Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Little Apple news
January 28, 2026
ACHS Courtwarming is Friday, February 6th against Archie. The theme is “Hollywood”. Games start at 5:30 p.m.
St. Mary’s School (Montrose) will have a spaghetti dinner Saturday January 31 from 5:00-9:00 p.m. in the school basement. The dinner is a free will donation. Please come with family and friends and enjoy a delicious dinner of spaghetti with sauce, breadsticks, salad, dessert and tea or lemonade while supporting St. Mary’s School. There will also be a silent auction with classroom crafts and other items.
Appleton City Optimist Baseball sign-ups are now open and will remain active until February 6. Teeball, Midgets Boys, Machine Pitch, Pee Wee Boys/Girls, Junior Boys and Junior Girls registration is available online at https://active.leagueone.com/OLR/Pages/Welcome.aspx?ClubId=16112
Growing In Grace Community Center is hosting a community dinner 3:00-6:00 p.m. February 7. They will have a breakfast bar with dessert. Music from Appleton City Worship Center with David and Wilma Williams and Pat starts at 4:00 p.m. Please come join them. Free will donation accepted.
Parents As Teachers will be joining Story Hour at the AC Public Library on Monday, February 9 from 11:00-12:00. They will read a story, do a craft and eat snacks.
The Knights of Columbus will have their monthly pancake and sausage breakfast at the Knight’s Hall in Montrose on Sunday, February 8 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
This February, fall in love with a surprise read at the Appleton City Public Library, as they host “Blind Date with a Book”. This month-long event is for all ages and invites patrons to choose from a wide variety of wrapped books, including romance, family-centered stories, thrillers, and more. It’s a great opportunity to step outside your reading comfort zone and discover a new author or genre. Select wrapped books will also be available for purchase throughout the event for those who prefer to own their book rather than check one out. Stop by anytime in February to participate. They can’t wait to see you at the library.
A student-focused trip to England and France is being coordinated by Mrs. Deel, the College & Career Advisor at Appleton City High School. This eight-day trip will depart in late May 2027 and all area students in 6 - 12th grades are invited, as are their families. Enrollment England and France trip is open. Space is limited, and spots are first-come, first-served. Travellers will see the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and enjoy a dinner cruise on the Seine River, in addition to walking through the elegant halls and gardens of the Palace of Versailles. After a visit to the Louvre museum, travellers will ride the Eurostar train through the English Channel to London. In London, travelers will explore Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and watch the changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, as well as attend a theatre performance. Enrolling in the trip by Friday, January 30th, secures a $200 discount (included in the quoted rate). Family discounts are available and all area families are invited. Trip details and enrollment options can be found at www.eftours.com/2945507ZR Enrollment is $95, and you have a week to change your mind for a full refund. Contact Mrs. Ashley Deel at adeel@appletoncity.k12.mo.us or EF Support with any questions.
The Appleton City High School Scholarship Foundation will award thirteen $3,500 Scholarships to ACHS 2026 graduates for any type of educational training, vocational and college. Forms are available from the College Advisor, Ashley Deel. The deadline is March 4 at 9:00 a.m. Please be sure to complete all questions.
Grace Christian Academy will have their 6th annual hog roast dinner with silent and live auctions fundraiser 4:00-7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 14 in the Lowry City Civic Center, 4th & Cleveland. The hog roast dinner for $10 includes meat, sides, dessert and drink. Children 4-12 years eat for $6, 3 and under are free. Carry out is available. Silent auction from 4:00–6:30 and live auction at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the school or at the door.
