Obituary - Paige Renee Grunig

Paige Renee Grunig, age 24, of Springfield, Missouri passed away on Friday, November 26, 2021 at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin, Missouri. A celebration of life service for Paige will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton. 

Memorial contributions can be made to the Paige Grunig Memorial Fund or to the Northeast Baptist Church of Clinton and can be left in care of the funeral home. Fond memories and condolences can be left at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

Please come and celebrate the life of Paige. We know there will be tears but let's celebrate her by sharing stories & memories of Paige, ways she touched our lives and hearts. Paige would want more laughter than tears as we remember her time here with us.

Survivors include her parents Angel and Ronald Turner of the home, 2 sisters Anissa Dodge and Leslie Clark 6 brothers; Issac Grunig, Neil Grunig, Quin Grunig, And Simeon Grunig, two step brothers Anthony and Kent Turner Home to Clinton, Missouri, grandparents Linda and Thomas Davies of Des Moines, Iowa, Joan Davies (deceased), Darold Turner live in Camdenton, Missouri and Kathy and Ronald Nepple Gerald (deceased) and Hellen fisher of Boone Iowa many uncles and aunts; Thomas and Rochelle Davies Ronda and Irl Robinson Jr and Amy Scranton, Bernard, Teresa Kaiser, Richard Turner along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and great friends.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.

Butler Junior High Wrestling News 11/29

The Butler Junior High Wrestling Team had their first home meet tonight. Another great night.

Results:
Preston Mallatt: 3-0.
Bryce Bedwell: 2-1.
Daryl Jarreau: 2-1.
Damian Alkire: 3-0.
Cohen Wilson: 3-0.

Next up we have another home meet on Wednesday with the junior high, varsity boys and girls.

Come out and watch the entire team take on Holden and Oak Grove!

Current records going into December:
Preston Mallatt: 15-2.
Bryce Bedwell: 10-3.
Daryl Jarreau: 13-5.
Damian Alkire: 15-0.
Cohen Wilson: 13-0.

Obituary - Kathi Jo Cain

Kathi Jo Cain, 49, Milo, MO passed away on Sunday, November 28, 2021 in Leawood, KS at the Healthcare Resort of Leawood following a lengthy illness. Kathy was born on March 8, 1972 in Lamar to Joe and Kathy (Wilson) Rayburn. 

On October 9, 1993 she was married to Jerry A. Cain and he survives of the home. Kathy was raised in Bronaugh and graduated from Bronaugh High School in 1990. 

Kathy worked for KNEM/KNMO Radio for a number of years and also for Mainstreet Nevada for several years. Kathi enjoyed helping her children with raising and showing goats in 4-H and was very active with her children in West Point 4-H.

In addition to her husband Jerry, Kathi is survived by three children, Kieran Cain (Autumn) of Springfield, MO, Keilah Cain, Arma, KS, and Kimrey Rayburn of the home, her mother, Kathy Rayburn, Horton; two sisters; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Joe Rayburn, and a daughter, Chanci Jo Cain.

The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

Memorials are suggested to Worsley Cemetery Association c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

Obituary - Tarah McIntyre

Tarah McIntyre, age 27, passed away on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at her home in Warsaw, Missouri. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton, Missouri. Visitation will be from 1:00-2:00 PM prior to the service.

Burial will follow in Englewood Cemetery in Clinton, Missouri. Memorial contributions can be made to the Hope House for Domestic Violence and can be left in care of the funeral home. Fond memories and condolences can be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.

MoDOT News Release: Warmer temps are ideal for litter pickup

The weather outside’s delightful; let’s make the roads less frightful

Warmer temps are ideal for litter pickup

JEFFERSON CITY—As the unseasonably warm temperatures continue, Missouri Department of Transportation is looking for help removing litter from the state’s roadways.

“We’ve completed the last of our mowing for 2021 and this has the unfortunate effect of making litter more visible along Missouri roads,” said Natalie Roark, state highway maintenance director. “While the weather continues to cooperate, we’re hoping to encourage people to help out by cleaning their section of adopted roadway—before the winter snows set in.”

Since 1987, Missouri's Adopt-A-Highway program has involved volunteers across the state working together to clean up Missouri. Currently, more than 5,300 groups and 50,000 volunteers in the program are focused on making Missouri’s roadsides cleaner and more attractive for our residents and visitors. More than 6,400 miles of roadway have been adopted.

