Arkansas Man Federally indicted in connection to Ballard School Break-in

On March 15, 2025, a male subject was caught on camera breaking into the rural school in Ballard. The subject stole approximately $2000 in cash and computer components valued at approximately $2100. Curtis Barton traveled across Missouri and Iowa targeting rural school to burglarize.
Dedication and determination on behalf of the Bates County Detectives connected the crimes to a potential suspect after news reports were shared on Social Media. Bates County Detectives were contacted by Detectives in Iowa about the same male in the same clothing also being caught on Video Burglarizing School in their location.
A multiple state investigation began and working with outside agencies a connection to Bates County was made. Eventually a search warrant was obtained by Arkansas Investigators for Barton's Residence.
The Case showed that Barton extensively researched his targets and law enforcement in the areas in advance. While many agencies participated in the investigation the Wapello Count (Iowa) Sheriff's Office and the FBI lead the investigation. -Courtesy Bates County Sheriff's Office

Official release from the United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri:

ST. LOUIS – A man from Arkansas has been indicted in St. Louis and accused of burglarizing more than 20 rural schools and businesses in Missouri and Iowa.

Curtis Lee Barton, 40, was indicted Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on one count of conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce and three counts of interstate transportation of stolen property.

The indictment says Barton and a co-conspirator stole a total of at least $50,000 from May 2023 through April 2025. Some of the money stolen from schools had been set aside for impoverished children and for the Special Olympics, the indictment says.

The indictment lists several examples of Missouri schools that were burglarized, including the Feb. 25, 2025, theft of about $5,752 from a school in Lewistown, the April 22, 2025, theft of about $13,000 from a school in Brookfield, and the April 26, 2025, theft of $4,000 from a school in Shelbyville. On April 26, 2025, Barton also stole about $1,000 from a safe in an Adair County school, the indictment says.

The indictment says Barton researched both his targets and the sheriff’s offices or police departments in those areas in advance. He broke into the schools in the middle of the night to avoid detection, the indictment says.

Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.



The FBI and the Wapello County (Iowa) Iowa Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.

Rich Hill welcomes new teachers

 

Welcome back, Tigers! We wanted to take this time to introduce our new staff and teachers.

New faces in the elementary include: Shyanne Swift, elementary paraprofessional and Paula Klingaman, food service.

New faces in the junior high and high school include: Mallory Schenker, JH & HS Music; Sam Quillen, Business, FBLA, and HS Football; Annabelle Morris, JH History; and Taylor Coonce, 6th grade & HS Science.

CCSO locates missing child safe and sound

 

Just after 2:30 p.m., deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the area of 255th Terrace and S Lake Annette Rd in Freeman in regard to a missing toddler.

Deputies used drones to search for the child. However, during the search, they heard several sounds in a nearby cornfield.

They were able to triangulate the noise to a specific location where they found the toddler just after 3 p.m.

The child was relocated safely to her parents.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office Disaster Emergency Response Team, UAV Team and K9 Unit were used in this operation.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Dolan West Dolan Fire Department and West Peculiar Fire Department assisted as well.

Obituary - Bessie Marguriete Sparks

Marguriete Sparks, 97, of Latham, Kansas, formerly of Harrisonville, Missouri, passed away Sunday, August 24, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. Funeral services will be held 9:30am,Thursday, August 28, 2025 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville. Burial to follow at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville, MO. Contributions are suggested to Heartland Baptist Fellowship in Harrisonville. A full obituary will be added when it becomes available.

Obituary - Judy Otto

Judy Otto, 66 of Drexel, Missouri passed away Monday, August 25, 2025 at her home in Drexel.  A visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am Friday, August 29, 2025 at Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel (816-657-4400).  Funeral services will follow at 11:00 am Friday also at the chapel.  Burial will take place at Sharon Cemetery, Drexel.  Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

A complete obituary is pending at this time and will be published when available.

Obituary - Debbie Walker

Deborah "Debbie" Walker, 67, Nevada, MO passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on August 25th, 2025. Debbie was born on June 27, 1958 in Appleton City, MO to Van and Ruth (Tandy) Waite. She married her childhood friend and high school sweetheart, Dean, on August 19, 1977. To this union three children were born, Adam, Emily and Ben.

