A man from rural Smithville in Platte County drowned over the weekend during a fishing excursion to the Little Platte River. The victim has been identified as James Stephens, 72. Major Greg Crader with the Platte County Sheriff’s Department said the victim’s wife called authorities about 5:30 Friday evening to report that her husband had not come home after a fishing trip at Little Platte near Hwys. B and KK. Stephens’ wife had been to the site and found her husband’s pickup, fishing tackle and dog. Crader said it was evident the dog had walked up and down the bank, down to the river. The area was a combination of wheat and mud, Crader said. “We assumed the man had fallen into the river,” Crader explained. Stephens’ body was not found until about noon on Sunday, roughly a mile and a half from where authorities think he entered the water.
Harley-Davidson Motor Co. last week went ahead with the purchase of 320 acres at 112th Street and North Congress Avenue near KCI for a plant that will be used to build its Sportster motorcycles. The company reportedly bought the land for about $1.1 million. Under the agreement reached as part of the incentive package to lure Harley to the area, the motorcycle company will receive $800,0000 of that cost back through a $6.3 million incentive package offered by different governmental jurisdictions and private contributors.
