The ever reliable, lovable Skyhawk...

What’s Up
By LeRoy Cook

The frequencies, and the ADS-B traffic screens, were filled by aerial adventurers after the skies cleared late last week. Pent up demand brought out pilots who had been grounded by winds and precipitation. In lieu of a planned Fliars Club fly-out, Jim Breckenridge and Gerald Bauer flew to Paola Saturday for a breakfast celebration.

Visiting this week were David Gilsdorf, down from Harrisonville in his Cessna Turbo Centurion, along with a visiting Piper Arrow and a Cessna Skyhawk. The FAA Flight Check inspection airplane was out doing routine verifications of instrument approaches. Out of the Butler fleet, Roy Conley took the week’s distance prize by flying to Mineola, Texas in the Beech Bonanza N35. Jeff Gorden was out in the Cessna Skyhawk, Chris Hall flew one of his Cessna 182’s and Daryl Tan ventured to Nevada in a Cessna 150. The SkyDive KC Beech King Air 90 had full weekend of hauling skydivers aloft.

The Butler Fire Department made a valiant effort to burn off the airport’s native prairie park last week, but the combination of invasive overgrowth and damp conditions prevented complete success. It’ll take some cleanup mowing to improve next year’s chances. Meanwhile, maybe we can reintroduce some native species.

Ever wonder why we report so many Cessna 172 Skyhawks in our summary of airport traffic? It’s simply because that breed is far and away the most prevalent general aviation airplane in the air. There has been more than 45,000 of the ubiquitous four seater built since 1956; that means one in ten of all airplanes flying is a Cessna 172. And there are still a few new ones trickling out of the present plant in Independence, Kansas.

Don’t depend on picking up a new Kansas City sectional aeronautical chart to replace your tattered one. They now expire on a 56-day cycle, not six months, so the vendors aren’t keeping them on the shelf because they become unsalable too quickly. As a result, the FAA’s plan to have pilots maintain more up-to-date information is having unintended consequences, with fewer pilots staying current, not more. Oh, sure, most of us are keeping the latest chart on-screen, using phones and iPads, but that isn’t as handy as flipping open a paper map to scan a route.

Our weekly question wanted to know the nickname of race pilot Steve Wittman’s first custom built airplane, using a motorcycle motor. He dubbed it the “Hardly Ableson” after its feeble performance. Next week’s quiz asks why the official abbreviation for “mist” in weather reports is shown as “BR” instead of “MS” or “MT”. Your answer can be sent to kochhaus1@gmail.com.

Dangerous Fire Conditions Today

Any outdoor burning is highly discouraged today.

Strong winds and very dry conditions will result in dangerous fire conditions today, and any fire that ignites will be able to spread very quickly.

Obituary - Roy Lee Clifton

Roy Lee Clifton, age 68, Pleasanton, Kansas passed away Saturday, March 27, 2021. He was born on February 16, 1953 in Hannibal, Missouri the son of Donald and Dixie(Dove) Clifton. Roy is survived by his wife, Sherrie Clifton, three children, Tonya Umphenour, fiance' Dan Cummings, Tiffani Oliver, husband Brad Oliver, Tim Clifton, wife Kaylee Clifton, five grandchildren, Kylie Oliver, Ty Umphenour, Kyle Olviver, J. C. Gross, Dally Umphenour, and two great grandchildren, Emmerson Ayres, and Lawson Kuns. Roy is also also survived by his brother, Greg Clifton, wife Tina and sister Donna Sue Clifton. 

Roy was a kind and loving husband to Sherrie for forty-seven years, meeting in Collinsville, Oklahoma and marrying on May 11, 1974. Roy was a man of God, baptizing every one of his children and grandchildren. His family often referred to him as the "bible scholar". As a passion for God's word, he knew his bible beginning to end. He raised and taught his family to know and trust in the Lord through the good times and the bad times. As he got sick we often asked him "how do you remain so grounded?", his response was always "God is in control and always has a plan". 

He always showed compassion and grace. Grudges were something Roy didn't do. "Superhero" is an understatement his family says. Roy was the king of "dad" jokes. He could always make an entire room crack up with his dry humor and typically with a straight face. Just like he dealt with his experiences in life, he also managed his illness with strength and grace. In his final moments he was surrounded by his wife and three children who looked up to him as their best friend, their hero and their rock. Roy worked for Kansas City Power and Light for thirty-six years. 

During his career at the plant, he started in the coal yard eventually working his way up, becoming a licensed electrician. Roy stated many times to his family, "I truly enjoyed what I did, and even though I worked countless hours, I got to do something I enjoyed and it never seemed too bad". Working hard was truly his second nature, but he also liked to play hard too. His ultimate hobby was raising bluetick coonhounds which he started in the early 80's. 

Roy's accomplishments in competition coon hunting started in 1982 winning the Kansas State Show with a dog named Tanny. Later on, he won the biggest bluetick hunt in the nation, National Bluetick Days King of Hunt with his bluetick Smoke in 2012 and the repeating this once in a lifetime feat in 2015 with Smoke's son, Deal. In 2017 he put the icing on the cake winning the National Bluetick Reunion King of Hunt with the same bluetick Deal. 

He started breeding and hunting "Mad Dog" Blueticks in 82 and was still hunting the same line of "Mad Dogs" today. Roy and his son Timmy hunted together for almost thirty years. The pleasure and competition hunts are too many to mention, hunting in several states all across the nation and making friends at every one along the way. Roy enjoyed horses throughout his lifetime, riding Tennessee Walking Horses in his younger years, later developing his love for team roping. His children have many memories of Friday nights at saddle club that extended to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. May 4-H horse shows in the summer with Roy helping to groom and prep all the kids horses for shows sweating his butt off and rarely showing frustration because at the end of the day he was having just as much fun as the kids were.

Funeral service will be held 11 am Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Burial in the Littell Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 pm to 7 pm Monday at the Pleasanton Chapel. Contributions are suggested to the Fairmount Community Association. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

Appleton City Park Board is taking bids for concrete and installation of a new sidewalk, steps & pads

Appleton City Park Board is taking bids for concrete and installation of a new sidewalk, steps & pads. (approx. 1000 ft.) in Forest Park. Removal of a small concrete sidewalk to be included with bid. Sidewalks must meet ADA specifications. Contractor insurance required.

Send sealed bids to City Hall, 114 E. 4th Street, AC, MO 64724. 

Sealed bids must be received by April 14, 2021 and job must be completed within 30 days of bid award. 

Please mark the envelope: CONCRETE PROJECT, FOREST PARK.

Obituary - Kenny L. Butler

Kenny L. Butler, 70, Harrisonville, Missouri, died Friday, March 26, 2021 at K.U. Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. 

Funeral services will be 11:00am Friday, April 2, 2021, at the First Baptist Church in Harrisonville, MO. Burial in Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville. 

The family will receive friends 10:00-11am Friday at the church. Contributions may be made to the Harrisonville First Baptist Church.

Obituary - Lisa Marie Heenan

Lisa Marie Heenan, age 52, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, March 24, 2021, at the Via Christi Emergency Room in Ft. Scott. She was born June 22, 1968, in Bakersfield, California, the daughter of Larry Heenan and Sandra Criswell Heenan. 

Lisa was a devoted mother to her children. She occasionally worked as a waitress in area restaurants. She enjoyed crocheting, coloring and doing crafts. In earlier years, she had attended the Bethel Community Church.

Survivors include her children, Anthony Heenan, of Ottawa, Kansas, Tamra McReynolds, of Ft. Scott, Tiffany Heenan, of Nixa, Missouri, Ally Heenan of Columbus, Kansas and Wayne Shaffer also of Ft. Scott and seven grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers, Robert Heenan of Ft. Scott and Adam Heenan of Ottawa, Kansas and a sister Robyn Heenan also of Ottawa. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Russell Heenan.

Services are pending and will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.

St. Clair County Sheriff's Office News Release March 16th, 2021 through March 22nd, 2021

St. Clair County Sheriff Lee Hilty reported deputies made ten arrests and took multiple reports during the weeks of March 16th, 2021 through March 22nd, 2021.

View the full press release by using the link we have provided for you below:

https://www.scsomo.org/press_view.php?id=989

Obituary - Carol J. Campbell

Carol J. Campbell, age 81, of Peculiar, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 25, 2021 at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 1:00 pm in Center Grove Cemetery in Kirkwood, Illinois.

Carol was born in Kirkwood, Illinois on November 15, 1939 to Roy L. Campbell and Mable J. (Hickok) Campbell. After graduating high school, Carol attended Galesburg Cottage Hospital School of Nursing. For more than forty years, Carol worked as a Registered Nurse in Galesburg. As a woman of faith, she was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church in Galesburg, Illinois for many years and an active participant in the Hilltoppers. She enjoyed working in her backyard garden and will always be remembered for making strawberry jam each year for her family.

Carol is now reunited with her parents, Roy L. and Mable J. Campbell. She leaves behind her two brothers, Franklin L. Campbell (Shirley) and William Dale Campbell (Judy); sister, Janet Reagor (Tom); three nieces, Shiri Wikstrom (Jason), Nancy Bartlett (Mark), and Jennifer Hunt (Jay); one nephew, Steve Reagor; and several great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to be given to the Hilltoppers at Bethel Baptist Church, 1196 N. Academy St., Galesburg, Illinois 61401 or the Alzheimer’s Association P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278