Operation Scarecrow nets 27 arrests

On Monday October 29th, 2012 the Bates County Sheriff’s Office and Vernon County Sheriff’s Office concluded a multiple month long drug operation dubbed as Operation Scarecrow. Operation Scarecrow was scheduled to conclude on October 31st and has netted 27 arrests. Operation Scarecrow also included surveillance conducted on October 31st to insure that Registered Sex Offenders were in compliance with the Halloween Trick or Treating laws.

The following subjects were arrested during Operation Scarecrow:

Valeri R Gumm 12/10/88 Rich Hill, Mo
1. Possession of controlled substance $25,000 bond Bates Co
2. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $100,000 Bond Vernon Co

Catherine M Nowak 2/8/89 Nevada, Mo
1. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $100,000 Bond Vernon Co

Amy J Powrie 11/25/80 Nevada, Mo
1. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $100,000 Bond Vernon Co

Jeffrey D Smoot 6/21/76 Adrian Mo
1. Possession of Controlled substance $10,000 bond Bates Co
2. Possession of Controlled substance $2500 bond Bates Co

Kaylene M Ledom 6/13/88 Nevada, Mo
1. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $100,000 Bond Vernon Co

Don E Hilton 10/18/57 Nevada, Mo
1. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $100,000 Bond Vernon Co

Amanda L Leftwich 12/24/78 Nevada, Mo
1. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $100,000 Bond Vernon Co

Kimberely R Dean Nevada Mo
1. Possession of controlled substance $100,000 Bond Vernon Co

Renee Campbell 7/27/59 Nevada Mo
1. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $100,000 Bond Vernon Co

Dustin M Pike 2/21/88 Nevada Mo
1. Possession of a controlled substance $100,000 Bond Vernon Co

Michael D Spear 3/26/77 Butler Mo
1. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $25,000 Bond Bates Co

Dana Robinson 4/16/61 Butler Mo
1. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $25,000 Bond Bates Co

Michael D Ritter 7/28/81 Rich Hill Mo
1. Possession of controlled substance $25,000 Bond Bates Co

Dylan J Warren 7/27/93 Butler Mo
1. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $10,000 Bond Bates Co

Joseph M Brown 11/14/93 Rich Hill Mo
1. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $25,000 Bond Bates Co

Jeremy Reno 5/25/79 Butler Mo
1. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $25,000 Bond Bates Co

Daniel J Ross 7/23/77 Butler Mo
1. Possession of controlled substance $10,000 Bond Bates Co

Matt A Harvey 5/18/71 Butler Mo
1. Possession of Controlled substance $10,000 Bond Bates Co

Lisa D Morgan 5/12/64 Adrian Mo
1. Possession of controlled substance $10,000 Bond Bates Co

Sheila Prater 5/2/1968 Rockville Mo
1. Possession of controlled substance $10,000 Bond Bates Co

Daniel J. Ross 7/23/77 Butler Mo
1. Possession of controlled substance $10,000 Bond Bates Co

Brandon Huckaby 7/30/83 Harrisonville Mo
1. Possession of controlled substance $10,000 Bond Bates Co

Sharon Warren 4/16/64 Butler Mo
1. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $10,000 Bond Bates Co

Misty C Cook 8/16/81 Butler Mo
Micheal S Robinson, 10/21/85 Nevada Mo
1. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $100,000 Bond Vernon Co
2. Dist/prod or attempt to possess w/intent $100,000 Bond Vernon Co
3. Warrant out of Arkansas for Maintaining drugs and criminal attempt with No Bond

Each of these individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

During the arrest process several additional subjects were taken into custody with charges being sent to the prosecutors. Additional charges are also being sought on several of the subjects that were arrested.

The following subjects are still wanted on various narcotics charges and at press time have not been located.

Vance G Gayle, 6/5/64 Harrisonville Mo
1. Possession of controlled substance $10,000 Bond Bates Co

 Robert W Grubb, 11/9/69 unknown
1. Possession of controlled substance $20,000 Bond Bates Co
2. Unlawful possession of weapon and drugs $20,000 Bond Bates Co
3. Non-Support $5,000 Bond Bates Co

Vincent L Jones, 12/30/89 Rich Hill Mo
1. Unlawful use of drug paraphernalia $2500 Bond Bates Co

John C Dickinson, 8/8/60 Independence Mo
1. Possession of controlled substance $10,000 Bond Bates Co

If you have any information regarding these individuals or to report other crimes please contact the Bates County Sheriff’s Office (660)679-3232 or the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office at (417)283-4400. 

Sheriff Ron Peckman and Sheriff Chad Anderson would like to thank everyone for their cooperation during Operation Scarecrow.

Photos below are of subjust still wanted:

EMT classes start Dec. 3

Applications are now available for anyone who would like to enroll in the upcoming Harrisonville EMT-Basic Course, which will be offered beginning December 3.

The course will conclude in April 2013. Classes will be held at Emergency Services Headquarters, 903 S. Commercial. Captain Eric Myler, Class Coordinator, says the class is a 160- hour EMT course that meets the DOT curriculum. At the conclusion, each student will receive a course completion certificate. The first round of practical testing is included in the tuition. After successful completion of practical testing, students will take a state written test. After successful completion of the written test, student will be nationally registered.

