Little Apple news

July 22, 2026

West Central Missouri Community Action Agency (West Central) and New Growth invite community members to attend West Central / New Growth Advocacy Day on Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at their Central Office in Appleton City—112 W. 4th St. Advocacy Day is an opportunity for community members, elected officials, local leaders, partners, and stakeholders to learn more about the programs and services provided by West Central and New Growth and the impact they have throughout our region. This is an open-house event, so attendees are welcome to stop by at any time during the event as their schedules allow. During the event, guests will have the opportunity to: Visit informational exhibits hosted by our program teams; Learn about community needs, challenges, and opportunities throughout our service area; Meet West Central and New Growth staff and community partners; Hear brief remarks from elected officials and policymakers and Visit with others who share a commitment to strengthening our communities. Attendees are encouraged to enjoy lunch while they're here by visiting one of Appleton City's local restaurants or purchasing lunch from one of the food trucks that will be in town: Fobo's Cajun and MoKan Kitchen. Your participation helps strengthen the partnerships that support thriving communities and create opportunities for individuals and families throughout West Central Missouri. For more information, please email-- info@wcmcaa.org. They hope you'll stop by and join them on July 23!

Ellett Memorial Hospital will sponsor a blood drive Thursday, July 23, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. in the Outpatient Clinic at 610 N Ohio St, ACMO. Sign up at savealifenow.org/group and use group code EG2B. For more details, contact Kayla Orear at (660) 476-5214 or kayla.orear@ellettmemorial.com or Julia Grubb (660) 476-5242 or julia.grubb@ellettmemorial.com

Golden Apples Senior Club will meet Thursday July 23 at 5:00 p.m. This week's menu is fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy. Please bring sides and desserts to share that go with fried chicken. Come for the fellowship, enjoy the food and stay for the fun!

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

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. Please come and be blessed!

Rural food and farm businesses in St. Clair, Henry, and Bates Counties may be eligible for grants of up to $25,000 through the Harvest to Market grant program. Funding can support projects that expand access to markets and strengthen local food systems. The program is through the Heartland Food Business Coalition and New Growth. Learn more at HeartlandFoodBusiness.org. Applications are due August 31. Learn more at Heartlandfoodbusiness.org

Make a difference in your community by helping neighbors get where they need to go. New Growth Transit is seeking local volunteer drivers to provide transportation for medical appointments, employment, and other essential trips. As a volunteer driver, you’ll receive IRS-approved mileage reimbursement to help offset the cost of using your personal vehicle. Plus, you choose when and where you want to drive flexibility that fits your schedule. Give back, stay connected, and make a real impact one ride at a time. For info, call: 417-283-7991 or email: transporation@wcmcaa.org

The Appleton City Museum would like to list owners of century farms in their area farm owners of 100+ years. Contact acmolampkin@yahoo.com or voice message 660-492-0131. They will assist you in filing an on-line application to the University of Missouri Extension site OR only be listed (with no fee) in the Appleton City Museum (12 mile radius). Eligibility is ownership by any and all family members for 100 years and income from farming (renting is acceptable). MU requires documentation and a fee. Be proud to be a pioneer family. Your story is priceless.

“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.

Ellett Memorial Hospital Appleton City offers outpatient specialist services for July. Call 660-476-2111 for appointments. Wednesday, July 22 – Ophthalmology, Dr. Soni, Thursday, July 23- Dermatology- Dylan Timmerman, PA, Friday, July 24 - Dermatology- Dylan Timmerman, PA, Tuesday, July 28 - Rheumatology- Dr. John, Thursday, 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

July 23     West Central / New Growth Advocacy Day 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 112 W. 4th St.

July 23     Blood Drive at Ellett Memorial Hospital Outpatient Clinic 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.

The Barking Bulldogs is produced by the Mass Media class at Appleton City High School. This upcoming school year will be only the second year the course has been offered, so they are still a very new program and are looking to expand. 

