Butler teacher arrested for 3 counts of sexual contact with a student

On 3/30/2022, the Bates County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a teacher who potentially had an inappropriate relationship with a past student.

On 3/31/2022, the Bates County Sheriff’s Office along with Butler Police Department made contact with the teacher at the school. The teacher was taken into custody and transported to the Bates County Sheriff’s Office.

Preliminary charges were sent to a special prosecutor and the following charges have been filed on


Charles Odell Reece (9/16/1983).
3 counts of sexual contact with a student.

The Butler School is cooperating with the Sheriff’s Office in this investigation. The investigation is an ongoing investigation with the anticipation of additional charges connected to this victim. Detectives are asking potential other victims to contact their office at 660-679-3232.

Bond was set at $50,000.00 cash only by Judge Highley, With bond conditions of no contact with the victim or other potential witnesses.

No other information will be provide as this is an ongoing investigation.

Obituary - Christina Sue Thurman

Christina Sue Thurman, age 50, of Clinton, Missouri passed away on Monday, March 28, 2022 at Boone Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, April 1, 2022 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton with a visitation from 2:00-3:00 PM prior to the service. Inurnment will be in Parks Chapel Cemetery, Clinton, Missouri. Memorial contributions can be made to the Christina Thurman Memorial Fund and can be left in care of the funeral home.

Christina Sue Thurman was born on November 1, 1971 in Clinton, Missouri to Earl and Dolores Thurman.

Christina was loving and compassionate. She loved the sound of birds chirping in the morning as well as spending time with loved ones and laughing. You could very seldom sneak up on her but when you did it was sure to be funny. She had the best and brightest smile and laugh! She will be truly missed by so many, but one day we will all be reunited together, again. Until then, Fly High Mother and I’ll see you on the other side.

Survivors include her son, Sam Parks of Clinton, Missouri, her grand puppy, "Batman", three brothers, Eric Thurman of Clinton, Missouri, Danny Thurman of Leeton, Missouri, Joe Thurman of Clinton, Missouri, her companion, David Beason of Ionia, Missouri, three nieces, Carley Thurman of Warrensburg, Missouri, Alexis Thurman of Warrensburg, Missouri, Emily Thurman of Leeton, Missouri, her nephew Cole Thurman of Warrensburg, Missouri and many more step nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and many friends.

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

From the Butler R-5 School District

The Butler R-V School District is aware of this matter, and takes concerns regarding personnel conduct and student safety seriously.

This staff member is currently on leave and the District is cooperating with law enforcement regarding their investigation. We cannot comment further on matters involving individual personnel and students, as those are confidential as required by law.

However, any time the District becomes aware of an allegation impacting student safety, we promptly investigate the matter and address it in accordance with Board Policy and the law.

The safety and well-being of our students is of utmost importance, and we are committed to providing a safe and successful learning environment in the District.

- Courtesy of Darin Carter

This Story Has Been Updated:
https://www.midamericalive.com/2022/03/butler-teacher-arrested-for-3-counts-of.html

Obituary - Dale Eugene Henson

Dale Eugene Henson, age 81 of Nevada, Missouri, died Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at Medicalodges in Nevada, MO.

Dale was born February 13, 1941 in Cliquot, MO to Oren “Stanley” Henson and Cordia “Cordie” Virginia (Hensley) Henson. He graduated with Nevada High School class of 1959.

He married Kathryn “June” LaDue on September 23, 1961 and they were blessed with three children: James Dale, Suzan Dalette, and John Steven.

After graduating, Dale moved to Kansas City, MO and worked for several months at Hallmark Card. He then took his ‘favorite’ job with (Roy) Phillips Standard Service in Kansas City, MO which later moved to Overland Park, KS. He held this job until returning to Nevada, MO 1969. He then began working for TheVolkswagen Co. in Nevada, MO before purchasing service station; Dale’s Standard. After operating it for a few years he sold the station and went to work at 3M, retiring in 2000.

Soon after retiring he then spent several years working for, helping out, and really enjoying the Mennonite folks in the Rich Hill, MO area.

