Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Structure fire last night in Nevada

On Monday March 18th around 10: 58 p.m. the Nevada Fire Department received a report of possible structure fire at 527 S. Adams Street. 

On arrival found heavy smoke on the front of the house amd fire showing through windows to the center of the home. Crews made entry and conducted rapid primary search with nothing found. 

Fire was brought uncontrol with in first 20 mins. Missouri State Fire marshal was called to assist with investigation, Cause is still under investigation at this time.

Owner: Geri Cochran
Renter : Jessica Baker
Address: 527 S Adams

Courtesy of Nevada Fire Chief Troy Denney

Butler Elementary School playground gets much needed makeover

What a busy weekend at the Butler Elementary School!!! We were able to expand the playground border and install the NEW playground equipment, as well as add new rubber mulch to the area! 

Big shout out to the Butler Lions Club for their large donation towards a piece of equipment earlier this year, that, in addition to our PTSO fundraising efforts, helped make this dream a reality for BES students.

Huge progress on the outdoor classroom! We have walls! And a roof!! A whole building! An outdoor classroom!! Now on to the final touches to the building to help bring it to life!! We hope you all love the red and black!!!

Last, but certainly not least, our sweet turtle that has seen many generations of kiddo's, also got a much needed facelift! We hate to announce names of our volunteers, as everything we do truly is a team effort, but to make these projects come to life and in such a timely manner, we want to show our utmost appreciation!! 

First and foremost, THANK YOU to Midwest Lumber and Davis Designs for so many donated materials, and so much time and labor. None of this would’ve been possible without you!

Our playground worker volunteers:
Paul Varns
Larry Burch
Vincente Perez
Patrick and Jamie Conger
Brandon and Brianne Golladay
Brian Waite
Johnny Stephens
Ryan Hooper
Myles Brattin
Amanda Davis
Haley Henderson








Monday, March 18, 2024

Obituary - Homer Dunn Stevenson

Homer Dunn Stevenson, age 89, of Raymore, Missouri passed away on March 11, 2024, at home surrounded by his loving family.

A private inurnment will take place at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Pleasant Hill, Missouri.

Homer was born in Kansas City, Missouri on July 20, 1934, the son of Homer B. Stevenson and Virginia Hickerson. Shortly after graduating from DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Kansas, Homer served his country in the United States Navy serving in the Korean War. He met the love of his life Patricia Lucille Winslow and later were married on September 18, 1954, in Portland, Maine. Homer worked for Bendix, a government contractor for fifteen years. He decided to change his career and become an electrician, evolving to a master electrician and worked for the Shawnee Mission School District for over twenty years. After retiring from the school district, he moved to Lake Pomme de Terre in south Missouri where he loved spending his time fishing, boating, and watching wildlife.

Homer was preceded in death by his parents, Homer B. and Virginia Stevenson; his loving wife Patricia Lucille Stevenson; two sisters, Beverly Wyant and Patricia Mailen.

He is survived by his sister, Carol Simpson (Larry); sister in-law, Mary Lou Winslow; brother in-law, Jimmie Mailen; and many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Inc., Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278

Dubray drives in six runs as lady bears softball beats Miami

Freshman Kylee Dubray drove in six runs on three hits to lead BHS past Miami 21-1 on Monday. Dubray singled in the third scoring two, doubled in the fourth scoring one, and singled in the fifth scoring one.

Butler jumped out to the lead in the top of the first inning after Freshman Kayden Cook doubles,scoring one run, an error scored two runs, Senior Haven Humphrey doubled, scoring one run, an error scoring one run, and Senior Miranda Foster singled, scoring one run.

BHS added one run in the second after Haven Humphrey singled.

The Lady bears scored five runs on five hits in the top of the third inning. Dubray singled, scoring two runs, Humphrey singled, scoring one run, Dubray scored after tagging up, and Foster singled, scoring one run.

Butler scored eight runs on seven hits in the top of the fifth inning. Foster singled, scoring one run, Senior Ella Buckner singled, scoring one run, Cook grounded out, scoring one run, Senior Cloey Fritts doubled, scoring one run, Dubray singled, scoring one run, Freshman Gabie Carmichael tripled, scoring two runs, and an error scored one run.

