A Token of Appreciation

Lilah Linard presented a tasty gift basket to the Butler Police Department today on behalf of the Harmony Mission Chapter of the D.A.R. to say 'thank you for your service' as part of the Wounded Warrior Project. Officers Jared Bremer (left) and Andrew Hutchinson gladly accepted the basket and enjoyed a conversation with Lilah as well. The Harmony Mission Chapter of the D.A.R. meets on the second Monday of the month, 1:30 pm at the Butler Public Library and the public is openly invited to attend.

Please read if you receive the printed News-Shopper by mail...

Around the first of this month, the United States Postal Service announced there will be mailing delays and they weren't kidding. In that announcement they mentioned that Priority Mail and First Class Mail will have a priority over all other methods. With that in mind, we've been mailing the printed News-Shoppers by First Class Mail hoping they would arrive in a timely manner but in some cases there has been a 4-5 day delay.

We always mail them on Wednesdays like clockwork. They leave the Butler post office and go to Kansas City for sorting- then back to Butler for distribution. Please do not call our local post offices if they are late... the problem clearly lies in Kansas City and it doesn't look like things are going to improve any time soon.

So, after going to the expense of First Class mailing and it not being effective, we are exploring other options where we can mail through our local post offices and keep Kansas City out of the loop. Hopefully we'll have answers soon, please bear with us.

Sincerely, the Mid America Live Team

View This Week's News-Shopper online!

Follow this link for a looksee! https://www.midamericashopper.com/2021/10/browse-this-weeks-news-shopper-online.html

Obituary - Danny Smith

Danny Lee Smith 65 of Adrian, Missouri passed away Friday October 15, 2021 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. A visitation will be held Wednesday, October 20, 2021 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). Cremation to follow. There will be no funeral service.

Memorial contributions may be made to his grandson Abel’s Education Fund c/o Marcia Smith. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

If you were lucky enough to know Danny you are truly blessed. Danny was one of a kind who lived and loved life like no other. Danny was born September 6, 1956 to Jesse F. and Betty R.Thomas Smith. He grew up in Butler, Missouri. Danny attended Butler Schools.

Throughout his life he worked many places. Just to name a few, Harry Cherry’s, Eldred Mobile, Sunroofing, mechanic for Don Malan lineman for the City of Butler, custodian for the Butler R-5 School District, and was in charge of maintenance for the Bates County Court House for the last seventeen years.

On November 14, 1977 Danny married the love of his life Marcia Scott, they shared 44 years of making memories! On April 17, 1992 they welcomed their only child Jessica Marie Smith.

Danny was a devoted husband, father, and brother. They say the best dads get promoted to grandpa’s and Danny became one on October 3, 2013, when his only grandchild Abel Landon Michael was born.

Danny enjoyed the outdoors with fishing, hunting, and anything outside. For many years you could find him working on anything with a motor. You could count on finding Danny and Marcia at the race track on Saturday nights. He loved spending time with Abel, he never missed a sports practice or game. They were continually outside either playing football, riding four wheelers, target practice, they were always into something together. Where Danny was Abel was right there by his side.

Danny is survived by his wife Marcia of Adrian, Missouri, one daughter Jessica Smith of Butler, Missouri, one grandson Abel Landon Michael of Butler, Missouri, one brother Dale Douty and his wife Retta of Butler, Missouri, two sisters Diana Bennett and husband Jason of Butler, Missouri, Tina Hansen and husband Mike of Butler, Missouri, many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, as well as many friends.

He is proceeded in death by his parents Jesse and Betty Smith, one brother Robert Douty, one nephew Jesse Paul Douty, and great nephew Keith Cooper.

Local Sports Roundup

By Cameron Hook

Are you keeping up with local high school sports? If so, glad to hear it, if not strap in and get ready. It is time for your weekly dose of sports for Butler and the surrounding area. That is right it is this week’s edition of the Sports Round-Up.

For the inaugural week of the Sports Round-Up, we will be keeping the focus on varsity football. Last week was a clinic in offense, as we witnessed a lot of points scored on Friday evening. To start off, your hometown Butler Bears traveled to El Dorado Springs and left with a 28-0 win over the Bulldogs. With this win the Bears advance to 8-0. Will they finish the regular season undefeated or will Lone Jack pull off the upset on the road this week? Only time will tell, but on the topic of undefeated teams, the Drexel Bobcats continue on their victory march.

Coach Dean and the Bobcats took the bus down to Jasper last week resulting in a cool 59-6 win for the #1 ranked 8-man team in the state. Leading the way was Junior signal caller Jacob Coffey who threw for 3 touchdowns and rushed for 3 more. This Drexel team has fully cemented themselves as the team to beat in Missouri 8-man football, and they are showing no signs of slowing down. This week the Bobcats travel to Concordia to try to continue their dominant season.

