Two arrested following attempt to flee police

From the Butler police department

On September 28th at approximately 5:04pm, a Butler Officer conducted a traffic stop in the area of Fran Ave. for expired registration. After making contact with the driver, who was identified as Amy Thornton, and passenger, the Officer requested identification from both the driver and passenger. Upon asking for the passenger’s information, the passenger provided the Officer with a false name. The Officer was able to determine the passenger’s identity and learned that the passenger had active warrants.

The Officer then addressed the passenger by his legal name. The passenger was identified as James Thornton. Once James was addressed by his legal name, he began telling Amy to roll up the window and drive. The Officer advised them not to leave and the officer then opened the driver side door to the vehicle to attempt to remove the driver from the vehicle. At this point, James was able to put the vehicle into drive and press on the gas pedal causing the vehicle to drive forward with the Butler Officer still partially inside the vehicle.

The vehicle then fled at a high rate of speed until reaching the dead end of Fran Ave near 411 S Fran where James exited the vehicle and began to flee on foot. Amy remained in the vehicle. One Butler Officer was able to pursue James on foot while another Butler Officer continued to pursue Amy who was still in the vehicle. The vehicle then came to a stop in the parking lot of 411 S Fran where Amy was taken into custody. Another Officer was able to take James into custody to the South of the apartments after a short foot pursuit. While running on foot from officers, James possessed a black bag that was later recovered. Inside the black bag was a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine along with drug paraphernalia.

Both Amy and James were transported to the Bates County Jail where they were both placed on a 24 hour hold.

On 9/29/26, warrants were issued for both James and Amy.

Amy received the following charges:

Assault 2nd Degree - Special Victim

Aggravated Fleeing A Stop or Detention

Possession of a Controlled Substance

Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Amy’s bond was set at $100,000 Cash Only.

James received the following charges:

Assault 2nd Degree - Special Victim

Aggravated Fleeing A Stop or Detention Possession of Controlled Substance

Resisting/Interfering With Arrest For A Felony

Unlawful Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia

James’s bond was set at $100,000 Cash Only.

#MidAmericaLive

Butler Senior Center fundraiser coming October 18

.


#MidAmericaLive

Reminder from Bates County Clerk, Jami Page

.


#MidAmericaLive

Amsterdam city-wide garage sale coming in October

.


#MidAmericaLive

Miami County Suspect Apprehended Following Pursuit and Foot Chase

On September 29, 2026, deputies with the Miami County Sheriff’s Office were investigating a suspicious person report after a homeowner reported a male attempting to enter residences and asking unusual questions. The homeowner provided deputies with a description of the individual and the vehicle he was driving.

Prior to this report, the Sheriff’s Office had received two additional calls for service involving similar circumstances in different areas of the county. Although the incidents were not geographically close, the descriptions and reported behavior were similar.

As deputies arrived in the area, they located the individual in his vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver failed to stop and continued fleeing, leading deputies to initiate a vehicle pursuit.

During the pursuit, the driver called 911 and advised that he was “out with deputies” before disconnecting the call. Dispatchers attempted to communicate with him and direct him to stop, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

The pursuit continued for approximately 40 minutes, with speeds exceeding 80 mph at times. The pursuit primarily traveled through the northwest portion of Miami County, including areas where multiple road construction projects are underway. The suspect’s actions not only created a danger to deputies and the motoring public, but also placed road construction crews working in those areas at risk.

Deputies made multiple attempts to safely bring the pursuit to an end, including deploying tire deflation devices and attempting tactical vehicle intervention.

One deployment of STOP Sticks was successful, causing one of the vehicle’s tires to deflate. Although the vehicle’s speed decreased, the driver continued to flee. Additional attempts at tactical vehicle intervention were unsuccessful due to the driver’s erratic driving and limited visibility caused by dust on gravel roads. Deputies did not make intentional vehicle-to-vehicle contact during those attempts.

Near 323rd Street and Crescent Hill Road, the fleeing vehicle crashed into a steel pipe fence. The driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot into a field, wooded area, and creek bed.

Deputies pursued the suspect on foot through the wooded area and creek bed and onto a neighboring residential property. The suspect made contact with two citizens at the residence before deputies located him and took him into custody.

Due to the crash and the suspect’s actions during the incident, Miami County EMS was requested to evaluate him. Following the assessment, he was transported to the Miami County Jail.

Michael Scott Zellner, 42, of Wichita, Kansas, is currently being held at the Miami County Jail on allegations including:

• Improper Driving on Laned Roadway

• Failure to Yield at a Stop or Yield Sign

• Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement – Five or More Moving Violations

• Interference with Law Enforcement

Additional charges may be requested as the investigation continues.

We appreciate the diligence of the homeowners who recognized the suspicious behavior and contacted the Sheriff’s Office. Their willingness to report what they observed provided deputies with valuable information and helped us identify and locate the individual.

