St. Clair County Sheriffs Office: Clinton woman arrested

Cassandra King

On Dec. 28, Cassandra King, 24, Clinton, was arrested in St. Clair County on two active warrants from Henry and Vernon counties. King was arrested on a warrant from Clinton Police Department charging her with misdemeanor larceny, and a Vernon County warrant charging her with possession of marijuana. Total bond is set at $1,500 cash only.

Butler Police Department Activity Report 12/22 - 12/28 - 2014

• 12/22/2014 

Disturbance Super 8
Disturbance Fran Apts
Walk in theft report
Theft report
Vandalism report Dakota and Prospect
C and I driver report E Atkinson
Keep the peace 400 block of N Fulton
Traffic assist Schowengert

• 12/23/2014 

Trespass call 300 block of S Mechanic
Disturbance Super 8
Theft report 800 block N Havanna
Animal complaint 300 block of S Main

• 12/24/2014 

Alarm 200 block of S Sunset
911 call Willow Lane
Shoplifter call Wal-Mart
C and I Driver report N Bus 49
Animal complaint 500 block of N Water
Shop Lifter call Family Center
Stalled vehicle Ft Scott and Orange

• 12/25/2014 

Open door North side of Square
Keep the peace Fran Apts
Report of possible gun shots
Warrant service

• 12/26/2014 

Theft report 600 block of S Delaware
Disturbance Super 8
Well being check Fran Apts
Disturbance 200 block of N Maple
Warrant service Pine and Delaware
Disturbance Dakota and Prospect
Noise complaint 300 block of W College

• 12/27/2014 

Animal complaint 700 block of N Fulton
Leave without pay Casey’s on Orange St
Medical assist 400 block of S Delaware
Traffic escort Schowengert
Theft report 700 block of W Mill
Traffic escort Mullinax

• 12/28/2014

Noise complaint Fran Apts
Assist MSHP
Open Door Prospect
Traffic escort Schowengert
911 hang up

Obituary - Donovan “Don” Arthur Eberle

Donovan “Don” Arthur Eberle, 87, Freeman, Missouri, died Thursday, December 25, 2014 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 3, 2015 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, Missouri with visitation from 10:00-11:00. Burial will be in Freeman Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Salvation Army. (A complete obituary will be posted when available).

Obituary - Jesse W. Teel

Jesse W. Teel

Jesse W. Teel, age 86, Joplin, passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at his home.

Jesse was born November 13, 1928 in Harper, Kansas, son of the late George Franklin Teel and Ruby Fern Williams Teel. He grew up in Tiff City, Missouri, and graduated from Wyandotte High School. He then attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma before joining the United States Air Force where he served for four years.

After his service to his country, he moved to Pittsburg, Kansas, and attended Pittsburg State University where he finished his bachelor’s degree in education. He continued his education, and earned a Master’s Degree, among other graduate degrees from Pitt State.

He worked in education, mainly in administration, at several school districts, and retired from Rich Hill School District in 1989 after 23 years there. He was a member of the Rich Hill Masonic Lodge, the Rich Hill Lion’s Club, and worked with the Boy Scouts of America. He was also a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of Joplin.

In addition to his parents, Jesse was preceded in death by his wife, Elma L. Teel who died May 9, 2013, and a sister, Billie Ruth Divine.

Survivors include his children, David Earl Teel of Martinsburg, West Virginia, Norville Paul Teel and Mary Woodhouse of Golden City, Missouri, Nancy Patricia Stanley and husband Randy of Parkville, Missouri, and Kathleen Erin Pinon-Hukriede of Independence, Missouri; grandchildren, Billy Gilkey and wife Alma, Manessa Mercer and husband Jason, Sarah Martinez and husband Bobby, Saline Crouch and husband Jeremy, Erin Battagler and husband Travis, Alex Pinon, Cris Pinon, and Kalea Teel; great-grandchildren, Bailey, Thaddeus, Ethan, Emma, Elliot, Evan, Taylor, Connor, Oliver, Luke, Olivia; one great-great-grandchild, Zaryn.

Memorial services will be Monday, December 29, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at the church following the service.

