Recipe of the Week- Taco skillet dip

 

1 pound ground beef

1 tablespoon butter

1 small onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 tablespoons taco seasoning

1 1/2 teaspoons cumin

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles

1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese, divided

1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese, divided

1/2 cup grated white Cheddar cheese, divided

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

1/2 cup sour cream

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until softened, about 10 minutes. Drain excess grease.

Stir in taco seasoning, cumin, cayenne, and diced tomatoes and green chiles (undrained). Reserve 1/4 cup each of sharp Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and white Cheddar; set aside. Stir remaining sharp Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and white Cheddar cheese into beef mixture.

Nestle the brick of cream cheese into the center of the skillet. Place dollops of sour cream in the skillet.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, and stir to incorporate cream cheese and sour cream into the beef mixture. Top with remaining 3/4 cup cheese.

Return skillet to the oven; bake until cheese browns and edges are bubbling, about 10 minutes more. Rest for about 5 minutes before serving with chips or dippers.

Report from the Bates County Commission

  

January 24, 2024 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner Ken Mooney and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present. Assessor Carl Bettles and Tammy Mackay with the State Tax Commission came in to discuss issues with the Assessors maintenance report. Upon inspection of the Assessors budget review, the assistance manager of the State Tax Commission questioned the total amount. There seems to be an error in how the tech side was calculated per state statue guidelines. According to the current statue the assessor is supposed to have 1% of all tax valuation for collectors withholding and .50% to be capped at 75,000.00 for technology withholding. According to the current budget sheet the technology withholding is short. It was asked if we needed to get the County Clerk, Jami Page and Collector Jimmy Platt in the meeting, Jim Wheatley stated not as of yet so they couldn’t cover anything up. After several points of discussion with no clarification and the statues clearly showed, Jimmy Platt and Jami Page were brought in. The current numbers showed to be calculated with a 1.45% used for collectors withholding and the technology withholding at .25% (which was the prior to 2009 calculation) it is thought that the 1.45% was to keep the cap under 75,000.00. This has resulted in an overage to the Assessors budget of $37,000.00 just last year. The next year’s budget will come in line with the current statutes. Myron Rapp and Darrell Dains of Rockville Township came in to discuss county road 12845. One of the property owners, Lee Roy Garreans, has diverted water to his property and has made the dam higher to keep more water on his land. This is causing water to be over the road and damage to occur. This area is mostly duck hunters but the conflict between the owners has gotten out of control at times and the law has had to intervene. The township has asked to keep the water off the road and under 18 inches of the road top. He has not complied. Ken made the motion to approve Kickin Chicken for the WCCA meeting dinner. Trent seconded the motion. All vote yes. Motion carried. No opposition.

January 29, 2024 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner Ken Mooney and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present. David Sclapeler, from Appleton City, came in to talk about road 1265 in Lone Oak that is in question as to their maintenance responsibility. He operates the road grader. Road 1265 has 1/2mile at the lower west end of Pleasant Gap and upper west part of a Prairie that is said to be part of Lone Oak road maintenance responsibilities. The Commission showed him the GIS map and indicated the part to the west of that road is Lone Oak Township therefore is part of their responsibility. The Commission received a call from an inmate’s sister questioning the doctor charges and medicine needs while incarcerated. She was referred to the U.S. Marshals.

