From the Henry County Sheriff's Office

HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS / RUNNING WATER OVER ROADWAY -- MO-

Highway 7 & MO-Route C. Citizen's report received of section of roadway underwater. 

Travel in this area not advisable....alternate routing highly recommended.

Courtesy of the Henry County Missouri Sheriff's Office.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning in Bates and Henry County until 9:00pm

Flash Flood Warning for Bates and Henry County

The national weather service has issued a flash flood watch till 2:15 a.m. in Bates County and Henry County 

Tornado Warning for SE Bates County Until 8:15pm

Storm Shelters in Butler

In case of severe weather or tornado the following locations are storm shelters in the City of Butler.

• First Baptist Church - 300 N Delaware
• First Christian Church - 11 W. Pine
• Heartland Hospice - 612 W Ft Scott
• Immanuel Baptist Church - 801 W Dakota

Information courtesy of the City of Butler 

Anything will help!

These will be set up all around town!@! Please help this family!?

Tornado Watch until 11pm

A #Tornado Watch has been issued for the following counties below until 11 p.m. Wednesday night.

Multiple strong, possibly tornadic storms are possible, along with very large hail.

The National Weather Service has declared this a Particularly Dangerous Situation and all are urged to take precautions during these storms.

Photo credit: US National Weather Service Kansas City Missouri

FLASHBACK: Early days of radio in Bates County

On the air in 1963 Edwin Blocher and Bob
Spurrier on location

 

It's often called the Golden Days of Radio and yes, Bates County was in the mix. Over the years, the station has grown in many ways- here is a brief history:

Established in 1962 by two brothers, Bill and Jerry Thornton. Bill Thornton began his career as a DJ, continued his career in the United States Navy as an engineer, then graduated from Arkansas State with a degree in Journalism and a dream to build his own radio station.

On May 11, 1962, the first broadcast from KMAM AM 1530 began at 6 AM. The Bates County Broadcasting Company, located at 800 East Nursery Street in Butler, may be the last radio station in the country of its age, still under its original ownership.

The FM frequency was added on January 15, 1975 and KMAM/KMOE became two stations, simulcasting in FM and AM. In the beginning, the radio station could only broadcast during daylight hours. The station has gone from reel-to-reel tape, to cartridge tapes, then cassettes, and now there is full automation and no tapes required. Local broadcasters had to come to the radio station in person to perform and be on air. Music was on vinyl. Now programs can be recorded anywhere at any time and brought to the station to be aired at a scheduled time. From noisy teletype in a soundproof room, to satellites receiving programs from 24,000 miles in the sky, KMAM/KMOE-FM 92.1 brings the Kansas City Royals, ABC World News, Farm Market Reports and a variety of other shows to listeners. Bill and Louise Thornton still own the station, but they have retired from working there, and the General Manager is their daughter, Melody Thornton. Melody has been announcing since 1980 and she has made positive changes to the format and programs at the station. The station continues to move forward into a competitive and up-to-date venue of music, news, and entertainment for the ever expanding broadcasting area.

Bill Thornton – Owner

Bill is the Founder of KMAM-KMOE, the first radio station in Butler, Established in 1962 by two brothers, Bill and Jerry Thornton. Bill began his career as a DJ, continued his career in the United States Navy as an engineer, and then graduated from Arkansas State with a degree in Journalism and a dream to build his own radio station. On May 11, 1962, the first broadcast from KMAM AM 1530 began at 6 AM. The Bates County Broadcasting Company, located at 800 East Nursery Street in Butler, may be the last radio station in the country of its age, still under its original ownership. The FM frequency was added on January 15, 1975 and KMAM/KMOE became two stations, simulcasting in AM and FM. In the beginning, the radio station could only broadcast during daylight hours. The station has gone from reel-to-reel tape, to cartridge tapes, then cassettes, and now there is full automation and no tapes required. Local broadcasters had to come to the radio station in person to perform and be on air. Music was on vinyl. Now programs can be recorded anywhere at any time and brought to the station to be aired at a scheduled time. From noisy teletype in a soundproof room, to satellites sending programs from 24,000 miles in the sky, KMAM-KMOE now brings the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, ABC World News, Farm Market Reports and a variety of other shows to listeners. Bill and Louise Thornton still own the station, but they have since retired, their daughter, Melody Thornton now acts as General Manager. Melody has been announcing since 1980 and she has made positive changes to the format and programs at the station. The station continues to move forward into a competitive and up-to-date venue of music, news, and entertainment for the ever expanding broadcasting area.

Melody Thornton – General Manager

Melody has been announcing since 1980 and she has made positive changes to the format and programs at the station. The station continues to move forward into a competitive and up-to-date venue of music, news, and entertainment for the ever expanding broadcasting area.

Editor's note- Many thanks to Bill Thornton for hiring me in 1982. KMAM/KMOE FM nicely launched my career in broadcasting which included on-the-air work at KNEM/KNMO in Nevada, KOMB in Fort Scott and later 61 Country, WHB, KUDL and Oldies 95 in Kansas City. All of which could not have been done without a start right here in Bates County. -Doug Mager

-courtesy 921news.com