Obituary - Tommy Skinner

Visitation for Tommy Skinner of Appleton City, Missouri will be 10-11 a.m. Friday, August 30, 2024 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. Graveside service will be 2 p.m. Friday, August 30 at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Macks Creek, Missouri. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Tommy Skinner, age 91 of Appleton City, Missouri died Monday, August 26, 2024 at Appleton City Manor. He was born December 10, 1932 to John Thomas and Oma Josephine Meads Skinner in Macks Creek, Missouri.

Tommy is survived by two sons, Mike Skinner of Independence, Missouri and Steve Skinner of Pleasant Hill, Missouri; three daughters, Linda Ulery of Mesa, Arizona, Sandy Driver of Raymore, Missouri and Nancy Jackson and husband, Richard of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; his cat, Dolly; and numerous nephews, nieces and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Barbara Rose Skinner on November 29, 2018; and two sisters, Betty Donnelly and Edith Marie Harper.

Obituary - Faye Mitchell

Funeral services for Reva Faye "Bamm" Mitchell will be 2 p.m. Friday, August 30, 2024 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. 

Visitation will be 5 - 7 p.m. Thursday, August 29, 2024 at the Schowengerdt Chapel. Burial in Adam Howell Cemetery, Amoret. In lieu of flowers, and in remembrance of Bamm's love for ice cream, the family requests you take your family out for ice cream at your favorite ice cream place. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Reva Faye Mitchell (Smalley) of Adrian, known to most as Bamm, passed away at her home with her family by her side on Tuesday, August 26, 2024, at the age of 96. She was born on December 28, 1927, in Raymore, Missouri, the daughter to Albert and Nannie Smalley.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband John Mitchell on March 24, 1996 and their daughter Cheryl Hragyil on November 8, 2014; and her siblings, Ella Mae McAninch, Hazel Armintrout, Wilma Armintrout, Albert Jr Smalley, and Helen Ebeck.

Faye leaves behind a loving family including her sister, Dixie Wilson of Tacoma, Washington; granddaughter, Stacy Green and husband Andrew of Ballard, Missouri; great-granddaughter, Allyson Hargis and her husband Josh, great-great-granddaughters, Zoey and Scarlett; great-grandson, Kody Green and wife Kristina; grandson Jeff Hudson and wife Guen, great-granddaughters, Celeste and Eden of Walker, Missouri; grandson, Mike Hragyil and wife Erin Aisek, great-grandchildren, Mirena, Milee, Tyler, and Joseph of Amsterdam, Missouri. Along with many nieces, nephews, friends, and other loved ones.

Obituary - Leonard Dee Ernsbarger

Leonard Dee Ernsbarger, 91, Nevada, MO passed away on Monday, August 26, 2024 at his home in Nevada following a lengthy illness. Leonard was born July 4, 1933 in Butler, MO to Archie C. “Buster” and Cuva “Reta” (Hawk) Ernsbarger. He married Marylyn Nadine McKinley on May 10, 1958 and to this union three children were born, Greg, Brent, and Sherri.

Leonard was raised in Butler and graduated from Butler High School with the Class of 1951. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree and his Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia. Leonard served in the United States Army from 1955-1957 where he was awarded the rank of 1st Lt.

Leonard was the 4-H Youth Development Specialist for the University of Missouri Extension office in Nevada for many years. He was also an independent insurance agent, writing for many companies including Hartford Life Insurance. Leonard was a member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and attended the United Methodist Church in Nevada. He was a longtime member of the Nevada Lion’s Club.

Survivors include his wife, Marylyn of the home; three children, Greg Ernsbarger (René), Jefferson City, MO, Brent Ernsbarger (Deborah), Nevada, MO, and Sherri Eador (Paul), Nevada, MO; eight grandchildren, Heather Urban (Erik), Naperville, IL, Christie Stone (Simon), Conway, AR, Brenton Ernsbarger (Emily), Conway, AR, Morgan Ernsbarger, Charleston, SC, Sydney Beachler (Trey), Owatonna, MN, Dalton Eador (Kaitlyn), Wichita, KS, Ashton Eador, Kansas City, MO, and Kierston Eador, Nevada, MO; three great-grandchildren, Maggie Urban, Emmett Urban, and Christipher Stone. He was preceded by his parents and a younger brother, David Ernsbarger.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at the United Methodist Church in Nevada with Rev. Michelle Whitlock and Rev. Jack Daniel officiating. Interment with Military Honors will follow in Newton Burial Park in Nevada. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m. on Friday evening at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

