Obituary - Jack Edward Smotherman

Jack Edward Smotherman, 86, of Nevada, passed away on Monday, July 27, 2026.  Jack was born on December 15, 1939, in Kansas City, MO to Guy and Isabella (Doyle) Smotherman. 

     Jack moved to Nevada with his family in 1950 and is a graduate of Nevada High School class of 1956. Shortly after high school Jack joined the Navy and proudly served his country in the Vietnam War and The Cuban Missile Crisis, ending his 16-year career as a BM2. Before retirement, Jack worked as a Real Estate Broker in Kansas City from 1983-2001. For 15 years, one of Jacks greatest hobbies was to Umpire Baseball and Softball games, from Little League up to the College level.

     Survivors include one daughter, Vicki McLaurin (Billy); five grandchildren, Clayton Shaw, Caleb Shaw, Cathryn Shaw, and Ashlee McLaurin, Blake Lambret; a sister, Patricia “Patty Lou” Holding; a nephew Mike (Paula) Holding; and a son in law, Sandy (Tammy) Shaw.

   Jack was proceeded in death by both of his parents and his daughter Jacquelene (Smotherman) Shaw.

   Memorials are suggested to Disabled American Veterans c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

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Obituary - Frankie Neal Harris

Frankie Neal Harris, 64, of Montrose, Missouri died July 28, 2026 at Research Medical Center surrounded by family. He was born November 8, 1961 in Clinton, MO to Marvin Dean Harris and Frankie Delores (Leuty) Harris. Frankie graduated from Sherwood High School in 1980.

In his early years, Frankie travelled the country building cooling towers before returning home to Missouri where he worked numerous manufacturing jobs thereafter. Frankie loved attending local car shows, watching NASCAR, and gardening. He was a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan; you could always find Frankie at home in front of his big screen TV with a Dr. Pepper in hand. Frankie dedicated his later years to his grandchildren; they were his greatest joy in life.

He was preceded in death by his father, Marvin Dean Harris; two brothers, Jimmie Harris and Danny Harris; and nephew, Derrick Harris. He is survived by his mother Delores Harris; son, Curtis (Taylor) Harris; daughter, Keisha Harris; son-in-law, Hilton Mcculloch; sisters, Janet Milburn and Rhonda (David) Hernandez; and six grandchildren, William, Aliyah, Tashawn, Sierra, Charlotte, Emma; as well as many nieces, nephews, and close friends that Frankie considered family. 

Visitation will be held 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 1, 2026 at Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri.

Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 1, 2026 at Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri with interment at Byler Cemetery, Creighton, Missouri.

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Obituary - Thomas Jensen

Thomas "Tom" Albert Jensen, 76, of Harrisonville, Missouri, passed away on Monday, July 27, 2026, at Cass Regional Medical Center in Harrisonville. Funeral services will be held at Faith Baptist Church in Harrisonville, MO, on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 10:00AM. Following the service, he will be laid to rest at the Czech-Moravian Cemetery in Blue Rapids, Kansas, at 4:00 PM.

Born on August 16, 1949, in Sioux City, Iowa, Tom was the son of Milo and Marian (Ullrich) Jensen. He grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, and later moved to O'Fallon, Illinois, where he graduated high school. He met the love of his life, Dorothy Hula, while square dancing, and they were married on November 2,1985. For the next 40 years, they enjoyed camping and gardening together.

Tom enjoyed a successful career as a jeweler, dedicating many years to Crews Jewelry in Grandview, where his artistry and craftsmanship brought joy to countless clients. He won a national jewelers competition competing with an original and intricately designed bicycle piece. Tom was an excellent marksman and appreciated the heritage of the early frontier in the form of black powder firearms. He frequently took first place in black powder competitions and literally "brought home the bacon" which was often the competition prize. A veteran of the United States Air Force, he carried a deep sense of pride for his service. He was stationed with the tactile air command of the United States Air Force where he served as a crew chief on an F-4 squadron while stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He was an active member of the Grandview VFW Post 8100. He attended Red Bridge Baptist Church in Kansas City and, more recently, Faith Baptist Church in Harrisonville

Tom is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Jensen, and many other family and friends.

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Summer Gatherings Can Lead to These Unexpected Aches and Injuries

Summer Gatherings Can Lead to These Unexpected Aches and Injuries

Stay out of the ER by taking these steps to keep everyone safer and healthier.

Cookouts, pool parties and backyard gatherings are some of the best parts of the summer season. But while these events are meant to be fun, they can also come with a few health risks people don’t usually think about until something goes wrong.

Luckily, many summer injuries and illnesses can be prevented with a little awareness. Knowing what to watch for and how to keep everyone safer can help you avoid an unexpected trip to the emergency room this season.

