Obituary - Lonnie L. Clair

Lonnie Lew Clair, 74, a resident of Madison, passed away on Monday, July 8, 2024, at University Hospital in Columbia from complications following open-heart surgery.

Lonnie was born on March 24, 1950, in Edina, the son of Junior P. Clair and Imogene C. (Parrish) Clair. On June 9, 1979, in Bethany, MO, he married Elizabeth Breazier, and she survives.

Lonnie spent 32 years in education, teaching one year in Brashear and Orchard Farm and four years in Centralia as an industrial education teacher. He then served as school superintendent in Eagleville, Miami R-1, Milan and Madison School Districts. Having a servant’s heart and upon retirement Lonnie volunteered at the Food Bank at Family Life Fellowship where he helped distribute meals. He also was able to go on several mission trips to places that included, Brazil, Philippines, Albania, Turkey and Moldova. Lonnie loved Jesus and was faithful to his church, Family Life Fellowship, where he was a dedicated member and elder, serving as a Sunday school teacher and small group leader. Lonnie enjoyed fishing and hunting as well as wood carving, where he made many pieces for his family and friends. He enjoyed tending to his chickens and spending time with his dogs, especially his husky Buck. Lonnie enjoyed playing the dulcimer, making his own dulcimer and made several others for family members. He was an amateur bee keeper and an avid gardener.

In addition to his wife of 45 years, he will be sadly missed and forever remembered by his two children, Nathan Clair and wife Tyrie of Savannah, MO and Paula (Clair) Ayres and husband Jonathan of Springfield, MO; two grandchildren, Hayden and Hadley Clair; one brother, Chris Clair and wife Penny of Marshall; two sisters, Linda Fowler and husband Terry of Moberly and Yvonne Lehnen and husband Hugh of Wellsville.

Lonnie was preceded in death by his parents.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Family Life Fellowship. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are suggested to The Food Bank at Family Life Fellowship, 1614 Hwy 24 E, Moberly MO 65270.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Pathway-Millard Family Funeral Chapel, 411 Union Avenue, Moberly, MO 65270 (660)263-7284. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.pathwaymemorial.com.

Bates County Community Health Foundation Awards 2024 Scholarships

Bates County Community Health Foundation (BCCHF) is pleased to announce scholarship recipients for 2024 are Mackenzie Davis, Jenna Shipley, Ida Jolliff and Paige Switzer.

Ida Jolliff lives in Butler and is pursuing her RN degree at Crowder College. She currently works as a CNA in the BCMH emergency department.

Jenna Shipley is from Adrian, and she is pursuing a master's degree in clinical nutrition at the University of Central Missouri.

Mackenzie Davis of Butler is pursuing a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at Rockhurst University.

Paige Switzer is from Butler and is pursuing her RN degree at Crowder College and currently works in the Lab at Bates County Memorial Hospital.

BCCHF raises funds throughout the year and uses the proceeds in part for awarding health care scholarships to Bates County students who are pursuing a career in health care.

Learn more about BCCHF at www.bcmhospital.com/foundation/

The Little Apple July 17, 2024

The Little Apple July 17, 2024:

AC Saturday Street Festival will be July 20, 2024. Venders will be on 4th Street from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Immediately following, there will be food (cooked by the Appleton City Fire Department) and entertainment (provided by the Ministerial Alliance) at Forest Park 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

The Ellett Memorial Hospital/AC Clinic Community Block Party will be Saturday, September 28, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. If you are interested in having a booth, or if you have any questions, please contact Kim Raybourn at 660-476-5236. KC Wolf has confirmed making a special appearance at some point during the day. The hospital will be providing free snow cones and cotton candy, along with a bounce house. Crank Farms will be providing the petting zoo. They have other vendors and events already lined up to join them for the day. Join Ellett Memorial Hospital Facebook and watch for upcoming information posts on the 2024 Community Block Party page.

The A.C. Fall City Wide Garage Sale dates have been set for Sept. 20 - 21. This will also be the weekend of the Saturday Street Festival, so the rental of the Park pole building, stage or lawn will not be available. Details regarding permits will be posted at a later date.

Seven local churches are teaming together to provide a week-long community Vacation Bible School Event: From the Inside Out! VBS will be each evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m., July 22 - 26. Each night will be hosted by a different church: Monday - Trinity UMC (AC), Tuesday - Rockville UMC, Wednesday - Church of God (AC), Thursday - Lutheran Church (AC), and Friday - First Christian Church (AC). 

