New sex offender registered in Rich Hill

James Allen Millard Jr. (DOB 9/17/1973) registered as a sex offender today. He is currently residing at 10971 SW County Road 968 in Rich HIll, MO.

Millard was convicted of Statutory Rape in the 2nd Degree on 2/19/2014 in Bates County, MO. He is classified as a Tier 3 Sex Offender.

Butler Police seeking public assistance

Please help us locate Paul Thebo and his 3 year old son. Butler Police would like to make contact with Mr. Thebo and his son to check their well being.

If you you know the whereabouts of Mr. Thebo or his son please contact the Butler Police at 660-679-6131

Obituary - Lary D. Vass

Lary Dea Vass, 68, of Urich, Missouri passed away Tuesday evening, December 7, 2021 at the St. Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit, Mo. He was born August 10, 1953 in Macon, Mo., the son of Lloyd Wayne Vass and Wanda Mae (Lea) Vass.

He was an industrial arts teacher for 25 years, teaching in Owensville, Mo., Ballard, Mo., and the last 20 years he taught at Sherwood School in Creighton, Mo. He was a faithful and active member of the Heart of Life Church in Garden City, Mo. He participated in numerous mission trips to Taiwan, Africa, and various locations. He very much enjoyed helping with the Wednesday night youth groups. He was a former member of the Clinton Bass Club. Lary enjoyed fishing, tying his own jigs and camping with family and friends. Surviving are two brothers, Gary Vass of the home, and Terry Wayne Vass (Nancy), Bevier, Mo.; four nephews, Adam Shipp (Paula), Columbia, Mo., Jason Vass (Lindsay), Excello, Mo., Laremy Vass, Bevier, Mo., and Jaremy Vass, Bevier, Mo.; one niece, Amy Shipp (Adam Aholt), Lee’s Summit, Mo.; and one brother-in-law, Mickey Shipp, Macon, Mo. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Carol Shipp; and one sister-in-law, Renee Vass. Funeral services will be at 6:00 p.m. Monday, December 13, 2021 at the Heart of Life Church, 96 Old Highway 7, Garden City, Mo. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., just prior to the funeral service. Friends may pay their respects and sign the register book from noon to 8:00 p.m. Sunday at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. Interment will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Macon, Mo. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Heart of Life Youth Group, and these donations may be left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left online at www.bradleyhadley.com.

Four Local Programs Named Recipient of Cooperative Grant

Osage Valley has partnered with our lender, CoBank , through their Sharing Success program, to make donations to nonprofit agencies in our community. Owned by their borrowers and a mission-based lender, CoBank is a cooperative focused on agriculture and rural infrastructure businesses in rural America. The very nature of a cooperative lends itself to working with one's neighbors for the common good. This is the third year of the Sharing Success partnership between CoBank and Osage Valley.

This year the cooperative focused on our community health foundations. The Bates County Community Health Foundation, Cass Regional Medical Center Foundation, Ellet Memorial Hospital Foundation, and Golden Valley Community Foundation were selected to receive a $2500 donation from Osage Valley with CoBank matching the donation for a total of $5,000 to each of the four organizations. We proudly support our local community health foundations as they work to enhance the quality of life and health care in our communities and provide support to hospital employees and their families.

The matching grant program is designed to celebrate the vital role that cooperatives play in individual communities across the country. CoBank states that collaborating with their customers to support worthy causes they care about is a great way for them to make a positive difference and fulfill its mission of service to rural America.

Cooperatives around the world operate according to the same set of core principles and values, adopted by the International Cooperative Alliance. The seven principles provide cooperatives with a set of standards to abide by. The seventh of these principles is “Concern for Community” and Osage Valley is proud to exemplify this principle through the Sharing Success program and give back to our communities. #ConcernForCommunity #cooperative

Obituary - Harold Wesley Houk

Harold W. Houk, 75, of Clinton, Missouri passed away Monday morning, December 6, 2021 at the Golden Valley Memorial Hospital. He was born August 4, 1946 in Clinton, Mo., the son of Wilbert Loren Houk and Grace Esther (Boolin) Houk.