After June retired December 2006 they became ‘Arizona Snowbirds’ and spent 5 months each winter in Las Colinas RV Park in Casa Grande, AZ area. For several years they also had several booths in flea markets selling Blackberry Farms jams and jellies, pickles and apple butter and everything else the Mennonites made.

Dale is survived by his wife, June, and their three children; James Dale Henson, of the home; Suzan (Greg) York, Alamo, TX; and John Steven (Maryann Koehn) Henson; Three grandchildren: Kyrsti Breckenridge (Justin Wright), Kyler Henson & Kayte Henson; Three Great-Grandchildren: Korben & Killian Breckenridge and Madelynn Rose Wright; all of Nevada. Dale is also survived by four sisters, Mary Virginia (Darrell) O’Hair, Margie (Kenny) Phillips, Fort Scott, KS); Barbara (Monty) Gordon, Moundville, MO and Debbie (Terry) Carlson, Milo, MO. One sister-in-law, Helen (LaDue) Armstrong of Nevada, one brother-in-law, Samuel LaDue (Sheron) of Parker, CO. Dale has more than 25 nieces and nephews, and LOADS of good friends all over the country.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley & Cordie Henson, and five brothers-in-laws: Jerry LaDue, Dan LaDue, Harry LaDue, Thom LaDue & Keith Armstrong.

The family will receive friends on Monday, April 4th from 5:00-6:00pm. Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, April 5th at 1:30 p.m. with Pastors Greg York and Adam Gordon officiating. Both will be held at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada, MO.

Burial will follow in Salem Cemetery in Cliquot, MO.

Obituary - Dorothy F. Kenney

Dorothy F. Kenney, 88, of Marshall, Missouri, formerly of Clinton, Mo., passed away Wednesday evening, March 23, 2022 at the Legendary Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Marshall. She was born October 31, 1933 in Coal, Mo., the daughter of Edward “Fritz” Kimzey and Jewell Adah (Clark) Kimzey.

She married Robert Gene “Bob” Kenney on December 26, 1951, eloping to Harrison, Arkansas while he was home on leave from the Army. He preceded her in death on June 9, 2018. Dorothy worked several years as a clerk for the Ben Franklin Dime Store. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Clinton. She and Bob were regulars at the Blue Ribbon Bakery coffee club. Bob and Dorothy rarely, if ever, missed a ballgame or track meet of their children and grandchildren’s events. They were there even if their children and grandchildren weren’t involved. Surviving are one daughter, Debra J. Johnson (Keith), Marshall, Mo.; six grandchildren, Kaleena Ross (Darin), Marshall, Mo., Molly Johnson (William), Kansas City, Mo., Evan Johnson (Crystal), Republic, Mo., Shawna Giannerini (A.J.), Grain Valley, Mo., Amber Bellinghausen (Andrew), Belton, Mo., and Kendra Lagoski (Jordan), Olathe, Kansas; six great-grandchildren, Konner Ross, Kora Ross, Benjamin Johnson, Abigail Johnson, Mason Parlette, Declan Bellinghausen, and one great-grandson due in July; two sisters, Betty Jo Lawler Wallo, Clinton, Mo., and Connie L. Green, Joplin, Mo.; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, Dorothy was preceded in death by her son, Steven Kenney on June 29, 2002, and her brother, James E. Kimzey on June 9, 2016. Graveside services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 2, 2022 at the Englewood Cemetery. Friends may call from noon to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Henry County Memory Fund, and these donations may be left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left online at www.bradleyhadley.com.

From the desk of Butler Fire Chief Jason Bennett

Tornado warning 03/29/2022:

Regarding the recent storm warning on 03/29/2022: at 11:39 pm I was notified that the county of Bates was under a thunderstorm warning from 11:39 Tuesday to 12:15 am Wednesday morning.

At 11:44 pm Tuesday I was informed that the warning went from a thunderstorm warning to a tornado warning from 11:44 to 12:00 am. I then went out to monitor the storm myself and looking at our radar it showed the storm cell was around the Passaic area.