January 31, 2024 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner Ken Mooney and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present. Approved Bills. Missouri State Auditors Julie Moulden and Ken Joos met with the Commission, Brenda Doody, Greg Mullinax, Carl Bettels, Danyelle Baker, Jim Platt, Hugh Jenkins, Chad Anderson and Jami Page.  The Auditors introduced themselves.  Julie stated that Shannon Spicer will be supervising the audit staff.  Julie gave each Officeholder an Audit Communication Memo.  They will be auditing the year 2023 in accordance with the MO Auditing Standards.  The audit will take two months to complete.  The audit report will be finished late summer.  Julie stated they will continue investigation into the Sheriff’s expenditures.  Hugh asked about the spreadsheet they sent to everyone.  He asked why he needs to prepare a second summary when he has all the documentation.  Hugh said it will be a hardship on his office to compile all this documentation into a spreadsheet.  Julie said it would save the auditors time, but they would work with his office.  Jim Platt asked about the February 6th deadline.  Julie said we don’t have to stay with that deadline.  Julie stated each Officeholder should be turning over a monthly report to the Clerk showing their collections and disbursements.  She will get Jami the statute regarding this. Prosecuting Attorney Hugh Jenkins met with the Commission regarding the Gary Anderson case.  The Commission said that Jim Hertzog is wanting the county to pay for his legal fees.  Hugh asked if the county wanted to accept this responsibility.  He stated that an independent contractor should have his own insurance.  Jami Page stated that Hertzog was not contracted with the county to board Mr. Anderson’s cattle.  Mr. Anderson’s attorney had sent a letter demanding the cattle be moved from Page Farms to Mo-Kan.  The Sheriff’s Office complied with this demand.  The county never paid Mr. Hertzog to board the cattle.  The agreement was between Gary Anderson and Jim Hertzog.  Not between Bates County and Jim Hertzog.  The Sheriff produced a document that was signed by Jim Hertzog stating that he shall bill Gary Anderson for the board of the cattle.  At 11:04 am Per RSMO 610.021 (17) Ken made the motion to go into closed session. Trent seconded the motion. All voted yes. No opposition. The Commissioners, County Clerk Jami Page and State Auditor were in the closed session. Ken made the motion to return to open session at 11:42 am. Trent seconded. All voted yes. No opposition. Open session commenced.

Bates County real estate transfers and marriage licenses

 

Hager, Ryan J to Davis, Rachel Str 29-41-32 //Ne

Baker, Terrence to Vohs, Neal Cad Lt 4 Bl 1 South Drexel

Marsee, Caleb to Marsh Family Agreement 05-15-2003 Lt 405 Country South Ext. #4

Grant, Lance M to Hicks, Reena Lt 1 Bl 2 Atkison’s 2nd Addn+

Eickhoff, Debra L to Tucker, William Lt 2 Bl 4 William’s Addn

Huffman, Fred L. to Greathouse, Jason Str 11-38-29 //Se

Winder, Clay to CM Property Management LLC Lt 2 Bl 2 William’s Second Addn

Moreland, Justin M to West, Jozelynn Lt 3 Bl 130 Town Company’s First Addn+

Heiman, Andres to Herrell, Jacob Str 20-40-31 //Nw

Herrell, Jacob to Heiman, Andres Str 15-40-32 //Ne

Kalberloh, Kendrick to Rockville Renovations LLC Lt 17 Bl 19 Rockville, Original Town Of+

Marquardt, Rock Dean to Ellis, Craig A Lt 2 Meadow Oaks

Nitsche, Linn (Trustee) to Green, Michael Bl 30 Butler, Original Town Of+

Lacy, Bryan Henry Jr. to Lacy, Nathan Albert Str 20-42-32 //Sw

Lacy, Bryan Henry Jr. to Lacy, Nathan Albert (Trustee) Str 13-41-32

Lacy, Bryan Henry Jr. to Lacy, Nathan Albert (Trustee) Str 29-42-32 //Ne

Lacy, Bryan Henry Jr. to Lawrence, Lyman Russell Jr. Str 21-42-32 //Sw

Lacy, Bryan Henry Jr. to Lacy, Nathan Albert (Trustee) Str 14-42-32 //Sw

Cates, Chelsey L to Cates, Robert D Jr Lt 25 Warford’s Addn+

Marriage License

None

The Museum Minute: Boiler explosion kills two

Courtesy of the Bates County Museum 802 Elks Drive, Butler Mo 64730 (660) 679-0134

Herrman’s Historical Happenings week of February 14

1907 Tonight is the St. Valentine hop at the Hotel Pennell in Butler. Dancing 9 to 1 as the Allen Orchestra plays.

1908 A steam furnace explodes in the Adrian school injuring many. Two, Charles Spieler and Horace Shelton die later from their injuries.

1920 With power furnished by the Schell City light plant, Rockville now has electricity.

1938 It is reported that 80% of the Bates Co farmers have agreed to take electricity according to an REA questionnaire. 

1978 Bungling robbers cause $2,000 damage breaking into the Ballard R-II school only to net $40 in change plus some knick knacks.