Last year, MoDOT spent $6.4 million to remove litter from more than 385,000 acres of roadsides along 34,000 state highway miles. Adopters perform about $1 million a year in litter cleanup and beautification efforts. In addition to volunteers and staff, MoDOT employs incarcerated crews throughout the state. Every area kept free of litter by these crews and adopters allows MoDOT to devote resources to other much-needed tasks.

The best way to prevent litter on Missouri roads is to not create it in the first place.

“It all starts with you,” Roark said. “Remember, if you don’t throw it out, we don’t have to pick it up. Every effort by the public to eliminate or clean up litter helps offset our trash removal costs and allows the department to put more money back into maintaining Missouri's roads and bridges.”

Here are some ways you can help:

Don’t litter. Keep a bag for trash in your car or truck and wait to dispose of it properly

Secure the load. Make sure nothing blows out or off of your vehicle into the roadway. In addition to creating litter, unsecured loads can be a safety hazard to the vehicles behind you.

For more information about how to join the Missouri Adopt-A-Highway program, go to MoDOT.org/adopt-highway.

Obituary - Forrest DeVaughn Houk

Forrest D. Houk, age 87, peacefully passed away at his home in Clinton, Missouri, surrounded by his wife and family on Thursday, November 25, 2021. 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Vansant-Mills Chapel with visitation from 1:00-2:00 PM prior to the service. 

Inurnment to follow in Parks Chapel Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and can be left in care of the funeral home. Fond memories and condolences can be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

Forrest DeVaughn Houk was born on July 31, 1934 to Railey Edgar and Mary Ellen (Moulder) Houk in Clinton, Missouri. He was the fourth oldest of one brother and five sisters. The siblings who preceded him in death are as follows: Dorothy (Eugene) Loyd, Beatrice Pedro, Berniece Ellis, Leona (Bob) Hill, Vivian Ivaughn Houk, and Virgil (Buddy) Houk. He was also preceded in death by his Son-in-Law, David Allen Turner.

Forrest enlisted in the Navy in 1952 and served in the Korean war.

Forrest went to work for the Clinton Street Department, after his honorable discharge from the Navy, where he worked for forty-three years. The last twelve of those years, Forrest was the Supervisor of the Clinton Street Department, retiring in 1999. During his forty-three years of service to the City of Clinton, Forrest received many deserved awards.

Forrest had a dry sense of humor and enjoyed visiting with his family and friends. He liked to raise a big garden and do any outdoor work.

He leaves his devoted wife of 66 years, Wanda Lea (Green) Houk. Two children, Johnny DeVaughn (Barbara) Houk, and Vivian Irene (David) Turner. He leaves his eleven grandchildren, John Matthew Houk, Crystal Dawn Houk, Nichole Shawn (James) Brewer, John Seth Shumate, Ryan Scott (Cheryl) Houk, James David “JD” Turner, John Christopher Turner, Lacy Belinda (Sam) Wiseman, Jason Turner, Jenna (Eric) Robinson, and Chelsea Lauren (Alex) Longoni. Eleven great grandchildren, Hannah and Nicholas Brewer, Kaden, Cooper, and Kellyn Robinson, Matthew Ryan Houk, Ella and Mary Alice Wiseman, Reese Shumate, Chloe and Cyrus Houk. He also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton Missouri.

Henry County Health Center confirms 21 new positive cases of COVID-19

The Henry County Health Center (HCHC) has received confirmation there are 21 new positive cases of COVID-19.

--Clinton-9
--Windsor-3
--Deepwater-2
--Montrose-0
--Urich-2
--Blairstown-3
--Calhoun-1
--Creighton-1
--Chilhowee (Henry County)-0
--Leeton-0

This brings the total number of confirmed positive cases in Henry County to 3,235.

All contact tracing has commenced and all parties that have had close contact are being notified. HCHC continues to encourage residents to practice social distancing, washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or more, and to remain home if you are sick.

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 - William “Bill” Alan Sidwell

William “Bill” Alan Sidwell, 73, of Freeman, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, November 27, 2021 at his home in Freeman with his family by his side. 

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 1:30 pm at Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, with the family receiving friends from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm. 

Interment will follow in Freeman Cemetery in Freeman, MO. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Kansas City VA or a charity of your choice.

A complete obituary will be posted when it is available.