​Speaking of hot 8-man teams, the Archie Whirlwinds left a path of destruction as they made their way through Lockwood Friday evening. The Tigers had no answer as the Whirlwinds started the game with 22 points in the first quarter. As the game continued on, the story did not change. Archie finished that one out with a win and final score of 61-26. The Whirlwinds move on to 7-1 on the year, their only loss being to the previously mentioned Bobcats. This Archie squad is ranked 7th in all of Missouri 8-man and it probably goes without saying that they have to be eager to get another shot at Drexel again, because this team is red hot at the moment.

Moving on to another local team, the Adrian Blackhawks came away with a victory against the Cass Midway Vikings. Adrian toppled the Vikings at home last week in a very impressive 41-12 showing. This puts Adrian at 6-2 this season, and in a good spot to compete with Wellington-Napoleon for the number one spot in the district. If Adrian can pull off the win on the road this week against Wellington-Napoleon, it will unseat the Tigers at the top of the food chain and put the Blackhawks in first place which could prove incredibly beneficial for playoff football.

Now let us shift our gaze west, across the border to the Prairie View Buffaloes who fell victim to the Frontenac Raiders. Despite defeat, let it be said the Buffaloes did not go down without a fight. In fact, they were able to put together quite an impressive highlight reel with two interceptions and a few big plays for large chunks of yardage. Both teams are very talented, but ultimately it was the home team that came away with victory in this bout, 26-12. After this Frontenac now sits at 6-1 and Prairie View at 5-2.

Back in the world of Missouri 8-man football, the Liberal Bulldogs hosted the Appleton City Bulldogs on Friday night. This game was the outlier in this week’s selection of games. There was no offensive showcase here, as this game was a defensive slugfest. Which came as a nice surprise as Appleton City and Liberal came into this matchup giving up an average of 49.8 and 41.8 points per game, respectively. Liberal not only gives up less points per game, they also came into this game averaging almost twice as many points scored per game than Appleton City. You know what they say, the numbers do not lie, and that proved true in this one. Liberal held down the fort at home, winning 16-8.

Finally, to finish off the Round Up this week, the Rich Hill Tigers and the Osceola Indians. These two teams took to the field in Rich Hill last week, one left victorious and the other left with a disappointing road loss. This matchup yielded the same results as the last time these two teams squared off. That last time being the 2019 playoffs in which Rich Hill barely squeaked by Osceola 30-28. This time was a little different though as Head Coach Brandon Liggins and the Tigers won this one by a much bigger margin. Instead of a two point game, this ended as a two possession game. The final in Rich Hill, 40-26. The Tigers finish the season off this Friday against Liberal at home.

The last thing on the agenda for this week is the game of the week. The Sports Round Up game of the week is going to have to go to Adrian at Wellington-Napoleon. This one has all the makings of a good game, and is one you do not want to miss.

Congratulations Ballard R-2 School District teacher Mrs. Sarah Russell

The Missouri Nu chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, a local teacher sorority, awarded their annual classroom grant to Mrs. Sarah Russell, Social Studies teacher at the Ballard R-II School District.

Mrs. Russell received a check for $300.00 to purchase much needed supplies for her classroom.

Representing the Missouri Nu chapter of ADK and presenting the award is Dr. Calee McElwain, fellow teacher at the Ballard R-II School District. Congratulations to Mrs. Russell on her award.

Inmate arrested for murder after assault in the Crawford County Jail

KBI agents are investigating the death of a 20-year-old inmate who was assaulted by another inmate while in custody at the Crawford County Jail.

By statute, the KBI investigates all in-custody deaths which occur in Kansas jails and prisons unless the inmate who dies is being regularly attended by a physician, or the death is ruled natural by autopsy. The Crawford County, Kansas Sheriff's Office asked the KBI to investigate on Saturday, Oct. 16, at approximately 2 p.m.

Preliminary information indicates that at around 1:15 p.m. on Oct. 16, corrections officers at the Jail were called to an injured inmate. When they arrived at the jail pod, a common area accessible to several inmates, they located Dante M. Martinez, 20, of Pittsburg. Martinez was suffering from severe injuries. EMS responded and provided medical aid. They transported Martinez to Girard Medical Center.

Following a review of video surveillance from the incident area, it was determined that 25-year-old Gavin P. Wood, of Arma, had attacked Martinez causing his injuries.

Martinez was later transported to Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. On Oct. 16, at 8:54 p.m. he was pronounced deceased from his injuries. An autopsy has been scheduled.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Wood was charged with second-degree murder, and arrested on the new charge.

This investigation is ongoing.

Lord's Acre Dinner October 25th

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