BCSO arrests DWI suspect, makes cocaine bust

On May 5, 2025, A Bates County Sheriff's Office Deputy was in the area of Fran Avenue and Ft. Scott Street in Butler. The Deputy observed a truck turn south onto Fran Avenue from Ft Scott Street and travel southbound in the northbound lane. The truck had to take evasive action to avoid striking the marked patrol vehicle in the north bound lane of Fran Ave. The Deputy activated his lights and pulled the vehicle over in the Days Inn parking lot. The driver of the vehicle exited the truck and began to run around the building. The driver ran to a table with other individuals that were playing a card game as the Deputy caught up to the driver. The driver was taken into custody at that time.

During an inventory search of the vehicle the deputies located multiple open containers of alcohol, two rolled up dollar bill with a white powdery substance in the end that field tested positive for cocaine.

The driver, identified as Mauricio C Caal was transported to the jail where it was determined that his blood alcohol level was almost two times the legal limit.

Mauricio was charged with Possession of a Controlled substance. DWI, and Resisting Arrest. His bond was set at $8500.00. Immigration and Custom has placed a detainer on Caal and he is still in custody.

Bates County Sheriff's Office update regarding Ballard school burglary

On March 16, 2025 the Bates County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a burglary at the Ballard School in Ballard Missouri. From security footage of the incident it appeared to have been a single person committing the burglary. The Sheriff’s Office made a social media post about the burglary in our rural community and a short time later was contacted by a Sheriff’s Office in Southern Iowa. The Detective informed our investigator that they had been working a joint investigation into school burglaries in Northern Missouri and Southern Iowa. The Subject was identified as Curtis Lee Barton age 40 of Jacksonville and Sherwood, Arkansas. Digital evidence collected through this case has tied Barton to the Ballard School burglary. The Bates County Sheriff’s Office has enjoined the investigation and will work with the Federal Agencies who are working to charge this subject in Federal Court.

Barton has a lengthy criminal history for rural school burglaries and is known for researching rural schools, the area around, security systems in place and response times for the area law enforcement.

Wapello County Leads Multi-State Investigation, Arrest Made in Widespread School Burglary Case

Ottumwa, Iowa — A months-long, multi-state investigation led by the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in the arrest of a suspect believed responsible for burglarizing at least sixteen school districts across Iowa and Missouri. The operation highlights the power of proactive investigative work, interagency collaboration, and strategic use of technology.

The case began on February 2, 2025, when the Cardinal Community School District in Wapello County reported break-ins at its Elementary, Middle, and High School buildings. The burglar caused extensive property damage and stole over $4,000 in cash. Despite early efforts, initial leads were scarce.

Rather than allowing the case to go cold, Wapello County investigators escalated their approach. Investigators applied for and executed advanced technical search warrants not typically used in standard property crime cases. Working closely with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Intelligence & Fusion Center, Wapello County began analyzing key digital evidence that would ultimately crack the case wide open.

As the investigation progressed, reports of similar burglaries at schools across Missouri and southwest Iowa began to surface. Recognizing the broader pattern, Wapello County investigators took the lead in coordinating with multiple jurisdictions to pool data and track the suspect's movements. Their analysis led to the development of a detailed suspect profile, which pointed to an individual living in Jacksonville, Arkansas.

While conducting a thorough background investigation of the suspect it was discovered that he is currently on parole stemming from a previous conviction for burglarizing numerous schools and small businesses across central Missouri in 2018.

Wapello County investigators prepared search warrant applications for the suspect’s known residences in Jacksonville and Sherwood, Arkansas, and worked with the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division to secure search warrants through the Arkansas courts. On Tuesday, April 29, a joint operation involving Wapello County Deputies, Arkansas State Police, and the Lewis County (MO) Sheriff’s Office executed the warrants.

The suspect, identified as Curtis Lee Barton age 40, was taken into custody without incident. Evidence recovered at the scene directly links Barton to the burglaries. He is currently being held at the South Pulaski County Jail in Little Rock, Arkansas, on a $100,000 cash-only bond, pending extradition and further legal proceedings.

