Obituary - Jerry Wallace Benson

Jerry Wallace Benson, age 75, of Peculiar, Missouri passed peacefully surrounded by family on January 2, 2024 in Overland Park, KS.

Jerry was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota on March 4, 1948, the son of Judien Benson and Mildred “Millie” Cora Benson. He was the youngest of three children; Allen, Roger & Jerry. He graduated from Lake Mills, IA high school in 1966.

He married Teri Cromley on August 13, 1966. Jerry & Teri had three children, Carolyn, Jerry Wayne, and Jim. They moved from Rochester, MN to Missouri in 1975. He later married Ruth Ann in 1989 adding three step-children to his family; Kathleen, Carol & John. Jerry and Ruth were united until his passing.

He was trained as a meat cutter and held various positions as part of a happy & rewarding career. After retirement, he traveled with sons, Jerry & Jim, as part of a trucking business allowing the opportunity to travel most of the United States. He later enjoyed driving a school bus for time it provided with kids, helping them to and from school.

Jerry loved camping, dogs, fishing, hunting, and traveling. He was an avid outdoorsman and pool shooter and MN Vikings fan. He enjoyed fishing with daughter & sons, teaching his grandkids how to fish, and family time. He enjoyed traveling & fishing adventures with family to Minnesota, Canada, Texas, Florida, and many areas to pursue his love of nature, family and outdoors. He and Ruth enjoyed time in their camper while snow-birding in Rockport, TX.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 35 years, Ruth Ann of the home and beloved Cocker Spaniel, Lucky; three children: Carolyn Blake (Robert) of Liberty, MO; Jerry Wayne of Pleasant Hill, MO; and Jim of Pleasant Hill, MO; Step-children: Kathleen DeCarlo (Steve) of Melrose, MA, Carol Holsman (Todd) of Raymore, MO, and John Parker of Oskaloosa, IA; grandchildren: Natasha Ploog (Zach); Nasser Baroqua & fiancé Chesle (Carolyn), Haley Benson (Jim), Jordan Benson (Jerry Wayne); Step grandkids: Alex and Bryce Holsman (Carol), Natalia DeGroot (Kathleen), Colin DeCarlo (Kathleen), Dylan Blake (Carolyn), Megan Anderson; great-grandchildren, Anthony (Natalia) and Eden (Megan).

Jerry was an organ donor and his corneas were donated to restore the sight of two people on his passing.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Roger Benson; and Uncle Snookie.

A celebration of life will be at the home, Saturday, January 6, 2024, noon to 3 p.m..

Benefit for Heather Pugh & Family

 

Winter Conditions Return to the region

An active weather pattern is expected this weekend into early next week as a series of systems impact the region. The first of these arrives on Friday with light snow expected across the region. 

The strongest system is expected on Monday into Tuesday, though snowfall amounts remain uncertain at this time.

Obituary - Donald “Don” Ballweber

Donald “Don” Ballweber, age 71, Nevada, MO, passed away on Saturday, December 30, 2023, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, MO. He was born June 4, 1952, in Salem, OR, to Harold D. and Thomasine R. (Stiers) Ballweber.

Don is survived by his wife, Sandy; his mother, Ruth; his children, Traci and Samantha; step-children, Tonya, Rickki, Chrystal, and Jessica. Four brothers, Gary, Daryl, Terry, Eric; and a sister, Lesa. His loving grandchildren: Lexi, Savannah, Jazlynn, Mercedes, Lexxie, Lia, Ryan, Jordan, and Jayci. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold; step-father, Jim Falwell; sister, Linda; and brother, Randy.

Don graduated from McNary High School. He served honorably in the US Navy and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a retired Professional Truck Driver with the CB handle “Dirty Don”. You know he would have something funny to say when you heard him on the CB. Don enjoyed anything to do with cars, camping, working in the yard, and being with friends and family.

Memorial services with Military Honors will be held 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 8, 2024, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, MO, with Pastor John Durham officiating.

Obituary - Iva Erickson

Iva Erickson, 72 of Butler, Missouri passed away January 2, 2024 at her home in Butler. A visitation will be held Saturday, January 6, 2024 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the Amsterdam Baptist Church in Amsterdam, Missouri. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 am Saturday, also at the church. 

Burial will take place in Scott Cemetery, Amsterdam. 

