Appleton City Fair set for today

 

Obituary - Myrtle Louise Bisby

Graveside service and interment for Myrtle Louise Bisby of Butler, Missouri will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Butler, Missouri. 

Visitation will be 10 - 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 22 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. Contributions to Kamp Keirsey. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Myrtle Louise Bisby, age 92 of Butler, Missouri died Friday, August 18, 2023 at the Butler Center. She was born May 25, 1931 to James Arthur and Alta Belle Cummings Thomas in Butler, Missouri.

She is survived by her husband, Fred Bisby of Butler, Missouri; a son, Howard Crepeau and wife Karla of Butler, Missouri; three stepchildren: Kevin Bisby, Deborah Gray and Brenda Binger and husband Daniel all of Independence, Missouri; 11 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Sharon Westover of Amsterdam, Missouri and Neva Milliron of Branson, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents; three children, Cynthia Crepeau, Boneva Grigsby and Bobby Crepeau; three sisters, Wilma Zellmer, Nadine Rice and Betty Osborne; and two brothers, Kenneth Ewing and Howard Thomas.

Obituary - Amy Inez Watkins

Amy Inez Watkins, age 42, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, following a brief illness. She was born September 15, 1980, in Pittsburg, Kansas, the daughter of Jack Pryor, Sr. and Marveline Hukill Pryor. 

Amy grew up in Mindenmines, Missouri and graduated from the Liberal, Missouri High School. Amy married Scott Watkins on June 12, 2021, at Ft. Scott, Kansas. In earlier years, she had been employed by Wal-Mart first in Lamar, Missouri and later in Ft. Scott. She recently accepted a position as a service advisor at Briggs Automotive in Ft. Scott. 

Amy will be remembered for her caring personality and devotion to children. She loved listening to live music and traveling. She and her family had recently returned from a summer vacation in Florida where many wonderful memories were made. She was a member of the Community Christian Church.

Survivors include her husband, Scott, of the home; seven children, Zoe DiToro (John), Keirsten, Mellicia and Trinnade Kuffler and Xavier, Xander and Xation Watkins and two grandchildren, John John and Lux. Also surviving are her mother, Marveline Sprinkle (Bruce), brothers and sisters Charles and Sherry Osborne, Jody Pryor, Travis Pryor, Jack and Rhonda Pryor, Tina Burdick, Ben Burdick, Daniel Sprinkle and Christopher Sprinkle and father and mother-in-law, David Watkins, Sr. and Teresa as well as sister and brothers-in-law, Alicia Watkins (John), David Watkins (Alisha), Billy Watkins and Tracy Watkins. Also surviving is her former husband, Eldon Kuffler. Amy was preceded in death by her father, Jack Pryor, Sr. and a brother, Donald Sprinkle.

Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct funeral services at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, August 22nd at the Community Christian Church. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Monday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Amy Watkins Memorial Fund 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.

Fatality motorcycle accident in Barton County

On Friday August 18th around 12:40 p.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Barton County along with Barton County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a two vehicle crash on Missouri 126 around 4 miles north of Jasper.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when the eastbound 2022 Yamaha FZS 1000 Motorcycle driven by 57 year old Charles C. Hammann of Golden City, Missouri pulled into the path and was struck by a northbound 2018 GMC Arcadia driven by 71 year old Elma B. Tatum of Ozark, Missouri.

Mr. Hammann was pronounced dead at the scene of this accident and he was transported to Daniel Funeral Home in Lamar, Missouri.

This is Troop D of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's 88th Fatality accident of the year 2023.

View crash report below:
https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP68/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=230446925

Traffic slowed this morning in Butler

You can't park there man...

Traffic was slowed earlier this morning around 10:00 p.m. when this Ford truck ran off in a ditch on Orange Street just past Vine Street in Butler. 

The driver wasn't injured and the truck was pulled out. Traffic was back to normal by the lunch time hour. 

Obituary - William Robert Upchurch

William Robert Upchurch, age 80, of Raymore, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at the Kansas City Hospice House.

Services will be held on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at Cullen Funeral Home, 612 W. Foxwood Dr. Raymore, Missouri 64083. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 3:00 p.m.