Burns and Grill Injuries

Grilling is a big part of many summer gatherings, but grills can cause serious burns if they aren’t used carefully. Grease fires, hot grill grates and even lighter fluid accidents can quickly lead to injuries.

Always keep grills on a flat surface away from children, pets and anything flammable. Never leave a grill unattended while cooking. Use long grilling tools to help protect your hands and arms from burns. It’s also smart to keep a spray bottle or fire extinguisher nearby just in case.

Bug Bites and Bee Stings

Mosquitoes, ticks and bees tend to show up at summer gatherings too. While many bites and stings are simply annoying, some can lead to serious allergic reactions or the spread of illnesses.

Use insect repellent when spending time outdoors and check for ticks after being outside in grassy or wooded areas. If someone has a severe allergy to bee stings, make sure an epinephrine injector is nearby and easy to access.

Food Poisoning

Bacteria grow quickly in warm temperatures. Foods left outside too long can lead to food-borne illnesses that cause vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps.

Cold foods should stay chilled and hot foods should stay hot. Perishable foods shouldn’t sit outside for more than two hours, or one hour if temperatures are very high. Wash hands before preparing food and use separate plates for raw and cooked meats.

Water and Playground Injuries

Pools, trampolines and rough play can all lead to injuries. Drowning can happen quickly and quietly, especially with young children nearby.

Never leave children unattended around water, even for a moment. Running near pools can lead to slips and falls, so remind everyone to walk carefully. Enforce safety rules on trampolines and limit rough-housing as much as possible.

Heat Illnesses

Hot weather can put a lot of stress on the body, especially during outdoor parties where people spend hours in the sun. Signs of heat exhaustion include dizziness, headache, nausea, heavy sweating and muscle cramps. Heat stroke is much more serious and may cause confusion, fainting or a very high body temperature.

Encourage guests to drink water often, even if they don’t feel thirsty. Set up shaded areas where people can cool off and take breaks from the heat. Older adults, young children and people with heart problems are especially at risk.

Summer gatherings should be remembered for fun times, not medical emergencies. Following these tips can help keep everyone safer and healthier so a good time can be had by all.

Copyright 2026 © Baldwin Publishing, Inc.  Health eCooks® Heart Healthy Recipes® is a registered trademark of Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein without the express approval of Baldwin Publishing, Inc. is strictly prohibited.

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Little Apple news

July 29, 2026

Growing in Grace Community Center will have a back to school bash 1:00-3:00 p.m. August 8. They will have a taco bar, soft -serve ice cream and cookies, clothing giveaway, and Heather Smith will be giving haircuts from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at The Red Door. All clothing and haircuts will be free to the kids. Taco bar is free will donation to help with cost. If anyone has any clothing donations or just want to help with cost of haircuts or school supplies, please let them know by text 660 492 3425.

The Knights of Columbus will have their monthly pancake and sausage breakfast at the Knight’s Hall in Montrose on Sunday, August 9 from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.  Treat your family to a hot breakfast you don’t have to cook or clean up.  A free will donation will be greatly appreciated

The AC Fall City Wide Garage Sale dates have been set for September 25 & 26. Permit details will be posted at a later date. 

ACHS seniors Avery Wraight, Cami Brownsberger, David Connor, Drake Brownsberger, Garrett Davis, Hailyn Oehring, Jace Long, LeeAnna Park, Lila Stephan, Owen Basore, Raeah & Raeleigh Hill, Ronye Williams and Montrose seniors Cory Wagner, Kelsey Carter, and Lainee Swaters can pick up their pictures at True Value.

Appleton City now has recycling. It is for cardboard and plastic only. The dumpster is located on Walnut Street by the water tower. 

 “The Little Apple” was started by the A. C. Economic Development as way of informing residents of news and events sponsored by area businesses and organizations.  Items of a clearly personal nature, such as birthdays, anniversaries, awards (not group sponsored), personal sales and the like are not accepted for publication. Items may be edited for accuracy, grammar or space restrictions. Please email articles for “The Little Apple” to dcp81@embarqmail.com by Tuesday evenings or bring them to Dr. Payton’s office to be included in that week’s edition. To receive "The Little Apple" free by e-mail, or to be removed from the email list, send your e-mail address to dcp81@embarqmail.com If you have changed your email address, please send the current address, so the list can be updated.

A message to the Community from the Ellett Memorial Hospital CEO:

In our rural community, we take care of one another. As your local hospital, we are deeply committed to the safety and well-being of every family we serve. Our district operates with one ambulance crew per shift, and our EMS team works around the clock to respond as quickly as possible when a call comes in. When our crew is already on a scene or transporting a patient, that ambulance is temporarily out of service. In those moments, one of our neighboring districts steps in through mutual aid. If you live outside our district as defined by the Missouri Board of EMS, we cannot come to get you unless it's through mutual aid, as required by Missouri law.

