Local athlete making strides in recovery following accident

Butler High School student and athlete Eli Ferrell was seriously injured automobile accident on August 29th leaving him with a brain bleed and broken bones which are now leading him down a long road to recovery

It was a Friday and with a football game ahead later that night, Eli was making the trek to see a doctor in Kansas City to investigate a fever when his truck left the roadway and overturned multiple times near Archie, Mo. It is suspected that the fever caused him to have a seizure and lose control of the vehicle, according to investigators.

In the days following the crash, family and friends described the situation as 'touch and go' as Eli seemed to show signs of improvement but was later required to be sedated and put on a ventilator. "Eli, it’s time to wake up baby" begged his mother Savannah Ferrell as just two days post accident, he took a turn for the worse when the ventilator was removed.

"While the idea of the ventilator being placed again was brought to the table our God showed up. Respiratory was able to introduce some oxygen with moisture and steroids. He had to get a light sedative and our sweet boy stabilized once again."

As Eli remains in a neuroscience ICU room at a Kansas City hospital, his mother noted that he is fighting "like a true champion" as time will also be needed to recover from a broken foot, which will require surgery. 

Yesterday, Savannah was happy to report that Eli was sitting upright in a chair and is "making leaps in the right direction." She and family remain optimistic that he will make a full recovery.

"And don't stop praying, please!" she added.  

As he continues to heal from broken bones, it was noted that his brain function is slowly returning while he is showing other signs of improvement- he passed a swallow test and is able to move about his room with a walker.

The public is invited to follow his journey to recovery by following his mother's Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/savannah.ferrell.5 

Updates will also be posted on the Mid America Live Facebook page as well as our website.

Rich Hill police department monthly report

Our numbers from August

Calls for service: 167

Animal Calls: 5

Suspicious Activity: 3

Traffic Stops: 12

Disturbances: 4

Building Checks: 2

Code Enforcement: 20

Speak to Officer: 35

Agency Assist: 4

Fire Calls: 2

Arrests: 1

Reports Taken: 3

Citations Written: 21

McGennis Youth Center Barbecue and Auction Set for Sunday, September 21

This year’s annual McGennis Youth Center Barbecue and Auction are set for Sunday, September 21.

The McGennis barbecue is a tradition that spans 55 years. The first barbecue was held in 1969.

In conjunction with the barbecue this year will be the Ninth Annual Car and Truck Show. Car show registration is from 12 to 1 p.m. For more information on the car show contact Jared Rankin at 417-448-4903 or rankinfarms@hotmail.com.

Children’s games will start at 12:30 p.m. Horse and wagon rides will also start at 12:30 with Harry Byram on hand with his team and wagon

Serving for the barbecue is at 1 p.m., with barbecued beef, pork and chicken, along with beans, cheesy potatoes, coleslaw and bread. A wide variety of cakes will be available for dessert. Everyone is invited to bring a cake for the dessert table, if they’d like to. The meal is catered by Food Fair of Rich Hill.

The auction will start about 1:45. Larry Hacker will be our auctioneer this year.

A popular part of the auction will again be featured this year. The Mad Hatter features ten McGennis Youth Center caps donated by Roof Power Solar. These caps, each numbered, will be auctioned off. At the end of the auction one of these numbers will be drawn. That winning number will win this year’s gun donated by Bell Farms. 

In the same format, Denise Steuck of Revive Salon in Butler has donated a 30-minute massage and a 30-mnute facial and the Center has added a pedicure for a Spa Day Basket.

For more information about the auction or to donate an item call Marc or Alison Bell at 660-832-4196. The generosity of those who donate and those who bid has made the auction a major revenue source for the Youth Center.

Admission to the barbecue is $13.00 for adults and $7.00 for children (ages 6-12). Tickets are for the meal and are not required for the auction.

From Rich Hill, the McGennis Youth Center is located five miles west on A Highway and four miles south on WW Highway.

Recipe of the Week

 

Highlights from the Bates County Elks Car Show

 

The Museum Minute: Carnage from Order No. 11

 Courtesy of the Bates County Museum 802 Elks Drive, Butler Mo 64730 (660) 679-0134

Herrman’s Historical Happenings week of September 10

1863 A Union officer writes his wife "It's sickening to see what I have seen. Bates Co is devastated. Oh God, all because of Order Number 11!"

