Local law enforcement featured on cover of Missouri Sheriff's Magazine

 

We would like to Congratulate Sheriff Anderson, Captain Shaffer and Detective Stockdale for being the Cover Models for the Missouri Sheriff’s Association Magazine

It’s a great article about the career and accomplishments Sheriff Anderson and his team has achieved in serving the community during his 4 terms as Sheriff. On January 1, 2025 Sheriff Anderson began his 5th term as Sheriff

Want to know how you can get your own Sheriff’s Association Magazines delivered directly to your door. Become a Honorary Member of the Missouri Sheriff’s Association by visiting www.mosheriffs.com. You’ll never miss another copy of this wonderful magazine.

Your membership helps support Missouri Sheriffs across the Great State of Missouri. Your Sheriff is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in your county and is the last law enforcement official that is truly selected by the people through voting. Last year the Sheriff’s Association provided thousands of hours of training for police officers all around the state because of membership dues from citizens like yourself.

BCSO welcomes new deputies

 

The Bates County Sheriff's Office would like to congratulate and welcome these two Police Academy Cadets

We want to introduce to our community, Deputy Chase Dillon and Deputy Devin Lester. Both Deputies will hit the streets bright and early tomorrow morning.

Neither of these new deputies are strangers to law enforcement. Each have family members currently serving in law enforcement.

Again, congratulations on your graduation and we look forward to your long careers serving the citizens of Bates County!

Wednesday basketball scores

 Boys

Windsor 62
Drexel 58

Heartland 37
Midway 62

Girls

Lakeland 58
Drexel 66

Lutheran 54
Miami 41

Windsor 31
Midway 41

Harrisonville police take down suspects wanted in nationwide thefts

On December 8th at approximately 4:00 pm, the Harrisonville Police Department was notified by another law enforcement agency about two suspects possibly heading towards the Walmart in Harrisonville. These suspects had reportedly been involved with an ongoing shoplifting scam from various Walmart's across the United States.

The suspects were located by HPD officers and placed under arrest for receiving stolen property. The suspects have allegedly stolen over $58,000 worth of merchandise in the last 6 months from Walmart's in at least four different states.

Both suspects, who are not residents of the state of Missouri, were charged with Receiving Stolen Property (D Felony) and are currently being held at the Cass County jail.

Obituary - James Joyce

James "Jim" Joyce, 78, of Louisburg, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at Olathe, Kansas. 

Visitation will be held from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Dengel & Son Mortuary - Louisburg Chapel, 1 Aquatic Drive, Louisburg, Kansas 66053.

A full obituary will be available shortly. 

Obituary - Wayne N Brown

Wayne N Brown November 30, 1950 - December 10, 2025

The family suggests memorial donations be made to Wayne's Grandsons' Education Fund (checks c/o Heidi Brown Braning) or to Round Prairie Baptist Cemetery.

Courtesy Hill & Son Funeral Home

Obituary - Dewayne William Meade

Dewayne William Meade, 50, passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, December 7, 2025 at his residence in Bolivar, MO.  He was born December 28, 1974 in Harrisonville, MO to Frank Breese and Virginia Meade.

    Dewayne enjoyed spending time with his family.  He also enjoyed doing crafts but his favorite pastime was fishing.

    Dewayne is survived by a sister, Jessica Klink, Council Grove, KS; his aunts, Kathy Meade, Enid, OK and Christine Meade, Butler, MO; an uncle, Gary Christopher, Humansville, MO; as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

    He was preceded in death by his mother, Virginia “Jenny” Meade Miller in 2012; his father, Frank Breese in 2012; and his grandparents, Bill and Bonnie Meade. 

    No services are planned.

Personnel issue brought forth in commission meeting

December 3, 2025 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.

The Commission approved invoices for payment.

Jami Page gave the Commission their budget worksheets. They are due back to her by December 17th.

The Commission spoke with Carl Bettels regarding the $20,000 transfer from General Revenue. They were questioning RSMo 137.720 (4). Jami Page called Larry Jones from the State Tax Commission to clarify that statute. Larry stated that he was not an attorney but told them how he interpreted it. He said once the money had been transferred to the Assessor's Fund then the State would issue the Assessor's reimbursement. Trent Nelson made the motion to transfer $20,000 from General Revenue to the Assessor's Fund. John Gray made the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried. Jami stated that they would not be putting that in the budget for next year. The $20,000 was only originally put in the budget for emergency purposes if the Assessor fell below a certain cash amount, which he has not. Because of this statute they are now being forced to transfer the money for what it was not intended to be used for.

December 8, 2025 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.