A little bit of background: The class was originally planned as a print journalism course, focused on launching a school newspaper, "The Bulldog Buzz". In September 2025, however, they began a side project, a filmed podcast that became The Barking Bulldogs. With a cheap video camera, microphones that worked intermittently, a makeshift backdrop, a borrowed table and folding chairs, and a lot of heart, ten students took on this new venture in the back of Mrs. Campbell’s classroom. Everything they have learned has come through research, experimentation, and lots of trial and error. From day one, the goal of the podcast has been to highlight school events, student achievements, athletics, club activities, and the voices and experiences of the students. The first episode aired on YouTube in October 2025. 

In January, "The Bulldog Buzz" issued its final edition, so that they could focus solely on the podcast. 

By the end of our first year (Season One), they had accomplished far more than they ever expected: 10 episodes, tremendous community support, and several local sponsorships. Those fundraising efforts allowed them to significantly upgrade their video camera and editing software.

They also received approval in May from school administration to move production out of Mrs. C's room and into the former RootEd office. Beginning this August, The Barking Bulldogs will be filmed in their new studio, complete with an official set!

Looking ahead, they’re excited to continue growing. In addition to the new studio, they’re looking to expand into live streaming home games with commentary, pregame interviews, and merchandise giveaways. 

If you haven't watched the program, https://www.youtube.com/@barkingbulldogs will take you to the YouTube channel. Once they start filming in their new studio, things will look very different, but their goal remains the same: to highlight student life at ACHS. Please make sure you hit "Subscribe" so that their analytics will climb. 

Thank you to everyone who has followed, watched, sponsored, shared, and encouraged this program. Your support has helped turn a small classroom experiment into something much bigger than they ever imagined, and they can't wait to show you the changes they have in store for Season 2! 

 APPLETON CITY FAIR COMMITTEE OFFERS FREE FAMILY FUN DAY 

To the Appleton City Community, 

The Appleton City Fair Committee would like to thank our community for its continued support and extend our sincere apologies for having to reschedule the second day of the fair. 

We also want to be transparent with our community, sponsors, and vendors about the challenges we faced while planning this year's fair. Three weeks before the event, the carnival company we had contracted with unexpectedly canceled. The Committee immediately began contacting other companies in an effort to find a replacement. Just 10 days before the fair, Joe's Old-Fashioned Fun agreed to provide five rides, two bounce houses, a mechanical bull, and a climbing wall. 

Unfortunately, a series of unexpected events resulted in the company arriving later than scheduled and falling behind on setup. The bounce houses were never inflated, and only two rides and the mechanical bull were operational. This was not the experience we intended to provide for our community, and we sincerely apologize for the disappointment. 

On Saturday morning, after making the difficult decision to cancel the second day of the fair because of weather concerns, the Committee met with the owner of Joe's Old-Fashioned Fun to discuss the issues and the company's failure to meet its contractual obligations. The owner returned the Committee's pre-sale ticket funds, which were then used to refund anyone who returned unused pre-sale tickets at the original purchase price. 

To make up for the canceled activities, the Appleton City Fair Committee is hosting a Free Family Fun Day on August 22, 2026. Children will be able to enjoy inflatable attractions provided by K & S Inflatables of Humansville, Missouri, pony rides provided by the Bates County Posse, and a K-9 demonstration by the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office—all at no cost. 

Many of the activities that were canceled during the fair will also take place that day, including the Senior Royalty crowning, Baby Show, Toddler Swimsuit Contest, kids' games, Fair Bake-Off and Bake Auction, music by Sparrowfoot and the Truman Lake Dulcimers. 

Food vendors and craft vendors who were scheduled for the original Saturday fair will also be returning, if available, giving families another opportunity to enjoy the event together. Please note that while the children's activities are free, purchases from food and craft vendors will require payment. 

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding. Our goal is to provide a fun, family-friendly event before school begins and to thank our community for its continued support. A complete schedule of events for Free Family Fun Day will be posted soon. 

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Tips to avoid Italian ryegrass taking over

Italian ryegrass is a new weed Missouri producers should be watching closely.

