Obituary - Connie M. LaFarge

  Connie M. LaFarge

Mrs. Connie M. LaFarge, age 58 years, of Jefferson City, Mo. passed away Thursday, October 15, 2015 at Boone Hospital in Columbia, Mo. surrounded by her family.

Connie was born on July 6, 1957 in Columbia, Mo. a daughter of Lester H. and Nadine (Hand) Barrows. She was married on October 10, 1981 in Jefferson City, Mo. to Rupert Lealan “Lee” LaFarge.

A lifelong resident of Jefferson City, Connie was a 1975 graduate of Jefferson City High School. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Missouri Health Care Executive Assistants. Connie was always the first to dive into any endeavors her daughters were a part of, especially Young Life and HALO since those were among her favorites.

She was employed with the Missouri Hospital Association the majority of her professional career and worked as the Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice President of Governmental Relations. From her 27 years working with M.H.A., she has made many wonderful friends. She referred to these friends as “her girls” and they enjoyed lunching, traveling, and playing dominoes.

Connie absolutely adored her family and loved a full house. She was an avid shopper, decorator, fly fisher, and reader, and was never without a fresh mani-pedi, frozen mocha and a clean car. Connie was the best hostess—cooking for family gatherings, holidays, pool parties and birthdays. She was the greatest Nana on the planet and never stopped doting on her grandchildren.

Survivors include: her loving husband of 34 years, Lee LaFarge; two daughters, Lindsey Marie Rowden (husband Ryan) and Ashley Lynn Freeman (husband Ryan), both of Jefferson City, Mo.; three step-sons, Douglas LaFarge (wife Lesa) of Marion, Mo., Chad LaFarge (wife Erin) of Columbia, Mo. and Philip LaFarge of California, Mo.; her mother, Nadine Barrows of Jefferson City, Mo.; two brothers, Curtis Barrows and Christopher Barrows (wife Michele), both of Jefferson City, Mo.; one sister, Cara Stauffer of Jefferson City, Mo.; one sister-in-law, Trevalyn Schowengerdt (husband Gary) of Butler, Mo.; four grandchildren, Cooper, Sadie and Nora Jean Rowden and Charlotte Lee Freeman; eight step-grandchildren, Nikita and Ptolemy LaFarge, Emily, Lizzie, Joel and Micah LaFarge, and Chelsea and Kyle LaFarge; her nieces and nephews, Samuel and Caitlin Stauffer, Mackenzie and Wyatt Barrows, Eleni, Emma, Ellie and Jack Barrows, and Jesse Schowengerdt.

She was preceded in death by her father, Lester Barrows, on May 25, 2014 and her mother and father-in-law, Rupert F. and Hazelle LaFarge.

Visitation will be held at the First United Methodist Church from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 20, 2015.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Daniel Hilty officiating. Graveside service and interment will be held at Riverview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the First United Methodist Church, 201 Monroe Street, Jefferson City, Mo. 65101.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary. 

Friday Flashback: Fifteen years ago today Missouri lost Governor Mel Carnahan

Mel Carnahan

Fifteen years ago today, Missouri lost Governor Mel Carnahan, his eldest son Randy Carnahan and governor's aide Chris Sifford in a plane crash just outside of St. Louis. Mr. Sifford was a reporter with KTTS Radio News before becoming the Governor's press secretary.
 
In 2000, Carnahan ran for US Senator against incumbent Republican John Ashcroft. It was a heated and intense campaign, in which Carnahan traveled all over Missouri to garner support in what was a very close race. However, early in the evening of October 16, the night before a presidential debate held at Washington University in St. Louis- just three weeks before the election, the twin-engine Cessna airplane which was piloted by his son Randy, lost control in rainy and foggy conditions and crashed on a forested hillside near Goldman, Missouri, only about 35 miles (56 km) south of St. Louis. 

All three on board the plane (Mel and Randy Carnahan and Chris Sifford, the governor's campaign advisor and former chief of staff) were killed in the crash.

 
Lieutenant Governor Roger B. Wilson succeeded Carnahan as Missouri's Governor, serving until the end of his gubernatorial term in January 2001. Because the state's election law would not allow Carnahan's name to be removed from the November 7, 2000 ballot, he appointed his widow, Jean Carnahan, to unofficially become the new Democratic candidate. Wilson promised to appoint her if it became vacant as a result of Mel Carnahan's win in the election, and the campaign continued using the slogan "I'm Still With Mel." A Senate first, Carnahan posthumously won by a 2% margin. Jean Carnahan was then appointed to the Senate and served until November 2002, when she was narrowly defeated in a special election by James Talent (R).

Mr. Carnahan was not the only candidate to have died during a US Senate race. Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota was killed in a plane crash in 2002, 11 days before a Senate election. 

