From Recorder of Deeds, Lucille Mundey

Marriage License
David Wayne Reynolds and Lisa Jackson Reynolds
Vincent Brian Alexander and Sarah Kathleen Davidson
Richard Jayson Edward Perkins and Brandy Marie Brown

Real Estate Transfers
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation to Patti J. Baker:
E/2 OF 1‑42‑32, DESCRIBED

Carol A. Mills to Retha M. Huppe (Trustee) and Retha M. Huppe Trust and Mary C. Huppe Trust and Erin Kelly and Steven Anderson and Eric Anderson and Karen Huppe Mauer and Sharon Huppe and Joseph Huppe III and Mark Huppe and Gary Huppe and Christopher Huppe and Douglas Huppe:
SE/4 OF 24‑42‑33 DESCRIBED

Carol A. Mills to Carol A. Mills:
SE/4 OF 24‑42‑33 DESCRIBED

Sewer rate increase unavoidable

Notes from the Butler City Council meeting last night

The big news from the Butler City council is the budget for the coming year, but we'd like to open the council news, to give an opinion that the best piece of beautification this city has had in recent memory, was planting the Bradford pear trees along the Butler Strip. For the past several days, that street has been a beautiful flowery scene that any community would be proud to imitate. It has been a pleasure just to drive it, and now it will move into another pretty scene...summer green.

And so we should offer our congratulations to MoDOT...(the Missouri Department of Transportation)...it was their idea back about 1997. And of course that's because our Butler Strip, Orange Street, is Highway 71 business district, so they're in charge of it.

Now to the more important story...not as pretty, but even MORE necessary...Butler's City Budget for the coming fiscal year which begins April 1st...It's up about 17 thousand dollars over last year, but you can blame federal and state regulations that hound us.

Circuit Court news

CIRCUIT COURT OF BATES COUNTY, COURT NEWS

JAMES K JOURNEY, JUDGE

Diana L Rich, Clerk

Mar 19-21, 2012

St v. Jared E Webb, Felony possession of controlled substance, methamphetamines, found guilty, sentenced to 7 years in MDOC, sentence to run concurrently with other sentences, 120 day call back option. Defe. To pay $150 on State Forensic Laboratory account.

St v. Frankie D Degraffenried, Felony possession of controlled substance, methamphetamines, found guilty, given SIS, placed on probation for 5 years, to pay $150 on State Forensic Laboratory account, pay court costs, Defe. To attend and successfully complete any counseling/treatment as directed, to get substance abuse treatment and aftercare, to attend AA/NA, to be subject to random drug testing, random home/vehicle searches, to not possess/consume any alcoholic beverages or be where served, to perform 200 hours of community service.

St v. Sean P O’Riley, Felony possession of controlled substance, methamphetamines, found guilty, sentenced to 7 years in MDOC, given SES, placed on 5 years probation, to pay $150 on State Forensic Laboratory account, to pay court costs, Defe. To successfully complete any treatment/counseling as directed, to be subject to random drug testing, random home/vehicle searches, to not possess/ consume any alcoholic beverages or be where sold/served, to perform 200 hours of community service, to spend 20 days in Bates Co. Jail for shock detention.

St v. Mary Maranda Garrison, Felony non-support, found guilty, given SIS, placed on 5 years probation without supervision, pay court costs, to pay $250/mo. On child support beginning 5-1-12 and same day of each month thereafter, keep wage assignment in place.

St. v. Jacob P O’Connor, I: Felony distribution of controlled substance, II: Felony distribution of controlled substance, found guilty on both counts, given SIS, placed on 5 years probation, to pay $150 State Forensic Laboratory account, to pay court costs, to successfully complete any counseling/treatment as directed, to get substance abuse treatment and aftercare, to be subject to random drug testing, random home/vehicle searches, Defe. Shall not possess/consume any alcoholic beverages or be upon premises where sold/served, to perform 20 hours of community service.

St v. Stephen R Romesburg, I: Felony forgery, II: Felony forgery, III: Felony forgery, found guilty, sentenced to 5 years in MDOC on each count, given SES, placed on probation for 5 years, sentences to run concurrently with each other. To pay restitution of $1,340, court costs,to get substance abuse treatment and aftercare, to attend and successfully complete any treatment/counseling as directed, to be subject to random drug testing, to not possess/consume any alcoholic beverages or be where sold/served, to perform 200 hours of community service.

St v. Kenneth G Peppinger, Felony stealing, found guilty, sentenced to 4 years in MDOC, given SES, placed on 5 years probation, to pay restitution of $500, to pay court costs, to attend and successfully complete any counseling/treatment as directed, to be subject to random drug testing, too not possess or consume any alcoholic beverages or be where sold/served, to perform 200 hours of community service.

St v. Ryan Herbert, probation revoked, previous sentence of 4 years in MDOC on Count I(passing bad checks); sentenced to 4 years in MDOC on Count II (passing bad checks). Sentences to run concurrently with each other.

Kenneth Rex Roberts v Brenda Joan Wessels, Petition for Order of Protection dismissed by Court after hearing evidence.

Ryan E Langley v Lindsay K Langley, Dissolution of Marriage is granted.

Olivia Grace Strick v Adam Allen Abney, Petition for Order of Protection is dismissed by Petitioner.

