Strong Storms possible this afternoon/evening

Heads up! Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and evening as a cold front slowly moves through the region. 

A few of these storms could be strong to marginally severe, with damaging wind gusts and large hail possible.

And they call the thing rodeo!!!

Missouri High School Rodeo:

Multiple Bates County youth represented their respective schools at the opening rodeo for the Missouri High School Rodeo Association. 

The MHSR is the state affiliate of the National High School Association and was formed in 1956. MHSR rodeos have contestants in both High School (9th-12th grade) and Junior High (5th-8th grade). Students can join and compete regardless of attending public, private or home school. They must maintain minimum grades for eligibility and are required to submit grade cards each spring and fall seasons. 

High School contestants compete in barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, goat tying, bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc, team roping, tiedown calf roping and steer wrestling. Junior High contestants compete in breakaway roping, ribbon roping, goat tying, barrel racing, pole bending, team roping, tiedown calf roping, chute dogging and bull riding. Both divisions feature shooting sports: High school includes trap and .22 light rifle and junior high includes .22 light rifle. This year, MSHR has added cutting to its high school division events 

The season opening rodeo was held in Milan Missouri on August 27 and 28th with five Bates County students present. Each contestant is responsible for the $400 a year for association/sponsorship fees then $193 for National and State membership along with entry fees to each rodeo and divisions they sign up to compete in. Along with the fees each contestant/family is responsible for the cost of travel, lodging, rodeo gear and purchasing required dress code. 

MHSR holds a total of 20 Rodeos throughout Missouri. Contestants earn and accumulate points for yearend state awards and the top four contestants in each event qualify for the National High School or Junior High Finals Rodeo, where Missouri teams will compete against contestants from 40 states and the countries of Australia, Canada, Mexico and New Zealand. 

Contestants compete for titles, scholarships, prizes and added money. Competing in Milan for Bates County in the High School Divisions were 16 year old Austyn Spurgeon from Adrian representing the Adrian School in the Saddle Bronc Division. 17 year old McCray Rogers from Hume, representing the Hume School in the Bull Riding Division. 16 year old Cameron Anderson from Butler, representing the Butler School in the Bronc Riding Division. 

Competing in the Junior High Divisions were 13 year old Addison Johnston competing in the Breakaway, Goat tying, Pole Bending and Barrel racing. 11 year old Cash Johnston competing in the Chute Dogging and .22 shooting. Both Johnston’s live in Merwin and represented the Miami School. To be able to attend as many of the High School rodeos this year these youth are looking for sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring any of these youth you can do so by contacting the following. 

Anthony Spurgeon at 816-237-6618 

McCray Rogers at 660-464-4266 

Chad Anderson at 660-200-6695 

Pam Johnston 913-731-8586 

(Story and pictures submitted by Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson)

Austyn Spurgeon

Cash Johnston

Addison Johnston 

Addison Johnston 

McCray Rogers

Cameron Anderson 

Obituary - Mary Lou Carter

The funeral service for Mary will begin at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at Hill and Son Funeral Home in Appleton City, Missouri.

Visitation  will be from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. before the service. Officiating at the service will be Jerry Johannigmeier

Internment will follow the service in Appleton City Cemetery, Appleton City, Missouri. Memorial donations are suggested to be made for to a Family Love Fund.

Mary Lou Carter, 80, was born Aug. 12, 1942 in Bates County, MO the daughter of John Les and Georgie Mae (Miller) Dines. She departed this life Aug. 27, 2022 at her son’s home in Appleton City, MO. As a child, Mary lived in Tucson, AZ and Appleton City. Her family also lived in Liberty, MO, the Jackson County area, Independence, and Sugar Creek before moving back to Appleton City in 1993.

Mary married Everett Eugene Carter, Sr. Sept. 7, 1957 in El Dorado Springs, MO. She had been a very hard-working woman all her life. Early on, she took in basket after basket of clothing to iron for people and was a babysitter for the local children. She was employed as a nurse’s aide and caregiver at Odd Fellows known as the Old Hospital in Liberty, MO. After moving back to Appleton City, she worked at the toy factory, Cloverleaf Manufacturing and as a salesclerk in several local businesses. In the last few years, she had owned and operated her own business, “Mary’s Treasures”.

She enjoyed sewing, attending demolition derbies, garage sales, auctions and loved to sing with Everett in local taverns (Mildred’s and the Do-Drop-Inn) or even just their basement.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, John Les Dines and Georgie Mae (Dines) McClure; her husband of 63 years, Everett Eugene Carter, Sr.; infant daughter Mary Irene Carter; brothers: Donald Lee Dines, Leslie Dean “Jumbo” Dines, Clyde Emorey “Doodle Bug” Dines, and infant brother Claude Edward Dines.