Private inurnment of his ashes will be in Osborne Memorial Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Rich Hill School District care of Parker Mortuary, to help in getting the new storm shelter built.

Obituary - Dorothy Jewel Bitner

Dorothy Bitner

Funeral services for Dorothy Bitner will be 2 p.m. Sunday, December 28, 2014 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. Visitation will be prior to services from 1-2 p.m. Sunday at chapel. Burial in Benjamin Cemetery, Amoret, Missouri. Contributions to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 

Dorothy Jewel Bitner, age 86 of Butler, Missouri died Wednesday, December 24, 2014 at Medicalodge of Butler. She was born July 30, 1928 to Harvey Newton and Elsie White West.

Dorothy is survived by two sons, Dennis Bitner and wife Fran of Sargent, Texas and Scott Bitner and wife Julie of Butler, Missouri; two daughters, Marilyn Hammett and husband Raymond of Foster, Missouri and Janet Fahnestock of Butler, Missouri; ten grandchildren, Denise Norbury and husband Doug, Mike Hammett, John Hammett and wife Pam, Tad Bitner, Kristin Schaadt, Jeff Borum and wife Anya, Marsha Terry, Jimmy Fahnestock, Amie Plunket and Mandy Brockman and husband Dave; 23 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandson. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Truman; five brothers, Percy, Orville, Harley, Ernest and Virgil; and four grandchildren, Brad, Matt, Jacob and Joseph.

Obituary - Edna Van Vlack

Edna Van Vlack

Edna Van Vlack, 89 of Drexel, Missouri passed away December 24, 2014 at Adrian Manor, Adrian, Missouri. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Sunday, December 28, 2014 at Mullinax Funeral Home’s Drexel Chapel in Drexel, Missouri (660-679-0009). Visitation will be from 1-2 PM prior to the service. Burial will follow in Sharon Cemetery, Drexel, Missouri. Contributions are suggested to the Drexel Baptist Church. Messages of condolence may be left at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

Edna Mae (Fink) Glaze Van Vlack was born November 1, 1925 in Bates County, Missouri, daughter of Bert Edward and Cecil Delia (Stitt) Fink.

She attended school in Drexel and graduated from Drexel High School. She worked for a time for Drexel veterinarian Dr. Lawrence Davidson, and was also an operator at the telephone company before telephones went to dial. Edna worked many years on the election board in Miami County, and had also worked for the Miami County collector/treasurer and the Miami County Historical Society’s museum. Later she very much enjoyed working on the Drexel Centennial publication as she loved genealogy and spent much time working on it alongside her friends.

Among her hobbies was quilting, and each grandchild received one of her quilts. Edna accepted the Lord and was baptized in Liberal, Missouri, and a longtime member of the Drexel Baptist Church. Her children remember and describe her as a dedicated, hardworking mother.

Edna was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Willard Glaze; and a daughter, Delva Kaye Champlin. She is survived by a daughter, Delia Russell and husband Gary of Drexel; son Lee Glaze and wife Ellen of Drexel; and daughter Joyce Payne and Vernon Hayley of Florida; grandchildren Shannon, Carrie, Candice, Susan, Shayla, Sara, David, and Ryan; 13 great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Second proposal to legalize marijuana filed in Missouri

A second initiative petition to legalize marijuana in Missouri has been filed. Secretary of State Jason Kander this week announced the petition is open for public comment.

The proposal would amend the Missouri Constitution to allow residents to use the drug for medical or recreational use. Missourians also could legally grow the plant if the initiative passes.

Initiative petitions need approval from Kander's office before they can be circulated to the public. Residents vote on the measures if they receive enough signatures to make it on the ballot.

Another initiative that would allow those 21 years or older to use or grow marijuana also is open for public comment.

Missouri motorcycle helmet legislation returns

A Missouri lawmaker wants to lift a state law requiring all motorcyclists wear a helmet.Newly elected state Rep. Shane Roden of Cedar Hill recently filed legislation that would require only minors to wear helmets.Those with learner's permits also would need to wear a helmet while driving.

Anyone driving or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle now must to wear a helmet or face a maximum $25 fine.

A similar bill that would lift the helmet requirement for those 21 and older failed last session.The measure passed the House but never made it to the Senate floor.