Obituary - Betty Jean Hall

Betty Jean Hall, age 91, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at the Medicalodge in Ft. Scott.

She was born August 25, 1931, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Alfred Marion Wratchford and Myrtle “Sis” Coombs Wratchford. Betty attended the Humboldt School west of Ft. Scott and went on to graduate from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1949.

She married Forrest E. “Slim” Hall in 1953. Betty and Slim moved to Ft. Benning, Georgia where Slim was stationed with the United States Army. They later returned to Ft. Scott in 1955. Betty was employed as a machine operator for Key Industries for over forty years.

Survivors include her son, Danny Hall of Ft. Scott and several nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Slim Hall on January 8, 2019. She was also preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Mary L. Hurd.

Rev. Paul Rooks will conduct funeral services at 1:00 P.M. Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday from 12:30 until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Integrity Hospice and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary - Don Robert McCarty

Don Robert “Butch” McCarty passed away early Friday, December 30, 2022, at Maggie’s Place Memory Care in Overland Park, KS in the arms of his loving family. Don was born in Fort Scott, KS on September 17, 1944, the only child of John Russell and Ruby Maxine Schasteen McCarty. Don began his business career in sales for Scott Paper Company covering the territory from Topeka through western Kansas.

Later with a partner, Don bought a Food Brokerage Firm, Ward Marketing, that they successfully expanded through a series of mergers. His final merger was with Acosta, a national food brokerage company, where he worked until retiring in 2000 to refocus his energies on his hobbies and his growing role as Grandpa.

Don accepted Christ as his Savior while attending the Mound City Methodist Church as a child then later he continued his Christian life becoming a member of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, KS. All his life he was guided by the Golden Rule and the Commandments. Beginning in elementary and high school, Don also learned the value of hard work, holding jobs as diverse as paper boy, gas station attendant, soda jerk, and aide to the school janitor.

His drive to keep busy lasted well into retirement where he attended auctions to purchase cars for Beckman Motors and served in the Methodist Men’s group at Church of the Resurrection. One of his most difficult transitions was the requirement to give up much loved activities when Alzheimer’s made it impossible to continue.

A fourth generation McCarty to be raised in the Mound City vicinity, Don had a deep connection to and love for his community and country. During the Vietnam War, he joined the United States Naval Reserve immediately after graduating from Mound City High School.

He served regularly with VA-882, Naval Air Station Olathe, Kansas during his military deferment to attend college. Don attended college at Pittsburg State University, Fort Scott Community College, and Washburn University, Topeka from which he graduated in 1967 with a BA degree in Business Administration. Upon graduation, Personnelman (PN) 2nd Class McCarty reported to Naval Air Station, Willow Grove, PA to complete his obligation with the Navy. High School sweethearts, Don married Linda Jean Ware on June 7th, 1966. His young bride accompanied him on the adventure east to complete his Navy assignment.

For more than 56 years, until his death, they were a team in all aspects of their lives - work, worship, travel, play, family, friends, and his final illness. While living in Pennsylvania in 1970, they welcomed the addition of their beloved son, John Ellis McCarty.

Don loved son, John and daughter-in-law, Holly Porter McCarty, and family with all his heart. He always looked forward to seeing them and was so proud of their accomplishments, none more so than their three handsome, loving sons who called him Papa. They were a steady source of pleasure during Don’s final years and always brought a sparkle to his eye.

Don and Linda were blessed to spend many winters in Scottsdale, Arizona where they enjoyed the camaraderie of a group of three other couples, traveling, eating out and watching sporting events. Don was introduced to sports - baseball, basketball, track, and football during his formative years and never lost the love of athletic competition.

After he no longer played, he continued as a fan, especially rooting for the Chiefs, Royals and KU Jayhawks. Don was a member of Masonic Lodge #33 AF & AM Mound City, KS, Mirza Shriner, Pittsburg, KS, and the American Legion Post 248, Mound City KS.