Funeral services under the direction of Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). Memorial contributions may be made to the Amsterdam Baptist Church or Scott Cemetery. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfu-neralhome.com.

Iva Jewel Erickson was born on October 15, 1951 in Clinton, MO, to parents Russell and Eva Parker Cumpton. Early childhood she lived in Ballard, then moved west of Adrian. She graduated from Miami R-1 in 1969. 

Iva attended Fort Scott Community College where she graduated with her Cosmetology license. After high school, Iva married her high school sweetheart, Larry John Erickson in Amsterdam MO, where they raised 3 children. She loved to decorate, DIY, shop, and spend time with family and friends.

Iva was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Eva Cumpton, brothers Wayman and Leroy. She is survived by her children; Rebecca Joy Johnston and husband Jeff of Butler, MO; Ran-dall John Erickson and wife Julie of Louisburg, KS; Alison Jolene Putnam and husband Trey of Frisco, TX. Grandsons: Jacob, Tavin, Ethan, Renner, Ryder, and Jameson. Granddaughters: Abby, Mia, Josie, and Mairin. Great-grandchildren Carson, Jaxon, Grayson, Tyson, Ma-son, Knox, Margaret, and Miles. Siblings: Larry (Bonnie) Cumpton, Joy (and Ray) Craft, Sha-ron Halliburton, Sister-in-law Reda Cumpton. And a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Lack of Interest

 By Doug Mager

A proposed wind turbine project that was to cover over 60 square miles located generally east of Passaic has been scrapped due to a "lack of interest"

Mid America Live got wind of the project last February as the Butler airport commission had received a letter from the Federal Aviation Administration seeking their comment, considering that the 700 foot tall turbines certainly could create a hazard for local aircraft. While it had already been determined that the closest turbines wouldn’t be directly in a flight path, it was requested by the commission that the closest one or two be moved a bit further out just for safety’s sake. 

Short of more information, we made contact the company in charge of the project, Harvest Ridge Wind Farms of Lenexa KS for comment. The reply was yes, indeed plans were moving ahead and that all information available online was correct, which included some 53, roughly 700 foot tall, electricity generating wind turbines spread out over 40,000 acres north of Butler and east of Passaic.

Wanting to know more, we paid a visit to the Bates county Recorder of Deeds to find that there were 109 land leases on the books for the project. Subsequently, those leased areas were shaded onto the pages of the Bates county plat book and there appeared to be a lot of gaps, indicating many more would be needed to get this thing off the ground.  

To confirm this, Mid America Live placed a call to the recorder of deeds in Jasper county (home to many turbines near Joplin) to get an idea of how many leases would be needed to make the Bates county wind farm a reality. The answer, followed by a giggle, was “it would need to be lot more than 109. Like 100 times that many.”

As word of the wind farm spread, many locals were quick to voice their opinion which generally brought a quick yes or no, and our very informal survey garnered a lot more no’s. But would that be enough to kill the project?

Apparently so, it’s official- over the past few weeks those who did sign leases were informed by Harvest Ridge by certified letter that yes indeed, the project is off the table due to a lack of interest by the majority of landowners in the area.

As an added note there are two solar panel farms in the works located near Amsterdam and both of which, encompassing about 4,000 acres each, are on track with a completion date yet to be announced. Mid America Live will provide updates on those as they become available.

Normal Temperatures Thursday

Mild conditions for Thursday afternoon.

Friday morning, light rain enters the area, and transitions to light snow by Saturday. Snow accumulations for Friday-Saturday are forecast less than 1 inch.

Monday-Tuesday, stronger system is expected to move across the area. Accumulating snowfall is likely. Exact amounts remain very uncertain. Impacts to travel possible Monday-Tuesday.

MDC reports 12,465 deer taken during alternative methods portion

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows deer hunters in Missouri harvested 12,465 deer during the alternative methods portion of firearms deer season, Dec. 23 – Jan. 2. Of the 12,465 deer harvested, 3,130 were antlered bucks, 1,450 were button bucks, and 7,885 were does.

Top harvest counties were Callaway with 296 deer harvested, Franklin with 250, and Macon with 228.

The harvest total for last year’s alternative methods portion was 8,724. This year’s harvest total was eight-percent higher than the previous five-year average.

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

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

The archery deer and turkey season runs through Jan. 15.

Find more information on deer hunting from MDC’s 2023 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold and online at https://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/2023FDT.pdf.