Thursday, April 8, 2021

Two Charged with Sexual Trafficking of a Child

CHARGES FILED:

From Assistant Henry County Prosecuting Attorney LaChrisha Gray, April 8th Two Charged with Sexual Trafficking of a Child

​The Henry County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed sexual trafficking of a child charges against Derek B. Roberts, 41, and Kimberly O. Gray, 42, both of Clinton.

Assistant Prosecutor LaChrisha Gray is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the State of Missouri.

On March 26, 2021, after review of the allegations presented by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Assistant Prosecutor LaChrisha Gray filed twenty-three (23) felony charges against Derek Roberts, including seven counts of sexual trafficking of a child under the age of twelve in the first degree, ten counts of sodomy of a child under the age of twelve in the first degree, four counts of rape of a child under the age of twelve in the first degree, and two counts of promoting child pornography in the first degree.

On April 5, 2021, Assistant Prosecutor LaChrisha Gray filed a seventeen (17) count felony complaint against Kimberly Gray charging her with six counts of sexual trafficking of a child under the age of twelve in the first degree, seven counts of sodomy of a child under the age of twelve in the first degree, three counts of rape of a child under the age of twelve in the first degree, and one count of incest.

​The charges stem from an online investigation conducted by the Division of Drug and Crime Control of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which then led investigators to execute multiple search warrants of the home and devices of both Kimberly Gray and Derek Roberts.

​According to the probable cause statements filed in the cases, Highway Patrol investigators, through analysis of the devices, found multiple files containing what appeared to be photographs and videos of graphic child pornography, including numerous videos that appeared to have been created by the defendants involving at least one of the children of the home. The investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.

​Each sexual trafficking of a child charge is punishable by a term of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole until the offender has served twenty-five years in prison. Because the victim is alleged to have been under the age of twelve, each of the rape and sodomy in the first degree charges are punishable by life imprisonment without the eligibility of parole until the offender has served thirty years of such sentence.

​Kimberly Gray is currently being held at the Henry County Jail on a $2,000,000 cash only bond. Derek Roberts is currently being held at the Pettis County Jail on charges of possession of child pornography stemming from this same investigation filed by the Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney, but Roberts also has a warrant in the Henry County case with a $2,000,000 cash only bond.

​Kimberly Gray is currently set for a bond reduction hearing in front of Judge Harold Dump on April 13, 2021 at 11:00 AM.

The Museum Minute: Governor orders militias to organize


Museum Minute

April 8, 2021

Museum Minute presents:  This Week in History (According to Herrman’s Archives)

Early April in the Year…

1871 – The property known as the Pickett Hotel in Butler, is for sale.  It contains 17 rooms, with a large dining room and parlor.  It also has a good well & cistern, together with an outhouse 16 x 32 feet.  Also an adjoining lot 140 x 150 feet, together with a one livery stable 68 x 32 feet and 26 stalls, plus a 70 x 100 foot lot, with a good frame 4 room house.  Inquire of Mr. Pickett at the hotel.    ////    1872 -  A. L. Lindsay had his headquarters in the Pickett Hotel with service to Papinville and LaCygne, Kansas. (see Pickett Hotel photo)
1882 – Friends in Bates Co are shocked to hear of the murder of Jesse James at his home North of Kansas City. (Murdered April 3rd)
1847 – The city plat for Papinville is approved and recorded in Bates County, named for Peter Melicourt Papin, who gave the land for the town.
1912 – The Moore Brothers, proprietors of the Hume Opera House, show the “Passion Play” silent moving picture.
1918 – A body, found in the Marais des Cygne River, near Athol, has been identified as R. F. Moudy, a perennial fishing visitor from St. Louis.  His boat indicated he had a large supply of liquor with him.
1859 – Missouri Governor Stewart orders counties to organize militias; especially noted is Bates and Cass counties.
1913 – Temperance workers of Bates County meet to promote drying up the last bastion of booze in the county – Rich Hill.
1884 – A government steamboat inspector inspects the Steamer Grange, at Rockville, and orders it repaired before it leaves with its cargo of 100 tons of railroad iron and 2,700 barrels of salt.
1890 – The town plat of Amoret is filed and recorded by the Missouri Coal & Construction company.
1877 – Butler City Marshal Smith is called to quell a big row over a card game at Glass’s Saloon.
1942 – In the Amsterdam village election 30 voted for electric lights and 5 voted against.
1927 – The Passaic High School basketball team wins over Harmony School, 26 to 22.
1881 – The Rich Hill Mining Review newspaper says Rich Hill is only ten months old and has a population of over 3,000, due to the flourishing coal mines.
1872 – A. L. Betz, bridge examiner, states in the Bates Co Record newspaper, “Whoever built the relatively new bridge over the Grand River was so incompetent that he and whoever approved it should be lynched.”
1909 – The Flooding of the Marais des Cygne River, the Missouri Pacific railroad trains are prevented from traveling through Bates County.  