St v. Richard Newkirk, Felony passing bad checks, amended to Misd. Passing bad checks, found guilty, given SIS, to pay restitution, court costs, to serve 6 mos. In Bates County Jail, jail time waived, to do 40 hours of community service, restitution to be paid within 30 days.

Atmos offering rebates to pay for home energy audit...

If you are a natural gas customer of Atmos Energy, you may qualify for $5,000 in rebates and incentives to cover the cost of a home energy audit - which can help improve your home for years. The Energize Atmos Energy Homes programis designed to help homeowners in Missouri complete home improvements that conserve energy, save money and increase comfort. Contact a qualified home energy auditor near you to get started. Atmos Energy customers who own and occupy a single or multi-family home in Missouri can take advantage of this program. The rebate for each project will vary depending on the level of energy efficiency that is achieved and eligible costs of the upgrades you select. The maximum amount per home is $5,000. Visit http://www.kcenergy.org/atmos-energize/index.html to review program details and find a qualified home energy auditor to perform an evaluation of your home. You can also call 1-877-620-1803 during business hours. For more information about the rebates, visit their FAQ page at http://www.kcenergy.org/atmos-energize/requirements.html

Senator David Pearce Named A Friend of Education

JEFFERSON CITY - Senator David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, recently attended the Show-Me Professional Development Conference, where he was recognized by Learning Forward Missouri for his contributions to public education and learning across the state. Senator Pearce currently serves as chairman of the Senate Education Committee, and is sponsoring several pieces of legislation relating to Missouri schools this legislative session. The Missouri Staff Development Council (MSDC) honored Sen. Pearce with the Friends of Education Award.

“It was a pleasure having the senator at the conference,” stated Deborah Orr, Superintendent of the Warrensburg R-VI School District, who introduced Sen. Pearce. “We are very appreciative of all of his hard work and dedication. His support for education across the state is well known.”

Hunter education course starts March 27th

A Hunter Education Course will be held at the Rich Hill High School Ag building on March 27th, 28th and 30th. Anyone born after January 1st 1967 must first complete the course before purchasing a firearms hunting permit. You must be at least 11 years old to take the course.

For more information and to pre-register see the web at www.missouriconservation.org or call Donna Morrison at 417-395-2418 or Conservation Agent Don Tiller at 660-679-6362.

-courtesy FM 92 the Bullet

Cost of fuel hitting the home front

The average price for a gallon of gasoline as of today is $3.84. Diesel? Around $4.12. As of now, there doesn't seem to be any relief in sight, especially for a significant chunk of folks who commute to points out of the county each day. And the impact of higher prices are beginning to hit pretty hard as indicated by some local residents:

Lori Brawley:

"Putting gas in 3 vehicles is about to break us. Spent a total of 810.00 on gas in the month of Feb."

Amber Coleman:

"I am looking for a job closer to town cause driving to Belton to work is costing about hundred a week- any pharmacy need a good tech around town?"

Kenny Lawrence:

"Staying home!"

Sarah Ayers:
"Only go somewhere when it is a absolute must. Wished I would have not sold my Festiva. Ugly car although 40 mpg does make that car look better better every day...At least now it does that I don't own it anymore...LOL!"

Mary Tyner:

"I was spending my whole paycheck on gas when I was driving to school 5 days a week which ended today. I gave up internet and never had tv to pay for gas and only went to the laundry mat once every two weeks all because of outrageous gas prices."

Daniel Hatten:

"My diesel looks great, sittin out by the barn."

Is it a supply and demand problem? Yes and no- it depends on where you are. While demand in the USA is about a million barrels of oil per day less than it was in 2005, it's up significantly in China and India. Global oil consumption is expected to increase by 800,000 barrels a day to 89.9 million barrels a day by 2012 - and Asia is consuming 700,000 barrels worth of that increase. As Chinese and Indian consumers start buying and driving cars in large numbers, their share of global crude demand will only increase, and the oil industry will be hard-pressed to keep up. Note the tables are turning as the USA slips away from being the biggest petroleum user in the world.

Besides the above listed issues, the possibility of a war between Iran and Israel has also driven up price based on speculation as well. And the longer this drags on, the longer prices are certain to stay up.

On that note there's another potential problem- a change in the currency used to buy oil. Right now it's all done in American dollars, which gives us an advantage. However, there is a big push to change that, to possibly Euros, and that alone could put us at a huge disadvantage considering that the Euro is stronger than the Dollar. While this remains to be seen, there is a big push to ditch the dollar as other countries use more oil and have a bigger influence in the marketplace.

Is the price going to come down any time soon? Possibly not. Even if we (the U.S.) started drilling now it won't be soon enough for relief this Summer, but would certainly help on down the road. The situation with Iran and Israel could go on for quite a while too. Tapping our reserves is very temporary solution, as it would only last a few months based on our current level of consumption.

For now the best answer lies right where we thought it should be- in common sense. Cut back and do what it takes until the situation gets better.

Butler Police Department weekly report

03/12/2012
Dispatched to the 600 block of Meadow Ln on credit card theft
Responded to the 500 block of W Pine on a fire assist
911 hang up in the 200 block of W Atkinson
100 block of W Ft Scott on a possible fight