Dealing with ticks- tips and tricks?

An early Spring has prompted lots of us to hit the woods in search of the mighty morel but we often home with more than just mushrooms- namely, TICKS. While mosquitoes, wasps and bees are also out en masse, ticks seem to bother people the most. Why? Maybe it's the idea this unassuming, blood sucking pest will find a home in your nether regions while you go about your business.

Most folks worry about tick bites in respect to the diseases they can carry such as Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and others. Another concern is that paralysis or an infection can develop from a tick bite as well. Make no mistake, these are legitimate concerns.

The Missouri Department of Conservation says that prevention is the best bet- use repellents every time you're out. Plus, know the warning signs to look for if you've already been bitten. More information about dealing with ticks is available in a very informative article here http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/avoid-outdoor-pests/ticks

Hume calendar events...

The County Line 4-H Club is hosting a community fund raiser of Bingo at the bin, right next to the restaurant “Sisters & Friends” on April 11 at 6:00 p.m. There will also be a baked goods sale and everyone is welcome, please come out and support our 4-H Club.

Don’t forget the PTO Community Easter Egg Hunt ages 0 to 10 years old on Saturday, April 7. Sign up starts at Noon at the Hume City Park with the hunt to begin at 1:00 p.m. The Easter Bunny will be on hand if you would like to bring your camera and take pictures of this special day. Also if you would like to make a donation just see Karla at the bank to help with the Easter Egg Hunt.

The Hume Christian Church will hold Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday with Breakfast to follow. Sunday school will be at 10:00 a.m. and Worship Service will be at 11:00 a.m.

The Hume United Methodist Church will hold a Seder Meal at 7:00 p.m. on April 5 and Good Friday Services on April 6 at 7:00 p.m. Breakfast on Easter Morning will be at 8:00 a.m. with services at 9:00 a.m. There will be no 10:30 a.m. services on Easter Sunday.

-our thanks to Karen Irwin

Miami FCCLA strike gold in Columbia

Students from Miami R-1 attended the annual Missouri Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) State Leadership Conference, March 25-27, at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, MO. This year’s student-developed conference theme was “Dare to be Different: Not Just Another Teen Conference.” The conference featured speakers and workshops on topics such as preparing for college and careers, leadership skills, bullying prevention, and technology’s impact on education, careers, and education. The Missouri FCCLA association ranks fourth in the nation in
membership with more than 11,000 member and 326 chapters. 

Lee'A Hoss earned a silver medal
for her recycling entry

In addition to leadership training, honors and recognition, more than 800 students participated in 33 competitive events, including entrepreneurship, culinary arts, environmental ambassador, recycle and redesign and nutrition and wellness. The STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events are an integral part of the Family and Consumer Science program and give students the opportunity to become involved leaders in their school and community. 

This year Miami R-1 had three students who competed at the State level in the STAR Events competition: 

Lee'A Hoss competed in recycle and redesign and earned a silver medal. She did a clothing drive, and then created purses from the donated clothing. With the remaining clothing she donated it to Planet aid a nonprofit organization that donates clothing to shelters and recycles the rest.

Jaclyn Crawford competed in the Nutrition and Wellness junior category. Jaclyn learned how to better her health and educate as well as encourage others to do the same. Jaclyn earned a Gold Medal and will be the only Missouri FCCLA member in the junior category to represent Miami R-1 and the state of Missouri in this category at the National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida this summer.

Makayla Fuqua and Jaclyn Crawford
brought home the gold

Makayla Fuqua competed in the Environmental Ambassador senior category. She started a school wide recycling program and has recycled over 1000 pounds of paper and cardboard. The recycling program she created will be a permanent program at Miami R-1 through the FCCLA chapter. Makayla earned a Gold Medal also and will be the only student in the senior category of Environmental Ambassador to represent Miami R-1 and the state of Missouri at the National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida this summer.

We are very proud of our chapter and the students that will be representing our school, community and state at the national level. These students have put in countless hours to achieve this goal and they will be wonderful representatives of the Miami R-1 FCCLA chapter in Florida. Jaclyn and Makayla will be conducting fundraisers over the summer to help cover the cost of meals and activities at the National Leadership Conference. The bake sales, car washes, and other fundraising opportunities will be announced soon. Please come out and show your support for these exceptional students at one of our fundraisers.