Debbie grew up on a dairy farm east of Rockville, MO. She was blessed with loving parents and three older sisters, otherwise known as three best friends. Summertime was Debbie's favorite because she loved helping her dad in the hay fields and playing softball, being coached by her dad. There was a lot of work to do each day in the garden as well as farm chores. Somehow she and her sisters made the hard work fun though. Their four room house on the farm was filled with lots of love and laughter.

Debbie attended school in Appleton City, MO. She graduated as valedictorian of her class of 1976. She knew that she wanted to be an elementary teacher, emulating her mom, from the time she was a little girl. She loved helping her mom prepare projects for her classroom and talking to her mom about school. After high school Debbie attended Central Missouri State University and received her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education in 1979. She later completed her Master's degree, also from Central Missouri State University, in 1982. She began her teaching career in Butler, MO and later In Nevada, MO until her retirement in 2012. Debbie loved teaching elementary children and always felt like that was her "calling".

The pride and joy of her life was her family. She loved cooking big meals and having all of them come to eat. She always considered this time to be a blessing and did it as often as she could. She was so grateful that all of her kids lived close by so they could get together often. Her grandchildren were, as they say, the apple of her eye. She loved spending time with the grandchildren and was always finding a fun way to spend time with them. Debbie always felt that laughter needed to be a big part of every day. She loved being silly and playing with them.

Debbie had a deep faith in Jesus Christ and after being sick for so long she was ready to spend eternity with her Savior. She loved learning and growing in her faith with her church family at Rinehart Christian Church. Her favorite time of each week was playing the piano with the praise band at church and worshipping through music. She also loved working in her vegetable garden and flowers.

Debbie is survived by her husband Dean of the home, sons Adam (Alisha) Walker of Nevada, MO, Ben (Marli) Walker of Nevada, MO and daughter Emily Hayes (Andy) of Nevada, MO. She has six grandchildren: Graham Walker, Grey Walker, Walker Hayes, Morgan Hayes, Willow Hayes, and Baylor Walker. She is also survived by three sisters: Sandra Long of Appleton City, MO, Skip (Jack) Mead of Nevada, MO, and Betty (Gerald) Stephan of Montrose, MO. She also had several nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Ruth and Van Waite, mother and father-in-law Harry and Jean Walker, and brother-in-law Bill Long.

Memorial services will be at 2:00 PM on Monday, September 1st at Rinehart Christian Church, Richards, MO with Kevin Moyers and Elijah Pierson officiating. A private committal will be held at Newton Burial Park in Nevada, MO. The family will receive friends at 1:00 PM on Monday, September 1st at Rinehart Christian Church. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations to Rinehart Christian Church in c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

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Obituary - Genny Joiner

Funeral services for Genevieve "Genny" Faye Joiner of Butler, Missouri will be  2 p.m. Sunday, August 31, 2025 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler.  Visitation prior to services 1 - 2 p.m. Sunday at the Schowengerdt Chapel.  Burial in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler.  Contributions to Spina Bifida Association, give.sbaa.org.  Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Genevieve Faye (Anderson) Joiner passed away August 22, 2025.  Genny was born April 16, 1941, in Kansas City, MO, to Emmett and Ruth Anderson.

Genny was preceded in death by her husband Paul in 2020; their son James in 1964; their son David in 1992; and her parents.  She leaves her daughter Cheryl Edwards and husband David (Osceola, MO) and grandson Caleb; daughter Lisa Heath and husband Matt (Overland Park, KS); and grandsons, Tyler (Lauren) Lawrence, Blake (Ibby) Lawrence, Jackson Heath, Brock Heath, Dan (Cassie) Medina, Cody Collins, and Mark (Elisa) Ruskikh; great-grandchildren, Addison, Kennedy and Cooper Lawrence and Kaden, Kali and Kendrick Medina; and special niece and nephew Skylar Mickey and Gabe Sell.  As well, she leaves Daisy, Freckles, Miss Kitty and Sam the Cat.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Spina Bifida Association in David’s honor at: give.sbaa.org