Back the Blue!

State Farm Insurance Kellie Davidson is proud to partner with Butler Sonic Group and present the Bates County Sheriff’s Department with gift cards to Sonic. State Farm partnered with all agents across the country to help give back money to their local communities. 

As we all face uncertainties and struggles, we wanted to honor and give thanks to our local law enforcement officers for the daily sacrifices they make. 

They each put their own lives on the line daily to help keep our community safe. This is such a small token of our appreciation to them. Thank you to each one of them for what they do every day!! 💙

Bates County Health Center confirms 4 new positive cases of COVID-19

July 31, 2020

Bates County Health Center has confirmed 4 more positive cases of COVID-19 in Bates County—all 4 are household contacts of 2 previously reported cases and had been quarantined at their homes.

All contact tracing has been done and any parties that have had close contact were notified.

Any individuals advised of need for isolation and quarantine are per CDC guidelines.

At this time, Bates County has had 43 positives cases, 6 of which are currently active and isolated.

We would also like to remind individuals that if you have been tested, you should quarantine at home until test results are received—this decreases any possible exposure for others in the event your results come back positive.

With our numbers for Bates County rising, we hope everyone will continue to practice social distancing, clean/disinfect any high touched surfaces, wash their hands with soap and water routinely, use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available and avoid touching your face (especially eyes, nose & mouth), and to stay home if you are sick. Wearing a mask in public is also encouraged. It is up to each and every one of us to stop the spread of this disease

City of Butler will be starting the 2020 Road Project

The City of Butler will be starting the 2020 Road Project.
Monday we will be closing down the following street for sealing.
Parkview St – From George Ray to Dead End

Driver Rescued from High Water near Gunn City in Cass County

Driver Rescued from High Water near Gunn City

Cass Co – Cass County Sheriff Office D.E.R.T. (Disaster Emergency Response Team) assisted the East Lynne and Harrisonville Fire Departments after receiving a call of motorist stranded in high water.

Around 9:00 am today, the Sheriff’s Office received a call from a delivery company dispatcher that the driver of a van was stuck in high water on E. 239th and S. Old Drum Road east of Gunn City.

Deputies and fire crews responded however were delayed due to the numerous roads in the area covered with floodwater. When deputies arrived, a local resident with a large tractor had reached the driver and drove her to safety.

The Sheriff’s Office DERT Team stood by while recovery teams removed the vehicle from the rising floodwaters. There were no reported injuries.

“It is never safe to drive into flood waters. The power of water can easily sweep a vehicle off the road or collapse a road without warning,” said Sheriff Jeff Weber.

The Sheriff’s Office developed a response team for disasters following the Joplin Tornado in 2011. The team’s search and rescue boat was purchased with funds from the Law Enforcement Restitution Fund Board in 2014. Team members receive boat operations training from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The News Xpress: The end of an era

Exact reasons unknown, long time Bates County newspaper The News Xpress, has published their final copy, dated July 31st, 2020.

Along with the Xpress, the accompanying classified flyer the Xchanger will also no longer be in circulation.

The Xpress was initially the brainchild of the late Jim Peters and long time local newsman C.A. Moore following the demise of the Headliner newspaper in the 1980’s. 

Obituary - Bary Len Porter,

Bary Len Porter, 74, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, was born, January 11, 1946, in Troy, Iowa, the son of Harry Chester and Icil Maxine (Steele) Porter. He departed this life, Monday, July 27, 2020, at the Pleasant Hill Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Barry was a 1965 Troy High School graduate.

On November 27, 1965, he was united in marriage to Frances Ann Beghtol in Des Moines, Iowa. She preceded him in death on November 28, 2013.

Bary owned and Operated Porter Electrical in Pleasant Hill. While running Porter Electrical he also was employed full time as a Union Steward for AT&T in Lee’s Summit. He had also worked as an electrician at General Motors, was a Real Estate Investor, and an Auctioneer. He was very active in the community. He was a member of Pleasant Hill Lions Club, a Freemason, a member of the Arat Shrine, the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce, the Cass County Fair Board, the Pleasant Hill Fire & Ambulance Board, and was instrumental in the building of the new fire department. He collected Campbell’s Soup memorabilia and John Deere tractors/memorabilia and was an active member of the two-cylinder club.

Bary was also preceded in death by his parents; one son Harry Douglas Porter; and three brothers Garry Porter, Harry Porter, and Jerry Mikel Porter.

He is survived by his son Dwayne Bary (and Bob Jackson) Porter of Gravois Mills, Missouri; his grandson Austin MacGyver (and Julia) Porter of Blue Springs, Missouri; two brothers, Terry Porter of Ridgecrest, California, and Danny Porter of Colorado Springs, Colorado; one sister Mary Briggs of Hannibal, Missouri; other relatives and a host of many friends.

Visitation will be held 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, August 2, 2020 at the Stanley-Dickey Funeral Home, Pleasant Hill, Missouri.

Private graveside services will be held in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Pleasant Hill Lay-Clergy Love Fund and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.stanleydickeyfuneralhome.com

Arrangements: Stanley-Dickey Funeral Home, 203 N. Armstrong St., Pleasant Hill, Missouri 64080 (816) 540-5550

From the Henry County Missouri Office of Emergency Management

Obituary - Lela Katherine Cox

Lela Katherine Cox, 63, Nevada, MO, passed away on Thursday, July 30, 2020 at Truman Health Care in Lamar, MO. Kathy was born on November 25, 1956 in Nevada to Robert Orace Cox, Sr. and Lela Katherine (Arnold) Cox.

Kathy was a 1975 graduate of Nevada High School. She worked as a dispatcher for the City of Nevada for a number of years. She also babysat for two generations of children whom she adored and were like family to her.

Survivors include Robert O. Cox, Jr., brother, and Frances Cox, sister, both of Nevada; nieces and nephews; and friends and her “children”.

No services are planned at this time.