MDC offers free family fishing event April 15 at Warsaw

Adults and families can learn fishing skills at Lost Valley Fish Hatchery pond

Warsaw, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer a free family fishing event from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, April 15, at the Lost Valley Fish Hatchery at Warsaw. This catch-and-release fishing program will be a good way to introduce newcomers to fishing. MDC instructors and volunteers will be present to assist anglers.

This program is open to adults and families with children ages 2 or older. All children must be accompanied by an adult. The fishing will be at the pond outside the hatchery building. MDC can provide all fishing gear and bait. Participants can also bring their own fishing gear and bait. However, no bait that is carried in water is allowed to prevent the introduction of invasive species.

Spring is a good time to go fishing, and this event can teach some of the skills and gear needed. Registration is required. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/432.

Belton woman injured in rollover accident in Bates County

On April 9th around 2:50 a.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Bates County along with Bates County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a one vehicle rollover accident on CR NW 41 just north of CST NW 49 Loop in rural Bates County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when the 2000 Dodge Durango driven 28 year old Bridgette C. Castaneda of Belton, Missouri traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a culvert before overturning.

Bridgette C. Castaneda sustained minor injuries and was transported to Bates County Memorial Hospital by Bates County EMS for treatment.

The vehicle was totaled and towed from the scene of this accident by Douty's Tow of Butler.

Bridgette C. Castaneda was ticketed for 1.) Driving While Intoxicated.

View Crash Report Below:

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP68/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=220175925

View Arrest Report Below:

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP71/ArrestDetailsAction?TW01REPORTNUMBER=I440432A

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.

Obituary - Thomas "Tom" H. Skaggs, Sr.

Thomas "Tom" H. Skaggs, Sr., age 87, of Clinton, Missouri passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Missouri.

Funeral service with military honors will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton, Missouri with visitation from 10:00-11:00 AM prior to the service.

Cremation to follow service. Memorial contributions can be made to the Warrensburg Missouri Veterans Home-Canteen and can be left in care of the funeral home.

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

New Addition for the Rich Hill Family Care Clinic

A new project has begun at Rich Hill Family Care Clinic for an addition dedicated to the care of patients with respiratory illness. Koehn Construction poured the foundation on March 30, and the project is scheduled to be completed this fall.

Designed to promote infection prevention, the addition will feature three exam rooms with internal access for staff, a separate patient entrance, and an HVAC system with an ion generator to kill airborne contaminants.

Family Care Clinics Supervisor Nancy Gardner, RN, said, “We are happy to be able to provide a space for our patients and staff to isolate respiratory illnesses from other parts of the clinic at our Rich Hill location. We have been fortunate to receive government COVID monies for these types of renovations and additions.”

In 2021, Bates County Memorial Hospital used COVID funding to complete a drive-thru addition to the High Street Family Care Clinic to examine and treat patients with contagious illnesses like COVID-19, flu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and strep. The drive-thru allowed clinic staff to handle a much heavier case load during the waves of Delta and Omicron COVID.

The drive-thru model was not practical for the clinic in Rich Hill, but the new, separate space is fitting for the needs of the day and for the future: to offer patients convenience, comfort and safety during their visits while limiting the transmission of infectious disease to others.

Rich Hill Family Care Clinic is a rural health clinic of Bates County Memorial Hospital providing primary care for patients of all ages. Patients may schedule an appointment by calling 660-200-3627.

MDC encourages drivers to look out for turtles and give ‘em a brake!

Box turtles and other common Missouri turtles are emerging from their burrows and crossing roadways in search of food and a mate.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is urging drivers to keep a cautious eye on the road this spring and give turtles a brake! Many species of Missouri’s turtles become more active during the spring as they emerge from their burrows and cross the roads in search of food and a mate.

Common species crossing the roads include the three-toed box turtle, ornate box turtle, and even snapping turtles.

These reptiles are often hit by cars during the warmer months, but are at special risk in the spring as they emerge from burrows during warm and wet conditions, which can lead them to cross roadways. Unfortunately, thousands of box turtles are killed every year by vehicles.

Young males make up most of the travelers, sometimes wandering as many as six miles searching for territories and mates. Females are also crossing the roads in search of nesting areas.

Turtles are cold-blooded and depend on external sources of heat to determine their body temperature. This explains why many see them on warm asphalt during cool, spring days.