I went to the TT overpass to watch the storm for myself and in doing so I did not see any immediate threat to the citizens of Butler. I was in direct contact with the Pleasant Hill weather radar, and they could not confirm a tornado in our area just some radar indicated rotation.

The city of Adrian also was out watching and decided to not set their sirens off either. As per our operating procedures, It takes a radar indicated rotation and a confirmed sighting of a cloud lowering to sound the sirens in the city of Butler in order to not start a city-wide panic .

If visibility is limited to the point that cloud lowering is unable to be determined, yet there is radar indicated rotation sirens will be sounded. If ever in doubt we will err on the side of caution and sound the sirens.

Chief/EMD Jason Bennett

Obituary - Jackson Brock

Alva Jackson (Jack) Brock, passed away on Sunday, March 27, 2022 after a long illness. He was born January 28, 1940 at home in Deerfield, MO to Clarence G. Brock and Gladys Ripley Brock. He had two older sisters, Betty Beasley, and Anna Frances Jeans.

Jack was a lifelong resident of Vernon County where he spent his final days watching his beloved cows and sitting with his little dog, Bebe.

Jack graduated high school from Nevada and completed his Master’s Degree at Pittsburg State University in 1966. After teaching for a short time, he joined the Missouri Department of Vocational Rehabilitation where he spent his career, retiring in 1996. Later, he helped found On My Own, Inc. where he served as executive Director until he retired again in 2006. In 1960, he married Sarah Drury and they celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary.

Jack was a hardworking, cheerful, and kind man with an infectious grin and a mischievous sense of humor. He loved his family, his cattle, and his many dogs. He was an avid quail hunter in his younger days.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah and three children: his daughter, Jackie Leapheart, and two sons, Jeffrey Brock, and John Brock. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Jacob Shouse, Tyler, Shouse, Lawrence Shouse, Caitlin Crock, Annelies Brock, Cole Brock, and Evan Brock; and nine great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at a visitation to be held on Monday, April 4, 2022 from 7-8:00 p.m. at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

Memorials are suggested in his name to the Parkinson’s Foundation c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

Regarding the decision not to activate storm sirens last night...

Mid America Live spoke with Adrian Fire Chief Gary Dizney regarding the decision not to activate storm sirens in Adrian last night and found the reason to be that the possible tornado was in fact 7 miles outside of town, moving away from the area.

The timeline:
11:37 P.M. Adrian Fire and Emergency Management Departments were dispatched and made aware of a severe thunderstorm warning
11:42 P.M. Bates County Dispatch advised of an updated duration time for the severe thunderstorm warning
11:44 P.M. Adrian Fire and Emergency Management Departments were dispatched for a tornado warning for the northwestern part of Bates County. The storm was reported by the National Weather Service and the storm cell that prompted the tornado warning was reported to be located seven miles south of Adrian and was moving east at 45 MPH. The possibility of rotation in this cell was radar indicated and prompted the warning.

A recap from Chief Dizney:
The Adrian Fire and Emergency Management Departments along with multiple other agencies, including the Bates County Sheriff’s Department, Butler Fire Department, trained firefighter storm spotters who were in the field monitoring the storm, and multiple firefighters who were in station keeping a watchful eye on radar- all of which were taking measures to ensure public safety as this was a fast moving, fast developing storm. There were just two minutes between the warning of a severe thunderstorm which was upgraded to a tornado warning, so we acted upon the information we were given and took the appropriate actions based on the information we had.
The tornado warning sirens were not activated for the City of Adrian because the radar indicated storm cell that prompted the tornado warning was reported to be seven miles south of Adrian and moving “east” at 45 MPH. The warning indicated possible rotation aloft but there were no reports of any actual tornado sightings.


Editor's note: As Spring storm season is upon us, the public can rest assured that our local fire departments and first responders make themselves readily available and keep 'an eye to the sky' as they are trained in keeping public safety at the forefront in every case.