Obituary - Connie Maxine Garren

Connie Maxine Garren, 77, passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at her home in Nevada, MO.  Connie was born on August 25, 1947 in Nevada, MO to Charles Orris and Mildred Maxine (Spencer) Thomas.

    Connie graduated from Walker High School.  She spent most of her work career at Vinyard’s.

She also worked at Pizza Hut and Nevada Regional Medical Center.  She liked to sew and enjoyed spending time with her family.

    Survivors include her three children; daughter, Shelly Walker and sons, Paul Garren and Jason Garren; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one brother, Charles Thomas; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Marilyn Smith; and one brother, Dennis Thomas.

    Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, MO.  The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:30, prior to the service.   Interment will follow in Newton Burial Park.

Register for 2025 Callery Pear Tree Buyback

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is again partnering with the Missouri Invasive Plant Council (MoIP), Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, and Forrest Keeling Nursery to host a Callery Pear Tree Buyback event in communities around the state on April 22 from 3 – 6 p.m. 

Also known as Bradford pear trees, Callery pear trees’ white flowers in spring give a visual attractiveness to these non-native, invasive trees. However the trees pose problems for landowners and wildlife. Their top-heavy canopy and brittle branch structure leads to a tree that often breaks in storms. Their flowers may be appealing to the eye, but they have a foul smell and many varieties of this tree have thorns. The tree’s aggressive growth also causes problems for wildlife, native plant species, and property owners. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/invasive-plants/callery-pear-control.

“As we prepare for spring, many Callery pear trees—also known as Bradford pears—will soon begin to bloom,” said MoIP Chairperson Carol Davit. “The profuse white blossoms of this highly invasive tree make their alarming spread especially apparent in spring along roadsides, in fields, parks, and on private property.” 

Register for the Callery Pear Buyback event from March 17 through April 17 at moinvasives.org/2025/01/31/2025-callery-pear-buyback/. The website also has information on how to identify Callery pear trees, a list of native tree species offered, and pick-up locations with specific addresses.

Missourians who register for the buyback can get their replacement native trees on April 22 from 3 – 6 p.m. in the following Missouri communities with specific address information provided at registration: Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Doniphan, Hannibal, Jefferson City, Joplin, Kirksville, Lebanon, Moberly, Park Hills, Rolla, Sikeston, Springfield, St. Joseph, St. Louis, Warrensburg, and West Plains.

Partnership members are grateful to the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the Missouri Community Forestry Council for their financial support of the 2025 Callery Pear Buyback event, as well as to Forrest Keeling Nursery and Forest ReLeaf of Missouri for tree donations. Financial and administrative support also come from the Missouri Prairie Foundation and MDC.

Obituary - Margaret Ann Adkins

  

Margaret Ann Adkins, 91 , Nevada, MO passed away on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada. Ann was born to Alec Kershaw and Margaret (Bodelle) Kershaw, December 6, 1933, in Pittsburg, KS. She was united in marriage to Leroy Adkins on January 13, 1954, and he preceded her in death on September 23, 2013.

     While growing up, Ann lived in many different places in Kansas and Missouri and graduated from high school in Joplin, MO. Following her marriage to Leroy they lived in Joplin for several years. They also lived in Jasper, MO for eight years before coming to Nevada in 1969. Ann went back to school after raising her two children and graduated from Missouri Southern State College in Joplin with a degree in Elementary Education. After graduation she taught 3rd and 4th grade at Jefferson and Franklin Elementary and later became certified in Special Education and taught Special Ed at Truman Elementary School for many years until retirement.

     Survivors include a son, Michael (Bonnie), Columbia, MO; a sister, Sandra Iversen, Webb City, MO; four granddaughters, Kimberly Wright (Andrew), Columbia, MO, Mindy Culp, Merriam, KS, Abbie Perry (Evan), Columbia, MO, and Cassie Daugherty (Bobby), Raymore, MO ;eight great-grand-children, Adrian Hymer, Alexis Leighty, Max Wright, JaeAnna Culp, Hattie Wright, Lucas Daugherty, Carter Perry and Cooper Perry; as well as several nieces and nephews. Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy; her parents, Alec and Margaret Kershaw; her daughter, LeAnna Culp; and her two brothers, Jim and John Kershaw.

     Ann was a long time member of the First Christian Church in Nevada.

     Services will be held at Ferry Funeral Home on April 5, 2025 at 11:00 am.

     A private committal will be held at a later date at the Fort Scott National Cemetery.

