Tuesday, December 30, 2025
10 die on Missouri roads over Christmas holiday
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 10 people died in traffic crashes during this year’s Christmas holiday counting period–from 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 24, 2025, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 28, 2025. There were no boating crashes or drownings.
During the Christmas holiday counting period, troopers report the following traffic statistics for 2025 (preliminary):
Crashes ─ 258
Injuries ─ 94
Fatalities ─ 10
DWI Arrests ─ 93
During the 2024 Christmas holiday counting period, troopers investigated 81 traffic crashes, which included four fatalities and 44 injuries. Statewide, five people died and 133 people were injured in 295 traffic crashes over last year’s Christmas holiday. Troopers arrested 18 people for driving while intoxicated during the 2024 Christmas holiday counting period.
There were zero boating crashes, zero boating fatalities, zero drowning, and zero boating while intoxicated arrests during the 2025 Christmas holiday counting period.
Further details related to the traffic crashes and arrests can be found on the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s website.
NOTE: The Christmas Day holiday counting period varies from 1.25 to 4.25 days in length, depending on which day of the week the holiday falls. In 2025, Christmas Day fell on a Thursday, making the holiday period 4.25 days. In 2024, Christmas Day fell on a Wednesday, making the holiday period 1.25 days.
Slightly warmer, no hazardous weather for awhile
No hazardous weather expected the next 7 days! Overnight lows are in the upper 20's and low 30's.
Additional charges filed in death of Pleasanton youth
Leonard was originally charged in Bates County, Mo. with abandonment of a corpse related to the boy's death. KCKPD detectives have now filed further charges in Linn County, Kan. including interference with law enforcement, criminal desecration, and having a vicious dog at large. Multiple dogs were also seized from his property. The investigation remains ongoing, with the potential for additional charges being filed.
This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477) or online at KCcrimestoppers.com All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward. All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward. There is nothing further to report at this time.
Obituary - Mary Wills
Mary was born in Worland, MO, on December 5, 1938, the daughter of Jacob McMillen Sr. and Charlotte (Jenkins) McMillen. She graduated from Harrisonville High School. She married Wayne Smith and together they had four sons.
On December 11, 1969, Mary married the love of her life, Don Wills. They enjoyed playing, singing, and listening to country music with friends, and spending time with family. They lived most of their lives in the Cass County area, except for a few years spent in Southwest City, MO. After Don’s passing in 2010, Mary reconnected with an old friend, Morris Schmoll, and they were married on June 22, 2014. Morris also preceded Mary in death.
Mary was an escort driver for Don when he worked delivering prefabricated homes. She also worked at the GM Leeds Assembly Plant. She earned a degree from Longview Community College in her later years and worked for the National Association of Parliamentarians until she retired from the workforce in 2001.
Mary had a strong Christian faith and was baptized at the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Harrisonville, MO. She was a member of the Antioch Baptist Church in Harrisonville, MO. She enjoyed watching her sons and grandsons compete at local race tracks, and even participated in, and won, a few women’s powder puff events.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Charlotte McMillen; husband, Don Wills; four brothers; and three sisters. She is survived by her sons: Terry Smith (Lesa), Gene Smith (Leanne), Shawn Smith, and Don Smith; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Obituary - Janet Burch
A celebration of life service for Janet Burch of Adrian, Missouri will be 1 p.m. Saturday, January 3, 2026 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. Visitation will be 6 - 8 p.m. Friday, January 2 at the Schowengerdt Chapel. Burial in Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian. Contributions to the Adrian United Methodist Church building fund or Lily’s House. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.
Janet Rose Burch, age 86 of Adrian, Missouri died Sunday, December 28, 2025 at her home. She was born September 23, 1939 to Harvey Morton and Elenora Lorraine Jundy Crawford in Amsterdam, Missouri.