Representative Jerry Litton, also from Missouri, died in one in 1976 the day that he was nominated by his party. Richard "Dick" Obenshain of Virginia was killed in a plane crash in 1978 just shortly after receiving the Republican nomination. In 2010, Jenny Oropeza died of an illness just a month after voters re-elected her in the Long Beach district during the California State Senate race.



Composed by Mid America Live

Obituary - Terry Lee Burris

Terry Lee Burris

Terry Lee Burris, 51, of Mound City, Kansas died Tuesday evening, October 13, 2015 after a courageous battle with Leukemia. Terry is survived by his wife Ashley of the home.

Services are pending and will be announced by the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Mound City Chapel.

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Obituary - Gladys Gertrude Dimartino

Gladys Gertrude Dimartino

Gladys Gertrude Dimartino, 83, Nevada, MO, passed from this life on Monday, October 12, 2015 at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, MO following a brief illness. Gladys was born September 21, 1932 in Marion, NC, to Leonard Hayes and Addie (Lee) Pearson.

Gladys grew up in Clinton, SC, and graduated from high school there. She was employed by County of Palm Beach, FL where she worked for 15 years. In 2002 Gladys came to Nevada and has continued to reside here since that time.

Survivors include one son, Mike Brigman and his wife Pat, Nevada; three grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; four great grandchildren; four step great grandchildren; 2 great great-grandchildren; one brother, Harold Pearson and his wife Maria, Plant City, FL; one sister, Georgia Maynor, West Palm Beach, FL; numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2015 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. Interment will follow in Newton Burial Park, Nevada. Friends may call from now and until the hour of service.

Man sentenced after March Burglary at Osceola Hospital

James C. Schmutz

On March 1,2015 the St. Clair County deputies and the Osceola Police Department responded to a burglary at the Citizen's Memorial Hospital Pharmacy, Osceola. It was discovered an estimated 7,000 prescription narcotic pills including Hydrocodone, morphine and Oxycodone were missing from the pharmacy. Several pieces of evidence were located at the scene.

During the investigation search warrants were served and the prescription narcotic pills were located at a residence on SW 50 Road, Osceola. James Schumtz, 38, Osceola, was taken into custody. Formal charges are pending. 

Members of the Mid Missouri Multi Jurisdiction Drug Task Force also assisted with the investigation. The street value of the drugs missing from pharmacy was estimated at $83,000.


Case Update: 

During a bench trial on Oct. 8 James C. Schmutz pled guilty to Counts 1-3. In a plea agreement with the state, counts 4-7 were dismissed.

The Charges include:

• Count 1-Class B felony charge of theft/stealing

• Count 2-Class C felony charge of burglary-second degree

• Counts 3-7-Class B felony charges of distribution of a controlled substance

On May 28, 2015 amended information was filed charging Schmutz as a prior offender 

On Oct. 6, 2015 amended information was filed dropping Count 1 from a class B felony to to a class C felony.

On counts 1 and 2, Schmutz was sentenced to serve seven years in Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) on each count. On count 3, he was sentenced to serve 10 years in the DOC with all the sentences running concurrent.

Bates County Sheriffs Office Activity Report 10/5 - 10/11 - 2015

• OCTOBER 5, 2015

CHECK WELL BEING – ADRIAN

WARRANT SERVICE – BUTLER

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY – ADRIAN

AMBULANCE REQUEST – RICH HILL

AMBULANCE REQUEST – URICH

CHECK WELL BEING – BUTLER

FIRE CALL – ADRIAN

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY – ADRIAN

CHECK WELL BEING – BUTLER

MVA – DREXEL

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY – ADRIAN

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY – BUTLER

ANIMAL CALL – DREXEL

ANIMAL CALL – BALLARD

• OCTOBER 6, 2015

MVA – AMORET

ABANDON VEHICLE – AMSTERDAM

AMBULANCE REQUEST – AMSTERDAM

PROPERTY DAMAGE – HUME

DRUNK DRIVER – AMORET

THEFT – HUME

AMBULANCE REQUEST – RICH HILL

ALARM CALL – ADRIAN

FRAUD – HUME

CHECK WELL BEING – BUTLER

ANIMAL CALL – APPLETON CITY

ANIMAL CALL – BALLARD

Butler Fire Department warns of Elevated Wildfire Danger Today

A VERY DRY AIR MASS HAS MOVED INTO THE REGION ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG NORTHWESTERLY WINDS. MINIMUM AFTERNOON HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO FALL TO BETWEEN 20 AND 30 PERCENT WITH WINDS GUSTING BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH. THIS COMBINATION OF DRY AIR AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER ACROSS THE REGION. THIS MEANS THAT ANY FIRE OUTSIDE WILL BE ABLE TO SPREAD VERY QUICKLY AND POSSIBLY GETTING OUT OF CONTROL.

ANYONE BURNING OUTDOORS IS URGED TO EXERCISE CAUTION OR JUST POSTPONE BURNING TO ANOTHER DAY.