Obituary - Herbert Bond Ferguson, Jr,

Herbert Bond Ferguson, Jr, 78, of Harrisonville, Missouri, passed away on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at KU Medical Center. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 26, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO, with the visitation beginning at 1:00 PM. Inurnment will be at a later date in Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to the family.

Herb was born in Springfield, Missouri, August 25, 1945 to Herbert and Aletha (Haynes) Ferguson. The family moved to Raytown, Missouri, where Herb graduated from high school in 1963. Herb worked a variety of jobs throughout his life but was most well known as a bail bondsman. Herb enjoyed fishing and spending time with family, friends, and his dog, Farrah. He will be greatly missed by his loved ones and all who knew him.

Herb is preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Jill Lewis. He is survived by his daughter, Jeni Coble; his four grandchildren: Caitlin, DJ, Olivia, and Jax; and his brothers: Dan, Mike, Stephen, and Mark Ferguson.

Two from Nevada injured in Cass County crash

On Thursday April 25th around 6:36 p.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Cass County along with Cass County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a one vehicle accident on I-49 south of 307th Street in rural Cass County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when the northbound bound 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 51 year old Charles Jones of Nevada, Missouri ran off the right side of the roadway and struck an embankment.

Mr. Jones sustained minor injuries, while his passenger, 65 year old Ethel Voigt of Nevada, Missouri sustained moderate injuries in the accident. Both were taken by ambulance to Cass Regional Medical Center.

View crash report below:

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP68/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=240203467

Search warrant served in Lamar

As a result of an investigation conducted by The Lamar Police Department and the Ozark Drug Enforcement Team, with assistance from the Barton County Sheriff’s Department K9 team, a search warrant was served in the 600 block of W 9th on Monday 04/22/24. The officers recovered illegal drug paraphernalia items along with items previously reported stolen from another residence in Lamar.

The Lamar Police Department has submitted for the consideration of a formal charge of Receiving Stolen Property, through the Barton County Prosecutor’s Office, for Brian E Neher, 46 of Lamar Mo. The attached photo is a previous booking photo of Neher.

This incident was investigated by Sgt. Oliver Cornell, Sgt. Johnny Bray, Chief Deputy Justin Ehrsam along with members of the Ozark Drug Enforcement Team.

As is the case in all arrests, charges are based on probable cause and all persons are considered innocent until or unless found guilty in court.

Obituary - Michael Todd Banker

Michael Todd Banker, 60, of Harrisonville, MO, passed away on Friday, April 19, 2024, at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, MO. Celebration of Todd's life will be held at Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville on April 26, 2024, beginning with visitation at 6:00 pm, followed by the funeral service at 7:00 pm. Memorial contributions are suggested to the family to help with funeral expenses.

Todd was born on August 25, 1963, in Independence, MO. Todd was adopted by Don and Helen (Baker) Banker, and was blessed to have them as his parents. He spent his career as a truck driver, having worked for APEC before eventually owning and operating his own rig. He had a love for hunting, fishing, and music, finding joy in the simple pleasures of life amidst his travels.

Todd found true happiness in the births of his children, Brandon and Amanda, and the arrival of his cherished granddaughter, Spencer Hennessy. Todd was a kind soul who treasured moments spent with loved ones and his four-legged companions, spoiling his dogs rotten all the time. Todd held firm in his belief that Jesus' sacrifice granted eternal life to all who believed and he always sought to comfort those around him, telling them not to cry but to share memories, laugh, and take solace in the knowledge that they would be reunited in the afterlife.

Todd is preceded in death by his father, Don Banker, and his dog, Macon. He is survived by his mother, Helen Banker; his sister, Donna Stearns; his son, Brandon Banker; his daughter, Amanda Banker; his granddaughter, Spencer Hennessy; his nephews: Mike Muller and Mason Stearns; many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends; and his beloved dogs.

Big day for Papinville June 8th

  

The Papinville Historical Association will be having a 5k walk/ run, corn hole tournament plus many more activities on June 8th. This will be a benefit to help with our expansion project that the association voted on at our annual meeting April 11th. The project is to build a new museum and use what is now the museum for a hall that can be used for indoor events., programs and for people to rent for family gatherings. We would be able to have more events with an indoor facility.

This event will be the first activity to help us get started on this project of expansion. Registration for the 5k walk/run can be picked up at the Rich Hill and Butler Citizens Bank locations or go to Facebook to the Papinville Historical Association and print out a form. If you would like a t-shirt it is $20 per person and no shirt will be $15 per person. Send in form with fee by May 20th if you would like a shirt.

