Obituary - Deborah Susanne McCallum

Deborah (Debbie) S. McCallum, age 61, of Pleasanton, Kansas, passed away at her home on Monday, June 26, 2023 surrounded by family. Debbie was born the daughter of Jean Ann Jones on March 13, 1962 at Pittsburg, Kansas.

She graduated from Pleasanton High School in 1980. On December 8, 1981, she married Robert McCallum at the Assembly of God Church in Pleasanton, Kansas, to this union two children were born.

Debbie was a CNA and CMA over her career. She was a very caring woman and took care of many people, she loved the elderly and took great care in assisting and taking care of them. Debbie was involved with her children's activities, she also loved gardening, wind chimes and was a collector of Grandma's and mom' broaches and pins.

She was preceded in death by her parents. Debbie is survived by her husband, Robert, son, Matthew McCallum, daughter, Calli McCallum (Jessica), two brothers, Douglas Joseph and Jeff Powers, one sister, Shelly Watkins, one grandson, Mattix, niece, JoAnna Bustillos (Jesus and kids), uncle, Wayne Jones (CeCe), her best friends, Shirlene Johnson, Chelli Rice and Ann Johnson and kids, and many more nieces, nephews and extended family.

Graveside service will be held at 11 am, Saturday, July 8, 2023 at Wesley Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 - 7 pm, Friday, July 7, 2023 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton, Kansas Chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society and may be sent in care of the funeral home to: Schneider Funeral Home P.O. Box 525 Pleasanton, Kansas 66075. Online condolences may be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

Power outage this morning in Harrisonville

A statement regarding the power outage that occurred during the early morning hours on July 5 - As thunderstorms hit the Harrisonville area early Wednesday morning, lightning struck multiple places at the north substation, causing it to lose power.

City of Harrisonville Electric Crews were called out to make repairs. After about an hour, crews were able to restore power for many of the residents who had lost power.

Currently, crews are working to restore power for the last 500 residents whose power had gone out. Crews are repairing a blown breaker and estimate the repairs to be completed soon.

We appreciate your patience during this time.

MSHP Fourth of July Statistics

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the following 2023 July Fourth holiday statistics for the counting period of 6 p.m., Friday, June 30, through 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, July 4, 2023:

2023 July Fourth Holiday Boating Statistics

Troopers worked six boating crashes, which included two injuries and zero fatalities. Troopers made 10 boating while intoxicated arrests. Four people drowned over the holiday weekend. Two of the drownings occurred in the Troop F area, one drowning occurred in the Troop A area, and one drowning occurred in the Troop C area. Troopers worked all four drownings.

Two people drowned on Sunday, July 2, 2023. James D. Roy, 56, of Kansas City, MO, was last seen near a moored vessel. It is unknown how Roy entered the water. He was not wearing a life jacket and did not resurface. Camden County Medical Examiner Crystal Lloyd pronounced Roy dead at Mimosa Beach. The incident occurred at the Lake of the Ozarks near the 43-mile marker of the main channel in Bollinger Creek Cove in Camden County.

Hamsa Mohamed, 41, of St. Louis, MO, drowned after jumping from a cliff on the right side of Big River. He attempted to float and did not surface. He was not wearing a life jacket. High Ridge Fire Department personnel pronounced Mohamed dead at the scene. The incident occurred at Big River near Rockford Beach in House Springs, in Jefferson County. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and St. Louis County Police Department also responded to the scene.

Two people drowned on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. A six-year-old male drowned when he jumped into the water onto a lily pad, went under the water, and did not resurface. He was not wearing a life jacket. Dr. Campbell pronounced the six-year-old dead at Lake Regional Hospital. The incident occurred at the Lake of the Ozarks near the 65.9-mile marker in Lick Creek Cove in Camden County. The Camden County Sheriff's Office and Edwards, MO, Fire Department also responded.

Carlos Antonio, 22, of St. Joseph, MO, drowned when he was swimming, walked off a ledge in the water, and never resurfaced. He was not wearing a life jacket. The incident occurred at Smithville Lake near Little Platte Swim Beach in Clay County.

2023 July Fourth Holiday Traffic Statistics

Troopers worked 390 traffic crashes, which included 152 injuries and seven of the eight fatalities. The Kansas City Police Department worked the remaining fatality. Troopers also made 116 DWI arrests and 21 drug arrests over the holiday weekend.

One traffic fatality occurred in each of the Troop A, Lee's Summit, MO, Troop B, Macon, MO, Troop C, Weldon Spring, and Troop E, Poplar Bluff, MO, areas. Four fatalities occurred in the Troop H, St. Joseph, MO, area.

