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In the old days, a CFI was for a lifetime

What’s Up
By LeRoy Cook

Airplanes were everywhere you looked last weekend, it seemed. It was a beautiful end to a week of shifting fronts and a lot of pilots were eager to stretch their wings. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky to inhibit aviation, making it a worthy endeavor.

Among the aircraft passing through were a Piper Twin Comanche, a Piper Warrior, a Cessna Skyhawk and an early Beech Bonanza 35. A skydiver brought a Cessna Skylane in to participate in the last SkyDive KC parachute jumps of 2020 on Saturday. Out of the local fleet, Jerimie Platt and Maggie were up in the family Grumman Tiger and several students were out in the Cessna 150.

On Thursday I met with the FAA to renew myexpiring Flight Instructor certificate. It was the 28th time I had gone through this exercise since becoming a CFI in December of 1965, unless I’ve jumped track by making an early renewal in adding a new rating. That might have been the case when I acquired the FIG (flight instructor, glider) designation one summer. In any event, the CFI certification is only good for 24 months, at which point it has to be renewed by completing training or presenting evidence of sufficient activity, which is my preferred method. Before my time, flight instructor privileges were a non-expiring rating on one’s pilot certificate,, but when the FAA was created in 1958 it was decided to make both flight and ground instructor ratings separate certificates, the CFI to be limited in duration.

The scourge of Airworthiness Directives still has to be expected by aircraft owners, who are forced to comply if a defect is determined by the FAA maintenance division. Among the most numerous of late are those imposed on the Piper Cherokee PA-28 and PA-32 series, which need a wing spar inspection, and the Cessna 172 and 182 models that were found to have cracking in the doorpost area. Both require expenditure of time and money to satisfy the AD requirement. Nobody wants to fly an unsafe airplane, but sometimes we have to wonder if AD’s are issued to protect manufacturers from liability.

I ran into some light sleet mixed with rain last week, reminding us that nice weather won’t always prevail as we head into winter. Little airplanes don’t handle ice accumulation very well, so we must be prepared to execute an escape plan if we venture out in cold cloudy weather. Divert, don’t just keep plowing along until the wings won’t hold you up any longer.

Our continuing saga of the funkiest little airplanes from the 1940s, the Funk two-seaters built in Coffeyville, Kansas, posed the question “what kind of engine was used in the first Funks?” It was a converted Ford Model B automobile motor, similar to but successor to the Model A, modified to run upside down so it would fit on the airplane’s nose. At 50 hp maximum, it wasn’t powerful enough, so most Funks used an air-cooled Continental A-65. For next time, tell us what kind of civilian airplane was flying over Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941. You can send your answers to kochhaus1@gmail.com.

Accident west of Rich Hill

Rich Hill fire and first responders are headed to the scene of a single car accident about 5 miles west of town on A highway. Use caution if traveling through the area.

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Henry County Health Center confirms 16 new positive cases of COVID-19

The Henry County Health Center has received notification of 16 new cases of COVID-19.

9 Clinton
1 montrose
1 deepwater
2 Windsor
2 Calhoun
1 Urich

This brings the total number of positive cases in Henry County to 1,131.

The CDC continues to recommend that individuals to wear a face covering when you are in public, and are unable to social distance, to assist in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Obituary - Sheryl Ann Yoakum

Sheryl Ann Yoakum of Kimberling City, Missouri was born on April 3, 1956 in Butler, Missouri as a daughter of Elmer Joseph and Sarah Alene (Prier) Jacobs. She departed this life on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at Shepherd of the Hills Living Center in Branson, Missouri at the age of 64 years and 8 months.

Sheryl was an excellent homemaker and a loving mother. She was a member of Victory Baptist Church in Branson, Missouri. Sheryl grew up in Drexel, Missouri and was a 1974 graduate of Drexel High School. Sheryl has lived in Drexel, Harrisonville, Adrian, Louisburg, and Lenexa before moving to Kimberling City, Missouri. Sheryl’s most loved and important responsibilities were being a wife, mother, and grandma. She enjoyed cooking and her happiest times were being around family.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Kathy Purkey.

Sheryl is survived by David Yoakum; her son, Kyle Yoakum (Aubry) of Louisburg, Kansas; her daughter, Kristy Randel (Joren) of Emporia, Kansas; 4 grandchildren: Raegan, Chase, Brynn, and Broden; her three brothers, Joe Jacobs, Don Jacobs, and Ron Jacobs all of Drexel, Missouri; other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri with burial in the Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville, Missouri.

The family will receive friends Sunday, December 6, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Obituary - Florene Wiltz

Florene Wiltz, 66, Harrisonville, Missouri departed this life on Thursday, December 3, 2020 Belton Regional Hospital, Belton, Missouri.

She is survived by her siblings, Gladys (Lester) Kirkemier, Arkansas, William "Bud" Meins, Texas, Dorothy Riggs, Harrisonville, Dillard (Carol) Meins, Garden City, Lanny (Toni) Meins, Ava, Ronnie (Judy) Meins, Garden City, Dale (Nita) Meins, Louisiana, Dana Yoder, Garden City; through her brothers and sisters she also leaves her nieces, nephews, and greats adding up to about 78 in all; a devoted love, best friend and fiancé, Sonny Wilson, Harrisonville; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri with burial in the Dayton Cemetery near Garden City, Missouri.

Family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at the funeral home.

Family suggests memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.

A little holiday cheer!

In light of the Butler Chamber of Commerce canceling the Christmas parade today Douty's Auto Service of Butler decided to have there own parade and spread some holiday cheer.

The Bates County Sheriff's Office was on hand throwing rolls of toilet paper to the crowd around the square and everyone practiced social distancing and had a wonderful time.

Thank you everyone who attended today's parade and help spread some joy in these uncertain times.

You can view some photos of the parade below: