Saturday, October 28, 2023
Cold temperatures outlook (Mon-Wed)
Several locations have dipped near or just below freezing this morning - look for several more mornings with a hard freeze in the week ahead
Gardner graduates from Remote Piloted Aircraft Training
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| 2nd Lt. George “Ethan” Gardner, Butler High School Alumnus, Class of 2018, graduated from Remote Piloted Aircraft training on October 27, 2023, from Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. He is receiving his wings from the 12th Training Squadron after a year of training to fly the MQ9, and receiving a Top Performance Award. Ethan plans to follow his career with strike missions and reconnaissance. He will continue flying at Holloman AF Base, and will ultimately be stationed in Las Vegas. From Butler High School, Ethan went to the United States Air Force Academy, and pole vaulted. He achieved his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Ethan is the son of Glenn and Nadja Gardner, and brother to Aarika Middleton, and Annalee Gardner |
Thorco Alumni, Family & Friends Reunion
The Thorco Alumni, Family & Friends Reunion will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Thiebaud Auditorium Meeting Rooms 105 E 11th S. Lamar Mo.
The invitation extends to all permanent and temporary associates, their friends and family. Special guest Ken Howard, former owner, will be recognized at the event. Please feel free to bring a snack to share, bottled water will be provided.
The event is being organized by Debra Probert, Dawna Holzbach is coordinating the snacks, Sandy Harris arranged for the meeting place and Nancy Williams will be helping with set up and cleanup. Please feel free to reach out to any of these individuals on the Thorco Associates Facebook group if you wish to volunteer to assist.
Thorco operated for 117 years in Lamar. Thorco began with a man named Frank Thorpe and a problem. Thorpe saw customers picking potatoes out of bins one at a time, an often dirty and time-consuming job so he came up with a solution. His first product was a wire potato scoop.
As Thorpe took to the railroad, selling his invention at stops in Barton County, his business grew. By 1930, it had outgrown its first facility, and the decision was made to move to a building at the corner of 18th and Gulf in Lamar. Frank Thorpe converted an old mill into a manufacturing facility.
But the growth did not stop there. In fact, steady growth occurred through 1965, with a two-year break from 1943 through 1945 due to World War 2. In the late 1960’s, the facility was purchased by Jim Allen and Ken Howard. This period would represent huge growth for the business they renamed into Thorco, as products for major national companies like Walmart, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Kroger and Gerber Baby Foods, as well as the United States Navy were developed.
In fact, so much growth would take place, the company would eventually expand to four facilities in southwest Missouri including Nevada, Butler, Cassville as well as the original plants in Lamar. At one point there was also some manufacturing in Canada and Mexico with total employment reaching 1,200 at one time.
Thorco operated for 117 years in Lamar. Thorco began with a man named Frank Thorpe and a problem. Thorpe saw customers picking potatoes out of bins one at a time, an often dirty and time-consuming job so he came up with a solution. His first product was a wire potato scoop.
As Thorpe took to the railroad, selling his invention at stops in Barton County, his business grew. By 1930, it had outgrown its first facility, and the decision was made to move to a building at the corner of 18th and Gulf in Lamar. Frank Thorpe converted an old mill into a manufacturing facility.
But the growth did not stop there. In fact, steady growth occurred through 1965, with a two-year break from 1943 through 1945 due to World War 2. In the late 1960’s, the facility was purchased by Jim Allen and Ken Howard. This period would represent huge growth for the business they renamed into Thorco, as products for major national companies like Walmart, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Kroger and Gerber Baby Foods, as well as the United States Navy were developed.
In fact, so much growth would take place, the company would eventually expand to four facilities in southwest Missouri including Nevada, Butler, Cassville as well as the original plants in Lamar. At one point there was also some manufacturing in Canada and Mexico with total employment reaching 1,200 at one time.
A long-time associate Tom Day was quoted in the press when asked about his 45 years of working for the company, “it became like a second family. We were pretty close knit. A lot of people that went to work there worked for 20 years, or whatever.”
Just prior to the plant closing the doors permanently on September 30, 2016 the group held a farewell event at Thiebaud Auditorium. At this event former Plant Manager Debra Probert noted that the average years of service of the associates was 22 years, and there were associates with more than four decades of service.
Just prior to the plant closing the doors permanently on September 30, 2016 the group held a farewell event at Thiebaud Auditorium. At this event former Plant Manager Debra Probert noted that the average years of service of the associates was 22 years, and there were associates with more than four decades of service.
