Hume School District Launches First Registered Youth Apprenticeship with Wyatt Brooks as Inaugural Apprentice

 

Hume, MO — Hume School District is proud to announce the signing of Wyatt Brooks into the Registered Youth Apprenticeship (RYA) program, making this the first time our district has offered this career-connected pathway. Wyatt will begin building valuable skills as an employee of Dirks Heavy Contractors, combining classroom learning and paid work experience in his field of interest.

Missouri’s RYA program is a structured “earn-and-learn” pathway that allows high school students to remain enrolled in academic classes while participating in paid, on-the-job training within local businesses. This program is registered and monitored with the Department of Labor. Students in RYA can also earn industry-recognized credentials and his specific program will include 2,000 hours of training. 

This opportunity not only supports Wyatt’s personal career trajectory, but also strengthens the connection between education and local industry. The program offers benefits for:

• Students: gain real-world experience, earn wages, and build credentials while still in high school
  
  

• Employers: tap into a pipeline of motivated, skilled young workers trained for their specific workforce needs
  
  

• Schools & educators: enhance career and technical education (CTE) by aligning instruction with workplace learning
  
  

We extend sincere thanks to Betty Glasgow and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Dirks Heavy Contractors and their team, and all who contributed to making this program a reality at Hume.

This milestone signals the beginning of a new chapter for Hume students, one where academic achievement, career readiness, and community partnerships intersect. We are excited to see future opportunities this program will foster for our students and local industries.

For more information about Missouri’s Registered Youth Apprenticeship program, visit the DESE RYA page. Missouri DESE

This program was initiated through the rootEd Missouri Advisor at Hume School. rootEd Alliance’s mission is clear: “Every rural student should graduate high school on a path that leads to career success and economic stability.”

Picture Left to Right: Betty Glasgow, Wyatt Brooks, Franklin Dirks 

Back Row - parents Vernon Brooks and Carrie Irwin 

Be The Change 5k run coming Oct. 19

 

Obituary - James Lancaster

James E. “Jim” Lancaster, life-long Franklin County banker and retired dairyman, passed away September 27, 2025, at Olathe Hospice House in Olathe, Kansas at the age of 85.

Jim was born at Ransom Memorial Hospital, Ottawa, Kansas to Glenn Edward and Ruth Frances (Hougland) Lancaster on July 20, 1940.

He graduated from Ottawa High School in 1958. While attending Ottawa High School, he was very active in FFA holding several officer positions including chapter Vice-President. He also played football and basketball at Ottawa High School.

Jim was very active in the community starting with membership in Jayhawk 4-H club and later serving as club leader for Trailblazers 4-H. He served on the Franklin County Extension Council for several years and as President two terms. Jim served several years as treasurer for the Franklin County Fair Board and was a life member of Ottawa Optimist Club where he was a past president. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Ottawa for over sixty years where he held several positions including Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

After high school, he attended Kansas State University where he studied Animal Science and Dairy Production. He then returned to the family farm where he was in partnership with his father in Lancaster and Son Dairy.

He later changed employment and started working at Ottawa Coop as feed store manager. He then started working in the banking industry as Vice-President and field representative at Ottawa Production Credit. From there, he became branch manager at Franklin Savings at 7th and Main in Ottawa. When Franklin closed, he moved to Vice-President of First National Bank of Ottawa. He remained with that bank thru several name changes and retired from Intrust Bank in 2005.

In 1961, Jim joined the Kansas Army National Guard. He served ten years with headquarters division at Ottawa, Kansas where he was a Staff Sargent.

On February 4, 1962, Jim was united in marriage to Virginia Carey at Princeton United Methodist Church. They shared more than sixty-three years of life and love. To this marriage two sons were born, Tim Lancaster and Dr. Trent Lancaster.

Jim enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid golfer and fisherman. He also enjoyed deer hunting, snow skiing, and woodworking. He was a die hard KSU football fan and was a fifty plus year season ticket holder. Jim was a dedicated fan of fishing in Northwest Ontario, Canada traveling there twenty-eight years to fish for walleye.

He and Virginia spent fifteen years as winter Texans in Alamo, Texas where Jim spent many hours in the woodshop perfecting his woodworking skills.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and grandparents Elmer and Bertha Lancaster and Aaron and Bertha Hougland.

