A walk back in time!

Everyone enjoy this gem of a photo! A picture of Debby and Dean Cooper when they first opened Butler Glass Company on N. Orange Street in Butler.! It will be 36 years old in January! A true corner stone of the city of Butler. - Photo Submitted 

MoDOT TRAFFIC ALERT: Bates County Route OO CLOSED July 18 for Pipe Replacement Work

Bates County Route OO CLOSED July 18 for

Pipe Replacement Work

What: Bates County Route OO CLOSED for pipe replacement work south of Missouri Route 18 east of Adrian

When: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Thursday, July 18

Why: MoDOT crews replacing deteriorating drain pipe underneath Route OO to keep water from pooling underneath and next to the road which could cause deterioration of the road bed

Traffic Impacts:

·         Both lanes of Route OO CLOSED where crews are set up working

·         Drivers will be able to get to driveways and entrances on either side of the work zone, but will not be able to travel through the work zone

·         Drivers urged to find alternate routes. No signed detours are planned.

Weather and/or scheduling conflicts could alter the work schedule

MoDOT TRAFFIC ALERT: Bates County Route TT CLOSED July 17 for Pipe Replacement Work

Bates County Route TT CLOSED July 17 for

Pipe Replacement Work

What: Bates County Route TT CLOSED for pipe replacement work between Northwest 2001 Road and Northwest 1001 Road west of I-49

When: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 17

Why: MoDOT crews replacing deteriorating drain pipe underneath Route TT to keep water from pooling underneath and next to the road which could cause deterioration of the road bed

Traffic Impacts:

·         Both lanes of Route W CLOSED where crews are set up working

·         Drivers will be able to get to driveways and entrances on either side of the work zone, but will not be able to travel through the work zone

·         Drivers urged to find alternate routes. No signed detours are planned.

Weather and/or scheduling conflicts could alter the work schedule

Obituary - Peggy Jo Rick

Peggy Jo Rick of Smithville, Missouri formerly of Harrisonville, Missouri was born June 18, 1941 in Smithville, Missouri the daughter of Robert Hammond and Sarah Elizabeth (Boydston) Blankenship. 

She departed this life on Saturday, July 13, 2019 at Oak Pointe of Kearney, Missouri surrounded by love and family at the age of 78 years and 25 days. Peggy was employed at St. Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri in patient billing until her retirement in 2011. 

She was a member of Heartland Baptist Fellowship, Harrisonville, Missouri. Peggy enjoyed her family, especially her grandchildren, traveling, taking cruises and shopping. She had lived in Harrisonville before moving to Excelsior Springs, Missouri in 2015.

Besides her parents, Peggy was preceded in death by her daughter, Valerie Kassen on June 21, 2010; a grandson, Clint Staggs; two brothers and six sisters.

Peggy is survived by her two daughters, Vicki Staggs, Smithville, Missouri, Kim Murphy (John), Loxahatchee, Florida; four grandchildren, Shauna, Nick, Zach and Alexa; a son-in-law, Ron Kassen, Harrisonville, Missouri; her sister, Shirley Abbott, Excelsior Springs, Missouri; other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri with burial in the Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville, Missouri.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, July 16, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.

The family suggest in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Dangerous Heat Expected Wednesday - Saturday

Excessive heat is expected Wednesday through Saturday as temperatures climb into the 90s and afternoon heat indices exceed 100 degrees. 

Avoid spending too much time outdoors and drink plenty of water. If you need to spend some time outside, wear light clothing and sunscreen, and take frequent breaks in the shade, or more preferably air-conditioned areas.

MDC and State of Missouri Increases Penalties for Poaching

Gov. Parson recently signed HB260 (Poaching Bill) into law that significantly raises fines for those convicted of illegally taking Missouri game species and other native wildlife. He is shown here signing the bill and is flanked by MDC commissioners and staff along with key state legislators and others

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri legislature and governor have taken actions to increase penalties for those caught poaching Missouri game animals and other native wildlife species. 

Missouri Governor Michael Parson signed HB260 into law July 11. Called the Poaching Bill, it significantly raises fines for those convicted of illegally taking Missouri game species and other native wildlife. HB260 was sponsored by Representative Jered Taylor (Republic) and Senator Mike Bernskoetter (Jefferson City).

New fine amounts include $10,000-$15,000 for each elk or black bear killed illegally, $1,000-$5,000 for each whitetailed buck, $500-$1,000 for each wild turkey, and $500-$1,000 for each paddlefish.

The fines are considered restitution payments for poaching game animals and are ordered by a judge. Monies from the fines go to the state’s school moneys fund. The restitution payments are in addition to other fines and penalties for violating the Wildlife Code of Missouri. The new fines will go into effect Aug. 28.

Supporters of the bill said that previous fines for poaching were too low in Missouri. The bill also gained support in part from five Missouri elk that were illegally killed by poachers in the past few years. None of the cases has yet been solved.