This year for VBS, they are going to learn all about our emotions and how God can transform us from the inside out! There will a prize given to all kids with perfect attendance for the week. VBS is for PK-6th grade. Kids under 5 years need to be accompanied by a parent. Pre-register online https://forms.gle/1fhJjxHN4bdniBYv8

Scuba VBS will be hosted at First Baptist Church of AC July 23-26. SCUBA is for entering kindergarten through those that have completed 6th grade. They will start with a meal at 5:30 and conclude at 8:30 p.m. each evening. Family members and friends can join in daily at 8:15 p.m. as they wrap up their day. They also invite families to church on Sunday, July 28 for the finale and a meal following services. 

Sign up free online at: https://forms.gle/jYXzZ22XuCqKy3A4A Paper copies are available upon request. For information call 660-476-5512 or message on Facebook.

The AC Carousel is open weekends (Friday – Sunday) 4:00-7:00 p.m. through Labor Day. Rules will be posted at acmogov.com.

Third Sunday events for the Appleton City Ministerial Alliance include Wyatt Brown sharing at the AC Park on August 18 at 6:00 p.m. and Phil & Pam Morgan will at the AC Park on September 15 at 6:00 p.m. All events are free to attend. They will take donations at the ACMA events for the ministries sharing.

The Appleton City Museum at 503 N. Maple is open every Friday afternoon 1:30-4:30 p.m. Bring your friends and family to visit the 1880 Moore School, the Clark House and the Museum to learn about early day area history. Membership dues for the 2024-2025 year may be paid at this time at $15 individual and $25 family. Please support your museum with a membership and a visit this summer.

Free private tennis lessons are offered to anyone at the tennis courts at Donnohue-Dugan Park. Rackets and balls will be provided. To set up appointments for your private lessons or if you have questions, call Dennis Dunham at 476-2151 or 476-5514 or Tommy Payton at 816-863-6624. Open tennis is every day 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tennis is exercise that is fun!

Ellett Memorial Hospital Appleton City offers outpatient specialist services for July and August 2024 Call 660-476-2111 for appointments: July 17– Upper GI, Colonoscopy-Dr. Namin, July 18– Podiatry- Dr. Pace, July 22 – Ophthalmology, Dr. Soni, July 24- Ortho-Dr. Gray, Aug 1 – OB/GYN, Dr. Kallberg, Aug 6 – Rheumatology-Dr. John, Aug 7 – Upper GI, Colonoscopy-Dr. Vardakis, Aug 9- Ortho-Dr. Gray, Aug 14– Upper GI, Colonoscopy-Dr. Vardakis, Aug 15– Podiatry- Dr. Pace, Aug 20 – Rheumatology-Dr. John, Aug 21– Upper GI, Colonoscopy-Dr. Namin, Aug 26 – Ophthalmology, Dr. Soni, Aug 28- Ortho-Dr. Gray.

“The Little Apple” was started by the A. C. Economic Development as way of informing residents of news and events sponsored by area businesses and organizations. Items of a clearly personal nature, such as birthdays, anniversaries, awards (not group sponsored), personal sales and the like are not accepted for publication. Items may be edited for accuracy, grammar or space restrictions. Please email articles for “The Little Apple” to dcp81@embarqmail.com by Tuesday evenings or bring them to Dr. Payton’s office to be included in that week’s edition. To receive "The Little Apple" free by e-mail, or to be removed from the email list, send your e-mail address to dcp81@embarqmail.com If you have changed your email address, please send the current address, so the list can be updated.


CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 20 AC Saturday Street Festival starting at 11:00 a.m. on Main Street
July 22-26 Vacation Bible School Event: From the Inside Out! each evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at various churches
July 23-26 Scuba VBS at First Baptist Church of AC. 5:30 p.m.

Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare Promotes Brooke Johnson to Director of Medical Billing

Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare (GVMH) is pleased to announce the promotion of Brooke Johnson Director of Medical Billing.

In her new role, Johnson will be responsible for the coordination and supervision of all functions and activities related to billers, cashiers, collectors and data processing. She will set and monitor department goals, establish priorities and implement performance standards for the Business Office. Johnson will also assist with ways to optimize billing processes, enhance revenue collection, reduce denials and maintain compliance with relevant regulations.

“GVMH is lucky to have Brooke as the Director of Medical Billing,” said Tammy Nadler, Chief Financial Officer at GVMH. “Her new role is well-deserved, and I know she will bring her ongoing dedication and leadership to this position.”

Arrest made in Benton County

On July 16, 2024 at 1:16 PM, Benton County Central Dispatch was notified of a disturbance at 34154 Highway 65, a rural Warsaw address. 