1987 Butler policeman Garry Weinstein is assaulted during a ruckus at the Youth Building at the Bates County Fairgrounds.

1990 Freezing rain coats everything, breaking trees and power lines for a couple of days in Bates County.

2000 After 17 seasons as Rich Hill Tiger football coach, Jerry Cornelius will become Nevada’s head coach this fall. He finished on a good note, as the Tigers won the 1A championship.

What’s Up by LeRoy Cook

 

We Learn From Others

February isn’t always a good flying month, but this one has started out with perfect conditions hereabouts. Even the weekend cold front didn’t produce anything but some scattered clouds, and the surface winds remained light. There were reports of turbulence aloft, mostly affecting jets flying in the upper 30s.  

On Thursday morning, we heard and observed three CH-53 Sikorsky helicopters cruising overhead, up at 8-10 thousand feet, similar to the one that crashed east of San Diego last week, a very tragic loss. Another chopper went down south of Las Vegas on Friday, after departing Palm Springs. We also saw two reports of  airplanes making emergency landings on roads; last Friday, a Challenger business jet flamed out on approach to Naples airport in Florida, setting down in traffic on I-75, with some survivors. And on Saturday, a Cessna 172 had to make an engine-out landing on a street in Phoenix, resulting in bent metal but nobody hurt. The latter shows the advantage of having a good old slow-landing airplane in an emergency situation; there’s a lot less kinetic energy to dissipate.

We often get asked why pilots spend so much time discussing wrecks. It’s because they want to find out what caused it and how it could be prevented from happening to them. It’s not morbid fascination, it’s continuing education. It’s a lot cheaper to learn from other people’s mistakes, rather than your own.

Quite a few visitors came into the airport last week, the bulk of them being training flights out of Kansas City, but some staying a while. A Cessna 182 was in, a Piper Cherokee refueled, and a Piper Comanche stopped by. From the local hangars, Les Gorden’s grandson Patrick took the family Piper Twin Comanche up to Kansas City, Jim Ferguson pulled his Cessna Skylane out, Jon Laughlin took his Cherokee 180 up, Eric Eastland flew his Skyhawk and Christian Tucker kept the Mooney M-20 out overnight. 

Rumor has it that the SkyDive KC parachuting operation will be starting up under new management at the end of April, using the Cessna jump planes. Further details will be forthcoming in a separate article. It’ll be nice to see cars gathering on the SkyDive parking lot once again, and nylon canopies floating down.

The week’s quiz asked “what color are the runway lights at our airport, as seen rolling down the centerline?” Well, it depends on your location. They are white as one initially touches down, but turn amber for the last 2,000 feet of the rollout, alerting the pilot that he or she is running out of stopping room. For the next time, a history test: During WW-II, Adolf Hitler sent unpiloted V-1 “buzz bombs” across the Channel to attack London. What did the “V” stand for?  You can send your answers to kochhaus1@gmail.com.

Corey’s Comments from City Hall

Editor's note-  A new feature this week titled Corey’s Comments from City Hall will appear on a regular basis in the News-Shopper and on Mid America Live providing insight and information direct to the public from Butler City Administrator Corey Snead.

"The purpose of this column going forward is to keep the citizens of Butler informed about what is happening in our community. That city government is transparent about topics and letting the citizens know what they can expect going forward. The first thing I would like to tell everyone is that my door is always open to hear the concerns of our community. That everything will not go as planned, but we will try our very best to do what is right for the community.  

As a small boy growing up in Butler, I never thought the responsibility of running our vibrant community would rest on my shoulders. As I got older working in government was something I wanted to do. Working for Senator Harold Caskey gave me insight on how you treat people and fight for your constituents.  I am extremely humbled to have the opportunity to lead our community in a new chapter. We have many things to be proud about here in Butler. My hopes and dreams are to continue to expand on those things we are proud of and why we call this community home. We also have many things we need to fix in our community. It will take a group effort to solve the problems we face as a community. 

