This week in weather: Warmer, rain possible

Obituary - Dale Walter Piepmeier

Dale Walter Piepmeier, only son of Darwin and Frances (Evans) Piepmeier, was born on September 19, 1940. He was the first incubator baby at Ellett Hospital in Appleton City. Upon returning home, Frances kept him warm in a shoebox, in the oven.

Dale grew up on north Poplar Street in Appleton City, where he formed a lifelong friendship with Don Donnohue, who lived across the street. Their birthdays were just 10 days apart, and they remained best friends throughout their lives.

A nearly lifelong resident of Appleton City, Dale graduated from Appleton City High School in 1958. He went on to attend Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar before returning home to work for P&M Coal Mining. He began there by planting trees on the coal dumps and then became a regular employee. When the operation closed in Appleton City, Dale went with the company to Paducah, Kentucky, and Clovis, New Mexico. Upon returning to Appleton City, Dale worked for the railroad for a year before spending 32 years at the Montrose Power Plant, later known as KCP&L and then Evergy. He retired in 1999.

On September 7, 1963, Dale married Marylyn Rapp, daughter of Carl and Paula (Leimer) Rapp. The couple would have celebrated 62 years of marriage this September. Soon after their marriage, they purchased the Bill Hearting Farm (Lonesome Pine) northeast of town, where Dale raised cattle in his spare time. Later, he acquired another property north of town, where his hunting buddy Robert Perrymann and his wife Gail helped him with the cattle

Marylyn and Dale lived in the Lindale Depot/Duplex on 5th Street for ten years, before building a new house in the West Meadows addition in 1973.

Dale was passionate about hunting and fishing. He raised and trained many hunting dogs over the years and enjoyed hunting trips to Western Kansas and South Dakota, as well as fishing trips to Canada.

Throughout these adventures, he formed lifelong friendships with fellow hunters and anglers. His favorite game to hunt was quail and pheasant.

Gardening was another hobby of Dale's. He loved to plant it and watch it grow. Tomatoes and okra were his favorite things to eat out of the garden.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Frances and Darwin (Dob) Piepmeier; his grandparents, Walter and Maude Ouderkirk and Jessie Evans; and his Uncle Edward Kupka and his wife Kathleen (Piepmeier).

He is survived by his wife, Marylyn Piepmeier; Nicholas Yoss; his first cousins, Jim Evans, David Evans, and Helen Ford; as well as numerous other cousins.

Dale's wishes were for any memorial donations to be given to the AC Athletic Booster Club. Any donations may be left at Hill & Son Funeral Home.

Generosity goes full tilt during Hume fundraiser auctions today

 

SUCCESSFUL fundraiser auction today at the Hume park for the Food Pantry, the Hume Fair and Rodeo, and the Hume Fire Department.

For the Pantry, the hat auction for “the Henry” raised just under $10,000 and the Chiefs tickets $300. Fire Depart hat auction around $6,000.

And for the Fair, the 30 minute powered chute plane ride around a $1,000, and the octagon picnic table brought $2,000.

Great support for worthy efforts!

(Hume Alliance Ministry Food Pantry)

Courtesy Larry Hacker

Osage Valley annual meeting set for August 21st

The 87th  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 21, 2025,  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 9-19, 2025, 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 or Facebook page for a link to the online voting portal during August 9-19, 2025.

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, 2025, electric bill.

No injuries as vehicle slips into lake near Harrisonville

 

The City of Harrisonville and the Harrisonville Police Department would like to give a shoutout to Underwater Rescue & Recovery of Lee’s Summit and GT Tow Service for their assistance in removing a vehicle from Harrisonville City Lake Friday afternoon.

Divers were able to locate the vehicle, a Chevy pick-up truck, and attach a tow cable to it, before it was safely removed from the lake. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Harrisonville City Lake, located in between Harrisonville and Pleasant Hill, is the source of the City’s drinking water and it is important to remove any potential contaminants in a timely manner. We are grateful for the services of Underwater Rescue & Recovery and GT Tow, as we continue our efforts to provide quality drinking water to our community.

LaCygne boil order update

 

Obituary - Shaun Matherly

 

Shaun Anthony Matherly, 61, of Paola, passed away on July 29, 2025, at his home after a battle with lung cancer.

He was born on March 4, 1964, to Marvin and Patricia (Kehl) Matherly in Paola, KS. He graduated from Paola High School in 1982.

He enjoyed spending his time traveling in his RV, visiting many museums on his journeys. Shaun was able to see NASA, which was one of his top bucket list items.

Shaun was enlisted in the US Navy right out of high school, from there he would work in injection molding in California for 20 years before moving back to Kansas, then he would work as a Mental Health Tech for Osawatomie State Hospital.

In July of 2010, he began his life with Susan Jane Lynch. They would then be united in marriage on February 28, 2022. Shaun and Susan lived in Paola, Kansas.

Shaun is survived by his loving wife, Susan, step-son, Daniel Doudna, father, Marvin "Larry" Matherly, sisters, Megan Norris, Brooke (Bill) Haselrick, and Bronwyn Matherly, brother, Michael Buttram, father-in-law, Billy Lynch. As well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Anne (Kehl) Shulista, and brother, Ronald Ray Jeffreys.

At Shaun's request, there are no services scheduled at this time.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Miami County Cancer Foundation c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary-Paola Chapel 305 N. Pearl St. Paola, KS 66071.

Obituary - Virgil R. Butler

Virgil R. Butler, 82, of Harrisonville, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at his home in Harrisonville. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, September 13, 2025, with a visitation starting at 12:00pm, at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville. Contributions may be made to Harrisonville Youth Football or the Good Shepard Food Pantry.

A complete obituary will be posted when it becomes available.