Quiet start to new year

Across the board it has been pretty quiet around Bates County on this New Year's weekend. While the Bates County Sheriff's Department has had increased patrols around the county, there have been no reports of accidents or major incidents so far this weekend.

Statewide, the Missouri State Highway Patrol worked several accidents on new years eve, mostly with minor to moderate injuries only. The first fatality of the year was reported this morning in an accident on I-44 near Springfield.