Don lived a life rich in love and friendship. He leaves to mourn his devoted wife, Linda; his son and daughter-in-law, John and Holly McCarty and their three sons, Maxwell, Samuel and Jackson; a brother-in-law and wife, Ron and Dora Ware; a nephew and wife, Brian and Chasity Ware and their family; and a niece and husband, Andrea and Ray Webb; several cousins and many friends.

A visitation will be held from 2 pm to 3 pm Friday, January 6, 2023 at Church of the Resurrections, Leawood, Kansas, Building C, Wesley Chapel. A memorial service will follow at 3 pm. A graveside service will be held 3 pm Saturday, January 7, 2023 at the Curry Cemetery near Mound City, Kansas. Visitation will be held from 1 to 2:30 pm Saturday at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Mound City Chapel.

Memorial contributions are suggested to American Legion Post #248, Shriner Children's Hospital c/o Schneider Funeral Home, P.O. Box J, Mound City, Kansas 66056, or Maggie's Place Memory Care, 12610 W 137th St, Overland Park, KS 66221. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

Two Nevada teens injured in Wednesday morning rollover crash

On January 4th around 7:25 a.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Vernon County along with Vernon County Sheriff's Deputies and Vernon County EMS responded to a one vehicle rollover accident on Route BB around 3 miles south of Nevada.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when the northbound 2012 Chevrolet Impala driven by a 16 year old female from Nevada traveled off the right side of the roadway, overcorrected, traveled off the roadway again, struck an embankment and overturned.

The driver sustained minor injuries, while the passenger, another 16 year old female from Nevada sustained moderate injuries in the crash. Both were taken by ambulance to Nevada Regional Medical Center for treatment.

View crash report below:

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP68/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=230004786

Update: Miami County Kansas shooting victim dies

On January 1st around 7:30 p.m. emergency personnel were dispatched to the area of 299th Street and Somerset Road in rural Paola on a report of a subject laying in the ditch with an apparent gun shot wound. 

When emergency personnel arrived on scene the began to provide medical treatment to the victim. Miami County EMS transported the victim, an adult female in her 40's to a local area hospital with life threatening injuries.

While on scene, Detectives were able to identify a suspect, John Raymond Gray,36, of Grandview, Missouri. Detectives contacted the Grandview Police Department to assist with locating Gray.

Gray's vehicle was located in his driveway. Contact was attempted at the residence by the Grandview Police Department but was unsuccessful. 

A warrant was obtained for Gray's pickup truck, a white Ram 1500, which is believed to be the scene of the shooting. The vehicle is believed to have been in Miami County at the time of the shooting. The vehicle was transported to the crime ab for processing.

On January 3, 2023, Detective received a phone call from Grandview Police department advising Gray was located inside his residence, deceased with an apparent self inflicted gun shot wound.

Through the investigation, it was learned that Gray and the victim left the residence in Grandview Missouri on 1/1/23, then drove to Miami County where the shooting occurred. Gray then drove to the area of 299th Street and Somerset Road where he removed the victim from the vehicle, before returning to his residence in Grandview.

Update: On January 3rd shortly before 5:00 p.m. the victim who is identified as 41 year old Jennifer Christine Rodriguez of Belton, Missouri died as a result of her injuries from the shooting. Many thoughts and prayers at this time for the family.  

2023-2024 Butler Early Childhood Preschool Screening Information

 

MDC reports 8,599 deer taken during alternative methods portion

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 8,599 deer during the alternative methods portion of the firearms deer season, Dec. 24 – Jan. 3. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 200 deer harvested, Harrison with 186, and Macon with 162.

The harvest total for last year’s alternative methods portion was 10,038.

For current ongoing preliminary harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website at https://extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/.

For harvest summaries from past years, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/deer-reports/deer-harvest-summaries.

The archery deer and turkey season runs through Jan. 15.

Find more information on deer hunting from MDC’s 2022 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold and online at https://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/2022FDT.pdf.

Photo Courtesy of Mark Ramsey

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Trumbore reaches 1,000 career points for Bears

Congratulations to Butler High School Junior Carter Trumbore on his 1000th point in his basketball career!