Jerry Boyd named Butler PD chief

After reviewing 37 applications, the police personnel board and Mayor Don Malan have named Jerry Boyd as the new Butler Police Chief.

Boyd, a long time Butler resident, begins his duties on August 4th.

Harvey trial date announced

Raymond Harvey who is accused of the murders of Brandee and Bailey Bickelman of rural Butler has a court date of August 29th at 11:30 a.m. in Henry County Circuit Court in Clinton, Mo.

Harvey faces two felony counts of murder,  two felony counts of armed criminal action and one count of felony arson in connection with the March 5th murders. Originally he was to be tried in Bates County but was granted a change of venue to Henry County last month.

Local post offices dodge nationwide closures

While nearly 3,700 post offices nationwide are on the chopping block, it appears the Amsterdam facility will remain open. And more than likely, so will Amoret. For now. 

There will be some minor changes however, those Amsterdam folks with rural mailboxes won't notice anything different but soon all their mail will be delivered out of the Drexel facility. The Amsterdam office will remain open for local mail services and PO boxes.

Rumors that Drexel is getting a new post office are not true. The fact is, the USPS is in a financial crisis and the future looks bleak. The net income loss for 2011 alone is a staggering 6.4 billion dollars and there is no easy fix. There has been discussion of restructuring the USPS retiree health benefit payments, eliminating Saturday delivery, expanding access to retail services, expanding products and services and establishing a more flexible work force. But so far, it's  just that, discussion.

Added competition from UPS, Fedex and other carriers isn't helping either, but they are feeling the pain too. For example, just this year UPS upped rates 4.9% just to cover rising transportation costs. Fedex is expected to follow suit in the near future.

From Recorder of Deeds, Lucille Mundey

Marriage licences:

Robert Anthony Gwyn and Debra Lea Presley

Howard Shelby Albin and Linda Margaret Albin

Robert Pace Snider and Erika Jimmi Leister

Daryl Scott Freguson and Stephanie Jones-Smith

Real estate transfers:

Mac A. Breshears and Christina D. Breshears to  William D. Barnett:
LOT 9 & E 6 FT 3 INCHES OF LOT 10, BLK 1, LIDA HENRY'S 1ST ADDN, BUTLER; ALSO  WEDGE SHAPED TRACT LYING N OF BLK 1 AND S OF S LINE OF PINE ST DESCRIBED

Margaret Cook to Security Bank:
LT 9, BLK 50, ORIGINAL TOWN, RICH HILL

Mark Muller and Amy Muller to Mark Muller (co-trustee) and Amy Muller (co-trustee) and Mark Muller Trust and Amy Muller Trust:
E/2 OF SW/4, EXCEPT 6 ACRES OFF E SIDE, AND NW/4 OF SW/4 IN 27‑40‑33; AND NE/4 OF NE/4, EXCEPT 10 ACRES OUT OF SE COR IN 34‑40‑33

Mark Muller and Amy Muller to Mark Muller (co-trustee) and Amy Muller (co-trustee) and Mark Muller Trust and Amy Muller Trust:
S 3/4 OF W/2 OF SW/4 OF 28‑40‑33 DESCRIBED

Mark Muller and Amy Muller to Mark Muller (co-trustee) and Amy Muller (co-trustee) and Mark Muller Trust and Amy Muller Trust:

S 7 ACRES OF W/2 OF SE/4 OF SE/4 OF 22‑40‑33

Jeni Marie Hearting to Chance Hearting:

S 466.70 FT OF E 466.70 FT OF LOT 4 OF NE/4 OF 4‑39‑29

Millsap & Singer (suc trustee) and Randy W. Shuert and Sherry L. Shuert to US Bank (suc trustee) and Bank of America (trustee) and Lasalle Bank (fka)(trustee) and Ownit Mortgage:

SE/4 OF SE/4 OF 15‑40‑31, BUTLER, DESCRIBED

William S. Ketron Jr. and Margaret A. Ketron to Emmett Lyle Poister and Nadine G. Poister:

LOT 86 AND S/2 OF LOT 87, COUNTRY SOUTH ADDN, BUTLER

Mary Beth Erickson and Michelle Craft and Gloria Tingler and Gary Tingler and Barbara McElwain and Marsha Edgmon and Clint Edgmon and Jerrod McElwain and Jill Irvin and Derrick Irvin and Jodie McElwain and Gary Erickson and Steve Craft and Gloria Martin (aka) and Jill North (aka) to Dusty Warren and Annette R. Warren:

