Obituary - D. Leroy "Shorty" Vansandt

D. Leroy Vansandt, 95, departed this life on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at his home in Smithville, Missouri.

Leroy, nicknamed Shorty, was born September 1, 1926, in Garden City, Missouri the son of Lorenzo Dow and Edith Mae (Weaver) Vansandt. He grew up on the family farm in Cass County, graduated from high school in Archie, Missouri and attended one year of college in Columbia, Missouri before enlisting in the Army Air Corps during World War II.

Leroy was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Shirley McLaughlin on November 30, 1946, in Argentine, Kansas. He worked at the General Motors assembly plant for 30 years before retiring. He believed in working hard so in his retirement years he raised cattle and owned rental properties which kept him active until he was over 90 years of age.

Leroy and Shirley traveled often to visit friends and relatives all over the country and made many trips to Las Vegas to enjoy their favorite entertainers such as Andy Williams and Frank Sinatra. They made lasting memories.

Leroy was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers (Dean Vansandt, Hale Vansandt, Cassius Lorenzo VanSandt and Richard Vansandt), two sisters (Lou Relda Carter and Vivian Dorsett), and his beloved wife of 71 years, Shirley Vansandt.

Leroy is survived by two sisters (Beverly Page and Edith Mae Henley), son Wayne (Michelle) Vansandt of Blue Springs, MO, daughters Julene (Jim) Kost of Gladstone, MO and Brenda Smith of Independence, MO, six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.

Rest in peace Papa Shorty. As you said to Shirley when she passed, “We’ll see you again.”

Cremation. A Celebration of Life Service will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 11, 2022 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri. Inurnment will follow the service at the Crescent Hill Cemetery near Adrian, Missouri with Military Honors.

Family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 11, 2022 at the funeral home.

Family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross.

Stolen Property in Schell City

On May 3, 2022, deputies responded to a call for service in regards to stolen property. Upon making contact with the victim, he reported that someone stole his orange and white Stihl chainsaw.

The victim estimated that the chainsaw was valued at $500.00. Deputies took a report and the investigation is still ongoing.

Sheriff Hilty urges those with any related information to these cases or any others to contact the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office Tip Line, 417-646-5832, or email to tips@scsomo.org.

Charity Buddy Bass Fishing Tournament in Harrisonville

Charity Buddy Bass Fishing Tournament Sunday June 12 at Lake Harrisonville! $150 per boat. 40% payout split for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Big Bass. 60% of proceeds going to Christmas 4 Kids.

We are limited to 20 boats. We are filling up fast, so reach out and get signed up. If we get 20 boats, 1st place will be $500, 2nd $300, 3rd $200 and Big Bass $200.

Call or text Brad at 816-805-3760. I will send you the sign up form and get you the rules and regulations. There is a $50 non-refundable deposit to hold your spot in the tournament!

Open House June 9

Update: Arrest made in Pittsburg Kansas murder

During the on-going investigation into the shooting of Stephanie Short and Velma Cubie on May 13, 2022 in Pittsburg, it was determined multiple individuals exchanged gunfire resulting in the death of Short and the injury to Cubie.

This investigation led to the development of Dominik Samuel Short as one of the shooting suspects. An arrest warrant was issued for Dominik Short on May 18, 2022. On May 26, 2022, at approximately 5:34 p.m., Dominik Short was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals in Springfield, Missouri pursuant to this arrest warrant.

He is being charged with Murder in the 1st Degree, Criminal Discharge of a Firearm at an Occupied Building, Aggravated Battery, and Aggravated Assault. Dominik Short is being held in Missouri awaiting extradition back to Kansas.

This investigation is on-going and anyone with information pertaining to this investigation is urged to contact the Pittsburg Police Department at 620-231-1700, or at our tip line, 620-231-TIPS (8477). Callers may remain anonymous.

UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE
Homicide Investigation
Thursday, May 27, 2022
Released by Lt. Rebekah Lynch

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 - Dean Lewis

Dean Lewis, 95, of Nevada, Missouri passed away on May 24th. Dean was born in Burtville, Missouri on June 16th, 1926 to Oscar and Mayme Lewis.

Dean spent his school years in the Warrensburg, Missouri area helping with his family’s small farm. He entered the Army in 1944 and served with the 6th and 1st armored division in central Europe. He seldom discussed details or specifics of his war combat endeavors with family members. 

