Butler police department seeks your assistance

The Butler Police Department would like assistance in identifying the people in this photo. An Officer would like to speak to them. If you know who they are, please call the Police Department at 660-679-6131 and speak to an Officer.

Obituary - Connie M. Morgan

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Connie Morgan, 91, of Freeman, Mo on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 27, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO, with a visitation beginning at 1:00 PM. Interment will follow in Freeman Cemetery in Freeman, MO.

Connie was born on January 10, 1934, to William and Opal (Souders) Taber in Arroll, MO. Connie married the love of her life and beloved husband Claude “Buck” Morgan on the 14th of March, 1953 in Benton, Arkansas. Connie worked as a machine setter/layout operator for Western Electric in Lees Summit for nearly 30 years.

Connie was known for her incredible cooking, embroidery skill, sassy sense of humor and her love and support for her family. She was the creator of incredible works of art in embroidery, creating everything from enormous quilts to tea towels, but she never hesitated to get her hands dirty in the garden. Many springs and summers were spent tending to her beloved pink roses in her backyard in addition to the many vegetable gardens she tended with Buck.

She never thought of herself as a great cook, but she was one. Every year at Christmas the family fought over her trays of Christmas candy (especially the peanut butter fudge) and the last of her infamous stuffed mushrooms. She loved to teach her grandchildren how to cook, sharing family recipes and a love of collecting cookbooks. Connie adored children of all kinds, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and would always spend an extra minute doting on them any time she had the chance. She was a loving member of the Freeman Baptist Church, continuing to attend every service that her health allowed.

Connie was preceded in joining the Lord by her mother and father, Bill and Opal Anna Taber; her loving husband, Buck Morgan; her devoted son, Gene Morgan; and siblings: John Taber, Rowdy Taber, Calvin Taber, Lucille Stoops, and Lillian Stoops. She is survived by her sisters, Verna Woolsey and Mary Shirley; daughter, Debbie Carter; grandchildren: Nick Morgan, Erin Lockard and Lindsey Carter; as well as, great-grandchildren, Morgan and Natalee Lockard, Jayden Goff-Morgan and Kielen Morgan; and many nieces and nephews.

Contamination near former Montrose power plant "above acceptable levels"

 

According to Ashtracker.org, 12 groundwater monitoring wells near the former Montrose, Mo power plant have been polluted above federal advisory levels in samples collected between December of 2015 and November of 2019. Similar data is reflected in a report from Triangle Environmental Science & Engineering Inc of Rolla, Mo dated January 7, 2025 regarding surface water samples taken from the Montrose lake.

The Triangle report indicates that potable water sources exceed maximum radium levels per EPA standards as well the same for lead, cobalt, arsenic, boron and sulfates. It was also revealed that while lithium levels are elevated, they do not exceed EPA limits.

It should be noted that the findings do not indicate by how much the levels exceed limits however, according EPA website data they are high enough to cause concerns regarding increased instances of cancer and other serious health related issues.

Soil samples taken near the lake emergency overflow indicate hexavalent chromium levels also exceed EPA limits, adding an Erin Brockovich movie element to the findings.

A recent Facebook post regarding the closure of Davis R-12 school which is located just east of the former power plant has raised  concerns regarding safety of students and staff alike due to fly ash dumping on the plant property since its closure in late 2018. As of this writing it is unknown when the school will reopen.

During the regular meeting of the Henry county commission on January 21, resident Bill Steward who owns property just north of the former plant revealed the above mentioned contamination findings have caused him to abandon his home and stated the fly ash dumping "MUST stop today" as it has been going on literally 24/7 since at least 2022 by his observations adding "Hundreds of trucks have been running nonstop." Steward also presented the commission with results of samples taken on his farm noting that hexavalent chromium is not native to Missouri but was prevalent on his property.

The response from the commission was of grave concern, however there was a question of whether or not they have the power to stop the dumping, to which Steward fired back "As a county, you DO have the power to stop it. If I personally was poisoning your property, I guarantee you'd do something about it."

The commission did agree that the best move at this point is "getting the word out to the public" in hopes of gaining enough attention to stop the dumping and find a permanent solution for cleanup.

Mid America Live will continue to follow this story as more information becomes available.

Obituary - John Newton Spangler

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved father, John Newton Spangler, who left this world on Monday, January 20, 2025 at Meadow View Nursing & Rehab in Harrisonville, Missouri. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 2:00 - 4:00 PM at Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO.  

John, born September 27, 1958, lived 66 adventurous years. Family he leaves this world to includes his three children: Jennifer Singleton and her three children, Katelin (and daughter, Stella), Koda, & Kaleb; Nichole Spangler and her two daughters, Regan and Berlin, and son, Damien; and Sean Spangler and his two sons, Lukas and Lincoln. As the oldest of ten children, John also leaves this world to his siblings: Mona Stevens, Bruce Spangler, Earon Spangler, James Spangler, Stuart Spangler, Charles Spangler, Anne Hansen, Barbara Southards, Margaret Arwood, and Christy Yancey and all of our respective family members not mentioned. John greets his parents Newton C. Spangler and Margaret Anne Spangler. 

