Its sure been going around...

The CDC does a weekly report on flu and pneumonia outbreaks. The report ending February 4th showed the state of Missouri in the orange which indicates moderate to high. The scale goes from green to light green, to yellowish green to orange, to red with red being the highest in outbreaks. That week every other state except Missouri was in the yellow green to green, Missouri was orange. They recently posted the report for the week ending February 11th. Again, all the other states are mostly green or yellowish green, but this time Missouri is dark red, the very top of the scale.  More info can be found here http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/ To find the map on the report you need to scroll down to the bottom of the page.


-our thanks to Lorraine (Lori) Carter

GERD: What it is and what you can do about it

From Tammy Roberts, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD is a condition in which food or liquid contents of the stomach back up into the food pipe or esophagus. This can inflame or damage the lining of the esophagus. It is a common ailment among adults in which the first symptom is often heartburn.

 At the lower end of the esophagus is a muscle that opens and closes to let food through. This muscle is called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES. It is also sometimes called the cardiac sphincter. If this muscle is weakened in some way or if the stomach is full or under increased pressure, the muscle relaxes when it isn’t supposed to and stomach contents back up (reflux) into the esophagus. 

Mobile home fire west of Butler

Butler and Adrian fire departments have been dispatched on a call of a mobile home on fire approximately 5 miles west of Butler near 52 highway.

Units have been requested from Amsterdam and Amoret as well, use caution and watch for emergency equipment in the area. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Update 3:15 p.m. - It has been reported that the home belongs to the Coleman family northeast of Virginia.

Mark Your Calendar for BCYAC Potato Day

If baked potatoes and homemade cookies tempt your taste buds, then make note of the following information for the popular Bates County Youth Advocacy Potato Day! On Friday, March 9 from 11:00 a.m. -- 1:00 p.m. and for the price of $5.00, you can have a large baked potato with your choice of ham or chili, sour cream, a homemade cookie and soda or water delivered to your home or business (immediate Butler area only). To get your potato feast, you must call in your order to the Get Fit Gym and Fitness in Butler. Orders will be taken from Monday, March 5-Thursday, March 8. Please call 200-2100 between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. If you don’t want your order delivered or live or work outside the delivery area, you can pick it up at the Youth Center in the Old High School. Just relay the time of your pick-up when you call in your order! There are a limited number of potatoes available, so place your order today.

Proceeds will go the BCYAC projects that include the Butler Youth Center, Day Camp and the Pool Pals program.

-our thanks to Kris Jenkins

Bates County Fair to celebrate 40th anniversary this year

The Bates County Fair will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year and Fair Board is asking for any old Bates County Fair photographs you would like to share. They are needing a good picture to place on their home page as well as a good group photograph to post some of the history of the Bates County Fair. If you have any photographs post them to face book and tag the Bates County Fair.

The Bates County Fair Facebook page can be found here https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bates-County-Fair

Adrian Expo just a week away...

Turnout from last year's expo far exceeded
 expectations both in number of vendors
and those who came in the door. 

We recently paid a visit to the Adrian Chamber of Commerce office to get a feel for how the upcoming business expo is shaping up- and yes, it appears the event may very well top the success of the first annual expo held last year.

The Adrian Business Expo is an excellent opportunity for local businesses to showcase their wares and visit potential customers on a personal level. Flipside, the public, free of charge can discover more about those that help fuel our local economy.

There will be free food, prizes and more. The Expo will be held at the Adrain Optimist Building from 8:30 until 2:00. next Saturday, Feb. 25th.

For more info call the Adrian Chamber of Commerce office at 816-297-0004.

Lady Bears edge Archie

The JV Lady Bears finished up their season Thursday night with a 47-43 win over Archie. Butler had a 2-point lead at halftime, but Archie came roaring back at the start of the 3rd quarter to take a 5-point lead. However, the Lady Bears fought back and narrowed Archie's lead to 1 at the end of the 3rd and regained the lead in the 4th. The win was a complete team victory with all the girls scoring. Leading scorers for the Lady Bears were Katie Henry and Sabrina Hill each with 13. Hali Heckadon added 6; Jenna Bosch had 5; Tori McGee and Abbie Hobbs each contributed 4, and Tina Zangi had 2. The girls finished their season with a 5-1 record.

-our thanks to Tammy Appleberry & Heather Goldammer

The Future of Rail Transportation

From the desk of Senator David Pearce

Our state is closely tied to the history and future of rail transportation. When Missouri’s great orator Thomas Hart Benton brought the idea of a transcontinental railroad to the Missouri Legislature’s attention in 1849, the concept seemed doubtful. But, like forward-thinkers Missourians have always been, a railroad system became an integral piece of Westward Expansion.