St. Clair County Sheriff's Office K-9 Kormi retiring

K9 Kormi is hanging up his badge and retiring from service on Friday July 12th. Kormi was imported to the United States from Hungary as a puppy and was trained in Little Rock Arkansas before coming to work in St. Clair County. 

Kormi has been in service with St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office since 2016. Kormi is trained for detecting drugs, articles and tracking people. Kormi has been a part of this agency and the community for several years and will be missed. 

During Kormi’s career he detected illegal drugs on numerous occasions, leading to the arrest of several people. Kormi will continue to live with his handler, while enjoying the remainder of his years as a normal dog. 

Thank you to the citizens of St. Clair County for their support of the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office and its K9 program.

Henry County Fair Demolition Derby set for July 27th

Henry County Fair Demolition Derby -- July 27, 2024 -- 7pm

Tickets: Adults -- $15
Children ages 5-10 -- $5
Ages 4 and under -- FREE

Obituary - ElDean Wachs

ElDean Wachs, age 87, of Clinton, Missouri passed away on Monday, July 8, 2024 at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton, Missouri. Memorial service will be Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 11 AM at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton Missouri. 

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 AM prior to the service also at the church. Inurnment will follow in the Vansant Road Cemetery in Clinton, Missouri. Memorial contributions can be made to ElDean‘s Family Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Funeral Home.

ElDean Arthur Wachs, son of Arthur Eric and Emma (Obering) Wachs was born April 14, 1937, in Kensington, Kansas. ElDean was married to Alta Mae Wachs. ElDean was a member at Trinity Lutheran Church of Clinton and loved being in the choir. He worked for many years at Walmart in automotive as a manager, retired from Walmart and then worked for Wilder RV. ElDean and Alta loved camping and had a lot of camping friends. ElDean was a member of the Elks Lodge # 1034 of Clinton.

Survivors include two sons, Curtis Wachs and wife Becky, Hays,Kansas, Steve Wachs, Clinton; five grandchildren, Bryce Wachs and wife Traci, Larned, Kansas, Tyler Wachs and wife Yvette, Salina, Kansas, Heather Wachs, Salina, Kansas, Brooks Wachs, Colby, Kansas, Kaysie Young and husband Dylan, Lone Jack, Missouri; six great-grandchildren Camryn Wachs, Cassidy Wachs, Anna Marie Wachs, Kodi Burkeen, Kaidan Wachs, Tegan Sauer, Rosemary Young, as well as other relatives and friends.

ElDean was preceded in death by his wife Alta Wachs, son Ricky Wachs, his parents, sister Ardyce Wiehl, brother Larry Joe Wachs, sister in law Darlene Kearns and brother in law Mike Wiehl.

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

Obituary - Helen Lorene Bryson

Our beloved mother, Helen Lorene Bryson entered into God’s Kingdom on July 3rd, 2024. She was 78 and surrounded by loving family members when she passed.

Helen was born to Mildred and James Watson on November 16th, 1945. She grew up in Kansas City, Mo and was one of six children. In 1975, Helen married Robert Bryson, a match truly made in heaven. Helen & Robert went on to raise 4 children, Germaine Andujar Jr.-deceased, Anna Long, Ricky Bryson, and Candy McWhirt.

In 1983 they moved to the small town of Drexel MO where they resided for 30 years before moving to Arizona to enjoy the scenic views. Helen’s passion in life was her family; and she was a fiercely dedicated mom to all of her children. She enjoyed listening to Reba McEntire, cooking, and making baby blankets for all the little ones who blessed her family. Helen’s life exemplified a love for others with compassion and open arms.

Helen was preceded by 3 brothers, 2 sisters, a son, 3 grandchildren, and a great grandchild. She is survived by many loving family members, 3 children, 10 grandchildren, 2O great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Helen will be remembered for her nurturing spirit, unwavering support, and boundless love which will forever live on in the hearts of her family and friends.

Now that Helen has passed into the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ; we should remind ourselves that while this is the end of Helen’s physical life on Earth, it’s the beginning of an eternal and beautiful journey for her. We are so thankful to have had her presence in each of our lives and take comfort in knowing she is in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father.

There will be a celebration of life scheduled at a later date.

Obituary - DeOnidus Hendrick

Deonidus (Don) Hendrick, age 94, of Peculiar, Missouri died July 6, 2024 at his home. He was born March 31, 1930 to Brooksie and Anna Marie Hendrick just outside of Urich, Missouri.

Don graduated from Ballard High School, Ballard, Missouri, in 1949. On September 1, 1950, he enlisted into the United States Air Force. After completing basic training in Texas, he was stationed in New York, Maine and California before spending two years in Alaska. He loved his time in Alaska where he operated heavy equipment. After Alaska he was transferred to Crestview, Florida. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sargeant in September 1954.

On March 29, 1953, Don was granted a leave from the service to marry the love of his life, Valda Ferne Murray of Ballard, Missouri. To this union two children were born: Jimme D. Hendrick and Teresa F. (Hendrick) Loehr-Sebert. They lived in Morse, Kansas, for six years before moving to Peculiar, Missouri, where he built their forever home and raised their family.

