Suspect arrested in Nevada Homicide

On June 14, 2021 at approximately 9:01 p.m., officers from the Nevada Police Department responded to a residence in the 1000 block of N. Clay Street for a report of unresponsive male subject. 

Responding emergency personnel located an unresponsive male subject inside the residence. The male subject was transported from the scene by ambulance to Nevada Regional Medical Center.

The male subject, identified as Neal Clark, age 34 of Nevada was later pronounced dead at Nevada Regional Medical Center. In November 2021 the Jackson County medical examiner’s office determined that the victim’s cause of death was due to injuries sustained from an assailant and ruled the manner of death as homicide. 

On January 13, 2022 a suspect in this case was taken into police custody and has been identified as James D. Jackson, age 47 of Nevada.

The following charges have been filed against Jackson through the Vernon County Associate Court:

Murder 2nd Degree - Class A Felony Jackson is currently being held in the Vernon County Jail without bond.

The investigation remains ongoing; citizens with information that would be helpful in this case are encouraged to contact the Nevada Police Department at (417) 448-5100.

Confidential information may be provided by calling the Nevada Police Department Tips Hotline at (417) 667-8477. 

Approved: Chief Casey Crain

Accumulating Snowfall moving in Friday Night

Afternoon update to the forecast is out! Still looking at the highest snow amounts falling across portions of north-central & NE Missouri. 

Most of far eastern Kansas & western Missouri should see snowfall amounts ranging from 1 to 4 inches, including the KC metro area. 

Snow moves in from north to south Friday night and continues through midday Saturday.

A familiar face around here

Ray-Pec High School Principal Steven Miller announced that he will retire at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

He made the news public today (Jan. 13) in a meeting with the high school faculty and staff.

“It has been an extreme honor and privilege to serve as the principal at RPHS for the past 10 years, and my time in the district has afforded me the opportunity not only to grow as an educator but also to learn from so many incredible people,” Miller said. “I have had the great fortune to work alongside such a tremendous staff and administrative team who have always been willing to work with me through the day-to-day challenges that arise while at the same time having the courage to always push me and themselves to do better for our students.

“I am extremely proud to have the opportunity to work for and serve the Raymore-Peculiar School district, to have raised my three children in the district and watch them go through RPHS, to have formed so many life-lasting relationships both professionally and personally, and to always be able to call the Raymore-Peculiar Community my home.

“I am very much looking forward to the 2022-2023 school year,” he added. “There are so many new opportunities and paths for the students that we are working to develop and to implement, and I am excited to partner with the district and the high school staff for one more year to make them a reality.”

Miller has been principal at Ray-Pec High School since 2012. He joined the District in 2010, when he was hired to fill a new position as associate principal to help lead the two-building high school for grades 9-12. After the former principal retired, Miller became principal.

Miller came to Ray-Pec from the Rockwood (Mo.) School District, where he was an assistant principal at Eureka High School from 2007-2010. Earlier in his career, he was a teacher and coach in the Butler R-V and Warsaw R-IX school districts. During his tenure at Ray-Pec, the high school changed from a two-building campus to a single-building for all students in grades 9-12. There were major construction and renovation projects to expand the high school to accommodate all of the 9-12 students in one school. District plans to hire replacement this year Superintendent Dr. Mike Slagle thanked Miller for his service to the District.

“Mr. Miller has impressed me from the very first day we met,” Slagle said. “To be a successful school leader, a person must be a strong communicator, an outstanding collaborator, and possess a focus on the success of all students. Mr. Miller has these qualities. I have observed that his communication skills are outstanding, and he is very effective at building consensus in a group setting. He works to reach collaborative outcomes that are in the best interests of the people, especially his teachers and staff, affected by the decisions. And, most importantly, his focus is always on the best outcomes for all students.”

Slagle said that advance notice of Miller’s retirement allows the district to implement a plan for a smooth leadership transition. The District plans to hire Miller’s replacement to begin work this summer. The “Deputy Principal” role will be a one-year appointment only for the 2022-2023 school year. With the Deputy Principal working alongside, Miller can share his extensive knowledge about people, processes, and systems in the District.

