2 die in Henry county crash Sunday afternoon

A 77 year old female and an 81 year old male from Lincoln, MO succumbed to injuries sustained in a multi-car accident on 7 highway at NW 311th road just before 3 pm Sunday afternoon.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, a 2016 Ford Taurus driven by the female crossed into oncoming traffic striking a Nissan Maxima driven by a 54 year old female of Clinton, MO; that vehicle was then subsequently struck by 2015 Ford pickup driven by a 59 year old Stillwell KS man.

Injuries to the Clinton woman are listed as serious and she was transported by air ambulance to Truman Medical Center for treatment.

No injuries are listed for the Stillwell man.

The Highway Patrol says the accident resulted in fatalities #22 and #23 for this year on Missouri roads.


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One injured when motorcycle strikes deer in southwest Bates County

Just after 10 pm Sunday evening, first responders were called to the scene of an accident involving a motorcycle striking a deer on V highway just north of CR SW 2008.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol report, a 22 year old Rich Hill man sustained minor injuries and was taken to Cass County Regional Medical Center for treatment. The 2017 Honda motorcycle was totaled and removed from the scene by private party. 

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Small Towns, Big Speed: Area Athletes Fuel Track Boom

By Cody Morris

There is something brewing on tracks across Midwestern Missouri lately. For years, even decades, football fields, basketball courts and baseball diamonds have seemingly commanded the spotlights in our small, rural towns. But lately these sports have been forced to share a spotlight with track programs that are quickly gaining momentum in area schools. The growth, and subsequent success, of our local track programs is impossible to ignore if you follow your local sports scene.

Records that stood for decades are falling. More athletes are specializing. More schools are seeing deep, competitive rosters. And perhaps most importantly, more student-athletes are embracing the demanding nature of a sport that offers nowhere to hide.

With Track and Field event quickly growing in Midwestern Missouri Schools, you may ask the question, why? Part of it appears to be the advancement in performance across the board, students want to be a part of the winning programs and traditions that are being built. But perhaps even more than that, there has been a cultural shift in the way young athletes view the sport. Many talented athletes are realizing that Track and Field presents unique challenges, and determined athletes tend to gravitate toward a challenge. Success is not handed out in track. Stopwatches do not care about excuses, tape measures cannot be negotiated with, and gravity is not interested in effort alone.

When a sport pushes you as much as Track and Field pushes you, you either rise up or fall back. And across our area, athletes are rising.

That growth of many our area programs were on full display this past weekend at sectional competition, where local schools once again proved the talent pipeline is very much alive. As the competition rose over this past weekend, so did the performances of many of our area track standouts. Bates County (and surrounding towns) are sending a staggering slew of speedy superstars to State Track & Field competition.

In Class 1 Section 3, the Midway Vikings continued an impressive season with multiple state-qualifying performances. Trevyn Adams claimed sectional championships in both the 100-meter dash and shot put, showcasing rare versatility. Jonathan McAfee secured a second-place finish in the 400-meter dash, while Cory Carver advanced with a third-place finish in pole vault. On the girls side, Ella Jamison put together an exceptional meet, finishing third in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes while also taking second in triple jump. Ella Lyon added another state qualification for Midway with a third-place finish in pole vault.

Rich Hill will also be well represented at state competition with Will Klinksick earning a third-place finish in the 200-meter dash, while Andrew Kithcart qualified in the 1600-meter run. The Tigers also showcased team speed, advancing to state with runner-up finishes in both the boys 4×100 and 4×200 relays.

At Drexel, a familiar tradition of track excellence continued. Kolbi Nichols punched a ticket to state with a third-place finish in the 800-meter run. Miles Wheeler had one of the most dominant sectional performances in the area, winning sectional titles in both pole vault and the 300-meter hurdles while adding a runner-up finish in the 110-meter hurdles. Grace Francis proved nearly unstoppable on the girls side, claiming sectional championships in both the 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles while also finishing second in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes.

Appleton City continued to flex its strength in field events and relays. Michael Smith qualified with a third-place finish in high jump, while Kate Wareham secured third in the 800-meter run. Shea Brownsberger advanced in pole vault with a second-place finish, and Laine Swaters turned in a tremendous day by winning the sectional championship in shot put while also taking second in javelin. The Lady Bulldogs’ 4×400 relay team added another sectional title to the school’s growing list of accomplishments.

