Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture Scholarship Deadline Feb. 1

The deadline is approaching for high school seniors interested in applying for a Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture scholarship. Twenty-four $1,000 scholarships and one supreme $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to qualified applicants pursuing higher education degrees in the field of agriculture. The application form is available online at www.mostatefair.com and must be postmarked by Feb. 1, 2012.
“Scholarships will be awarded to youth who have participated at the annual Missouri StateFair,” said Wayne Yokley, Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture Committee Chairman. 

To be eligible, scholarship applicants must plan to enroll in an accredited Missouri college or university, with the ambition to acquire a degree in agriculture. Applicants must be high school seniors and active members of 4-H or FFA. While the applicants must have participated at least once as a 4-H or FFA exhibitor at the Missouri State Fair, applicants cannot have sold livestock in any past Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions Auction.

The scholarships are funded through the generosity of Youth in Agriculture sponsors and buyers of the livestock sold during the annual Sale of Champions, with a portion of each animal’s sale price allocated to the scholarship program. The list of supporters from 2011 can be viewed online atwww.mostatefair.com/Youth-in-Agriculture.php.

For more information please call the Missouri State Fair at 1-800-422-FAIR (3247) or e-mail questions to mostatefair@mda.mo.gov.

Obituary - Agnes VanBenthusen

Funeral services for Agnes VanBenthusen will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 9, 2012 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri with Rev. Mark Dareing officiating. Visitation, 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Schowengerdt Chapel. Burial, Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian, Missouri. Contributions, Virginia United Methodist Church.

Agnes Gareldine VanBenthusen, age 91 of Butler, Missouri died Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas. She was born August 26, 1920 to Leslie Vest and Lucy Maude Briscoe in Adrian, Missouri.

Agnes is survived by a son, Don VanBenthusen and wife Dieanna of Harrisonville, Missouri; three daughters, Phyllis Weeks and husband Sam of Butler, Missouri, Barbara Pipes of Rosston, Texas and Helen Stoskopf and husband George of Shawnee, Kansas; and 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband Lyle in 1971.

Legislative Session Begins

From the desk of Senator David Pearce

The Missouri Senate began its new session high noon on January 4. Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, addressed the Senate, outlining many topics the Senate would be focusing on this session. My colleagues and I listened to the Senate leader’s speech as he outlined the work that lies ahead for the 2012 legislative session.

It is no surprise that the state’s budget will occupy a large percentage of discussion in the Senate. The budget is typically the bulk of dialogue in committee meetings and floor debate as the Senate and the House work together to pass a budget that best serves the state. It is a daunting challenge, to be sure, but it is the legislature’s responsibility to Missouri to make the difficult decisions a balanced budget will require.

Obituary - Lori Martin

Lori Marie Martin, 53 of Butler, passed away December 26, 2011.

Lori was born September 26, 1958 in Anaheim, CA, daughter of Benjamin and Rosemarie Martin. She attended school and graduated high school in Sacramento, CA.

Lori was well known to many people in the Butler, Mo., area as she had worked at the Casey’s on Ft. Scott St. for 10 years, where she had been the assistant manager. Lori deeply loved her family; she greatly enjoyed being a stay at home mother and grandmother. Her family will always remember that she had a big heart, and gave great advice.

Lori was preceded in death by her parents, and one brother, Larry. She leaves behind her significant other of 27 years, David McKinney; son, Bryan Wood and wife Penny of Butler; son David McKinney, Jr. of the home; brother Lee Martin of the home; one stepson, Robert McKinney and wife Cyeda of Olive Hurst, CA; and five grandchildren: Tavien, Jaylan, Chloe; Eain; and Brayden.

Cremation, with memorial service 2:00 PM Sunday, January 8, 2012 at the Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660) 679-0009 with Greg Mullinax presiding. Written messages and memories may be left for members of the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements under the direction of the Mullinax Funeral Home, (660) 679-0009.

A must read!

Lately we've gotten lots of calls about how to advertise on Bates County Live and it seems our advertising page was a little confusing....so we've made some changes! We offer three basic ways to advertise here:

1. Classified ads placed on the Heartland Trader site automatically show up on the Bates County Live home page. Readers can scroll through the ads on the left side of the page. The ads also rotate in position so that each ad gets maximum visibility within the visible part of the scroll bar. Here's the classified ad options:

7 day classified with 1 picture is just $1
15 day classified with 2 pictures is just $3
30 day classified with 4 pictures is just $5 (great for cars, etc.)
90 day classified with 8 pictures just $10 (great for real estate)

Readers are able receive classified ads by RSS feeds through email and also may view them on their browser home page.

