Need to get that 'fridge off your front porch?

Here's your chance to start your Spring cleaning- you can drop off old appliances and electronics this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot at Fort Scott and Prospect streets in Butler. There is no cost to drop off old appliances, electronics, phones and accessories, printers, printer cartridges, etc. There will be a $5 fee for CRT monitors and TV's.

-courtesy FM 92 the Bullet

Easter happenings around the area...

APRIL 1ST: The Trinity United Methodist Church of Appleton City presents an Easter Cantata by the Community Choir… the Cantata will be directed by Derek Cross. A Nursery will be provided and refreshments will follow the service. The Trinity United Methodist church Easter Cantata will be held Sunday April 1st at 4:30 p.m. 214 East 3rd Street Appleton City

APRIL 1ST: The Butler Ministerial Alliance will have a Palm Sunday Procession Sunday morning, April 1, at 10 a.m. beginning at the Butler High School flag pole. Several churches will gather to hear a short message and then set off to their respective congregations with palms in hand, as in days of old. The community is invited to share in this unique celebration of Palm Sunday.

APRIL 1ST: The Rich Hill Community Choir will present its annual Palm Sunday concert on Sunday, April 1 at 6:00 p.m. at the Rich Hill United Methodist Church, 3rd and Park Avenue. A carry-in fellowship dinner will follow the performance. A free will offering will be taken to benefit the Rich Hill Ministerial Alliance. All are welcome to attend.

APRIL 3RD : The Butler Ministerial Alliance is having a Holy Week service at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Matthew Lutheran Church on Atkinson St. in Butler. Father John Bolderson will be the speaker. The community is invited to come a share in the fellowship.

APRIL 7TH: Rich Hill Easter Egg Hunt West Park 1 p.m. Children preschool to 11 years old - rain date April 14th at 1:00p.m.

APRIL 7TH: Heartland of Willow Lane Nursing Home Easter Egg Hunt 2:30 ages 0-3, 4-7, 8-10 - bring own camera. The Easter Bunny will be on location.

APRIL 7TH: Medicalodge Annual Easter Egg Hunt 1 p.m. ages 0-10 years. Prizes Awarded Easter Bunny on location refreshments served after hunt.

APRIL 8TH: Butler Lions Club Easter Egg hunt - Bates County Fairgrounds baseball field. Sunday April 8th 1 p.m. rain or shine! Bring your own basket!

If you would like something added send us an email at bateswire@hotmail.com and Happy Easter!

-our thanks to FM 92 the Bullet

Butler city wide cleanup coming in May

The City of Butler provides a free city wide clean- up each spring and fall for residential properties only. This service is offered to residents of Butler and gives you the opportunity to discard items not taken during the weekly trash pickup. The Spring clean-up dates have been set to begin May 14th for those living north of Fort Scott street and beginning on May 21st for those south of Fort Scott.

The city recommends that you not put items out earlier than one week prior to your pick up date. Bates County Disposal will pick up old furniture, appliances, paint, batteries and miscellaneous junk. The City of Butler will pick up your brush and limbs placed at the curb. The brush and limbs must be maintained in separate piles at the curb.

More information will be provided closer to May.

Giant colon a real attention getter...

Anyone driving by the Bates County Memorial Hospital today can't help but see something quite unusual in the parking lot.... a giant colon. The display is sponsored by the American Cancer Society and is on display to raise awareness.

While it kills fewer people in the United States than lung cancer, it's the second-place cancer killer of men, and third most frequent for women, according to the American Cancer Society.

Because ignoring this disease can be fatal, March has been designated Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time to spread the message of early detection and raise money for research. 

Along with the display is a plenty of information about symptoms, preventative measures and more.

Employees of Bates County Memorial Hospital assembled with today's display aimed at raising
colon cancer awareness. The exhibit was sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

Your weekend planner...

Today
Partly cloudy with a chance of a thunderstorm and a chance of rain. High of 86 with a heat index of 81F. Winds from the NE at 5 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Chance of rain 20%.

Butler Thrift Shop opens at 10 a.m. - corner of Rice Road and Nursery street.

Butler Lions Club Radio auction on FM 92.1 5 to 7 p.m.

BCMH Colon Cancer display in the parking lot 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bates County Democrat Caucus at the courthouse starts at 7 p.m.

Friday
Partly cloudy in the morning, then clear. High of 84. Winds less than 5 mph. Chance of rain 20%.

St. Patrick's Church in Butler fish fry 5 to 7 p.m.

Butler High School play "Heaven Can Wait" starts at 7 p.m.


Saturday
Clear. High of 91. Winds from the North at 5 to 15 mph.


Drop off old appliances for recycling at Fort Scott and Prospect in Butler 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Butler High School play "Heaven Can Wait" starts at 7 p.m.

Deadline to register for EMT classes at BCMH for more info call 660-200-7046

Deadline to register for Miami Project Prom softball tournament for info call 660-679-4540

Butler Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast at the Butler Senior Center starts at 7 a.m.

Drexel Business Fair at the community building 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Altona Ladies Club fundraiser at the community hall 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Lawson Nieder benefit at the Amsterdam Community Building starts at 5 p.m.

Casino Night at the Adrian Optimist building - social hour 6:30 p.m., casino open at 7:30 p.m.

Hume high school play "The Real Housewives of Cricket County" at the school at 7 p.m.

Easter Egg Hunt in the Appleton City Park 2 p.m.
Adrian Christian Church garage sale - all day

Sunday
Clear. High of 95. Winds from the SSW at 15 to 20 mph. Breezy.

Palm Sunday Procession starts at 10 a.m. at the Butler high school flag pole

Hume high school play "The Real Housewives of Cricket County" at the school at 1 p.m.

Rich Hill Community Choir concert starts 6 p.m. at 3rd and Park Ave.

Trinity UMC Easter Cantata in Appleton City 4:30 p.m.

If you would like something added, contact us at bateswire@hotmail.com

Butler Thrift Shop open today...

The new Butler Community Thrift Shop will open today at 10 a.m. according to food pantry director Joyce Fitzpatrick. Opening the thrift shop has been an ongoing effort for many months as most everything from office furniture to inventory has been sought through donations. In fact, at this time a few more items are needed including a small round table and a book shelf. To donate, call the food pantry at 660-679-3951.

The Butler Community Thrift Shop is located at the corner of Nursery street and Rice Road in Butler.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch until midnight

The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch to be in effect until 12 midnight. Forecasters are calling for the possibility of heavy rains and small hail over the next few hours.

Click the image at left to view live radar

Fire in Ballard, units responding now

Adrian and Butler fire departments are in route to a shop/garage on fire in Ballard. It is being reported that the building is close to a mobile home- extra units from Urich fire department are being summoned as well.

Use extra caution and watch for emergency vehicles in the area.