Child sex crime reports lead to search warrant served today in Belton

On the morning of April 5th, 2024, officers with the Belton Police Department’s Special Response Team served a search warrant in the 17200 block of Chula Vista.

The warrant was issued as part of an ongoing investigation by the Belton Police Department Criminal Investigation Division based on information initially received by National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Internet Crimes Against Children. As a result of the search, two adult males and one adult female were taken into custody without incident.

After the Special Response Team secured the residence, Belton’s Criminal Investigations Unit, FBI Heart of America Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, South-Central Missouri Computer Crimes Task Force, Raymore Police Department, and Cass County Sheriff’s Department conducted a thorough search of the residence, outbuildings, and vehicles on the premises. After the search was completed, the residence was posted as condemned by the Belton Codes Department.

The Belton Police Department will not release the identities of those taken into custody until formal charges are filed. The department will provide further information as soon as circumstances permit.

Clinton man seriously injured in St. Clair County motorcycle crash

On Thursday night April 4th around 9:15 p.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol in St. Clair County along with St. Clair County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a motorcycle accident in the southbound lanes of Missouri Highway 13 around 2 miles north of Lowry City.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when the 2004 Harley Davidson Motorcycle driven by 59 year old David M. Onwiler of Clinton, Missouri traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned, ejecting the rider from the motorcycle.

Mr. Onwiler sustained serious injuries and he was transported by Life Flight Eagle to Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri for treatment.

View crash report below:

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP68/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=240164485

Butler Bears baseball team could not keep pace with the Harrisonville Wildcats on Thursday

The Butler Bears baseball team could not keep pace with the Harrisonville Wildcats 5-3 on Thursday. .

The Wildcats opened the scoring in the third after an error scored one run. Senior Maddox Fennewald began the game for the Bears. They surrendered 10 hits and four runs (three earned) over six and one-third innings, striking out six and walking four.

They allowed two hits and zero runs over five innings, striking out five and walking three. Junior Eli Cox and Sophomore Cohen Wilson each collected one hits for the Bears. Sophomore Brandon Hammett led the Bears with one run batted in.

Next up for the Butler Bears is a game at Warrensburg with the Tigers on Friday.

Lady bears softball team loses tough one tonight in El Dorado Springs

The Butler Bears fell to the El Dorado Springs Bulldogs 6-5 on Thursday on the final play of the game. The game was tied at five in the bottom of the seventh when R Eiskina doubled, scoring one run.

The Bears lost despite out-hitting the Bulldogs 11 to 10. Senior Cloey Fritts led the Bears with three hits. A double by L Taylor after a 6-pitch at-bat put El Dorado Springs on the board in the bottom of the first.

The Bulldogs added one run in the second after T Stewart doubled. A singled by Senior Miranda Foster gave the Bears the lead, 3-2, in the top of the fourth. C Thompson singled, which helped the Bulldogs tie the game at three in the bottom of the fourth. A solo home run to right field by Fritts gave the Butler Bears the lead, 4-3, in the top of the fifth.

The El Dorado Springs Bulldogs captured the lead, 6-5, in the bottom of the seventh when S McCullough homered to center field, scoring two runs, and Eiskina doubled, scoring one run.

Freshman Kylee Dubray began the game for the Bears. They gave up 10 hits and 6 runs over six and two-thirds innings, striking out nine and walking six. L Perrodin led things off in the circle for the Bulldogs. The starting pitcher allowed 11 hits and five runs over seven innings, striking out six and walking two.

The Bears collected 11 hits in the game. Fritts and Foster each drove in two runs for the Bears. Dubray and Senior Haven Humphrey each collected multiple hits for the Butler Bears. Freshman Gabbie Carmichael stole two bases. The Bears ran wild on the base paths, amassing five stolen bases for the game.