To place a classified ad, log on to HeartlandTrader.com and click 'Place Ad'. You will be able to choose the days/price plan you want and can pay by credit card (all secure).


2. Display ads on our home page get a LOT of attention, just ask our advertisers. The 250x150 ads on the right side of our home page are just $30 a month, with one month free if you pay a year in advance. We'll do the artwork if you don't have any. Display ads can link to your web site or email address. We rotate display ads on a daily basis so everyone gets a shot at the top spot many times a month! Call and we'll get your display ad up as soon as possible!


3. Full page ads are $90 a month and are like having your own web paged nested on our very busy web site. Your content may contain printable coupons, web links, color ads and more. A full page ad is perfect for auctions, too! Links to full page ads are added to news stories on a rotating basis for better exposure. Plus, we promote our full page ads outside the BCL web site on Google and Yahoo! Call us and we'll get started on your full page ad today. One month free if you pay a year in advance for full page ads.


WE ALSO HAVE A REALLY NIFTY COUPON PROGRAM that is a great way to get people in the door of your business. For just $10 per item/offer, we can make printable coupons available for customer download. You choose how many or how long the coupons are available and we'll do the rest. Everybody loves coupons! Call us for details!


Questions? Call 913-669-5848. More details on our advertising programs are available here.

Basketball games at Municipal cancelled

The Butler Bear Basketball game for both girls and boys that was scheduled to be played at Municipal Auditorium Saturday, January 7th against the Drexel Bobcats has been cancelled. 

The main investor pulled out of this event and this was not due to the Butler High School not being able to play.

If you have purchased advanced tickets for this event please know your money will be refunded. Please do not call the Butler High School regarding your refund, we will let you know when you will be able to receive your refund.

-our thanks to FM 92 the Bullet

Obituary - David Griffith

David Lloyd Griffith was born on May 8, 1960, to Lloyd Carroll Griffith and Marian Eileen Hamilton Griffith at Harrisonville, MO. He left this life very unexpected on January 1, 2012, at 51 years of age. Services will be held at the Atkinson Funeral Home, 142 E Main, Adrian, MO, on Thursday, January 5, 2012, visitation 1:00 p.m. and funeral at 2:00 p.m.

David accepted Christ at the Adrian Christian Church in 1980. He was employed by the City of Pleasanton for the past 7 years. Prior to that, he worked at various places including Neal Mfg. in Pleasanton, KS. He was a very hard worker and always gave everything he did 100% of his effort. He especially enjoyed hunting, fishing, and cooking, and also watching western movies, the travel channel, and cooking shows.

He was preceded in death by his father Lloyd Carroll Griffith, grandfather Syranus Shaw Griffith, grandmother Clara Zettina Bunnell Griffith, grandfather Robert Glenn Hamilton, grandmother Mary Maria Kennedy Hamilton. He is survived by his mother, Eileen Griffith and sister, Susan Eileen Taylor and husband Bart, all of Adrian, Mo. He was married to Deborah Lynn Schraml from 1976 to 1981. To this union were born two daughters: Amy Michelle Griffith of Rosamond, CA, and Melissa Ann Griffith of Lancaster, CA. He was married to Frances Marie Carpenter from 1984 to 1998. To this union were born three sons: Joshua David Griffith of Pleasanton, KS, Benjamin Lloyd Griffith, of Pittsburg, KS, and David Taylor Griffith of Pleasanton, KS. He had nine grandchildren. In addition to these, he is survived by a special significant other of 15 years, Dorene Elizabeth Hughes of Pleasanton, other friends and family, and his special pets Precious and Buddy.

Details in accident yesterday

A Brookfield Mo. man was injured in a rollover accident yesterday afternoon in the 'flats' between Butler and Rich Hill. George Ratje, 19, was southbound on 71 Highway south of County Road 3778 in a 2001 Jeep when he apparently fell asleep and traveled off the right side of road and overturned.

Ratje was transported to Bates County Memorial Hospital with moderate injuries. The investigation continues with charges pending.