To date, Barton is suspected in the burglary of approximately 14 school districts in Missouri and 2 in Iowa, including Cardinal Community Schools. Multiple Additional burglaries involving small businesses are also being reviewed in connection to this case and our office is providing pertinent information to the agencies investigating cases within their jurisdiction.

The investigation remains active, and additional charges are expected as both local and federal law enforcement continues to review new reports connected to the case. Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office.

Missouri Municipal League Announces Butler as Innovation Award Winner two years in a row

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Municipal League is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 MML Innovation Awards. These awards honor outstanding projects happening in communities across Missouri that enhance the quality of life for Missouri cities.

The projects illustrate the creativity of Missouri’s local officials and municipal employees as they serve their communities and keep Missouri cities vibrant.

Cities across the state also celebrate Missouri Local Government Week this week (May 4-10). It is the perfect time to highlight the MML Innovation Award winners, as these projects demonstrate the dedication of those serving in local government. They also emphasize the valuable partnerships city officials develop with other cities, nonprofit organizations, businesses and citizens.

Awards are based on city population size. This year, MML received 18 submissions from municipalities statewide, demonstrating creativity and ingenuity within local government.

Learn more about Local Government Week at www.mocities.com and find more information regarding the MML Innovation Awards at www.mocities.com/InnovationAwards.

This year’s winners are:

City of Butler (Small City, with population under 5,000)
Mock City Council

Last March the city of Butler and the Butler High School Student Council joined forces and held a Mock City Council meeting. The objective was to teach students involved in high school student government about local city government and build a bridge with the city council and younger citizens in the community. The high school students were given several different scenarios about current topics that the city council is facing. The students were assigned roles from the Mayor, council members, police chief, fire chief, public works, city clerk, and city administrator. They met with the actual people who hold those roles on staff and discussed the situations that they face in the scenarios and what would be the best possible outcomes.

The staff also explained their roles to the students and what they do daily. The council members and staff assumed the roles as citizens that voice concerns about the different situations presented to the students. Students walked through the start to finish of on actual city council agenda with passing resolutions, ordinances and having a public forum time for questions to the mock council.

The second part of this program is a service project with the students. This year’s project was to clean up Butler’s historic square and pocket park. Another major accomplishment from this project was forming a Student Advisory Committee. This committee was formed to hear the voice of our younger population. The committee meets once a month and is comprised of six student leaders. The project is something other cities can truly invest in very easily and an even deeper investment for the future of our young people.

City of Columbia (Metro City, with population more than 30,000)
Home Weatherization Grant Program

City of Ozark (Large City, with population 15,000 -30,000)
Garrison Springs Community Forest

City of Dardenne Prairie (Medium City, with population 5,000 – 15,000)
Inclusive Easter Egg Hunt

About MML
The Missouri Municipal League provides a united voice for municipalities across Missouri. Founded in 1934, MML now serves more than 650 municipalities with training, resources and legislative advocacy for local government success. Learn more at www.mocities.com.

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Butler city hall takes on new, fresh look

 

PAINT CREWS have been working tirelessly power washing, sealing and now applying colorful touches to give the Butler city hall a needed makeover. As work is to be completed soon, the brick red paint with white highlights will certainly be an 'attention getter' on the Butler square. Staff photo

Extension office offering online Homesteading classes

Register here: https://extension.missouri.edu/.../little-roots-big...

Tuesday weather

 Sunny morning will give way to clouds this afternoon. Still, I see 75 in KC and 73-75 around ECKS and WCMO for your Tuesday.

Rain will push in from the SW this evening, but it's got a lot of dry air to overcome as it pushes northeast.

Light rain shows up on the Kansas side by around 10PM.

Through the overnight light showers work their way across state line, but they stay light.

Off-and-on showers and little thunder rumbles through Wednesday evening.

-Greg

Madison Markle earns Masters Degree in Psychology

Madison Markle formerly of  Adrian Mo. recently earned her Masters Degree in Psychology from Avila University and the day was celebrated as seen here with sister Marissa Layton along with proud parents Jeff and Jenny Markle of Adrian.

Excellent job and good luck in the future, Madison!