Update:Two from Kansas escape serious injury in crash near Butler City Lake

On Friday August 2nd around 11:55 a.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Bates County along with the Bates County Sheriff's Office and the Butler Fire Department responded to a two vehicle crash on MO 52 just east of CR NW 5001 in rural Bates County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occured when the westbound 2014 Nissan Sentra driven by a 24 year old Kourtney D. Gochenour of Fontana, Kansas crossed the centerline and sideswiped an eastbound 2021 Chevrolet Spark driven by a 35 year old Phaedra A. Freeman of La Cygne, Kansas. 

The Chevrolet Spark then traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned on it's top. The nissan Sentra finally came to a stop in the west bound lane.

Both Kourtney Gochenour and Phaedra Freeman sustained minor injuries but refused medical treatment on the scene.

View crash report below:
https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP68/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=240392709

Obituary - Lynne Blakeman

Funeral services for Lynne Blakeman of Rich Hill, Missouri will be 11 a.m. Friday, August 16, 2024 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. Visitation prior to services 10 - 11 a.m. Friday at the Schowengerdt Chapel. Burial in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler. Contributions to Relay for Life. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Marguerite Lynne Blakeman, age 83 of Rich Hill, Missouri died Monday, July 29, 2024 at Medicalodge in Butler, Missouri. She was born March 21, 1941 to Henry and Peggy Rudloff in Baltimore, Maryland.

Lynne is survived by three sons, Michael Kavalesky and wife Cathy of Nevada, Missouri, Mark Kavalesky of Lee’s Summit, Missouri and Cory Blakeman and wife Kristen of Independence, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Jessica Ewert and husband Paul, Jordan Kavalesky and wife Ashley, Lucy Kavalesky, Hailey Brown and husband Jeff, Mandi Butler and husband Blake, Derek Gash and wife Megan, Riley Shelton and Logan Shelton; 12 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Larry Rudloff of Arlington, Virginia and Michael Rudloff and wife Barbara of Manassas, Virginia; a brother-in-law, Rodney Blakeman of Walker, Missouri; and a sister-in-law, Cheryl Callaway of Butler, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marvin Blakeman on May 13, 2024; a daughter, Dana Michelle Blakeman; and a brother, Brent Rudloff and wife Anne.

Obituary - Norma Yoos

Norma Louise (Pettibon) Yoos, 89, passed away on Thursday, August 1, 2024, after a brief illness. Norma was born December 20, 1934, to Norman Lewis Pettibon and Lucille Anna (Pilcher) Pettibon in rural Deerfield, Missouri.

She was a 1952 graduate of Nevada High School. After high school, Norma worked at the Western Insurance Company in Ft. Scott, Kansas. Norma married Ralph Eugene “Gene” Yoos on December 17, 1955. They worked together on their family farm in active partnership. They raised their three children on the farm: David Eugene, Norma Jean, and Lewis Henry “Hank” Yoos.

Norma loved reading; her daily routine was reading her beloved newspapers: the Joplin Globe, Pittsburg Sun, Nevada Daily Mail, Fort Scott Tribute, and Lamar Democrat. She always started with the comics and read all the articles local, national, and international focusing on political, social, and arts events in the four counties and two states she lived and worked in for most of her life. She was a lifelong Democrat, loved cooking, gardening, travel, and staying connected with friends and family writing letters in her exquisite handwriting.

Norma enjoyed her friendly, peaceful neighborhood and the convenience of living in Joplin, Missouri in the last few years of her life, claiming it was the first warm house she ever lived in after a lifetime of living in drafty farmhouses.

Norma is survived by her daughter, Norma Jean; son, Lewis H. “Hank” (Michele); grandchildren, Sheena, Derrick, and Jared (Amber) Dickey, A. J. Yoos Verdusco; great-grandchildren, Keyton Dickey and Jordyn Dickey; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and their families near and far.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Gene Yoos; son, David Yoos; her parents, Norman and Lucille Pettibon; and her two sisters, Margaret Leatherman and Beverly Davis.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00a.m. on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with Steve Leatherman and Jared Dickey officiating. Private family interment will follow in McKill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00p.m. on Tuesday, August 6 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Solace House of the Ozarks, Missouri Department of Conservation, or your local library in c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

Best of luck Baylie!!!

Baylie has been in office for 2 years with us helping our customers. She will be moving to attend Pittsburg State University this fall. Good news is she will still be available to help out our customers! She will just be working remotely. 

We celebrated her today and how much we know she will miss seeing all of us and you daily! We wish her the best of luck as she finishes out her degree in business/finance! We are proud of you Baylie and will miss you!

-Courtesy of Kellie Davidson State Farm of Butler 

Butler High school registration information

Registration starts next week! Online registration MUST be completed before students receive their schedule, lockers, or parking passes. You may pay tech fees online through the portal or in person with cash or check. 

Tech fees are $25 per student in grades 6-12 ($10 per student qualified for free/reduced lunch). Only 2 students per household will need to be paid for; fees for additional students living in the same household will be waived.

City of Harrisonville electrical improvements

WORKING FOR YOU: Each day this week, the City of Harrisonville Electric staff have been replacing/setting utility poles throughout our community.

Work was completed on Eastwood Road and on S King Avenue at Ann.

These electric improvements stabilize our infrastructure and play a vital role in keeping power on during severe storms, like the storm that brought dangerous winds through Harrisonville on Wednesday night.

Harrisonville woman injured in Benton County crash

On Thursday August 1st around 1:30 p.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Benton County along with the Benton County Sheriff's Office responded to a two vehicle crash on Route C at Route T in rural Benton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occured when the north bound 1998 Ford F-150 driven by a 70 year old Kenneth Chance of Windsor, Missouri failed to yield, pulled into the path of, and struck an east bound 2019 Hyundai Tucson driven by a 66 year old Thomas J. White of Harrisonville, Missouri.

An occupant in the 2019 Hyundai Tucson was injured in this crash. A 71 year old Pamela A. White of Harrisonville, Missouri sustained minor injuries and was taken by EMS to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital.

View crash report below:

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP68/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=240391087

Osage Valley Electric Cooperative to Hold 86th Annual Meeting in New Format

The 86th Annual Meeting of the members of Osage Valley Electric Cooperative Association will be held in a new format this year. The meeting will be held in a “drive-thru” format on August 22, 2024, with members registering from 4:00-6:00pm at either the Butler or Clinton office.

Signage and employees will direct member traffic through the pole yards at both locations for registration, voting, and receiving a gift. We ask those attending the drive-thru format to bring your registration slip from the August Rural Missouri magazine. A $20 electric credit will be given to all members participating in the drive-thru meeting.

Online participation for the OVEC Annual Meeting will also be available again this year from August 10-20, 2024, for those unable to attend the drive-thru format, or for those choosing the convenience of online voting. Online voters will receive a $20.00 bill credit on their electric account also. Check our website www.osagevalley.com or Facebook page for a link to the online voting portal during August 10-20, 2024.

All drive-thru and online members registering will also be eligible for additional prizes and electric credit certificates through a drawing. All electric credits for members registering, and for prize winners, will be applied to the members’ September 1, 2024, electric bill.

The Cooperative’s 2023 Annual Meeting minutes, the 2024 Official Annual Meeting Notice, the Financial Report, the President’s Report, and bios on the incumbent directors, running uncontested this year, are available for member review in the August Rural Missouri edition, on our website, and on our Facebook page. 

 An abbreviated business meeting will be held by the board of directors immediately following the drive-thru portion of the Annual Meeting on August 22, 2024, from 4-6pm. Directors will be present at both offices and will utilize a zoom meeting to conduct the business meeting.