Nevada man sentenced to 12 years in Federal Prison

Curtis Bowman

A Nevada man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography. United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri Tammy Dickinson says, 43 year old Curtis Bowman has been sentenced yesterday in federal court, to 12 years in federal prison without parole for receiving child pornography. Bowman was also ordered to serve a life term of supervised release following his incarceration, and to pay $12,140.00 in restitution to his victim. 

The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Douglas Harpool. 

On October 15th of last year, Bowman pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography over the internet. According to court documents, law enforcement officers in Cobb County, Georgia were contacted by the victim's mother that the victim had been engaged in sexually explicit e-mail communications with an individual identifying herself as Amanda Toben. On March 7th of last year, Georgia law enforcement officers identified Bowman as the individual receiving the communications. 

Local law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Bowman's residence, where he was arrested. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James Kelleher, with help from the Vernon County Sheriff's Office, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the FBI, and the Cobb County, Georgia Police Department.

Lyrid meteor shower crosses night sky

(CNN) - Look for spectacular shooting stars this week as the annual Lyrid meteor shower light up the nighttime sky.

Although the meteor shower started Thursday and goes through Saturday, the best times to view the shooting stars will be Wednesday into Thursday before dawn.

It's an especially good year to spot the Lyrids.

"This year the moon will be a waxing crescent only 1/15th the brightness of a full moon, and it will set early, allowing excellent dark sky conditions for this shower," Slooh Community Observatory astronomer Bob Berman said in a statement (PDF).

The Lyrids, which are pieces of debris from a comet, have been observed for more than 2,600 years, according to NASA. Each year around this time, the Earth runs into the comet's debris stream, which causes the shower.

"For the 2015 shower, I'm expecting 15 to 20 Lyrid meteors an hour," the NASA Meteoroid Environment Office's Bill Cooke wrote on a NASA blog.

"Peak rates should occur after 10:30 pm on April 22 your local time, for observers in the northern hemisphere. For observers in the southern hemisphere, Lyrid rates are not significant until after midnight your local time."

Stargazers in Europe may have the best views, but many people around the world should be able to spot the Lyrids. And there's no need to buy special equipment to spot the showers. Find a patch of a dark, open sky away from artificial lights, "lie down comfortably on a blanket or lawn chair, and look straight up," wrote Cooke.

Or head to your computer. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center will livestream the event starting at 11 p.m. ET Wedensday. Slooh's livestreaming event starts at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday. Use the hashtag #SloohLyrids to ask questions that could get answered live.

The name of a shower is based on the point from which it originates, called the radiant. The constellation where the radiant is located gives the shower its name. In this case, home base is probably the constellation Lyra.


Copyright 2015 by CNN NewSource

Vernon County Sheriffs Office: Vehicle Pursuit of Deerfield man leads Deputies into Kansas

Kevin W Sisseck

A Deerfield man is in custody after a lengthy pursuit that led Sheriff’s Deputies back and forth across the Missouri/Kansas State lines late Sunday night. According to a press release from the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, Deputies attempted to stop a vehicle on 600 and Lady Road when the vehicle began to speed away from the deputy. Additional units were called in to assist and when the vehicle crossed state lines, deputies from the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office, and Fort Scott Police Department also joined in the pursuit. 

According to the press release, the vehicle crossed state lines multiple times and several attempts to stop the vehicle were unsuccessful at first. “Several units attempted to deploy spike strips, but in each case they were too late or the vehicle changed directions and avoided the road block,” said Vernon County Sheriff Jason Mosher. The Sheriff said it was when the driver turned on what he thought was a road and ended up being a long driveway that the suspect was captured. “He turned down a private road that ended in the yard of a Kansas resident and the driver had nowhere to go” said Mosher. 

The driver has been identified as Kevin W Sisseck, 45, of Deerfield. Arrest warrants were issued by the Vernon County Courts Monday afternoon charging Sisseck with Resisting Arrest/Detention/Stop by Fleeing, a D Felony as well as Six Misdemeanor charges for various driving offences. Sheriff Mosher said Sisseck was taken into custody by Vernon County Deputies and turned over to Bourbon County Officials. He also said Sisseck may be facing additional charges in Kansas. “Since we arrested him in Kansas, he will remain in custody there until we obtain a Governors warrant to bring him back across state lines to face the charges over here,” said Mosher.

