Circuit Court News Nov. 14-18, 2011

CIRCUIT COURT OF BATES COUNTY, COURT NEWS

JAMES K JOURNEY, JUDGE

Debra Hopkins, Associate Circuit Judge

Diana L Rich, Clerk

 NOV 14 – 18, 2011

American Family Mutual Insurance v. Mindy M Miller, Amended Petition filed, certified to Circuit Court.

Keri Dawn Fennewald v Dana Marie Hankins, Full Order of Protection entered.

Donald W Hankins Jr. V Dana Marie Hankins, Petition for Order of Protection is dismissed by Petitioner.

Bates County Museum Receives State Historical Society Grant

Gary Kremer, Executive Director, State
Historical Society of Missouri presents a grant
check to Peggy Buhr, Bates
County  Museum Director.

The Bates County Museum was one of nineteen organizations throughout the State of Missouri to be awarded a 2011 Richard S. Brownlee Fund Grant to be used for the construction of a permanent exhibit depicting the Battle of Island Mound that occurred in October 1862. On Saturday, November 5th, Museum Director Peggy Buhr and Historical Society President Donna Gregory, traveled to Columbia, Missouri to attend the annual meeting of the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHS) at the Tiger Hotel. The grants were awarded by Gary Kremer, Executive Director of the SHS, and the presentations were followed by a luncheon program presented in the hotel ballroom. The Bates County Museum received the maximum grant amount of $500.

The new exhibit design will include three panels that will depict the “Settlers of Bates County,” the “Founding of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry” and the actual “Battle of Island Mound and the Aftermath.” Plans also call for these panels to be reproduced into posters that will be easily transportable and available for presentations away from the Museum. Coordinating the 150th Commemoration of the Battle for next year is underway and will include a partnership with the Department of Natural Resources who will officially dedicate the Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site at that time. The last weekend in October 2012 will be filled with events dedicated to remembering and honoring the men and women who lived 150 years ago in 1862.

DAR 2011 Good Citizen recipients named

Local students and proud parents met on Nov. 14th in Butler to honor high school seniors from seven area high schools as recipients of the 2011 Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen awards. Some of the criteria to receive the honors are service, dependability, patriotism and leadership in the community.

Those awarded were:

Brooklyn Siegismund of Appleton City, daughter of Craig and Debbie Siegismund

Kortney Eidson of Adrian, daughter of Ron and Becky Eidson  (winner of DAR essay contest)

Alex Morris of Ballard high school, daughter of Gene and Brandy Morris

Zach Craft of Butler, son of Kelly and DeAnna Craft

Lynnlee Barton of Miami high school, daughter of Gary Barton

Sara Wikoff of Hume, daughter of Jeff and Melody Wikoff

Rohni Lee Carroll of Rich Hill, daughter of Richard and Amy Carroll

Kortney Eidson's winning essay titled "Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It" will now advance her to the next stage of competition at the state level, to be held in the near future.

All seven local students were given a Good Citizen lapel pin and wallet card card for their outstanding achievement.

New speed limit in Adrian

During Monday's Adrian city council meeting, it was approved to reduce the speed limit on Main street to 15 mph between Lexington (by railroad tracks) to Kentucky (by funeral home). During the same meeting it was also approved to set the speed limit on the outer road that connects Business 71 north to the new overpass at 45 mph.

It is unknown exactly when the four new speed limit signs will go up to indicate the changes.

Cost of Thanksgiving meal has increased but there are ways of paying less

Nationally, the cost of the Thanksgiving meal will be a little bit more expensive in 2011. Missourians will be paying more than last year but less than most Americans. Still, there are ways of spending even less if you know how to find the bargains.

Each year since 1986 the American Farm Bureau Federation has conducted the cost of Thanksgiving dinner survey. Shoppers from 35 states look for the best prices on a list of food that includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, coffee and milk. The national average for the cost of the Thanksgiving meal that would feed ten people is $49.20. This is $5.73 more than in 2010 or about a 12% increase. 

Food pantry distribution this Saturday

Mass distribution will be this Saturday, November 19th from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. There will be no distribution on the 4th Saturdays of November or December due to the Holidays.

Distribution date for December will be announced shortly. The Butler Community Food Pantry is located at the corner of Prospect and Ohio streets in Butler. 

The new web site can be found here www.batescountypantry.org

-our thanks to Joyce Fitzpatrick

Old diseases, new treatments

From the desk of Senator David Pearce

It’s the Most  Wonderful Time

 of the Year

As anyone in the retail industry knows, the fourth quarter of the fiscal year is when the most money is spent. With decorations, gifts, and large family meals, average spending rises between Thanksgiving and Christmas. But with increased spending comes increased opportunity for dishonest people to attempt to part you from your hard-earned money.

Unfortunately, consumer fraud and scams occur daily. Each year, the National Consumer League (NCL) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) compile lists of the most-reported scams to make citizens aware of the dangers. This year’s list is not surprising, with the top five scams including internet sales, fake checks, prizes or sweepstakes, phishing/spoofing, and advance loans/credit schemes. Thieves who operate these scams prey on both people’s good nature and the current economy in the hopes that someone will either believe a lie or be desperate enough to want to utilize their fake services. Without thorough research of these companies through reputable sources, such as the Better Business Bureau or even the Secretary of State’s office, citizens could potentially become a victim.