VCSO offers some great advice

As several of our schools are starting their 2025-2026 School Year soon, all of us at Vernon County Sheriff’s Office want to remind drivers to help keep the children safe! Our commitment to keeping our children and school staff safe will never cease.

We urge residents to please remember to drive safely, especially in the mornings and afternoons, keeping an eye out for children waiting at or leaving from bus stops! Don't drive distracted! Flashing Red, Kids Ahead; stop for school buses displaying flashing red lights! Drive safely and honor the posted speed limit in school zones when children are present!

Please join us in wishing a safe and wonderful start of the school year for our many families and children in Vernon County!

Harrisonville police seeking help in finding runaway

 

We need your help 9 year old Millie Buchan ran away from her home of 2003 Gwenivere, Harrisonville MO at approximately 1341 hours. Please call HPD, 816-380-8940 if you see her. She is currently wearing the orange shirt she is pictured in.

Papinville Picnic Set for September 27th

The Papinville Picnic is in the planning stage and the date is set Sept 27 starting at 1:00 p.m. There will be some new events this year so save the date. The present school building will be 130 years old this year. They would like to have as many students that attended Prairie City, Mission Branch, Seelinger and Papinville to come to the celebration. If any of your grandparents, mothers, fathers, sisters or brothers attended these schools, come celebrate and learn the history of education.

They have had the Papinville History and School History books reprinted. If you would like to know more of the history about your family you may find it in these books. There are school pictures, teachers names who taught at the schools and stories past students have written. In the school history book, it begins with Harmony Mission, plotting Papinville and stories written by people that lived or had lived in Papinville.

This week the story is about the start of education in Bates County. Harmony Mission, in 1821, had the first school that the missionaries built to teach the Osage Indians and the mission children. The stories will be published in the Mid America News Review or you can listen to it on the KMOE Radio Station.

Courtesy Phyllis Stewart

Age requirement change regarding marriage licenses in Missouri

The Recorders Association of Missouri issued the following statement regarding the recent signing of HB 737 and SB 43 by Governor Mike Kehoe. These legislative changes will impact the issuance of marriage licenses across the state.

HB 737 and SB 43 raise the minimum age for marriage in Missouri to 18 years old and prohibit Recorders from issuing a marriage license to any person under the age of 18.

Recorders of Deeds across Missouri will update their office policies to comply with the statutory changes, which will take effect August 28, 2025.

As is required under current law, all applicants will continue to provide proof of age to the Recorder's office in the form of a certified copy of their birth certificate, passport, or other government-issued identification.

The Recorders Association of Missouri and all county Recorders are committed to upholding the statutory requirements of their offices, and these changes will be implemented promptly upon the law's effective date.

Commission discusses county employee health insurance

August 4, 2025 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.

Charles Rush stopped in to speak on insurance. He is expecting the remainder of the quotes for Health Insurance this week. He is expecting a 26% increase. We have been pretty lucky with the last few years with the lower increases. The Commission stated they might have to have the employees pay part of the coverage now. They are also wanting all the Elected Officials in on discussing the choices.

The Commission resurrected the Computer, Electronic Main, Devices and Social Media Policy.

Trent made the motion to accept the Computer, Electronic Mail, Devices and Social Media Policy. John seconded. All voted yes. Motion passed. No opposition.

August 6, 2025 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.

Galen with Group Benefits Services came in on this scheduled meeting to discuss the advantages of their Self-Funded Insurance. Galen stated that they could work through our Insurance Broker as well. He could not give an exact price till they could see the last 24 months claims history. He states that making the jump to a self-funded insurance would need to be small steps. They are flexible enough to be able to make changes to coverages if needed. He mentioned they do try to steer certain things to a contracted or group agreed pricing as in lab work or surgeries. Their process has many added cost help in using their systems. Jim states the Commissioners would need to discuss this before getting our insurance broker involved.

Trent was added to the West Central Community Action Agency Board.

Charles Rush brought in several options for the Commission to look at for the Health Insurance Renewal. A meeting with all elected officials was set for next Wednesday at 2pm.

Work in progress

1. Policy Regarding Indigent Cremations given 8/25/2023 nothing since April.

2. Rattlesnake Hill Roads 11/06/2023 evening meeting 6/11/25 still gaining signatures. As of 7/3/25, ten people have signed and one resident is declaring he will not sign. All need to sign to move the private drives to roads.

3. Policy Regarding Computer, E-Mail, Devices and Social Media given nothing since 2/14/2024. adopted 8/4/25

4. Opioid Settlement Resolution 10/2/2024 (Judge Highley).

5. EEZ Board 3/26/2025 Proposal Fee with scope of work received $12,000.00 fixed fee 6/11/25.

Drier and warmer by the weekend

Obituary - Rebecca Saylor

 Rebecca Ann (Darling) Saylor, 83, Nevada, MO passed away on Friday morning of August 8, 2025 at Medicalodges in Nevada. Ann was born January 21, 1942 to Harry and Maxine (Mixer) Darling. She was united in marriage to Joseph Saylor, Sr. on October 27, 1991 in Sheldon, MO and he preceded her in death.

     Ann grew up in N. Kansas City, MO. She graduated from N. Kansas City High School in 1960 and then attended William Woods College in Fulton, MO. Ann lived in New York for a short time while starting her career to become a stewardess working for various airlines for the next 27 years. Following her marriage to Joseph Saylor, Sr. the couple has resided in Sheldon since 1991 following Ann’s retirement from American Airlines due to her MS. Ann loved animals and cherished her beloved dog, Biggie.  

     Survivors include  her daughter, Lisa Turner and family of Georgia; three stepchildren; and several step grandchildren. 

     A committal service will be held at a later date in the Sheldon Cemetery.

     Courtesy Ferry Funeral Home

Obituary - Belinda Jane Schapeler

Funeral services for Belinda Jane Schapeler of Appleton City will be 10 a.m. Thursday, August 14, 2025 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri.  Visitation prior to services 9 - 10 a.m. at the Schowengerdt Chapel.  Burial in Reform Cemetery, Rockville, Missouri. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Belinda Jane Schapeler, age 55 of Appleton City, Missouri died Saturday, August 9, 2025 at her home.  She was born July 22, 1970 to Hubert Earl and Barbara Jane Gilliam Heckadon in Butler, Missouri.

Belinda is survived by her husband, David Schapeler of Appleton City, Missouri; one daughter, Robin Swanson and husband Micah of Nevada, Missouri; one son, Hayden Schapeler and companion Piper Harberts of Appleton City, Missouri; three grandchildren, Madilyn, David and Jordyn Swanson; parents, Hubert Heckadon and Barbara of Foster, Missouri; one brother, Heath Heckadon and wife Stacy of Lamar, Missouri; two nephews, Cole Heckadon and wife Whitney and Riley Heckadon and fiancé Rylie McMurry; two nieces, Baylee and Natalie Heckadon; four great-nephews and great-nieces, Lane, Landry, Logan and Riggin; and many other close relatives.  Belinda was preceded in death by three grandchildren; father-in-law, Vernon Schapeler; mother-in-law, Edith Schapeler; and sister-in-law, Judy Schapeler.