Family Missing Dog in Butler

"D"

Missing dog in the Butler area the dog is named D and she is from a very loving home. 

The kids from the home miss her much and really want her home!

If you have seen this dog please call  660-679-1693.

Obituary - Virginia “Ginny” Louise Zellmer

Virginia “Ginny” Louise Zellmer, 78, Harrisonville, Missouri, died Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at Golden Years Health Care in Harrisonville. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 19, 2015 at the Cornerstone Community Church in Harrisonville with burial in Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville. Friends may call from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Sunday, January 18 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville. 

(A complete obituary will be posted when available).

Obituary - Sue E. Coffel

Sue E. Coffel

Sue E. Coffel, 76 of Butler, Missouri passed away January 14, 2015 at her home in Butler. Funeral services are pending at this time and will be announced under the direction of the Mullinax Funeral Home (660-679-0009) in Butler. Contributions in her memory are suggested to Children’s Mercy Hospital, and are being received at the funeral home. Messages of condolence for the family may be left at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

Complete obituary information will be published shortly.

Upgrades nearing completion at LaCygne power plant

Unit 2, seen at left, on a 'test run' last Sunday -photo courtesy Bruce Furman

There's been something new on the horizon for awhile and it's about to come to life.

A new stack at the LaCygne power plant is part of major upgrades designed to meet the latest emission standards. The project included the installation of two Hitachi wet FGD scrubbers and new Hamon fabric filters on Unit 1 and Unit 2; and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, low-NOx burners and over-fire air system on Unit 2 of the facility.

When completed, the La Cygne units will be two of the cleanest coal-fired generating stations in the country with SO2 emissions removal efficiency of over 98 percent and NOx emissions on Unit 2 of 0.05 lb/MBtu. Over 2.5 million manhours will be expended in the construction of the project.

According to SourceWatch.org, the LaCygne plant previously had been listed as the 16th most polluting U.S. plant based on coal waste.

All work is slated to be complete this year.

Appleton City High School student athlete to play volleyball at Cottey College

Appleton City High School Volleyball Team student athlete Tabitha Jackson has signed with Cottey College, Nevada, Mo. 

From left to right, front row, are Tabitha’s parents, Brad Jackson and Caraleigh Jackson, Tabitha Jackson and Appleton City Head Volleyball Coach Kaitlin Hamm. Standing, Cottey College Volleyball Coach Marla Kannady Foreman.

Street Closure In Butler

The Butler Water Department will have Broadway Street between Atkinson and Oak Streets in Butler closed for a undetermined amount of time today to make repairs. Please avoid this area.

Obituary - Larry W. Gilkey Sr.

Funeral Services for Larry W. Gilkey Sr. 70, of Rich Hill, Missouri will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 19th at the Heuser Funeral Home in Rich Hill with Military Rites Following the service. 

The visitation will be held on Monday from 10 a.m. until service time. Contributions may be made to the Rich Hill Memorial Library.

He is survived by his wife Marie of the home; son Larry Gilkey, Jr. of Hot Springs, Ark. Daughters Vera Conwell, Walker, MO; Dauna Killum, Florida; Nadine Helfer, Butler, MO; Roxy Sage, Archie; Ann Finn, Harrisonville; Susan Lefevre, Rich Hill; Tammy White, New Haven, MO. 13 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

History of Bates County: Tragedy Strikes Missile Escort

Typical Minuteman missile transport vehicle

By Doug Mager

This is the final segment of our three part History of Bates County series featuring information about Minuteman missile silos and launch facilities formerly located throughout the area

June 11, 1982. Misty, overcast conditions greeted twins Les and Wes Nieder, 19, of Amsterdam as they began their daily farm chores, which included a trip down F highway near the Miami school. 

Around 9:30 am, they met an Air Force missile transport heading west. It wasn't unusual to see one of these trucks at any given time. What was unusual was the UH-1 Huey helicopter flying very low, slightly erratically. The helicopter was not tracking with the vehicle but had just crossed over the highway and was headed northeast.

Unknown to the Nieder's, the pilots had radioed a few minutes earlier to let flight control know there was a problem with the aircraft. It is guessed that they may have been trying to make it to a suitable landing spot, possibly at Kilo 1, the closest Air Force facility which was just a couple of miles away.

Wes told his brother something was terribly wrong and thought the helicopter was probably going to crash. The tail section was wobbling badly and it was obvious the pilot was having difficulty controlling it.

Members of the Whiteman Air Honor
Guard participate in the dedication of the
UH-1F for those who died in the Bates
County crash June 11, 1982

The Nieder's, somewhat panic stricken, tried to signal the transport truck to stop so they could inform the driver about what they had just seen. No dice. Unbeknownst to them, military transports don't stop for anything.

Not even if their escort helicopter was in trouble.

The truck continued towards Amsterdam as the twins headed their vehicle north to find the wreckage.

In the muddy farm field just west of CC highway, about 3/4 of a mile north of F highway, 6 men are trapped in the burning helicopter. Those first on the scene, including the Nieders', said some screamed for help, but the flames were simply too hot- plus ammo bursting from within made getting close too dangerous.

The wreckage burned for about 3 hours while Air Force personnel, police and TV crews poured into the area. It was later in the afternoon before the bodies were removed and the area secured for the evening.

X marks the spot where the Huey helicopter went down just north of
F highway and west of CC highway in northwestern Bates County

In all, the scene was tightly guarded for several days while the investigation continued and wreckage was finally removed.

Those who lost their lives were Capt. Richard Conrardy, 2nd Lt. James Hebert, Staff Sgt. Richard Bohling, Sgt. Thomas Meredith, Senior Airman Marion Pace and Senior Airman David Jones. 

A memorial for those who died was dedicated June 11, 1984 at Whiteman Air Force base.

It was later determined that a small piece of the main rotor had broken loose, striking the tail rotor. The imbalance caused structural failure.

**The writer of this article walked the area of the crash a few weeks later- only to find a tiny bit of debris- a charred piece of a metal watchband. A sad reminder of the tragedy that unfolded a short time earlier.