Harrisonville woman injured in Cass County Crash

On January 1st around 4:32 p.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Cass County along with Cass County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a two vehicle accident in the north bound lanes of I-49 near mile marker 170 in rural Cass County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when the 2021 Ford Explorer driven by 36 year old Kaylee R. Fox of Harrisonville was stopped in the left lane with its emergency flashers activated and was struck by a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by 16 year old male juvenile from Raymore, Missouri.

Kaylee R. Fox sustained moderate injuries in this accident and she was transported by ambulance to Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri for treatment.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene by J's Southland Tow of Raymore. 

View crash report below:

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP68/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=220000837

Refreeze Warning Issued for tonight and early tomorrow morning

Attention!!! With temps this frigid, melted snow and wet roadways could refreeze overnight, creating slick conditions. 

Use extra caution if you must travel tonight or tomorrow morning. Bridges and overpasses are especially prone to black ice.

Remember to buckle up and drive safely. Leave early enough to allow yourself time to take it SLOW. Brake and steer gently. Check conditions before you go: traveler.modot.org

Obituary - James "Jim" E. Niemann

The funeral for Jim will be held beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at Hill and Son Funeral Home in Appleton City, Missouri.

Officiating at the service will be Pastor Jeremy Freeman. Visitation will precede the service between 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at the funeral home.

A Military graveside service will be presented by the Appleton City VFW Post #11242 and the Missouri Honor Guard - Army group.

Interment will follow the service in the Appleton City Cemetery, Appleton City, Missouri.

The family requests any memorial donations for Jim be made for "College Fund for Finley Niemann" and may be left at Hill & Son Funeral Home.

James Edward “Jim” Niemann, 71, departed this life at Research Hospital on December 31, 2021 with his wife, of 39 years, at his side.

Jim was born December 5, 1950 in Appleton City, Missouri, the son of William Carl and Neta Lucille (Duckworth) Niemann. He grew up in Appleton City playing basketball through high school and graduating in 1968. He began college at CMSU, but was drafted into the US Army serving about a year as an MP in Vietnam. He attained the rank of sergeant there and also celebrated his 21st birthday. After being honorably discharged, Jim returned to the university where he played rugby and earned a Master’s Degree in Industrial Safety with a minor in Earth Science.

At age 31, Jim met Lois Elaine Cox and five months later on September 18, 1982 they were married at a Lutheran chapel in Freistatt, Missouri. To this union two children were born.

Jim worked for 21 years as a purchasing manager for Alcan Cable before his retirement in 2012. While living in Lebanon, Missouri Jim became an accomplished taxidermist. He had won numerous awards for his work during that 10 year period.

After retiring, Jim and Lois purchased some acreage near Clinton, Missouri and moved there from Sedalia, Missouri. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton, Missouri. His faith was strong and God was the key in his life.

Jim was an avid outdoorsman, loving to hunt geese and ducks. He loved dogs, especially labs. He also enjoyed fishing especially catching crappie and catfish. In the last few years Jim had started playing pickleball. He and Lois found great pleasure just sitting together and watching nature from their front porch. He had planned to convert their land back to natural prairie grasses. Jim made several varieties of very good wine which was bottled under the “Front Porch Wine” label. He had recently taken up bee keeping and found it to be a challenge. He was currently working four hives.

After God, Jim’s family was of the upmost importance. He loved sitting and talking to his kids about what had happened in their day. He attended their activities cheering them on and supported them being proud of their accomplishments. He was looking forward to the day he could also spend time with his newest granddaughter, Finley.

Preceding Jim in death were his parents and an infant brother, Charles. Survivors include his wife, Lois Niemann; one son, Will Niemann (Kristin) and their daughter, Finley; one daughter, Katie Jobe (Travis) and their daughter Gracy. Jim was loved by many and will be greatly missed.

Obituary - Betty Jean Shoemaker

Betty Jean Shoemaker, age 83, of Pleasanton, Kansas passed away at Olathe Medical Center, Thursday, December 30, 2021. Betty was born the daughter of Jesse E. and Saloma Porter Brown on January 8, 1938 in Eldon, Missouri.

