McGennis Youth Center Barbecue is this Sunday

The McGennis Youth Center Barbecue and Auction Is set for this Sunday, September 27.

Activities start at noon with registration for the 10th annual car show. For more information on the car show contact Jared Rankin at 417-448-4903 or email rankinfarms@hotmail.com.

Children’s games start at 12:30 as do the horsedrawn wagon rides.

Serving for the barbecue is at 1 p.m., and the auction will start at 1:45.

2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the McGennis Youth Center. Along with the traditional events listed above, several presenters will be on hand Sunday to demonstrate blacksmithing and quilting and to answer questions about the team and wagon. In addition, board members will provide information about the Center and its founder, Mary McGennis.

The meal of barbecued beef, pork and chicken, along with beans, cheesy potatoes, coleslaw and bread, is catered by Food Fair of Rich Hill. Everyone is invited to bring a cake for the dessert table, if they’d like.

Larry Hacker will be our auctioneer. A popular feature of the auction is the Mad Hatter which will feature ten McGennis Youth Center caps donated by Jeff and Jana Droz. These caps are numbered and will be auctioned off. At the end of the auction one of these numbers will be drawn. That winning number will win this year’s gun, an Impala 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun donated by Bell Farms and Pony Keg

A similar format will be used for a diamond ring donated by Bob Schyler.

Another special item for the auction will be two tickets to the July 24, 2027, Kenny Chesney concert at Arrowhead Stadium, featuring Sheryl Crow, Eric Church and Greylan James. The format for bidding on this item will be announced Sunday.

For more information about the auction or to donate an item call Marc or Alison Bell at 660-832-4196. The generosity of those who donate and those who bid has made the auction a major revenue source for the Youth Center.

Admission to the barbecue is $13 for adults and $7 for children (ages 6-12). Tickets are for the meal and are not required for the auction.

From Rich Hill, the McGennis Youth Center is located five miles west on A Highway and four miles south on WW Highway.



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Some impressive stats

Some impressive football stats from the Butler Bears Friday night 54-30 win at Windsor- the Bears had 3 rushers with over 100 yards: DK Woolace 7/101 yds/2TDs, Lucas Davidson 16/177/5TDs, and Frazion Wisdom 20/212/1TD.

In all, Butler had 499 yards of total offense in this dominant victory!


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Six HHS vocalists selected for All-District Choir

Congratulations to six Harrisonville High School vocalists selected for the West Central Missouri Music Educators Association All-District Choir

HHS went 6 for 6 at All-District Choir auditions! Congratulations to:

- Mia Schnelle

- Domonick Brandes

- Lorraine Hall

- Lilly Mears

- Olivia Barlett

- Gabriella Hankins

The students will perform with the All-District Choir on Oct. 17 at Oak Grove High School. Way to represent HHS.

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Posse rodeo goes off 'without a hitch'

The 6th annual Bates County Sheriff's Posse roped in a record crowd and went off without a hitch. The Posse wishes to thank everyone who contributed including the Adrian Optimist Club, Tom Williams, Code 1 Wellness, Max Motors, American Dreams Spray Foam, American Family Insurance, Bates County Memorial Hospital, Blackhawk Lanes, Cook Insurance, Ethan's Auto Repair, Grand River Fencing, Heritage Tractor, Installation Plus, Kustom Signs, Melton's Plumbing, Adrian Muffler, Dirks Heavy Contractors, Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Willow Creek, Midwest Lumber, Moose Electrical, Osage Valley, Shellie White, Steiner's Restaurant,  A Pro Wash, Blowin Smoke, Corbin Excavating, Jarhead Wood Design, 93 Customs, the Butler Saddle Club, all Friends of the Posse members and anyone not mentioned that helped make for a great night. 

We'll see you next year!


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Ballard new teacher spotlight: Haley Wainscott

Ballard schools newest Pre-K teacher, Mrs. Haley Wainscott is ready to take on the tiny humans, big personalities, endless questions, and LOTS of fun that come with teaching Pre-K

Let’s get to know her a little better…

 Favorite Hobby: Reading — because after a day of Pre-K, sometimes you need a quiet chapter (and maybe a locked door 

 Favorite Memory: A family vacation to beautiful Colorado! From the mountains to the memories, it sounds like one for the books!

 Favorite Snack: Oatmeal Cream Pies! Because teaching little ones requires energy… and we fully support getting that energy from a delicious snack! 

We are so excited to welcome her to our Ballard family and can’t wait to watch her make learning fun, create special memories, and survive the wonderful chaos of Pre-K. 

Welcome to the team Mrs. Wainscott, we’re so happy you’re here!

                                                                                       

Courtesy Ballard schools

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Records were meant to be broken

Adrian Freshman Alayna Patterson broke a school record last week in Cross Country with a running time of 20:46.28.

Way to represent the Blackhawks, Alayna!

Photo by Jessica Patterson

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Harrisonville Homecoming Royalty

Friday night, coronation was held crowning the 2026 Harrisonville High School Homecoming King and Queen

Congratulations to King Kooper Baker and Queen Grace Becker, along with runners-up Blayne Martin and Ruby Barajas.

A great night overall as the Wildcats went on to take down Center with a final of 62-48.

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The Museum Minute: Sorry, no bathtub

Courtesy of the Bates County Museum 802 Elks Drive, Butler Mo 64730 (660) 679-0134

Herrman’s Historical Happenings week of September 23

1882 Early rising Bates Countians got their first glimpse of a very large comet, in the Eastern horizon.

1886 The Adrian Register newspaper says "The Register will accept a few loads of wood on subscriptions." 

1904 The big New Home coal mine is digging a railroad car of coal each day. Hume.

1906 Apple pickers at the Darby Fruit Farm at Amoret strike for 25 cents a day more than the $1.50 they're now getting.

1907 The Bates Co Court finally purchases 6 iron beds and 3 rocking chairs for the Co Poor Farm, but there is still no bathtub out there.

1926 The 2 day, 7th annual Ballard Free Fair begins.

1963 A 42 bed professional home is slated to be built on Nursery St. at  S. Main. (Medicalodge location).

1989 Al Church and Mike Ward, of Butler, win the Holden's Bait & Tackle Shop buddy bass tournament, with a total of 29.6 pounds of fish.

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