Obituary - Mary Pearl Hayes

Mary Pearl Hayes, age 63, of Clinton, Missouri, passed away, Friday, May 10th, 2024, at the Menorah Medical Center, Overland Park, Kansas. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, May 20, 2024 at the Northeast Baptist Church in Clinton, Missouri. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 prior to the service. 

Burial will be in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri. Memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri.

Schell-Osage Pump Station progress hampered due to heavy rainfall

Schell-Osage Pump Station Update: Heavy rains at the end of April and into early May flooded the new Schell-Osage pump station project and has hampered progress for several weeks.

The pics show before flooding in April and after flooding last week. Once the flood waters recede, the contractor will get back on site to clean up sedimentation and debris before they can resume constructing the pump station.

Before the flood, the pump station was 80% complete and well ahead of schedule. This setback will extend construction into the summer, but it is unknown at this time when we should expect substantial completion.

2024 Rich Hill School District Teacher Retirees

RICH HILL SCHOOL 2024 RETIREES
Dr. Kevin T. Goddard
May 8, 2024

It was a busy day at Rich Hill R-IV. This morning, we honored this year's retirees, followed by a "Teacher Appreciation" lunch, and then PTO brought in cupcakes and flavored water for teacher appreciation week.

Each retiree was given a celebration cake to share with fellow staff during a reception in the auditorium. Susie Kelley (right) has served the district for 36 years as a bus driver. She will continue to drive part-time for the district.

Nancy Wilson (left) has been a custodian in the district for 29 years and is looking forward to spending time with her kids and grandkids.

Sheila Smalley (center) has taught science in the district for the last 5 years, capping off a 26 year career.

Along with cake and punch, staff treated the retirees with an award of appreciation, cards, and gifts. If you see these ladies, thank them for so many years of service to the Rich Hill community!

Obituary - Joyce Merlyne Estep

Joyce Merlyne (Petry) Estep, 84, of Peculiar, MO, passed away May 12, 2024 at her home in Peculiar. Visitation will be at Harrisonville Church of the Nazarene on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. The service to celebrate her life will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 11:00 am and will be conducted by Joyce's children: Dr. Eddie Estep, Rev. Kim Duey, Rev. Scott Estep, and Dr. Steve Estep with Rev. Steve Suttles from the Harrisonville Church of the Nazarene. Interment will follow at Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville, MO.

Joyce was born in Foster, West Virginia, on March 14, 1940, to Roy E. Petry, Sr. and Gladys G. McKinney Petry. After living in West Virginia until 2005, she and her husband moved to Peculiar, MO, where she was a member of the Harrisonville Church of the Nazarene. While spending most of her life in WV, she was active in the Miami, Belle, and Paden City Churches of the Nazarene. She enjoyed serving as an organist, choir member, children's church and teen Bible quiz director, teen choir director, Sunday School teacher, and various boards. She loved the Lord and served him for most of her life.

She was employed by the Wetzel County Board of Education in WV for almost 26 years and served most of that time as treasurer. After retiring in 2001, Joyce and Donald enjoyed traveling to spend time with family and also vacationing several times each year.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Patricia Gail Petry; and brother, Roy E. Petry, Jr. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Dr. Donald L. Estep of Peculiar, MO; her children: Dr. Edward L. Estep (Diane) of Overland Park, KS; Kimberly D. Duey (Robert) of Peculiar, MO; Scott A. Estep (Kim) of Rudloph, OH; and Dr. Stephen M Estep (Michelle) of Marion, OH; nine grandchildren: Joshua Estep of Columbus, OH; and Jeff Estep of Mt. Vernon, OH; Nathan Meek of Coshocton, OH; and Derek Duey of Woodstock, GA; Seth Estep of Bowling Green, OH; and Shani Estep of Rudolph, OH; Brandon Estep of Marion, OH; Brooke Estep of Marion, OH; and Blake Estep of Akron, OH; eleven great-grandchildren: Alexis Meek, Felicity Duey, Adaline Duey, and Eloise Duey; Ellie Estep, Emery Estep, and Sunny Estep; Sawyer Estep, Sailor Estep, Sutter Estep, and Hayes Estep; her sister, Juanita Kay Hill (Boyd) of Sissonville, WV; brothers-in-law: Darius Estep of Massilon, OH; and Lowell Bixler of Navarre, OH; and several nieces and nephews. Her family was important to her. She dearly loved and was loved by them.

Be on the lookout: Stolen truck out of St. Clair County

Be on the lookout: Stolen truck out of St. Clair County...

This vehicle was stolen between the evening of May 12th, 2024, and the morning of May 13th, 2024, from the Truman Lake Weaubleau Arm Bridge on Highway 82. 

If you have any information or spot this vehicle, please call 417-646-2565

Power outages reported in Butler

We have had several reports of power outages at this time in the city of Butler. 

Electric Crews are out now and are working to resolve this issue. Thank you for your patience

Free movie this Sunday!

 

Obituary - Kathy Joyce Biggert

Kathy Joyce Biggert, age 66, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly, Thursday, May 9, 2024, at her home. She was born April 29, 1958, in Oceanside, California, the daughter of John T. Durbin, Sr. and Mary Wickham Durbin. Kathy had worked for several years for Wal-Mart. She originally traveled the country helping to set up new and remodeled stores. She later worked primarily at the Ft. Scott location. After leaving Wal-Mart, Kathy began working at McDonald’s in Ft. Scott. 

She worked at the drive through window for many years and will be remembered for her friendly personality. Kathy loved animals and often took in and cared for many stray pets. She also enjoyed taking the occasional motorcycle ride and collecting elephants.

Survivors include her significant other, Roy Davenport of Ft. Scott; a sister, Faith Durbin of Tecumseh, Oklahoma; six nephews, Daniel Durbin (Kadee), Michael Durbin (Brandi), John “Tommy” Durbin, Jeffery Durbin, Jimmy Poole, Jr., (Tanya) and Brandon Poole; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Candy Brown and Dee Anna Poole and a brother, John T. Durbin, Jr.

There was cremation. No services are planned at this time. Memorials are suggested to the Kathy Biggert Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.