“It feels as though I have danced around Butler throughout my lifetime, but somehow the prospect of living there, never before crossed my mind,” ponders a new face in town as well as in our repertoire here at Bates County Live. Born in Olathe, eldest child of Amsterdam locals Julie & John Nelson, her earliest years were spent in LaCygne, at her grandma’s shop on Butler’s square (Joy’s Hair Care), or popping around anywhere with her Grandpa Ray. She then graduated from high school in Nevada and went straight on to continue her education at Truman State University. While bouncing around there, she shuffled off to complete the Disney College Program in Kissimmee, Florida. There, she met the man that would become her husband less than 2 years later.
“My mom always warned us not to date anyone from Bates County because we would probably be related to them. I guess I was extra careful and snagged someone from the other side of the Americas.” Marine veteran and proud dual citizen, Henrique Santos (pronounced En-Hee-Khee, technically), is from a town on the Southern coast of Brazil called Itanhaém; most of his family still resides within that same state, São Paulo.
Approximately 5,500 miles straight north of that (state-state), Martin City and Overland Park would be the Santos couple’s home for the first few years. They then moved to Branson to start their family in a place with a multitude of opportunities to instill an appreciation and love of nature. However, now that they do have a child, the 3 hour distance stretched too far and they have just moved to Butler, in the midst of the Nelsons, Crafts, and Stanfills (and etc. that they call family).
Safely nestled, Samantha has seized the opportunity to complete her degree through Avila University as well as answered a call on her heart to work full-time in a special needs preschool classroom. Our internship trial at Bates County Live is a vital answer to her degree completion and an avenue through which she is excited to fulfill her passions and thirst for experience in writing, photography, editing, advertising, and especially good, old, honest journalism. Upon completion, Samm will have “finally” achieved a bachelor’s degree in communication, with a concentration in public relations and advertising.
Editor's note- your work will be greatly appreciated, and welcome aboard.