This fast-growing grass is becoming harder to control because of herbicide resistance and can compete with crops for water, nutrients and sunlight, reducing yields in corn, soybean and wheat fields.

The good news? Early identification and proactive management can help keep populations under control. MU Extension specialists recommend using a combination of crop and herbicide rotation, narrow row spacing and effective fall and early-season control strategies to reduce the risk of infestations.

Get more details: https://brnw.ch/21x4jtQ

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Obituary - Carl Lyle Covey

A celebration of life service for Carl Lyle Covey of Rich Hill, Missouri will be 11 a.m. July 25, 2026 at the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. Visitation prior to service from 10 - 11 a.m. July 25. at the Schowengerdt Chapel. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Carl Lyle Covey of Rich Hill, Missouri, passed away on April 28, 2026 at Research Medical Center surrounded by his family. Carl was born July 9, 1946 to Otis Carlyle and Georgia Allene Covey in Kansas City, Missouri where his big sister Gayle was there to welcome him home. He grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and attended East High School where he graduated in 1964. Carl had a great love of music and could play several instruments. As a teenager, he played guitar and sang in a rock and roll band. It was at a concert in Blue Valley Park that Connie first saw him and even though she had never met him, she knew she would one day marry him. She told his mother that day, “I’m going to marry your son.” They got married in 1967 and were together for 55 years before Connie passed away.

Carl enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1966 where he was an active serviceman until 1971. After he got married, he wanted to learn a trade and first worked as an apprentice to become a glass glazier which became his full time job. He put windows in many of the buildings in the Kansas City area. Carl and Connie both got saved and attended Friendly Assembly of God fairly early in their married life. Carl was called into the ministry and they attended Bible school together. When Friendly Assembly of God went through a split in 1974, they began traveling to Rich Hill to attend the local Assembly of God, and in 1975 began pastoring there. In 1979, Sweetwater was started by the hand of the Lord. He gave Carl the dimensions, made it possible to purchase the land, and acquire a loan during the recession of the 70s and 80s. Carl, along with the congregation, took on the task of building the church with their own hands from the ground up. For 47 years, Carl was a faithful shepherd to his flock at Sweetwater.

Carl loved people and had a heart for soul winning. Once he got saved, it was his lifelong passion to witness to those who had not yet met Jesus. He was blessed with many gifts and talents. He was a singer, musician, woodworker, artist, carpenter, and so many other things. He could see something, draw it, and figure out in his head how to build it. He was very creative. Throughout the years, he built many pieces of furniture for his family. If he didn’t know how to do something, he would figure it out until he could. He loved his doggie Remington and would faithfully take him for a ride in the car every day. He went to breakfast at the local café where he ordered the same thing every single day and then took his bacon home to share with Remington. He enjoyed his morning visits with what they called ‘the liars club’. He loved going to the Kern Center to play dirty bingo. He had such fun setting his sights on something and then trying to win and keep it. Carl enjoyed playing music at the nursing home in Nevada once a month and practicing with his music group.

Carl is survived by two daughters, Carla Toppass (Matt) and Shelly Schmitt (Jim) all of Rich Hill, Missouri; sister, Gayle Wright of St. Louis, Missouri; daughter-in-law, Ferlinda Turley (Brandon) of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; nine grandchildren, Emily Brucks (Michael), Caleb Schmitt (Tierra), Evelyn Tholen (Matthew), Andrew Schmitt (Abbagail), Allie Siegismund (Levi), Joshua, Jacob, Jonathon and Joseph Covey; five great-grandsons, MJ and Macklin Brucks, Elias and Everett Schmitt, Rhett Schmitt and one on the way, nephews, nieces, his doggie, Remington, his church family, and many friends from the Kern Center, his music group, and the café. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Connie of 55 years, and a son, Timothy L. Covey.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made to Sweetwater Tabernacle of God.

Obituary graciously provided by the family.

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Obituary - Paul Risko

Paul Risko, age 79 passed away on Friday, July 17, 2026 at Medicalodge of Butler, Missouri. Graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday July 24, 2026 at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri. Fond memories and condolences can be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.

