NEWS VIDEO - Musician's Flea Market today on the Butler square

Scare in the air over Butler this afternoon

Police, rescue and fire units were dispatched to the Butler Airport around 3:15 p.m. on a report of a skydiver who had apparently broken loose from a parachute. However, upon further investigation it was discovered that a loose chute was seen falling to the ground after several skydivers had exited the plane.

All skydivers have been safely accounted for and authorities are now trying to find where the loose parachute came from.

However brief it might be.....ahhh, rain

Over the last hour or so most of the county has seen enough rain to wash the dust off or maybe a tad more. However, current radar shows that's about all we're going to get for now....


Today

Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Heat index readings 99 to 104.

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.

And yes, there's a heat warning in effect through Wednesday evening at 7 p.m.

A plump robin looks for a snack during brief
showers this morning

Appleton City woman in Bates County crash

Just after 8 p.m. last night 49 year old Linda D. Buckley of Appleton City sustained minor injuries in a single car accident on 52 highway near county road 13365. The 1998 Buick driven by Buckley left the roadway, struck an embankment and overturned, coming to a rest on to its top.

Buckley was treated at Ellett Memorial Hospital in Appleton City. According to the report filed by troopers  Dodson and Pate, alcohol was a factor in the accident.

Children’s Poster Contest Raises Awareness on Water Pollution

Kids, get your crayons, markers and colored pencils ready to illustrate how you can “Be a Solution to Water Pollution.”

Children can help raise awareness about water pollution and win prizes by entering the 2011 “Be a Solution to Water Pollution” poster and coloring contest. This county–wide contest is organized by the Osage Valley Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council and is sponsored by Sonic and Walmart in an effort to educate residents on the importance of water quality.

Water quality can be negatively affected by nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. NPS pollution occurs when rainfall or snowmelt picks up pollutants as it runs across the ground surface and deposits those pollutants in our rivers and lakes. Because most stormdrains in Bates County flow directly into streams rather than treatment facilities, there is no cleaning process to remove trash, motor oil, pet waste and other pollutants before they enter the bodies of water we use for fishing, swimming, and even drinking.

Children up to 8 years old can enter the coloring contest by picking up a printed poster at the RC&D office, located upstairs in the Butler City Hall, or the local USDA Service Center. Children ages 9 to 12 can also pick up blank poster paper and associated rules for the themed poster contest. Contest submissions must be turned in by Monday, August 22nd at the RC&D office or at the local USDA Service Center.

All poster submissions will be on display at the Bates County Watershed Festival on August 27th at the Butler City Park, where winners will be announced at noon. Prizes will be given to the top three posters in each category. The Bates County Watershed Festival is associated with the Mound Branch Watered Evaluation and Restoration Project partially funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.

In addition to the announcement of the winning posters, the August 27 watershed festival will include performances by The Fishin’ Magicians, water slides and games, interactive exhibits and food vendors. Information will also be on hand about cost-share programs available to implement agricultural and urban best management practices at home, on the farm, or at work to help reduce pollution in Bates County’s streams and rivers.

For more information about the contest or the watershed festival, contact Osage Valley RC&D’s Mound  Branch office at (660) 679-4332 or visit our website at www.osagevalleyrcd.com.

Obituary - Marjorie Howard

Funeral services for Marjorie Howard will be 2 p.m. Monday, August 1, 2011 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri with Pastor Dave Owsley officiating and Bob Wayland assisting. Visitation will be prior to services from 1-2 p.m. at Schowengerdt Chapel. Burial in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Ohio Street United Methodist Church or charity of choice.

Marjorie Ailene Howard, age 98 of Butler, Missouri died Friday, July 29, 2011 at Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas. She was born October 4, 1912 to Chester Clark and Luella Hazel Furr in Spruce, Missouri.


Marjorie is survived by her husband, Lyle B. Howard of Butler, Missouri; two sons, Lyle C. Howard and wife Linda of Butler, Missouri and Larry M. Howard and wife Kathy of Thorp, Washington; one daughter, Esther Ann Hopcroft and husband Barry of Butler, Missouri; and six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; and three grandsons, Mike, Chad and Ryan.

Obituary - Cecil Base

Funeral services for Cecil Base will be 10:30 a.m. Sunday, July 31, 2011 at Bethany Mennonite Church in Rich Hill, Missouri. Visitation will be Saturday evening from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Bethany Mennonite Church. Burial in Bethany Mennonite Cemetery, Rich Hill. Contributions to Bethany Mennonite Benevolent Fund. Services are under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri.

Cecil Base, age 85 of Rich Hill, Missouri died Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at Harbo Grace Hospice in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born January 22, 1926 to Ben and Ida Eck Base in McPherson, Kansas.


Cecil is survived by his wife, Maggie Base of Rich Hill, Missouri; one son, Don Base and wife Beverly of Gran, Alabama; one daughter, Arlene Unruh and husband Larry of Homeworth, Ohio; three brothers, Ralph Base of McPherson, Kansas, Elon Base and wife Sharon of Turlock, California and Jonas Base and wife Karen of McPherson, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Verbie Koehn.

Bates County and the Bates Brothers: Who Were We Really Named For?

Frederick Bates

The public is invited to attend a free program on Saturday, August 6th at 10:00 am in Robertson Hall at the Bates County Museum. In commemoration of Bates County’s 170th anniversary, we will explore the differing historical accounts surrounding just which Bates brother the county was named after. Was it Frederick or Edward? The Missouri State Archives indicate one brother; while two of our county’s primary history books state another. It’s very likely that the Civil War had something to do with the controversy. Join us as we take a look back into our past trying to solve one of our very own ‘history’s mysteries’.


For further information call the Museum at 660-679-0134.

Edward Bates