This can mean response times may be shorter or longer, depending on where the mutual aid crew is coming from. We want you to know this isn’t a lack of effort — it’s simply the reality of rural emergency care, and we are doing everything we can to minimize delays.

Our EMS team is trained not only to respond, but to guide you to the right care. If they determine that your situation requires a specialist or service we do not have onsite, they will direct you to the nearest hospital that can begin your treatment faster. Your health and safety always come first.

We are proud to serve this community. We are your neighbors, your friends, and your family — and we will always do our very best to be there when you need us.

Our EMS District Covers Portions of Three Counties. Ellett Memorial Hospital sits in Appleton City, which is positioned near the intersection of St. Clair, Henry, and Bates Counties. Rural EMS districts in this region typically cover portions of all three. St. Clair County is our primary county. Your ambulance district almost includes: Appleton City city limits, rural areas north, south, east, and west of town, County roads and farms extending several miles outward and the immediate Appleton City School and residential areas. Appleton City sits right on the Henry County line, so our EMS district typically covers residences just north of Appleton City, rural Henry County roads that are closer to our hospital than to Clinton and farms and homesteads that rely on Appleton City as their nearest EMS resource. We also border Bates County to the west. Rural EMS districts often extend into western rural areas near the Bates–St. Clair line, homes and farms closer to Appleton City than to Butler and shared mutual aid zones where dispatch chooses the closest available ambulance.  

Rural EMS districts are drawn based on proximity and response time, not strict county borders. Appleton City sits at a tri county junction, so your district naturally includes: the closest homes and farms in three counties, areas where your ambulance is the fastest responder and mutual aid zones where neighboring districts backfill when you’re out on a call. This is normal for rural Missouri EMS and is exactly how dispatch ensures families get the fastest possible help. If you need to call 911 in case of an emergency, it may be helpful to tell the dispatcher that you would like them to send Ellett Memorial Hospital Ambulance staff if that is what you want.

Ellett Memorial Hospital Appleton City offers outpatient specialist services for July. Call 660-476-2111 for appointments. July 30 - Neurology- Dr.- Shoaib, Friday, July 31– Dermatology- Dylan Timmerman, PA, Wednesday,  August 5 – Upper GI, Colonoscopy-Dr. Namin, Thursday, August 6 - OB/Gyn- Dr. Kallberg,  Friday, August 7 – Dermatology- Dylan Timmerman, PA,  Tuesday,  August 11 - Rheumatology- Dr. John, Wednesday, August 12- Dermatology- Dylan Timmerman, PA, Thursday, August 13- Dermatology- Dylan Timmerman, PA, Friday August 14 –Orthopedic-Dr. Gray, Wednesday, August 19 – Upper GI, Colonoscopy-Dr. Namin, Thursday, August 20 –Podiatry: Dr. Pace, Friday, August 21 – Orthopedics- Laura Noble, FNP, Tuesday, August 25 - Rheumatology- Dr. John, Wednesday,  August 26 - Orthopedic-Dr. Gray,  Wednesday,  August 26 – Ophthalmology, Dr. Soni, Thursday, August 27 - Neurology- Dr.- Shoaib, Friday, August 28– Dermatology- Dylan Timmerman, PA.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Aug 4     Primary election day

Aug 8     Growing In Grace Back to School Bash

Aug 9     Pancake and sausage breakfast at the Knight’s Hall in Montrose 8:30-10:00 a.m.

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Showers ahead of moderate temps this weekend

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Obituary - Karen Gregory

Karen Gregory, 88 of Amsterdam, Missouri passed away Sunday, July 26, 2026 at Medicalodges Butler, Butler, Missouri. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, July 31, 2026 in West Point Cemetery, Amsterdam, Missouri. Services under the direction of Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). Memorial contributions may be made to West Point Cemetery c/o Mullinax Funeral Home. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

Karen Alyce Boswell Gregory was born October 3, 1937 in LaCyne, Kansas, the daughter of Leonard and Maxine McClanahan Boswell. She was united in marriage to Willis "Pod" Gregory. They made their home in Amsterdam and three children were born to this union. Karen worked for many years as a cook at the Miami School and would occasionally drive a school bus.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, husband Pod Gregory, and daughter Jody Midkiff. She is survived by her sons, Clay Gregory, and Cole Gregory. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Stephanie Gadsby and husband Dusty, Chance Gregory, Casey Gregory, along with great-grandchildren, Brandi and Jessie Gadsby

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Solutions for soybean pest available

Dectes stem borer is a common soybean pest in Missouri. While feeding inside the stem often causes little direct yield loss, larvae can girdle stems later in the season, leading to lodging and creating harvest challenges.

Watch to learn how to identify Dectes stem borer and what you can do to prevent significant yield losses.

Learn more. Do more with MU Extension: https://brnw.ch/21x4v5I

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