There are three things that I ask of the community, and these are three things I will do personally as well. Number One support each other whether that be by shopping at our local businesses, helping a neighbor, giving back to the community or just being kind to each other. Number two, take pride in our community. Making sure that Butler is a place that other people would want to come and live. That we show the beauty of our community both on the outside and inside. Number three open and honest communication. We are all not going to agree with everything that happens. However, we must listen to all sides before we make a decision. That we take the good with the bad. These are three things I highly believe in and will try my best to do every day as we make decisions for our community. 

I want to see our vibrant small community grow and prosper over the next few years. Be a community that others look at for inspiration. That we have challenges, but we face those challenges head on every day and find solutions for them. I look forward to working with everyone and letting you know what the next steps we take as a community." -Butler City Administrator, Corey Snead

Scooter’s Coffee coming soon

 

The Butler city council along with Chief Jason Bennett recognized Everett McBrayer for his 36 years of service to the Butler Fire Department and the community this week. Thank you for your dedication and enjoy your retirement. Otherwise it  was a fairly light session for the council with Mayor pro tem Becky Randalls at the helm for Jim Henry. 

The city has officially squired a quit claim deed for the property at Douglas Park which included the former lodge building that partially burned in December. Demolition of the building and cleanup should be completed within a few weeks.

At was announced that Scooter’s Coffee is indeed coming to Butler and will be located next to Burger King. While a completion date is unknown, a good guess would be late Summer. 

The comprehensive plan is coming together. City Administrator Corey Snead said that survey results are in and a public meeting will be held to discuss with the public in the following weeks. Much work is being put into the comprehensive plan as it will ultimately help forge a positive future for the city of Butler. With that, city department heads have been asked for written 5 year plans for their departments, which will be integrated into the final draft. 

A home at 104 E. Pine street has been deemed a dangerous structure and the owner has until March 6 to bring it up to code or steps will be taken by the city to demolish it.

Crews are busy installing more water and electric meters that can be read by radio thus eliminating the need for city workers to manually read them. The new AMI system will intimately save time and money as well as provide valuable information in the event of outages. It is on track to be completed later this year.

Discussion continued about getting fiber internet throughout Butler. At this point it’s open to free enterprise as Osage Valley, Socket, Brightspeed and others are scrambling to be the front-runner despite issues in getting pole lease agreements. In short, it may be another year or two before fiber internet is available throughout Butler.

Remember the Butler city council meets on the first and third Tuesdays, 7 pm upstairs at city hall. An elevator is available for those with special needs and the public is highly encouraged to attend. 

NOT a road less traveled

 A quick jaunt south on Rice road in Butler could result in a floor pan scrape and a front end alignment thanks to raised pavement and wheel gobbling potholes. 

In fact, a recent Facebook post offered a “2 bedroom, 1 bath pothole for rent” on Rice Road as well.

All joking aside, many who travel through and live along Rice Road have been quite vocal about the conditions that seem to be worsening by the day.

“I’ve talked to the county commission and others multiple times and still can’t get answers about getting it fixed” says Brian Gifford, who lives right along the “fault line” across and just south of Jones Brothers Lumber.

As we spoke with Gifford he mentioned the lumber company across the road. “Yes, their trucks come through here but the bulk of trucks aren’t theirs. Seems a lot of others like to cut through here to avoid going under the train bridge and stoplight on west 52 highway.”

And sure enough, in our 20 or so minute conversation three rolled by, none of which belonged to the lumber company. Gifford says on any particular day he loses count of how many.

He reached out to Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley who said that while they are generally in charge of county roads, individual townships are responsible for maintaining those within their own jurisdiction. 

Gifford’s dismay is compounded by the fact that the dispute lingers as the city and township must agree not only on how repairs will be made but must split the cost as well, which could be complicated and pricey.

According to information from a spokesperson for Mount Pleasant township, the city prefers that particular section be repaved, however the township says they are not equipped to maintain asphalt other than patching potholes. Gravel would be a better option for them, but not for the city.

It seems that flattening the road and repaving would require additional work that if not done would result in the same problems experienced now. 

At this juncture, Gifford and township officials are left to plea their case to the Butler city council. 

More on this is expected in upcoming days.