Welcome to the family!

Appleton City Rural Health Clinic is excited to announce the addition of Lauren Miller, FNP-BC to our care team. Lauren comes to us from the St. Luke’s Health System, were she worked as both a BSN-RN and as a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. 

Lauren will be available to see patients Tuesday-Friday, during normal clinic hours, and is accepting new patients.

Lauren, a 2012 high school graduate of Butler High School, completed her Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing from Pittsburg State University. She started her nursing career at St. Luke’s Hospital in their Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). With a strong working background in a high level NICU, Lauren has special training and experience in caring for the tiniest of patients and their families.

Moving forward with her career at the University of Central Missouri, to pursue a Master’s Degree in Nursing, Lauren’s advanced practice education and training was in rural communities, such as ours, and she is very well equipped to provider patient-centered care to patients of all ages.

When she is not providing quality health care at the clinic, Lauren is involved in community activities such as the Giving Fore Living Committee, a local organization created in memory of Darin Wainscott, her late father, after he became an organ donor in 2013. 

The mission of the organization is to help local families and individuals in need, while educating and sharing information on the gift of organ donation. She is also looking forward to getting more involved in local youth programs as well as other community projects when the opportunity arises.

Additionally, Lauren enjoys spending time on the golf course with her husband, Brett, and being outdoors with their two dogs. Having both grown up in the Bates County area, Lauren and Brett have a host of local family and friends they get to enjoy down time with as well.

As a local, small town girl, Lauren is a great fit to our clinic team and we are looking forward to growing her practice here at AC Rural Health Clinic for many years to come.

Lauren is available for appointments Tuesday-Friday, 8am-5pm.

Obituary - Hunter Layne Mason

Hunter Layne Mason passed away surrounded by his family on May 31, 2022, at the age of 22 following a brief but courageous battle with brain cancer.

Hunter was born in Nevada, Missouri on October 19, 1999, to parents Marc and Carrie Mason. He grew up developing his love for sports on the backyard basketball court and running football plays in the side yard. More recently he spent time fishing and playing golf with his friends, brothers, and dad.

Hunter was a 2018 graduate of Nevada High School where he was a student athlete, playing both basketball and football. Hunter graduated with honors as Valedictorian of his class and was also the recipient of the 2018 Roger Kennedy Award, the 2018 Senior Male Scholar Athlete, and the Patrick Quest Award.

During his football career at Nevada High, Hunter was recognized for his contribution on both sides of the ball, playing tight end and linebacker. Hunter’s recognition for these efforts included four-year letter winner, Team Captain, and NHS Offensive Player of the Year. 

Over his three years as a starter, he earned numerous post season area accolades including Honorable Mention, 2nd Team and 1st Team selections from All Southwest Missouri Coaches Association, All West Central Conference, Missouri Football Coaches Association All-State, Missouri Academic All-State, All District, and All Southwest Missouri Region.

In the fall of 2018, Hunter became a fighting Leatherneck when he earned a full Division I scholarship to play football and pursue his academic goals at Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL.

Hunter graduated magna cum laude with his undergraduate degree from Western Illinois University in May 2021 and was continuing his collegiate football career while pursuing his graduate degree in Sport Management.

During his time at WIU, Hunter was the recipient of numerous academic and athletic awards including: 2021 WIU RPTA Outstanding Senior Award, All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Honorable Mention, Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic Honorable Mention, Missouri Valley Football Conference President’s Council Academic Excellence Award, and the 2022 Wespy’s Courage Award.

While much of Hunter’s life was spent on the football field playing the game he dearly loved, he always said, “I’m so much more than football” and that he was. Hunter was loved by his family, friends, teachers, professors, coaches, teammates, and community. Hunter loved them all as much as they loved him. Hunter attended the First Baptist Church in Nevada and the Crossing in Macomb, IL

Hunter is survived by his parents, Marc and Carrie Mason, Nevada, MO, his siblings, Taylor Cartwright, Nevada, MO, Tiffany Cartwright, Kansas City, MO, Jessica Mason, Fayetteville, AR, Nathan Mason, Caleb Mason, Nevada, MO, and Marc A. Mason, Sheldon, MO, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

Hunter was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Gary Kafer and Sharon Kafer and Paternal grandparents, Florence McMillin and Herbert Mason.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 6, 2022 at the First Baptist Church in Nevada with Dr. Kevin Daugherty officiating. Interment will follow in Newton Burial Park. Friends may call from now until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday evening at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

Memorials are suggested in his memory to Nevada R-5 Scholarship Foundation for the Hunter L. Mason Scholarship Fund or the National Brain Tumor Society c/o Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington , Nevada, MO 64772.