Sisseck was being held in the Bourbon County Jail as of Monday.

Updated Obituary: John A. Barth

John A. Barth, 47 of Butler, Missouri passed away Monday, April 20, 2015 from injuries sustained in an accident. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM Saturday, April 25, 2015 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Butler, Missouri with Father Thomas Hermes officiating. Visitation will be Friday evening from 5-7 PM and Rosary at 7 PM, all at Mullinax Funeral Home (660-679-0009) in Butler. Burial with U.S. Navy Honors will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler. In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to a college fund for John’s children; Relay for Life MASH team; or to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Messages of condolence for the family may be left at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

John Ambrose Barth was born October 17, 1967 in Seville, Spain, son of John Kurt and Grace (Boothe) Barth. With his father in the Air Force, John grew up in various locations all throughout the United States and Europe, and later spending his junior high years in Texas and graduating from Grandview High School, Grandview, Mo. in 1986. He entered the U.S. Navy, where he served for 11 years.

John met Shannon McVey Craft in 2001, and they were married February 22, 2003. John worked at Blockbuster until August of 2004 and then began working for the United States Postal Service in November of that year, an occupation he greatly enjoyed. John continued to work several other jobs while working for the postal service, always hoping to go full-time as soon as he could; sadly however, this didn’t occur and John died doing what he loved – carrying the mail.

John’s coworkers remember him as always willing to do whatever was asked of him; his friends and neighbors describe that he was always willing to help out. John loved the Kansas City Chiefs, particularly tailgating hours before a football game and watching the games with his sisters. He enjoyed (brother-in-law) Shawn’s BBQ, and afternoons at (sister-in-law) Melissa’s pool. Recently, “Papa John” loved spending time with his new grandson, Landon, whom he was always happy to watch whenever needed.

John was preceded in death by his father in 1995. He is survived by his wife, Shannon Barth of Butler; daughter Joleigh; son John Phillip; step-son Kenny Craft and wife Aleisha with grandson Landon; step-son Kyle Craft; his mother, Grace Barth; sisters: Susan Barth, Laura Hill, and Sharon Burton; nephews J.C. Hill, Victor Hill, and Freddy Hill; father and mother-in-law Mike and Patsy McVey; sister-in-law Melissa McVey and significant other Scott Lutman; brother-in-law Shawn McVey and wife Amy with daughter Caila; brother-in-law Brian McVey and wife Janette with daughter Aven; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Sporting Supply Store in Harrisonville Indoor Gun Range Grand Opening

Appleton City man arrested on felony charges

Timothy Wingard

On April 20, Timothy Wingard, 51, Appleton City, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant charging him with a class C felony of stealing a motor vehicle, a class D felony of resisting/interfering with arrest for a felony, a misdemeanor charge of driving while revoked/suspended - second or subsequent offense, and a misdemeanor charge of violating an order of protection for adult. Bond is set at $ $25,000 cash or surety.

The charges stem from an incident on April 19 in Appleton City when a St. Clair County deputy took a report from Deniene Wingard in reference to a stolen vehicle. She reported her blue 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier was stolen from her residence on South Beech Street.

During the investigation Timothy Wingard was named as a suspect and it was learned there was an active order of protection in place against him. It was reported a vehicle matching the description was traveling west on Burbank Street. Shortly after, a St. Clair County deputy observed the vehicle at Casey’s General Store and made contact with Timothy Wingard. He was advised he violated an order of protection by being at Deniene Wingard’s residence and took her car without her permission. He became verbally combative, resisted, and refused to comply with instructions given to him. He was taken into custody and transported to the St. Clair County Jail, Osceola. The Appleton City Police Department assisted with the case.

Your vote does count!

Attention BATES COUNTY! You have the opportunity to vote for two Bates County historic buildings and one historic site submitted to Freedom's Frontier for this contest. Pictures of the Old Jail & Sheriff's Residence, the Lindsay Stagecoach Depot and the Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site are waiting for you to click LIKE on Facebook. Click the Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area link below to link to Facebook and cast your vote:

It's our annual photo contest. Vote for your favorite with your likes.
Posted by Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area on Tuesday, April 21, 2015

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