Thank You, Jim Shade

 

After 20 years of dedicated service, Jim Shade attended his final BCMH Board of Directors meeting on March 25, 2025. Jim was first elected in 2005, bringing a wealth of experience from his pharmacy career to help guide our hospital’s future.

Before the meeting, CEO Greg Weaver presented Jim with a plaque in recognition of his leadership and commitment. Over the years, Jim has played a vital role in ensuring BCMH continues to provide quality care to our community.

“I’d like to thank the hospital staff and employees for making my time as a board member so memorable,” Jim said. “I’ve truly appreciated the opportunity to work alongside such a talented and dedicated group of people. THANK YOU.”

Thank you, Jim, for your years of service and dedication to healthcare in Bates County!

Pictured with Jim are board members (from left) Linda Jennings, Jerry Jones, CEO Greg Weaver, Rick King and Rock Marquardt.

Courtesy Bates County Memorial Hospital

Kyson Schmidt set to play basketball for Southwestern College

 

Congratulations to Miami Eagle Kyson Schmidt for signing his letter of intent to play basketball next year at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. Kudos!

Courtesy Miami Schools

LOCATION CHANGE for Vintage Wheels & Spring Deals car show

The car show scheduled for tomorrow appears to be 'too big for its britches' and will be held at Frontier Village in Adrian instead of the Glass Tomato.

From any direction, at Adrian, take 18 highway east from the I-49 overpass and go about 1/8 mile, look for signs.
 

More info about the show here https://www.asherahproductions.com/vintage-wheels-and-spring-deals/

Obituary - Leslie Robert (Bob) Sims

Leslie Robert (Bob) Sims 87 of Blairstown MO passed away peacefully at home, Sunday February 16, 2025. 

Bob was born in Slater Missouri, August 30, 1937. He was the first born son of Leslie Lloyd Sims and Irene (Long) Sims.

He graduated from Harrisonville High School in 1957.

Bob married Helen (Vollnogel) Sims on March 2, 1960 in Drexel Missouri. They made their home on their farm, north of Urich Missouri. They were a short two weeks shy of 65 years of marriage. Together Bob and Helen had five children. Melanie, Cindy, Kimberly, Becky, and Brad. 

Bob spent his life as a farmer and stockman. He had his own custom baling business with his son Brad. He also worked for Cass County road works. Later becoming the foreman for Cass County road and bridge construction. Bob ran a road grader for many years for both Cass and Henry counties. He retired in 2005 from Farmers Elevator Co-op in Clinton Missouri.

Bob enjoyed farming, going to tractor pulls, and auctions. He enjoyed visiting and spending time with family and friends. He never ran out of words and never met a stranger.

He was a member of the Garden City volunteer fire department for many years, as well as a lifetime member of the NFO.

Bob is survived by: His wife Helen, of the home. His children, Melanie Bathgate - Garden City Missouri, Cindy (Bruce) Wakefield - Pensacola Florida, Becky Cardwell - Blairstown Missouri, and Brad (Tina) Sims - Nixa Missouri. Grandchildren: Caleb Bathgate, Ian Bathgate, Kimberly Wakefield, Dylan Wakefield, Amanda Vogt, Alexia Beaven, Isaac Lamb, Darren Sims, and Kelly Sims. Great grandchildren: Cowan Vogt, Alexis Vogt, Amiah Beaven, and Andre Beaven.

He is also survived by his brother Roger Sims - Urich Missouri and Sharon (Sims) McCulloh - Garden City Missouri, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Preceding Bob in death are his parents, Les and Irene Sims, his daughter Kimberly Sims, sister Judy (Sims) Krell and sister-in-law Vickie (Doll) Sims. Son-in-laws Frank Bryant, and Jeff Cardwell.

A celebration of life will be held April 5, 2025 at the United Methodist Church, in Garden City. The family will receive friends from 1-3 pm. His interment will be at Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Missouri. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude’s Research Hospital. Donations can be made through the link or can be sent to Dickey Funeral Home.

Weekend weather outlook

 THE BEST THING I can tell you today is make sure you have several ways to get severe weather alerts - especially overnight.

SATURDAY NIGHT into early Sunday morning, severe weather will affect nearly all of our area in one way or another.

ABOUT 9-10pm Saturday, storms may crop up in central/east central KS and begin moving East. They won't look too bad. . .

TOWARDS MIDNIGHT however, I look for organization in a line along the frontal boundary - pictured below - to gather steam as it moves east.

PRIMARY THREATS:

1) Large Hail

2) Damaging Winds

3) Tornados are possible

Take this windy & warm Friday to be prepared and check your weather alerts.

-Greg