Janet had a wonderful childhood, growing up in the Amsterdam area with her sisters Donna and Karen. She attended Miami High School where she loved to play basketball. At age 17 she married Robert Dean Burch. Over the next 60 plus years they raised three children–Wayne, Ella Mae and Linda on their farm near Adrian. Farm work was hard but they always found time to attend the kid’s sporting events, ride their motorcycle and create many wonderful memories with family and friends. They loved to go dancing on Saturday night–it seemed to be medicine for their souls. Together they taught their kids to work hard, love life and cherish family and friends.
They took many trips including Australia, Ireland and Hawaii. Whether with Barb and Ivan, their kids, grandkids, or friends, they made it a point to make memories. Janet also managed to take a lot of trips on her own, including Red Hatter trips, a trip to Europe, numerous Branson trips and more. After Robert passed away eight years ago, Janet continued traveling. She took cruises and went to Colorado, Kansas City, Springfield and Tulsa on a regular basis. She was always ready for a road trip! If you were up for a shopping spree, just call Janet! She was a pro at it and always willing to be the chauffeur. If you are in need of shoes, size 6 ½ - 7 just stop by the house to shop!
Janet loved her family, friends, flowers and life in general. She had the ability to make everyone feel welcome and important. Her life reflected the life, light and love of God. Her greatest desire was that her family and friends learn to trust God and walk with Him. One of her favorite sayings was a quote from her Grandpa Jundy, “Don’t trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.” Janet will be greatly missed by her family, her church and her community. As mom always said…”It is what it is!”
Janet is survived by one son, Wayne Burch and fiancรฉ Katherine Ann King of Overland Park, Kansas; two daughters, Ella Mae Mitchell and husband Larry of Butler, Missouri and Linda Neil and husband Brett of Bixby, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Ian and wife Kate, Claire, Lance, Lindsey and husband Chris, Josh and wife Brie and Caleb and wife Jamie; six great-grandchildren, Henry, Blair, Jude, Rowan, Sloan and Jack; two sisters, Karen Grimsley of Amoret, Missouri and Donna Booth and husband Wendell of Wheatland, Missouri; and one brother-in-law, Leland Burch of Butler, Missouri. Janet was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert Burch (2-18-2017); one grandson, Blane Mitchell; and one great-granddaughter, Adalynn Neil.
Obituary - Margaret Hess
Funeral services for Margaret Hess of Hume, Missouri will be 10 a.m. Monday, January 5, 2026 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. Visitation will be 4 - 6 p.m. Sunday, January 4 at the Schowengerdt Chapel. Burial in Underwood Cemetery, Hume. Contributions to Underwood Cemetery or charity of choice. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.
Margaret Edith Hess, age 97 of Hume, Missouri died Saturday, December 27, 2025 at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. She was born April 21, 1928 to Irvie Maxie and Maude Elizabeth Ewan Wilson south of Hume, Missouri.
Margaret attended grade school at Wolf and graduated from Metz High School in 1946. Following high school, Margaret attended secretarial school in Kansas City, Missouri–all the while, being a nanny for a family and spending a summer in New York with them. Following secretarial school, Margaret was employed by Western Insurance in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Margaret was united in marriage to Marvin Hess on September 9, 1953 at the Underwood Church. She was a homemaker and active farm wife, working with cattle and in the fields alongside her husband. Margaret enjoyed family, events that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren participated in, reading and fishing. She also served on the Underwood Cemetery Board.
Margaret is survived by two daughters, Marlene Clark and husband Gary of Monett, Missouri and Marthena Spainhoward and husband Scott of Uniontown, Kansas; five grandchildren, Ash Clark and wife Melanie, Garrett Clark and wife Cara, Mitchel Spainhoward and wife Brandi, Luke Spainhoward and wife Jayme and Kaitlin Spainhoward; seven great-grandchildren; and one brother, Marvin Wilson of Prairie Village, Kansas. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Marvin (12-21-2013); and one sister, Maxine Henty.