He married Cathy Marie Looney on February 17, 2012 in Clinton, Mo., and she survives of the home. Harold was a door and window installer for 28 years, retiring in 2012, teaching his trade to numerous people. He also helped his brother and brother-in-law with their construction projects. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in the Vietnam War. Harold was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1894, Clinton, where he is a past Post Commander. He also served as District Commander for the VFW. He enjoyed bingo, hunting, fishing and woodworking. In addition to his wife, surviving are his children, John Wesley Houk (Tanja), Clinton, Mo., Daryl Lee Houk (Vickey), Jackson, Mississippi, Dustin Bartlett (Amanda), Springfield, Mo., Cassie Elliott, North Garden, Virginia, and Michael Bragg (Megan), Warrensburg, Mo.; grandchildren, Katie Houk, Wyatt Houk, Brian Richardson, Blake Richardson, Anthony Richardson, Kristen May Houk, Steven Thomas Houk, Stephen Michael Turan, Danielle Ashton Turan, Noah Vasquez, Penelope Hodges, Vivian Elliott, Natalee Elliott, Lily Bartlett, Ava Bartlett and Milo Bragg; 2 great-grandchildren, Savanna Houk and Hasiley Kay Rose Houk; one brother, Darrell Houk (Linda), Tightwad, Mo.; one sister, Cheryl Castilow (Jim), Tightwad, Mo.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Carol Benner; brother-in-law, Robert Wayne Pottorff; one daughter, Jackie Richardson; and one son, Travis Bartlett. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 9, 2021 at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., just prior to the funeral service. Burial will be in the Parks Chapel Cemetery, Tightwad, Mo. Military services will be at the grave under the direction of the Missouri Honors Guard and Veteran of Foreign Wars, Post 1894, Clinton. Condolences may be left online at www.bradleyhadley.com.

Obituary - Michael W. Inboden

Michael W. Inboden, age 69, of Harrisonville, Missouri, passed away on Sunday, December 5, 2021.

No services are planned.

Michael was born in Oakland, California on June 8, 1952 to Charles and Kathryn Inboden. After graduating high school, Michael served his country in the United States Marine Corps. 

He is survived by his wife, Janice Inboden, stepchildren, and nephew.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278

Hey Kids! Send Your Letters to Santa Now

So... you’ve been good all year and now it’s time to cash in (as Santa sees fit of course). Simply compile your wish list along with other sentiments and place it in Santa’s Mailbox as seen here, which is located on the gazebo on the southeast corner of the Butler square.

Ole Saint Nick will personally answer all letters placed in his mailbox no later than December 17th. Be sure to include your return address.

Bates County Real Estate Transfers and Marriage Licenses

Arndt, Gustav Edward to Arndt, Gustav P Str 36-42-31 //Se

Wlt, Llc to Lapour, Steven Str 22-40-31

Martin, Matthew William to Cumpton, Devin W Lt 8 Bl 10 Gilbert Heights+

Hess, Margaret E (Co-Trustee) to Asset Exchange, Llc Str 8-39-33

Sickels, Patryk to Sickels, Sheryl J Lt 1 Bl 10 Thompsons Addn

Baker, Mark A. to Sickels, Patryk Str 9-39-31 //Ne

Dirks, Gerald to Van Voorst Enterprises, Llc Str 2-39-32 //Nw+

Wix, Douglas R to Wix, Douglas R Str 6-39-29 //Nw+

Pannell, Tim to Asset Exchange, Llc Str 35-40-30 //Sw

Moretine, Cory to Cates, Everett E. Str 25-42-31 //Se

Gillespie, Mike L to Hedrick, Stephen R Str 28-40-31 //Nw

Finley, Eric Ray to Mccollum, Tryston S. Lt 8 Bl 2 Mccoy's Addn, Resurvey & Resubdiv+

Sanford, Iris I. Trustee to Brooks, Brad Str 9-41-33 //Sw

Thompson, Tammy S. to Gillespie, Mike L. Str 28-40-31 //Nw

Nordyke, Stephen K. to Bates County, Mo Str 29-40-30 //Nw+

Peters, Trenton Storm to Peters, Kristal Lynn Str 20-40-31 //Sw

Moreland, Justin to Greenwood, Colter Lt 9 Bl 112 Town Company's First Addn+

Marriage License:

Van Voorst, Aziah Abrahm and Foster, Ashlyn Marie

Monard, Jonathan Chadd and Mincks, Misty Dawn

Woodworth, Kyle Fredrick and Bise, Nicole Suzann

Schulenberg, Scott Douglas and Lee, Autumn R