Slagle noted that providing time for the Deputy Principal to work with Miller provides an opportunity for the District to support the transfer of knowledge to his successor.

“The high school principal is a key position in the district, with responsibility for the largest staff and student body,” Slagle said. “In addition, the high school will implement several major projects over the next two years. These include the opening of the LEAD Center in August 2022, the opening of the Ninth Grade Center (with the accompanying schedule and staffing changes), and the construction and opening of a new Performing Art Center. The period of overlap will provide the Deputy Principal time to experience a full year in the role with Mr. Miller. The School Board is fully supportive of this approach.” Miller is also supportive of the decision.

“The foresight of district leadership and the Board of Education in creating the opportunity for an individual to come in a year in advance to learn the systems, the staff, and the building culture will pay huge dividends in the long term,” Miller said. “It simply speaks to the district’s commitment to excellence. What an opportunity that will not only set the next principal at RPHS up for success but also set the entire high school up for success.”

Dr. Al Voelker, Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services, said that Miller leads with fairness and integrity.

"He has done much to strengthen relationships, communication, and the spirit of collaboration.” Voelker said. “We look forward to working with him for another year, and while we wish Mr. Miller the best in retirement, we will miss his leadership."

Nevada Business Owner Pleads Guilty to False Tax Return

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Nevada, Missouri, business owner who failed to pay taxes on nearly $1.5 million of income pleaded guilty in federal court today to filing a false tax return.

“When businesses and individuals don’t pay their fair share in taxes, they are breaking the law and cheating their law-abiding neighbors,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “This business owner shirked his responsibilities as a citizen by willfully failing to pay taxes on nearly $1.5 million of income.”

Kevin R. Morrow, 53, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to a federal information that charges him with filing a false tax return.

“This time of year, hard-working Americans are preparing to submit their federal tax returns, and the majority of them will fully and honestly report their income,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, St. Louis Field Office. “In fairness to them, IRS-Criminal Investigation will aggressively pursue those who attempt to avoid paying their fair share of taxes and hold them accountable.”

By pleading guilty today, Morrow admitted that he omitted a total of $1,467,326 in income from the federal income tax returns he filed from 2014 through 2016.

During that time, Morrow operated Morrow Show Steers, a cattle sale business, but did not report any of this income and, therefore, did not pay any taxes on this income. According to today’s plea agreement, Morrow’s false tax returns led to federal tax due and owing in the amount of $92,928.

The total tax loss to the Missouri Department of Revenue is $11,910. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Morrow must pay a total of $104,838 in restitution to the federal government and the state of Missouri.

The specific charge to which Morrow pleaded guilty today is filing a false tax return on April 15, 2017. Morrow falsely claimed he received income of only $13,617 in 2016, and willfully did not report that he received additional income of $444,462 from his cattle sale business.

Under federal statutes, Morrow is subject to a sentence of up to three years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Shannon Kempf. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Missouri Department of Revenue – Compliance and Investigation Bureau.

Courtesy of the Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of Missouri

Obituary - Shirley June Keisker

A private graveside service for Shirley J. Keisker of Lee's Summit, Missouri is planned for the family under direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) Butler, Missouri. A celebration of life will be held summer of 2022. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the P.E.O. STAR Scholarship or the Lee's Summit Christian Church. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

On Wednesday, January 12, 2022, Shirley June (Hilgedick) Keisker, loving mother, grandmother and sister passed away at the age of 81. Shirley was born on December 18, 1940, in Marceline, MO to Arla and Mildred (Brautigam) Hilgedick. Shirley graduated from Butler High School in 1958. She received her B.S. in Education in 1962 and her Masters in Curriculum in 1988 both from CMSU. While at CMSU Shirley was a featured majorette all four years of her undergraduate education and was the first winter sports queen.

