So here we are in mid-July at this point and my wife and I are leaving for an 18 day trip to Europe.

@Rob Hakes Here are some points from my research on the matter:“Some Tenants will suit for anything and everything-trips/falls, illegal leases, discrimination, escrow handling, bed bugs, not answering phone, etc. especially if they have attorneys in the family.

I would go with your "gut felling"  and if your have time for the 4 hour plus round trip. 

Others require a trip to the courthouse.

@George W.The basement has electric radiator ,it can take substantial time to heat up , may not heatup the room adequately if it's very cold outside.Adding an additional electric heater will trip the fuse,I don't want to go with an electric upgrade.

St Louis   I wanna make a trip out there but I'm focusing on KC for now and looking for a partner in town there until I get there more often 

@Jeremy Taggart Thanks for the input-  I definetely need to take a trip out there soon to check out the area. 

Took several trips but after that they left peacefully.Thanks for the responses.

Here's a cheap "free" way to get a surveillance camera.It DOES require Wifi but will detect motion/take a pic and send you a email if it gets tripped.

However, I do make frequent trips back when there is any sort of business to tend to.