Rest in peace Brandon!

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Olathe Police Officer Brandon Blom. 

Brandon served the Olathe community for eight years as a member of the Patrol Unit. 

Brandon died off-duty at his home on March 23rd, 2023, after a medical emergency. Please keep the Blom family in your prayers.

Brandon is a 2006 graduate of Butler High School. 

Butler Bears Varsity Baseball team takes the victory in high scoring game over Appleton City

Bats were blistered as the Butler Bears Varsity Baseball Team defeated the Appleton City Bulldog 10-7 on Friday evening.

The Bears got on the board in the 2nd inning when Eli Cox hit into a fielders choice, scoring one run.

Appleton City scored three runs in the 6th inning, AC batters who contributed in this big inning included Judd Koshko and Kyle Long who each had RBI's in the inning.

Maddox Fennewald toed the rubber for Butler tonight. The right hander went two inning allowing zero runs on zero hits, striking out two and walking one.

Judd Koshko was on the hill for the Bulldogs. The pitcher allowed five hits and seven runs over two innings, striking out just one. Jared Davis threw four innings of relief.

The Butler Bears scattered eight hits in the game. Fennewald and Bryson Kash all managed 2 hits to lead the Bears.

From the desk of Bates County Coroner Greg D. Mullinax

Investigation is completed for the 60 year-old female decedent of March 6, 2023 residing on Wix Lane in Butler. Death is accidental in nature.

Most respectfully,
Greg D. Mullinax
Bates County Coroner

Obituary - SuAnn Lundy

SuAnn (Hiltabidle) Lundy, 62, of El Dorado Springs, MO, passed away March 22, 2023 at her home.

On November 15, 1960, at Bothwell Hospital in Sedalia, MO, Larry and Laura Nell Hiltabidle were blessed and surprised by the birth of twin daughters, SuAnn and LuAnn, giving them a family of five including their older daughter, Greer. Su grew up in Waverly, MO, where she attended Santa Fe RX School District and participated in choir and band. She played the oboe with exceptional skill, not surprising since her father was the band director.

Su graduated from Santa Fe in 1979 and then attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she earned a degree in Early Childhood Education in 1983. During her time at Mizzou she taught herself to play the tenor saxophone so that she could join Marching Mizzou, an organization she loved that allowed her to make life-long friends, take fun and exciting road trips to away games and Bowl games.

Su graduated from Mizzou in 1983, magna cum laude and accepted a teaching position at the Southwest-Ludlow School District in Ludlow, MO, where she had 36 kindergarten students in her first classroom, a true learning experience. In 1988, she accepted a new position teaching Chapter One in El Dorado Springs, MO. However, she quickly returned to Kindergarten. Su earned a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Northwest Missouri State University in 1994. She remained a kindergarten teacher until she retired in 2019. She loved teaching and the friends she made at school.

Su married Dennis Lundy on July 27th, 1996 and gained three wonderful children, Paul, Brian, and Grace. Together they enjoyed trips to the lake, ball games, vacations, and each other. Su gained great joy from her family, taking the kids to the pool nearly every day, where she taught them games to play in the pool and how to dive. Su and Dennis eventually welcomed seven grandchildren into their family, which allowed her summer trips to the pool to begin all over again. She and Dennis took the family camping, fishing, and had weenie roasts in the back yard. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend who will be greatly missed by all who loved her.

Su is survived by her husband, Dennis Lundy; her three children: Paul Lundy and his wife Grace; Brian Lundy and his wife Elizabeth, their children, Aubrey, Kale, and Kadence; and Grace Lundy and Thomas Green, and their children, Emma, Reyce, Tyson and Jaycee Green. Her sister, Greer Kilpatrick, her husband Steve, niece Jessy, nephew Tevis; her twin sister LuAnn Kaveler, her husband Bob, nephews Justin and Devin . She was preceded in death by her father, Larry Hiltabidle, and her mother, Laura Nell Hiltabidle.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at the Liston Center in El Dorado Springs, MO with Pastor Bill Miles officiating. Donations in Su’s name to benefit the El Dorado R-2 Kindergarten can be made at Community Bank in El Dorado Springs.