El Dorado Springs tallied 10 hits in the game. McCullough went 1-for-3 at the play as the infielder led the team with two runs batted in. Eiskina led the Bulldogs with three hits and four at bats. Steward and Taylor each collected multiple hits for the Bulldogs. The Eldorado Springs Bulldogs had patience at the plate, tallying six walks for the game. The Bulldogs were sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. M Fast had the most chances in the field with seven.

The Butler Bears play the Lamar Lady Tigers on Friday for their next game.

Fennewald breaks school record for most wins as a pitcher

We would like to congratulate Butler High School Senior baseball pitcher Maddox Fennewald for breaking the career win school record in baseball. He currently sits at 20 wins in his high school career.

Photo courtesy of Carmen Behringer 

Obituary - Tara Heather Jackson

Tara Heather Jackson, age 53, Nevada, MO, Tara went to her final resting place at her home on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Tara was battling Stage 3C Ovarian Cancer that she was diagnosed with on August 10th, 2023. Tara was born October 12, 1970, in Marshall, MO to James W. Jackson and Marie A. (Criswell) Jackson.

Throughout Tara’s life, she enjoyed spending time with her family the most, scrapbooking, quilting, painting, watching her kids play sports. She also enjoyed watching and playing with her grandkids, and was very active in 4-H and Girl Scouts. Tara was also a Christian and attended LifeWalk Church where she served on the Welcome Team. Tara worked for US Bank Home Mortgage where she recently received her 12-year pin. Tara had four beautiful children that she was the most proud of, one son and three daughters, as well as two grandchildren.

Tara is survived by her four children; Tanner, Taryn (Brice), Taityn, and Teagan, all of Nevada, MO; and two grandchildren, Aubree Charles and Boston Leonard.

Tara is also survived by her parents, Marie Criswell Jackson, and Jim (Parilee) Jackson; a sister, Shala (Steven) Smith; and her brother, Jared (Jeremi) Jackson; two nephews, five nieces and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was proceeded in death by her grandparents.

A Celebration of Life will be held at LifeWalk Church in Nevada on Monday, April 8th, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

Memorials may be made to a scholarship fund for Tara’s grandchildren c/o Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

Friday morning low temperatures

Frost Advisory and freeze warning has been issued for tonight. Protect any sensitive vegetation you may have.

Butler bears baseball comes up short against the Nevada tigers

The Butler Bears baseball team lost this afternoon at the Smith-Cotton Tournament to the Nevada Tigers 8-4 on Thursday. The Bears got on the board in the first inning after an error scored one run.

Drake Ketterman homered to right field, which helped the Tigers tie the game at one in the bottom of the first. 

In the top of the second, the Butler Bears broke up the tie when Sophomore Jake Chandler singled, scoring two runs. Then a fielder’s choice by Maddox Fennewald followed to extend the lead 4-1.

The Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the fifth thanks to an error, and a single by Blake Woods. 

Nevada captured the lead, 8-4, in the bottom of the sixth when Woods singled, scoring one run, Senior Riddick Shook drew a walk, scoring one run, and Ketterman singled, scoring two runs.

Freshman Trey Green opened the game for the Bears. They allowed six hits and three hits over four innings, striking out none and walking five. Chandler took the loss for the Bears.

The right-handed pitcher went two-thirds of an inning, surrendering four runs on two hits, striking out none and walking three. Shook led things off on the hill for the Tigers. They allowed one hit and two runs over one inning, striking out one and walking one.

Jake Chandler led the Bears with two runs batted in. The right-handed hitter went 2-for-4 on the day. Chandler and Sophomore Brock Lines each collected two hits for the Butler Bears. The Bears turned one double play in the game.

The Tigers amassed 11 hits in the game. Leadoff hitter Ketterman led the Tigers with three hits in four at bats. Hunter Seaver, Kellen Ast, and Woods each collected multiple hits for the Nevada Tigers. Shook led the Tigers with three walks. Overall, the team had strong eyes at the plate, piling up 10 walks for the game.

Butler has a double header today as they will play the Harrisonville wildcats. We will have a run down of that game later this evening.