Butler Library Fall Book Sale

The Butler Public Library Fall Book Sale is scheduled for Friday Nov. 4th 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Nov. 5th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All books are just $1!

If you have books to donate, please contact the Butler Public Library at 660-679-4321.

The Butler Public Library is located at 100 W. Atkison in Butler.

Bates County Recovery Court graduation this Tuesday

No one consciously wants to become a drug addict. In nearly every case, it starts innocently with just one extra pain pill or one 'experimental' toke from a crack pipe. Maybe it's just fun at first.

Then the dependency starts- slowly, subconsciously, and again, there is no intention of getting hooked. But over a period of time the user finds him or her turning to the pills or meth to make the day go a little better and it seems to work. This pattern repeats itself day after day until it becomes the norm.

Over time, however, complications begin to arise. There's not enough money, you can't focus at work and your 'good' friends leave you behind. Your 'new' friends are not trustworthy and paranoia sets in. Over time, you inevitably hit rock bottom there's no where to turn, or so it seems. It's a shill life and it gets worse each and every day.

It's easy to be judgmental of a person who has a drug addiction- but remember it's human nature to get addicted to anything,  whether it's cigarettes, food, alcohol, even physical fitness, or work.  While physical fitness and work seem like strange addictions, it's all the same. Too much of anything can kill you and maintaining some kind of balance is important to leading a long, healthy, productive life.

Bouncing back from a drug addiction is a long road to hoe, for sure. Unlike some other addictions it requires a total rebuilding of your life which includes everything from dealing with legal matters, finding new friends, getting back to a productive job and cleaning up your life in general. Add to that, finding the incentive to stay clean after the fact.

Help is imperative for a recovering drug addict to stay on track and that is where the Bates County Recovery Court steps in. From the first day of the program to graduation, each and every step is made in a clear and concise manner whether that is starting a new job, sticking to a curfew or attending meetings, there is really no tolerance. Screw up and it's back to step one.

Sounds pretty tough? It is. But the rewards are great when you do good. And after as much as two years in the program the ultimate reward is graduation from the the Recovery Court and the freedom to go find your place as a healthy, law abiding, productive citizen of the community.

It is very hard to comprehend what it takes for someone to graduate from the Bates County Recovery Court. The best way to learn more is by attending a graduation ceremony and seeing it for yourself. The public is cordially invited to attend the third ceremony which is being held this Tuesday, Oct. 18th at 6 p.m. in the Circuit Courtroom of the Bates County Courthouse.

A reception will follow the ceremony.

Miami Halloween Carnival this Friday...

The Miami Halloween Carnival is set for this Friday, Oct. 14h with a full night of guaranteed fun:

Wristbands are available for $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Some of the wristband games include the sand bag toss, candy corn bowling, pumpkin math, golf, milk bottles, spider ring toss, free throw and dart toss. New this year, you can win tickets to use at the Carnival Store (kinda like they do it at Chuckie Cheese).

The Miami FCCLA will be offering cake pops, Eagle window clings and Eagle bracelets too.

Other fun will include a cake walk, Halloween pictures, concession stand, haunted house, project prom adult bingo and more.

Don't forget to wear your costume for the costume contest!

Click here to enlarge the flyer and see more info:

Obituary - Gerald Tyner

Funeral services for Gerald Wick Tyner will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, October 13 at the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel with burial in the Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be immediately prior to services from 1 to 2 pm at the chapel.

Gerald Wickham Tyner was born October 20, 1920 in Bethany, Missouri the son of Merle and Mary Wickham Tyner. He died October 8, 2011 at his home in Indianapolis, Indiana. He married Jeane Mosier in 1943. Wick served in the U.S. Navy and was a commissioned officer. For several years they lived in Estes Park, Colorado moving back to Butler in 1998 and then to Indianapolis the past two years.

Wick is survived by wife Jeane of the home; son Mark Tyner of Butler; Daughters Anne Williams (Gerald Shearer) of Indianapolis and Lynn Jones and husband Jack of Tuscon, Arizona; brother Keith Tyner of Lakeland, Florida. Six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren also survive.

New overpass North of Adrian now open for business

The new overpass just North of Adrian on 71 highway is now open offering access to routes AA and E from 71.

The project was part of the conversion of 71 Highway to Interstate 49 to run from Kansas City to Shreveport, Louisiana. Here are answers to some common questions regarding the project as answered by the Missouri Department of Transportation:

Why is I-49 being used as the designation instead of I-29 or I-35?

Congress designated the I-49 corridor from Kansas City to Shreveport, La., in federal transportation legislation, and the corridor will connect to existing I-49 between Shreveport and Lafayette in Louisiana.

Free workshop offers rain garden, barrel how-to’s

Homeowners can learn how to install rain gardens and other retrofits to manage stormwater at a free workshop scheduled at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Bates County Health Department, 501 N. Orange St., Butler. The two-hour workshop will provide hands-on training and information about designing rain gardens and building rain barrels.

The workshop also will provide information about cost-share programs available to help offset up to 50 percent of the expense of installing well-designed rain gardens that help protect local streams from pollutants borne by stormwater.

The Osage Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to conduct this workshop. It is part of the Council’s effort to support the Mound Branch Evaluation and Restoration Project, which works with local residents to improve water quality in the Butler area by installing practices to reduce nonpoint source pollution and protect and improve water quality.

Butler Police Department weekly report

Oct. 5 - Animal complaint in the 500 block of S. Mechanic; accident in the 1100 block of W. Fort Scott; medical assist in the 400 block of S. High; speak with subject at Butler Tow; suspicious vehicle in the 700 block of Parkview; two car accident at stop light; attempted theft in the 500 block of N. Maple.

Obituary - Jo Ann Ferguson

Jo Ann Ferguson, 82, Adrian, MO, died Saturday, October 8, 2011 at her home. No services are scheduled.

Jo Ann was born June 9, 1929 in Oxnard, California, the daughter of Ralph and Anna Margaret (Fenton) Lotspeich.

She is survived by two sons, Jim Ferguson and his wife, Diane, Adrian, MO and Fenton Ferguson, Lathrop, MO; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.