Our thanks to Peggy Buhr, Bates County Museum Curator

Classic Car Show set for May 15th in Butler



Giving Fore Living invites you to Blue & Green Day Baseball and BBQ

Join us on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 4:30 PM at the Ball Field to cheer on the Butler Bears!!

Opening Night at Nevada Speedway



Nevada Speedway
Nevada, MO
It's almost time for the first green flag to drop at Nevada Speedway, on Saturday April 17th as we have our 58th Annual Season Opener!! Featuring the Mini Stocks, Outlaw 4-Cylinders, M&T Scrap Pure Stocks, Midwest Mods, Douty's Auto Service Street Stocks, and Gabriel Roofing B-Mods!
It will be the first points race for each class!
The Gates will open at 4:30pm, with Driver Cutoff being at 6:30pm. The Drivers Meeting will take place at 6:45pm with cars hitting the track at 7:00pm for Hot Laps. The first heat race of the night is scheduled for 7:30pm.
General Admission tickets will be just $10 for All Adults (ages 13-up). Kids ages 6-12 will be $5, with Kids under 6 being FREE. Reserved Seating is also available for $15.
*We are using the blue metal building as the pit shack this year!! This is where you purchase your pit passes, don't stop at the tech area.*
Pit Passes will be $35 for All Drivers, with NO ADDITIONAL TRACK REGISTRATION FEE! IT IS ALSO FREE TO USE ONE OF OUR TRANSPONDERS FOR THE EVENING. IF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN WESTHOLD TRANSPONDER, PLEASE BRING IT.**
Adult Pit pass (ages 13-up) will be $30, with Kids ages 6-12 being $15. Kids under 6 are FREE.
Just a reminder that any child age 18 or younger must have a Minor Release Form filled out to enter the pit area. Also, NO PERSONAL VEHICLES will be allowed in the pits on race nights.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SCHEDULE FOR OPENING NIGHT
✔ PIT MEETING AT 6:45 NEXT TO THE PIT CONCESSION
✔ HOT LAPS IMMEDIATELY AFTER PIT MEETING (7:00)
**HOT LAP ORDER** (SAME THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT)
1. MIDWEST MODS
2. MINI STOCKS
3. PURE STOCKS
4. B-MODS
5. STREET STOCKS
6. OUTLAW 4-CYLINDERS
✔ NATIONAL ANTHEM / WELCOME
✔ HEAT RACES -- ALL HEATS ARE 8 LAPS
✔ INTERMISSION BREAK -- 15 MINUTES
✔ FEATURES -- 15 LAPS
Nevada Speedway
Nevada, Missouri
P.S. - Thanks to Shelby Manthe for the great looking flyer for opening night! 🏁🏁


Cass County Public Library-Archie Branch has moved to a larger building!



The Cass County Public Library-Archie Branch has moved to a larger building!

This new location is at 207A South Main Street, just several blocks north of the old location. It is double the size of the old building and will have several dedicated collection spaces, seating areas, and meeting room space for library events.

This library is an important part of the Archie community and I am thrilled to see this upgrade for my hometown. - Courtesy of Vicky Hartzler 


FLASHBACK: Country carwash


In 1948, an easy way to wash your pride and joy was to take the car to the water, not water to the car. Here, Stanley Walley parked in the shallows of Miami Creek near Amsterdam to get the job done. 

Miami FFA Qualifies for State



This year there was a qualifier to see which teams would go to the Central district CDE’s held in Warrensburg, MO. In the Archie CDE Area 7 qualifier, Miami had 3 teams. The equine evaluation team, dairy judging team, and the poultry judging team, did very well. Area 7 has 24 schools participating with the Central District including over 65 teams working to advance to State. 

The horse and poultry teams advanced to the district CDE’s that was held on March 29, 2021 in Warrensburg, MO. State usually allows the top 10 teams to advance, but this year they limited it to the top 5 teams. The horse team finished State qualifier 7th overall, which would have originally had them traveling to Columbia, MO, but with the new restrictions the team did not advance. Hannah Filtingerbeger was placed 13th overall in the gold division and Abby Talley was placed 19th in the silver division and other team members were Eli Johnson and Emily Roth. 

The poultry team finished 4th overall, qualifying for state held at Missouri University in Columbia, MO. CJ McWilliam placed 5th overall in the gold division and Peyton Popplewell placed 19th in the silver division and other team members were Kenny Downs and Matt Yanonis. This concludes CDE judging for the Miami FFA chapter for the year. All teams did exceptionally well and good luck to them next year!



Search news