House fire near Amsterdam deemed a controlled burn

Around 7:30 this morning a large column of smoke appeared on the horizon near the Miami school and early reports indicated that a house was completely involved in fire. Mid America Live has spoken to the owner of the property and found that it was intentionally set by the homeowner as the structure was in serious disrepair.

Local fire departments were notified of the burn and no injuries or other property damage was reported.

Prepping Pastures for Next Year

“The most economical forage harvesters you have are livestock. They don’t need diesel and they drive themselves,” says Pat Miller, University of Missouri Extension Agronomy specialist. She recommends producers start planning now to increase their forage for next year. It has been noted that low fertility fields are more likely to have stands reduced following a drought. So once we have enough rain to allow the soil to be probed, Miller suggests taking a soil test. A good test consists of 20 to 30 six-inch cores taken from the field and mixed together. For more information, see guide MU Extension guide sheet G9217. Many pastures receive only nitrogen fertilizer annually and, over time, phosphate and potash levels go down. 

Get your booth now for the Amsterdam Jubilee...

The Amsterdam Jubilee will be held Saturday September 22nd. If you would like to rent booth space for the Arts and Crafts Festival contact Pam at 660-200-2040 or Kim at 660-679-5909.

Booths rent for $25.00 with electricity and $20.00 without electricity and are 10 x 10 feet.  For more information send an email to amsterdamjubilee@yahoo.com.

More information, including this year's Jubilee schedule will be posted in the near future.

Butler City Wide Garage Sale Sept. 8th

The Butler City Wide Garage Sale date is set for September 8th in Butler. All Garage Sales must register with the Chamber of Commerce by the map publication date of August 22nd. The cost for a Garage Sale Permit is $10.00. 

Maps will be published with all sale in the area and ready for pick up before the sale date. More information will be available by clicking the Community Calendar link at the top of the Mid America Live home page.

Meet the Butler Bears tonight...

The Butler Bear Backers invite you to the Butler City Park for a meet and greet… All of the Butler Bear Players will be at the City Park to sign autographs. The FCCLA will be serving Brats and Hot dogs and Cookies for five dollars…. It all happens at 6 p.m. tonight at the Butler City Park. 

The first Butler Bears game will hit the field Friday night August 24th as they play the Adrian Blackhawks on home turf.

-courtesy FM 92 the Bullet

Body of missing Overland Park man found near Amsterdam

The body of an Overland Park Kansas man missing for nearly a week was located this afternoon near Amsterdam. The Missouri Highway Patrol and the Bates County Sheriff's Department were alerted of a red Toyota Highlander in a field just east of Amsterdam on J highway, and upon arrival found the body of 66-year-old David Dotson inside.

A Silver Alert was issued for Dotson on August 9 when he went missing from his home. His family was concerned because he was an insulin-dependent diabetic.

Dotson regularly came to the area to fish and visit with friends. Obituary information will be posted as it becomes available.

Appleton City city wide garage sale coming mid September

The Appleton City wide garage sale date is set for September 15th in Appleton City and those wanting to participate with a garage sale must register with the City Hall August 27th through September 7th.

Registration will get your information on the Appleton City wide garage sale maps. The maps will be available by September 14th at the Appleton City Food Fair, T-G Variety store, Casey’s and Frost Tire in Appleton City.

-FM 92 the Bullet

Notes from R-V school board meeting this week

Board Summary 

Tax Rate Hearing and August Regular Board of Education Meeting 

The Butler R-V School Board conducted a Tax Rate Hearing at 6:15 p.m. August, 13th. The board approved the following rates to be levied: General Fund, $3.8394; Debt Service, $.78; and Capital Projects, $.21. Rates approved by the board remained the same as the previous year. Meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.

Regular Meeting

New Business:

Tina Simmons (OPPA) presented to the board the new regulations for school lunches. The lunch menus will be regulated by caloric intake and there will be no deserts on the menu. The students will have more choices of fruits and vegetables.

The board gave permission to the Bear Backers to begin fund raising for the purpose of hosting football games on the new field in fall of 2013. A priority list of items that would need to be completed before contests could be held included: goal posts, speaker system, score boards, and 25 second clocks.

Dr. Stauffacher reported that the district would be forming a Strategic Planning Committee that would be establishing the long-term needs of the district. Larry Anderson agreed to be the board’s representative. The committee will be comprised of staff members, board members, members from the community, parents and students. The committee will meet up to four times this coming year to gather input and create a long-term plan for the district.

The board set the next meeting to be on September, 21.

The board decided not to place portable toilets at the district track site at this time.

Closed Session:

The board accepted the resignation of Joann Bell and Peter Hoegfeldt.
The board hired Lynette Clover as school nurse.
The board hired Alan Stauffacher as J.V. Basketball Coach.