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Obituary - William Lee "Bill" Anderso

William Lee "Bill" Anderson, age 84, Pleasanton, Kansas passed away Tuesday, July 21, 2026.  He was born on May 8, 1942 in La Cygne, Kansas the son of Clarence Edward and Lula Mae Morris Anderson.  He worked for the City of Pleasanton for over forty years as the water superintendent.  Bill was united in marriage to Sharon Kay York on May 16, 1964.  He enjoyed mowing grass, and watching westerns and football.  He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Tim Anderson, a brother, Ray Anderson, and a sister, Judy Miller.    Bill is survived by his wife Sharon, a son, Terry Anderson and wife Jeannie, a daughter, Chelli Rice and husband, Rick, a brother, Bobby Anderson, two sisters, Joyce Pratt, and Janice Turner, and several grand and great grandchildren.  

A funeral service will be held 11 am Saturday, July 25, 2026 at the Schneider Funeral Home, Pleasanton Chapel.  Visitation will be held from 10 am to service time at the Pleasanton Chapel.  Memorial contributions are suggested to the Bone and Cancer Foundation.  Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com. 

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Alert from City of Adrian: Boil Advisory Lifted

Alert from City of Adrian: Boil Advisory Lifted

Date: Jul 22, 2026

The City's Boil Advisory has been lifted. The system has been tested several times and the water is safe for normal consumption. 

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State auditor gives Bates County Sheriff scathing report

State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick finds the Bates County Sheriff wasted more than $178,000 in public funds to create a mounted patrol, subsidize a not-for-profit posse, hold rodeo events, and throw parties

The report gives the office the lowest possible rating of "poor" as it recommends the Sheriff ensure all county assets are used only for law enforcement purposes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., July 22, 2026

What do horses named Bandit, Tater, and Duck have in common with a sno-cone machine, a dunk tank, and a go-kart? They're all part of the wasteful spending by the Bates County Sheriff's Office uncovered in a new report released today by Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick. 

The audit conducted by Fitzpatrick's office gives the Bates County Sheriff's Office the lowest possible rating of "poor" and notes how Sheriff Chad Anderson wasted public resources to maintain a Mounted Patrol (MP) and fund a Sheriff's Posse (Posse), as well as fund rodeo and community events, donate to various private organizations, hold parties, and use county assets for personal use.

"A county sheriff is entrusted with the duty to promote public safety and protect the lives of county residents, and using taxpayer funds to purchases horses, hold rodeos, and throw holiday parties is clearly a betrayal of the public's trust and a misuse of funds that could have been better used for legitimate law enforcement purposes or by Bates County taxpayers," said Auditor Fitzpatrick. "I'm sure there are people in Bates County who enjoyed seeing Bandit, Tater, and Duck, and attending some of the events the Sheriff financed with public funds but they may be less thrilled when they realize how much money he diverted away from law enforcement efforts to purchase and care for these horses, and to buy items that have no law enforcement purpose like a dunk tank, a sno-cone machine, and a go-kart."

Fitzpatrick added, "I would like to think Sheriff Anderson would take responsibility for the poor decisions he has made, but the truth is he has gone to great lengths to delay our audit and to refute the findings contained in our report that are intended to improve the function of his office. It required multiple subpoenas to obtain the Sheriff's testimony and relevant documents to complete the audit, and it is disappointing that instead of accepting responsibility for the issues we identified, Sheriff Anderson chose to question our office's auditing expertise."

The audit report documents how the Bates County Sheriff's Office used more than $110,000 in county funds to establish and maintain the MP unit that was rarely used for law enforcement purposes. During the time period covered by the audit the MP attended 8 parades, 6 tractor shows, 4 rodeos, 4 fun horse shows, and 1 family fun day. During that same period of time the unit performed only one search and rescue and no crowd or traffic control. The report notes the unit was used for a second search and rescue effort in May 2026, but points out the number of ceremonial events significantly outnumbers the official law enforcement uses. The report also points out that many of the horses purchased by the office were at an advanced age and some had to be euthanized shortly after purchase. Of the current horses, only Bandit, who is 24 years of age, is search and rescue certified, while Duck and Tater have no experience or training. In total, the office has spent nearly $42,000 to purchase horses and at least another $53,225 to board, feed, and care for them. The Sheriff also spent $15,000 to purchase a horse trailer and have it wrapped with Bates County Sheriff Mounted Patrol signage.

