Obituary - Brandon Michael Blom

Brandon Michael Blom, 34 of Olathe, KS, passed away Thursday, March 23, 2023. Visitation will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 28th at Abundant Life Church, 304 SW Persels Rd, Lee's Summit, MO 64081, with funeral to follow at 11 a.m., interment at Raymore Cemetery, Raymore, Missouri.

Brandon was born April 21, 1988, to Jeffrey Blom and Kaye Hopper Blom (Carter) in Kansas City, Missouri. After graduating from Butler High School he honorably served in the United States Marine Corps for five years, with multiple tours of duty, including Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. 

He married Rebecka Lynn Braaksma in 2015, settled back into the Kansas City area, and began a law enforcement career with the Olathe, Kansas, Police Department. Over the last eight years, Brandon enjoyed serving the community and receiving the blessing of three precious daughters, whom he dearly loved. 

He enjoyed taking his girls fishing, working with his hands, grilling, and making pepper- sauce, so spicy that no one else could eat it! Brandon confessed his need for a Savior, and gave his life to Jesus Christ as an adolescent. 

Those who knew him well were privileged to know him as a man of deep thought with keen observations, wrestling with the intersecting realities of his faith and the broken world he experienced.

He is preceded in death by a sister, Megan Blom, grandparents Arthur and Margaret Blom, and Van and Judith Hopper. Brandon is survived by his wife, Rebecka Blom of the home, their 3 daughters Elayne, LeAnn, and Alena, his parents Kaye and Greg Carter, and Jeff and Katia Blom, his sister, Rebecca Zarse her husband Kyle, nieces Emma, Addison, Avery, Lydia, and nephew Landon, along with aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws.

Attention High School Seniors apply for the True Patriot Scholarship

It’s an honor to partner with high schools in Cass, Bates and Johnson County to award these scholarships. 

If you have a senior in one of these districts, please have them reach out to their school counselor for more info or send me a message for an application.

- Courtesy of Senator Rick Brattin 

Butler Youth Wrestling season comes to an end..

Well that's a wrap for a great season!

Congratulations to all the medalists: Melanie Varns, Hunter Long, Catherine Cook, and Errabella Castro. Here's some highlights from individual matches:

 
Melanie Varns- lost first round, wrestled back, and beat a boy out before losing her third match, and going 1-2 in the boys. She finished runner up in the girls division.

 
Illiana Rodriguez-wrestled tough, but lost her first two matches. She will continue to grow. Her little lights always going to shine to me no matter what, keep improving and we will get there.

 
Brock Erisman- won first round, beating a very good kid in a close match, lost the quarterfinal, and bounced back to win his next one in the wrestlebacks, but fell short in the blood round to a "Parn," a very good wrestler, to end his season.

 
Levi Wiese- lost first round in a close match, he should have won IMO, won his second round, but came up short in the 3rd round. Ending a very good season!

Julius Varns- won his first match by fall, but lost in overtime in the quarterfinals, couldnt get the near fall, only a "one-count", in the final seconds. Thats how close the winning and losing margin is in this sport. Tough loss, won his next match, but suffered another heartbreaking loss, 4-3, in the blood round.

Covy Riley- lost in the first round, wrestled back determined to beat a kid in the second round, but came up short in the third round against another good wrestler. A tough bracket for a second year wrestler. Outstanding performance!

 
Lucas Dixon- lost his first two rounds, but gained a ton of experience.

 
Brayden McGuire- lost to state champ in the first round. In the second round, wrestled back by fall. In the third round, was up 7-0, but got caught and pinned.

 
Elizabeth Bedwell- lost her first round and then won her second, before losing the third match. Ending a great season of growth for this first year wrestler.

 
Chris Castro- lost in the opening match, and ended up having to medical forfeit the tournament, due to a broken foot suffered the day before. Taking out a contender to the title with an almost perfect season, only one loss. Very disheartening for the young wrestler.

 
Needless to say, some of these wrestlers would like to have one or two of these matches back, but that's how it goes in this sport. 

Wrestling will humble you, especially at the state tournament! You never fully lose, you continue to grow and improve. 

I'm proud of all the kids and their accomplishments, and with the results. We have unfinished business for 2024!!! WE WILL BE BACK!!!

- Coach Varns 

Catherine Cook 4th place 12U/95lbs.

Melanie Varns 2nd place in8 U/45lbs

Hunter Long, 3rd Place, 12U/175lbs.

Errabella Castro 6th place 10U/ 110lbs.