LOT 3, BLK 1, STEPHENS SUBDIV, BUTLER

Silla Marie Beshore Troxel and Wendell Troxel and Susan McManus and Marty McManus and Charles Beshore and Betty L. Beshore to Charles Beshore and Betty L. Beshore:

TRACT 1: SW/4 OF SW/4 OF 21‑39‑30, EXCEPT STRIP 15 FT WIDE OFF E SIDE; TRACT 2: W/2 OF NE/4 OF 28‑39‑30 DESCRIBED

A. Dale Shaffer to Arthur D. Shaffer and Angela D. Shaffer:

N 446.56 FT OF E 292.64 FT OF NE/4 OF NE/4 OF 27‑40‑32, EXCEPT W 80 FT

Terry G. Keen and Brenda S. Keen to James M. Binkley:

TRACT 1: W 1755.80 FT OF N/2 OF NW/4 OF 12‑41‑32, EXCEPT N 429 FT; TRACT 2: N/2 OF NW/4 OF 12‑41‑32 DESCRIBED

Wells Fargo Bank (trustee) and Soundview Home Loan Trust to Michael Hamblin:

LOTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 AND 6, BLK 17, CONNELLY'S ADDN, RICH HILL

Trent M. Nelson and Janet I. Nelson to Travis Cornelius:

BLK 43 AND PART OF BLK 44, WALTON'S 3RD ADDN, RICH HILL, DESCRIBED

Morris E. Lemon and Patsy A. Lemon to Jim Arnold and Dana Arnold:

E/2 OF LOT 514, COUNTRY SOUTH EXT. #5, BUTLER

Morris E. Lemon and Patsy A. Lemon to Donald P. Russell and Velma Russell:

W/2 OF LOT 514, COUNTRY SOUTH EXT #5, BUTLER

Mildred M. Wood to Ted J. Coffman and Amy Jo Coffman:

NE/4 OF NW/4 OF 22‑40‑31, BUTLER, DESCRIBED

Standard Properties to Danielle S. Stoff:

BEG 12 CHAINS AND 30 LINKS W OF SE COR OF 15‑40‑31, BUTLER & DESCRIBED

Butler Police Department weekly report

July 26th - Animal complaint in the 200 block of S. Main; animal complaint in the 800 block of W. Grove; disturbance in the 300 block of W. Chestnut; well being check in the 100 block of W. Pine; open door on the square.

July 27th - Stalled truck at the intersection of Orange and Mill; warrant arrest  at Sunset and W. 52; theft call in the 800 block of W. Mill; disturbance at hospital ER; animal complaint in the 400 block of N. Main; alarm at Osage Valley; animal complaint in the 300 block of N. Main; well being check in the 200 block of S. Fulton.

July 28th - Vandalism in the 600 block of W. Adams; 911 call in the 300 block of W. Ohio; walk in accident report taken; keep the peace at McDonald's; medical assist in the 900 block of E. Pine; disturbance in the 400 block of E. Jefferson; teenager attempting to by alcohol at the Filling Station;  arrest at Hooterville Trailer Court.

July 29th - Keep the peace in the 500 block of W. Fort Scott; theft report in the 800 block of S. Birch; medical assist in the 300 block of W. Pine; animal complaint in the 400 block of N. Fulton; fraud call in the 400 block of S. Delaware; traffic control on W. 52  highway; animal complaint in the 500 block of S. Fulton; keep the peace at the PD; suspicious subject at McDonald's; prowler call in the 300 block of W. Pine; stolen vehicle report taken.

July 30th - Medical assist at Pine and Austin; medical assist in the 300 block of W. Pine; disturbance at Casey's on Orange; keep the peace at Sonic; animal complaint in the 600 block of W. Mill; animal complaint in the 400 block of S. Lyons; possible medical assist at the airport; medical assist in the 400 block of S. Delaware; vehicle check at the Filling Station; medical assist in the 300 block of W. Adams; medical assist in the 200 block of S. Mechanic; possible fight at Fulton and Fort Scott; prowler in the 900 block of E. Pine; suspicious person in the 400 block of S. Delaware; walk in report taken; male subject lying in road near Mill and Fulton streets.

July 31st - Theft report in the 100 block of W. Mill; shoplifting at Walmart; animal complaint on Harrison; well being check in the 800 block of S. High; animal complaint in the 800 block of W. Grove; warrant arrest in the 400 block of S. Fulton; keep the peace in the 500 block of Henry; disturbance in the 100 block of S. Mechanic.