Memorials are suggested in his memory to McGinnis Youth Center or Vernon County 4-H c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

From the Drexel Police Department

On the morning of Wednesday July 10, employees of Stark Boring reported to DPD that a Bobcat “skidloader” was missing from their jobsite. The Bobcat had been present when they left the jobsite the prior afternoon, but was missing upon their arrival the next morning.

In the days that followed, we had been in contact with Overland Park PD who believed they had identified two (2) persons of interest. OPD also believed that they had located the skidloader at a property in Grandview. OPD checked the property in question. They did in-fact locate a Bobcat skidloader, but the serial # did not match the machine that was stolen from Drexel. After further investigation, OPD continued to look at these two individuals for other types of crimes, however we were unable to connect them to our theft case.

In early August, we had received information from the owner of the machine, as well as a ranking officer from another law enforcement agency, that Tyler D. Veach may be the individual responsible for the theft of the Bobcat.

On Friday August 16, we had communications with members of the Richmond Police Department, who informed us that the Bobcat was supposed to be in their area, and that they were looking for it. During this conversation, we learned that Mr. Veach was in-custody in Kingston at the Caldwell County Jail, on an unrelated matter.

Later on in the evening of the 16th, RPD reported to our dispatch that they had in-fact recovered the Bobcat in Richmond. We later learned from RPD detectives, that the Bobcat was recovered at the home of Mr. Veach’s future in-laws. The Bobcat was subsequently returned to its owner, Stark Boring.

On Tuesday, August 20, Mr. Veach was interviewed by DPD at the Caldwell Co Jail. The result of that interview is prompting us to seek charges against him in this case from the Cass County Prosecutor's Office.

Charges will be sought this week. Mr. Veach is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law. He remains in-custody in Kingston.

Our case is not yet complete, thus our investigation is on-going. If you have any information about this matter, please contact us at DPD or via Facebook Messenger.

-Drexel Chief Downey
816-619-4444

2024 Week 1 Missouri State High School Football Preview

Week 1 of the Missouri State High School Football season will happen Friday evening. 

If your looking to watch some local high school football action in the area this Friday you can check out the games below:

Friday August 30th:

Adrian at Sherwood

Archie at Lockwood

Belton at Excelsior Springs 

Butler at North Platte 

Cabool at El Dorado Springs

Clinton at Booneville

Crest Ridge at Holden

Drexel at Liberal

Greenfield at Appleton City 

Harrisonville at Richmond 

Lamar at McDonald County 

Lees Summit North at Ray-Pec

Lone Jack at Windsor 

Mid-Buchanan at Midway

Monett at Nevada 

Osceola at Jasper

Pleasant Hill at Savannah 

Rich Hill at New Heights Christian Academy

Warsaw at Lawson

Osceola Indians Football paying respect after rough year

It’s been a rough year for Osceola to say the least….We lost Don Carney who brought football to Osceola and had a hand in so much of this community that he will be forever remembered.

We then we lost Scott Bush who would’ve been a huge piece to our team this year and will always be a huge piece of our hearts…it’s not much, but it’s the least we can do to honor them and carry their memories and legacies onto our field of battle.

#WeAreOsceola

#WeAreIndians

#TogetherForever

17th Annual Drexel Pumpkin Festival Classic Cruisers Car/truck/motorcycle Show

It's time to get that vintage car/truck/motorcycle out of storage and get it all shined up for this year's Drexel Pumpkin Festival Classic Cruisers Car/truck/motorcycle Show. See you October 5, 2024

One last day of dangerous heat today

One more dangerously hot day is expected today with highs in the low to mid 90s and heat index values between 100 to 110 degrees. 

Scattered strong storms will be possible this evening/tonight with the main threats being gusty winds, small hail, and heavy downpours.