Don was hard working and dedicated. He worked for General Motors at the Delco-Remy Battery Plant in Olathe, Kansas for 32 years. He made numerous lifelong friends while working there. After retirement he enjoyed attending the GM UAW gatherings and attended one as recent as last month. He loved being out on the farm helping his son, attending Saturday farm sales, raising his cattle, and mowing his yard on his Bad Boy mower, which he did just last month. He enjoyed refurbishing antique John Deere tractors and Wheel Horse mowers.

Faith, family and friends were all very important to Don. He accepted Christ at a young age and belonged to the First Baptist Church of Peculiar. He enjoyed the numerous family gatherings for birthdays and holidays. He loved attending and supporting his children’s, grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s school, church and sport activities including football games, band and choir concerts, dance recitals, baseball and softball games, bible drill competitions to name a few. Don made friends wherever he was and enjoyed the camaraderie at the coffee shop while having early morning coffee.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Bill Hendrick and Scottie Hendrick; his sisters-in-law, Ginny Hendrick and Linda Hendrick; his sisters, Iris Schuster and Etta Sue Fairman; his brothers-in-law, Eldo Schuster and Melvin Fairman; his son-in-law, Mike Loehr; his granddaughter, Darcy Hendrick; his grandson, Max Sebert.

He is survived by his wife, Ferne, of 71 years; his son, Jimmie Hendrick of Ballard, Missouri; his daughter Teresa Loehr-Sebert and husband Kit of Peculiar, Missouri; his grandsons, Josh Loehr and wife Kristi of Odessa, Missouri, Garrett Sebert and fiancé Laramie of Springfield, Missouri; his granddaughters, Missy Rimel and husband Scott of Peculiar, Missouri, Kaitlin Jackson and Dustin of Urich, Missouri; his great grandsons, Easton Jackson and Kenny Rimel; his great granddaughters, Teagan Loehr, Jordyn Loehr, Emersyn Loehr, Michaela Karl, Zoe Bennett and husband Logan; first cousins, Lee Meyer and wife Joyce of Independence, Missouri, and Gerald Meyer and wife Chris of Independence, Missouri. There are many nieces and nephews, neighbors, good friends from Ballard, Peculiar and Delco that Don treasured having in his life.

Don will truly be missed by all and will live in our hearts forever.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, August 3, 2024 at First Baptist Church of Peculiar 216 E Broadway St., Peculiar, Missouri 64078. Visitation from 1-2:00 p.m. followed by the service at 2:00 p.m. The inurnment will be held at 4:00 p.m. at the Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian, Missouri with military honors.

Donations may be made to Ascend Hospice 783 NE Anderson Ln, Lee's Summit, MO 64064 or First Baptist Church of Peculiar 216 E Broadway St, Peculiar, MO 64078.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Inc., Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278

81st annual Hume Fair & Rodeo

 

Obituary - Tracy R. Witherspoon

Tracy R. Witherspoon, age 47, passed away on Sunday, July 7, 2024. A Celebration of Life will be held at 4:00 PM on Thursday, July 11, 2024 in the Conference Room at the Parkfield Inn in Clinton, Missouri. Fond memories and condolences can be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

Tracy Rashell Witherspoon was born on June 28, 1977 in Clinton, Oklahoma.

She is survived by her parents Dennis (Liz) Witherspoon, and Deloris Grindstaff, her grandmother Lucille Stewart, two children; Steven Michael Brown, and Anna Jolie Marts, her siblings; Dennis Ray (Denny) Witherspoon, Robert Lee (Bobby) Witherspoon and wife Calli Marie Witherspoon, Rodney Scott Witherspoon, Tammie Renea Schneiders and husband Christopher Scott Schneiders, Kendra Dawn Carpenter and Kerwin Michael Carpenter, along with 16 very loved nieces and nephews.

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

Clinton man arrested for possession of child pornography

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control announces the arrest of Aaron M. Mays, 40, of Clinton, Missouri. 

Mays was arrested on July 10, 2024, for possession of child pornography, following an investigation by the Special Victims Unit of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control. The Clinton (Missouri) Police Department, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations, Kansas City, assisted in the investigation.

In November of 2023, investigators were notified that digital files of suspected child pornography had been uploaded by a social media account, later found to be associated with Aaron M. Mays, of Clinton, Missouri. On July 10, 2024, investigators contacted Mays and during a consensual search of his cellular telephone, located digital files suspected of being child pornography. 

Mr. Mays was arrested and transported to the Henry County Jail, where he was held, pending the filing of formal charges. On July 11, 2024, the Henry County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Mays with three (3) counts of possession of child pornography. Mays is currently being held in the Henry County Jail, with a $1,000,000.00 cash only bond.

The above charges are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

The Division of Drug and Crime Control encourages internet users to promptly report to the Patrol or local law enforcement anyone who attempts to engage in unwanted, inappropriate, or sexualized communications with children.