We also appreciate the assistance provided by our outside agency partners during this incident and their understanding of the importance of safely apprehending this individual while protecting the public, responding personnel, and those working along our roadways.

All persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

#MidAmericaLive

Montrose student Kate Wareham selected to attend Missouri Girls State program

Congratulations, Kate Wareham!

The Montrose School District would like to proudly congratulate Kate Wareham on being selected to attend the prestigious Missouri Girls State program this past June at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.

Kate is an exemplary student who consistently demonstrates outstanding citizenship, leadership, and character. We are incredibly proud that she had the opportunity to represent Montrose School and our community while showcasing the strong character traits and leadership qualities that make her such a wonderful role model for others.

We are so proud of you, Kate, and all that you have accomplished! We know you will continue to make a positive difference wherever your future takes you.

A special thank you to all of the sponsors who helped make this incredible opportunity possible for such a deserving young lady. Your support allows students like Kate to experience opportunities that will inspire and shape them for years to come.

Courtesy Montrose schools

#MidAmericaLive

Obituary - Roger W. Noe

A graveside service and inurnment will be 10 a.m. Friday, October 16, 2026 in Fairview Cemetery, Butler, Missouri. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel and Crematory (660-679-6555) in Butler. No visitation. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Roger W. Noe, age 75 of Blue Springs, Missouri formerly of Butler, Missouri passed Friday, August 7, 2026 in Blue Springs. He was born July 9, 1951 to Betty and William Noe in Butler, Missouri.

Roger attended school in Butler, Missouri–Grade School thru High School, graduating from High School in 1969. He attended Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri, graduating college in 1973. Roger played the trumpet in the Butler High School Jazz Band; he also played baseball and football. He was an Eagle Scout, a member of Sigma Chi, and the Sierra Club.

Roger is survived by his wife of 43 years, Janet Noe of Blue Springs, Missouri; two sons, Steven Steinmeyer and wife Sharon, Blue Springs, Missouri; Kurt Steinmeyer of Prairie Village, Kansas; one daughter, Toni Bauer and husband Scott, of Blue Springs, Missouri; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; one sister, Nancy Hershey and husband Roger of Independence, Missouri; one brother, Leslie and wife Susan of Boulder, Colorado; 3 nieces; 2 nephews; 1 great nephew and 2 great nieces; and Pete Waterhouse, of Eastbourne, England, his brother from across the pond. He was preceded in death by his father, William Noe; his mother, Betty Noe; and his sister Carol Sue (Noe) Williams.

#MidAmericaLive

Obituary - Richard “Dick” Feitz

Richard “Dick” Feitz passed away September 22, 2026, surrounded by family, at his home in Adrian, Missouri. Memorial services will be held 6:00 pm, Friday, October 16, 2026, at Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

Richard James Feitz, Sr. was born April 14, 1941 in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Louis and Dorothy Fueston Feitz.

Dick lived much of his childhood in the Northeast KCMO area. After high school he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He spent four years as a jet mechanic at Laredo Air Force Base in Laredo, Texas. During his time of service he experienced several world impacting events, such as the Civil Rights Movement and the I Have a Dream speech, the Cold War space race, the Cuban Bay of Pigs crisis, and the assassination of President John F Kennedy. He also formed a bond of brotherhood with other service members with whom he kept in contact for many years. He loved all types of aircraft and many other types of big machinery.

Dick was a man of many talents. After his service he began a career in industrial maintenance transitioning into sales, selling life insurance and welding equipment. In later years he served as a Garden City, Mo. Police Deputy, a Cass County Sherriff's Deputy, and a Cass County Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and drove a school bus route for the Harrisonville School District.

Dick was a person who loved people but even more so, he loved the Lord. In 1972 he and his family were saved and baptized in a small Church of God in Sugar Creek, Mo. They soon began attending Sheffield Assembly of God Church in Kansas City, Mo. After receiving a call on his life to preach the Gospel, he and Sandy began attending classes at the Central Bible College Extension at Sheffield. After receiving his license to preach he served as an Associate Pastor at Sheffield, leading Junior Church, the bus ministry, and Community Outreach. He also served as a pastor at a small church in Minneville, Mo. and was later elected pastor of Bethel Assembly of God in Garden City, Mo where he served two different terms. He also served as interim pastor of a small church in Ozark, Mo. and as pastor of Maranatha Fellowship in Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his father, Louis H Feitz Jr., his mother, Dorothy Feitz, his brother Charles Feitz, and his sister, Sylvia Mencke and daughter-in-law Loretta Feitz.

Survivors include his wife of sixty-six years, Sandy Feitz, son Richard J. Feitz Jr, daughter Laura (Craig) Mueller, son James (Anisa) Feitz, and son Joseph Feitz. ten grandchildren, and twenty-two great grandchildren, stepsister Judy Adler and God daughter Danielle Peterson.

Dick will forever be remembered as a family man, a handyman, a great friend, a proud patriot, a talker (loving to share his stories with everyone) and a strong Christian.

#MidAmericaLive