1884 Mr. Bryant opens a business college in Sprague.

1922 The Adrian Methodist Church is dedicated.

1923 Butler schools open with 665 pupils enrolled.

1929 The Butler Chamber of Commerce Fair opens for 4 days. 6th annual.

1929 The Butler airport is dedicated (located at the south edge of town).

1930 Mrs. William Underbrink, who disappeared yesterday, is found clinging to a 2x4 in a deep well several miles from her home. She is rescued.

1945 Fire destroys the WeMott schoolhouse four miles East of Passaic. Teacher and students escape without injury.

1972 Dorsey Durfee, Rich Hill horseshoe pitching champ, places 2nd at the St. Joseph tourney, after winning first place yesterday in Lamar.

1982 An early morning explosion and fire rips through Mary's Restaurant, Business 71 and Pine st in Butler. The cause is unknown, according to Chief Jim Henry.

Bates County real estate transfers and marriage licenses

 Byerly, Penny to Norbury, Shane Lt 3 Bl 1 Ball's Addn+

Ledesma, Samuel Elliott to Case, John Str 35-42-32 //Ne

Laning, Rick to Laning, Bradley A Str 25-39-32 //Se

Smith, Bobby W. to Davis, Briana M. Str 20-42-33 //Nw+

Rogers, Gregory M to Mclay Homes, LLC Str 23-40-31 //Sw

Whittier, Helen L. to Whittier, Helen Louise (Trustee) Str 10-40-32 //Ne

Corwood Homes to Weber, Gage Jefferson Lt 185 Adrian, Original Town Of+

Bettels Farms, LLC to Mulberry Cemetery Corp Str 10-40-33 //Nw

Bullock, Cynthia L to Duckworth, Lonny A Str 19-41-30 //Nw

Bullock, Cynthia L to Fuller, Dustin Str 19-41-30 //Nw

Dunlap, Ronald D to Kimball, Carl Str 5-39-30 //Nw

Melton, John Henry to Reeves, Cameron Str 33-42-31 //Ne

Hosler, Herbert to Melton, John Lt 20 Robin Dale Subd P4/60  #221

Kern, Steve to Hiller, Ryan W Lt 5 Bl 12 Gilbert Heights+

Bettels Farms, LLC to Wisdom, Michael W Str 9-40-33 //Se

Craig, Marion to Friend, Jessica Lt 1 Bl 103 Rich Hill, Original Town Of+

Dennis, Michelle L to Roberts, Cody Str 35-40-31 //Sw+

Bingham, Julia A to Bingham, Julia A Str 5-39-31 //Se

Mason, Kelsey to Mason, Myles Str 19-40-32 //Nw

Coy, Michael to Coy, Michael Str 31-40-31 //Sw

Babcock, Sean Michael to Fennewald, Ashley Jane Str 33-40-29 //Sw

Candelaria, Terri L (Trustee) to Shobe, Gerald Lt 4 Bl 182 Town Company's Second Addn+

Lefevre, Terry A (Trustee) to Poindexter, Mitchell O Str 30-42-32 //Nw

Marriage license

Pajula, Kevin Rae and Lawrence, Shyla Lynn

Landtroop, Caleb Eleazar and Whitaker, Mikayla Madison

Rich Hill schools offer statement regarding former employee

This statement is in response to questions the district has received about a former district employee.  The district cannot provided detailed information about most aspects of a personnel matter.  However, there is some limited information we can provide.  

First, we can confirm that the individual in question is no longer employed by the district.  The district is also aware that the former employee is being investigated by one or more outside agencies.  However, the individual resigned from the district before the administration became aware of any allegations or the investigation, and no reason for the resignation was provided.  

Based on the limited information available to the district, it appears that none of the conduct being investigated occurred at school or during school activities.  Nevertheless, the district will provide its full cooperation during any investigation regarding the matter.  

This is the full extent of the information that the school district can provide.  Any additional information will have to come from the agency or agencies that are conducting the investigation.  But we can assure you that the district is absolutely committed to providing a safe working and learning environment for our students and staff.  We are a small, but dedicated school community – a school family.  We will support each other with kindness and empathy as those most deeply affected by these events work through this difficult situation.  Finally, we want to thank the entire community for the support it is showing to those who need it most, and to the school district and its mission to provide the best education possible for all of our students.