Update: Arrests made after search warrant served at Harrisonville gas station

On 07-25-23, at approximately 7:25 pm, Deputies with the Cass County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance of the Harrisonville Police Department, executed a search warrant at the Everyday (Conoco) gas station, located at the intersection of Commercial Street and Independence Street in Harrisonville. 

Deputies obtained a search warrant after months of investigation led them to evidence of narcotics being distributed by employees of the store.

During the execution of the search warrant Richard Hayes (47) from Harrisonville, was arrested and charged with Possession Of A Controlled Substance. He is currently being held in the Cass County Jail without bond.

While processing the scene, five electronic gambling devices were seized as evidence. Kamran Kahn (54) from Lee’s Summit, was arrested and charged with 1st Degree Promoting Gambling. His bond was set at $7,500.00 Cash Only. He is also being held in the Cass County Jail.

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 - Colleen Klingaman

Rayma Colleen (Hill) Klingaman, 79, Nevada, MO, passed away at her home Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Along with her twin brother, Dwight Hill, Colleen was born February 2, 1944 in Unionville, MO to George R. and Lois M. (Ratliff) Hill.

Colleen received her education in Schuyler County Greentop, MO and graduated in 1962. She worked as a beautician and then as a dental assistant/office manager until retirement. She enjoyed playing golf, landscaping in her yard, her grandchildren and her two dogs, Maggie & Bailey. She enjoyed playing NFL football picks against her son and daughter-in-law. She was a diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan and watched them faithfully.

Colleen was a member of Hazel Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Greentop, MO. She attended using Zoom when she couldn’t attend in person.

Colleen was proceeded in death by her parents, her twin brother, and best friend and golfing buddy, Barbara Shumaker. She is survived by two sisters, Rose Ilene Aldridge (Larry), Queen City, MO and Anita Carole Jackson (Jody Bryson), Richards, MO; her son, Todd Klingaman (Paula), Hume, MO; two grandchildren, Heather Stone (Rocky), Nevada, MO and Johnathan Klingaman, Hume, MO; seven great-grandchildren, Kamrie Klingaman, Rocklyn Stone, Angel Stone, Mason Gilliland, Timothy Stone, Gabe Stone, and Marshall Westerhold; three nieces and nephews, DeNita Homer (R.D.), Queen City, MO, Eric Jackson (Lona), Winigan, MO and Michael Snyder (Becky), Kirksville, MO; an uncle, Richard Hill (Joyce), Unionville, MO; and several cousins.

Services are planned for Monday, July 31, 2023, in Kirksville, MO, at Travis-Noe Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Hazel Creek Primitive Baptist Church and can be made in care of Ferry Funeral Home. Local arrangements are under the direction of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, MO.

Bates County Coroner Activity Report for May and June, 2023:

Bates County Coroner Activity Report for May and June, 2023:

On the afternoon of May 3 we responded to a business on Walnut St. in Rich Hill. A 74 year-old gentleman had suffered a natural event. Investigation confirmed natural causes.

On May 5 just after midnight we responded to a skilled nursing facility in Butler. A 62 year-old female was found deceased with question a fall was involved. Investigation revealed natural causes with fall being non-contributory.

On the morning of May 6 we responded to a residence in Butler where a 63 year-old male was found deceased by family. Death is accidental in nature.

On the evening of May 6 jurisdiction was accepted for a death in Kansas City following a motor vehicle accident in Bates County. Investigation revealed decedent suffered a natural medical event preceding the crash.

On the evening of May 20 we responded to a residence near Amoret where a 69 year-old male was found deceased at home by family. Death is due to natural causes.

On the afternoon of May 28 we responded to the Bates County Memorial Hospital ER where a 43 year-old male was deceased following transport where he was found unresponsive. Investigation is complete with death due to natural causes.

Two reports of death in hospice/nursing care were reviewed for May.
In the late morning of June 2 we responded to a residence outside of Drexel, where a 68 year-old female was found deceased in her residence. Death is due to natural causes.

On June 11 just after noon we responded to a residence in Butler, where a 75 year-old female is found unresponsive by family. Death is of natural causes.

On the evening of June 16 we accepted jurisdiction for certification of a death at Bates County Memorial Hospital ER involving a 74 year-old female deceased of natural causes.

Seven reports of death in hospice/nursing care were reviewed for June.

As of the month ending 6/30/2023, the Coroner’s office is operating well under-budget at the halfway point in the year, with 62.78% of budget funds remaining.

Most respectfully,
Greg D. Mullinax
Bates County Coroner

Obituary - James G. Smith

James G. Smith, age 87, formerly of Clinton, Missouri passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at Meyer Care Center in Higginsville, Missouri. Memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, August 4, 2023 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton, Missouri with visitation from 1:00-2:00 PM prior to the service. 

A private family inurnment will be in the Park Grove Cemetery in Lowry City, Missouri. Memorial contributions can be made to the Clinton VFW Post 1894 or St Jude Children's Hospital and may be left in care of the funeral home.

James G. Smith was born on December 18, 1935 to Clarence Edward and Mae Victoria Smith in Deepwater, Missouri.