Dubray stepped in the circle first for BHS. They surrendered two hits and one run (zero earned) over three innings, striking out seven and waking one. Junior Avery Eldred three two inning of no-run ball for BHS in relief. They allowed zero hits, striking out four and walking one.

The Lady bears tallied 22 hits in the game. Humphrey led BHS with five hits in five at bats. Carmichael, Cook, Foster, Buckner, and Fritts each collected multiple hits for BHS. Fritts stole two bases. BHS stole six bases in the game.

Butler will travel to Rich Hill for their next game on Wednesday.







Butler baseball falls to Carthage

The Butler bears (1-2) had trouble keeping up with the Carthage Tigers (4-0) in a 13-3 loss on Monday afternoon at the Lamar Tiger Baseball Classic .

Butler got on the board in the first inning after Sophomore Cohen Wilson drew a walk, scoring one run.

The Carthage tigers flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the first, scoring five runs on two hits to take a 5-1 lead. The biggest blow in the inning was a home run to left field that drove in three.

Carthage scored six runs on three hits in the bottom of the second inning. Including a home to left field, scoring two runs.

Senior Maddox Fennewald led things off on the hill for the Bears. He surrendered two hits and five runs (three earned) over one inning, striking out none and walking three. 

Fennewald and Junior Eli Cox were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits for the Bears. Cox and Wilson were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, as each drove in one run for the Bears.

Butler will hit the road on Thursday as they travel east to take on the Lakeland Vikings at 4:30 p.m. 








Obituary - Wanda Lea Haley Crawford

Wanda Lea Haley Crawford, 70 of Raymore, Missouri passed away peacefully with family by her side at Carnegie Village Rehabilitation and Healthcare on Saturday March 16, 2024.

Wanda was the middle daughter of three girls, born on August 20,1953 in Princeton, Missouri to John “Jack” and Wilda Browning Haley.

Wanda graduated from Newtown-Harris High School in 1971 and went onto receive her bachelor’s degree in education at Northeast Missouri State University. Wanda began her teaching career as an elementary teacher. Wanda went on to further her education and received her master’s degree in education from Northeast Missouri State University as well as her Specialist Degree in Education from Central Missouri State University. Wanda spent most of her professional career as an elementary principal at Miami R-1 school district.

Wanda held a strong Christian faith and later in life attended Raymore Christian Church and The Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS.

Wanda was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when she was a young adult and with this faced many challenges throughout her life. Wanda never let her health determine who she was and faced each day with a positive outlook on life and the best smile. Wanda loved to laugh and cherished her family and friends dearly. She never knew a stranger and made sure to make each person she met feel special. She loved to play games and lately had been known to grab others for a quick card game which she didn’t lose easily.

Wanda was most proud of her daughters, Brooke and Jami. Her grandchildren, Avery, Maleah, Terin, and Kaimana brought her much joy.

Wanda was preceded in death by her mother, Wilda Browning Haley, husband, Carroll L. Crawford, and brother-in-law, Clark Hargus.

Wanda is survived by daughters, Brooke Nickles, Raymore, MO and Jami Burns, Kailua, Hawaii; father, Jack Haley, Liberty MO; sisters, Julia Haley Hargus and Mary Shelton (Terry) Lee’s Summit, MO; grandchildren, Avery, Maleah, Terin Nickles and Kaimana Burns; niece and nephews, Katlyn Hartford (Ian), Luke Shelton (Savannah), and Brett Shelton; great nieces and nephew, Rylee and Ezra Hartford and Grace Shelton.

A Celebration of Life will be March 21, 2024, at Raymore Christian Church. Visitation will be at 10 am followed by a service at 11 am. The burial will be at Harris Cemetery in Harris, Missouri at 3:30 pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to Raymore Christian Church or Church of the Resurrection in Leawood KS.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Inc. Raymore, Missouri 816-322-5278

Obituary - Edna Florence Coffey

E. Florence Coffey, aka “Mom, Nonnie, or Flo,” left this earth on Saturday, March 16 surrounded by her daughters, Kim, Kristi, Karoline & Kaye and grandson, Kory. There is no doubt, the love of her life was there to take her hand as they reunited in Heaven.

Flo was born on November 29th, 1937, in Richards, MO to Jack and Edna Lee Kendrick. She grew up with two brothers, Cliff and John. She attended Metz High School, where she met the love of her life, Bob Coffey. They married, moved to Kansas City, and created a beautiful life together. At the center of their life was an amazing faith for which she used her beautiful singing voice to spread her love of the gospel. Bob & Flo were married for 50 wonderful years until his passing in 2006.