Ellett Memorial Hospital Appleton City offers outpatient specialist services for February, 2026. Call 660-476-2111 for appointments. Wednesday, Feb 4 – Upper GI, Colonoscopy-Dr. Namin, Thursday, Feb 5 – OB/GYN – Dr. Kallberg, Friday, Feb 6 – Dermatology- Dylan Timmerman, PA, Friday, Feb 13 – Orthopedic-Dr. Gray, Wednesday, Feb 18 – Upper GI, Colonoscopy-Dr. Namin, Thursday, Feb 19 – Podiatry – Dr. Pace, Friday, Feb 20 – Orthopedics-Laura Noble, FNP, Tuesday, Feb 24 - Rheumatology-Dr. John, Wednesday, Feb 25 – Orthopedic- Dr. Gray, Wednesday, Feb 25 – Ophthalmology, Dr. Soni, Thursday, Feb 26– Neurology- Dr.- Shoaib
“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.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Jan 31 St. Mary’s School (Montrose) spaghetti dinner from 5:00-9:00 p.m. in the school basement
Feb 6 ACHS Courtwarming against Archie
Feb 7 Growing In Grace Community Center community dinner 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Feb 8 Knights Of Columbus pancake and sausage breakfast 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. at the Knights Hall in Montrose
Tuesday basketball scores
Adrian 67
Butler 44
Chilhowee 43
Drexel 72
Nevada n/a
Archie 41
Chilhowee 67
Obituary - Brittany Hawkins
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.
Obituary - Jerel Lynn Pankratz
Jerel was a farmer and livestock man at heart. He valued family above all else and was most proud of his children and grandchildren, who were the greatest joy of his life. His quiet strength, steady presence, and unwavering dedication defined the way he lived and loved.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Allen and Dorothy Pankratz, and his beloved son, Cody.
Jerel is survived by his daughters Paula and Kurt Schwarz LaCygne, KS and Heather and Jeff Madison, Fort Scott, Ks; his grandchildren Parker, Sutton, and Grayson Schwarz, and Grady and Haven Madison; his sisters Barbara and Lonnie Thiessen; Krista and Max Heinrichs; and extended family who will deeply miss his guidance, wisdom, and love.
Growing up, Jerel was a member of Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church and most recently was a member of Centerville Community Church, where his faith continued to be an important part of his life.
A Celebration of Life will be held 1 pm Sunday, February 8, 2026 at the Centerville Community Church, Centerville, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers the family would ask memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice or to the Jerel Pankratz Memorial Fund (Union State Bank- Fort Scott, KS), which will be used to support families facing fertility challenges or those exploring adoption as they grow their families. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
Obituary - Rocky McNeece
Rocky was raised in Milo. He attended school in Nevada and graduated from Nevada High School in 1979. Shortly after graduating he went to work at Crane Plumbing and was there for over 30 years until its closing in 2013. Rocky loved the outdoors and often would spend his time hunting, fishing, and mushroom hunting. He also enjoyed watching the Kansas City Chiefs, and spending time with his family playing cards.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his uncle Forest Fleener, a cousin, Terry Fleener and several other aunts and uncles.
He is survived by his son Rocky McNeece, Jr (Savannah) of Nevada, MO, a daughter Stephany Wilson (Noah) of Moundville, MO; and son Kestin McNeece of the home; five grandsons, Blaine McNeece, Wyatt McNeece, Clayton McNeece, Hayden Wilson and Oakley Wilson; five siblings, Richard McNeece of Nevada, MO, Nancy Davies (Harold) of Nevada, MO, Lonnie McNeece of El Dorado Springs, MO, Donna Taffner (Ray) of Nevada, MO, and Sharon Wolf, of Lamar, MO; and numerous nieces and nephews
No services are planned at this time. A Celebration of life will happen at a later date.
Obituary - Helen Newton
Helen grew up in Nevada and graduated from Nevada High School Class of 1966. She was an LPN and worked at several area nursing homes and retired from Heartland Hospital in Nevada. She enjoyed crocheting and collecting roosters. Most of all, Helen loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include three children, Lesley Beisley (Russell), Sheldon, Jimmy Berten, Nevada, David Berten (Brenda), Sheldon; seven grandchildren, Tiffany Moore (Blake), Sharleen Wood (Kris), Chanci Beisley, Dakota Berten (Tisha), Lacie Haskins (Anthony), Ricky Berten (Mia), and Michael Berten (Danielle); 21 great-grandchildren; her companion of 20 years, George Range; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and two sisters, Kay Schnedler and Fay Tracy.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 2, 2026 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested in her name to Vernon County Cancer Relief in c/o Ferry Funeral Home.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Adrian alumni featured in widely renown education magazine
Courtesy The Education Magazine
In education, leadership begins long before stepping into a superintendent’s office. For Dr. Chrystal Mayfield, it began in classrooms, gyms, and science labs — places where curiosity thrives and students discover what’s possible.
