City of Butler Named 2024 Missouri Municipal League Innovation Award Winner

City of Butler Named 2024 Missouri Municipal League Innovation Award Winner.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The city of Butler has been named a recipient of a Missouri Municipal League Innovation Award for 2024. Winners have been announced this week in conjunction with Missouri Local Government Week. These awards honor outstanding projects happening in communities across Missouri that enhance the quality of life for Missouri cities. The city of Butler is the winner for the small cities category.

Winning projects illustrate the creativity of Missouri’s local officials and municipal employees as they serve their communities and keep Missouri cities vibrant.

Butler’s submission highlighted the Kenton and Friends Inclusive Playground. The playground was the fruition of a community-driven, City-supported inclusive playground project. The aim was to create a community-accessible recreational space that could be enjoyed by people of all abilities and ages within Butler and surrounding communities. The project was led by a committee of volunteers with support from city officials and involved seeking proposal bids for playground equipment accommodating individuals with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities, as well as catering to the full community.

The project committee involved community members, including individuals with disabilities, caregivers, parents, special education educators, local organizations, and government entities, to ensure the playground met the diverse needs of Butler. The goal was to foster social inclusion, promote physical activity, and provide an engaging environment where everyone could play together without barriers.

Cities across the state also celebrate Missouri Local Government Week this week (May 5-11.) It is the perfect time to highlight the MML Innovation Award winners, as these projects demonstrate the dedication of those serving in local government. They also emphasize the valuable partnerships city officials develop with other cities, nonprofit organizations, businesses and citizens.

Awards are based on city population size, except for the Member Choice award, where MML members vote for their favorite project regardless of city size. This year, MML received 23 submissions from municipalities statewide, demonstrating the creativity and ingenuity within local government.

Learn more about Local Government Week at www.mocities.com and find more information regarding the MML Innovation Awards at www.mocities.com/InnovationAwards.

Obituary - Lindsey R. Petitt

Lindsey R. Petitt, Nevada, MO, was born in Spearfish, South Dakota on March 26, 1978 to Henry Petitt and Barbara (Hedge) Petitt, and went to be with the Angel's on Friday, May 3, 2024.

Lindsey has a 21-year-old daughter Hannah Petitt that she loved spending as much time with her as she could.

Lindsey is survived by her daughter, Hannah Petitt of Nevada, MO: mother, Barbara (Hedge) Petitt of Nevada MO; sister, Gaylene Buckner of Milo, MO; brother, Paul Petitt and family of EL Dorado Springs, MO; and a brother, Gene Petitt and family of Nevada MO. She was blessed with many nieces and nephews, and many great-nieces and great-nephews. She is preceded in death by her father, Henry Petitt.

No services are planned at this time.

Butler Bears Baseball gets road win tonight in Archie

The Butler Bears Baseball got the road win tonight in Archie with the final score 7-1.

The Bears got on the board in the top of the first inning after Brandon Hammett hit into a fielder's choice, Bryson Kash singled, and Cohen Wilson hit into a fielder's choice, each scoring one run. Eli Cox earned the win for Butler. 

The righty allowed three hits and one run over two innings, striking out one and walking one. Maddox Fennewald stepped on the bump first for the Bears. They allowed three hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out four and walking one. 

B McIntire stepped on the mound first for Archie. The starting pitcher gave up three hits and five runs over five innings, striking out four and walking five. Brock Lines collected the save.

Jake Chandler led Butler Varsity Bears with two runs batted in. The catcher went 1-for-3 on the day. Cox, Kash, Hammett, Chandler, and Wilson each collected one hit for Butler Varsity Bears. Cameron Anderson paced Butler with three walks. 

Overall, the team had patience at the plate, amassing seven walks for the game. Chandler stole three bases. Butler Varsity Bears stole six bases in the game. K Snook led Archie with one run batted in. 

They went 3-for-3 on the day. J Kash collected two hits for Archie in four at bats. Archie turned one double play in the game.

Breaking: Dam breached at Rec Lake in Butler

Tornado Watch Until 4:00 a.m.

A new tornado watch has been issued for much of the western half of MO and extreme eastern KS. This watch will be in effect until 4 AM.

Storms are developing in eastern/ SE KS and will move into extreme eastern KS and western MO in the next 1-2 hours

From the Nevada R-5 Foundation

The Nevada R-5 Foundation had the honor of presenting the 2024 Dr. Nelson & Mrs. Susan Greenlund Educator Incentive Grants today. In 2021, the Greenlunds established this award as a recognition and incentive to “attain & retain quality educators” for the Nevada R-5 District. Dr. Greenlund served on the R-5 Board of Education for 15 years and their sons, Andy and Matt, are Nevada alumni.

A big thank you to the Greenlunds for supporting and funding this wonderful opportunity. Because of their generosity, two grants were presented this year: Congratulations to Mrs. Chrystie Braden & Mrs. Angie Landoll!

Pictured (l-r):
Mrs. Shirley Rainey, (Foundation founder), Mrs. Chrystie Braden, Mrs. Jan Benbrook, (Foundation Board President), Mrs. Susan Greenlund, Dr. Nelson Greenlund, Mrs. Marsha Hooper, (Foundation Director) and Mrs. Angie Landoll

Storm timing and evolution

Timing for extreme eastern Kansas and extreme western Missouri: 8-11 PM tonight. Wind gusts could exceed 75 mph, with embedded tornadoes possible as well. Be prepared with multiple ways to receive warnings and know your safe shelter in advance.

Obituary - Maxine Young

Funeral services for Maxine Young of Butler, Missouri will be 2 p.m. Thursday, May 9, 2024 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. No Visitation. Burial in Appleton City Cemetery in Appleton City, Missouri. Contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Ola Maxine Young, age 98 of Butler, Missouri died Saturday, May 4, 2024 at the Baptist Home in Adrian, Missouri. She was born October 28, 1925 to Ralph Loren and Bertha Mary Freyer Culver in Appleton City, Missouri.

Maxine is survived by a son, Paul Allen Young of Butler, Missouri; a nephew, David Culver and wife Tammy of Overland Park, Kansas; and four nieces, Sheri Bond and husband James of Overland Park, Kansas, Kathy Kedigh of Louisburg, Kansas, Emma Borders of Louisville, Kentucky and Mary Reiser of Maryland. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harry Paul Young on December 17, 2011; a grandson, Matthew Allen Young; and two brothers, Ray and Royce Culver.