A future brother-in-law once said about Dean – those involved with severe fighting action rarely discuss it; those who did not see heavy fighting talk about it. Still on active duty at the end of the European conflict, typing skills learned from his senior year at Warrensburg High School became another valuable weapon as he was assigned to type and record massive amounts of German records that would be available for the upcoming war trials. 

Upon returning home with the rank of Sergeant after his Army duty was completed in 1946, he used the advantages of the GI Bill to earn a degree from Central Missouri State College (now the University of Central Missouri) graduating in 1950. In 1948, he married a Lexington Missouri girl by the name of Elizabeth Jean Culley. They were married until her passing in 2015. After college graduation, Dean began a long career with the Missouri Public Service Company. His job with MoPub required him and his family to have multiple transfers throughout Missouri; including time periods in Raytown, Trenton, Lee’s Summit, Nevada and Lexington. He and Betty also raised two sons, Chuck and Paul, and were always actively involved in their boys’ Scouting, school, sports and other events. In addition during his work life, Dean was very engaged with civic groups, especially Rotary Clubs. He was very proud of his Rotarian membership and would strive to always be in a community that had a Rotary Club meeting when he would travel throughout Missouri so that he never missed a meeting. He was President of the Nevada Chamber of Commerce in 1972 and served on the Nevada Industrial Development Board. He was recognized as the Business Man of the Year by the Lexington Chamber of Commerce in 1982. Dean subsequently retired in 1989 from MoPub (then called Utilicorp) and began his second career in travelling and grandparenting. 

He and Betty became Winter Texans for many years – heading to Padre Island after the presents were opened on Christmas and not returning to Missouri until early spring. In Nevada, his roses were well recognized (and sometimes snipped without his approval!) and appreciated. His strong religious faith lead him to membership in Presbyterian churches at each Missouri community in which the family lived.

Along with his spouse, he was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and a brother. He is survived by his son Chuck (Lisa) of Lee’s Summit, his son Paul (Stacey) of Nevada, sister-in-law Bonnie Culley of Jefferson City, along with 3 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. The family will receive friends 10-11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Interment with Military Funeral Honors will follow in Newton Burial Park, Nevada.

The family requests no flowers but suggests contributions to the Nevada Community Outreach or to the Nevada CCPA.

Osage Valley Electric Cooperative warms of possible scam

ALERT!!! POTENTIAL SCAM!!!

A phone scam targeting utility customers posing as your utility provider may call and insist you are delinquent on your bill. They may threaten to turn off your power if a payment is not made in the next 30 minutes.

Caller ID may even be "spoofed" to make it look like a call from your utility provider. They may even tell you to put the money on a prepaid debit card or gift card and then ask for the card number.

We will never ask for your card information over the phone or ask you to pay with a gift card. Should you have any questions or concerns please give us a call at 660-679-3131 option 2.

Obituary - Frederick E. Shelton

Funeral services for Frederick E. Shelton of Amoret, Missouri will be 10 a.m. Thursday, June 2, 2022 at the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) Butler, Missouri. Visitation 5 - 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 1 at the Schowengerdt Chapel. Interment in Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian, Missouri. Contributions to Amsterdam Baptist Church. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Frederick “Fred” Earnest Shelton, age 83 of Amoret, Missouri died Thursday, May 26, 2022 at his home in Amoret. He was born October 23, 1938 to James Earnest and Lona Alta McIntire Shelton in Bates County, Missouri.

Fred is survived by his wife, Bevera “Bev” Shelton of Amoret, Missouri; two sons, Ron Shelton and wife Diane of Amoret, Missouri and William Shelton and wife Amy of Blue Springs, Missouri; three sisters, Doris Lancaster of Drexel, Missouri, Mary Jane Michaels of Harrisonville, Missouri and Esther Saner and husband Tom of Shawnee, Kansas; five grandchildren, Brittanny Lunde, Devon Lunde, Catilynn Kelly and husband Patrick, Bailey Barnes and Caleb Shelton; and three great-grandchildren, Bryleigh Lunde, Kynsli Kelly and Oaklee Kelly. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son Jay “Jay Jay” Shelton; two brothers, Dale Shelton and Everett Shelton; and one sister, Thelma Mabrey.