The Commission met with their Attorney, Ivan Schrader, at 9:21 a.m. Trent Nelson made the motion to go into closed session pursuant to 610.021 (1). John Gray seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried. At 9:49 a.m. John Gray made the motion to go back into open session. Trent Nelson seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried.

Jami Page asked the Commission to clarify when the Use Tax would need to be deposited into the Law Enforcement Fund. In January the county will receive a deposit for December's use tax collections. She asked if that deposit needed to go into the Law Enforcement Fund or General Revenue since it would be for December's tax collections. The Commission said it would need to go into General Revenue then beginning February 1 the use tax would go into the Law Enforcement Fund since February's deposit would be for January's tax collections.

Trent made a Motion to accept the Multijurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. John seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion carried. No opposition. There will be copies available of this Plan available.

John made a Motion to Grant Bates County Children Center $6,000. Trent seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion carried. No opposition.

Steve Smith met with the Commission regarding old and used tires. There seemed to have been a couple tires that an individual had dumped off in a ditch near his place of residence. They spoke about the local tire/mechanic shops and the small fees they charge to get rid of the tire for you and John referred Steve to Rooster Rubber in Kansas City and provided the contact information, 816-754-5468.

Chad Anderson and Dennis Jacobs sat down with the Commission and discussed certain situations and to whom that responsibility would belong. When there are emergency calls about roads that are flooded or blocked from the result of a storm, Chad feels as if it is not him and his deputy’s jobs to respond and solve the issue. They concluded that these calls that come through will be redirected to Bill Stephan with Road and Bridge. Road and Bridge will either respond to the scene themselves and clear the issue, or it will be passed onto the Township that the area resides in. It was noted that the Sheriff’s Department does not have the equipment to respond to such matters including certain Townships. Chad stated that he has cones and is more than willing to lend out these cones to Road and Bridge along with Townships. They can contact Chad and meet with him to get their cones.

Chad also addressed that he is going to hand off the alert system to Dennis Jacobs with EMA and let EMA alert the people of the area of any issue. Dennis, Jim Henry and Brenda Cecil will take the training, and Chad will send over a group of his workers to show him how to navigate the system and show EMA how to do this job.

Jami Page brought to light the fact that the Sheriff’s Department is still issuing 9-1-1 Address’s. Chad agreed that this is something he had in mind to discuss as well and would like to pass the torch over to the right party to take over this role. The previous Assessor did not want to take on this role, therefore the Sheriff’s Department stepped up. Everyone agreed the Assessor is the perfect person to take this role over since this is his line of business and he needs this information anyway. John suggested they call the current Assessor into the meeting. The current Assessor was asked his thoughts over the assignment and if his office would be willing to take it over and he stated that he did not know. Jim pointed out that when there is new construction in the county and Carl goes out to assess the area, he will be at the exact location and he can calculate the address and can add it to GIS right away instead of having to make a phone call to the Sheriff’s office. Jami made a point as well, explaining that new builders who must call and get an address from the Sheriff’s Office cannot always get one in a timely manner since the Deputy is out patrolling and not in office to generate an address for them. When asked again if this role is something the Assessor would like to take on, he responded, “Yeah, I guess so. It sounds like it is going to come down to me.” Chad reassured him that he can get him the address request forms and when he sends over his crew to show Dennis the text alert system, they will show Carl how this step as well. These changes will go into effect on February 1st so these roles can be taught to the certain party and have a smooth transition.

Meghan Robbins met with the Commission regarding an issue that left her feeling uneasy in a work environment. Meghan stated she was heading to the break room to wash out cups and crossed paths with John Gray as he was exiting the men's restroom. John tried starting a conversation with her by telling her "Good morning. How are you, Meghan?" and she ignored John because “he had previously made issues within the Assessor’s Office” and she “did not feel comfortable having any sort of interaction with him.”

Meghan said as she was standing in front of the break room sink, she suddenly felt a presence behind her. John had reached around her to grab paper towels, as the paper towels in the men’s restroom were out. John rebutted that he said “excuse me” while grabbing for the paper towels. Meghan said she stepped away and told John to stay away from her. She went back to her work area and contacted her elected official. Meghan said, “I felt angry and infringed upon.” She said she hated that she had to go back to work and greet customers with a professional attitude while feeling distressed and said, “I should not have to go through my workday upset that a strange man had invaded my personal space.”

John asked his fellow elected officials to weigh in as he processed this information. Trent confirmed that the paper towels were out, but Meghan felt as if John should have gone elsewhere to get paper towels, as there is another restroom in the building. Jim gave the suggestion for John to ignore her presence and to avoid trying to start any conversation, as Meghan will not acknowledge his efforts.