The family asks that you take a moment to thank a caregiver for their extraordinary strength and compassion as they diligently care for our loved ones in your absence.  Their contributions and frustrations may not always be acknowledged, but are deeply appreciated! We would like to send a special, heartfelt thank you to everyone at Meadow View Health & Rehabilitation Center!

Thursday night basketball scores

 

Boys:

Heartland (Belton) 51
Archie 63

Sacred Heart 45
Clinton 63

Miami 35
Drexel 54

Rich Hill 53
Hermitage 56

Sheldon 22
Liberal 67

Chilhowee 28
Stover 58

Girls:

Miami 9
Drexel 52

Rich Hill 44
Hermitage 34

Butler 53
Lamar 48

Montrose/Ballard 37
Leeton 42

Chilhowee 48
Stover 64

Bates County Commission and the Senior tax credit: "Still working on it"

Report from the Bates County Commission January 15, 2025

The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present. Approved Bills.

The Commission took a phone call from Dennis Slattery with West Point Township concerning a bridge. Trent and John were going to go out to look at it.

Sheriff Chad Anderson and Captain Justin Shaffer brought over the proposal for the rental generator. They checked with EMA on that unit. It would only supply power for half the jail and would need to be modified to work with the current connections. The rented generator will be $4642.80 for the first month and $4192.80 every month after. They are expecting 3 months. The estimated cost of the replacement is $119,000.00. Chad states there is enough in the jail maintenance fund to cover and enough in his budget to move around if needed. They are moving forward with the rental and new generator. Chad also mentioned they would store the old one and have it investigated for repair. He asked if the Commission needed one for the Administration Building. The Commission thought it was too much for that building.

Chad asked for clarification on employee pay for the weather closure days. Jim stated that if he called the building closed then the employee gets administrative pay. If the elected official closes their individual office, then the employee must choose whether to take vacation or sick day. Chad stated he had a few administrative people that did not come in and would get the 8 hours per day administrative pay. Those that did come in and worked would get the administrative pay for the day as well as the pay for the worked hours. Everyone agreed that those that made it in and worked deserved the administrative pay for the day as well. Jim added that his office is exempt from hours anyway as they have to run 24 hours. Chad stated that he was seeking clarification and is wanting to be more transparent with the Commission.

Chad mentioned the roads remain difficult to travel. Trent stated that the cold is freezing the top and the bottom is going out during the day making travel difficult.

John asked Chad about the topic of warming stations during the cold weather and why the Sheriff’s Annex could not be used. The Annex originally was set up to be a training and meeting place for the sheriff’s employees as the jail doesn’t have a space where they all can meet. This space isn’t “public ready” at just a given moment. Supplies and sensitive items are readily visible. So, it is out of the question for a warming station. As Sheriff has stated in a social media post, he feels this is the duties of the Emergency Management Organizations. Jim stated that this would be a local Emergency Management responsibility and not the County one. Chad also mentioned that the County Administration Building was meant to be a community use area if needed. That is why there is a kitchenette and bathroom in the basement. Different aspects and needs were discussed with no finality or actions going forward.
Jim asked Chad if they took all the MREs when they took the trip to help North Carolina Hurricane Disaster. Chad replied, “no”. Justin stated they took 2 pallets and have 4 left. Jim asked if they were still using the mini meals. Chad stated the mini meals did not work affectively for the jail.

Rodney Rom walked in to ask the Commission for an update on the Senior Tax Credit. Jim stated they are still working on the credit. By the Commission getting it done this leaves the opportunity to change it as needed when issues arise. Versus the people putting it up to a vote which would take a vote to change or stop. It looks like this will only be a credit between 5 to 50 dollars to a given person. This is only for those seniors that own and live in a primary residence. The residence will be separated out from the whole property and credit only given on that primary residence portion. The credit is only on the taxes that the county controls. Not on any voted in taxes or levies, i.e. school or township levies. This follows the Hancock Agreement. There are several points they are still working through.
The Scheduled meeting with the Circuit Clerk, Shelli White was cancelled.

Work In Progress
Policy Regarding Indigent Cremations given 8/25/2023
Policy Regarding Computer, E-Mail, Devices and Social Media given 2/14/2024
Bid for Hallway lights given 2/14/2024
Telephone Contracts 3/11/2024
Senior Tax Credit 9/9/2024

Tragic Independence apartment fire has local tie

  

A fire that erupted at the Indy Ridge Apartments on east 37th Terrace Court in Independence, Mo yesterday morning tragically claimed the lives of a family of four after a cooking fire went unnoticed.

Fortunately, other residents escaped injury but are now seeking alternate living arrangements including Troy Bagby, son of Renee Edgmon of Butler.

In a twist of fate, Bagby was called back to work and wasn't at home when the fire broke out and is one of many who will have to relocate as the 24 unit complex has been deemed a total loss, displacing over 30 people.

High winds complicated matters and at least two firefighters suffered third degree burns fighting the blaze. In the meantime, the Red Cross is assisting those affected and more information is expected in coming days.

Hang in there, temps to rebound a little

 

Very cold temperatures tonight into Friday morning. Wind chills 5 to 10 degrees below zero. Temperatures rebound Friday afternoon with highs in the low 30s to low 40s. Dry conditions likely to persist however, we do have a chance of precip  next Friday: