Adrian Optimist Club Board has voted to extend the suspension of Monday Night Bingo operations

For Immediate Release:

The Adrian Optimist Club Boards have voted to extend the suspension of Monday Night Bingo operations until the end of September.

This decision was made with much thought and in the best interest of our players and workers.

We want to thank our players in advance for their understanding with this decision and look forward to getting back bingo!

Obituary - Terrence John Callahan

Terrence “Terry” John Callahan, age 72, of Belton, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, September 4, 2021.

A graveside service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at Wills Cemetery, 21825 S. Thorngrove Rd., Peculiar, Missouri 64078

Terry was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on August 10, 1949 to Charles Leslie Callahan and Mildred Lorraine Callahan. After graduating high school, Terry began working and for many years worked at EMJ Steel in Kansas City, Missouri. All throughout life Terry had an incredible work ethic, working multiple jobs if needed to provide for his family. In 1970, Terry married his high school sweetheart, Juanita who sadly passed in 2018. Terry adored his wife throughout their marriage and had made comments on missing her cooking. In life Terry was an encyclopedia of random facts and very intelligent in many areas of life. Back in the day Terry had the ability to fix and/or building anything. He enjoyed music, especially Jazz, fishing, classic cars, spending time with his grandkids, and doing anything outdoors. He loved to laugh as well as tell a good joke, share stories of his childhood and stunts he pulled in the “good ole days.” Recently, Terry often attended his grandson’s sporting events and would brag about him to other spectators. He was excited about the upcoming tackle football season and will be missed dearly on the others on the sidelines but not nearly as much as his family.

Terry was preceded in death by his loving wife, Juanita Callahan; parents, Charles and Mildred Callahan; sister Sylvia Arnold; brother Chuck Callahan; and granddaughter, Jayden Tompkins.

He is survived by his son, Dominick Callahan; daughters, Jenny Smith (Bret) and Angie Tompkins (Meat head); two brothers, Bill Callahan (Peggy) and Nathan Callahan; nine grandchildren, Kristen Smith, Nickolas Smith (Taylor), Travis Smith (Jamie), Madison Sith, Shane Helm (Arian), Emily Tompkins, Logan Tompkins, Dylan Callahan, and Kylee Callahan; and nine great grandchildren, Atticus, Raelynn, Kynslee, Jayse, Kamryn, Jonah, Ronin, Levi, and Boaz.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278

Poplar Heights Farm Creatures of the Night Event

Bring your dinner out to Poplar Heights Farm for Creatures of the Night on September 22nd. We'll have a bonfire - roast your own hot dogs, we'll have the marshmallows and after the program a wagon ride thru the farm fields at dark.

You can listen to the coyotes sing. Gate opens at 6:00 - over by 8:30 so the kids are up too late. It's all Free.

Obituary - Maxine Faye Bremer

Maxine Faye Bremer, 86, Peculiar, MO, passed away Saturday, September 4, 2021 at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 10, 2021 at St. Sabina Catholic Church in Belton with burial in Peculiar Cemetery. 

Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 9, at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Sabina Catholic Church.

Maxine was born February 24, 1935 in Germantown, Missouri at the family home, the daughter of Lawrence J. and Louise L. (Kalwei) Mucke. During High School, she played women’s basketball and held the record for high scorer in the state of Missouri with 98 points scored in one game for over 50 years before another athlete was able to break the record. After graduating from High School, she went to work for Kansas City Life for 7 years and retired as the Secretary for the Director of Marketing before leaving to start a family. She met the love of her life, George Bremer, and they married on October 19, 1957 and to this union they had four children: Brett, Brad, Brenda, and Brian.

She spent time at home with her children, but once her youngest son started kindergarten, she starting driving a school bus. She went on to work for the Raymore-Peculiar School District beginning in October 1983 as the Payroll Administrator and retired in June 1995. During Maxine’s younger years, she played the organ at St. Sabina Church, where she remained a member throughout her life. She enjoyed holidays, family gatherings, and especially combining the two to enjoy holiday dinners with her family. Maxine leaves a legacy of love for her family, her friends, and especially a love of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, George; her parents; her brother-in-law, Jon P. Bremer; and her sister-in-law, Darlys Bremer. She is survived by her children: Brett (Robyn) Bremer, Smithton, MO; Brad Bremer, Peculiar, MO; Brenda Bremer, Peculiar, MO; and Brian (Lona) Bremer, Lee’s Summit, MO; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren with one on the way; and her brother, James D. Mucke and Kay Lewis of Peculiar, MO.

Obituary - Sheila Darlene Hogan

Sheila Darlene Hogan, 78, of Horton, MO passed away on Sunday, September 5, 2021 at her home following a lengthy illness. Sheila was born October 29, 1942 in Chapel Hill, IN to Cecil A. and Della L. (Eads) Rife.

Sheila lived and worked in Indiana until she moved to Vernon County in 1963. She worked at Nellie Don for many years and also Metz School in Metz, MO as a teacher’s aide.

Sheila loved cooking and gardening and spending time in her yard. She never let anyone leave her house hungry.

Sheila was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Betty Joyce Petty; two brothers, David (Sonny) Rife, and Cecil Boyd Rife. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Ira “Dan” Hogan, Jr. of the home; daughter, Jocelyn Diane Rutledge (Mark Van Doren) of Horton, MO; granddaughter, Maria Rutledge (Rush Wilson) of Springfield; four sisters, Lois Hillenburg of Bedford, IN, Brenda Eads (Burton) of Smithville, IN, Marilyn Martin (Kelsie) of Bedford, IN, Carol Cain of Bloomington, IN; brother, Jack Rife of Indianapolis, IN; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. Interment will follow in Balltown Cemetery in Horton. The family will receive friends from 5-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested in her memory to Balltown Cemetery c/o Ferry Funeral Home

Lace 'Em up for Larry

Obituary - Reverend William Elmore (Bill) Bell

Reverend William Elmore (Bill) Bell, 96 formerly of Nevada, MO went to his heavenly home Saturday, September 4, 2021. He was a resident of Gran Villas Pittsburg, Assisted Living, Pittsburg, Kansas. He lived most of his adult life in the Nevada and Bronaugh area.

Bill was born December 6, 1924, in a single room log cabin near Booneville, Arkansas to Finis Eston Bell and Mary Francis (Elmore) Bell. He was one of four children, two brothers and one sister. On August 8, 1948, Bill married Patricia Ann (Pat) Coleman. In 2018 they celebrated 70 years of marriage.

Bill graduated 8th grade in 1940 at Mixon Community School of Logan County near Booneville, Arkansas. After completing his time in the military, he earned his GED and went on to earn an AA degree at Southwest Baptist College in 1950. In 1959 he earned a BA degree from William Jewell College in Kansas City, MO. He later earned his teaching certificate through Kansas State Teacher’s College (now Pittsburg State University).

Bill was drafted into the US Marine Corp and placed into active service November 22, 1943. He completed his basic training in Camp Elliot, San Diego, CA. He was a Private First Class, member of the Twelfth Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion Fleet Marine Force, 1098th Platoon, Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun Crew 601. He deployed to the Pacific Theater on the USS President Polk where he served in the South Pacific, on the Islands of, New Caldonia, Guadalcanal, Guam and Pilly Lou. He was returned to the US on the USS Wharton and was honorably discharged on April 4, 1946 at Camp LeJeume, North Carolina.

On August 31st, Bill was honored, as a World War II veteran, by Dream Flight Freedom 2021, Operation September. Bill was unable to attend the ceremony so, on his behalf, his family accepted a jacket and hat from Freedom Flight and an honor quilt, from the Little Balkans Quilt Guild. His name was also added to the tail rudder of the 1943 Boeing Stearman bi-plane.

