Obituary - John Spurgeon Strickland

John Spurgeon Strickland was born on February 28, 1940 in Woodward, OK to Gerald and Iva (Bell) Strickland. John moved from Woodward, OK his senior year and attended the Kansas City Christian College and Bible School. It was there that he met Carol Sewell. John and Carol were married on June 20, 1958. After marriage John and Carol move to Freedom, OK where John worked as a ranch hand for 5 years. In 1963 they moved to Nevada, MO where John worked as a tree trimmer. After a year,the family moved outside of Harrisonville, MO where they lived for 42 years until they moved one last time to Lowry City, MO in 2006.

From 1982 to 2002 John worked full-time with the Cass County Sheriff’s Department as a Deputy. When he retired in 2002, he had achieved the rank of Lieutenant. John then served 10 additional years with the reserves for the Cass County Sheriff’s Department.

John served as a board member of the Osceola Church of the Nazarene and his strong faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior sustained him through his battle with cancer. John continued to witness about his love for Jesus through his smile, his ballcaps, and his stories. His testimony about the Lord’s blessings in his life were a favorite story he told. John loved Jesus, his family, hunting, fishing, gardening and taking care of the church yard.

John was involved with the Rural Letter Carriers Auxiliary and he and Carol took as many grandchildren as they could to the State Rural Letter Carrier annual conventions. John and Carol also traveled to National Rural Carrier Conventions all over the United States. Between the National Rural Carrier Conventions and church mission trips they traveled many, many miles together including visiting Hawaii and Alaska.

John received his private pilot’s license in 1977,served on the board of the Community Betterment of Lowry City, was a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Metro Squad, a member of the Missouri Deputy Sheriff’s Association and was a proud NRA member.

John also served as a Scout leader and Pack leader with the Boys Scouts of America. He was an Honorary Warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Some of John’s favorite memories was going to Scout camp each year with his three sons.

Preceded in death by his parents, son, Wesley Dean Strickland; 2 granddaughters, Rachel Raeleen Costley and Lisa Marie Strickland; 2 sisters, Jerry Hillsman and Joyce Hughes.

John is survived by his wife, Carol Strickland of the home; 4 children, Rebecca Costley (Harold), Lamar, MO, Randall Strickland (Teresa), Harrisonville, MO, Russell Strickland, Sheldon, MO, Ross Strickland (Cheryl), Pleasant Hope, MO; grandchildren, Joseph (Heather) Costley, Katelyn (Kaleb) Marti, Mark Costley, Kris (Jacob) Becker, Andrew (Christine) Strickland, Jessica (Sammy) Martinez; Colton Strickland; Trent Strickland; Stacie (Wes) Morris; Lacey (Stephen) Gerry, Justin (Morgan) Macklin, Trevor Macklin, Bailey Kennedy, Kayla Kennedy; great-grandchildren, Dalton, Riley, Emma Sue, Annabeth, James, Wicklow, Fitz, Thomas, Lucas, Cayden, Kylee, Kyra, Maliyah, Brooklyn, August, Bentley, Robert, Peyton, Eliana, Andrew, Isabella and Illiana; a brother, James Strickland, Fairbanks, AK; other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m., Monday, December 23, 2019 at the Church of the Nazarene, Harrisonville, Missouri with burial in the Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville, Missouri.

Family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., Sunday, December 22, 2019 at the church.

Family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Osceola Church of the Nazarene Memorial Fund.

Obituary - Michael Ray Rodarmel

Michael Ray Rodarmel, 50, Nevada, MO passed away on Tuesday, December 17, 2019. Mike was born January 25, 1969 in Burlington, CO.

Mike was raised in Walker, MO and graduated from Walker High School Class of 1988. Mike worked throughout his life as a rancher, and also worked for a number of years in construction in Kansas City. He enjoyed hunting, and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his children, Kendra Rodarmel, Nevada, Ashley Bousfield (Kyle), Milo, Marie Rodarmel, Sheldon, Bailey Rodarmel, Nevada, and Jimmy Rodarmel, Sheldon; eight grandchildren; three sisters, Michelle Provinzano, Pueblo, CO, Abby Starne (Kolbe), Bronaugh, Amy French (Statler), Jerico Springs; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Linda Rodarmel.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 4:00 pm on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at the Eagles Lodge in Nevada.

Moose is now back home!

We know emotions are high when it comes to the Raymore Police Department’s Canine Officer Program and the future of Moose. But emotions alone are not enough reason to break a department policy that has been in place since April 2019.

As outlined in the policy, when the canine officer’s handler resigned his position, the City is to evaluate the canine to explore the possibility of transferring Moose to another handler.

As part of our evaluation, it was determined that Moose could be transferred to a new handler and could continue to serve the residents of Raymore and all of Cass County. 

