BCMH Employee of the Month

JOSH SULLINS is recognized as the Bates County Memorial Hospital Employee of the Month for June, 2019. Josh began his employment at BCMH in March, 2014 as a Registered Radiologic Technologist on the night shift in the Imaging Services Department. Josh is regarded by others as a team player, always willing to help…whenever and wherever needed. It might be in the emergency department, the inpatient medical/surgical unit, during tornado warnings … Josh is there. He provides patient care with professionalism and compassion. BCMH is proud to have Josh on its team. - courtesy Bates County Memorial Hospital

Welcome to the fleet!

Harrisonville Emergency Services has added a 2018 Ford F450 Type 1 Ambulance. Keeping the City of Harrisonville safe.

Governor Parson Signs FY20 Budget Bills

Governor Applauds General Assembly for a Productive Session and a Fiscally-Responsible, Balanced Budget

(JEFFERSON CITY, MO) — Today, Governor Parson signed the FY20 budget bills passed by the General Assembly, which focused on ongoing improvements to infrastructure and workforce development, and investing in our Missouri’s public servants.  

“Every year, the legislatures are committed to protecting taxpayers’ hard-earned money,” Governor Parsonsaid. “We are proud of the General Assembly and their efforts with the fiscal year 2020 budget. They have created a fiscally-responsible, balanced budget that will move Missouri forward.”

The total state budget is approximately $30.0 billion, including $10.2 billion general revenue. This budget also leaves $185 million set aside for future budgets. In signing the FY20 budget bills, the Governor issued zero line-item vetoes and issued no withholds, as a result of strong economic performance.

From the beginning, infrastructure has been a top priority for Governor Parson and his administration. Missouri will begin meeting infrastructure needs across the state without raising taxes by funding the following items within the existing budget:

• $351.0 million for replacement and repair of bridges, including $50.0 million one-time General Revenue and $301.0 million from bonding, contingent upon the award of the federal INFRA Grant.
• $50.0 million for a transportation cost-share program with local communities.
• $10.8 million State Road Fund for maintenance repairs due to flooding.
• $5.0 million State Road Fund for construction due to flooding.
• $6.4 million for port capital improvement projects.
• $5.0 million for grants to provide broadband access to under-served areas pursuant to HB 1872 (2018).
• $10 million for the Multipurpose Water Resource Program, including the planning, design, construction, or renovation of public water supplies, flood control storage, drought, mitigation, and public water supply treatment or transmission facilities.

Another top priority for Governor Parson this session was creating and improving Missouri's workforce development programs. A comprehensive economic development strategy was established to include several key elements of the Governor’s workforce development priorities, which includes:

• $18.9 million for the MO Excels Workforce Initiative, which develops and expands employer-driven education, training programs, and initiatives to substantially increase educational attainment.
• $10.0 million Lottery Proceeds Fund to support the Fast-Track Workforce Incentive Grant Program.
• $61.4 million to fully fund the education foundation formula.
• $5.0 million for transportation funding for schools.
• $10.4 million for the Missouri One Start Program to provide new and expanding industry training programs and basic industry retraining programs.

The Governor is also committed to moving state team member salaries to be competitive with Missouri market rates. This is part of his back-to-basics management reform agenda, which includes:

• Funding for 53,932 FTEs, a reduction of 478 from FY19.
• $30 million to fund a 3 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase for state employees (except MoDOT, which has its separate pay plan). This 3 percent COLA comes on top of the FY19 increase of $700 (or 1 percent for those earning over $70,000 per year). This means that the average state employee’s salary will increase over 4 percent in the FY19 and FY20.
• $8.9 million for salary increases in the Department of Corrections to recruit and retain employees.
• $4.9 million for MoDOT salary adjustments to address pay grid compression across government.
• $5.3 million for targeted pay adjustments for about 4,500 employees to bring their salaries toward market minimum levels.

In addition, the budget incorporated the Governor’s proposal to improve economic and workforce development through a reorganization of state government that was overwhelmingly supported by the General Assembly. These changes will streamline state government and ensure it produces better outcomes for Missourians, which leads to better efficiency and long-term cost savings.

Governor Parson said, “It’s important to run Missouri with a fiscally responsible, balanced budget. We appreciate all the people involved who work extremely hard to accomplish this mission.”

VBS happening this week in Hume

The community of Hume wishes to extend their sympathy to the family of Patsy Franklin formerly of Hume. She taught school in the Hume and Metz Schools. Patsy will be greatly missed by family and friends.

The community of Hume also wishes to extend their sympathy to the family of Elizabeth Hill of Hume. She passed away on Monday at her home in Hume surrounded by family and friends. She will be greatly missed. Lots of faith and prayers are with both of these families.