Bill was ordained in the Baptist faith in 1955. In 1953, Bill began his ministry at the Grand River Baptist Church. He continued his ministry in other Missouri Baptist churches, including Pleasant View (Liberal) Pleasant View (Vernon County), Bronaugh and Montevallo. Though a pastor never really retires from the ministry, Bill retired from full time ministry while at Deerfield Baptist Church in 2000. During Bill’s ministry years, he also taught at area schools. Beginning in 1955 he taught in Moundville, Metz, Gashland, Bronaugh, Liberal and Nevada Missouri public schools. He retired from the Nevada State Hospital in 1990.

Bill was an avid reader, gardener, and enjoyed working in his yard. He enjoyed going to all the grandkids sports and school activities with his beloved, Pat. He was a real prayer warrior for his church family, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Bill is survived by three sons, Gary Bell (Carrol), Pittsburg, Kansas, Tim Bell (Kristie), Pittsburg, Kansas and David Bell, Highland’s Ranch, Colorado. Three daughters, Linda Simmons, Joplin, Missouri, Joyce Bealer (Andy), Branson, MO, Janet Smith (Phil), Liberal, Missouri. Thirteen grandchildren (Melanie Boyd, Stephanie Swearingen, Jena (Dennis) Wells, Mindy Bell, Tracy (Aimee’) Danner, Todd Danner, Matthew (Ariel) Bealer, Marcie (Eric) Acker, Courtney Shafer, Morgan Shafer, Katie Smith, Jared (Christy) Bell, Phillip Bell. Thirty-five great grandchildren, Kalen (Megan) Bradley, Reagan Bradley, Logan Bradley, Jordon Boyd, Lauren Silvola, Brooke (Ben) Fisher, Jadyn Swearingen, Carter Swearingen, Christy Danner, Heather (Austin) Watson, Allie Danner, Bailey Danner, Josie Crisp, Hallie Crisp, Zachary (Hannah) Arthur, Christina (Caleb) Pinon, Megan Arthur, Cody Danner, Sarah Danner, Joshua Danner, Wesley Potter, Garret Potter, Isabel Wells, Devrie Wells, Blayne Acker, Brayleigh Acker, Brynner Acker, Breelyn Acker, Kyler Duncan, Tucker Jameson, Lillyann Bell, Aubriana Bell, Ellie Bell, Vivian Bell, and Elijah Bealer. Five great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by brother-in-law, Hubert Conway and sister-in-law, Betty Noah.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, wife, siblings Dale Bell, Johnny Haller and Alice Louise Maxwell, and granddaughter, Kimberly Marie Shafer.

The funeral will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 11, 2021 at the Nevada First Baptist Church with burial to follow in Newton Burial Park with Military Honors.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at Ferry Funeral Home

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Watered Gardens (Joplin, MO) or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital with the funeral home serving as custodian.

Obituary - Rhonda Kay Hedges

Rhonda Kay Hedges, 57, Rogers, Arkansas formerly of Garden City, Missouri departed this life on Sunday, September 5, 2021 at Merch Hospital, Rogers, Arkansas.

She is survived by her husband, Jeff Hedges of the home; a son, Eli Hedges of the home; two daughters, Amanda Hedges, Fayetteville, Arkansas, Ashley Bayle and husband Travis, Wasilla, Alaska; 6 grandchildren, Charles, Connor, Kalob, Ava, Connor and Madilyn; two brothers, Brian Yoder, Garden City, Missouri, Tim Wittrig, Austin, Texas; five sisters, Sandy Cole and Jodi Brown both of Garden City, Missouri, Terry Ross, State of Texas, Cristy Steffa, Huntsville, Texas, Cherry Derickson, Austin, Texas; other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 11, 2021 at the Sycamore Grove Mennonite Church near Garden City, Missouri with burial in the Clearfork Cemetery near Garden City.

Family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 11, 2021 at the church.

Family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri.

A complete obituary will be posted when it becomes available.