Earlier this year, MDC and the Missouri Conservation Commission increased the penalty points they give to individuals convicted of violating the Wildlife Code of Missouri for illegal activities, including poaching.

According to MDC records, 547 wild turkeys, 58 paddlefish, and 4,731 deer were illegally taken, or poached, in 2017 and 2018. MDC is also investigating the poaching of five elk over the past several years. Black bear poaching incidents are a growing concern as well.

“In addition to doing what we can by increasing penalty points for Wildlife Code violations, conservation agents are also working with county prosecutors and judges to help reduce incidents of poaching and other violations by increasing penalties such fines and jail time,” said MDC Protection Division Chief Randy Doman.

Doman explained how penalties are determined.

“The state legislature has the authority to establish penalty classifications related to poaching and other wildlife violations,” Doman said. “MDC and the Missouri Conservation Commission set the regulations of the Wildlife Code of Missouri and conservation agents issue tickets for violations, such as for poaching. Agents then submit those tickets to the appropriate county courts. County prosecutors then determine how to proceed with the violations. If the person is convicted of the violations by the county court, the judge then determines fines, jail time, and/or other penalties. Monies from fines are kept in the county and do not go to MDC.”

Doman added that depending on the violation, MDC staff can then assign persons convicted of Code violations anywhere from zero to 16 points per violation.

“Once a person accumulates 16 points, MDC staff will review the circumstances surrounding the violations and may recommend that the Conservation Commission consider revoking or suspending the person’s permit privileges for up to one year,” Doman explained. “If a person accumulates more than 16 points, the recommendation to the Commission may be for a suspension of more than one year. Staff consider the person’s accumulated points for the past five years in making recommendations to the Commission.”

Examples of recent MDC penalty-point increases are:

• Illegal baiting of wildlife from 4 to 8 points,
• Buying, selling, having, or releasing prohibited invasive species from 4 to 16 points,
• Violations related to paddlefish from 4 to 12 points,
• Taking over the legal limit of deer and turkeys from 8 to 12 points,
• Doubling points for other violations related to illegal taking of wildlife from 4 to 8 points, and
• Releasing feral hogs into the wild from 0 to 16 points.

Learn more about MDC’s point system for wildlife violations at mdc.mo.gov/about-us/about-regulations/point-system-wildlife-code-violations

MDC asks that anyone with information on poaching cases call Operation Game Thief at 1-800-392-1111.

Updated Obituary - Rose Ann Burns

Funeral services for Rose Ann Burns will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. 

Visitation will be prior to services from 10-11 a.m. at Schowengerdt Chapel. Burial in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Ballard, Missouri. Contributions in lieu of flowers, Walnut Grove Presbyterian Church or Ballard School. Online condolences, www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Rose Anna Burns, age 90 of Butler, Missouri died Friday, July 12, 2019 at her home in Butler. She was born November 5, 1928 to Asa and Anna Bell Prier Radford in Appleton City, Missouri.

Rose is survived by one son, Jerry Burns of Butler, Missouri; three brothers, Don Radford of Butler, Missouri, Carl Radford of Springfield, Missouri and Richard Dean Radford of Kansas City, Missouri; one sister, Lois Mae Radford of Grove Springs, Missouri; three grandchildren, Tracy Burns and wife Tina, Christy Ann Morgan and Holly Marie Weaver and husband David; a step-granddaughter, Tonie Jean Gallian Wood and husband Grayson; five great-grandchildren, Keeli Ann Morgan, Kalli Marie Morgan, Jessica Bockenkamp and husband Mitch, David Wood and wife LaRae and Sarah Wood; and nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wesley Burns; one son, Gary Lee Burns; a brother, George Radford; and one sister, Martina Smith.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol needs your help!

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is taking part in the American Association of State Troopers’ "2019 America's Best Looking Cruiser Contest" and invites the public to vote for the MSHP's cruiser. 

The 2019 MSHP submission features a marked, vibrant blue, MSHP Dodge Charger and marked MSHP Donzi patrol boat with Lake of the Ozarks in the background. The photo was taken at the Pa He Tsi ramp of Public Beach #1.

The contest runs from 3 p.m. July 15 through 3 p.m. July 30, with results being posted on July 31. Voting is possible through a link on the AAST Facebook page. When visitors to the AAST Facebook page click on the link, they are taken to a SurveyMonkey website. Voters may also access the SurveyMonkey website directly via https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bestlookingcruisercontest. Scroll through the pictures, then use the dropdown menu to select Missouri. Only votes made through SurveyMonkey will be official, and thus, recorded.

“Likes” and comments are nice, but only votes for the Missouri State Highway Patrol photo via SurveyMonkey count for the Association of State Troopers’ contest. Please visit AAST’s Facebook page.