MDC reports 8,599 deer taken during alternative methods portion

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 8,599 deer during the alternative methods portion of the firearms deer season, Dec. 24 – Jan. 3. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 200 deer harvested, Harrison with 186, and Macon with 162.

The harvest total for last year’s alternative methods portion was 10,038.

For current ongoing preliminary harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website at https://extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/.

For harvest summaries from past years, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/deer-reports/deer-harvest-summaries.

The archery deer and turkey season runs through Jan. 15.

Find more information on deer hunting from MDC’s 2022 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold and online at https://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/2022FDT.pdf.

Photo Courtesy of Mark Ramsey

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Trumbore reaches 1,000 career points for Bears

Congratulations to Butler High School Junior Carter Trumbore on his 1000th point in his basketball career!

Vernon County home destroyed by fire

On Saturday December 31st the Walker Rural Fire District along with mutual aid with Compton Junction and Nevada firefighters responded to a house fire on Lady Road in rural Vernon County.

The house was deemed a total loss. No injuries were reported.

Obituary - Gerald Bye

Gerald Duane Bye passed away on Sunday, January 1, 2023 at his home in Lowry City, Missouri after a battle with Alzheimer's at the age of 78 years. 

Funeral service will be held at 7:00 PM on Friday January 6, 2023 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton, Missouri with cremation to follow. 

Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM prior to the service. A private family inurnment at graveside will be at a later date. Funeral services will be livestreamed on the Vansant-Mills Funeral Home Facebook page.

Gerald Duane Bye “Jerry” was born on August 6, 1944 in Northwood, North Dakota to Harold and Laverne Bye.

Gerald started teaching music in 1976 at Lakeland Consolidated School District in Missouri. He also proudly drove the school bus as well as doing repairs and maintenance. He had a long and successful career as a teacher taking many vocal groups to state contests. He put on great vocal concerts every year and was always proud of his students. He taught in Belfry, Montana from 1990-2000 and later at McClusky, North Dakota from 2000-2007 he later moved back home to Lowry City in 2015 to be closer to his family.

Jerry was always active, working summer jobs, working on cars and around the house. He loved fishing. In the 80’s he started going to Montana every year to fish with is good friend Glen Sell, eventually guiding some fly fishing groups as well. He also loved trout fishing at Bennet Springs and bass fishing on the Truman Lake. Jerry loved his kids and would do anything he could to help them.

Gerald is survived by his wife Susan Bye of the home, his three children; Mark Timothy Bye, Cresinda Beth Michael, Mindy Jo Davis and two stepchildren; Edward and Joanne, 11 grandchildren; Danielle, Devin, Kristin, Leah, Kim, Jordan, Dalton, Hunter, Makayla, Dilia and Kyle, 4 great grandchildren; Aislyn, Peyton, Taylor and Karsyn.

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

Temperatures will continue to slowly fall

Temperatures will continue to slowly fall this afternoon and evening, dropping into the mid-upper 20s by early Wed AM. While the next few days will be cooler, we will still be near normal for early Jan.

Update: Shooting Investigation in Miami County Kansas

On January 1st around 7:30 p.m. emergency personnel were dispatched to the area of 299th Street and Somerset Road in rural Paola on a report of a subject laying in the ditch with an apparent gun shot wound. 

 When emergency personnel arrived on scene the began to provide medical treatment to the victim. Miami County EMS transported the victim, an adult female in her 40's to a local area hospital with life threatening injuries.

While on scene, Detectives were able to identify a suspect, John Raymond Gray,36, of Grandview, Missouri. Detectives contacted the Grandview Police Department to assist with locating Gray.

Gray's vehicle was located in his driveway. Contact was attempted at the residence by the Grandview Police Department but was unsuccessful. 

A warrant was obtained for Gray's pickup truck, a white Ram 1500, which is believed to be the scene of the shooting. The vehicle is believed to have been in Miami County at the time of the shooting. The vehicle was transported to the crime ab for processing.

On January 3, 2023, Detective received a phone call from Grandview Police department advising Gray was located inside his residence, deceased with an apparent self inflicted gun shot wound.

Through the investigation, it was learned that Gray and the victim left the residence in Grandview Missouri on 1/1/23, then drove to Miami County where the shooting occurred. Gray then drove to the area of 299th Street and Somerset Road where he removed the victim from the vehicle, before returning to his residence in Grandview.

The victim remains in critical condition at a local are hospital.

Obituary - Eric Henry Collins

Eric Henry Collins, age 34, of Cole Camp, Missouri, passed away December 22, 2022 at his home. He was born on November 10, 1988 in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Elwood and Theresa Collins.

He would grow up between Wichita, Kansas and Missouri and moved to his home in Cole Camp, Missouri in 2018.

Eric was united in marriage to his wife, Carolyn, on May 6, 2021 at the Drake Harbor in Warsaw.

He was employed at Tyson Foods in Sedalia, Missouri. In in spare time, he would enjoy fishing for anything that was biting, especially the crappie, camping and league bowling at Jester’s near Warsaw.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, of the home, his father, Elwood, of Wichita, Kansas, his mother, Theresa, of Cole Camp, Missouri, two sons, Lucas and Cordyn, two sisters, Monica DeWitt, of Texas and Jana Hilton, of Warsaw, Missouri, other relatives and friends.

There will be a private family service held at a later date.