Missouri hunters harvest 1,633 birds during firearms portion of fall turkey season

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that hunters checked 1,633 turkeys during the firearms portion of Missouri’s fall turkey season, Oct. 1-31. Top harvest counties were Greene with 56 birds harvested, Laclede with 42, and Perry with 42.

For current fall firearms turkey harvest results by county, go online to MDC’s website at extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/

Hunters harvested 1,950 birds during the 2025 fall firearms turkey season. For more harvest results for past seasons, visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/turkey/turkey-reports/turkey-harvest-summaries.

"Temperatures were well above normal across much of Missouri during the first two weekends of the fall firearms season, which likely accounts for some of the drop in harvest,” said MDC Turkey Biologist Nick Oakley. “We also had a very wet spring, which hurts nest success and poult survival, so there are fewer young birds on the landscape this fall.”

Fall archery turkey hunting continues through Nov. 13 and resumes Nov. 25 through Jan. 15, 2027.

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HEART athlete of the week, Harrisonville senior Spencer Truman

Congratulations to this week's HEART athlete of the week, senior Spencer Truman for Cross Country

Coach Bliss said,

"Spencer is not only one of the drum majors for the Royal Regiment, he is also running cross country, or participating in ANY sport, for the first time his senior year. I believe he embodies the HEART award because he gives 100% to not only band and cross country, but he also excels academically. He could have given up or just gone through the motions to get through the season because cross country is not an easy sport, but he works to get better every day, and he WANTS to get better. Spencer is also very encouraging to his teammates on the cross country team and is equally as supportive of his bandmates in the Royal Regiment. Again, I believe he is deserving of the HEART award because of his hard work in the classroom as well as his TWO extracurricular activities he is involved in."

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Obituary - Cheryl Ann Sliffe

Cheryl Ann Sliffe, 77, of Bolivar, Missouri, departed this life on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at Parkview Healthcare Facility in Bolivar, Missouri.

Cheryl was born on August 26, 1949, to Stanley and Elaine Payne. She was born and raised in Hermitage, Missouri, where her mother owned and operated a restaurant for 50 years. Growing up around the restaurant helped develop Cheryl's lifelong passion for cooking and baking.

Cheryl graduated from Hermitage High School in 1967 and went straight into the workforce. She dedicated many years to her career at HSBC before retiring.

She married Donald Sliffe on November, 26, 1988 in Bolivar, Missouri.

Cheryl was a talented cook and baker who especially enjoyed making her award-winning specialty pies. For 25 years, she was known for preparing meals at her church, sharing her love of cooking with others. She also enjoyed tending to her flowers, entertaining during the summer months, and spending time with family and friends.

Traveling was another one of Cheryl's greatest joys. She loved exploring new places and wanted to see all that life had to offer. She especially treasured the time she spent with her nieces and nephews, who held a special place in her heart.

Cheryl was known for her bubbly personality and her ability to always let others know where they stood with her. Her outgoing spirit, love for entertaining, and dedication to those she cared about will be fondly remembered by all who knew her.

Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents, Stanley and Elaine Payne; her sister, Nancy Chandler; and her nephew, Jeff Davis.

She is survived by her husband Donald Sliffe; her brother, Gary Payne, and his daughter, Tammy Brown; her nephew, Curtis Chandler; along with other family members and friends.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday November 9, 2026 at First Christian Church, Bolivar, Missouri with inurnment at Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian, Missouri at a later date.

Visitation will be held 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.  Tuesday, November 10, 2026  at Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Show Me Christian Youth Home, Lamonte, Missouri and send in care to Dickey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 432, Harrisonville, Missouri 64701

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Regarding Rich Hill fire dues...

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Butler Chamber Halloween costume contest winners announced

A huge thank you to everyone who participated and showed off their incredible creativity this year! We were blown away by all the fantastic outfits, but after much deliberation, here are your official 2026 Costume Contest Winners:

0–2 Years: Jaxx Chandler

3–5 Years: Archie Remer

6–11 Years: Majesty Carter

12–17 Years: Zyon Castro

18+ Years: Heather Roges

Group Category (2 or More People):

We had such an impossible time deciding between two incredible group submissions that we decided BOTH should take home the win!

