'Gas station drugs' now banned in Butler

From the  Butler city council meeting this week

The possession/sale of  non regulated drugs such as Kratom within in the city limits of Butler again came into discussion by the council on Tuesday. Some time back, a resident addressed the council regarding a serious reaction after consuming such a product that was purchased in Butler resulting in hospitalization; a request was made to look into the issue further and consider banning the sale of it along with other associated "gas station" drugs including cannabinoid derivatives, among others.

The council moved forward with an ordinance banning the sale and possession of such, with police chief Jarret Wheatley stating that in his investigation there have been several more reports of bad reactions to the drugs, which again are not regulated by the FDA, and otherwise don't appear to have any medicinal value, in his opinion.

To complicate matters, manufacturers of the drugs often change the name, chemical make up or even a description to elude bans- Wheatley suggested to overcome this issue, the ordinance will ban any derivative thereof such product.

During the discussion, councilman Young asked if a person is in possession of the product that was purchased elsewhere, how would that affect enforcement; Wheatley replied that officers will have full discretion in handling the stop and furthermore, if there is a question about what the substance actually is, it will be sent to a lab for analysis. 

To alleviate confusion, Wheatley reiterated that enforcement of the ordinance is specifically geared towards non FDA regulated drugs and any other drug related matters (marijuana, opiates, etc.) will be handled lawfully as usual.

He added "This needs to stop now. Not five years from now when it's totally out of control."

The ordinance was passed unanimously by the council and Wheatley said a transition to enforcement will begin with officers visiting local outlets that sell the products to explain the ordinance and give retailers time to make the necessary changes.

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A new lease on life coming for old Butler high school

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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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