Patrick named recipient of the Dean McGuire Memorial Scholarship

We would like to congratulate Butler High School Senior Brendin Patrick on being selected as the 2023 Butler High School recipient of the Dean McGuire Memorial Scholarship.

There were a lot of great applicants for this award, but Brendin stood out as someone who exhibits the hard work and dedication that Dean would have love to invest in. Your determination to reach your future goals makes you an excellent recipient for this award.

Brendin will receive $500 with this scholarship. He plans on attending Pittsburg State University in the fall. 

Way to go Brendin!

Indiana truck driver injured in Barton County rollover accident

On Saturday April 29th around 1:46 a.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Barton County along with Barton County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a rollover accident in the northbound lanes of I-49 around 3 miles south of Sheldon.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when the 2017 International Prostar tractor trailer driven by 30 year old Rommel N. Slater of Gary, Indiana ran off the roadway and overturned.

Mr. Slater sustained minor injuries and he was transported to Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Missouri for treatment.

View crash report below:
https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP68/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=230218473

Obituary - Robert Earl “Bob” Daylong

Robert Earl “Bob” Daylong, age 94, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Friday, April 28, 2023, at his home. He was born May 19, 1928, on the family farm north of Moran, Kansas, the son of Sile R. Daylong and Violet L. Hayes Daylong. At the age of two, the family moved to the Dry Ridge Community where Bob attended the Dry Ridge School. The family later moved to Bronson, and Bob continued his education there until he enlisted with the United States Army Air Force. 

He proudly served his country from 1945 to 1953 where he was stationed in both Germany and Korea. Following his military service, Bob married Ruth Joan Cochran on November 14, 1954, in Denver, Colorado. Bob and Joan settled into their home in Ft. Scott. Bob worked as a mechanic for Ray Shepherd Motors for twelve years.

He later took a position as a heavy equipment operator for P & M Coal Company which later became Chevron. He worked there for twenty years and retired in 1991. Bob took great pride in what he did. Bob enjoyed working in his yard and tinkering in his shop. He often did mechanic work for his friends and neighbors. He was a longtime member of the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite Consistory and the Mirza Shrine of Pittsburg as well as the V.F.W. and the United Mine Workers. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Joan, of the home in Ft. Scott, his daughter, Kathy Drenick (Mike) of Pittsburg, Kansas and two granddaughters, Amy Maksimovich (Alex) of Wildwood, Missouri and Kelsey DeGraff (Lucas) of Carl Junction, Missouri and two great-grandchildren, Ayla and Arlo Maksimovich. Also surviving are a sister, Marie Saville of Lenexa, Kansas, two brothers-in-law, Jerry Cochran (Shelly) and Dale Cochran and numerous special nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, James Daylong and an infant sister, Hazel Daylong.


Pastor Tim Woodring will conduct funeral services at 11:30 A.M. Tuesday, May 2nd at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial with military honors will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 10:30 A.M. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel. 

Memorials are suggested to the Mirza Transportation Fund or St. Jude’s Hospital 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 - Earlene Ann Ijams Christie

The FUNERAL SERVICE for Earlene will begin at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 30, 2023 at Hill & Son Funeral Home, Appleton City, Missouri. VISITATION will precede the service from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. OFFICIATING will be Rev. Peter Norton. BURIAL will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery, Warrensburg, Missouri.

MEMORIAL contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association or First Methodist Church of Warrensburg, MO and may be left at the funeral home.

Earlene Ann Ijams Christie, 77, of Appleton City, Missouri, passed away on April 25th, 2023, after a battle with Alzheimer’s.

Earlene was born on October 19, 1945, to Earl Ijams and Constance Prime Ijams in Sedalia, Missouri. In her early life, Earlene traveled with her family across the country, residing in many states. After she graduated from Parkhill High school in Kansas City in 1963, Earlene went on to study teaching at NWMSU. Earlene earned an additional master’s degree at Northwest in counseling. Mrs. Christie was a passionate educator, serving the Butler, Eagleville, Ridgeway, Appleton City, Hughesville, Concordia, Martinsville, and Knob Noster school districts.