Survivors include her children: Georgia Rodeen and husband Sven, Everett Eugene Carter, Jr. and companion Bonnie Reber, Jimmy Ray Carter and wife Leona, Timmy Eugene Carter and companion Missy, Sherry Jane Boyle and husband Donnie, Bobby Joe Carter, Tommy Lee Carter and companion Jeannett “JJ” McIntire; 15 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; siblings: Archie Cornelius “A.C.” Dines, Rita Stewart and husband Danny, Buddy McClure and wife Christeal, Rose Isaacson, Paula McCann and husband Bob, Martha Garver and husband Lowell, and Nancy McClure. Also left to mourn her passing are several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Hangin' For Kalee set for September 16th

Coming Up: Hangin' For Kalee @ Butler, MO Fairgrounds on September 16, 2022! Come out and celebrate the life of our hero!!!

Butler Fall 2022 City Wide Clean Up Schedule.

Obituary - Ellen Mae Butts

Ellen Mae Butts, age 85, of Kansas City, Missouri passed away Friday, August 26th, 2022 at her home at McCrite Plaza at Briarcliff surrounded by family. She was born in Pleasanton, KS on November 15th, 1936 to Sam and Madge (Smith) Hayes. Ellen met her late husband, Richard, in high school and they married soon after on September 25th, 1954. In the early parts of their marriage, Ellen and Richard moved many places, including Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Minneapolis before settling in Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to being a homemaker, she was a clerk and librarian at Gracemor Elementary School.

She was later a secretary for Automatic Sprinkler Company, where her husband was a salesman. Later in life, she and Richard retired to Cameron, Missouri where they built a new home and started their farm life. Ellen was a member of Harmony Vineyard Church, where she was baptized.

Ellen had many interests: Loving her grandchildren, fishing, and volunteering to help anyone in need. Ellen loved playing bingo and the excitement of chance found at casinos. In more recent years, she supported the endeavors of her children and grandchildren. Ellen habitually enjoyed watching the Price is Right and movies on the Hallmark Channel. She also loved her dogs. Ellen was a feisty woman not afraid to share what she thought.

Ever a fighter, she beat cancer twice in her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister Dorothy Troth, brother Jack Hayes, and granddaughter Heather Thompson. She is survived by her son Jerrald Butts and wife Debbie, daughter Kathy James and husband Tom, and sister Margie Stroud. Ellen had five grandchildren; Laura, Phaedra, Kristina, Jerr, and Mackenzee, and six great-grandchildren; Ella, Dane, Anya, Caedmon, Aaron, and Ian.

Funeral service will be held 11 am Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Burial in the Brooklyn Cemetery, La Cygne, Kansas. Visitation will be held from 10 am to service time at the Pleasanton Chapel. Contributions are suggested to Ascend Hospice, 783 NE Anderson Land, Lee Summit, MO 64064. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

Obituary - Marjorie Ann Smith

Marjorie Ann Smith, age 86, Mound City, Kansas passed away Friday, August 26, 2022. She was born on January 23, 1936 in Trenton, New Jersey the daughter of William and Anne(Embley) Cramer. She was united in marriage to Robert "Bob" Smith on January 30, 1968. After graduating from high school, Marjorie worked as a bookkeeper for Carol Ball Trucking and Norel Homes.

Following retirement from bookkeeping she worked as a cook for Jayhawk USD 346. She enjoyed all of her grand and great grandchildren, even raising her first grandchild as her own. She enjoyed crafting, sewing, puzzle books, puzzles and painting. She used these talents as a 4-H Leader in her granddaughter's club. She was a member of the Mound City First Baptist Church. She played a very active roll in helping raise her grandchildren. Christmas and Thanksgiving were her favorite holidays.

She tried her best to make them special times for her family. Marjorie was a kind hearted woman that would give you the shirt off her back. She loved to cook and bake, no one left her home hungry. She made it a point to attend her great grandchildren's events, didn't matter if they were home or away. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, her parents, and a sister, Carol Fries.

Marjorie is survived by her husband, Bob, daughter, Lisa Counterman(John), grandchildren, Amber Minchew, Whitney Minchew, Stephanie Childs(Drew), Josie Counterman, and Angelina Counterman, great grandchildren, Meadow, Henry, Jared, Emee, Oden, Kameron, Keegan, Karter, and Kali, a brother, Bill Kennedy, and a sister, Syrilla Lucas.

Funeral service 10 Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at the Mound City First Baptist Church. Burial in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 pm to 7 pm Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Mound City Chapel. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

Homicide Investigation in Clinton

Clinton Police Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 400 Block of Louise Avenue Saturday evening, 08/27/2022 at about 6:15 pm to a report of a shooting.

A 28 year old female victim was found inside the residence, deceased from apparent multiple gunshot wounds. She was identified as Ashton Christine Alexander, a resident of that location.

27 year old, , also of that residence, was arrested on a 24 Hour Investigative Hold for Murder but has not been formally charged at the time of this release.

The investigation continues. Clinton Investigators were assisted on the scene by Henry County Sheriff's Department personnel.

Disclaimer: Arrest records are public information. Any indication of an arrest does not mean the individual identified has been convicted of a crime. All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.