Celebrating the road to independence will be an educational celebration for the citizens of Bates County to commemorate the 250th anniversary of America. The celebration will kick off in May 2026 with presentations for area schools and will continue in June with family friendly events on the museum lawn ending July 19th with a county wide celebration. Throughout the summer a special display will be offered at the Bates County Museum chronicling the history of America and Bates Counties place in history.
To learn how you can be involved in the celebration, please contact museum director, Tiffany Blaser (director@batescountymuseum.org).
For more information about the grants programs of the Missouri Humanities Council, call 314-781-9660 or 800357-0909 or email clarice@mohumanities.org.
NIXLE is a vital tool that allows you to receive critical information directly on your cell phone or via email.
Whether it be extreme weather, law enforcement activity, a traffic crash or a community-wide emergency - NIXLE sends the information you need to you specifically!
Simply text 64701 to 888777 to opt-in or sign-up to stay informed on critical events that directly affect you.
All middle/high school students (6th-12th grades) are invited to join Holy Trinity Church in AC for a new event this summer 6:00-8:00 p.m. July 16-18 at the Church. They will learn to "LEGO and Let God" through worship, games, and crafts. Supper will be provided each night. Pre-register online at https://forms.gle/TketShyZuhbpQGdC9 to receive a free t-shirt.
All kids ages PK through 5th grade are invited to "LEGO and Let God!" Rockville UMC will co-host VBS 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 15 with River of Life. Church of God will host VBS on 6:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 16. The kids will learn about how to build a strong foundation and trust in God at all times! There will be games, food, crafts, and lots of fun! Pre-register online at https://forms.gle/GDeJKTcHmSgPWUWU9 to receive a free t-shirt.
Trinity Lutheran Church, Appleton City, Mo, will be hosting “Christmas in July” VBS July 21-24 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. They will be following the star to the cradle of our Lord. Join them for cool crafts, great music, and fellowship with friends. Dinner will be provided each evening. Registration begins at the door at 5:45 July 21. For their mission this year, they will be collecting non-perishable food for West Central Food Bank.
The Ellett Memorial Hospital Foundation is selling raffle tickets for its annual Raffle. Buy a ticket for $10 or 4 for $20 for a chance to win one of four great prizes. Tickets can be purchased from Foundation members (Leroy Swopes, Robbie Rotert, Bill Brownsberger, Denice Nitchals, Chris Green, Paul Noble, Laura Smith, April Loney or Julee Snyder) or at the EMH Front Desk. Raffle drawing will take place at the AC Car Show.
The next Meet Me On Main, Second Wednesday Shop and Stroll will be July 9, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. 'til 7:00 p.m. Participating businesses include Jina's Junque, 3 Wishes, Bluebird Lounge, Cork & Keg, Sandi's Kitchen, and AC TNR.
The Knights of Columbus will have their monthly pancake and sausage breakfast at the Knight’s Hall in Montrose on Sunday, July 13 from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Treat your family to a hot breakfast you don’t have to cook or clean up. A free will donation will be greatly appreciated
Due to scheduling conflicts, the date of the next diabetic class will be 4:00 p.m. July 15, 2025 in the conference room at Ellett Memorial Hospital.
Appleton City Carousel is open Friday, Saturday, Sunday 4:00-7:00 p.m. until Labor Days weekend. 31 states and 5 countries have visited. Check to see if your summer visitors should stop in to get their state listed.
Appleton City VFW Post 11242 appreciates the Appleton City High School FFA helping with the placement of flags on veterans' graves for Memorial Day. It could not have been done without their help. Thank You.
The Montrose FBLA is hosting a Shoe Drive now through August 15. If you need to dispose of some new or gently used shoes (no holes or missing soles), please contribute them to our drive. Drop off points are at Montrose R-XIV School, Montrose Savings Bank, and Ellett Memorial Hospital. For more information, please contact Robyn Eckhoff, FBLA Adviser, at reckhoff@montrose.k12.mo.us.
Ellett Memorial Hospital will sponsor a Blood Drive 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Friday, July 25 in the Outpatient Clinic at 610 N. Ohio St.
Appleton City, MO 64724. Sign up at savealifenow.org/group and use group code EG2B.For additional details, contact Kayla Orear at (660) 476-5214 or kayla.orear@ellettmemorial.com or Julie Grubb (660) 476-5242 or julie.grubb@ellettmemorial.com
Appleton City Public Library Story Hour happens 11:00 a.m. Mondays. Join them for stories, activities and snacks. They are also sponsoring the summer reading program, “Color Your World”, through July 16. Ages 4+ are invited to meet Monday – Wednesday at the Library.
Ellett Memorial Hospital Appleton City offers outpatient specialist services for June and July, 2025. Call 660-476-2111 for appointments. Dr.- Shoaib, July 2 – Upper GI, Colonoscopy-Dr. Namin, July 11 - Ortho-Dr. Gray, July 16 – Upper GI, Colonoscopy-Dr. Namin, July 17– Podiatry- Dr. Pace, July 18 – Ortho- Laura Noble, FNP, July 23 - Ortho-Dr. Gray, July 25 – Dermatology – Dylan Timmerman, PA, July 29– Rheumatology-Dr. John, July 31-Neurology- Dr.- Shoaib.
