Way to go kids!

In November, author Stephen Kozan visited Clinton Middle School to present on the enjoyment of reading and writing. 

During his presentation, Mr. Kozan conducted a flash fiction writing in which all 6th and 7th grade students were given 15 minutes to write a short synopsis of a fictional short story. Once completed, students submitted their writings to Mr. Kozan.

 
The following four students were chosen as finalists: Daniel Peek, Alexis Fowler, Savannah Lee, and Maegan Scott. Merci Bedwell was selected as a flash fiction illustrator during the visit. 

All of these students were recognized at the December Board of Education Meeting. Mr. Kozan will be making the announcement very soon about which student will be selected to write and publish a book!

Front Row (left-right): Alexis Fowler and Daniel Peek
Back Row (left-right): Merci Bedwell, Maegan Scott, and Savannah Lee

Kudos to the Harrisonville Electric Department

WORKING FOR YOU: We want to give a shout out to the City of Harrisonville Electric Department for their efforts late Sunday night and into Monday morning.

 
At about 10:30 p.m. Sunday, a vehicle hit a power pole on Locust St, near the railroad tracks. The pole was snapped in half, as the power lines rested on the roof of a nearby building.

 
Crews were able to replace the pole and limited the loss of power to less than 30 minutes. Full repairs were finished at about 4:15 a.m.

We applaud their hard work and commitment to the Harrisonville community on this very long and very cold night!

Obituary - Ruby Kay Schnedler

Ruby Kay Schnedler, 79, Nevada, MO passed away on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at Nathan Richards Health Care Center in Nevada following a brief illness. Kay was born August 21, 1942 in Nevada to William Leo and Ruby L. (Hill) Scott. She married Robert L. Schnedler, Sr. in 1989 and he preceded her in death in 1989.

Kay attended school in Nevada and graduated from Nevada High School Class of 1960. She worked for Village Market Bakery for over 30 years retiring as Assistant Manager. Kay was a member of the Pine Street Baptist Church. She loved reading books, working word puzzles, and gardening.

Survivors include two sons, Robert Schnedler, II, Nevada, and William Schnedler, Rolla, MO; three daughters, Beth Quackenbush (Kevin), Nevada, Christine Bailey, Nevada, and Raynetta Galloway (Steve), Denham Springs, LA; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Helen Newton (George), Nevada; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband Robert, Sr., she was preceded in death by her parents; four sons, Roger, Richard, Rodney, and Clifford Schnedler; and one sister, Fay Tracy.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Pastor Chad Bailey officiating. Interment will follow in Newton Burial Park, Nevada. The family will receive friends from 6-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Pine Street Baptist Church c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

Obituary - Joyce Ann Drummond

Joyce Ann Drummond, 79, Nevada, MO passed away Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at Moore-Few Care Center, Nevada. Joyce was born August 28, 1942 in Ketterman, MO to Byron Clinton and Viola Ann (Balk) Key. Joyce was united in marriage to

Frank Drummond on November 30, 1962. Frank preceded her in death on September 14, 2020.

Joyce was raised in the Walker area and was 1960 graduate of Walker High School. She worked 15 years at the Nevada State Hospital, then worked for

Pathways until her retirement.

Joyce is survived by her son, Lanny Drummond, Lakin, KS; granddaughters,

Paige Bordewick (Luke), Carl Junction, MO and Allison Drummond (Kyzer Thiessen), Joplin, MO; great-grandson, Ace Bordewick; 3 sisters, Shirley Winters, Rogue River, OR; Lena Claypool (Roy Gene), Richards, MO, and Kathy Hammergrin (Kermit), Johnston, PA; 3 brothers, Sam Key (Linda), Independence, MO, Jim Key, Nevada, MO, and Jerald Key (Jeannie), Kansas City, MO; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Frank, Joyce was preceded in death by a brother, Byron Key, and a sister, Martha Moore.

No services are planned. There will be a private burial in Balltown Cemetery.

Pleasant Hill Homicide Suspect Charged

Cass Co – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a woman in rural Pleasant Hill as a homicide. Deputies responded to the 18000 block of South Purvis Road on Sunday where they located the victim. The suspect in the case is in custody at the Cass County Jail.

On Sunday, around 3:00 pm a concerned family member notified law enforcement that they had not seen their daughter since Friday. Deputies secured a search warrant for a house in the 18000 block of South Purvis Road near Pleasant Hill where they discovered the body of Sara B. Maloney, 39, Pleasant Hill, inside the residence.

Around 11:45 pm, members of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Apprehension Unit located the person of interest in a house in the 1000 block of Mullen Road in Raymore. Deputies were involved in a short standoff at the residence when the subject refused to come out of the house. A Cass County K9 Team located the suspect inside the residence and he was taken into custody.