William “Bill” was born in Harrisburg, Illinois on November 12, 1942 to Kenneth and Mildred (Brewner) Upchurch. After graduating high school Bill continued his education. Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served 22 years and retired with an honorable discharge on August 1, 1985. During his time in the Air Force, Bill was decorated with numerous medals and badges; Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with “V” Device and Four Devices, Vietnam Service Medal with Four devices, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Security Police Qualification Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with Four Devices, Air Force Overseas Service Long Tour Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Air Force Good Conduct Medal with six oak leaf clusters. After his retirement from the Air Force, he continued working for the Federal Government for another 20+ years at the General Services Administration (GSA) where he retired a second time.

He was married to Ellen (Ulery) on August 17, 1973. Bill never met a stranger. He enjoyed traveling (often to quilt shops with Ellie), woodworking, tinkering around the house, yard work and giving back to the community. He was a man of strong Baptist faith as a member of the Big Creek Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill, Missouri. He was also a member of the Eastern Star, True Kindred, Masons Jewel Lodge, American Legion Post #488, and the Belton Host Lions Club.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Mildred Upchurch; brother, Donald Upchurch; and sister, Barbara “Bunny” McDowell.

Here to cherish his memory are his loving wife of fifty years, Ellie Upchurch; two daughters, Tracy Wynne (Brian Nichelson) and Claudia Upchurch; brother, Jerry Upchurch (Pat); and five grandchildren, Ashley Keller, Samantha Shelton (Andy), Michael Wynne, Jr., Marshal Howard, and Amanda Armendariz (Michael).

Memorial donations may be given to the Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, Missouri 64145.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278

Obituary - Cecil Allen Robinson

Cecil Allen Robinson, 87, of Harrisonville, Missouri, went to meet his maker on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at his home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at 11:00 AM at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO, followed by interment in Freeman Cemetery in Freeman, MO. The family will receive friends Saturday 10:00-11:00 AM at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

He was born to Cecil and Helen (Weeks) Robinson on April 29, 1936 in Blaine, Kansas. Cecil went to grade school in Trask, MO in a one-room schoolhouse, and went to high school in Mountain View, MO. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Grandview, MO for 50 years, serving as an ordained deacon and driving a bus for Children’s Church. He later moved his membership to Harrisonville Faith Baptist Church. Cecil was united in marriage to Stella Mae Zimmerman on November 3, 1956 in Grandview, MO. He was employed as a lead man on the header line at AGCO in Independence, MO, where he retired on September 1, 1996.

He was dedicated to the Boy Scout Program, spending time at Boy Scouts summer camp, serving as counselor and attending weekly meetings. Both of his sons and one of his grandsons became Eagle Scouts. Cecil loved fly fishing, going on annual fishing trips with his daughter and grandchildren. He also enjoyed deer hunting with his 2 sons. He and Stella had a lot of fun traveling across the states, visiting as many historical places as they could in their 5th wheel.

Cecil is survived by his three children, Steven Robinson (Heather), of Olathe, KS, David Robinson, of Grandview, MO, and Laura Smith (Kirk), of Olathe, KS; his sister, Marian; four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Stella, on July 17, 2019; four brothers and one sister.

Cecil was a loving son, husband, father and grandfather. We will all miss his spirited sense of humor.

Nevada Police Department arrests absconded sex offender

In early August Nevada Police received information from the Missouri State Highway Patrol that a subject on the sex offender registry who had absconded may be living in Nevada.

Nevada Police started following up on the information and was able to develop a lead on the subject's whereabouts. On August 17th Nevada Police went to the area where they believed the subject was staying at.

While in the area, officers were able to locate the subject in the 1700 block of N. Washington Street. Further follow up by officers revealed the subject had absconded and not registered since May of 2020. Through additional investigation, it was determined the subject had been in Nevada for only a few months until his capture.

Nevada Police took custody of the subject and he was transported to the Vernon County Jail for holding.

On August 18, 2023, Nevada Police followed up with the St. Francois County Circuit Court and discovered the subject had an additional Probation Violation warrant for his arrest that had been issued in May 2022. The subject has been identified as follows:

Joe M. Harrison, age 59 of Bismarck, Missouri.
On August 17, 2023, the following charges were filed against Joe Harrison through the Vernon County Associate Court: One (1) Count of Fail to Register as a Sex Offender – E Felony. Harrison is being held in the Vernon County Jail in lieu of a $25,000 cash only bond.

Citizens are encouraged to contact the police if they have any information that would be helpful to combat crime.

To report criminal activities call 911, contact the Nevada Police Department at (417) 448-5100 or use the Nevada Police Department’s Tip Hotline (417) 667-8477. Any and all information can be kept confidential if requested.