St. Clair County Sheriffs Office: Juvenile taken into custody for allegedly stealing vehicle

On Aug. 30, St. Clair County deputies were dispatched to a possible stolen vehicle driving eastbound from the Montrose area. Information was received an 11 year-old juvenile had allegedly stolen a parent’s vehicle. Further information was received the vehicle was traveling northbound on Highway 13 and later that the Henry County Sheriff’s Office had the suspect in custody at Wal-Mart in Clinton. The vehicle was released to the parents and a request for prosecution was signed. The case was turned over to the juvenile office for further investigation.

St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office announces new feature to website

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office has a new feature to its popular website. The new feature gives citizens the ability to upload non emergent photos, videos, audio, and other files to the crime tips form (http://www.scsomo.org/crime_tip.php) on the website.  The new feature is also available on the mobile version for those who access the website from their mobile phone or tablet. “The sheriff's office is blessed to have such a great relationship with this community and receive many tips each month from citizens,” said Sheriff Scott Keeler. “Having the ability to upload photos, videos, audio, and other files to the crime tips form will enhance the public’s ability to assist the sheriff’s office in investigating or reporting a crime.” The sheriff explained as always, a person has the choice of leaving a phone number or email address if they want to be contacted or they may remain anonymous if they choose. He noted in the event of an emergency or need of immediate assistance, to call 911 or the sheriff’s office at 417-646-2565. The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office website continues to grow in its popularity since it was launched in December 2013. With more than 35,000 visits to the website so far in 2014 and an average of over 4,000 unique visitors each month it has become a model law enforcement website. “We thank the public for their continued support of law enforcement,” said the sheriff. “We also believe the unique partnership we have between the public and law enforcement is a big reason we have such an incredible safe quality of life we all enjoy.”

Obituary - Alta Evelyn Green

Alta Evelyn Green, 67, Harrisonville, Missouri, died Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at her home. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 6, 2014 at the First Baptist Church in Freeman, Missouri. Inurnment will be held in the Freeman Cemetery.

Evelyn was born July 18, 1947 in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Calvin L. and Josephine Marie (Fangrow) Gorsage. Evelyn had lived in Freeman, Missouri and was a graduate of Cass-Midway High School in Freeman. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Cleveland. Evelyn had lived in Texas and Arkansas before returning to Freeman and had lived in Harrisonville for the past 12 years.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Jimmy O’Dell Green. She is survived by one son, Kenneth Green, Centerton, Arkansas; two daughters, Terry Gregory, Topeka, Kansas and Kimberly Fry, Golden, Colorado; four brothers, Calvin Gorsage, Archie, Missouri, Frank Gorsage, Ron Gorsage and Dan Gorsage, all of Freeman, Missouri; three sisters, Arlene Welch, Freeman, Missouri, Carol Davidson, Avenger, Texas and Emma Chamness, Drexel, Missouri; and six grandchildren.

Appleton City Fall City Wide Garage Sale

Appleton City Fall City Wide Garage Sale is scheduled for September 19 and 20, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. You may sign up at City Hall now through September 15 to have your name and location on the map. 

The Mitchels "House of Joy" will be back at the City Park entrance on the 20^th, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. to pick up unwanted items. 

You must purchase a permit to have a garage sale. Maps will be available September 18 at Food Fair, Caseys General Store and Powell’s True Value.

Newly found asteroid to pass close to Earth on Sunday

(CNN) -- A newly discovered asteroid will pass "very close" to Earth on Sunday, NASA says.

The space rock is estimated to be 60 feet (18 meters) long. It's expected to fly over New Zealand about 2:18 p.m. EDT (11:18 a.m. PDT / 18:18 UTC.)

It won't hit Earth or any of the thousands of satellites orbiting the planet, NASA says. It will give astronomers and scientists a chance to study it.

The asteroid won't be visible the naked eye, but amateur astronomers should be able to see it with telescopes.