This afternoon the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office charged Levi G. Mitchell, 31, Pleasant Hill with Murder Second Degree and Armed Criminal Action. The judge in the case has ordered Levi Mitchell held with no bond.

Job Opening with Community First Bank

 Job Opportunity:

Community First Bank is accepting applications for a Full-Time Teller position at our Appleton City branch.

We are seeking an individual who possess excellent customer service and communication skills, as well as strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Must be able to work Saturday rotation (8am-12pm). Excellent benefits package offered.

Interested applicants may apply online or pick up an application at the Appleton City location at 214 West Fourth Street, Appleton City, MO 64724 and/or contact Heather Hartegan at 660-476-2124.

Obituary - Dennis Jerome Higgins

FOR YOU DENNIS HIGGINS

This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice in it! We are gathered here today, to celebrate the life of Dennis Higgins, Bunny’s husband, Our Father, Our Brother, Our Grandfather, Our Friend. I don’t know how many of you know Dennis and Bunny’s story, but it is one of Great Triumph and Great Love. Dennis and Bunny met each other in a drug treatment center about 36 years ago. 

They became great friends and then fell in love helping each other battle their addictions. They eventually married and Dennis worked while Bunny went back to school and earned her Master’s Degree. Together they weathered the trials, along with the many joys of having and raising a blended family, and they did this by putting God first in their lives and trying their best to live according to his will. Dennis and Bunny have created businesses together. First their moving company “Mountain Movers” and now “Menagerie Auction Company”, often working side by side. They both also worked at and for Heartstrings Community Foundation, where Bunny remains employed to this day. As Matthew, Dennis’ son, said, “Dennis and Bunny’s marriage was a connection that many people only dream about, it was forged by fire and blessed by God.” Dennis Higgins. 

 “Never knew a stranger.” He treated everyone with kindness and respect. He did love to tell a few “Tall Tales”, and when you finally realized it was a Tall Tale and that he had really had you going, you would see that twinkle in his eye and that big smile break out on his face, and you would hear that unforgettable laugh. Dennis loved to hunt and fish, and probably most of all he loved to go Fly fishing down Roaring River and in Branson with his wife Bunny, the kids and the Grandkids. After one of their trips down there you would see the fish posting competition on Facebook “Who caught the bigger fish, Dennis or Bunny?” 

Dennis loved spending time and teaching the grandchildren things. How to fish, How to shoot, How to play, and He also taught them about God, about what is right and what is wrong. Dennis was always there for his family. Whether it was his kids, his grandkids, his other family, his friends, and even strangers. Dennis was a “Jack of all Trades” and he was always ready and willing to give of his time and his talents, to anybody that needed him. He was also always ready to impart a bit of his knowledge; whether you really wanted to hear it or not! Dennis Higgins was not a pretentious man but a simple man. It didn’t take a lot to make him happy. 

Daily Devotions with his wife and some Fly Fishing, attending sporting events of his Children and now Grandchildren. He took pride in his wife’s, his Children’s, and his Grandchildren’s accomplishments. His Family, friends and fly-fishing was his “Joy”. He was an honest, and hardworking man. He was a man of his word. If he told you he was going to do something or be somewhere – he would – and you could count on it. Dennis was a Man of faith. He lived his life the way he believed God would want a husband, a brother, a father, a grandpa, and a friend to live. His love and commitment to others was an example to all of us, and he touched our lives in ways that will never be forgotten. “Greater love has no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends.” 

Dennis, Thank you for all the times you laid down your life, putting your wants and needs aside – so that you could help us and be there for ours. You couldn’t have loved us more than you did, and we couldn’t love you more than we all do.

Thank You

And be ready to Fly Fish, Hunt or Just Sit and Tell Stories when we get there.

Written by Natalie (Williams) Towns

A gathering to celebrate Dennis's life will be held 3 pm Saturday, January 22, 2022 at the Church of the Harvest, 14841 S. Blackbob Rd, Olathe, KS 66062. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm Friday, January 21 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne Chapel. 

Contributions are suggested to Heartstrings Community Foundation, www.heartstringscf.org. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

Henry County Health Center confirms 84 new positive cases of COVID-19

The Henry County Health Center (HCHC) has received confirmation there are 84 new positive cases of COVID-19.

--Clinton-65
--Windsor-13
--Deepwater-1
--Montrose-0
--Urich-4
--Blairstown-0
--Calhoun-1
--Creighton-0
--Chilhowee (Henry County)-0
--Leeton-0

This brings the total number of confirmed positive cases in Henry County to 3,959.

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.