For more information regarding the Miami R-1 FCCLA program contact Mrs.
Erin Straw at the Miami R-1 660-267-3484 estraw@miami-eagles.k12.mo.us

Very special presentation for Nita Thompson retirement brunch

Nita Thompson pictured with the Tuttle wedding dress. A tornado 
swept away the original dress, prompting the handmade 
replacement dress now on display at the Bates County Museum

Bates County Museum Curator, Nita Thompson, Retires and is honored at the Annual Ladies Spring Brunch

For fifteen years, Nita Thompson has served as Curator for the Bates County Museum. On Saturday, March 24th, before a crowd of over 100 women attending the 4th Annual Ladies Spring Brunch at the Museum, Nita’s retirement was announced. She was presented a plaque of appreciation for being a Visionary Leader and was given the title of, “Curator Emeritus,” by a proclamation from the Bates County Historical Society & Museum’s Board of Directors. A particular joy for Nita was the presence of many family members, including husband Doug Thompson who ‘snuck-in’ for the program and who served as Board President until early 2011. In attendance were sisters Teri Ridenhour of Holden, MO and Susan Salzman of Jefferson City, MO, daughters Dr. Sandy Wilkes of Stilwell, KS and Diane Bartels, as well as granddaughter, Corey Bartels both of Butler.

Nita created the display for the Ladies Brunch and it was the center of attraction, as it told the 1912 story of a young Bates County bride-to-be, a deadly tornado that swept her wedding dress into a mulberry tree and the replacement wedding dress that was sewn by her sister. Margaret Tuttle’s story of surviving the tornado, rescuing her dress, trying to clean it and finally having to settle for another dress all came together in a charming story of young love overcoming the adversities of Mother Nature. Nita absolutely out-did herself with this final artistic expression that helped to tell and define just one more story about the history of the people of Bates County.

Alice Totsch (granddaughter of Margaret Tuttle)
pictured with the wedding dress worn by Ms. Tuttle
 on her wedding day July 4, 1912

The day was even more special by the attendance of members of the Edgar and Margaret Tuttle family. They traveled to Butler from Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and ancestor Alice Totsch who donated both of Margaret’s wedding dresses to the Museum along with many personal items and photographs traveled all the way from Florida. Alice had first visited the Museum about eighteen months ago and shared the story of the wedding dresses and the great tornado of 1912. The Museum was quite honored when Alice made the decision to donate her family artifacts, and the theme for the 2012 Ladies Spring Brunch immediately became apparent. It would be, “Wedding Tales & Traditions.” Following the brunch, several of the male Tuttle family ancestors joined the women and enjoyed a leisurely tour of the Museum.

All of the Museum’s exhibits and displays are a direct tribute to the creativity and dedication Nita Thompson has tirelessly given during her tenure as Curator. Moving to the current building location on Elks Drive was a massive undertaking with the layout and design carefully managed under Nita’s watchful eye. Throughout her years at the Museum, Nita established herself to be one of the regions’ most talented and efficient archival managers and the citizens of Bates County owe a debt of gratitude to her for the level of excellence she achieved on their behalf. The Museum receives rave reviews and countless positive comments with regard to her intuitive displays that seem to draw visitors into the very heart of the stories of the artifacts.

According to Nita, in retirement she is looking forward to giving attention to many of her personal passions that have been so long neglected and to once again spend time developing her hobbies. It is also well-known that Doug is quite pleased to have his wife enjoying retirement along with him. There is no doubt that she will successfully excel in all her endeavors as she moves into a new chapter in life.

Nita received many congratulations, well-wishes, and heartfelt thanks for all she has given to the Museum and the people who call this county home.

The Edgar and Margaret Tuttle extended family recently visited the Bates County Museum

Diabetes Patient Educates Peers on Taking Control of the Disease

WHO: Seth Bernstein will be delivering a free educational program at Bates County Memorial Hospital to share diabetes self-management and lifestyle strategies based on extensive training and his personal experience living with diabetes.

WHAT: Seth is a member of the A1C Champions® Program, supported by Sanofi, which is a patient-led approach to diabetes education. A1C Champions® know first-hand the challenges and obstacles to maintaining control of their diabetes. They are REAL people...with REAL A1C control...providing REAL inspiration.

Seth will cover topics including: • Achieving good glucose control • Learning about effective self-management • Developing a balanced, healthy lifestyle • Planning and prioritizing diabetes management • Overcoming fears surrounding diabetes • Finding resources for diabetes support

WHY: If you or someone you know is struggling with diabetes or has an A1C that is 7% or above, the A1C Champions® can provide motivation to take those first steps to better blood glucose control. Diabetes patients need to know they are not alone and there are people like Seth who can help them along their journey with diabetes.

Diabetes is a chronic, widespread condition characterized by high blood sugar in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone needed to transport glucose (sugar) from the blood into the cells of the body for energy. It is estimated that that nearly 26 million people in the United States have diabetes, including an estimated 7 million who remain undiagnosed. At the same time, about 40 percent of those diagnosed with diabetes did not achieve the blood sugar control target of A1C <7 percent recommended by the American Diabetes Association The A1C test measures average blood glucose levels over the past two- to three-month period.