Co-Winners: Lesmeister Family & Reno Family

Thank you again to all of our spooky, funny, and creative entrants for making this year's contest such a success. We can't wait to see what you all come up with next year—start brainstorming your 2027 costumes now! -Courtesy Butler Area Chamber of Commerce

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Exciting News for McGennis Youth Center

We are proud to share that the McGennis team has received funding from the Nevada/Vernon County Community Foundation to support two exciting projects: renovations to our restrooms and improvements to our 5K trail

We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of this foundation and its continued investment in McGennis Youth Center and our community.

It was inspiring to see so many deserving organizations receive support for projects that strengthen Vernon County and the surrounding communities. Together, we are building opportunities for connection, recreation, and growth!

Want to be part of the progress? We welcome volunteers, contractors, and community organizations interested in helping bring these projects to life. Please reach out if you'd like to get involved!

We are excited for what's ahead as we continue improving McGennis for future generations.

Time to get to work!

Courtesy McGennis Youth Center

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Welcome to the Butler Chamber: Relax Massage

We are thrilled to give a official Butler Area Chamber of Commerce welcome to Relax Massage & Spa!

Whether you need targeted deep-tissue work or a restful relaxation session, owner and licensed massage therapist Brandee brings over 16 years of experience to help you destress, work out stubborn tension, and feel your absolute best.

-New Location: 627 W. Ohio St., Butler, MO

-Services Offered: Customized Massage Therapy (60, 75, 90, & 120-minute sessions) and Head Spa experiences tailored specifically to your needs

-Booking: By Appointment Only

Please help us celebrate their move into a new stand-alone location on Ohio Street! Next time your body needs a little extra care, treat yourself locally.

-Book Online or by Text: (218)252-2062

https://www.fresha.com/.../relax-massage.../all-offer...

-Follow on Facebook:

Relax Massage & Spa Facebook Page

Welcome to the Chamber family, Relax Massage! We are so glad to have you growing right here in Butler.

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Important information from the Adrian school district

Dear Staff, Parents, and Community Members,

In the coming days, the state of Missouri will release preliminary letter grades for public schools across the state. At Adrian R-III School District, we believe transparency is essential. We want our staff, families, and community to hear directly from us about this new grading system, what it measures, what it does not measure, and the concerns we have regarding its implementation.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is introducing its first pilot A-F grading system for public schools, established through an executive order signed by Governor Kehoe in January. As these preliminary grades are released, we believe it is important for our community to understand three key points:

• Every school district and school building will receive a single letter grade.

• This system is in addition to Missouri’s existing Annual Performance Report (APR); it does not replace it.

• The grading system relies heavily on standardized test scores, assessed once per school year, providing a limited picture of overall school performance.

It is important to recognize that this is a pilot program—the first year of a new state-level system using performance data from the 2024–2025 school year. As the framework evolves, the criteria and resulting grades may change over time. The current A–F grading framework is based on an executive order and action by the State Board of Education rather than state law.

We support accountability and continuous improvement in public education, which the APR supports. However, we have expressed professional concerns to the state regarding the accelerated timeline for developing and implementing this system. In response to this concern, the Adrian R-III Board of Education passed a resolution in opposition to the A-F grading system. We believe school evaluation should be fair, comprehensive, and reflective of the many factors that contribute to student learning and success. Standardized test scores provide one measure of performance, but they are only a snapshot in time. They cannot fully capture the quality of instruction, the growth of individual students, the dedication of educators, or the many ways our schools serve the community.

Ultimately, no state-assigned letter grade can replace the knowledge and perspective of a parent. You see the relationships your children build with their teachers, the support they receive in the classroom, the challenges they overcome, and the progress they make each day. Those experiences matter. Our responsibility is to partner with you to help every student reach their full potential.

Regardless of the letter grade assigned or the requirements established in Jefferson City, our mission remains unchanged. We will continue to focus on the local priorities, programs, and systems that support student achievement and reflect the values of our community.

Public education serves every child who walks through our doors, without exception. Our schools welcome students with different abilities, needs, backgrounds, life circumstances, and starting points. This commitment is fundamental to who we are. It is also why we believe a single letter grade can never fully represent the work of a school or the dedication of the educators who serve our students each day.

Strong public schools are essential to the future of our communities. Building and sustaining that strength requires meaningful accountability, thoughtful evaluation, and, above all, trust between our schools and the families we serve. While state ratings may provide one perspective, they should never define the full value of a school or the success of its students.

Thank you for your continued trust, support, and partnership. We remain committed to keeping our community informed as this process unfolds and to advocating for an evaluation system that fairly reflects the work happening in our schools every day.

Our commitment to our students, our families, and our community will not change.

Sincerely,

Adrian R-III School District

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