Weekly report from the Henry County Sheriff's Office
๐พ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ฐ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐
๐ซ๐๐๐๐: December 19, 2025 – December 25, 2025
________________________________________
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐/๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ค๐๐:
Sergeant Richardson conducted a traffic stop in the rural Clinton area that resulted in the arrest of Juan Mireles-Segundo, age 48, of Kansas City for driving while suspended/revoked 1st offense.
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ:
Deputy Saulter arrested Justyn Barrett, age 31, of Clinton at the courthouse on a Henry County no bond warrant for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon.
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐/๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ค๐๐:
Deputy England conducted a traffic stop in the Windsor area that resulted in the arrest of Sabrina Metcalf, age 29, of Windsor for driving while suspended/revoked.
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐:
Sergeant Brandt conducted a follow-up investigation in the rural Clinton area that resulted in the arrest of Royce Singleton, age 48, of Clinton for Harassment 1st degree.
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ:
Deputy Hysom and Deputy Stevens conducted a warrant service in the Clinton area that resulted in the arrest of Chad Beebe, age 59, of Clinton on a Henry County traffic warrant.
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ:
Deputy Hysom and Deputy Stevens conducted a warrant service in the rural Clinton area that resulted in the arrest of Cheyenne Woolery, age 28, of Leeton on a Cass County warrant.
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐/๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ค๐๐:
Deputy Murphy and Deputy Caldwell conducted a traffic stop in the Windsor that resulted in the arrest of Jeffery Dunn, age 70, of Warsaw for driving while suspended/revoked 2nd or subsequent offense.
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ:
Sergeant Richardson conducted a traffic stop in the rural Clinton area that resulted in the arrest of Randy Cox, age 23, of Lincoln for driving while suspended/revoked 1st offense and on a Cass County warrant for traffic offenses.
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ / ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ:
Deputy Saulters located a vehicle that left the scene of an accident and contacted Billy Curlee, age 46, of Warrensburg who was with the vehicle. Curlee was arrested on a Johnson County warrant for driving while suspended/revoked and a Cass County felony warrant for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a weapon. Sergeant Logan, Corporal Douglas arrived on scene to assist Deputy Saulters and they located a controlled substance and firearms in Curlee’s possession. Curlee was arrested and placed on a 24 hour hold for possession of a weapon and controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance. On the same day Henry County Prosecuting Attorney filed formal charges, and a felony warrant was issued for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful use of a weapon.
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ:
Deputy Stevens conducted a warrant service in the Calhoun area that resulted in the arrest of Ryan White, age 30, of Calhoun on a Henry County failure to appear warrant.
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ:
Sergeant Logan, Corporal Douglas, Detective Stutzman, Deputy Harms and Deputy Stevens conducted a warrant service in the Windsor area that resulted in the arrest of Cheryl Knecht, age 49, of Windsor on a Henry County no bond probation violation warrants x3 and a Henry County fail to appear warrant.
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ: Deputy Hysom conducted a warrant service in the rural Clinton area that resulted in the arrest of Joshua Mullen, age 44, of Clinton on Henry County felony warrants for endangering the welfare of a child 1st degree and possession of a controlled substance X2.
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐/๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ค๐๐: Deputy Chaney conducted a traffic stop in the Windsor area that resulted in the arrest of Andrew Pickens, age 35, of Windsor for driving while suspended/revoked.
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐๐: Sgt. Brandt responded to the Montrose area regarding a physical disturbance that resulted in the arrest of Dorthy Canada, age 22, of Windsor. Canada was arrested for two counts of assault.
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ: Deputy Hysom conducted a warrant service in the rural Clinton area that resulted in the arrest of Gary Bellinger, age 23, of Clinton on a Henry County warrant for sexual misconduct
• ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ - ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐/๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ค๐๐: Deputy Hinkle conducted a traffic stop in the rural Clinton area that resulted in the arrest of Rayne Cassin-Brown, age 27, for driving while suspended/revoked.
All individuals arrested are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The above arrests are allegations at this time.
For additional information or to provide tips, contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at (660) 885-5587.
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