Amended complaint against Butler School filed in Federal Court

New information obtained from Justia.com indicates that an amended complaint has been filed in the US District Court of Western Missouri by Plaintiff Kiley Foster via attorneys Jonathan M. Soper, Daniel A. Thomas and Joleene Victoria Simmons. 

The 39 page complaint (case number 4:23-cv-00947-BP filed March 5, 2024) indicates the Plaintiff alleges that all parties listed below were "indifferent and/or consciously disregarded" her safety as "Defendant Reece forced the plaintiff to have a sexual relationship with him while she was a minor, starting in 2018 and continuing until the Summer of 2021". It goes on to say that "This happened multiple times, including but not limited to, on Butler R-V High School property, on FFA trips, at Defendant Reece's residences, and at school sponsored events". 

The document closes with "Plaintiff prays for judgement against all Defendants, and for punitive damages in such an amount as will serve to punish and deter the defendant, and other similarly situated, from engaging in like conduct" and a trial by jury has been requested.

Defendants (positions listed during time of allegations) who will be served in the case are as follows:

1. Darin Carter - Superintendent Butler School District

2. Brad Stevens - Butler R-V School Board

3. Rob Clover - Butler R-V School Board

4. Jarret Wheatley - Butler R-V School Board

5. Stacy McCrary - Butler R-V School Board

6. Anissa Harris - Butler R-V School Board

7. Marty Whitworth - Butler R-V School Board

8. Dave Randalls - Butler R-V School Board

9. Doug Lawrence - Butler R-V School Board

10. Marci Beckley - High School Principal

11. Greg Webb - High School Principal

12. Charles Reece - Agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor

13. Stacey Lawson - District Title IX Coordinator

14. Future Farmers of America (FFA)

Two previous cases brought by Foster against Reece individually are now disposed and as follows:

On August 18, 2023 in Cass county Mo, Defendant Charles Reece pled guilty to four (4) counts of Statutory Rape in the Second Degree and two (2) counts Sexual Contact with at Student to which he served a 120 callback with five (5) years supervised probation. On January 4th, 2024 in Henry county Mo, Defendant Charles Reece pled guilty to one (1) count of Sexual Contact with a student 16 years of age, and two (2) counts of sexual contact with a student.

During sentencing in 2023 Reece's attorney Scott Friedrich contended "the relationship was consensual and continued well after the Plaintiff graduated from high school" and did not warrant a full sentence under any circumstances.

Mid America Live will continue to provide updates regarding this case as they become available.

Important notice from Bates County Memorial Hospital

Recent reports about a company called Change Healthcare in the national media involving a cybersecurity event does not directly impact Bates County Memorial Hospital but does involve claim submissions to all Healthcare and Pharmacies nationwide, which affects us indirectly by holding up our claim submissions. It interrupts the information flow.

All BCMH systems are secure and functional. We were not breached. It does slow down claims and slows sending some prescriptions by electronic means to pharmacies.

We apologize for any delays or inconvenience caused by the slowdown. Change Healthcare (owned by UnitedHealth Group) is working around the clock on this issue.

Amsterdam man arrested for setting grass fires

On 3/2/2024 deputies received a call about a brush fire in the Amsterdam area. Deputies were advised by a property owner of a brush fire that had been set on his property. The property owner advised that the fire was not set by him. The fire was eventually put out. 

Several hours later, deputies were advised that the fire had started back up and the subject that was believed to have started the fire was seen leaving the property. 

A witness came forward and identified a male subject starting a fire along the ditch on the roadway. Deputies were advised that the subject that was setting the fires was located at a gas station in the Amsterdam area. Deputies made contact with male subject, identified as Joshua R Gregory of Amsterdam Missouri.

After the fire was put out deputies noted that there was damage to private property. A vinyl fence located along the roadway damaged caused by the fire.

Deputies arrested and charged Joshua R Gregory with knowingly burning with property damage. Gregory is being held in the Bates County Jail on a $10,000 cash only bond.

This situation could have been much worst than it was due to the wind. Thanks to the fast action of the fire department the situation was handled quickly.

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 - Pamela Jean Groblebe

Pamela Jean Groblebe 66, of Harrisonville, MO passed away March 3rd, 2024 surrounded with love by her family after a very short battle with colon/liver cancer.

Pam was born October 1st, 1957 in Lexington, MO. Pam attended Ruskin High School and was active in drama club, school plays, graduating in 1975 . In 1976 she attended and graduated from Jones Store School of Cosmetology. Pam was a member of International Order of Rainbow for Girls and International Order of Eastern Star. Pam retired from RZ Motors in 2001.

Pam enjoyed watching the KC Chiefs, NASCAR, traveling, cooking, eating good food and spending time cheering on her grandkids during sports games and rodeos.

Pam was proceeded in death by her parents; Conrad & Marilyn Pitz, brother-in-law Jim Lewis and sister-in-law Suzanne Pitz.