Tuition for the course is $900 which includes the book, workbook and practical testing fee. Students may pay half the amount prior to the start of classes with the remainder due before testing will be allowed on the state level.

To register for the course, interested individuals can stop by the Harrisonville Emergency Services Department at 903 S. Commercial. Deadline for applications is Wednesday, Nov. 28, 5 p.m.

For additional information, please contact Capt. Myler at 380-8927.

Obituary - Betty Taylor

Graveside services for Betty Levon Kershner Taylor will be 2 p.m. Sunday, November 4, 2012 at Scott Cemetery in Amsterdam, Missouri. There is no visitation. Services under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler. Contributions to the American Cancer Society.

Betty Levon Taylor, age 68 of Harrisonville, Missouri died Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. She was born June 13, 1944 to Oran Wesley Kershner and Ruth Maxine March in Amoret, Missouri.

Betty is survived by her son, Grover Jackson of Grandview, Missouri; two daughters, Kammy Salmon and husband Stephan of Butler, Missouri, and Jennifer Taylor of Forsyth, Missouri; mother, Ruth Kershner of Butler, Missouri; a sister, Peggy Adkins and husband Richard of Harrisonville, Missouri; six grandchildren, Nathan, Zack, Casey, George, Jonathan and Katrina; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Oran Wesley Kershner; and brother, Gary Kershner.

Annual Cattlemen's Dinner set for mid November...

The Annual Bates County Cattlemen’s Dinner will be held November 17th at 6 pm. The doors open to the public at 4:30. Meals will cost $15.00 per person. Dinner includes prime rib, baked potato, slaw, bread, dessert and drink. There will be live entertainment by expert Banjo Picker Ty Greene. See the web for 29 tantalizing cuts of beef at www.beefswhatsfordinner.com

Lewis Hybrids and Butler Community Food Pantry host volunteer day

Local farmers and dealers take service beyond the field

BUTLER, Mo. (Nov. 1, 2012) – An estimated 50.1 million Americans live in food insecure households; a total of 33.5 million adults and 16.7 million children, according to Feed America. As the holiday season fast approaches, many are looking for ways to give back. Jason Hiser, district sales manager at Monsanto’s Lewis-Hybrids, is one of those looking to contribute to community of Butler, Mo.

“We are struggling with poverty in our area, and it is important that we as farmers and seed dealers are aware and helping the less fortunate members of our community,” Hiser said. “I created an event called Beyond the Field to do just that.”

Beyond the Field is the first annual event bringing all local Lewis-Hybrid dealers in Bates County together to volunteer at the Butler Community Food Pantry. The group will assist Food Pantry volunteers in the Monsanto Mobile Food Drop on Saturday, Nov. 17. A total of 20 volunteers will be in attendance. In the future, Hiser hopes to expand the event to include all Lewis-Hybrid farmers in the area.

At each Monsanto Mobile Food Drop, thousands of pounds of food are donated to the Butler Community Food Pantry. After the Food Drop, volunteers are needed to help package boxes of food for families, load the donation into trucks, and distribute the fresh food to the community.

Joyce Fitzpatrick, Butler Community Food Pantry director, has worked with the Food Pantry for 11 years and knows the importance of volunteerism.

“Community members need to see the effects of hunger up close and understand how it affects the whole area,” Fitzpatrick said. “It is great to have volunteers like the Lewis-Hybrids group come in at this time of year and help out.”

At Beyond the Field, Lewis-Hybrids volunteers will help prepare food for 250 families in Bates County. The Butler Community Food Pantry is entirely dependent on donations and volunteer service. In this time of need, volunteers have the chance to make a real difference in their own neighborhoods.

“Our community gives each of us so much every day, it is nice to give back by volunteering to help others,” Hiser said. “That’s why the Lewis-Hybrids family is motivated to take it Beyond the Field.”

The Butler Community Food Pantry first opened its doors in January 2002 and currently serves 14% of Bates County, Mo. The Food Pantry is a 501c(3) non-profit charity and relies on products and financial donations from private individuals, civic groups, local churches and area businesses to operate. To learn more about this non-profit food shelter, please visit: http://batescountypantry.org/.

Christmas in the County to return to Rich Hill this year

Christmas in the Country will be open for holiday shopping November 10th, as local Rich Hill businesses on the Holiday Tour open their doors for shoppers as they kick off the holiday shopping season. The Rich Hill Country Christmas Arts and Craft Show includes the purchase of a " Book of Chances" priced at $10.00 per book.

The old Rich Hill gymnasium will be full of crafters and vendors waiting to put you in the Christmas spirit. The Rich Hill Holiday Country Christmas will be open from 9 am to 4 pm Saturday November 10th in Rich Hill.

-FM 92 the Bullet

New Food Pantry Thrift Store to open mid November...

The new location of the Butler Community Food Pantry Thrift Store has been announced. The Thrift Store will open in mid-November and will be located at 901 South, Outer Road in Butler, the previous bowling alley location. The Thrift Store located on Rice Road will be closed while they are moving to the new location.

The hours and the date of the Grand Opening is to be announced.

* A reminder from the Food Pantry, due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. The monthly Mass distribution will be held on November 17th. Food is distributed between 8:30 am and 11:30.

Football scores from last night

Final scores in District Semi-Final action last night:

Butler 33, Sarcoxie 30

Skyline 48, Adrian 21

Midway 38, Drexel 20