In 1963, Earlene met Harvey Dwight Christie while attending college in Maryville, Missouri. Earlene and Harvey went on to have two children, Douglas Sterling and Eric Duane.

Throughout her life, Earlene was quick witted, humorous, and caring. She was a passionate animal lover, and enjoyed hobbies such as planting flowers, scrapbooking, and quilting. Earlene and her husband Harvey were interested in genealogy and traveled with their family to highland games and abroad to Scotland. In January 2009, Earlene donated life saving stem cells to her younger brother, Ron, who continues to survive her. Earlene also maintained close contact with her high school class and attended class reunions whenever she could.

Earlene was preceded in death by her parents Earl and Constance Ijams.

Earlene is survived by her husband Harvey Christie; her children: Douglas (Bettina) Christie and Eric (Vicki) Christie; her grandchildren: Elizabeth (Joel) Jeffries, Alexandra (Brandon) Goellner, Abi (Josh) Heiserman, Bob (Callie) Schenker and Sam Christie. She will be forever remembered by her siblings Carol Ijams Carlson and Ronald Ijams.

Update: Suspect in earlier assault arrested

On 4/29/23 deputies were advised of a female that was reportedly taken from the Kansas City area against her will. 

The female stated, that when the suspect pulled over on a gravel road north of Adrian, she was able to use pepper spray to help her get away from the vehicle. She reported that she was physically assaulted on the gravel road prior to getting free.

 
The victim identified the suspect by name and gave details of the vehicle to include the plate number. The Sheriff’s Office utilized multiple social media, police network and local news outlets to get information about the suspect and his vehicle out to the public and other law enforcement agencies. Additional Deputies were called in to assist in the search for the suspect.

 
Shortly after 8:00pm the Sheriff’s Office was advised that the suspect in the assault was taken into custody in the Kansas City area without incident.

 
The suspect will be extradited back to Bates County to be interviewed to complete the investigation. After the investigation is complete the Sheriff’s Office will send the case to the Bates County Prosecutor’s Office to determine charges for alleged crimes that happened in the Bates County jurisdiction.

Highlights from Cruise Night in Amsterdam

About 50 cars and 10 motorcycles lined Main Street this afternoon along with the 1934 three window coupe ‘The California Kid’ made famous in the 1973 movie of the same name starring Martin Sheen as seen here:

Lady Bears Battle the Hume Hornets

Lady Bears Battle the Hume Hornets
By Cody Morris

On Thursday the 5-12 Lady Bears played host to the Hume Hornets. The Hornets traveled to Butler with a 9-1 record, losing their first matchup of the season to Lockwood with a score of 12-13, and then rattling off 9 wins in a row.

As action began, Taylor Hudson stepped into the circle for the Bears. Hudson, only a freshman, faced 4 Hornets in the first, allowing 0 hits and grabbing 1 strikeout. The Bears half of the inning would go just as quickly, as they would only send out 3, all of who would make contact, but fail to reach a bag.

In the second, Crawford would grab a lead off single for the Hornets. After allowing the first hit of the night, Hudson would strike out the next two batters. With two outs, and a runner on, Shyer stepped to the plate and cranked out an RBI triple. During the next at-bat, Shyer would test Zoey Fritts behind the plate, and was caught in a throw-out by Fritts to retire the inning. 

The Bears would look to answer back with Fritts getting on base with a single, and then advancing to 2nd on a stolen base. Leismister was able to plate Fritts with an RBI Double, before the inning was concluded. So after 2 innings, the score was knotted at 1 run a piece.

The Lady Bears put themselves in a jam in the top of the 3rd, as Shyer was hit by a pitch, followed by Snider and Morrison both receiving 4 balls. With the bases full of Hornets, McFredrick was able to record an RBI single, followed by a 2 RBI double off the bat of Crawford. Hudson was able to bounce back and record two straight strikeouts to get out of the inning. 

