Monday, July 7, 2025

Bates County Fair Rabbit Show results

2025 Bates County Fair Rabbit Show Results

Congratulations to all our rabbit exhibitors on a fantastic show! We are proud to recognize the following outstanding results:
Best in Show: Carissa Stong – Satin, Senior Doe
Reserve in Show: Gabi Marlow – Holland Lop, Senior Doe
Grand Champion Meat Pen: Lottie McEwan
Reserve Champion Meat Pen: Myka Morrill
Showmanship Results:
Senior Showmanship
• Grand Champion: Carissa Stong
• Reserve Champion: Gabi Marlow
Intermediate Showmanship
• Grand Champion: Jacie Essenpries
• Reserve Champion: Ansley Thomas
Junior Showmanship
• Grand Champion: Penelope Kassner
• Reserve Champion: Lottie McEwan
Thank you to all participants, families, and volunteers. Your hard work, dedication, and passion for your animals made the 2025 Rabbit Show a great success!

Bates County Fair Super Teen competition highlights


1 dead following altercation in Archie

On July 5th around 11:30 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the Archie RV Park located near SW Outer Rd. in regards to a medical emergency — with a man bleeding. At the same time, dispatch also got a call from a second residence in Archie where a subject said he had been in an altercation.

Deputies responded there as well. The subject at that second residence said he had been in an altercation with another man in the parking lot of a local business, where he was assaulted.
Deputies determined these two calls were related to the same incident and both men were taken to local hospitals, one of them in critical condition.
The following day, the man who was in critical condition succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. That person has been identified as 34-year-old Michael Wolfe of Archie.
An investigation ongoing and all subjects involved have been identified at this time.

Cass County Fair schedule

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Sounds from Saturday night in Rich Hill

 


The Rich Hill park was filled with music Saturday evening as opening act Dallas and Janell took the stage just before legendary country artist Phil Vassar wooed the crowd with his biggest hits and plenty of quality entertainment to boot. 

The 2025 Rich Hill 4th of July celebration is being touted as "of the best yet" along with a promise that next year will be even bigger.




Stronger together: What BCMH learned from its Summer Community Talks

Hospital leaders share insights from four town meetings across Bates County and announce an upcoming event in Amsterdam

This summer, Bates County Memorial Hospital (BCMH) held a series of community talks across the county to connect with residents face to face. CEO Greg Weaver and members of the leadership team traveled to Adrian, Rich Hill, Butler, and Hume to share updates and hear directly from community members about their healthcare concerns, questions, and priorities.

“We appreciated the honest conversations,” said BCMH CEO Greg Weaver. “People showed up with important questions about their healthcare access, hospital stability, and what services we offer, and we were glad to listen.”

Community Feedback Shaped the Conversation

From all four meetings, one theme rang loud and clear: many residents were not fully aware of the wide range of services available at their local hospital. Attendees asked about everything from imaging and surgery to mental health and financial stability, and hospital leaders welcomed the opportunity to discuss these topics openly.

“We heard thoughtful questions about how a rural hospital operates and how we’re planning for the future,” said Weaver. “It was a valuable opportunity to talk honestly about what’s going well, and where we are facing real challenges – such as government regulations and insurance reimbursements.”

The hospital shared several ongoing efforts, such as grant funding to support EMS and new lab equipment, as well as legislative efforts to improve local healthcare funding options in the future.

Next Steps: More Conversations Ahead

As a result of the strong engagement from the June events, BCMH has scheduled another community meeting for the Amsterdam-Amoret area:

Amsterdam Area Community Talk

 Monday, August 5 at 6:00 p.m.

 Amsterdam Community Center

 Amsterdam, Mo.

 Residents of Amsterdam, Amoret, Virginia and nearby areas are invited to attend.

In addition, BCMH will host a dedicated meeting for elected officials later in August to foster ongoing collaboration and transparency about hospital services and priorities.

Elected Officials Briefing

Thursday, August 19 at 6:00 p.m.

BCMH Education Center

615 W. Nursery Street, Butler, Mo.

Staying Connected 

BCMH also announced plans to launch a Patient and Family Advisory Council this fall. Community members who wish to be more involved in sharing ideas, concerns, or feedback can learn more at upcoming events or by visiting the hospital’s website. 

Community members are also encouraged to participate in the hospital’s Community Health Needs Assessment by taking a brief online survey. This is an important way to help shape healthcare priorities for the coming years. Take the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BatesCoMO_CHNA_2025

Your Health. Your Hospital.

Bates County Memorial Hospital is a trusted partner committed to serving every resident of Bates County with compassion and excellence. 


 

Fire destroys mobile home in Rich Hill

 


Sunday evening Rich Hill Fire along with Butler Fire, Bates county EMS and the Bates County Sheriff's Office responded to the 100 block of West Oak for a residential structure fire. Upon arrival there was heavy fire in the kitchen & living room area which was quickly brought under control.

Fortunately no injuries were reported however, the fire is of suspicious nature and one person is in custody as the investigation continues.