Flo was a devoted wife, loving mom, and treasured “Nonnie.” She was undoubtedly the force, the voice of reason, and the fixer-upper behind Bob Coffey, the man, myth, and legend. Together, they created a family bound with a multitude of unwavering love, faith, guidance, and trust. She was simply the greatest mom of all moms. Her daughters, Kim, Kristi, Karoline, and Kaye never waivered on their adoration of their mom and were together, by her side, when she was called up to Heaven.

She was a treasured friend and aunt. Her selflessness knew no bounds, and her generosity extended beyond her immediate circle to anyone who crossed her path. She created a beautiful home full of love and opened her doors and arms to a whole bunch of kids over the years. She illuminated the lives of all who knew her, leaving behind cherished memories that will be treasured forever.

Flo is incredibly missed by her daughters Kim Brison (Rich), Kristi Wilcox, Karoline Coffey, and Kaye Mount (Phil); her grandchildren who loved her beyond measure Jake (Kendall), Kalli (Nino), Jessie, Kory, Emily & Sophie. She took great joy in watching the antics of her three great-grand children, Lane, Brinlee, and Jax. She also leaves her two brothers and their family, and many adored nieces and nephews.

Though she may no longer walk among us, Flo will forever remain in our hearts. A visitation & celebration of her life will be held at Cullen Funeral Home in Raymore, MO on Sunday, March 24, 2024 from 2-3, followed by a short blessing and prayer.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278

Obituary - Herman Coleman Thomas Jr.

It was the wishes of Herman Thomas of Butler, Missouri to be cremated with no public services. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. The family requests no flowers. Contributions may be made to a charity of their choice in honor of Herman. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Herman Coleman Thomas Jr., 93, of Butler, Missouri passed away on Friday, March 15, 2024. He was born February 4, 1931 to Herman Coleman Thomas Sr. and Catherine Marie Mount Thomas in Terre Haute, Indiana. The oldest of three boys, he grew up in Terre Haute and graduated from Garfield High School in 1949. After high school, he attended Indiana State Teacher’s College in Terre Haute. He left college and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1951 during the Korean War.

In 1979, Herman was stationed at the Marine Corps Reserve Center in Kansas City, Missouri. While attending Penn Valley Community College, he met his future wife, Diana Dee Hutson Green. They married in January 1982 at the Community Christian Church in the Brookside area in Kansas City.

Herman enjoyed a variety of positions during his life beginning in his high school summers during which he was a freight brakeman for the Pennsylvania Railroad. After the end of his first enlistment with the military in 1954, he went to Florida, began working as a horseman with various stables and traveled on the East Coast horse racing circuit. For a while, Herman drove for the Riverside Funeral Chapel in Miami, Florida, after which he became a deputy for the Dade County, Florida Sheriff’s Department. Herman enjoyed sailing on the collection boat for the Florida Seaquarium before enlisting for the second time in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Stationed in Camp Pendleton, California, he retired from the Marine Corps in August 1985 after serving his country for almost 24 years. Upon his retirement from the military, he joined his wife and family in Kansas City, Missouri. Herman then worked as an intern for the VA Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, while he pursued a degree at the University of Missouri. In 2000, he retired from his last job as a guard at the Jackson County, Missouri jail.

Herman was a VFW and NCOA (Non-Commissioned Officers Association) member. Besides serving his country in the military, he set aside time and energy for his community. Herman was active in the Toys for Tots program, the VA radio network, Oates Bus, Meals on Wheels, the Blind Workshop, and library and schoolbook programs.

Herman is survived by his wife, Diana Dee of Butler, Missouri; son, Steven Kenneth Thomas and wife Patricia; three grandchildren, Damian Alexander Thomas, Makaila Ann Thomas, and Silas Alan Cole Thomas all of Pleasanton, Kansas; stepson, John Michael Green of Butler, Missouri; brother, Donald Lee Thomas in California; nieces Deanne “Dee” Bickett and husband Paul, Marjory “Midge” Hitze and husband Larry and Jill Smith; and nephew, David Thomas all in Indiana. His parents and his brother, Larry Dee Thomas preceded him in death.

Herman’s final wishes were to be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

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