Thank you!

The Bates County Health Center would like to thank the following for all their help and donations to the Backpack and school supply give away:

The Carpenters Cup

Fran Haney

First Presbyterian Church

Community of Christ Church

Saint Matthew Lutheran Church

Ohio Street Church

Butler Elks

Adrian United Methodist Church

Lillian Colburn-Healthy Blue

On My Own

Compass

Butler Church of Nazarene

Hume Alliance Ministry Food Pantry

We need your help!

We need your help!

Sometime between Monday (08-05) night and Tuesday morning, one or more people decided to graffiti the Harrisonville Square and cause damage to multiple buildings and businesses. 

Below are some pictures of the graffiti. We have blurred parts of 2 of the pictures to remove explicit language and drawings.

If you have any information about this incident, please contact Officer Pruitt at 816-380-8940. Thank you for your help!

Obituary - John Johnson

John Elton Johnson, 70, Nevada, MO passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at his home in rural Nevada. John was born on November 10, 1953, in Nevada, MO, to John S and Neoma (Stewart) Johnson.

John was a Boy Scout and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Ruskin High School in the Class of 1972. John was licensed as a Master Electrician, working many years as an industrial electrician. He was a member of the Eagles Lodge and loved being Santa Claus at the Eagles Christmas events. He coached Little League Baseball in Bronaugh, participated on bowling leagues, enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping and hanging out with his friends.

John is survived by four children, Elton (Tracy) Johnson, Kansas City, MO, Matt (Wendy) Johnson, El Dorado Springs, MO, Elizabeth (Leland) Johnson, Sheldon, MO, Edward Johnson, Nevada, MO; stepdaughter, Monica (Jim) Titmus, Paola, KS; nephews, Danny Anders and Terry (Christine) Anders, both of Kansas City, MO, Michael (Samantha) Davis, Sr, Nevada, MO; companion, Deanne Brown; former spouse, Margaret Clifton, Sheldon, MO; fourteen grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Neoma Johnson; sisters Judy Anders and Jewell Davis; and a niece, Tina Anders.

Memorial services will be at 11:00a.m. on Friday, August 16, 2024, at Ferry Funeral Home with Dr. Jerod Lamb officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00a.m., prior to the service.

Clinton Sex Offender Sentenced to 25 Years In Federal Prison

A Clinton, Mo., man who is a registered sex offender has been sentenced in federal court for receiving child pornography over the internet.

Roger Lee Kempke, 58, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Wednesday, July 31, to 25 years and five months in federal prison without parole. 

The court sentenced Kempke to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration and ordered him to pay $81,000 in restitution to his victims.

Kempke, who has a prior conviction for sexually assaulting a minor, pleaded guilty on Nov. 6, 2023, to one count of receiving child pornography.

Kempke admitted that he uploaded an image of child pornography to Microsoft’s Bing Image search on March 16, 2022. A Cyber Tip was issued to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which contacted the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

On June 7, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Kempke’s residence, which was within 1,000 feet of three different elementary and high schools. Officers seized three desktop computers and numerous USB thumb drives. Investigators found 5,521 images and nine videos of child sexual abuse material on Kempke’s electronic devices.

A forensic examination of one of the hard drives in Kempke’s desktop computers found that, on three separate occasions in November 2021, Kempke downloaded hundreds of files of child pornography. He saved these images to a USB storage device that was connected to his computer. One of the USB drives contained thousands of images of child pornography, including images of children under the age of 10 and infants.

Officers also found 16 marijuana plants in Kempke’s residence, along with other equipment consistent with growing, harvesting, and consuming marijuana.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Obituary - Joshua David Bittle

Joshua David Bittle, age 32, Hume, Missouri passed away August 5, 2024 along with his mother Mary Ann Bittle. He was born on April 26, 1992 in Nevada, Missouri the son of Gary and Mary Bush Bittle. He was an avid gamer. He was preceded in death by his brother Matthew. 

Joshua is survived by his father Gary Bittle, an uncle, Gerald Bittle, two aunts, Sharon Coberley and Maria Mock, extended family and friends.

A gathering to celebrate the life of Joshua and Mary Ann will be held 3 pm Saturday, August 10, 2024 at Gary's home in rural Prescott, Kansas. Please bring a side dish and lawn chairs. Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of choice. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

  

Obituary - Mary Ann Bittle

Mary Ann Bittle, age 58, Hume, Missouri passed away on August 5, 2024 along with her son Joshua. She was born on February 23, 1966 in Jackson County, Missouri the daughter of Wallace and Lucille Hicks Bush. She worked as a semi trailer mechanic. 

She was united in marriage to Gary Bittle on May 20, 1982. He survives. The marriage ended over forty years later. She enjoyed crocheting, DIY, and collecting owls. She was preceded her son Matthew.

A gathering to celebrate the life of Joshua and Mary Ann will be held 3 pm Saturday, August 10, 2024 at Gary's home in rural Prescott, Kansas. Please bring a side dish and lawn chairs. 

Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of choice. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

Stockton man charged with Domestic Assault And Unlawful Use Of A Weapon

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control announces the arrest of Jason L. Johnson, 49, of Stockton, Missouri. 

Johnson was formally charged on August 8, 2024, with one count of third degree domestic assault, one count of unlawful use of weapon, one count of first degree harassment, and one count of armed criminal action. 

These charges are the result of an investigation by the Troop D Criminal Investigations Unit of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control.

On June 23, 2024, Cedar County Sheriff James McCrary requested the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control investigate an alleged assault involving Johnson. 

The St. Clair County Prosecuting Attorney was appointed as the special prosecutor in the case. On August 7, 2024, after reviewing the Patrol’s investigation, a Cedar County warrant was issued for Johnson’s arrest. On August 8, 2024, Johnson turned himself into the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, where he posted a $5000.00 bond.

The above charges are a mere accusation and is 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.

Obituary - Zechariah Taylor Wood Kellerman

Zechariah Taylor Wood Kellerman, age 31, of Centerville, Kansas passed away Tuesday, August 6, 2024. He was born on January 14, 1993 in Bellingham, Washington the son of Janet Sue Brownback. He graduated from Jayhawk Linn High School. He then attended Pratt Community College receiving an Associate of Arts in Applied Science as well as a Lineman's Certificate. 

He was united in marriage to Alisha Brown. A son, Flint Matthew Kellerman, was born to this union. His favorite pastime was spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed riding horses, Chiefs and Kansas State football, and smoking meat.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, a nephew, Marion Brownback, and a nephew Truitt Kellerman. Taylor is survived by his son, Flint Matthew Kellerman, and Flint's mother, Alisha, his mother, Janet Brownback Kellerman and Tom Kemper, four siblings, Matthew Kellerman(Bailee), Abby Kellerman(Coleson Wiggin), Garrett James(Kelsey), and Sara Ellis(Preston), maternal grandmother, Carlene Brownback, paternal grandparents, George and Donna Kellerman, nine nieces and nephews, Nolan, Emberlee, Lucas, Emma, Axel, Gage, Gannon and Krew, other extended family and friends.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Mound City Chapel.