Obituary - Peggy Sue Smith

Peggy Sue Smith, 72, Nevada, MO passed away on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at Nevada Regional Medical Center. Peggy was born February 13, 1951 in St. Louis, MO to Russell D. and Betty J. (Dunham) Hamilton. She was united in marriage to Robert Smith, and he preceded her in death.

Peggy grew up in St. Louis and graduated from high school there. Following high school she came to Nevada to attend Cottey College. She later went to nursing school and became an LPN and eventually worked as an OB nurse. Peggy worked at Nevada City Hospital as well as the Nevada Habilitation Center until her retirement. Following retirement, she moved to Oregon where she lived for 13 years, returning to Nevada in 1989. Her family was very important to her, they were a big part of her life as well as her grandchildren were.

Survivors include her son, Jason Smith (Samantha), Nevada, and a daughter, Teresa Shea, Boulder, CO; four grandchildren, Breeana Smith (Darryl Crawford), Kaylee Pruitt (Quinn), Kyla Smith, and Kaleb Smith; a great-granddaughter, Marley Pruitt; two sisters, Terri Penock, Nevada, and Mary Beth Landry, Louisiana; a brother, Russell Hamilton, Washington, MO; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Robert, she was preceded in death by her parents, and a son, Jeremy Smith.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Mark Mitchell officiating. Interment will follow in Moore Cemetery, Nevada.

Memorials are suggested in her name to Vernon County Cancer Relief c/o Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

Abney family love fund now set up at Community First Bank

Starting tomorrow 2-9-24, there will be a love fund set up for Adam Abney's boys and their mom Olivia. 

The love fund will be set up at Community First Bank, and called it “Abney family love fund”

If anyone knew Adam at all, knew he loved them 3 boys more than anything in the whole wide world. 

If you can donate, or even share this post!! Thank you guys

Grass fire in rural Rich Hill

At 12:20 p.m. RHFD was dispatched to a grass fire north of Rich Hill along the railroad tracks. Initially 2 firefighters copied the call. 

Due to today's winds and muddy conditions it made fighting the fire more difficult. The fire was brought under control at 1:07 p.m. Firefighters remained on scene for overhaul until 2 p.m.

A total of 8 firefighters and 4 trucks responded.
Thank you Rich Hill Missouri Police Department for bringing the guys a cooler of water!

Obituary - Elvin Franklin Bauer

Elvin Franklin Bauer, 85, Milo, MO passed away on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at his home in Milo following a lengthy illness. Elvin was born December 4, 1938 in Grove, OK to Edward D. and E.M. Bauer. He married Norma Jean Eslick on August 29, 1958 in Tulsa, OK and she preceded him in death on September 9, 2008.

Elvin was raised in Grove, OK and attended school there. As a young man he worked in the oil fields of Oklahoma. He later worked as a self-employed carpenter for numerous years until his retirement. Elvin came to Vernon County in 2009 and made his home in Milo. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and especially spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include two children: a son, Elvin Bauer, Tulsa, OK, and a daughter, Eva Hart (Phil), Sheldon, MO; six grandchildren, Justin Bauer, Lynn Handle, Roger Handle, DeWayne Bauer, David Bauer, and Nathan Bauer; numerous great grandchildren and great great-grandchildren; one sister, Wanda Caudill; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Lola Taylor, Nevada. In addition to his wife, Norma, he was preceded in death by his parents; and his brothers, Martin Bauer, Freddie Bauer, Billy Reeves.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at Ferry Funeral home in Nevada with Pastor Terry Mosher officiating. Interment will follow at 1:00 p.m. in the Pineville Cemetery in Pineville, MO with Pastor Marilyn O’Brien officiating.

Memorials are suggested to the family c/o Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

Update: Name released in early morning fatal fire in Adrian

This morning (2/8/2024) at approximately 0830hrs I was called to a residence on North Bates street in Adrian. First responders had arrived for a structure fire at this residence and in the process of extinguishing the fire, located a deceased individual inside the residence.

At this time I can confirm the decedent to be 91 year-old Edwin Nelson, known to reside at the residence. A complete death investigation will coincide with a fire investigation underway through the Missouri State Fire Marshall. At this time, there is no indication of foul play.

My thoughts and prayers remain with family and friends of Mr. Nelson.

Greg D. Mullinax
Bates County Coroner

Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare Announces February Employee of the Month

Clinton, MO. – (Feb. 8, 2024) – Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare (GVMH) is pleased to announce that Aimee Oerke is the February Employee of the Month.

Oerke has been an employee of GVMH since 2018 and works as a Registered Dietitian in the Food and Nutritional Services (FANS) department. In her role, she is responsible for the optimal nutritional care of all patients. She assists hospital patients, home health and hospice patients, provides medical nutrition therapy at outlying clinics, conducts support groups for patients with diabetes and more.

In her nomination, it stated Oerke is always supportive of her team members, is willing to take on new responsibilities and works additional hours on holidays and weekends to ensure the best care for patients.

As the Employee of the Month, Oerke received a GVMH gift and her name will be engraved on a plaque to be permanently displayed in the main campus. She is also one of 12 finalists for the 2023-2024 Employee of the Year award.

2024 Annual Butler Chamber Banquet Speaker Announced

We are thrilled to announce our keynote speaker this year for the 2024 Annual Butler  Chamber Banquet is Blake Benson!!

Blake is president of the Pittsburg (KS) Area Chamber of Commerce. A native of Forrest City, Arkansas, Benson holds a degree in journalism from Arkansas State University. 

Now in his 26th year of chamber and economic development work, Benson is a Certified Chamber Executive and a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management. He previously served as marketing director for the Rogers, Arkansas, chamber and as vice president for the Fort Smith, Arkansas, chamber.

A past president of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce Executives Association, Benson is a graduate of Leadership Kansas and has served as board president for the Pittsburg Rotary Club, Pittsburg Family YMCA, Mt. Carmel Foundation and is currently the board chairman for Ascension/Via Christi Hospital-Pittsburg. 

Benson also serves on the Kansas Board of Regents, which oversees six universities and coordinates nineteen community colleges, six technical schools and a municipal university, while himself pursuing his Master of Business Administration degree from Pittsburg State University.

Benson and his wife, Christel, have two sons, Braden and Mason. The Banquet will be held March 21st at Tavern Hall. More details to come!

Miami High School January Student of the Month Brian Tillery

The Adrian Optimist Club is pleased to honor Students of the Month from the Miami, Ballard, and Adrian schools. Criteria for this honor center on outstanding academic and civic achievement and school spirit. 

Staff at each of the schools make the selection, and their decision is based on expansion of these criteria. 

Selection is based on the criteria, but a student stepping up to a particular task will come to play in it. Each student is honored with a certificate of recognition from the Adrian Optimist Club and $20.00 in Adrian Chamber of Commerce “Chamber Bucks.”

Miami’s January Student of the Month is Brian Tillery, son of Jean and Waylen Tillery. Brian is a sophomore. His activities outside of school include games and Amsterdam Word of Life Church. He believes that you need to be yourself and push through anything. After school he wants to either enter the military or secure a job in the medical field.

School staff states that he is always willing to help out whether in school, church, or community. He has a new job and has made plans to attend Vo-Tech next year. Making career choices as a 10th grader is impressive!