If you want to be in the corn hold tournament you will sign up the day of the event on June 8th by 10:30 am there will be 2 people to a team and the entry fee is $25 per team. A prize will be given to the winning team.

There will be food served starting at 11:30. Menu will be hot dogs and hamburgers with several sides. Menu and additional events will be in the Mid America Shopper, through the FM 92.1 radio station as well as their Facebook page and web site. There will be a short history series about the trail through the newspaper and radio station in the next few weeks as well.

We hope that you will come out and enjoy these events. If you would like to be a sponsor to help with this project call 417-395-2594 or 816-590-1029 and your business or family name will do on the shirts, Papinville is where Bates County was Founded. Until next week you will get the rest of the story. If you have never been to Papinville this would be a good time to see the history area that the missionaries came to in 1821.

                                                          -Submitted by Phillis Stewart

Notice from Bates County EMA

We plan on having our kickoff meeting at the Butler Masonic Lodge on North Orange on May 1st 2024. This will be the first of 3 meetings this year so we can go over wants and needs to be included in the 2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan, which will be prepared by the Kaysinger Basic RPC.

The 2nd meeting will be held in Rich Hill (in the Dome, we are planning), and the last meeting in Adrian, we are planning to use the Optimist Building. Please forward this to as many stakeholders you can, I will be sending several to various groups myself. -Dennis Jacobs, Director Bates County Emergency Management Agency

Dear stakeholders and residents of Bates County,
Every five years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the State Emergency Management Agency requires Bates County to have an updated and approved Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. The purpose of this plan is to identify those natural hazards that have the greatest impact on life in Bates County, whether this is a tornado, wildfire, earthquake, floods, all possible hazards that could impact your daily lives. This plan seeks to update the previously approved hazard mitigation plan that was approved on May 13th, 2020.

The Hazard Mitigation Plan strives to assist the communities, school districts, townships, special road districts, and the public in becoming more resilient and establish effective mitigation strategies and actions that aid in reducing risk associated with natural hazards.
In collaboration with the Bates County Commission and the Bates County Emergency Management Agency, a kickoff planning meeting will be held May 1st at 10:00 AM at the Masonic Lodge (1203 N. Orange Street) in Butler.

At the kickoff meeting, we will discuss the natural hazards that can impact Bates County, explain how participation in the planning process works, and distribute the data collection questionnaires, with an explanation of how to fill them out fully, completely and accurately.

Due to the comprehensive nature of the planning process, we are encouraging the following individuals to help take part in this planning process: County Commissioners, City/Village Clerks or Administrators, School District Superintendents, Neighboring Communities (Drexel, Archie), County and Local Emergency Management Staff, Floodplain Management Personnel, General Public, Township Elected Officials, Special Road District Commissioners, First Responders, Major Employers, Transportation Officials (MoDOT), Electric Co-Ops, Public Works Officials, etc. Anyone is welcome to attend, even if you have never participated in a plan like this, this is a good opportunity to get involved in your community.

In order to receive any funding from FEMA after a disaster for mitigation projects, or in some cases before the disaster, participation in the Hazard Mitigation Plan is MANDATORY.

If you have any questions concerning the planning process before the first meeting, please feel free to contact me by phone at 660-885-3393 or by email at dharness@kaysinger.com and I would be happy to assist your entity in any way I can.

Humbly yours,
Dillon J. Harness
Regional Planner – Kaysinger Basin Regional Planning Commission

Stone County murder suspect arrested after short standoff in Vernon County

According to the Stone County Sheriff's Office, a 50-year-old man was reportedly found dead in a home near Crane with an apparent gunshot wound just after 7:00 a.m on Tuesday. 

In a cooperative effort with the Missouri Highway Patrol, Cedar County Sheriff's Office, Vernon County Sheriff's Office, Christian County Sheriff's Office and the Stone County 911 dispatch, the suspect was taken into custody after a short standon on US Highway 54 in Vernon County.

On 04-24-24, a warrant was issued through the Stone County Associate Circuit Court for Chris Tina Miller for Murder 1st degree and Armed criminal action. She is being held without bond. These charges are from the Stone County Sheriff's Office investigation.

Multiple rounds of severe weather

Severe thunderstorms will be possible today, tomorrow, and Sunday. All severe hazards (large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes) will be possible.