Mid America Live

Appleton City High School names new principal

Please join me in welcoming our new Appleton City High School Principal for the 2022-2023 school year, Mr. Robert Bolte. I am looking forward to working with him and am excited about the knowledge, expectations, and enthusiasm he brings with him! So that you can get to know him a little better, his responses to some questions I asked are below:

Tell us about yourself: I am Robert Bolte, current middle school principal at Stockton R-1. I was raised in Ava, Missouri. I went to undergraduate college at Missouri State in Springfield and started my education career at Stockton after that. I have two children, Briley age 11, and Tucker age 7. I love being outdoors, watching sports, and a big St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Where did you go to school?
Specialist in Education – Superintendency, 2017
Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Missouri
Masters of Science – Educational Administration, 2009
William Woods University, Fulton, Missouri
Bachelor of Science – Secondary Education - Unified
Science - Biology, 2005
Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri
High School - Ava High School, 2001

How many years have you been in education?

What is your current position? How many years have you served in that position? I have been in education for the last sixteen years. I was in the classroom for seven years as a biology, ecology, and physical science teacher at Stockton High School. I went into administration, where I have been principal for the last nine years at Stockton Middle School.

What prompted you to want to become the principal of AC MS/HS?

I was reaching a point in my education career where I was looking to make a change and move back into the high school system. My experience in middle and high school leads me to have a passion for both age levels, and Appleton City gives me the ability to work with both.

What qualities will you bring to Appleton City Schools?
I have a great passion for students, education, people, the community, and the school district that I work in. I believe you will find my personality, strengths, and experience is what is needed to lead Appleton City High School. My vision for education is dedicated to developing lifelong learners prepared for college, career, and life.

What are your goals for the next school year?
My goals for next year are to come in, get established in the school and community, and then push the school with high expectations. Every day with our students counts, and we will move to improve ourselves each and every day.

What are you most looking forward to?
I am most looking forward to becoming a part of the Bulldog family. Appleton City has excellent community support and Bulldog pride, and I am excited about joining and being a part of that environment and culture.

What are the best aspects of being a principal?
Being a principal is the best job in a school district. This position allows you to connect and gain relationships with the whole school community. Directing and building relationships with the student body and their parents. Lastly, serving the community to construct an educational environment for students. Being a principal has been the most challenging and rewarding career.

Any other info you’d like to include:
I look forward to learning more about the school and community, getting to know everyone, and serving the students, staff, and families at Appleton City.

I am proud to be a BULLDOG!

Wanna work out?

We're excited to share that a new business is coming to Coffman Chiropractic. 49 FUNCTIONAL FITNESS will be a 24hr gym located in the back portion of the building at 209 N. Orange Street in Butler and will be opening soon!

Watch for updates and more information by liking and following 49 Functional Fitness LLC on Facebook!

Precipitation in Comparison to normal

With the recent rainfall there has been some questions about where we stand compared to normal.

Well, ask and you shall receive! Short term (last 90 days) we are near to above normal. Longer term (180 days) we are a still a little (but not too) dry across Schuyler, Adair, Macon and Randolph Counties.

#DroughtBustin
#NoDroughtAboutIt

Way to go!

Congratulations on 5,500 days in Education! teachers Mrs. MaryAnn Rosier, Mrs. Pam Hammett, and Mrs. Stephanie Nelson from Butler Elementary have devoted many days, months, and decades to reach this goal in their career.

In combination, they have taught every elementary grade except 2nd, combined grade level classes, title classes, half day and full day kindergarten, counselor, and Instructional Coach.

The Sun Returns Tomorrow

Skies will clear tonight with the sun returning tomorrow. Unfortunately, gusty north winds and lower relative humidity values will make for a potentially chilly day despite the warmer air temperatures.

Welcome the Long Family to the Butler R-5 School District

The Butler R-V School District is pleased to announce the hiring of Dale and Lindsey Long.

Dale graduated from Oak Park High School in 2000. He then attended William Jewel College where he received a football scholarship. Dale has been in education for 16 years and has coached all 16 years. Dale will be teaching junior high history and will serve as head coach for the Butler Wrestling Team as well as assistant coach for the Butler Football Team.

Lindsey is a graduate of Cass Midway High School and attended William Jewel College where she received her undergraduate degree. Lindsey later received her Master’s in Administration from William Woods. Lindsey has taught for 18 years in grades 4th through 6th. Lindsey will be teaching junior high math next year at Butler High School.

Joining Dale and Lindsey in Butler will be their two sons, Kellen and Hunter. Please help us in welcoming the Long family to Butler!

Obituary - Ed Arndt

Gustav Edward Arndt of Adrian, Missouri passed away March 18, 2022 at St. Joseph Hospital in Kansas City at the age of 85. A Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Saturday, April 30, 2022 at Frontier Village Center in Adrian, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to the Western Missouri Antique Tractor and Machinery Association.

Ed was born August 23, 1936 in Rich Hill, MO to Gustav Warner and Alma Blanche (Stucki) Arndt. He grew up on the family farm east of Adrian. Ed worked hard in the hay field, stacking hay in a hot barn, milking cows (by hand) and pulling cockleburs.

He attended a small country school near his home and graduated from Adrian High School in 1954. He then started working at Mac McClellan's filling station. Working there is when he first saw the love of his life, Darlene Jadlot. Darlene would become his beloved wife on December 22, 1957. To this union three children were born - Lawanda Lea, Lea Ann & Douglas Edward.

Ed had a strong work ethic as seen throughout his life. He started working at Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) April 1955 and retired April 1995 after 40 years of dedicated service. After hours and on weekends, he would hay, tend to the cattle and plant row crop with the help of Darlene & the kids. He always had a big beautiful garden and nurtured his fruit trees.

Sharing his "bounty" with friends and family made him happy. As if that did not keep him busy, he operated the motor grader for two different townships and was the caretaker for a couple of cemeteries.

By 1990, grandkids started arriving. He loved having the grandkids over and attending their activities. Ed looked forward to the WMAT&MA show at the Frontier Village. Using his motor grader skills, he prepared the pulling track for the annual tractor pull.

The highlight of the show was getting to pull his tractors and crawler against his friends and family! However, he had the biggest smile on his face when he used the tractor or crawler to pull the grandkids in the wagon during the parade of power. At the annual Frontier Village "Kids Day", Ed & Darlene would squeeze apples to make apple juice. Many a bushel was squeezed over the years.

The kids would melt his heart when they asked questions and sampled his apple juice. He continued to hay and tend the cattle after his retirement until he was no longer able. By then the apple of his eye arrived, great granddaughter Sadie Lynn Mellenbruch.

He loved having her stop by to "play" and see how much she had grown. Family meant everything to Ed. He was a very loving and dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Ed accepted Christ at a young age and was a member of the Adrian Christian Church for more than 65 years. He was one of the founding members of the Western Missouri Antique Tractor and Machinery Association.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Darlene and a daughter, Lea Ann. Left to mourn his loss is his daughter, Lawanda Engelhardt (Charles) and his son, Doug Arndt all of Adrian. Four grandchildren, Tiffany Mellenbruch (Cole) of Rich Hill, Andy Engelhardt of Fargo, ND & his fiancé Lauren Fink, Gus Arndt (Kristen) of Adrian and James Engelhardt of Springfield, MO and his friend Nina Beckham. One great granddaughter, Sadie Mellenbruch & a step great grandson, Lane Benedick. One brother, Don Arndt (Sue) and a sister, Judy Shubert (Claude) and a host of nieces, nephews & cousins.