The owner of the property and his employee were returning after work to find a stranger trying to drive away in the employee’s truck. Luckily, there was a pipe fence obstructing the getaway path and their incoming vehicle was blocking the driveway. 

The suspect, later identified as Lance Joseph Parker, 33 of Marble Falls, Arkansas abandoned the stolen truck and fled into the foliage beyond the residence. The property owner discovered Parker’s Dodge truck concealed inside his garage.

Benton County Deputies, MSHP, Missouri Department of Conservation agents and deputies from the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office cordoned off a two square-mile area using Peter’s Avenue, Highway 65 and 7 Highways as a boundary. Pettis County deployed their drone and K9 team in an attempt to locate Parker. 

The heat and humidity hampered their efforts to immediately apprehend Parker but did flush him out to the South where a caller stated a man matching our description was sculking in his mother’s yard near 7 Highway and Lickingteller Avenue. Deputies already in the area converged on the location and apprehended Parker.

Parker is believed to have burglarized a residence just to the South of our county in Hickory as well and may have charges pending there. Parker is being held on a twenty-four hour hold while we are requesting the charges of BURGLARY 2nd DEGREE which is a class D Felony and TAMPERING WITH A MOTOR VEHICLE which is also a class D Felony.

Thank you to all involved, especially the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office and its Sheriff, Brad Anders who is always ready to send his well-trained staff when needed. Several of our staff, including our K9 team, drone and pilot were out of town for weapons training.

Henry County Sheriff J. Kent Oberkrom Announces his Retirement

Henry County Sheriff Kent Oberkrom has announced that he will be resigning as the Sheriff of Henry County. 

Sheriff Oberkrom will be leaving the position as of July 25th and will accept a new position with the State of Missouri with the Probation and Parole Board. 

Oberkrom has served the citizens of Henry County for 27.5 years as Sheriff. He has been a great friend to the citizens of Henry county and will greatly missed by the citizens of Henry county. Thank you for your service and good luck in your future endeavors.

Sheriff J. Kent Oberkrom
Announces his Retirement

Obituary - Delbert Dean Owen

Delbert Dean Owen, age 89, of Lamar, Missouri passed away July 14, 2024, at Good Shepherd Community Care in Lockwood, Missouri.

Dean was born January 10, 1935 in Irwin, Missouri to Harold Eugene Owen and Bertha Wilhma (Ford) Owen. On March 11, 1956, Dean married Loretta Ruth Blanchard in Lamar, MO.

Dean owned and operated Owen Service Station and in 1968 built the building where Owen Alignment still operates today. He raised Polled Hereford Cattle for over 50 years. Dean was a member of the Lions Club, the Missouri Polled Hereford Association, the Barton County Ambulance Board, Barton County Cattleman Association, and was inducted into the Missouri 4H Hall of Fame. Dean and Loretta were early members of Grace Lutheran Church in Lamar, with Dean serving as an elder for many years. Dean was currently a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lockwood, MO. His faith and church were an important part of his life.

Survivors include his wife, Loretta; two sons, Kenny (Dana) Owen of Lamar, MO., and Kevin (Shonna) Owen of O'Fallon, Missouri; two daughters, Phyllis (Rodney) Clark of Derby, Kansas and Brenda (Mike) Delmez of Webb City, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Jason (Tandi) Owen, Kristen (Gregg) Barrow, Lynsey (Chris) Coleman, Dylan (Megan) Clark, Michaela Delmez, Wyatt (Callie) Clark, Morgan (Taylor) Clark and Whitney Owen; nine great-grandchildren, Raelynn Coleman, Jaxson Owen, Corban Coleman, Hadley Delmez, Barrett Coleman, John Clark, Briggs Barrow, Ady Barrow and Kolson Barrow.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Leon Owen; one sister, Betty Ruth Blanchard and one brother, Monte Owen.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 18, 2024 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lockwood, MO., with burial to be held at 2:00 p.m., at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Lamar, MO.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at Daniel Funeral Home in Lamar, MO.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to Immanuel Lutheran Church or the Leon Owen Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of Daniel Funeral Home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com

Obituary - Dara Bigler

Dara Bigler, age 48, of Clinton, Missouri passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2024. A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, July 19, 2024 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton, Missouri. With visitation from 1:00-3:00 PM prior to the service. 

Memorial contributions can be made to the J.C. Smith Foundation through State Fair Community College or the Landrei Bigler Donation Fund and may be left in care of the funeral home.

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