Austin Martin celebrated his 5th birthday with a party in the Hume Park on Sunday, June 9 hosted by his parents, Bradlie and Lindsey. A fun time was had with all the cousins playing and riding the golf cart. A cookout was enjoyed and topped off with a Paw Patrol Cake and ice cream and lots of presents. Happy Birthday, Austin!

The O5O Club met Monday, June 10 at the Hume United Methodist Church Basement at Noon for a carry in dinner. The Community Center is having some roof issues at this time. Lots of delicious food was enjoyed.

Kids are enjoying attending VBS this week at the Hume Christian Church – always a fun time for kids to learn about Jesus.





-our thanks to Karen Irwin

Aircraft pilot name released

The person who died in the aircraft crash yesterday, June 10, 2019 in Bates County, Missouri is identified as Mr. John N. McConnell, Jr., 80 of Vero Beach, FL and Kansas City.

No further information is available at this time.

-Greg Mullinax, Bates County Coroner

A Notice for Sharon Cemetery:

Sharon Cemetery is reminding everyone to pick up your Memorial Day Flowers. 

Flowers, ground decorations, anything obstructing, the mowers will be removing. Deadline is June 26, 2019

More Bates County Courthouse History:

More Courthouse history:

Juvenile Office

A portion of the current office was occupied by the Butler Public Library. The front portion was the men’s restroom and storage.

The sheriff’s locked evidence room also was part of the men’s restroom.

License Bureau

In the 60’s the Surveyor’s Office occupied the current License Bureau.

Later on in the 60’s Lois Hendrickson, the appointed fee agent for the Motor License Bureau, moved the License Bureau from the Firestone Store, on the west side of the square where she originally operated it across the street to the basement of the courthouse. The License Office door opens onto the driveway on the southwest corner. Not only did she relocate the office, she also took along the cabinet and counter designed and built for her by Hap Clark. The cabinet is still in use today and the office still operates at this location.

Public Restroom Area

You may have noticed if you ever visited the ladies lounge you might remember Dortha Jackson the matron. She maintained the ladies lounge and you could always come by and rest in the rocking chairs or play checkers. You could also view and purchase the aprons, crocheted items and other handmade items.

Courthouse Lobby

The mural on the wall was painted by Dan Brewer, local Butler artist. The first Bates County Courthouse was located in Papinville. It was completed in 1855. In 1856 the county seat was moved to Butler.

County Clerk’s Office

In past years the deputies’ desks were located in the back part of the office and the County Clerk sat out front.

Assessor’s Office

The Magistrate Court occupied this office until 1982. At this time the elected office of Assessor was created and still occupies the office.

Surveyor’s Office

The Surveyor first occupied the current license bureau. It then moved in 1970’s to north end of the 2nd story hall. It then moved to the current location, which was also the County Superintendent of School’s office.

Bailiff/ Crime Victim Advocate Office

The Selective Service occupied this office for many years where many young men and women enlisted for the military. 1971 this office was vacated and then Prosecuting Attorney moved into this office. This office was remodeled and currently is the bailiff and crime victim advocate’s office. This office was one big office in past years.

Circuit Clerk’s Office

This office has always been the Circuit Clerk’s Office and it holds records back to 1865 and you have an index book back to 1858. In the 1970’s there was a hallway between the Circuit Clerk’s Office and the judge’s office that was closed in.

The auxiliary courtroom was originally the court reporters office. It was vacated for some time before the Juvenile Office moved in. After the Juvenile Office moved to the basement the room was converted to the auxiliary courtroom.

Associate Court

In 1982 the Associate Probate office was moved to this location when the jury room and offices were remodeled.

The room that now houses the elevator and the room to the west were originally the Juvenile Office. When the Juvenile Office moved to the auxiliary courtroom the Magistrate/Probate moved to this location.

We have been told that John William Cook and Minnie A Foster were the 2nd couple to be married in the courthouse by the Justice of the Peace on 9-11-02. This is Leroy Cook’s parents.

Prosecuting Attorney's Office

It was formerly the Sheriff’s office. In later years the Prosecuting Attorney and Sheriff switched offices.

The attic was occupied by the county nurse. The stool and sink are still located there. We were also told the Missouri State Highway Department Surveyor’s Office was in the attic in the 1950’s until the early 1960’s. Lester McMurhpy and Monty Schwander were some of the employees who climbed all the stairs for years. Monty during his lunch hour would come down the stairs and listen to the court procedures. There are old county records stored there also. There are stairs going all the way to the clock tower. - Courtesy of Marlene Wainscott 

Walk back in time!