Called 2014 RC, the asteroid was discovered on August 31 by the Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, Arizona.

NASA's Near Earth Object Program estimates there are thousands of asteroids that could threaten Earth, but experts say none of the ones being tracked are expected to hit the planet anytime soon.

Sometimes, though, space rocks sneak by the scientists and amateur astronomers who track them. On February 15, 2013, a nearly 60-foot-wide meteor plunged into Earth's atmosphere and exploded over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk with the force of about 30 nuclear bombs. The blast injured about 1,500 people.

The Chelyabinsk meteor was undetected before it was spotted by local residents as it streaked across the sky. It exploded on the same day that Asteroid 2012 DA14, one that was being carefully tracked by NASA, safely passed by Earth.

NASA is trying to speed up the way it tracks potentially hazardous asteroids and to learn how to deflect rocks that threaten Earth. ItsAsteroid Initiative includes a plan to capture an asteroid and tug it into orbit around the moon in the 2020s. If it works, astronauts will land on the asteroid, take samples and bring them back to Earth.

Courtesy of CNN

Bates County Food Pantry Benefit Auction

The Kansas City Chiefs organization just sent a "DUSTIN COLQUITT" autographed football (Pro Bowl Punter for the KC Chiefs) for the BATES COUNTY FOOD PANTRY BENEFIT AUCTION! 

Auction is to be held this SATURDAY at 3 pm at the BBQ CHAMPIONSHIP COOK-OFF and HUCKSTER'S DAY celebraion on the square in Butler, MO.

Come up and ENJOY Friday night (great music), over 50 vendor booths, and 30 - 40 BBQ Cooking Teams competing Saturday!

REMINDER: Comedy Night at The White Buffalo Saloon In Amsterdam

Buckle Up! Seat Belts Save Lives

...Challenges Missouri High Schools to Buckle Up!

Seat Belts Save Lives.
JEFFERSON CITY - All Missouri high schools are called to compete in the 2014 Battle of the Belt Challenge for an opportunity to win cash and prizes teaching students the importance of buckling up.

Sponsored by the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, the statewide competition will run October 1 to November 19 to educate young drivers about safety belt use, reduce traffic crash injuries and save teen lives.

“Nearly eight out of ten teens killed in Missouri vehicle crashes over the last three years weren’t buckled up,” said Leanna Depue, chair of the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety’s executive committee. “The Battle of the Belt competition can make a difference with Missouri teens and save lives through education, competition and fun.”

Teen drivers are over represented in crashes both nationwide and in Missouri. Although comprising only seven percent of Missouri’s licensed drivers, they were involved in nearly 20 percent of the fatal and serious injury crashes over the last three years. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for people 15-20 years old. Results of a 2013 survey among Missouri teens indicate 33 percent of teens are not wearing safety belts.

The program consists of two surprise seat belt checks at each high school to measure student seat belt usage before and after an educational campaign on the importance of safety belt use. In addition, schools have the opportunity to submit a 30-second video spot aimed at encouraging their peers to buckle up. Statewide and regional cash prizes are awarded to schools reaching high safety belt usage rates to further educate the students on the importance of safety belt use.

Schools achieving Highest Overall Seat Belt Use and Most Improved Seat Belt Use regionally will receive $500.00 donated by American Family Insurance. Statewide recognition will be awarded with a banner for seat belt use rates of gold (99-100 percent), silver (95-98 percent) or bronze (91-94 percent) donated by the Missouri College of Emergency Physicians. The top three winning video spots will also receive funding to further seat belt educational programs. 

The program originated in southwest Missouri by the Missouri Emergency Nurses Association and St. John’s Hospital. In 2006, the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, in conjunction with American Family Insurance and the Missouri College of Emergency Room Physicians, took the competition statewide and continues to sponsor this year’s program.

High schools can sign up for the Battle of the Belt Challenge by completing a participation agreement form online athttp://www.modot.org/Safety/BattleoftheBeltChallenge.htm before September 26.