St. Clair County Sheriffs Office:Felony warrant arrest

Kevin Pipenger

On Sept. 2, Kevin Pipenger, 56, Appleton City, was arrested in St. Clair County on a Taney County warrant for failing to appear in court on a felony charge of possessing a controlled substance. Bond was set at $1,000 cash only. 

St. Clair County Sheriffs Office: Burwell arrested on felony drug charge

Ernest Burwell

On Sept. 4, Ernest Burwell, 61, Osceola, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant charging him with a class B felony of distributing a controlled substance. The charge stems from a drug investigation on Sept. 3 at Burwell’s residence at 250 Boundry Street, Osceola. St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office deputies and officers from the Mid Missouri Multi Jurisdiction Drug Task Force located methamphetamine in a secret compartment in the residence. Bond is set at $25,000 cash only and the residence and property was seized by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office. Those caught trespassing or removing anything from the property will be charged.

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!