Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Recipients

The Harmony Mission Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored Seniors from six area high schools on November 13th, at the Butler City Library. The students were selected for this award by the faculty and Senior class of their school. To be chosen, they must have demonstrated in their lives Dependability, Service, Leadership and Patriotism. Each student was presented with a Certificate designating him/her as the Good Citizen representing their school for the year 2023-24. They also received a Good Citizen lapel pin. The students receiving these awards were: Adrian- Seth Ford, Appleton City- Katie Campbell, Butler-Alisa Oates, Hume- Andrew Wepener, Miami-Erica Downs, and Rich Hill-Sidney Rice.

As well as being honored as a Good Citizen to represent their schools, the students were also given the option of competing in the Good Citizen essay contest, which was to be administered  by a faculty member, completed in one sitting, two hour limit and without assistance of reference materials. The students had no previous knowledge of the essay title "Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It. What are the Civic Responsibilities of a good citizen and why are these duties, activities and behaviors important to the shaping of the America you hope to experience?"

All six candidates chose to write the essay. These were judged by non-DAR affiliated judges. The student receiving first place in the contest this year is Andrew Wepener from Hume. His essay will be sent on to the next level of competition. The winners at State each receive cash rewards and winners at the National level receive scholarship awards

Following the program and presentation of pins and certificates, refreshments of cookies and punch were served.

Highlights from this week's News-Shopper

 

Scooter's Coffee coming to Butler

 

In the regular session of the Butler city council meeting it was revealed that our city will indeed be getting a Scooter’s drive-thru coffee shop, however the construction date is yet to be revealed. Scooter’s was founded in 1998 in Nebraska and has become a nationwide franchise; the Butler location will be next to Burger King on west 52 highway.

There is also buzz that a super Casey’s may be coming that possibly would be located just west of the former Super 8 Motel. While this has been a hot topic of discussion, it was reported that nothing is firm yet and it simply may not happen.

Otherwise, it was a fairly short session for the council as there were no scheduled guests, committee reports or unfinished business. There was a proclamation which passed unanimously to accept property located at 3. North Water street via a quit claim deed signed by owner Andrew Winters. Now it’s up to the council to decide what to do with the property. 

City clerk Corey Snead updated those present on the status of the survey for the comprehensive plan and so far about 120 online responses along with about 20 additional paper responses. For anyone who would to fill out a survey you can get a paper copy at city hall, go online at www.cityofbutlermo.com or through the city of Butler Facebook page. Your input is greatly appreciated and the survey is open through November 19th. Results of the survey are expected shortly thereafter.

Snead also noted that filing for election seats in the April election will be open December 5 through the 23rd and candidates may file at city hall during regular business hours. Likewise there will be an additional day to file on December 26th.

He also said that although the most recent city audit came back with a clean bill of health, the auditors neglected to submit the results to the state. After placing a phone call to the auditors and to state officials it appears the problem will be rectified in the near future, a necessary step as fines could run up to $500 per day. A full update is expected in an upcoming council session and steps will be taken to insure there will be no problems next year, which may include using a different audit company.

It was also reported that the search to replace city Administrator Mike West, who is set to be terminated on December 31st is ongoing.

Mayor Jim Henry read a resolution paying tribute to veterans in honor of Veterans Day November 11th. 

The Butler city council meets on the first and third Tuesdays, 7 pm upstairs at city hall. The public is highly encouraged to attend.

Obituary - James Lloyde Thomas

James (Jim) Lloyde Thomas, 82, passed away on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at his home in Sheldon, MO. Jim was born February 25, 1941 in Zodiac, MO, to James H. and Mary Elizabeth (Malcom) Thomas. He married Glenda Sue Wallace on August 19, 1958 and she survives of the home.

Jim attended Sheldon Schools. At age 17, he joined the United States Marines and served three years at Camp Pendleton in California. Following his time in the service he came back to Sheldon and operated Thomas Grocery Store for 12 years. Jim had various occupations including owning and operating The Apple Blossom Café in Sheldon and later in Lockwood.

In addition to his wife Glenda, he is survived by two sons, Mike Thomas (Jimetta), Sheldon, and Robert Thomas (Gail), Jerico Springs; and one daughter, Connie Moore (Robert), Carthage; eight grandchildren, Whitney Kitchell, Lindsey Thomas, Crystal Gordon, Lance Moore, Desiree Moore, Kimberly McFarland, Chelsea Day, and James Thomas; 15 great-grandchildren; five sisters, Louise Olgren, Independence, MO, Freda Eliason, Milwaukee, WI, Irene Barnhart, Raymore, MO, Betty Newton, Grain Valley, MO, and June Dobbins, Carthage, MO; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Charles Thomas; and a sister, Peggy Houdeshell.

Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, November 17, 2023, at Cedar Hills Baptist Church in Jerico Springs, MO with Pastor Jeff Quigley officiating. Committal will follow in Brasher Cemetery in Jerico Springs. The family will receive friends from 1-1:30 p.m. prior to the service at the church.

Memorial contributions to St Jude’s or the American Diabetes Association.