Vehicles are one of the leading factors in box turtle declines, and MDC urges motorists to be cautious and slow down when they see a turtle in the road. If stopping to help a turtle make it safely across, check for traffic and move the turtle in the direction it is traveling.

MDC also encourages the public to leave turtles in the wild. Keeping a wild animal as a pet can lead to a slow death, no matter how good the intentions. Leave turtles in the wild, follow the speed limit, and keep your eyes on the road.

For more information on Missouri’s native turtles, visit MDC’s online Field Guide at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/43A.

Multiple Thunderstorm Days Ahead

A period of active weather is upon us, with thunderstorm chances tonight and again on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. For tonight, we expect scattered storms to develop across southeastern Kansas and southwestern into central Missouri. 

A few of these storms may become strong to severe. Damaging winds and hail up to quarter size are possible.

Image Descriptions:

Image 1: Map of eastern Kansas and Missouri with color shaded areas indicating thunderstorm Risk. A Yellow area labled slight risk extends from southeastern Kansas into central Missouri. Text to the right of the map indicates scattered storms are expected to develop after 7 PM across southwestern into central Missouri. A few strong to severe storms are possible, with up to quarter size hail and damaging winds up to 60 mph.

Image 2: Three maps of eastern Kansas and Missouri each depicting severe storm risk for Sunday Night, Tuesday Night, and Wednesday morning. Text below the maps reads, Today: A few strong to severe storms in the evening across central into southwestern Missouri. Risk of isolated damaging wind and hail. 

Tuesday: Line of strong to severe thunderstorms in the late evening. Risk of damaging winds, damaging hail, and the potential for a few tornadoes. Storms will move east to west overnight into early 

Wednesday morning. Wednesday: Line of storms ongoing in central Missouri will continue to move east, with a risk of damaging wind and hail.

Two from Appleton City injured in Bates County crash

On April 9th around 10:35 p.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Bates County along with Bates County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a one vehicle accident neat the intersection of CR SE 2576 and CR SE 15305 which is in rural Bates County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when the 2003 Ford F-150 driven by 20 year old Dakota R. Bain of Appleton City, Missouri traveled through a intersection, struck a sign, fence and tree before coming to rest.

Mr. Bain along with a passenger in his vehicle 19 year old Michael R. Conner both sustained moderate injuries and both were transported to Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler for treatment.

Dakota R. Bain was arrested for 1.) Driving While Intoxicated 2.) Careless and Imprudent Driving causing a crash 3.) No Seatbelt.

View Crash Report Below:

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP68/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=220177889

View Arrest Report Below:

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP71/ArrestDetailsAction?TW01REPORTNUMBER=I440508A

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.

Obituary - Paul Edward Kottenbrock

Paul Edward Kottenbrock, age 78 of Raymore, Missouri, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, April 6, 2022.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at St. Sabina Catholic Church, 700 Trevis Ave. Belton, Missouri 64012. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the church following visitation. (Rosary will be at 9:45 a.m.)

Paul was born in Rogers, Arkansas on June 21, 1943 to Anton Kottenbrock and Mary Ellen (Roach) Kottenbrock. After graduating high school he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Paul was joined in marriage with his wife Virginia Ann (Turpin) on October 9, 1964. This union was blessed with three children. Paul was a man of Catholic faith, for many years attending Lady of Lords in Harrisonville for 10 years. Paul and Ann moved to Pleasant Hill and attended Saint Bridget's for 7 years and recently became parishioners of St. Sabina Catholic Church after moving to the Foxwood Retirement Community. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. Paul was a handy man who could fix anything from carpentry to cars. He very much enjoyed working on clocks, watches, and woodworking projects. Paul was proceeded in death by his parents, Anton and Mary Kottenbrock; and sister Edna DuVall.

Left to cherish Paul’s memory are his wife, Virginia Ann Kottenbrock; son, Tony Kottenbrock (Malay); two daughters, Kelly Haug (Roger) and Tracy Hampshire (Darin); brother Robert Anton Kottenbrock (Mary); three grandchildren, Rachael Ellen Haug (Michael), Julia Lauren Roberts (John), and Brandon Scott Hampshire (Leah); and five cousins, Kathy Beard (Michael), Mary Pauline Johnson ( Gary), Kris Larkey (Mike), Rob Kottenbrock, and Joyce DuVall (Jennifer).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Pleasant Hill Meals On Wheels, 308 W. Commercial St., Pleasant Hill, Missouri 64080 or the American Cancer Society online at www.cancer.org.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278