Obituary - Darlene (Holland) Doolin

Darlene (Holland) Doolin, passed away on Thursday, July 4, 2025, at Medicalodges Nevada, MO where she resided as a resident for the past three years.

    Darlene was the daughter of Paul and Nora Alline (Beshore) Holland and was born in her home in Nevada, MO on December 6, 1936.  She shared this home with her older sister, Pauline Geyer and two younger brothers, Charles and Paul Holland. 

    Darlene fell in love with a young boy from Sheldon, MO, Donald Lee Doolin, and the couple celebrated their marriage at the Sheldon Baptist Church on March 21, 1953.  As a young bride, the call of the U.S. Navy came in her life as Donald sailed the seas on the USS Sandoval at the end of the Korean War.  Darlene resided in the home of her parents during Donald’s tour of duty and gave birth to their first-born child, a daughter, Diana Doolin, while he was at sea. 

    Prior to her marriage, Darlene shared her home with one older sister, Pauline Geyer and two younger brothers, Charles Holland and Paul Holland in Nevada, MO.  She quickly learned the value of work as the middle child, helping with the livestock and assigned daily chores from her parents on their small acreage.  Throughout her life, Darlene became a major stabilizing force in her parent’s home, along with her sister, Pauline.  Darlene often answered the call in times of crisis and tragedy and quickly learned the value of self-sacrifice which became a major character trait of her life.

    After Donald’s return from service in the Navy, Darlene resided not only in Sheldon, MO but also in Grants, New Mexico as Donald was employed by the Phillips Petroleum Company mining uranium.  It was in Grants, that Darlene forged some of her most precious relationships with family and friends with trips to the mountains, all night card games, practical jokes, and nervously waiting to hear the status of mine workers during mine emergencies.  It was also in Grants she raised her two young daughters, Diana and Debbie, and conceived her last child, a son, Daniel Doolin before returning to the Missouri.  

    Darlene returned to Sheldon, Missouri with her family in 1962 and gave birth to Daniel on September 30, 1962.  It was in Sheldon, that Darlene raised her three children in the house across the street from the Sheldon High School until they built their home on the small acreage near Rouser Town, north of Sheldon.   After Donald’s retirement, Darlene relocated to Stockton Lake where she and Donald started the endless remodeling of their home, crappie fishing and sharing life with Gerald and Aileen Beeny and her sister and brother-in-law, Pauline and Eldean Geyer.  During her time at Sheldon, she worked in various jobs:  Keys Industries, Nevada, MO, The Nevada State Hospital Laundry, homemaker and caretaker for her grandchildren, and cook at the Sheldon School. She also worked as a home health aide for Heartland during her residence at Stockton Lake.

    Aside from her formal places of employment, she was found faithfully at the side of her husband, remodeling and building their homes, preparing for weekly trips to Stockton Lake, managing the finances of the home, caring for her children and grandchildren, and preparing for the multiple gatherings of family and friends at her home.  Her greatest attribute came during the latter years of her life with Donald in their home in Lamar, MO as she cared for him until his death with mesothelioma on March 26, 2014.  Following her husband’s death, she resided in Lamar, MO until she relocated to her apartment in Nevada, MO.  Due to declining health, Darlene transitioned into the Nevada Medicalodges for the past three years.   She came to accept the transition to the Medicalodges as her new home and formed many wonderful relationships with staff, fellow residents and their families.  She was known as “Grandma” or simply “Doolin”.   She was a dedicated Kansas City Chiefs fan and follower of Fox News.  Even though Darlene never earned her high school diploma, she was savvy to world events and could talk about any issue in the news cycle with great clarity.  Her Bible was read, studied and highlighted in various places leaving a testament to her faith and hope as she embraced the world she lived in.   

    Darlene was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, beginning her relationship with Christ after the tragic death of her father in 1978.  She is a member of the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Lamar and has served as mission volunteer/cook with Southern Baptists in Tennessee and Iowa. 

    Darlene loved her parents and 3 siblings, her husband and 3 children, and especially her 9 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and was anticipating the arrival of her third great-great-grandchild next month.  She also loved the many people who knew her as friend, co-worker, or surrogate grandmother.

    Survivors include her daughter, Diana Leininger and Greg, Nevada; her son, Daniel Doolin and Lori, Lake Worth, FL; her son-in-law, Michael Hudson, Milo, MO; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great- grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Nora Alline (Beshore) Holland; 1 sister, Pauline Geyer; 2 brothers, Paul and Charles Holland; her husband, Donald; 1 daughter, Debbie Hudson; and one infant great-grandson, Blake Hart.

    Darlene’s family will receive friends from 6:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, July 10, 2025 at Ferry Funeral Home, with a Celebration of Life to follow from 7:00-7:30p.m.  

    Funeral services will be at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025 at Ferry Funeral Home with Darlene’s son, Daniel Doolin, officiating.  Burial will follow at 1:30p.m. at the Fort Scott National Cemetery, Fort Scott, KS.

     In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Wreaths Across America in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.


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