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It wasn’t a bad week for flying, as long as you got up early and flew high enough to beat the heat. Afternoon thermals boosted moisture aloft to give fair-weather cumulus by late morning. Then one sat out the thunderstorm threat if a frontal disturbance was nearby.
I’ve found it interesting to read the “Forecast Discussions” written by National Weather Service meteorologists, found on the aviationweather.gov website’s “products” menu. Each NWS office writes an opinion of the day’s weather prospects; just click on the map outlines. You can learn a lot about how likely the prognostication is to work out.
Traffic moving through Butler this week included a nice 1968 Cessna Cardinal, up from Dothan, Alabama for the weekend. Also in were a Cessna Skyhawk from ATP Flight Training in Kansas City and a Piper Warrior from competitor ATD school. Locally, BCS AirTractors were on the job spraying crops, several students were up in the Cessna 150s, Gerald Bauer flew the club Skyhawk and Roy Conley was out flying his rotary-wing gyrocopter. The Fliars Club did not depart on the Saturday breakfast flyout, due to a convective Sigmet just south of us.
Nationally, it appears that we’ll finally have an FAA Administrator one of these days; nominee Bryan Bedford, CEO of Republic Airways, has passed Commerce committee grilling and his appointment as head of the FAA will be subject to a vote of the full Senate, likely a formality. This despite a company bio that calls him a “commercial pilot,” which he ain’t. He’s only a Private Pilot, having failed to finish his commercial ticket training while climbing the corporate ladder. He didn’t write the puff-piece, but as the boss he should have read it for veracity.
Early last month, the pilot and passenger in a 75-year Stinson died in a runway-excursion accident at Farmington, North Carolina airport. It was probably precipitated by a turtle on the runway, about which the pilot was warned by radio, and he reportedly lifted one wheel to avoid the reptile, losing control. Better to hit intruding wildlife than wreck the plane off the runway, if forced to choose.
In left-over business from the previous Trump administration, Boeing is supposed to be supplying a pair of Boeing 747-400’s for new Air Force One VC-25B VIP airplanes. Typically, the program is years behind schedule and losing money for Boeing, so it has hired a former executive from Northrup-Grumman to ram-rod the work. The new plan to finally have the planes ready by 2027, replacing the jumbo jets that have been in service for over 30 years.
Our last week’s question was about the designation given to the Air Force’s Globemaster II cargo transport, since we had just reported on the C-17 Globemaster III jet. Its predecessor was the big piston-powered C-124 that flew out of Richards-Gebaur AFB at Grandview. For next time, what airplane was built in the Fairfax car plant in Kansas City during the early 1950s? You can send your answers to kochhaus1@gmail.com.
Maurice Jones gave a wonderful speech on economic development and growth in communities. Rotary is a wonderful organization and does so much in the community and continues to grow and do even more. Courtesy Butler Rotary Club
Osage Valley crews began repairs immediately however, due to the amount of work to be done extra time was required.
Power was restored just before 6 pm.
Born on March 3, 1947, in Kansas City, Missouri, Cindy was the daughter of Gerald and Vivian (Shaw) Pech. She began her education at No. 36 School, a one-room schoolhouse, before graduating from Harrisonville High School. Following her high school graduation, she attended Draughon’s Business School, where she honed her skills for a successful career.
Cindy dedicated much of her life to her family and community. She contributed to the family farm and held various positions throughout her career, ultimately serving as an Administrative Assistant at the Cass County Juvenile Center, where she retired after 26 years of dedicated service in 2010. In addition to her professional endeavors, Cindy was passionate about youth development and helped start the Archie 4-H Club, leading it for over 16 years to ensure her children had enriching opportunities. She was a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church.
Cindy's love story began when she met Robert G. Leeper at Lone Tree School, a one-room schoolhouse, during the 2nd and 3rd grades. Their connection blossomed when Cindy gave Robert a Christmas card that read, “I like you; do you like me?” to which he sweetly replied, “I love you.” Although they were separated when Cindy’s family moved, they rekindled their relationship shortly after her high school graduation and became engaged at Robert’s graduation. They were married on September 24, 1966, at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, sharing 58 wonderful years together.
Cindy is survived by her devoted husband, Robert G. Leeper, who resides at their home. She leaves behind two sons: Robert G. Leeper Jr. "Robbie" and his wife, Shawna, of Harrisonville, MO; and Travis Leeper of Archie, MO. Her daughters include Stephanie Cumpton and her husband, Craig, of Lee’s Summit, MO, and Jennifer Sims and her husband, Jonathan, of New Braunfels, TX. Cindy was also a proud grandmother to five grandchildren: Dalton and Katie Cumpton, Hayden and Carson Sims, and Tristan Leeper, one sister: Kathy Burkitt, her niece, Jessica Vazquez and her husband, Nelson and two great-nieces, Athena and Ava Vazquez.
A Celebration of Life gathering will be held in her honor on Sunday, July 6, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Archie Community Center, located at 34800 S Butcher Road, Archie, MO.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Cindy’s honor to the Archie School, with proceeds designated for the athletic program.