In Class 3 Section 4, Butler once again demonstrated why the Bears remain a force in area athletics. Jake Chandler secured a state berth with a third-place finish in the 200-meter dash, while Lucas Davison finished runner-up in javelin. Junior Tandee Hiser qualified in pole vault with a third-place finish, and junior Kylee Dubray continued her dominant season by winning sectional championships in both shot put and discus. Freshman Kiersten Dubray, Kylee’s younger sister, also qualified with a third-place finish in discus, giving the Bears another sign that the future remains bright.

Archie athletes also delivered a strong showing. Lake Callahan advanced with a second-place finish in the 400-meter dash, while Jackson Kash earned third in long jump. Westyn Bryant claimed a sectional championship in javelin, and the boys relay teams continued to shine, winning the 4×200 relay while taking third in the 4×100.

Adrian athletes also made noise at sectionals. Freshman Chaz Davis qualified in pole vault with a third-place finish, while Olivia Engeman secured third in the 800-meter run. Sophomore Grace Engeman, Olivia’s younger sister, added a third-place finish in javelin. The Lady Blackhawks relays proved especially strong, winning the 4×400 relay and taking second in the 4×200.

The common thread through all of it is simple: track is growing, and local athletes are embracing the challenges and rewards that comes with it.

In a sport built almost entirely on discipline, repetition, and personal accountability, our area schools are not just competing, they are thriving. If this spring has shown us anything, it is that the future of Track & Field in western Missouri is not slowing down anytime soon.

Photos take from Facebook pages of: Adrian News Leader, AC Athletic Boosters, Midway Track and Field/Cross Country, Butler Bears Track and XC

Article is sponsored by C&S Graphics – FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK!

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Vernon county police chase comes to end near Butler

Nevada city police, the Vernon county sheriff's office and Bates county sheriff's office have apparently brought a fleeing subject to a stop in the northbound lanes of I-49 near the east 52 highway exit near Butler.

As police presence is heavy in the area, use caution if traveling nearby; additional information is unknown at this time.


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20th annual Show of Wheels held in Butler over the weekend

Best of Show: Robert Holman of Butler Missouri took top honors with his 1966 Chevelle at the 20th annual Show of Wheels held in Butler on Saturday. Congratulations!

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Obituary - Sonya Davis

Sonja Lynette Davis, 73, of Harrisonville, Missouri, passed away on Friday, May 15, 2026, at her home. Services are pending arrangements and a complete obituary will be posted when it is available, courtesy Atkinson Funeral Home.


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Obituary - Christine L. Holbrook

Christine L. Holbrook, 81, of Valley, Nebraska, formerly of Archie, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Valley. Services will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026, at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO, with a visitation at 10:00 AM followed by the funeral service at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow in Crescent Hill Cemetery in Adrian, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to DC West School Foundation.

A complete obituary will be posted when it becomes available, courtesy Atkinson Funeral Home.

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Department of Agriculture Announces Grants for Missouri Specialty Crop Production

The deadline to apply for 2026 funding is May 28.

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – The Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Interested individuals, community organizations and research institutions working to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Missouri should submit their application by Thursday, May 28, 2026.

USDA defines specialty crops as fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, honey, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. The Department offers this grant program to expand markets on local, regional and international levels, develop distribution channels for specialty crops, and catalyze education, research, marketing, promotion, food safety strategies and crop-specific solutions for pests and diseases.

The Department will consider grant awards up to a maximum of $50,000 for a specific project with a two-year grant period. Funded projects are eligible to receive grant funds on a quarterly reimbursement schedule. No advance payments will be made.

Applications for the upcoming fiscal year must be submitted to the Department by 3 p.m. Thursday, May 28. Applications will be evaluated and selected projects will be included in the Missouri State Plan for USDA review and approval. A list of previously funded projects is available on the Department’s website.

The application form and additional details are available online the Department’s website.

For more information about the Missouri Department of Agriculture and its programs, visit the Department online.

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