Thank you, Cook Insurance

 

A HUGE thank you to Cook Insurance Agency for their generous donation to Butler Junior High/High School to help support student needs. We greatly appreciate your generosity in supporting the Bears this year! Pictured are Cook Insurance Agent Bryant Rush and BHS Assistant Principal Gwen Ford.

Amsterdam ramps up preparation for 2025 Jubilee

The day starts with Drexel's own, we claim her as well, Harley Bridges. Her modern musical take on today's best music is refreshing- She hits the main stage right after the parade. 

Queen Candidate

Harper Powell, daughter of Craig and Kayla Powell. Harper is 11 years old going into the 6th grade. Harper likes to paint and draw. She loves playing basketball and volleyball. She also likes to swim and sing at church. Harper wants to be an aesthetician when she grows up.

Queen candidate

Abigail Bailey is the great-granddaughter of GW Morris & Carole Collins, the granddaughter of Carl & Sara Morris, and the daughter of Noel Carr and Joe Bailey. She is starting her sophomore year with aspirations of becoming an anesthesiologist. In her free time, she enjoys reading, painting, rewatching The Walking Dead, and visiting her family in Amsterdam, Missouri. Words she lives by, "Everything is beautiful when you look at it with love."

2025 Jubilee parade Grand Marshal, Cathy Slattery

Keep up with the Jubilee on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064935120087

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services says Ozarks water infection is rare

 NEWS: We have confirmed a rare brain infection in a Missourian caused by an ameba (also spelled amoeba) called Naegleria fowleri. The infection is known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) - it is not contagious, but it is deadly. The patient is being treated in the ICU.

The source of the patient’s exposure is currently being investigated by public health officials. While not confirmed, preliminary information implies the patient may have been participating in water activities at the Lake of the Ozarks days before becoming ill. Recreational water users should assume that Naegleria fowleri is present in any warm freshwater across the U.S.; however, infection remains extremely rare.

The ameba is commonly found in warm freshwater such as lakes, rivers, and ponds; however, PAM is extremely rare. Between 1962 and 2024, there were 167 reported cases of PAM in the United States. The only other cases among Missouri residents were in 1987 and 2022.

Although rare, infection can occur when water containing Naegleria fowleri enters through the nose from freshwater. The ameba travels up the nose to the brain where it destroys brain tissue. It is important to remember that this infection isn't contagious and can't be contracted by swallowing water.

More info: cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/

Obituary - Ilene Wallace

 Ilene Sharon Riggs Wallace, age 78, of Nevada, MO, passed away on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at Freeman Hospital West, in Joplin, MO.

     Sharon was born on March 26, 1947, in Menden, NE to Ruben Earl and Doris Evelyn (Dixon) Neely.  She was a homemaker and had also worked at Thompson Floral, in Real Estate, and at Woods Pharmacy.

     Sharon leaves behind two sons, Dale Lipe, Nevada, MO and Travis Riggs and his wife, Joan, Nevada, MO; a grandson Scott Riggs; two granddaughters, Brittany Riggs and Ariel Poe; brother-in-law, David L. Wood, Ft. Scott, KS; and a sister-in-law, Jane Frankmore, La Junta, CO.   Sharon was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Donnajo Wood; an infant brother, Jimmy Neely; and two husbands, Ed Riggs and Jack Wallace.

     A celebration of life will be announced, courtesy Ferry Funeral Home.

Thexton's set for sentencing on Friday

Tomorrow, one of the most heinous cases of child abuse ever investigated in Bates County will officially come to an end. Kenneth Thexton and Melodie Thexton both are set to be sentenced tomorrow (Friday) at 2 pm in the Bates County Circuit Court under the direction of Judge M. Brandon Baker.

The couple is accused of some 25 counts of child sexual abuse spanning back to November of 2018. The underage victims stated that the abuse had occurred in other parts of state, including at a mobile home just outside of Drexel, Mo.

Even though both Thexton's entered into a plea agreement earlier this Summer, maximum sentences are expected.

Rain guestimate for the next week

 

HERE IS THE 7-DAY precipitation outlook from the Weather Prediction Center.

You can see NW Missouri picking up over 1" between now and NEXT Thursday, and I think that may happen Monday night or Tuesday.

The rest of us only have hopes of well under 1" over the next week.

-Greg@660weather

Ellett Memorial Hospital wants your input!

 

Our Community Health Needs Assessment Survey closes tomorrow. If you haven't already, please scan the QR code or go to ellettmemorial.com/CHNA to take the survey. We need your input!

For more information on the Community Health Needs Assessment please go to ellettmemorial.com/CHNA and click on "More Information of the Community Health Needs Assessment"

Obituary - Robert "Bob" Withrow

Funeral services for Robert Lee "Bob" Withrow of Foster, Missouri will be 10 a.m. August 21, 2025 at the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri.  Visitation will be prior to services from 9 - 10 a.m. at the Schowengerdt Chapel.  Burial in Salem Cemetery, Foster.  Contributions to American Legion Post #67, Rich Hill, Missouri.  Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Robert Lee “Bob” Withrow, age 92 of Foster, Missouri died Thursday, August 7, 2025 at Butler Center in Butler, Missouri.  He was born February 19, 1933 to Lee Roy and Nadine Cecil Withrow in New Home Township, Missouri.

Bob is survived by his wife, Cynthia Reisz of the home; two sons, James Withrow of Papillion, Nebraska and John Withrow of Kansas City, Missouri; one daughter, Ellen Withrow of Bucklin, Missouri; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one stepson, Russell Reisz and wife Christine of Ironton, Minnesota; two stepdaughters, Kristine Dooley and husband Timothy of Missouri Valley, Iowa and Korena Reisz of La Vista, Nebraska; five step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.  Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Nadine Withrow; and two sisters, Betty Jean Ferguson and Melba Williams.