James was a member of the First Baptist Church of Deepwater, a life member of NRA, a member of IBEW Local 412, a life member of Naval Memorial Association, a member of the Pioneer Gun Club winning many awards.

James loved to hunt and fish, esp. deer with his son and grandsons. He worked at Sear’s on Truman Road and later retired from KCPL. James served and was an Officer at the Clinton Eagles Aerie, the Clinton VFW Post 1894 and American Legion. He loved to garden and share his bounty with neighbors and friends.

James is preceded in death by his parents, and his son James G. Smith Jr.

Survivors include his wife Carol Smith of the home, two daughters, Teresa Proyer of Warrensburg, Missouri, and Karen (Dean) Webber of Clinton, Missouri, two sisters, Katheryn Jones of Raymore, Missouri, and Joyce (Carl) Smith of Bullard, Texas, 4 grandchildren; Joseph (Hope) Terry, Benjamin Terry, Amanda (Matt) Tenholder, Lacie (Doug) James, 7 great grandchildren; Ryles Terry, Adrian Terry, Jude Terry, Alison Tenholder, Madysen Faulkenberry, Macey Tenholder, and Alexander James, along with a host of other family and friends.

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

Happening now: Search warrant at Harrisonville gas station

Happening now: Search warrant at Harrisonville gas station 

Deputies with the Cass County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance of the Harrisonville Police Department, are currently executing a search warrant at the Everyday (Conoco) gas station, located at the intersection of Commercial Street and Independence Street in Harrisonville. This post will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Obituary - Braxton Ray Newton

Braxton Ray Newton, Richards, MO, passed away at his home on Sunday, July 23, 2023. 

Braxton was born May 18, 2023, and is survived by his parents, Crystal Stone and Jordan Sorrells, of the home in Richards, MO; grandparents, Ron and Sharon Newton, Richards, MO; grandmother, Nikki Finch, Peoria, KS; great-grandmother, Linda Finch, Peoria, KS; and several aunts and uncles, including Scott and Loretta Payne, Nevada, MO. 

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Dave Leroy Stone and his great-grandfather, David Finch.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00a.m., Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at Ferry Funeral Home with Pastor Terry Mosher officiating.

Memorials are suggested to the family in c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

Update: Charges not filed in Cass County shooting

Update from the shooting in Cass County:

In reference to yesterday's Press Release covering the Shooting in Lake Annette:

On 07-24-23 Detectives with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office submitted the case for review by the Prosecuting Attorney's Office. 

After reviewing all the evidence, the person of interest was released with no charges being filed at this time.

*Original post below*

On 07-23-23, at approximately 7:38 pm, Deputies with the Cass County Sheriff's Office responded to the area of Lakeview Drive in rural Freeman after receiving reports of a shooting.

Cass County Deputies arrived on scene and located a white male subject laying in the roadway with another male party attempting life saving procedures.

The subject, identified as Edward Demoussett (65) from Freeman Missouri, was declared deceased upon the arrival of EMS.The Sheriff’s Office’s Crime Scene Response Team was activated to process the scene. 

A person of interest was taken into custody and transported to the Sheriff’s Office for further questioning. No additional information will be released at this time as the investigation is ongoing.

Obituary - Barry Bise

Barry Bise 70, of Butler, Missouri left this life on Sunday, July 23. 2023. Cremation, with a Celebration of Life scheduled for 12:00 pm Sunday, July 30, 2023 at the Bates County Elks Lodge in Butler. Everyone is invited to bring their favorite dish, stories, and welcome to wear camo. 

Arrangements entrusted to Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). Memorial contributions may be made to the Butler Fire Dept. or the Leffen Center for Autism. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

Barry Allan Bise was born on February 28, 1953 in Rich Hill, Missouri to Edward and Rosella Williams Bise. After high school Barry went to St. Louis to lab school. He later began his career with Bates County Memorial Hospital, working in the lab where he retired in 2015. He served is country in the US Marines for a time and then came home and back to work in the lab. For a while he even worked as an EMT.

In 1977 Barry met his soul mate Joyce Stoddard and they were married on July 2, 1977. Joyce had two daughters that Barry gladly became a father to, Shauna and Stacia. In 1983 a third little one, Nicole was born to Barry and Joyce.

Barry was a volunteer fireman, and was Captain on the Butler Fire Department for approximately 20 years. He later had to give this up because of bad health. When Barry wasn’t working or volunteering, he could often be found doing what he loved, fishing and deer hunting.

Barry is survived by his wife Joyce of 46 years, three daughters, Shauna Johnson (Bruce), Stacia Hoss, all of Butler, MO., and Nicole Woodworth (Kyle) of Stafford, VA., grandchildren Kasey Murray (Jesse), Kylie Reynolds (Kristian), all of Butler, MO., Logan Hoss (Krista) of Gladstone, MO., Lee’a Hoss and fiancé Nathan of Carl Junction, MO., Rylee, Rowan, and Cadence Woodworth of Virginia Beach, VA., along with five great-grandchildren.