August 1st - Animal complaint in the 400 block of W. College; animal complaint at Max Motors; animal complaint in the 800 block of W. Grove; accident in the 100 block of S. Broadway; funeral escort; disturbance at Hilltop Trailer Court; warrant arrest in the 300 block of W. Ohio; assisted DFS in the 500 block of Henry; threats made in the 800 block of W. Grove; accident at Conoco.

That's more like it...

The forecast changed for the better- rain chances have been increased over the next five days:

Today

Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Hot and humid. Highs in the upper 90s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Heat index readings 107 to 112.

Tonight

Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday

Partly sunny with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Heat index readings 98 to 103.

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

Friday

Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Hot and humid. Highs in the mid 90s. East winds around 5 mph. Heat index readings 102 to 107.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s.

Saturday

Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Hot and humid. Highs in the upper 90s.

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s.

Sunday

Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s.

View live radar here

Butler City Council news- Aug. 2nd

In Butler City Council news, Butler's search for a new Police Chief is down to four. Mayor Don Malan and the City Council have conducted interviews with the five applicants and have certified and recommended four of them. A decision is expected soon. Meanwhile, Randy Beshore continues as acting police chief, replacing Jim Garnett who has retired.

MoDot has dropped the other shoe, so to speak, and after a shuffling of district maps, has left Bates County as it is now...still in the Southwest District. So, as far as we're concerned, it was "Much ado about nothing," as Shakespeare would have said.

And Butler's application for funding of a waste oil heater, to be used in the vehicle/equipment maintenance shop, was not approved. And the reason was that while Butler needed 40 thousand dollars for the equipment, only 100 thousand dollars were available in the fund. However, a 15-thousand dollar grant has been approved by the Osage Valley RC&D for that river bank stabilization work out by the water intake pump station that gets water to Butler.

There's a stipulation, however...an engineering design study will be required and must be completed by Butler before completion of the work that has been proposed. Also, an inspection of the completed work will be required by the engineer to be sure we've complied with the recommendations in the study. And that caused the job to cost more, so Butler has requested another 25-hundred dollars for completing the engineering study and the work.

If you've seen cracks in the ground around your place, then you can understand why Butler is having water main problems. The dryer the earth, the more it shifts, and this can cause a pipe to break. That's happening here and there, so if you find no water coming from your tap, call the water department, to make sure they know about it. The sooner the better. The water plant's number is 679-3581.

Meanwhile, the weather is affecting our Light plant, too, but as we've noted before, Butler is fortunate to have its own electric generating plant. It's been busy during this hot weather, proving electricity when we get near the peak agreement we have with our provider, so you continue to have power, and Butler saves a bundle by being able to provide that power. And we're proud of it, which is one reason you see those signs around town, calling us the "Electric city."

And in case you're new in town, back when electricity was a new thing, Butler sent some men to a world's fair to see what it was all about. They came home impressed, and thus, Butler became the first community west of the Mississippi River, to have its own electric generating plant! That's right...even before Kansas City. And the newspaper there wrote a story about Butler, calling it "A light on the plain."
But we may as well give you the "rest of the story," as Paul Harvey used to say. Would you believe that as electricity became available, many folks saw no nee for it. They had kerosene lamps, so what's the fuss. Later, companies like our Osage Valley Electric, had a hard time convincing people of how useful electricity was going to be...running equipment that they could hardly operate without today. Or at least it would be much more inconvenient. And their homes and cars would be mighty hot places.

Howard Sherman talked to the Council concerning the "City Pride" project, especially about conditions on North Main Street, where weeds and other things leave a bit to be desired...

And Darrell Cox asked the Council about water being extended outside the city limits, and was told that the location must be annexed in order to be served.

And Butler's fiscal year audit for 2010-2011 was presented to the Council, with no problems found, and was accepted.

And in closing, we remind that you're welcome to any City Council meetings...1st and 3rd Tuesday nights at seven, upstairs at City Hall. But be on time, because the downstairs door is locked at seven, and no one will be there to let you in. As they say in the Navy..."A word to the wise."

-courtesy FM 92.1 the Bullet

Tomorrow is the last day for free sports physicals

Once again the doctors and staff of BCMH are offering free sports physicals to all Bates County Jr. and Sr. High students. 

Monday, August 1st girls at Butler High school

Tuesday, August 2nd- boys Butler High School

Thursday, August 4th- boys and girls at Adrian High School starting at 6:30 p.m.

All students are urged to take advantage of this free service courtesy of the Bates County Memorial Hospital.