Shirley was an exceptional elementary school teacher for 30 years in the Raytown school district. She cared deeply for each of her students and created a memorial butterfly garden at Fleetridge Elementary. Shirley was named teacher of the year in 1995. Shirley took her love of teaching outside the classroom as she cared for her grandkids and grand-nephews and nieces always having a lesson plan for each visit. Shirley was a member of the Lee’s Summit Christian Church. A music lover, she participated in the bell choir and church choir. Shirley was an active member in the KH P.E.O. chapter, holding numerous offices. She loved to be outdoors. Her family enjoyed many hours listening to Shirley name all the plants, birds, and butterflies.

Shirley is survived by her two children Shari Johnson and her husband Kevin of Wellesley, MA and Steve Keisker and his wife Brenda of Independence, MO; her grandchildren Duncan Johnson and his wife Nicole and Brooke Johnson and her fiancé James LaShoto; and a step-granddaughter Melia Elliott and her husband Andy. Shirley is also survived by her younger brother Don Hilgedick and his wife Jean; and her nephews and niece, Rob, Todd, Dan, Lacy, Adam, and Aaron. She also leaves behind 13 great-nephews and nieces. She had many pets she loved and cared for through her years but is survived by her sweet King Charles Cavalier, Toby. Outside her family Shirley leaves behind a loving group of friends from her fellow teachers, various church groups, P.E.O. sisters, and Bunco and card buddies. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Sharon Park.

Warm Winter Wishes

On January 11, employees at Bates County Memorial Hospital were given "Warm Winter Wishes" by Heartland Hospice in the form of fresh cookies from Koehn's bakery and treat bags. 

"Our hospital truly appreciates this act of kindness, especially when our staff is feeling stretched and drained during another surge of COVID-19," said Greg Weaver, Chief Executive Officer for the hospital. 

Pictured, from left: Brooklyn Ryan, Heartland Hospice Account Liaison; Greg Weaver, Chief Executive Officer of BCMH; Adrienne Burkholder, BCMH Human Resource Director; Kimberly Keating, Human Resources Coordinator, and Kristy Whitney, Heartland Hospice Manager of Business Development.

Obituary - Doris Nadine Blevins Wood

Doris Nadine Blevins Wood, age 86 of Foster, Missouri passed away on January 7, 2022 at Butler Center in Butler, Missouri. Private family services were held at Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). Burial followed services in Woodfin Cemetery near Foster, Missouri. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

Doris was born August 1, 1935 on the family farm in Foster, Missouri, the daughter of Leslie and Beulah Creveling Blevins. She was born and raised on the Sand Hill Farm which was owned by her parents. She received her primary education at a country school near her home, and later attended Hume High School, a graduate of the class of 1953. After graduation she worked at the Ours Oil Company in Butler and later at Levy’s. On March 8, 1959, Doris was united in marriage with Clifford Junior Wood. Together they raised two daughters on the family farm, Connie Sue and Peggy Jo. Doris preferred to be outdoors and especially enjoyed caring for her animals. She had a special fondness for tending to the Herferd cattle and spoiling her cats and dogs. Although she did not look upon them fondly,

Doris was also known to pick up an armadillo by the tail on occasion. Other outdoor labors Doris enjoyed include growing a vegetable garden, raising fruit trees, and maintaining her flower garden. Doris’ day could always be brightened when her family indulged her insatiable love for sweet treats, especially chocolate chip ice cream and chocolate covered cherries.


She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Ruth Irene, husband Clifford, and daughter Peggy Jo (Entrikin) Foster. Survivors include daughter Connie Sue Board (Larry), son in law David Foster, grandchildren Lori Robbins (George), Ashley Arwood, Andrew Entrikin (Andi), Alec Entrikin, and Kelli Beth Alcantara (Jeremy), great grandchildren Brihanna, Wayne Dale, Brooklynn, Keigan, Alli, Glen, Susie, Emma, Alecsus, Madi, Jameson, and Lani.

Obituary - Sherry Ann Drury

Sherry Ann Drury, 65, Adrian, MO, passed away Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at Research Hospital in Kansas City, MO. 

Memorial services will be held at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, January 20, 2022 at the Victory Assembly of God in Adrian, MO, with visitation from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Victory Assembly of God, Adrian.

A complete obituary will be posted when information is available.