One arrested in Butler for stealing

On Monday March 27th around 4:34 p.m. the Bates County Sheriff's Office along with the Butler Police Department arrested 48 year old Ronald S. Narron Jr. of Butler, Missouri.

Mr. Narron was arrest for 1 count of stealing and he was booked into the Bates County Jail in Butler. 

The bond for Ronald S. Narron Jr. was set at $1,000 cash only.

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.

Bates County Commissioners issue statement regarding Cornland Special Road District audit

 

From Bates County Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson and Northern Commissioner Ken Mooney

The Bates County Commissioners want to again, clarify information that has been released from the former State Auditor's office, Nicole Galloway.

People are told that the Commissioners had been paid by Cornland Special Road District to maintain their roads. The term "Commissioner" refers to the Board Members, not the County Commissioners. If you read the findings of the Auditor's office, you will see the names of the persons who received money. The Bates County Commissioners did not receive any money for maintaining the roads, nor did any of us do any work to maintain the roads.

The Auditor's office looks at Bates County like the County they are in. The County Commissioners in the county oversee the maintenance and repairs of those roads. Bates County has a "Township" form of government. You the residents of the township elect a township or special road board. They are responsible for overseeing the maintenance of the roads. The County Commissioners have no authority over these boards. When you call the Commissioners with a road problem, we in turn call the township or special board members and ASK them to check on the roads and repair the roads as needed. Again, all we can do is the same as you can do. ASK board members to repair the roads.

For the County Commissioners to be able to correct road issues, Bates County would have to abolish the township from of government. A note on this issue, if Bates County were to abolish the township form of government, ZONING would not be any part of that. Zoning can become effective at any time and ONLY by a vote of the public. There is one township in Bates County that has implemented zoning and it only applies to that township.

The person who initiated the request for an audit only had to pay for the price of a stamp. Since the audit has been conducted, Cornland Special Road District now must pay the Auditor's Office  $28,000.00+ in 5 years. Cornland only receives approximately $8,500 per year in tax revenue and CART funds. This amount is to be used for maintenance and gravel for the roads.

Again, your Bates County Commissioners have NO control over the township or special road district boards.

Jim Wheatley
Trent Nelson
Ken Mooney

Obituary - Debra Dale Wolf

Debra Dale Wolf, age 68, Linn Valley, Kansas passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2023. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland on April 3, 1954 the daughter of Calvin and Doris Marshall Holmes. She was united in marriage to Ted Wolf on September 15, 1973. As a team, they worked in several areas of retail sales.

She loved to travel. Her favorite excursions were trips to the beach. She was a dog lover. She liked old rock and roll, and fashionable clothing and shoes.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and a sister, Donna Otto. Debra is survived by her husband, Ted and a daughter, Jamie Wolf and husband John Bratka.

Graveside funeral service will be held 2 pm Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at the Trading Post Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to a pet rescue of your choice. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

Butler Bears Varsity Baseball Falls Short in Warsaw tonight 5-2

Butler Bears Varsity Baseball Falls Short to Warsaw, 5-2

In the bottom of the third inning, Warsaw tied things up at one. Nick Bagley singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run.

Warsaw pulled away for good with two runs in the fourth inning. In the forth Gage Whitaker doubled on the first pitch of the at the bat, scoring two runs.

Josh Bunch toed the rubber for Warsaw. The pitcher went five innings, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out three. 

Maddox Fennewald was on the mound for Butler Bears.The pitcher allowed eight hits and five runs over five inning, striking out nine.

Zayn Carson threw one inning in relief out the bullpen. Carson went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the bears in hits.

Warsaw racked up eight hits on the day. Kendall Bagley and Whitaker all managed multiple hits for Warsaw.

El Dorado Springs man arrested on several warrants

On Tuesday March 21st the El Dorado Springs Police Department arrested Terry G. Coleman, 56, of El Dorado Springs, Missouri.

Mr. Coleman was arrested for 1.) Cedar County Warrants charging him with Failure to Appear on the original charges of Possession of a Weapon 2.) Forgery of Checks 3.) Larceny 4.) Obstructing Police with no bond 5.) Polk County Warrant charging him with Failure to Appear on the original charge of Possess Amphetamine with no bond.

Coleman also had several El Dorado Springs Municipal Court Warrants, charging him with Dangerous Drugs and Property Damage (2 Counts)with a $327.50 bond.

He was transfer to the Cedar County Jail pending bond and a court appearance.

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.