Thank you!

Thank you to Chris and the rest of the gang at Heartland Hospice for providing lunch for our staff today at the Bates County Sheriffs Office . You guys are amazing!

Independence man arrested in Bates County

On 7/6/20 around 6:03pm the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Bates County arrested 26 year old Gashawn L. Gardner of Independence, Missouri.

Mr. Gardner was arrested on 1.) Failure to appear on a Jackson County Sheriff's Office Warrant - Original Charge- Sale of stolen property.

He was booked into the Bates County Jail in Butler and he is currently listed as bonable with a $15,000 cash/surety bond.

 Disclaimer: Arrest records are public information. Any indication of an arrest does not mean the individual identified has been convicted of a crime. All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Missouri governor signs bill to increase prison sentences

(JEFFERSON CITY, MO) –Today, Governor Mike Parson signed SB 600 to help address violent crime in Missouri. SB 600 modifies and creates several provisions relating to dangerous felonies, including offenses of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, criminal street gangs, and vehicle hijacking.

“As Governor and a former law enforcement officer for 22 years, protecting the citizens of our state is of utmost importance to my administration. We all want our communities to be safe, and we worry when we see violent criminals threaten our neighborhoods,” Governor Parson said. “SB 600 holds violent offenders accountable for their actions and is a major step towards safety and justice for our communities. We must continue working together to identify solutions, address crime, and keep Missourians safe.”

Under current law, a person cannot be convicted of an offense based upon a conspiracy to commit the offense unless he or she committed an overt act. SB 600 independently criminalizes an agreement to commit a criminal offense, allowing law enforcement and prosecutors to hold individuals who plan criminal enterprises accountable.

SB 600 also creates mandatory prison sentences for many violent offenses. Individuals convicted of certain violent offenses will not be eligible for probation, conditional release, or suspended imposition or execution of sentence for the minimum period of imprisonment.

Additionally, SB 600 increases the penalty for unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a dangerous felony from a Class D felony to a Class C felony. The legislation also establishes the Missouri Criminal Street Gangs Prevention Act, which modernizes the approach to prosecuting criminal gangs and reduces the barriers to bringing gang members to justice, and creates the offense of vehicle hijacking criminalizing the use of force to steal a vehicle.

To view SB 600, click here.

The Bates County Health Center has confirmed a new positive case of COVID-19 in Bates County.

The Bates County Health Center has confirmed a new positive case of COVID-19 in Bates County.

The new case is associated with a release that Adrian School District and the Health Center put out over the weekend. This case is a female in her 40’s with an Adrian address. This case was reported to another county which is why there was a delay in our release of information. 

But, the Health Department in that county did make contact with the patient and began the interview and contact tracing process. Bates County Health Center is now working with that county to identify and contact anyone that may have come in contact with this individual which may have put them at risk and will monitor them for any signs and symptoms of illness. Per CDC guidelines, this individual is isolated at home and any close contacts have been instructed on self-quarantine protocols.

Bates County Health Center will continue to work with Adrian School District with any further information as it becomes available. At this time anyone at the school that was in contact with the employee that is a relative of the positive case, would be a “contact of a close contact” which puts them in a low risk category.

As always, Individuals should continue to practice social distancing, clean/disinfect any high touched surfaces, wash their hands with soap and water routinely, use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available and avoid touching your face (especially eyes, nose & mouth). It is up to each and everyone of us to stop the spread of this disease!

Raymore Peculiar School District COVID-19 update

The Raymore Peculiar School District learned today that a second high school employee has tested positive for COVID-19. Both positive cases involve non-teaching employees who had worked in close proximity to each other.

The Cass County Health Department is conducting the contact tracing related to these cases. The employees and affected contacts will be required to follow health department guidelines for quarantine and testing before returning to work.

The high school building is closed today for deep cleaning.

Summer School classes for middle school and high school students will begin on Tuesday, July 7, at the high school. Summer School classes for grades K-5 started today.

The health and safety of our students and employees is a top priority. We will make adjustments to procedures and schedule changes, if circumstances warrant.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we implement safety measures during the pandemic.

Obituary - James "Jim" Rankin

James "Jim" Rankin, age 73, of Rich Hill, MO passed away at his home on July 3, 2020. 

Graveside services will be held Wednesday, July 8 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the Salem Cemetery in Foster, Missouri. 

Memorial Contributions to the Hume United Methodist Church or Woodfin Cemetery in care of Heuser Funeral Home.

Jim is survived by his wife, Janet Rankin of the home; one son, Jared & Janett Rankin, Nevada, MO; 2 grandchildren; and 2 Great-Grandchildren.

Obituary - Raymond Nathaniel Jacobs

Funeral services for Raymond Nathaniel Jacobs of Butler, Missouri will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri with burial in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Raymond Nathaniel Jacobs, age 78 of Butler Missouri died Friday, July 4, 2020 in Butler. He was born June 6, 1942 to Mildred Willene Brown in Butler, Missouri.

Raymond is survived by 1 son, Christopher Jacobs (Rosa) of Butler, Missouri; Three brothers, David Brown (Crystal), Kelvin Brown (Carolyn) and Mark Brown; Two sisters, Bertha Williams (John) of Topeka, Kansas; Diane Brown of Kansas City, Missouri; and Daughter-in-law Anna Shobe of Butler, Missouri.

Obituary - Mary Ann Mellen

Mary Ann Mellen, of Clinton Missouri, passed away Friday, July 3rd 2020 at the St. Luke's Hospice House, Kansas City, Missouri. Her body will lie in state, Tuesday, July 7, 2020 from 1:00-5:00PM at Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri. 

A private family graveside service will be held Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri.