Adrian High School Football Coach George Bruto To Be Inducted Into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

George Bruto – Adrian High School Football Coach - To Be Inducted Into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
Congratulations Coach Bruto Of A Blackhawk

Bruto spent 36 years as a teacher and coach at Adrian High School, including 28 seasons (1986 to 2013) as the head football coach. In that time, his teams were 238-77 – a win total that was good for top 15 all-time among Missouri high school football coaches. 

His 2002 team won the Class 1 state championship, and his 1987 team was a state runner-up. Overall, Adrian advanced to 10 state semifinals (1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2005), won 17 district championships and 13 conference championships. As an assistant, he was also part of two state semifinal teams, two district championships and a conference championship. 

Additionally, Bruto wore other hats, as he coached the school’s girls and boys basketball and track teams at various times. Over 45 sports seasons, he was 430-177 as a varsity coach and 147-50 as a junior high school coach, covering 49 seasons.

Last Harvest Cowboy Church in Butler Presents: Hallelujah Palooza Revival

Obituary - Gregory D. Wright

Gregory D. Wright, age 51 of Warsaw, Missouri passed away Tuesday September 3, 2019. Fond memories and condolences may be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com. 

Funeral services will be Saturday, September 7, 2019 at Vansant Mills Funeral home in Clinton, MO with burial at Lowry City Cemetery, Lowry City, Missouri. Family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:30PM with services following at 2:30PM at the chapel. Family suggests contributions to the Heartland Hospice or The American Cancer Society and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Greg was born and raised in Independence, Missouri. He graduated at the University of Missouri at Kansas City with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He started working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1990 and moved to the Truman Power Plant in Warsaw in 1994. He was with the Corps of Engineers until his retirement in the fall of 2018. He and Susan Martens were married on August 2, 1997 and was with her until her death in May of 2017.

He enjoyed muscle cars, firearms, and hunting and fishing. He also loved to take vacations whenever he could. He was able to visit Yellowstone National Park, Utah, Montana, The Smoky Mountains and various places in the Southeastern United States. He also went to Italy in 2005 and visited Greece and Italy again in 2015.


He is preceded in death by his wife, Susan Beth (Martens). He is also preceded in death by his parents, Lorenzo and (Ora) Marie. Survivors include a brother, Gary Wright and wife, Angela of Grain Valley, Missouri, their children, Molly and Owen, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri.

Obituary - James Orville Schlechty

James Orville Schlechty, 76, of Adrian, Missouri, passed away on Monday, September 2, 2019 at St. Joseph Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 5, 2019 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Adrian, Missouri. 

Funeral services will be held at the Matteson Funeral Home in West Salem, Ohio, on Saturday September 7, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior to the services. Burial will be held in Polk Cemetery in Polk, Ohio, with military rights conducted by American Legion Post 499. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Paralyzed Veterans of America or Adrian Christian Church.

Jim was born November 2, 1942 in Akron, Ohio, the son of Willis and Dorothy Piper Schlechty. He attended the Mapleton Polk School system and graduated from high school in 1960. After high school, he was employed by Sigafoose Lumber. As a young man, he worked on his cars and motorcycles. He enjoyed participating in drag racing and won numerous trophies.

He worked at F.E. Meyers in Ashland, Ohio as a machinist making water pumps until his motorcycle accident in 1981 which left him a paraplegic. From his wheelchair he raised three children. He served 6 years in the Air Force Reserves. Jim was a quiet, soft spoken man who enjoyed mowing the yard, woodworking, and tinkering with small engines. His disability did not stop him from doing things he wanted to do. Jim was an avid Nascar follower and a fan of Mark Marten. He loved the family pets and enjoyed watching TV, especially westerns, some sports including the Little League World Series. He loved family. He is preceded in death by his parents, paternal and maternal grandparents, and brother Gary Schlechty.

Survivors include his wife Elizabeth of the home, 3 daughters Tammy Bunn (Boone) Ashland, Ohio, Kelly Schlechty, West Salem, Ohio, Jeri Hester (Jim), Archie, Missouri, and Jeremy Schlechty and significant other Lil Pound, Ashland, Ohio. Seven grandchildren Ashley, Lisa Andrew, Logan, Matthew, Skyler, and Garrett. Three great-grandchildren Remington, Wyatt, and Evelyn. Two sisters Shirley Canfield (Wesley) Nankin, Ohio and Mary Dudley and significant other Brad Podany, Chandler, Arizona. Two brothers Bill Schlechty (Pam) Redhaw, Ohio, and Roger Schlechty (Jodi), Polk, Ohio. Numerous nieces and nephews.

Obituary - Jearlene "Jerri" Johnson

Jearlene "Jerri" Johnson, 78, a 25 year resident of Drexel, Missouri passed away peacefully Tuesday, September 3, 2019. 

Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 am Saturday, September 7, 2019 at Mulli-nax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel (660-679-0009). 

A visitation will be held prior to the service Satur-day, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am also at the chapel. Burial will follow in Benton Green Cemetery, Os-ceola, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

Jerri was born in Ash Hill, Mo on September 23, 1940 to Lymon and Mary Lee Berry. Jerri enjoyed fishing, baking,and was known for her homemade cinnamon rolls. Jerri best spent her time with her children and grandchildren. Her favorite time of the year was Christmas and all the decorations she could put up.

Jerri was preceded in death by her husband Lane Johnson of 52 years, two daughters Vickey Marion-neaux and Dianna Howard. Surviving are Three children Sandra Hocker and husband Bill of Drexel, MO, Gary Johnson Jr and wife Diana of Harrisonville, Mo, and Larry Johnson and wife Lisa of Manns-ville, OK. Thirteen grandchildren and many great- grandchildren. Three brothers Jim Berry and wife Judy, Joe Berry and wife Judy and Lymon Lee Berry and wife Mary Jane, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Happy 80th Birthday Freda

National Child Passenger Safety Week

The Missouri State Highway Patrol joins the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Ad Council, Missouri Department of Transportations’ Office of Highway and Traffic Safety, and other safety advocates to commemorate National Child Passenger Safety Week (September 15-21, 2019). The primary goal of this program is to remind all parents and other adults responsible for children traveling in motor vehicles of the importance of child safety seats and seat belts. Every year, children suffer needless injuries. In 2018, 10 children under the age of eight were killed in traffic crashes, and another 1,794 were injured. Troopers issued citations to 1,181 drivers who failed to secure children less than eight years old in a child restraint/booster seat in 2018. Troopers issued citations to an additional 187 drivers who failed to secure a child 80 pounds or more or over 4’9” in a seat belt in 2018.

Troopers investigate traffic crashes every day. Nothing is more disturbing than a traffic crash that includes a child being hurt or killed. The Missouri State Highway Patrol encourages every driver to make sure child passengers in their vehicles are restrained properly.

Missouri law states:

* Children less than four years old are required to use an appropriate child passenger restraint system. 

* Children less than 40 pounds, regardless of age, must be secured in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for the child. 

* Children ages four to eight years old who weigh at least 40 pounds, but less than 80 pounds, and are under 4’9” tall, must be secured in a child passenger restraint system or booster seat appropriate for that child.

* Children ages eight through 15 must wear seat belts regardless of the type of vehicle in which they are riding or where they are seated (front or back). Like the child restraint law, this is a primary law, meaning you can be pulled over by law enforcement for noncompliance.

* Persons less than 18 years of age operating or riding in trucks (regardless of gross weight for which licensed) must wear seat belts.

*No person under age 18 is allowed to ride in the unenclosed bed of a truck with a licensed gross weight of less than 12,000 pounds on lettered highways, federal, state maintained highways, and within city limits. There are exemptions for agricultural purposes, special events, and parades.

* It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure passengers under the age of 16 are buckled up safely. Those 16 and over are responsible for themselves.

There are many styles of child safety seats from which parents may choose. Infant seats are designed for children up to 22-30 pounds depending on the seat manufacturer. This type of seat should be placed into a vehicle so the infant faces rearward in a semi-reclined position. It is important to remember rear-facing infant seats should NOT be used in a front passenger seat equipped with an active air bag. If deployed, an air bag could hit the infant seat and injure or kill the baby. Airbag or not, the back seat is the safest place for a child.

Convertible child safety seats are designed for children from five pounds up to 40 - 80 pounds, depending on the manufacturer. Like all seats, they have manufacturer’s labels on the side indicating the maximum height and weight of the seat. They recline and face rearward in an infant position, and convert to sit upright and face forward for the toddler position. Most newer convertible seats can hold children who weigh up to 35 or 40 pounds in the rear-facing position. NHTSA recommends keeping children rear facing until they reach the maximum height and weight for the car seat. The child can then be turned around forward facing.

Booster seats are designed for children who have outgrown other safety seats and must be used with an adult lap and shoulder belt. Lap/shoulder belts are designed for children who are at least 4' 9" tall or 80 or more pounds. Make sure the lap belt stays low and snug across the lower hip/upper thigh area, and the shoulder belt does not cross the face or the neck.

For safety reasons, the Missouri State Highway Patrol discourages the purchase of child safety seats at a garage sale or other second-hand outlets. Also, a safety seat that has been in a vehicle during a traffic crash should be replaced.

There is no one "safest" child safety seat. Use the one that fits your child, fits in your vehicles correctly, and one that you will use correctly every trip, every time. For more information about the proper use of child restraint systems or to schedule a child safety seat inspection, contact the nearest Missouri State Highway Patrol troop headquarters and ask for the public information and education officer, or visit www.seatcheck.org.

September 11th event in Adrian