From a concerned member of the Osage Valley Electric Cooperative Board

As a Board Member of Osage Valley Electric and a voice for the members, I feel that the following needs to be addressed. 

The Board and Management of Osage Valley realized the need for Rural Broadband in our service area and embarked on a huge project to make that possible. 

This need became extremely apparent when the Pandemic hit, and people were being asked to work from home. Working from home is impossible for many as they have no access to high-speed internet. 

This was not a need just in our area, but all rural areas. With that apparent need, the government earmarked money for Broadband that it distributed to County Governments. 

Bates County received such funds, known as ARPA funds. Broadband was not the only thing the money could be used for but was specifically listed as an area of importance. 

The Manager of Osage Valley visited the County Commissioner’s in our Service Area to request ARPA money for Broadband to help with this huge endeavor. 

While other counties realized the urgent need to get Broadband to their rural members by distributing a portion of their funds to Osage Valley’s Broadband Project, Bates County’s Commissioner’s did not. This has been a huge disappointment to me as a Board Member and to the Management of Osage Valley. 

This does not mean that Bates County will not receive the high-quality high-speed internet service that is coming to our members, what it does mean is that those builds that have not yet started in Bates County will be delayed. 

This was a very hard decision for us to make, but it only seems fair that we move into counties that have supported the project with their ARPA funding made available for Broadband. To say I am disappointed in the Commissioner’s decision is an understatement. 

Please understand, there will be a second round of ARPA money coming this fall. How the Commissioners decide to allocate that is yet to be determined. 

Unfortunately, we cannot wait to see if those funds will be distributed towards Broadband and must at this time move the fiber build to Counties supporting Osage Valley’s Broadband Project. 

If this delay has affected you or if you want to know more about how the ARPA money was distributed by the County Government, I urge to you contact them for those answers. 

If you have questions for me, please feel free to message me and I will be happy to answer them. If I do not have an answer for you, I will get one! - Chelle Black 

Bates County Sheriff's Office would like to announce that it has fulfilled the two School Resource Deputy positions

The Bates County Sheriff’s Office would like to announce that it has fulfilled the two School Resource Deputy positions it post about last week. Two current deputies put in a request to fill the positions.

We would like to introduce those two deputies.

 
The first deputy is Dustin Carver. Deputy Carver started his law enforcement career with the Bates County Sheriff’s Office 6 years ago. Deputy Carver is married to a teacher in the educations system and has a passion for protecting children.

 
The second deputy is Bob Grubb. Deputy Grubb has been with the Bates County Sheriff’s Office for approximately 2 years. Deputy Grubb has been in law enforcement for approximately 33 years and has even been a Chief of Police.

 
The next step for these two Deputies will be to attend a 40 hour school resource officer program. Our goal is that these deputies will be ready to serve our schools in August when school returns to session.

Obituary - Kenneth Johnston

Kenneth Johnston, age 93, of Clinton, Missouri passed away on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at Appleton City Manor in Appleton City, Missouri. A viewing will be held from 6:00-8:00PM Thursday, July 21, 2022 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton, Missouri. 

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 22, 2022 also at the Chapel. Burial to follow in Englewood Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the Shriners Hospital or St. Jude's and can be left in care of the funeral home.

Kenneth Johnston was born on December 10, 1928 in Ligonier, Pennsylvania to Edward and Elenor (Nicely) Johnston.

Ken married Betty Frey on September 11, 1948 and moved to Pennsylvania. He did heavy hauling for four years and then purchased his own truck “Money Maker NO. 1” in 1952. Which he hauled cheese and glass. Clearfield Cheese hired him in 1957 as a salesman. In 1961 he took over the Clearfield Transportation.

He was made Senior Vice President of Operations and President of Transportation for Clinton, Missouri, Logan, Utah and Curwensville, PA and multiple Raw Cheese Plants, and Transportation Manager for the Orange Juice Plant in Dunedin, Florida in 1983. For over 25 years he was a Director for the National Cheese Institute.

Ken joined the Commandry in St. Cloud, Minnesota in 1961, Commander of the Nazarene Commandry. In 1967 joined Saffa Shriners in Altona, PA. In 1986 joined Royal order of Jesters.

Ken started his Masonic journey in 1958 when he joined DeMolay. All his uncles were Masons and very active in their lodges. He took his third degree in 1957 and reopened the Alexander, Minnesota chapter in 1959 was honored as most outstanding Royal Arch Mason in Minnesota.

In 2007 Brother Ken Hawkins presented him with his 50yr pin with the Clinton Masons Lodge No 548. He was elected Junior Warden in 2012, elected Master in 2013, and in 2017 received achievement award from Grand Lodge, and in 2017 received his 60 year pin.