Obituary - Louis Edward “Ed” Lacy Jr.

Louis Edward “Ed” Lacy Jr., age 79 formerly of La Cygne, KS passed away at Missouri Veterans Home in Cameron, Mo on Thursday March 16, 2023. He was born on June 20, 1943 in Adrian, Mo. The 1 st born child of Louis Edward Sr. and Betty Jean (Lewis) Lacy.

Edward graduated in 1962 from Miami R-1 High School in Amoret, MO. He was a United States Army Veteran. He had mostly worked as a Millwright and had other jobs he enjoyed through the years.

Edward was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Garry Russell Lacy. Edward is survived by his 2 daughters, Kimberly Lane Hutton, of Iowa; Hillary Lacy & Mark of Marshall, AK; 1 Son Timothy James Lacy, La Cygne, KS; 8 Grandchildren; his former wife Sharon Lacy; 2 brothers, Rick (Debbie) Lacy of Adrian, Mo; Kent Lacy (Kristen) of Freeman, Mo and 2 sisters, Virginia (Chuck) Gray of Raymore, MO; Vicki (Ted) Herzog of
Stilwell, KS.

As a young kid Ed enjoyed building model airplanes. He enjoyed learning to crochet alongside of his Great Aunt Abbie Erickson. Ed loved his family and especially loved his kids and grandkids.

A graveside service will be held 11 am Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Crescent Hill Cemetery in Adrian, Mo. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

From the desk of Bates County Coroner Greg D. Mullinax

When your work brings you in contact with experts in your field, you do well to take advantage of everything they have to teach, if they’re kind to take the time.

I recently had the opportunity to complete advanced level training in forensic photography. Lorelle S. Parker, MS, MSFS, D-ABMDI is an accomplished medicolegal death investigator with extensive experience in scene investigations. Among her qualifications is expertise in crime scene processing, latent prints, bloodstain pattern analysis and firearms and impression evidence.

Last week, she traveled to my office to provide me further training in forensic photography to include indoor and outdoor photography, use of scales, intake photography, night and low-light photography, and alternative light sources.

I’m pleased to add this updated study to my qualifications and grateful to Lorelle for her time and professional expertise. I will always continue to seek out training and study opportunities and continue to better myself for the work I do.

Greg D. Mullinax
Bates County Coroner

Obituary - Michelle R. Groves

Michelle R. Groves, age 54 of Warsaw, Missouri passed away Tuesday morning, March 21, 2023 at the Clinton Health & Rehabilitation Center in Clinton, Missouri. She was born on August 20, 1968 in Jackson County, Missouri to Norris Groves Sr. and Diane (Adkins) Groves.

She grew up in Jackson County and graduated from East High School, Class of 1986. After high school she would attend college to become an Anesthesiologist.

She would move to Warsaw, Missouri on July 2, 1999 to be closer to family and help take care of her parents. Michelle enjoyed crafts and loved spending time with her grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by two children, Micheal Groves (Hope) of Warsaw, Missouri, Mikala Riggs (Robert) of Marshall, Missouri, 8 grandchildren, Draven, Christopher, Demetry, Abagail, Lexi, Angel, Dakota and Zoe, 3 siblings, Diana Blankenship of Kingsville, Missouri, Missy Backer of Arizona and JJ Groves Jr. of Marshall, Missouri, other relatives and friends.

Memorial services will be held at 4:00 P.M., Friday, March 24, 2023 at the Reser Funeral Home with Rev. Dan Porterfield, officiating.

Lost Saddle!

The tailgate came down saddle fell out on 52 Highway or on 69 Highway between trading post and Louisburg if anyone happens pick it up! 

PLEASE SHARE reward if returned it's my livelihood!

- Courtesy of Jason Cahill