[During the 2022 counting period, 11 people were killed and 449 injured statewide in Missouri over the holiday in 1,069 traffic crashes. Troopers arrested 146 people for driving while intoxicated last year. Over the 2022 July Fourth holiday, there were nine boating crashes, which included five injuries and no fatalities. One person drowned during last year's July Fourth holiday. Troopers made 13 BWI arrests during the 2022 counting period.]


No one died in a traffic crash within the counting period on Friday, June 30, 2023.

Three people died Saturday, July 1, 2023. Timothy S. Hall, 37, of Grubville, MO, died when he lost control of the motorcycle he was driving, began to skid, ran off the left side of the roadway, and overturned. Hall was wearing a helmet; he was ejected. The crash occurred on Missouri Route WW at Blackhawk Lane in Jefferson County. EMS personnel pronounced Hall deceased at the scene.

Fabian C. Henderson, 34, of Lilbourn, MO, died when the vehicle he was operating ran off the left side of the roadway and overturned. Henderson was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. The crash occurred on Missouri Route MM north of Lilbourn. New Madrid County Coroner George DeLisle pronounced Henderson deceased at the scene.

A 13-year-old male died when the vehicle in which he was a passenger traveled off the south side of the roadway, down an embankment, and struck a field entrance before becoming airborne and overturning multiple times. The vehicle came to rest on its wheels on the side of the roadway. The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 136 west of Stanberry, MO. Dr. Dela-Cruz pronounced the juvenile passenger deceased at Mosaic Medical Center in Albany, MO. The driver of the vehicle and a second passenger sustained serious injuries in the crash. All three people were wearing seat belts. Gentry County Sheriff's Office, Stanberry Fire Department, and Grand River EMS also responded to the scene.

There were no traffic fatalities reported Sunday, July 2, 2023.

There were no traffic fatalities reported on Monday, July 3, 2023.

Five people died in traffic crashes on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Ricky E. Nutzman, 70, and Susan M. Nutzman, 70, both of Falls City, NE, died when the vehicle he was operating traveled from the Missouri Highway 13 ramp onto eastbound U.S. Highway 36 and cut across both lanes in front of a commercial vehicle. The commercial vehicle braked but was unable to avoid striking the vehicle's driver side. Both vehicles then traveled off the north side of the roadway into the median and came to rest. Both of the Nutzmans and the driver of the commercial vehicle were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Dr. Dorsch pronounced R. Nutzman deceased at Cameron Regional Medical Center. Caldwell County Coroner Dana Brown pronounced S. Nutzman deceased at the scene. The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 36 at the ramp in Hamilton, MO, in Caldwell County. The driver of the commercial vehicle was uninjured in the crash. Caldwell County Sheriff's Department and Hamilton Police Department also responded to the scene.

Scott A. Hall, 38, of Bethany, MO, died when the utility vehicle he was operating traveled off the side of the roadway, began to skid, struck a rock, and returned to the roadway at which time Hall then overcorrected. The UTV then traveled off the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned. It came to rest on the side of the roadway on its driver's side. Hall and a juvenile passenger were not wearing a seat belt and were ejected. The juvenile passenger sustained moderate injuries. A second passenger was wearing a seat belt and remained inside the UTV. She sustained minor injuries. The crash occurred on West 211 Lane south of Bethany, MO, in Harrison County. Dr. Manning pronounced Hall dead at Community Hospital. Harrison County Sheriff's Office also responded to the scene.

Terri L. Rucker, 43, of Bowling Green, MO, died when the vehicle she was operating traveled northbound in the southbound lane of U.S. Highway 61 and struck another vehicle head-on. Rucker was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Marion County paramedics pronounced Rucker dead at the scene. The driver and a passenger in the other vehicle were not wearing seat belts; both sustained serious injuries. The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 61 at New London, MO.

Timothy Merkel, 56, of Kansas City, MO, died when he was operating a motorcycle traveling west on NE Cookingham Drive. Another vehicle traveling west on NE Cookingham Drive and pulling a boat trailer was making a right turn onto NE Reinking Road. Merkel laid his motorcycle down in an attempt to avoid a crash, slid under the boat trailer, and struck it. Merkel was pronounced dead at Liberty Hospital. The crash occurred at Cookingham Drive and Reinking Road in Kansas City, MO, in Clay County. The Kansas City Police Department investigated the crash.


NOTE: The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, if other departments report fatalities after this news release was sent out, or if a fatality is determined to be caused by a medical condition rather than a traffic/boating/drowning incident.

Death Investigation in Cass County

Around 6:45 Wednesday morning deputies were called to the area of S. St. Rt. D Highway and E. 215th Street north of Cleveland Missouri where a passing motorist found a body next to the roadway.