Ken was very active in Rotary and had perfect attendance for many years. He loved performing in the Rotary Ministry every year. After moving to Clinton in 1961 he took flying lessons to become a private pilot, earned his private license, multi engine rating and IFR Rating, he owned five different planes and flew over 100,000 hours. He flew to Alaska six times and the Bahamas twice. He met his goal of flying until he was eighty.

Ken enjoyed hunting and fishing. He flew to Alaska several times and his last flight was 1992. When he flew Betty and Norie to Alaska it was a wonderful experience.

He had a wonderful sense of humor, always had a joke to tell, followed by his distinctive laugh.

Survivors include his daughter Eleanor “Norie” Cox of Clinton, Missouri, fiancé, Sandra Weber of Curwensville, PA, grandchildren Matthew (Stephanie) Cox of Joplin, Missouri, Jennifer (Jon) Sewell, two great grandchildren, Barrett and Hayden.

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

Obituary - Terry Linn Loudermilk

Terry Linn Loudermilk, age 71, of Bronaugh, MO, passed away, unexpectedly on 7/19/2022.

Terry was born February 14, 1951, in Buffalo, MO to Luther Claude and Elizabeth Jewell (James) Loudermilk. 

He graduated from Bronaugh High School in 1969 and on September 6, 1975, he married Patricia Ann Payne and together they had two children and later divorced. 

He had worked in the Bronaugh Coal Mines for eight years and spent the rest of his working years in construction. He enjoyed gardening, was a handy man and was part of the old men’s coffee club at McDonalds.

Terry leaves behind one son, Terrence (Tracy) Loudermilk, Milo, MO; one daughter, Michelle Johnson, Parson, KS; three grandchildren, Chantel Hogan, Hager City, WI, Kimberlee Hogan, and Tanner Hogan, Parsons, KS; great grandchildren, Weston and Stella; one brother, Gary (Ann) Loudermilk, Bronaugh, MO; two sisters, Jewell “Claudine” Barker, Nevada, MO and Donna Marie Lamb, Fort Scott, KS; a niece, Victoria Nicole Barker; two nephews, Dakota Lamb, Springfield, MO and Clayton Lamb, Riverside, MO; one great nephew, Trayton Scotten and one great niece, Morgan Scotten. He was preceded in death by his parents.

The funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 22, 2022, at Ferry Funeral Home with burial to follow at Deerfield, Cemetery.

The family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Red Cross with the funeral home serving as custodian.

A big thank you from the Archie Police Department

The Archie Police Department would like to take a moment this morning to thank Evangel Church (For the donation of the Air Conditioner), Fellowship Church of Archie (Pastor Ben Hill) for his help installing the Unit and our very own Mr. Blundell (Archie Water department) for his efforts in the installing of the unit! Thank you to our Community resource Officer Kennedy!!

Together as a community we can help each other and bring smiles to those who need it. 

This family was in need and still is! If you or someone you know would like to help, please contact Officer Kennedy for a list of items needed at vkennedy107@cityofarchie.org

Missouri Electric Co-op Youth Program Means Education And Fun

MISSOURI ELECTRIC CO-OP YOUTH PROGRAM MEANS EDUCATION AND FUN:

Abigail Harris, Hume High School; Kathryn McElwain, Butler High School and Landon Modlin, Clinton High School were among the 91 high school students from across Missouri who participated in the Missouri Electric Cooperative CYCLE (Cooperative Youth Conference and Leadership Experience) program.

The conference was held July 13-15, 2022 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Jefferson City. They were sponsored by the Osage Valley Electric Cooperative

Each year in July, this action-filled three days provides high school students opportunities to learn first-hand what it is like to be involved in politics, the cooperative form of business and being a leader.

The program included nationally known speakers and time at the Missouri State Capitol learning how a bill goes through the process to become a law. To learn more about electric cooperatives, the group was divided up into teams that competed in various events like the “build a cooperative” game. Another highlight was hearing from the Rachel’s Challenge Organization.

Rachel’s family and friends speak to youth around the world about Rachel’s legacy of being a positive role model to everyone she met in life. Students also toured the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, MO and saw a live powerline demonstration as well as several electric vehicles at the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperative headquarters.

The CYCLE program is in its 19th year and is a recipient of the National Community Youth Service award for the top youth program among all electric cooperatives in the country.

For more information about AMEC youth programs, contact coordinator Chris Massman at cmassman@amec.org or go to www.moyouthtour.com/cycle

Courtesy of Osage Valley Electric Cooperative 

Glow Splash Bash - Butler Chamber of Commerce - August 5th

 

Miami County Kansas Sheriff's Office Wanted Wednesday