After allowing 3 runs in the third, the Bears would look to fire back, and were led off by a single from Foster. Back at the top of the Bears line-up, Miller was able to reach on an error, and Fritts sent both Foster and Miller to the dugout with a 2 RBI single. Hudson was able to follow up with an RBI of her own, sending Zoey across the plate. After 3, the score was again tied 4-4.

Hudson began the 4th by recording her 7th K of the night. Shyer was able to reach with a base hit, followed by Snider getting on via an error. Morrison stepped to the plate and was able to score Snider and Shyer with a 2 RBI double for the Hornets. 

The Bears would get out of the inning, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits. Leismister led off with a base hit for the Bears, followed by Humphrey reaching on a fielder’s choice. Foster recorded her second base hit in her second at bat of the night. Kyreia Robinson was able to come into the game and immediately prove beneficial to the Bears with a 2 RBI single of her own. 

Cloey Fritts scored Robinson on an RBI double, followed by a triple from Hudson that would score Fritts. Hudson would be stranded on 3rd as the inning was retired. After the 4th, the Bears took a 8-6 advantage.

In the 5th, Hudson faced 4 batters, giving up 1 hit and recording one additional strikeout. The Bears rallied in the 5th, sending a total of 11 batters out. The action was jump started by a double from Cumpton, followed up by an RBI triple from Leismister. Humphrey would get in on the action as well with an RBI double of her own. Foster was sent to first after being pitched 4 balls, and then Miller was walked as well to fill the bases full of Bears. 

Cloey would plate 2 with a 2 RBI single. Hudson was walked, followed by Zoey once again loading the bases full of Bears after 4 balls were thrown to her. Cumpton would score a run with an RBI fielder’s choice before the inning was retired. The Bears jumped to a 14-6 lead after 5.

The Hornets would not go away however, as they rallied in the 6th. The rally began with a lead off double from Kenzee Snider, followed up by a base hit from Morrisosn. The bases would then be loaded up after McFredrick was walked. 

Crawford would add to her RBIs with an RBI single. Steuck reached on an error, followed by an RBI single from both Brooks and Shyer. In the bottom of the inning, The Bears struggled to score, they sent out 5 batters, recorded 1 hit, and scored no runs. After 6, the Hornets had closed to gap and now faced a 14-11 deficit.

In the 7th, the Bears were able to secure the W, forcing the Hornets to go 3 up, 3 down. The Bears handed the Hornets their first loss since March, as they dropped to 9-2 and the Bears advanced to 6-12 on the season.

The Bears 14 runs came off of 16 hits. Cloey Fritts, Leismister, and Foster each tallied 3 hits on the night. Leismister was a HR away from hitting for the cycle, as she recorded a single, a double, and a triple. Cloey grabbed an impressive 5 RBIs on her 3 hits. 

Robinson and Hudson both had 2 RBIs in the contest for the Lady Bears. From the circle, Hudson was able to strike out 10 Hornets on the night.

Karl Oskar Blaser Memorial Scholarship Awarded:

The Karl Oskar Blaser memorial scholarship was established in 2022 to honor the memory of Karl O. Blaser, who, in June 2018, was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident while on his way home from work. 

It was very important to Karl that High School students that wanted to pursue a trade were encouraged to do so and had access to resources to help students pursue their chosen career.

The Karl Oskar Blaser scholarship is awarded to one or more deserving High School senior that will be attending a trade school or will be beginning a skilled trade after graduation. This year, our family has chosen two well deserving students that will each receive a one-time scholarship in the amount of $750.

This year's recipients are Rains Craft & Keyarah Shobe. Rains graduated in December from Butler High School and has already begun training at Iron Eagle Welding Academy in Stockton, MO.

Keyarah is graduating in May from Butler High School and will be attending Welding school after graduation. Congratulations, Rains and Keyarah.