The report also looks at how the Sheriff has used county resources to pay some of the expenses of the Posse, which is a not-for-profit entity without a written agreement with the office. The Sheriff used county funds to pay invoices addressed to the Posse totaling $16,848 including $7,406 for shirts with the Posse badge logo, $4,543 for medical training and equipment, $1,749 for Posse badges, $1,477 for customized saddle pads, $1,150 for supplies, and $523 for awards. The Sheriff also assigned the county-owned 2005 Chevy Tahoe to the Posse and used county funds totaling $605 to have the vehicle wrapped with the Posse's lettering and insignia. The report questions what safety or law enforcement purpose requires the Sheriff's office to pay to outfit Posse volunteers with realistic badges and Bates County Sheriff's office identification. In our audit period, the Posse has only been deployed to assist in 1 search and rescue mission and has not otherwise been used for documented law enforcement activities.

The audit report takes issue with the Sheriff's use of $23,788 to finance annual fundraising rodeos for the Posse and other community events such as Family Fun Days. Neither the county nor the Sheriff's office were reimbursed for funds spent on the events and all proceeds went to the concession vendor or the Posse from advertising sales. The Sheriff used county funds totaling $1,075 to advertise the events and rent portable toilets for monthly Rodeo Fun Shows for the Posse, and used county funds totaling $653 on 75 shirts in various sizes and colors for a dodge ball tournament hosted by the Bates County Sheriff's Posse. Additionally, the Sheriff maintains assets with no law enforcement purpose to facilitate the hosting of or participation in the community events. The Sheriff's asset list includes a dunk tank, a popcorn machine, a sno-cone machine, a roller grill, a cheese warmer, and a go-kart.

The audit also uncovered how the Sheriff donated $23,268 in county funds to local youth sports programs, and other not-for-profits. Included in that total is $5,045 for the construction, maintenance, and holiday decoration of a replica 1880's Sheriff's office located at the Adrian Frontier Village in Adrian, Missouri. The Sheriff's Office could not provide any law enforcement purpose for the construction, maintenance, and decoration of the replica building. The report also documents how the Sheriff used county funds to purchase food from local restaurants and rented event venues totaling $4,356 for parties. Additionally, the Sheriff used county assets for personal or non-county purposes and did not store all county property at approved county locations. The Sheriff used county assets for Posse and community events (dunk tank, vehicles, and MP horses) and used the county's armored vehicle for his son's high school prom. He also failed to consistently store the horse trailer at county approved locations.

The report points out the Sheriff attributed the extensive expenditures for community events, donations, and purchases of promotional items to community policing efforts, but does not have any policies or procedures for such a program or documentation to support how the expenditures supported his office's community policing goals, activities, or mission. The Sheriff used county funds to purchase promotional items totaling $13,735 to give away at community events. Items purchased include ink pens, lip balm, hand sanitizer, toy sheriff badges, hand fans, cups, beach balls, stress balls, string bags, stickers, mood bracelets, and flying discs as part of his office's community policing program. However, he does not have any documentation to support what community policing goals the items achieve.

Other findings in the report include a significant cash reserve in the Law Enforcement Fund without a plan for use of the balance or to reduce the Law Enforcement Sales Tax rate; improper uses of restricted Inmate Security Fund money to purchase items; lacking payroll controls and procedures; improper waiving of concealed carry weapon permit fees for some applicants; insufficient accounting controls and procedures; and inadequate inventory controls and procedures over commissary items sold to inmates.

The complete audit report for the Bates County Sheriff's Office is available here. 

Story by Office of Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick
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Something new coming to Hume Fair & Rodeo

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