Obituary - Les Powell

 It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Leslie (Les) Powell a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and mentor. Les, 82, of Harrisonville passed away peacefully on August 7, 2025. Les was a man who truly understood the importance of community and always had a helping hand to offer. His generosity extended far beyond his family, as he was known for helping others, whether through financial support or giving of his time.

He found great joy in coaching youth sports, shaping the lives of countless young athletes with his guidance, wisdom, and encouragement, especially in track and field, which was a lifelong passion. Les loved watching kids grow, not just in skill, but in character, always striving to instill values that would last a lifetime. Les was an avid weightlifter, dedicating countless hours to build physical strength and inner resilience. Les held many records in this sport, including the Missouri Valley bench press record that was held for many years.

He was also a man who knew how to enjoy life. Les had a fondness for games of chance and enjoyed the thrill of the game, but his true strength lay in his faith. A devoted man of God, Les lived his life grounded in the teachings of Christ, finding peace and purpose in his spiritual walk. His faith guided him in every aspect of his life, and he shared that faith with all who knew him.

Les was proceeded in death by his mother Ione and father Harold and a brother James. He is survived by his wife Judy of the home; four sons, Leslie, Matthew, Tony and Gabriel (wife Kim), eight grandchildren, Derek, (wife Tracy), Kayla, Trent (wife Hannah), Blake, Brock, Braxton, Gage and Tyler, and six great grandchildren, Dallas, Maggie, Theo, Dean, Daisy and Asher. His legacy will live on in the hearts of his family, his many friends, and the countless lives he touched.

Visitation will be held 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri.

Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri with interment and Military Service at Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Harrisonville Community Church and sent in care to Dickey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 432, Harrisonville, Missouri 64701.

Despite toasty temps, several show for Amsterdam Cruise Night

 It was a bit warm on Friday evening but the streets of Amsterdam, Mo were lined with several vintage vehicles made a showing despite it. Remember, Cruise Night is always held on the second Friday, just before the second Saturday sales in Amsterdam.

Obituary - Michael Bergman

Michael Arthur Bergman, age 63, of Louisburg, Kansas, passed away on August 7, 2025. 

Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the Louisburg First Baptist Church, 406 S Vine Street, Louisburg, Kansas 66053. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, August 11, 2025, also at the church. Burial will take place at the Louisburg Cemetery following the service. 

A full obituary will be available shortly.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made payable to the Louisburg First Baptist Church for their AWANA Children's Ministry, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, P.O. Box 669, Louisburg, Kansas 66053.

Obituary - Ada Drury

Ada Imogene "Jean" Drury, 94, of Archie, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at her home in Archie. A visitation will be held on Monday, August 11, 2025 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO. A private family burial will take place at Crescent Hill Cemetery in Adrian, MO.

Jean was born on September 12, 1930, in Harrisonville, MO, south of the square. Jean was the daughter of John and Ada Alice (Oram) Osborn. She grew up in the Everett community and attended Oak Grove grade school. She then attended Harrisonville High School and graduated in 1948. Jean married Robert L. Drury on August 15, 1947, at the First Baptist Church in Harrisonville and celebrated their 60th wedding before Robert's passing on February 13, 2008. They were life long residents of Archie, MO, living in the big white house across from the grain elevator for over 40 years.

Jean worked briefly at Bendix, earned her cosmetology license, and raised five children. She enjoyed arranging flowers, crocheting, and sewing. She and Bob enjoyed going to Branson. They had season tickets to Silver Dollar City to see the craft shows and enjoy the music. Most of all, Jean loved to bowl and became a very good bowler. Jean and Bob enjoyed being in bowling leagues and she continued to bowl in multiple leagues 3 to 4 times a week until Covid forced her to stay home. She won many trophies for her bowling abilities and gained good friends through this sport that kept her active.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bob; and a brother, Billy John Osborn. She is survived by her five children: Robert Drury and his wife, Vickie, of Harrisonville, MO; Gary Drury and his wife, Rose, of Archie, MO; Deborah Nichols and her husband, James, of Murfreesboro, TN; Rick Drury and his wife, Cindy, of Archie, MO; and Bill Drury and his wife, Diane, of Adrian, MO; six grandchildren: Shannon (Melissa) Drury, Brandon Drury, Chris (Jen) Nichols, Clay Nichols, Doug Drury, and Molly (Benny) Palmer; and three great-grandchildren: Alexis Drury, Quinn Palmer, and Max Palmer.

Ballard schools welcome new teachers

 

Please welcome to the Bulldog Family, Jessica Bailey (left) and Amanda Davis (right). Mrs. Bailey will be teaching our 4th/5th grade combo class and Mrs. Davis will be teaching SS/History for 7th-12th grade.

Thunderstorms possible through Monday

Ellett Memorial Employee of the Month

 

Congratulations to Ellett Memorial Hospital August Employee of the Month, Tiffany Harris, RN! Tiffany has been working at EMH in Med-Surg for 5 years. She was nominated for employee of the month due to the strong impact she has made while mentoring a co-worker who is new to the nursing field. The nomination reads:

"As a new nurse fresh out of school, I have found their support to be absolutely vital to my growth and success. This person consistently demonstrates patience, professionalism and a genuine commitment to mentoring. They have taken time to teach me, guide me, and help me build confidence in my clinical skills as I transition into my role. Their encouragement and support have created an environment where I feel empowered to learn and thrive. This employee is an excellent colleague and a true asset to our team."

Missouri says 'buh bye' to temporary license tags

Missouri is eliminating temporary license plates, also known as "temp tags," starting this month. A new state law will phase out the use of temp tags as part of a broader change to the vehicle registration process. 

Previously, qualified dealers could issue temporary permits for a period of 60 days upon the sale of a vehicle. However, this practice will be discontinued.

The change is part of a new state law that aims to address issues with expired temp tags, which were costing the state millions of dollars in lost revenue as taxes often go unpaid. Previously, dealers could issue temporary permits for 60 days upon the sale of a vehicle. These permits were not available for purchase and became invalid once an application for title was submitted.

Upon passage of Senate Bill 28, which will take effect on Aug. 28, vehicle buyers in Missouri will be required to pay sales tax at the dealership where the vehicle is purchased before the vehicle can be driven away.

For private sales, buyers will continue to take their bill of sale to any Missouri license office to pay sales tax. At that point, buyers will get a paper copy of their new license plate and a permanent metal plate with the same number configuration will be received by mail a short time later.

Although SB 28 will go into affect later this month, it will take up to 2 years overall to fully implement the program.