Betty graduated from Argentine High School in Kansas City, Kansas. She was a bookkeeper for the family businesses over the years. She enjoyed crocheting, doing crossword puzzles and word searches, watching her beta fish and loved her dachshunds. Her family and friends also knew not to call or talk to her while the Young and Restless was on the television.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter, Jenell Cruz, brother, Elbert Brown and sister, Mary Toebben. She is survived by a daughter, Cindy Whitley (Jeff), a son, Bobby Shoemaker (Connie), six grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren.

Graveside Service will be at 10:00 am, Friday, January 7, 2022 at the Prescott Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Thursday, January 6, 2022 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Contributions are suggested to Olive's Hope Pet Rescue and may be sent in care of Schneider Funeral Home P.O. Box 525 Pleasanton, Kansas 66075. Online condolences may be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com

Area Church Closings for tomorrow 1/2/22

The following churches will not be having service tomorrow January 2, 2022 due to the weather:

Butler Nazarene Church

Butler Presbyterian Church (Online Service Only)

Calvary Baptist Church (Butler)

Christ's Christian Church (Urich) 

Double Branch Christian Church

First Christian Church (Butler) 

Garden City United Methodist Church ( Online Service Only)

Happy Hill Church of God

Hilltop Assembly of God (Online Service Only)

Ohio Street United Methodist Church (Butler) 
Rockville UMC
South Fork Baptist Church (Drexel) 

St. Matthew Lutheran (Butler)  

Victory Assembly of God (Online Service Only)
Zion Lutheran Church (Prairie City)

If your church is going to be closed tomorrow and you would like us to add it to the list of closings please contact us by email at bateswire@hotmail.com or send us a message on Facebook!

Thank you and be safe out there!

Dangerous Wind Chills Tonight - Sunday AM

Bitterly cold temperatures combined with winds of 5-15 mph, with some stronger gusts, will lead to dangerously cold wind chill values tonight into tomorrow morning.

Obituary - Esther Marie Allen

Esther Marie Allen, 73, Harrisonville, MO, passed away Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at Redwood of Blue River in Kansas City, MO. Memorial services will be held 2:00pm Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at The Worship Center, 2901 North Highway 291, Harrisonville, Missouri.

Esther was born December 29, 1948 in Harrisonville, MO, one of three triplets born to Alvard and Ruth Allyne (Gravette) Allen. She was a 1966 graduate of Harrisonville High School.

Esther had lived in Harrisonville most of her life, living in Oklahoma for seven years. She had worked for Hope Haven in Harrisonville. Esther was a member of The Worship Center and attended the Berea Church of God in Christ.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Dallas, Edwin and Roland Allen, and a daughter, Anastasia “Stacy” Allen-Madison. She is survived by one son, Darcyʹ Allen, Excelsior Springs, MO; two brothers, Edward Allen, Raymore, MO and Arthur Allen, Philadelphia, PA; two sisters, Burma Allen, North Kansas City, MO and Dorothy Shackelford, Newark, OH; one granddaughter, Megan Webster and two great-granddaughters, Arianna Allen and Ophelia Webster.

Obituary - Pamela Kay Saunders

Pamela Kay Saunders, age 75, Pleasanton, Kansas passed away Saturday, December 25, 2021. She was born in Weiser, Idaho on December 5, 1946 the daughter of Lewis and Imogene Maddox Murray. After graduating from high school, she attended Oregon State University at the same time her father did. She received an associate degree from the university. Pamela was united in marriage to Ivan Saunders on September 9, 1967 in Cottage Grove, Oregon.

He preceded her in death on June 15, 2001. The two ran Merchant Range Security Patrol. She also worked as a legal secretary and worked for the Kansas Department of Social Services before retiring. Pam was a Christian lady who worshipped in a quiet and private manner. She loved horses and collected antique and porcelain dolls.

Pam is survived by four daughters, Treasure Doty(Ted), Joleen Peetsch(Robin), Kristine Register(Ken), and Jacqueline Lipps(Jeromy), two brothers, Lewis and Pete Murray, a sister, Alice Swenson, ten grandchildren, Kathlena, Hayden, Maddox, Eli, Steven”Kyle”, Aaron, Kristina, Leeza, Ivy and Wyatt, three great grandchildren, Kyrah, Jayden and Keenan and a friend and companion Jeff Lopp.

Funeral Service will be at 1:30 pm, Monday, January 3, 2022 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Pam will lie in state for individual respects from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm, Sunday, January 2, 2022 at the Pleasanton Chapel. Burial in the Pleasanton Cemetery.