranz; one brother, James Hiebert, Buckeye, AZ; numerous nieces and nephews; and brother-in-law Norval Potter, Nevada. Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Daniel, two brothers and three sisters.

Graveside services, with military honors, will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at the Sheldon Cemetery, Sheldon, MO with Pastor Robert Fox officiating. Friends may call now until 12:30 p.m. prior to the service at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

Those who wish may contribute in Raymond’s memory to the Sheldon Cemetery in care of Ferry Funeral Home.

“It’s a War Zone”: Hartzler Visits Southern Border

HARRISONVILLE, MO – Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler visited the Tucson Sector of the U.S.-Mexico border, working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and learning first-hand about the organized Mexican drug cartels which funnel deadly illegal drugs into the United States.

“Traveling to the Arizona-Mexico border allowed me to see first-hand the challenges facing our customs officers and Border Patrol agents on the front line,” said Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, who has been actively combatting the scourge of drug abuse in her Missouri district. “It is a warzone putting our dedicated agents against the highly funded, highly manned, and well-organized Mexican cartels. The cartels control the entire Mexican border and are consistently looking for lucrative opportunities, such as smuggling people and drugs into the United States,” added Hartzler, who toured the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. Hartzler saw cartel scouts conducting counter surveillance on the hills in Mexico overlooking the Port where they watch the border around the clock to find gaps in security. This allows them to smuggle people and drugs into the United States.

Hartzler noted that the Mexican cartels use a variety of methods to conduct their illicit activities along the U.S.-Mexico border. In Nogales, over 100 tunnels have been discovered since 1990 used primarily to smuggle drugs. Over the last several years, there has been a decline in marijuana seizures and an increase in hard drugs such as methamphetamine, heroine, and cocaine. Drug mules (people used to transport illicit drugs by foot across the border in remote areas) have become more violent and more likely to attack Border Patrol agents in order to protect their products. Hartzler added that consumer drones are used by the cartels to monitor and assess U.S. border activities in order to direct and plan movement into the United States. Earlier this year, Hartzler introduced legislation that allows the Department of Homeland Security to target and interdict these drones. This bill was incorporated into the FAA Reauthorization Act, which was signed into law this month.

“I am glad we were able to secure this important authorization to stop the drug drones from crossing our border, but this is just one of the steps needed to win this war on drugs. Mexican drug cartels are currently exploiting gaps in our border security and it is our responsibility to fill those gaps to keep their illicit activities out of the United States,” said Hartzler. “This includes investing in three key capabilities for a strong border – funding for a secure border wall, providing advanced technology such as sensors and cameras, and securing more customs officers and Border Patrol agents. There are many challenges along the U.S.-Mexico border, and these three investments will help to enhance U.S. border security. One of the ways to combat the flow of drugs into our local towns and communities is to stop them at the border, and this means supporting our customs officers and Border Patrol agents with the tools needed to win this battle,” added Hartzler.

Along the border in Nogales lies a border fence stretching to the rough mountainous terrain of Arizona. The rough terrain in Arizona makes it difficult and dangerous for Border Patrol agents to operate. The cartels encourage and exploit women and children to enter the United States in order to make a profit. Often, these individuals are left for dead in the desert with the false hope of reaching their destination. Border Patrol agents, with the help of the National Guard, frequently conduct life-saving rescue missions in the desert climate. The National Guard assists the Border Patrol by providing situational awareness and transportation for rapid deployment.

Congresswoman Hartzler toured the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. This port is responsible for checking cars, trucks, and pedestrians that cross into the United States. The customs officers are tasked with protecting the American public from harmful agricultural products, illegal drugs, and dangerous individuals entering the United States. The officers assigned to this port use advanced skills and technology to detect illegal drugs hidden in obscure locations. This photo shows objects intercepted by our customs agents, demonstrating the different methods used by the cartels to bring drugs across the border into America. 

Hartzler and Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) viewed a storm drain under the city of Nogales which is sometimes used by the cartels to smuggle drugs across the border. Along with the Port of Entry, various tunnels are used to smuggle drugs into the United States. Our Border Patrol works hard to locate and stop this dangerous activity.

German Heritage Festival in Prairie City

You and your family are welcome to join us Sunday. Lots of good German food and music. There will be several demonstrations including an apple press, basket weaving, and others. In the Parish Hall there will be a large display of family heirloom items.

Judge Hopkins Retirement Party

Obituary - Eugene Scarbrough

Eugene Scarbrough, 80, Peculiar, MO, died Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at his home. Services will be held at a later date in Virginia.

Eugene was born September 15, 1938 in Willow Springs, MO, the son of James Ira and Sarah (Collins) Scarbrough. He had lived in Willow Springs until enlisting in the Navy. He had lived in Virginia and Buffalo, MO before moving to Peculiar in 2011. He was a manager for the laundry department in hospitals.

Eugene is survived by two daughters, Theresa Gorsage, Freeman, MO and Angela Mitchell, Kansas City, MO; one sister, Nadine of Kansas City, MO; 6 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and many good friends, in particular, Esther McDowell.

Obituary - Norris Smith, Sr.

Norris Smith, Sr., 59 of Butler, Missouri passed away, surrounded by family and loved ones October 10, 2018 at Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler. Graveside services will be held 3:00 pm Friday, October 19, 2018 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Butler. 

A visitation will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursday October 18, 2018 at Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). Contributions may be made to the Spina Bifida Association or to the American Lung Association. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com

Norris Lee Smith, Sr. was born January 18, 1959 in Kansas City, Missouri to Norris Alger and Mabel Irene Henry Smith.

Norris truly loved his family and enjoyed spending as much time with them as possible. Two things he loved the most were sports and his grandchildren. Norris spent many years at the ballfields watching his children play and continued the tradition with his grandchildren. He loved playing cards and dice while visiting his sister and brother-in-law. Norris was an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan and never missed a game. It could be said that some of the best moments of Norris' life were found surrounded by his family while barbecuing and watching Chiefs football. Norris loved to laugh and make people smile whether through his wisecracks or practical jokes.

Norris was preceded in death by his parents, brother Steven Cox, and niece Lacey Smith - Thomas. Norris is survived by his wife Eva Smith of the home in Butler, MO., son Norris Smith and wife Emily and family of Adrian MO., daughter Amber Cooper and husband Ryan and family of Adrian MO., son Brandon Smith and family of Butler MO., stepson John Ganfield Jr. and family of Harrisonville MO., sister Linda Roberts and husband Tommy of Butler MO., sister Debbie Miller and husband Rex of Belton MO., sister Rosalee Smith of Belton MO., along with many nieces, nephews and beloved dog Brownie.