Bates County Community Resource Program

01/31/2026

Edit…it’s Sunday, not Saturday!!

01/23/2026

Cold winter weather can bring stress, isolation, and heavy emotions, so remember to stay warm, stay safe, and take care of yourself.
If you need support, call, text, or chat 988 for free, confidential help; available 24/7. 🩵

01/23/2026

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

Just wanted to touch base with everyone about the impending weather. Much talk has been had on social media and in the ranks of many of your public offices.

To clear some confusion up the Sheriff’s Office does not determine when a warming center opens up. Also the Sheriff’s Office does not determine where a warming center should be. The Sheriff has been in contact with the Emergency Management to review Missouri’s Winter Weather Emergency Response Plan. In that plan, each county works with the State Emergency Management Agency.

In the event of severe weather locally, the Bates County Emergency Management would act as the incident command for our county.

The Sheriff’s Office would become a support role in that operation. Currently the Bates County EMA is working to identify appropriate warming centers throughout the county so that if the need arises they would be available.

Please understand that there is much more to opening a warming center than just unlocking doors. The largest hurdle is volunteers who are available and able to staff those locations and provide the necessary supplies for people who may stay up to 24-48 hours.

The Sheriffs Office and staff are always willing to respond to all community needs. We are prepared to call back employees to handle any influx in calls for service or to perform any snow rescues as needed. We hope that our community will do what we have always done and that is to check on your neighbors and friends. Be prepared for you and your family and willing to assist others.

Once Bates County Emergency Management has determined locations of warming centers and has officially activated those centers, we will help get that information out to you through Facebook and our texting system.

Thank you for your understanding and working with us. We all know it’s Missouri and we could get 0-44 inches of snow and maybe throw a thunderstorm in the mix as well!!

01/16/2026

12/18/2025

Everyone is invited to join in celebrating the Christmas Season with old-fashioned caroling. Those that wish to participate are invited to the Butler Square Gazebo on Tuesday, afternoon starting at 1 until 4 pm on December 23rd This is very casual and you don’t have to be a singer, just join in the fun . Lyric sheets in English and Spanish will be provided. It’s festive attire or just come as you are. It’s all just for fun, fellowship and for the memories of old time caroling as a group. The gathering will start at the Gazebo and then those that wish to expand and travel to neighborhoods are welcome to bring holiday cheer to the streets of Butler. Join Senora Betty Alvis, BHS Alumni, and other friends Join us as we welcome the holiday season the old-fashioned way by community caroling…. everyone and anyone welcome to sing along. Tuesday, December 23rd. All the fun starts at the Butler Gazebo on the Square, at 1 pm until 4 . Hope to see you there!

12/03/2025

Go see Sheriff on a Shelf, Buddy the Elf, and your deputies at Sonic!! They’re car hopping for Christmas. There until 8!

11/24/2025

FREE THANKSGIVING DINNER on Thursday!! 🦃🥧

11/13/2025

Just a heads up if you’re looking to process any transactions at the Butler License Office next week.

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Butler License Office will close for transition to new management contract Nov. 17, 18, & 19

JEFFERSON CITY, MO — The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) has accepted a new management proposal for the Butler License Office.
The contract has been awarded to BPD Holdings, LLC.
The license office, located at 105 North Orange St., will close at the end of business on Monday, November 17, and reopen on Thursday, November 20, at the same location.
The hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Phone: (660) 679-0061.
While the office is closed for transition, DOR encourages customers to visit one of the following nearby locations to receive assistance with their motor vehicle and driver licensing needs:
• Harrisonville License Office – 2009 Plaza Dr.
• Clinton License Office – 702 East Ohio St., Suite 4
• Osceola License Office – 210 Olive St.
A full list of license office locations and hours of operation can be found at
https://dor.mo.gov/license-office-locator/.
The following online services are also available:
• Phone-in Registration - to find a license office that accepts phone-in vehicle and watercraft registration renewals.
• License Plate Renewal - to see if your county participates in sharing personal property tax information with DOR.
• Renewal Requirements Inquiry - to obtain information regarding registration renewal requirements.
• DORA Chatbot - to get answers 24/7 with the help of DOR’s chatbot, a virtual assistant programmed to respond to common taxation, motor vehicle, and driver licensing questions.

11/07/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 5, 2025
CONTACT: Baylee.Watts@dss.mo.gov
Missouri Department of Social Services to Issue Partial November SNAP Benefits Following Federal Funding Update
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) announced today that the state has received official guidance from the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services (USDA-FNS) allowing partial funding to issue November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
“Last week, we were prepared for the possibility that no benefits could be issued at all,” said Jess Bax, Director of the Missouri DSS. “While we recognize this is not a full restoration, this funding means Missouri families will be able to put food on the table. We will continue to work with our community partners to fill the gap until the shutdown is ended and funding is restored.”
The department will work closely with their EBT vendor to ensure benefits are issued promptly. Further information on the timeline of benefits being issued will be provided by DSS as it is made available.
Additionally, DSS remains in contact with USDA and community partners to ensure families are aware of available food banks, pantries, and local resources that can provide immediate assistance while the federal government works toward a long-term resolution.
Missourians can continue to find up-to-date information and a list of community resources at https://mydss.mo.gov/federal-shutdown-impacts.

11/04/2025

It's that time of year! The Bates County Sheriff's Office is kicking off our yearly Shop with a Deputy Fundraiser to take Bates County children shopping for Christmas!

Now more than ever, so many in our community are struggling financially just to get by, and the holidays only add to the stress. We want to make Christmas less stressful and more enjoyable for families in our community and we need your help!

If you or your business would like to donate to our program, donations can be given to any Bates County Deputy or employee. You can also come by the Sheriff's Office and drop off your donations. Deputies will be out and about in the next few weeks collecting as many donations as possible for the kids of Bates County!

Donations are accepted in the form of cash or checks made payable to Sheriff's Community Benefit Fund.