WHEN: Thursday, 4/19/12 at 6:30pm

WHERE: Bates County Memorial Hospital, Education Center 615 West Nursery Butler, MO, 64730

CONTACT: Cheryl Hebblethwaite at 660-200-7046 or chebblethwaite@bcmhospital.com

Strauch shoots 80 in Grain Valley golf tournament

Butler attended the Grain Valley Tournament yesterday that consisted of 17 teams and around 125 golfers. Our golf team placed 10th out of 17, with only 40 strokes separating 1st through 10th place, and only eight strokes kept us out of the top five. Individually, Joe Strauch placed #4 all around and received a medal with an impressive low score of 80. Brett Miller placed 23rd with a score of 88 and Trey Gustin placed 30th with a 91. The team went into a large tournament with some much bigger schools and represented us very well, we should give'em a pat on the back.

-our thanks to Scott Myers

Lady Bears Invitational results

3-29-12 Adrian Invitational

Girls Team finished 4th out of 9 teams

Top 6 place finishers
Kayla Morris: 1st place 100M Dash w/a time of 13.29
Brytani Musick: 2nd place 1600M Run
Kiersten Morris: 1st place 100M Hurdles w/a time of 17.79
Ashleigh Floyd: 5th place 300M Hurdles; 6th place 100M Hurdles
Maggie Massey: 4th place Pole Vault
Gabby Blevins: 3rd place Discus

4x100M Relay Team: 1st place w/a time of 53.54 (Kayla Morris, Maggie Massey, Kassidy Hannah, Kiersten Morris)
4x200M Relay Team: 1st place w/a time of 1:52.94(Kayla Morris, Maggie Massey, Kassidy Hannah, Kiersten Morris)
4x400M Relay Team: 2nd place (Kassidy Hannah, Kayla Morris, Kiersten Morris, Brytani Musick)

3-30-12 Lone Jack Combo Meet

Girls Team finished 4th out of 11 teams

Top 8 Place Girls Results
Gabby Blevins: 6th place Shot Put; 8th place Discus
Kassidy Hannah: 8th place High Jump
Sam Hooper: 7th place Discus
Kiersten Morris: 3rd place 100M Hurdles
Ashleigh Floyd: 3rd place 300M Hurdles; 7th place 100M Hurdles
Brytani Musick: 3rd place 1600M Run; 3rd place 800M Run
Jenay Rosier: 7th place 1600M Run

4x100M Relay Team: 1st place w/a time of 54.64 (Kayla Morris, Maggie Massey, Kassidy Hannah, Kiersten Morris)
4x200M Relay Team: 1st place w/a time of 1:54.43 (Kayla Morris, Maggie Massey, Kassidy Hannah, Kiersten Morris)
4x400M Relay Team: 1st place w/a time of 4:27.6 (Kassidy Hannah, Kayla Morris, Kiersten Morris, Brytani Musick)

Thanks again to all who came out and supported our Butler Bears Track Program last week! The 3 meet week was tough but we all survived!

-our thanks to Tammy Appleberry

Butler Police Department weekly report

March 30 - 800 block of Wix Lane animal complaint; Disturbance at Sonic; Medical assist Ruby Ave; Noise Complaint 800 block of Wix Lane; 100 block of S. Delaware disturbance call; 100 block of W. Dakota medical assist; 300 block of S. Main counterfeit money; Animal complaint 1000 block of W. Mill; 300 block of E. Oak attempted fraud; Odor complaint Fran Apartments; 300 block of W. Ohio noise complaint; Open door on the square; 300 block of S. Delaware phone threats.

March 31 -  Warrant service on a subject in the Prospect and Ohio area; 911 call 100 block of E. Nursery; Suspicious vehicle in the 800 block of S. Birch; C and I driver report on W. 52; Theft report at Fran apts; Animal complaint in the 400 block of S. High; Alarm at the Butler High School; Trespassing complaint in the 200 block of S. Main; Noise complaint Wells and Broadway; Animal complaint S. 71 highway.

April 1 - 200 N. Fulton on a medical assist; 200 block of S. Delaware on a disturbance; 200 N. Fulton on a well being check; 900 block of N. Water on a theft report; 200 block of Oak on a theft report; 700 block of N. Havanna on an animal complaint; Accident at Typhoon Bay car Wash; Warrant service at HillTop Trailer court; Accident in front of McDonalds; 911 call at Medical Lodge.

April 2 -  Warrant service on walk in subject at the PD; Traffic control at Schowengerts; Traffic accident in 700 block of N. Delaware; Medial assist at BCMH; C and I Driver 300 block S. Main; Disturbance 200 block of S. Broadway.