Weather Update: Let's Talk Drought

Check out the latest drought numbers across the region. MODERATE drought continues over much of northern Missouri, and with 7-10 days without precipitation possible and HOT temperatures in the 90s expected, drought may again begin to expand in the upcoming weeks. 

Are you noticing the impacts from dry conditions in your area?

Missouri State Highway Patrol Press Release: Body Of Missing Child Identified‏

At approximately 1:50 p.m., on Wednesday August 21, a body was located by law enforcement officers in a wooded area southeast of Golden City, in rural Dade County, near the Barton County Line.

The body has been positively identified as missing 12-year old, Adriaunna Horton. Horton was reported missing on Monday, August 19, at approximately 5:30 p.m., when she was last seen getting into a vehicle near Hazel Park in Golden City. The Missouri State Highway Patrol, the FBI, the Barton County Sheriff's Department, officers with the Southwest Missouri Major Case Squad, and several other area law enforcement and fire agencies, along with several hundred volunteers, searched the past three days until the body was located. The Patrol's helicopter and marine operations officers were also utilized during the search.

A final news briefing will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, August 23, 2013, at the Barton County Ambulance Service Headquarters, located at 1100 Cherry, in Lamar, MO.

This investigation into the death of Adriaunna Horton continues. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Barton County Sheriff's Department at (417) 682-5541 or the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop D Headquarters at (417) 895-6868.

Obituary - Janice L. South

Memorial visitation will be held 4-6:00pm Sunday, August 25, 2013 at Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel. Private family inurnment will be held at a later date. Messages of condolence may be left athttp://www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com

Janice Lee South, 70, of Drexel, MO passed away on August 21, 2013 in her home with family. Janice was born on September 12, 1942, in Kansas City, Mo, to Jack and Naomi Campbell. She graduated from Harrisonville High School in 1959 and later earned an Associate’s Degree in General Education at Longview College. The family moved to Drexel in 1973 and she became an active member of the community. She served as an EMT and weather spotter for the city of Drexel. She attended nearly every city council meeting fighting for a better community. She planned for the future and wanted her children and grandchildren to survive and thrive. She also worked outside the home as a secretary and Mystery Shopper for Alcops Investigative Services. After retiring she proceeded to babysit and chase grandkids and great-grandchildren around the house. She loved to play bingo and trace the family history. Janice was preceded in death by one son John Mac Arthur South, her parents and two brothers. She is survived by one sister, one brother, her husband Larry South and four children, Debbie Blanton of Gladstone, MO, Donna Gray of Cleveland, MO, Larry South Jr. of St. Petersburg, FL, Ralph South of Drexel, MO, and eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Special thanks to the Drexel emergency departments for their quick response and attention to our mother. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Janice to the Drexel swimming pool through Mullinax Funeral Home or Drexel City Hall Attn: Peggy Moles.

UPDATE: Possible Car Fire On I-49

Bates County Sheriff Department along with Missouri State Highway Patrol and Butler Fire Department responded to a reported car on fire just North of the Passaic Exit in the Northbound Lanes of I-49. When they arrived on the scene they found a broken down car but it wasn't smoking. The scene is cleared and all units has returned.

Possible Vehicle Fire ON I-49

Butler Fire Department is in route to a reported vehicle smoking and possibly on fire on I-49 underneath the Passaic overpass. It is unknown at this time the extent of the damage. Bates County Live will update this story as soon as more information becomes available.

Bates County Sheriff Press Release

Bates County Sheriff's Deputies made a vehicle stop today around 2pm just West of Butler with two subjects in the vehicle. The vehicle contained several items that we believe may have been stolen in a burglary within the last 12 hours. The items are jewelry and guns. If you have any information please contact the Bates County Sheriff's Office at 660-679-3232. We believe someone has been a victim of a Burglary and may not know it yet.

Presley murder case headed to Cass County

A jury in Cass County will decide the fate of a Morgan County man charged with first degree murder in the death of his girlfriend's son.

T.J. Presley and Jamie Litton

Morgan County  —  A jury in Cass County will decide the fate of a Morgan County man charged with first degree murder in the death of his girlfriend's son.

The public defender for Thomas Joseph (T.J.) Presley requested a change of venue in his case in April. He is charged in the Feb. 2012 death of three-year-old Blake Litton. The change of venue to Cass County — a county in western Missouri and part of the Kansas City metropolitan area — was received Aug. 5 after Circuit Court Judge Ken Hayden transferred the case July 26. A case review has not yet been set in Cass County.

Presley's girlfriend Jamie Litton, the mother of Blake Litton, also requested a change of venue out of Morgan County. Her case will continue in Laclede County. Presley reported the Feb. 16 incident that killed the toddler to police at 5:12 a.m. as a hit-and-run accident, allegedly telling a Morgan County deputy that he stopped on the side of the road to allow Blake to use the bathroom during a trip to Presley's brother's residence in Sedalia. Presley told police Blake ran into the road and was struck by an oncoming vehicle.

Investigators were unable to find loose vehicle parts, tire tracks, blood or urine along the side of the road and found nothing to support that an accident had happened.

Following the autopsy, the case was ruled a homicide.

Much of the evidence presented during earlier hearings focused on Litton's behavior at work during the night and text messages sent between Presley and Litton between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. According to testimony by Morgan County deputy James Walker, Litton allegedly asked a co-worker "to borrow money to take her son to the hospital" after receiving text messages from Presley saying that said he "had lost it" when Blake soiled himself.

Other texts allegedly contained details about how Presley abused Blake. Presley took Blake and his younger sister, Faith, to Golden Age Nursing Home in Stover to visit Litton while she was at work.

Presley arrived at Jamie Litton's workplace around 5 a.m. and stayed for three minutes. Security footage shows her visiting with Presley. She allegedly took Blake's pulse before returning to work. Presley then drove to the site of the feigned hit-and-run with Blake and Faith. Prosecution alleges Jamie Litton did not call for an ambulance or police once Presley left.

Jamie Litton, whose shift was scheduled to end at 6 a.m., clocked out at 5:15 a.m. She then allegedly walked to a co-workers house to use a phone charger and was driven to the scene.

The change of venue is likely the result of the large amount of publicity which this case has attracted.

Courtesy of Lake News Online

News From The Adrian Chamber Of Commerce

The Adrian Chamber of Commerce along with The Adrian Elks Lodge and RJAYS Speed Shop would like to announce that we will be rescheduling our Main Street Festival for Saturday September 28, 2013 from 3-8 pm. Along with the Car show, we will also be opening it up to Motorcycles and Antique Tractors. Anyone that would like in the Car,Motorcycle, or Tractor Show, please contact Bill Page at 660-679-1175 or Larry Boyles at 816-918-7150. Vendors are needed! Please contact the Adrian Chamber of Commerce office at 816-297-0004. We hope to see everyone there!