Cass County Deputies located the body of a male in the grassy shoulder of the highway north of 215th street.

Investigators believe the victim was walking south on D Highway and was struck by a vehicle around 9:00 pm Tuesday July 4th. At this time investigators are working to determine the type of vehicle involved.

The victim has been identified and his name will be released pending notification of next of kin.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who may have seen the incident or the victim to call investigators at 816-380-5200.

One arrested after hit and run accident in Butler

On Tuesday July 4th shortly before 10 pm the Butler Police Department along with Butler Fire and Bates County EMS was called to a hit and run accident involving a motorcycle at Mill and Sunset View Drive in the area of Tingler Park in Butler. 

The male subject who was struck on the motorcycle refused medical treatment at the scene of the crash. 

The driver who struck him was arrested after fleeing the scene to Bear Stop. The female was identified as 33 year old Samantha M. Bell of Butler was arrested and placed on a 12 hour hold for suspicion of drunk driving, Failure to maintain lane and leaving the scene of a accident.

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 - John Fredrick Ridenour

John Fredrick Ridenour, 85, of Clinton, Missouri. He went to be with the Lord on June 30, 2023, after a short illness. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July, 5, 2023 at the Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial to follow in the Vansant Road Cemetery in Clinton, Missouri. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Diabetes Association and may be left in care of the funeral home.

John was born to Pearl (VonCannon) and Clay Ridenour on May 23, 1938 in Clinton, where he lived throughout his life. He attended Rosehill grade school and graduated from Calhoun High School.

On September 15, 1971, he married Sue Lewis. They had 43 wonderful years together before her passing in October 2014.

He worked at various jobs over the years, starting at the Windsor shoe factory. Later he worked at Riffles Greenhouse and Sluggers gas station. He also spent many years farming with his dad, and eventually farmed for himself along with owning rental property.

John is survived by his brother Led (Billie) Ridenour, Brother-in-law Harold Brown, sister-in-law Jane (Richard) Holt, brother-in-law Jim (Barb) Lewis, Brother-in-law Bill (Sharon) Lewis, sister-in-law Bonnie Lewis, and many nieces and nephews, all who loved him dearly.

He is preceded in death by maternal and paternal grandparents, his parents Clay and Pearl Ridenour, his wife Sue Lewis, sisters Dorothy Mae Kruse, Martha Brown, Sharon Sprouse, brother Mike and one infant brother.

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

Two from Nevada injured in Monday crash

On Monday evening around 6:45 p.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Vernon County along with Vernon County Sheriff's Office responded to a one vehicle accident on 1400 Road in Nevada.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when the northbound 1993 Chevrolet S-10 driven by 22 year old Cole M. Winsworth ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree.

Mr. Winsworth along with a passenger in his vehicle 43 year old Ronald E. Dighero of Nevada, Missouri both sustained moderate injuries and both were transported to Nevada Regional Medical Center for treatment.

View crash report below:

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP68/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=230355536

Today, we remember Major Frederick W. Hess, Jr., MIA.

Today, we remember Major Frederick W. Hess, Jr., MIA.

On March 29, 1969, First Lieutenant Hess and Captain William J. Popendorf were the crew in an F-4D on an herbicidal spray mission to defoliate a segment of Route 915 that lay near Ban Topen, 15 miles southwest of the Ban Karai Pass in the Ban Laboy area of Khammouane Province.

As the formation of 3 aircraft was on its second run at an altitude of 100-200 feet and at a possible air speed of 500 knots, they were hit by small arms fire causing an explosion in the left rear of the aircraft. Their aircraft went into a shallow climb and at 500-600 feet it began to roll to the left. The aircraft started rolling uncontrollably, and the crew ejected moments before the aircraft crashed into a hillside in the area of Route 915.

Captain Popendorf's parachute was not fully deployed when he landed, but had snagged in a tree. Popendorf radioed that he was alive on the ground with a broken arm and right leg. He was subsequently rescued.

Captain Popendorf reported that he heard Lieutenant Hess eject prior to his own ejection from the aircraft. Lieutenant Hess was declared missing in action.

 
Hess was promoted to the rank of Major during the period he was maintained missing. Hess was presumptively declared killed in action on May 22, 1979, based on no new information to prove he was alive. His body has not been recovered.

Hess was survived by a young wife and daughter, Bahar and Christine, and his parents, Lt Col & Mrs. Frederick W Hess.

Major Hess’s name in inscribed on The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Panel 28W - Line 81, and at the Lt. Charles Garrison Veterans Memorial, Section B – Line 46.