Obituary - Mary Anne Green

Mary Anne Green, 69, of Adrian, Missouri, passed away November 12, 2023 at Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri. 

A graveside service will be held on November 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Crescent Hill Cemetery in Adrian, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to their charity of choice.

A full obituary will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

MDC reports 90,334 deer harvested during firearms opening weekend

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows deer hunters in Missouri harvested 90,334 deer during opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season Nov. 11 and 12. Of the 90,334 deer harvested, 53,159 were antlered bucks, 7,163 were button bucks, and 30,012 were does.

Top harvest counties for opening weekend were Franklin with 2,114 deer harvested, Texas with 1,825, and Howell with 1,726.

According to MDC, this year’s opening weekend harvest was similar to the previous five-year average. Last year, hunters checked 93,355 deer during opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season.

For current, ongoing preliminary harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website at extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/.

For harvest summaries from past years, visit mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/deer-reports/deer-harvest-summaries.

“With the cool mornings and comfortable afternoons, it would have been hard to ask for more pleasant conditions to be deer hunting this past weekend,” said MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle.

The November portion of firearms deer season runs through Nov. 21 followed by the CWD portion Nov. 22-26 in open counties. Archery deer hunting resumes Nov. 22 through Jan. 15, 2024. The late youth portion runs Nov. 24-26. The late antlerless portion of firearms deer season runs Dec. 2-10 in open counties and the alternative methods portion will occur Dec. 23 through Jan. 2, 2024.

Get more information on Missouri deer hunting from MDC’s 2023 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where hunting permits are sold and online at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer.

Bates County Cattlemen annual meeting November 18th

Join the Bates County Cattlemen for an evening of family fun and great food at their annual meeting November 18th at the Adrian Optimist Building. 

Tickets will be sold at the door. Prime rib dinner will be served at 6:30pm for $25. Other festivities include the awards ceremony, FFA auction and 50/50 raffle. 

Enjoy good food, support the area youth and celebrate the Cattlemen’s accomplishments for the year.

Happy Retirement to Coach Burchett

The Midway R-1 School District announces the retirement of legendary Hall of Fame Coach Larry Burchett from his role as the head varsity football coach, after 50 years of coaching high school athletics.

"By leaving now, I can watch my grandkids and spend time with my family. As you know, I have never missed practice for anything."

Coach Burchett began his career in 1975 as a teacher and assistant football coach at Cass Midway R-1, where he has coached and taught every year with the exception of one year at Owensville School District in 1979-80. 

In 1980, Coach Burchett returned to Midway as an assistant football coach and as the head boys basketball coach, a position he held through the 2009 school year. His success as a head basketball coach was unmatched in the area--with his teams amassing more than 400 wins during his tenure.

In 1983, Coach Burchett got his first taste as the Midway head football coach, then returned to assistant football coaching from 1984-1987. He was the head coach from 1988-1990, returned to assistant coach in 1991, then served as the Vikings head coach from 1992-2023.

Larry Burchett has had a role in all six of Midway's state championships. He won two as a player in 1969 and 1970 (and was a state runner-up in the state's first state championship game in 1968). 

He was the offensive coordinator in 1976, 1978, and 1982. As head coach, Burchett's team won its state championship in 1996.

 "Winning the one with Brett (Larry's son), was special." During his tenure as a coach, the Vikings also played in the semifinals in 1977, 1982, 1988, and 1992.

Coach Burchett mentioned that he had a great crew of assistants, many who were with him for twenty years. Brett Burchett, Larry's son, was a player on the 1996 team and was an assistant coach with the Vikings for twenty years. He now coaches basketball and football in Stockton, MO. Jim Riggs, Bryan Stahl, Chad Dean, and Jesse Richardson are also long serving assistant coaches.

Coach Burchett declined to pick out specific players or teams that were his favorites. He did state that different groups that came through were "fun groups and good players."

Besides the playoffs and state championships, Coach Burchett remembers a couple of games in particular. "We played the mud bowl with Adrian in the early 80s. 

We played on one end of the field out here because the other was too muddy to stand on. We won 2-0. The other game was what we called the 'Fog Bowl' where you couldn't see when you punted or passed the ball. Of course we didn't pass much back then."

When asked about the biggest changes in his career, Coach Burchett said, "Offenses have changed a lot. In the 1970s it was ground and pound with some play action. In the early 1980s we threw it when other people didn't. The 80s and 90s were still mainly on the ground. Around 2000, we started to spread out more on offense and by the 2010s we have become more of a spread team."

"I am proud of all we have accomplished and proud of being part of all of Midway's successes."

Plans are underway to honor Coach Burchett and his impact on the players and programs at Midway R-1. For now, we wish him and his family congratulations on a celebrated career!

Larry Burchett Career Coaching Highlights at Midway R-1
WEMO Conference Boys Basketball Championships--1986, 1987, 2001, 2005

District Boys Basketball Championships--1986, 1987, 1988, 1997

WEMO Conference Football Championships--1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1997, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018

District Football Championships--1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016,

State Football Final Four--1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1996, 1997

State Football Coaching Championships--1976, 1978, 1982, 1996