Dangerous high winds today

Windy conditions are expected throughout the day today, peaking this afternoon and evening. Here are some tips on how to manage the strong winds through the day!

Obituary - Virginia G. Hester

Virginia G. Hester, age 90, of Raymore, Missouri passed away at home on Saturday, December 11, 2021.

A memorial service will be held at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Raymore on January 4, 2022. Visitation will be from 4:00 -5:00 p.m with the service from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Virginia was born in southeast Missouri to Ruben William Patterson and Ellen Jane (Kelly )Patterson. She was joined in marriage with Donald Ray Hester and was the mother of four children.

Her family and her church were her primary purpose in life. She taught Sunday school and vacation bible school for many years. She was known for her kindness and her gregarious personality. It was her labor of love to host the holiday meals at her house where many extended family were always invited.

Virginia was a licensed cosmetologist and business owner. Later in life, she became a professional artist. She was a member of the Tri-county Art League. She sold hundreds of paintings to patrons from all over the world.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of over sixty-two years, Donald Hester; her parents, Ruben (Buck) and Ellen Patterson; daughter, Connie Hester; and five siblings.

She is survived by her three loving children: Lin Dickerson (Larry(); Michael Hester (Ruth); Teresa Martin (Melvin). She leaves four grandchildren: Jen Yeager, Russell Dickerson, Heather Tracy, and Holly Martin. She leaves three great grandsons: Wyatt Yeager, Michael Dickerson, and Jett Dickerson. She also leaves her sister Elizabeth Barton and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore Missouri 816-322-5278.

Stolen vehicle overnight in Butler

In the over night hours the Butler Police Department took a report of a 2012 White Ford Fusion that was stolen from the Bear Stop parking lot. 

If anyone has any information on this please contact the Butler Police Department at 660-679-6131. 

This story has been updated:

https://www.midamericalive.com/2021/12/update-have-you-seen-these-people.html

A message from the Bates County Collector's Office:

Don’t forget taxes are due by Dec 31st however we are closed the 31st, so walk in payments until Dec 30th. Hours are 8:30-4:30 closed 12-1 this week. 

Starting next week we stay open during the noon hour. Credit card payments over the phone stop Dec 20th. Walk in payments still accepted but remember either way the card company charges you a fee to use your card. 

We have a drop box on the east side of the building. Make sure if mailing it’s postmarked the 31st. We are closed Dec 24th and Dec 31st.

Obituary - James Brett Dawson

James Brett Dawson, age 65, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday, December 13, 2021, at Advent Health in Shawnee Mission, KS. He was born January 9, 1956, in Kansas City, KS, the son of James “Jim” and Patricia Placke Dawson. Brett enjoyed the Old West. He studied the history, did reenactments with the Border Creek Raiders, and acted in documentaries, movies, and a commercial. He met many interesting people in the industry. 

Brett recently found his passion in life teaching woodshop for Iola High School and CTE Construction for Neosho Community College. He had a soft heart for all animals, especially horses. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, often playing pranks on them. Brett was a man of God willing to help anyone in need.

Survivors include his wife Debra of the home; 7 children, Amy Welch (Scott), Matt Dawson, Shawna Ivy (Milton), Hali Dawson, Brande Molina (Aaron), Victoria Wright, and Shelbi Neel; 15 grandchildren, Kalli, Kooper, Kinley, Karly, Dayton, Broc, Elisha, Alexis, Cameron, Arianna, Josie, JayJay, Jaymi, Kyng, and Kilo; a brother, Jeff Dawson; and a sister, Terri Diaz. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Kalli Welch, a bother-in-law, Chris Wright, and his parents.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Friday Evening, December 17th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 Sunday afternoon January 9th, at the First Baptist Church in Mound City, KS. 

Memorials are suggested to the Brett Dawson Scholarship Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Exciting news from the Clinton High School FFA Chapter

The Clinton High School FFA Chapter is excited to announce that students will soon have the opportunity to learn what it takes to raise and maintain livestock right here at school!

 
The proposed school farm will sit on 5 acres to the south of the high school (see image below). As of now, the plans are to raise, breed, show, and sell livestock. 

The school will start with one horse to breed, and a few steers for students to feed out, show this summer, and sell for profit that will fund next year's steer purchase. 

The school farm has the potential to become a larger scale livestock production operation in the future.

 
"Starting this facility is a dream of mine. My goal is to provide students with the opportunity to learn about raising livestock right here at school. This farm is going to teach kids things that no textbook can. I have many students who do not have the space or ability to have livestock at home, so having a place where they can have these experiences and learn these skills at school is vital to their future in the agriculture industry," says Tanner Robertson, FFA advisor.

Thank you to Hawthorn Bank who recently made a generous donation to this project. If you are interested in helping, donations of farm supplies (gates, feed, hay, stock tanks, etc.) or monetary donations are needed. Please contact Tanner Robertson for more information, trobertson@clintoncardinals.org

#CardinalPride

Ribbon Cutting for new High Street Drive-Thru Clinic in Butler

Pictured, from left: Butler Chamber Board Member Kim Jacobs, Dr. Jim Miller, Family Care Clinics; Nancy Gardner, Family Care Clinics Supervisor; Megan Reno, PA, Family Care Clinics; Greg Weaver, CEO at BCMH and Butler Chamber president, and Barbara Lawrence, Butler Chamber Executive Director.

The Butler Chamber of Commerce’s ribbon cutting ceremony on

December 14th for the High Street Drive-Thru Clinic marked a new chapter in health care for Family Care Clinics of Bates County Memorial Hospital. 

As an infection prevention strategy, it keeps patients with possible COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses away from those in the lobby who are not sick. Though it was built in response to the pandemic, clinic staff and patients quickly took to the convenience the drive-thru offers.

For Family Care Clinic Supervisor Nancy Gardner, the environmentally-controlled space has been a godsend for both employees and patients.

“We are grateful to have the Drive-Thru Clinic. From an employee standpoint, we are able to treat a high number of respiratory patients in a day and are shielded from the elements. From a patient standpoint, we hear things like ‘loving the opportunity to drive through and get a flu shot without getting out of the car,’ and, ‘It's great to be able to see a provider in the Drive-Thru to get care for COVID.’”

Marcia Cook, who retired this year from Bates County Memorial Hospital, recently shared her experience after a Flu Shot Clinic held in the Drive-Thru Clinic in October: “Just did the drive thru flu shot and have to compliment the whole process! Drive thru building is great, super-fast process, probably three minutes, and the staff were wonderful. Thanks to BCMH and FCCs for doing this service for the community.”

The Drive-Thru Clinic at High Street has been operating since July, 2021. Chief Executive Officer Greg Weaver reported, "Government Cares Act monies were available to add the drive-thru on to our existing clinic to facilitate a place for COVID testing, and as COVID is not going away anytime soon, I foresee a lot of use of this valuable resource."

Thank You!

Thanks to the generosity of Osage Valley Electric Cooperative and others, not only will ever child who signed up for the coat drive received a coat for winter but every child who is participating in Shop with a Cop Bates County Sheriff's Office will be receiving a winter coat as well!!!!!!

Over 50 kids in the Bates county area will be nice and warm this winter thanks to the overwhelming generosity and care of this county!!

On behalf of the Butler License office and Farmers Insurance- Heather Diehl Agency thank you to everyone who donated!!! -

Courtesy of the Butler License Office