Public Info Meeting: MO 7 Highway and I-49 Interchange Improvements In Cass County

MoDOT will be hosting a public information meeting about this project on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Harrisonville Community Center. This is an open house style meeting. 

NO formal presentations will be made. Those interested can attend any time between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to ask questions and leave comments about the project.

Can't make it? No problem. You'll have an opportunity to leave comments and/or ask questions via a webform on the webpage between June 14 and June 28.

Project webpage available here: https://www.modot.org/mo-route-7-and-i-49-interchange...

https://www.facebook.com/events/1146160016114987/?ref=newsfeed

Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare Announces June Employee of the Month

Clinton, Mo. – (June 1, 2022) – Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare (GVMH) is pleased to announce that Michelle Jones is the June Employee of the Month.

Jones has been an employee of GVMH since February 1995 and works as a Registered Nurse in the Cardiac Rehabilitation department.

Her nomination stated that she is a wonderful coworker, friend and team player who is extremely patient and leads by example. Coworkers also mentioned that Jones is generous with her time and knowledge. She has a way with people, always having a calming demeanor and making patients feel like a priority.

As the Employee of the Month, Jones received a GVMH gift and her name will be engraved on a plaque to be permanently displayed in the hospital. She is also one of 12 finalists for the 2022-2023 Employee of the Year award.

Obituary - Gerald "Gerry" Louis Brodhacker

Gerald "Gerry" Louis Brodhacker, 65, Peculiar, MO, passed away Sunday, May 29, 2022 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, June 3, 2022 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO with visitation from 12:00-1:00 p.m. Burial to follow in Peculiar Cemetery in Peculiar, MO.

Gerald was born March 27, 1957 in Kansas City, MO, a son of Jack Olen and Bobette (Harris) Brodhacker. He grew up in Kansas City, MO and was a 1975 graduate of East High School. Gerald married the love of his life, Rose Marie Smith on May 30,1985. The love they had for each other and their family was evident to all who knew them. They had lived in Peculiar since 2005. Gerald worked for Southwestern Bell as a lineman for 36 years before retiring on September 9, 2009. He enjoyed working in his yard, and watching the KC Chiefs and the KC Royals. His greatest accomplishment and pride and joy of his life was the family he raised and fiercely loved. He said they made his life and gave him his purpose.

Gerald is survived by two sons: Olan Charles Gregg and Andrew Travis Gregg, both of Belton, MO; two daughters: Shayla Marie Minkler, Belton, MO, and Tessa Michelle Gregg, Gladstone, MO; 14 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; and his 3 dogs, Jack, Annie and Bella.

Countywide Disposal phone outage

Due to the storms, we are down to 1 phone line. Please email us if you can not get through and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Lmclain@countywidedisposal.com

Thanks,
Lee McLain
Countywide Disposal

Obituary - Thomas Allen Gilbert

Thomas Allen Gilbert, 76 of Butler, Missouri passed away May 27th, 2022 at his home in Butler. Cremation, with private family services to be held. Arrangements entrusted to the Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

Allen was born April 13, 1946 in Harrisonville, Missouri to Thomas and Ella Ladd Gilbert.

He grew up in Gridley, California and enlisted in the US Army in 1964. He served for two years. Following his honorable discharge, Allen moved to Missouri where he would meet the love of his life, Patsy Sayre of Harrisonville, Missouri. They would later marry on April 9, 1996. Allen spent many years hauling dynamite, until he retired. After which, he and Patsy would deliver camper trailers from state to state.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings Darrell, Julie, and Lawrence David Gilbert.

He is survived by his wife Patsy Gilbert, son Raymond Gilbert, brothers Paul and wife Kathy, sisters Alice Cummings, and Nora VanAntwerp, sister-in-law Phyllis Gilbert, along with many nieces and nephews. Allen also leaves behind a long list of friends, because he never knew a stranger.

Allen had a strong devotion and love for his family and he will be forever remembered and missed.

Vehicle Fire In Butler

The Butler Police Department along with Butler Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire on South Bishop Street near Dollar Tree shortly after noon today.

No one was injured in this fire.

The vehicle was a total loss and towed from the scene of this incident by Douty's Tow.