However, our evaluation also looked at the operational expenses of the program from the past year and future costs and determined that these significant costs are currently outside our scope.

The Raymore Police Department has removed Moose from service and transferred ownership to his former handler.


Courtesy of the Raymore Police Department

Six day crime spree comes to end

Arrest made after 6 day crime spree throughout Vernon County

A Richards resident was taken into custody after multiple theft investigations within the last week. According to Sheriff’s Office Officials, on the morning of 12-13-2019, Deputies took two separate reports of a vehicle being stolen in rural Schell City and rural Richards, MO. Both vehicles were later found abandoned. Detectives received information of a possible suspect and was able to locate him shortly after with the help of a citizen. According to Vernon County Sheriff Jason Mosher, “the suspect was found at a residence in Nevada, hiding under a bed and was taken into custody.” Detectives also located a stolen firearm and multiple items believed to be stolen from several other cases that were being investigated.  Detectives continued to investigate and was able to link and recover three additional vehicles that had been reported stolen from the City of Nevada. Mosher said this was a great example of teamwork between Investigators and Deputies as they worked late into the night to recover property, stolen vehicles, and get them back to the owners. “This is the first time we have worked a case where 5 vehicles stolen within a week were linked to the same suspect.” 

The suspect has been identified as 27-year-old Taylor Robinson, of Richards, MO, who is currently on Probation for previous convictions of Stealing-Motor Vehicle. Warrants were issued Saturday morning, along with additional warrants being issued on Thursday morning charging Robinson with:

5 Counts of Stealing- Motor Vehicle (Class B Felony)

2 Counts of Receiving Stolen Property (Class D Felony)

1 Count of Stealing- Firearm (Class D Felony)

Robinson is currently being held in the Vernon County Jail on a total bond of $30,000 Cash Only.

Sex offender registered

Melissa Caviness (DOB 11/9/1973) registered as a sex offender today in Bates County.  She is residing at 1202 E Chestnut in Rich Hill, MO.  She was convicted of Child Molestation in the 1st Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  She was convicted on 5/10/2019 in Bates County.  She is classified as a Tier 3 Sex Offender.

Nicole Mallatt: Holidays and hope

As of 8:30 this evening it will have been 23 days since anyone has seen Nicole Mallatt of rural Butler. While her disappearance has prompted a full scale investigation, there still aren't any major leads in the case.

Some very important dates for Nicole have come and gone; and with holidays ahead, her family remains hopeful there will be contact or at least some bit of information.

Again, if anyone knows anything, tips will be greatly welcomed by calling 911 or contacting the Bates County Sheriff's Office at 660-679-3232.

Obituary - Glenda Casto

Glenda Casto, 71 of Butler, Missouri passed away December 13, 2019 at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Funeral services will be 3:00 PM Friday, December 20, 2019 at Mullinax Funeral Home (660-679-0009) in Butler. There is no visitation. Cremation will follow services. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the family. Memories and messages of condolence may be left at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

Glenda Darlene (Shaw) Casto was born May 2, 1948 in Kansas City, Missouri, daughter of Julius and Violet (Greenstreet) Shaw. She was the youngest of 10 sisters. Glenda graduated from North Kansas City High School and went on to a career in sales. Glenda will be well remembered as a loving mother and wife, animal lover, and social butterfly.

Glenda was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters Ruby, Melba, Marcella, Julia, Patty, Eva, Margie and Shirley. She is survived by her husband, Glenn Casto; their beloved dog Boo; children Julie (John) Snell; Cathy Burnside; and Tina Engle; granddaughters Becky Magee, Jayde Burnside, Hayley Patterson, and Amber Snell; sister and brother-in-law Jeannie and Larry Archer; great-grandsons Matthew, Carson, and Abel; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Obituary - W.R. (Ted) Hockett

W.R. (Ted) Hockett, 88, Adrian, Missouri, passed away Saturday, December 14, 2019 at his home in Adrian. Ted was born January 23, 1931 in Virginia, MO to George Thomas and Dilly Josephine (Jackson) Hockett.

Ted served in the U.S. Army in Korea during the Korean Conflict. He was united in marriage to Nina Corwine on September 20, 1952. Ted worked as an Iron Worker, Local 10, until his retirement in 1985. After his retirement, he ran the road grader for Deer Creek Township for several years.

Ted is survived by four daughters, Nylene McGraw, Ginger Filtingberger and husband, Jim, Debbie Moles and husband, Bob, and Deanna Hockett, all of Adrian; one son, Dustin Hockett, Adrian; 7 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Naomi Kershner, Grain Valley, MO; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Nina; three brothers, Buford, Lloyd and Larry; a sister, Anna Rose Heckadon; and two nieces, Gayle Hockett Moses and Darlene Hockett.

Cremation with inurnment at a later date.