Pam is survived by daughter; Connie Kudron (Corby), son; Bryan Groblebe (Abby), brothers; Conrad Pitz and Mickey Munoz, sisters; Cindy Pritchett, Lisa Lewis, Robin Ressel (Dany),
Robin Drake (Jeff), Gretchen Higdon (Kevin).

The grandkids who kept her going; Bailey Bush (McKahan), Tyler Kudron (Jillian), Hannah Kudron, Sam Kudron, Kolten Groblebe, Gage Wozencraft, London Brewer, Piper Groblebe; Great Grand-kids; Tinley Bush and a Bush baby on the way.

Pam is loved deeply by numerous friends, nieces, nephews.
Pam was honored to be an adopted Nan to Rylee Prindle, Keigan Rowe and Kyah Rowe. Memorial Donations can be made to St. Judes Childhood Cancer Fund.

Cremation with a Celebration of Life Visitation will be held 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, March 8, 2024 at Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri.

Body found in Barton County Landfill

Authorities in southwest Missouri have confirmed the discovery of a Springfield man’s body in a landfill.

The Barton County Sheriff’s Office, alongside the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), announced that 47-year-old Manuel Gomez’s body was found at the Republic Services Prairie View Regional Waste Landfill in Lamar on Friday afternoon.

Officials believe Gomez’s body was transported to the landfill aboard one of the trash collection vehicles, with the initial report being made around noon. 

The MSHP has since taken the lead in the investigation, stating that the cause of death remains undetermined at this time.

Obituary - Richard "Rick" Lee Maples

Richard “Rick” Lee Maples, age 68, of Belton, Missouri passed away on March 1, 2024, at Belton Regional Medical Center.

A celebration of his life will be held 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at the First Student Bus Lot 19620 Harrelson Dr., Belton, Missouri 64012.

Rick was born in Inglewood, California on November 28, 1955, the son of William J. Maples and Dorothy D. Moore. Shortly after high school Rick served his country in the United States Air Force. He met the love of his life Jackie and later were married on December 1, 1995. Together they were blessed with two sons, Micheal and Matthew. In life he worked for the Jackson County sheriff’s dept as a dispatcher, later he drove a truck for his uncle's business, after that he went into security, where Rick and Jackie met, after they got married Rick became truck driver. From there Rick began driving a school bus for the Ray-Pec school district.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Inc., Raymore, Missouri 64083

Obituary - Raymond Lee Green

Raymond Lee Green, age 94 years, formerly of Deepwater, Missouri passed away at his home in Macks Creek, Missouri on March 3, 2024. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton, Missouri. 

The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 PM prior to the service. Burial with military honors to follow at Englewood Cemetery in Clinton. Memorial contributions can be made to Lake Regional Hospice and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Raymond Lee Green was born on July 24, 1929, in Deepwater, Missouri to Le Oliver and Hazel (Lumus) Green. In 1951 he married Ruth Bell Sizemore and together they were blessed with three children, Brenda, Diana, and Doug. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Deepwater, Missouri since March 18, 1990. He attended Freewill Baptist in Tunas, Missouri. He worked for K.W. Dart where he retired after 30 years as a forklift operator.

Raymond loved to camp and fish in his younger days. He enjoyed eating lunch at Macks Creek Senior Center and loved breaking beans on his front porch in the summer.

He is preceded in death by his wife Ruth Bell Green, his parents, his daughter Brenda Hughes, and siblings Richard and Betty.

Survivors include his two children Diana Willis and husband Rusty of Macks Creek, MO, Doug Green and wife Melinda of Bentonville, AR., his son-in-law Ed Hughes, several grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, along with several other family and friends.

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

Obituary - Janice Dale Huston

Jancie Dale Huston, 68, Nevada, MO passed away on Friday, March 1, 2024. Janice was born November 22, 1955 in Leavenworth, KS to Ray W. and Janine H. (Aguttes) Blanz. She was united in marriage to Mark Huston on October 15, 1982 in Olathe, KS and he survives of the home.

Janice grew up in Bonner Springs and graduated from Bonner Springs High School in 1973. She was a factory worker most of her life and for a number of years she worked in the Kansas City area as a clothing maker, making hats and jeans, then later for a company that manufactured medical supplies. Janice moved to Vernon County near Sandstone in 1998. She worked at 3M in Nevada for several years.

In addition to her husband Mark, Janice is survived by two daughters: Sandy Armstrong (Chris), Nevada, MO, and Cindy Smith (Travis), Nevada, MO; four grandchildren, Tyler Armstrong, Nevada, Logan Armstrong, Nevada, Zach Smith, Nevada, MO, Kaylee Smith, Nevada, MO; two brothers, Rory Blanz, Joplin, MO, and Jack Blanz, Bonner Springs, KS; one nephew and one niece also survive. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her father-in-law, Norman Huston.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2024 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

The family will receive friends from 1-2:00 prior to the service at the funeral home.