Bronaugh man injured in Vernon County rollover accident
The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when the 2010 Ford Explorer driven by 46 year old Randy Earnest of Bronaugh, Missouri ran off the roadway, traveled through a fence, struck a cow, traveled back through the fence onto the roadway, and overturned.
Mr. Earnest sustained minor injuries and was taken to Nevada Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Earnest sustained minor injuries and was taken to Nevada Regional Medical Center.
View crash report below:
Butler man arrested on felony charges
Mr. Bradley was arrested on the charges of burglary/second degree and stealing/$750 or more.
Jeffery M. Bradley was booked into the Bates County Jail and is currently being held on no bond.
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.
One arrested on warrants in Bates County
Mr. Heavener was arrested on two felony warrants, one for forgery and one for fraudulent use of a credit/debit device (value $500 or more).
Matthew S. Heavener was booked into the Bates County Jail, and is being held on a $10,000 cash or surety bond.
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.
Bicyclist struck by vehicle in Vernon County
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The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the accident happened when the eastbound 2002 Honda Accord driven by 24 year old Timmothey S. Wyrick of Lamar Missouri made a right hand turn and struck 38 year olds Joshua W. Rogers of El Dorado Springs Missouri who was riding a bicycle
Joshua W. Rogers sustained moderate injuries, and was transported to Freeman Hospital in Joplin for treatment for his injuries.
View crash report below:
Friday, October 27, 2023
Obituary - Nelson Brooks
Nelson attended the one-room schoolhouse, Brush College, southeast of Hume for grades 1-8 and the Hume High School grades 9-12, graduating in 1951 right along with his wife. Nelson was best known for his basketball talents as a Hume Hornet with a great hook shot, his hunting skills, his hard work ethic, his love for his family and his storytelling.
After graduation, Nelson worked for the Frito Asphalt Company, based in Pittsburg, KS, from 1951-1954, dynamiting for construction of roads. He then became a brakeman on the Missouri Pacific Railroad from 1954-1981, until he was badordered due to hearing loss. Nelson was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Nevada from 1953 until 1989 when he and Ella Mae transferred their membership to First Baptist Church in Nevada. Other memberships in his life included the Masonic Lodge #303, O.E.S. #53 (Order of the Eastern Star), Elks Lodge #564 and N.A.R.V.R.E. (National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees).
Enjoyments in Nelson’s life included vacationing with Ella Mae in Colorado Springs, playing pool at the Neal Center, reading Louis L'Amour books, watching westerns on Channel 8, and having family visit, especially his grandsons and great-grandkids. His favorite restaurants were Chicken Annie’s, Cooky’s Cafe, and Emery’s, where waitresses spoiled him.
Survivors include one son, Randy Brooks, of Nevada; one daughter, Ranea Couch and her husband, Phil, of Moundville; grandchildren: Christopher Schulze and his wife, Jenny, of Willard; Kyle Schulze and his wife, Lauren, of Nevada; Bob Brooks, Perkiomenville, PA; Bryan Brooks, Jacksonville, FL; Isabella Brooks, Nevada; step-grandchildren: Samantha Schmitt, Tayrin Schmitt, Kodie Schmitt and his wife, Macey; great-grandchildren: Maelee Faye and Gracee Aleen Schulze, of Willard; Emerson Ray and Iris River Schulze, of Nevada; Kallen Nash Brooks, of Perkiomenville, PA; step great-grandchildren: Heath Ray Hubbard, Taylee Mae Bryant and Connor Andrew Foster-Bryant; two sisters: Colleen Blevins, of Butler; and Diane Clark and her husband, Larry, of Hume; a sister-in-law, Karen Brooks, of Carl Junction; a brother-in-law, Oran Burrus, of Nevada; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.
In addition to his wife Ella Mae, he was preceded in death by his parents, Buford and Emma Brooks; his brothers: Melvin Brooks, Tom Brooks and Bob Brooks; sisters-in-law, Dorothy (Burrus) Busbea and Donna (Roby) Burrus; brothers-in-law: Bill Blevins, Elvy Burrus, Sr. and Darrell Busbea; nieces: Lisa (Burrus) Cargill and Judy (Burrus) Moore; nephews: Oran Everett Burrus and Travis Allen Burrus; and step great-grandson, Maddox Franklin Foster-Bryant.
The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. A private committal will be held at a later date at Moore Cemetery beside his wife.
Memorials are suggested to the Neal Center, where Nelson loved going to play pool with friends or the Osage Masonic Lodge #303, where he was a long-time member, c/o Ferry Funeral Home.
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