He is survived by his wife Virginia; sons Tim Lancaster (Brenda) of Lake Lotawana, Missouri and Dr. Trent Lancaster (Jody) of Ottawa, Kansas; four grandchildren Tate Lancaster (fiancé Gracie Fitzgerald) of Overland Park, Kansas, Hope Lancaster of Shawnee, Kansas, Maddy Srna (Josh) of Gardner, Kansas, and Cooper Lancaster of Sabetha, Kansas; great granddaughter Parker Lee Srna; and brother John Lancaster (Ellen) of Redfield, Kansas.

Services will be held at 10am Friday, October 3, 2025 at the First United Methodist Church, Ottawa, Kansas. Family will greet friends from 5:30-7:30pm, Thursday, October 2, 2025, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa.

Interment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to the KSU Foundation to be used for the Lancaster Family Scholarship, fund N76234. This scholarship is used to help Franklin County students attend Kansas State University. Contributions may be sent to: KSU Foundation, 1800 Kimball Ave., Ste 200, Manhattan, Kansas 66502, please indicate fund N76234. To make a gift online, go to www.ksufoundation.org/give/memorials.

Obituary - Betty Joan Haupt

Betty Joan Haupt, age 93, La Cygne, Kansas passed away Monday, September 29, 2025. 

Funeral service will be 10 am Friday, October 3, 2025 at the La Cygne Christian Church.  Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm Thursday, October 2 at the Schneider Funeral Home, La Cygne Chapel.  Memorial contributions are suggested to Celebrate Recovery or La Cygne Christian Church.  Online condolences can be left at wwww.schneiderfunerals.com.   

Obituary - Garry Gene Jenkins

Garry Gene Jenkins, 83, Richards, MO passed away on Sunday, September 28, 2025 in Richards. Garry was born March 28, 1942 in Nevada, MO to Harry Everett and Virginia Lee (Vohs) Jenkins. He married Dorothy Frye, and she preceded him in death on December 30, 1994, he then married Ada Haner, and she preceded him in death on March 18,, 2019, he later married Charlene Jenkins, and she survives of the home.

     Garry was raised in Nevada and graduated from Nevada High School Class of 1960. Following high school, he moved to Springfield with his family where they lived for five years before returning to Nevada. Garry worked as a lineman for Mo Public Service for several years and was also a logger for several years with his son “Skip”. He then went on to become a self-employed over the road trucker, an occupation that served him for 40+ years.  Garry was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Nevada.

     In addition to his wife Charlene he is survived by his children, Leslie Ann Smith (Walter), Carthage, Skip Jenkins (Sherry), Nevada, John Jenkins, Richards, and Russ Jenkins (Barbara), Moundville; three grandchildren, Jake Hand (Jenny), Carthage, Vanessa Howell (Trevor), Nevada, and Jesse Jenkins (Kelly), Nevada; two great-grandchildren, Ian and Isabelle Howell; a brother, Mike Jenkins (Mary), Sheldon; a sister, Pat McClellan, Nevada; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Jim Jenkins, and Johnny Jenkins; and two grandson, Cody Jenkins, and Walter Smith, Jr.

     Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025 at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Nevada. Interment will follow in Moore Cemetery in Nevada. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home.

     Memorials are suggested in his name to the Seventh Day Adventist Church Missionary Fund c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

Obituary - Michelle R. Moore

Michelle R. Moore was born in Guam on July 18, 1968, the daughter of Darrel A. and Teen Alice (Gregory) Goth. She passed from this life September 24, 2025, at Ellett Memorial Hospital in Appleton City, Missouri.

Michelle grew up in the Germantown, Missouri area graduating from Montrose High School in May of 1986. On October 11, 1986, Michelle was united in marriage to Kevin S. Moore at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Montrose. To this union two children were born, Scott and Mickaela.

After high school, Michelle began a career of caring for the elderly at Appleton City Manor. She worked her way up to CNA and then to Med Tech before changing jobs to West Central Action Agency and then Four Seasons In-Home Care where she was the supervisor for in-home aides. Michelle enjoyed helping people and caring for them. She later took a job working at AC Health Clinic for Dr. Glen Reed. Her focus changed entirely as she began working at Community First Bank as a teller. She was able to spend more time at home being wife and mother to her two children.

Michelle now was able to spend time in her flower garden too. She very much liked eating out with her family, and was a dog lover at heart, enjoying her two dogs Bingo and Luna.

Preceding Michelle in death were her parents; her son Scott; her maternal grandparents Pauline and Paul Goth; and her mother and father-in-law Dot and Charley Moore. Survivors include her husband of almost 39 years, Kevin; her daughter Mickaela Sebree and husband Zach; her sisters-in-law, Bev Carter (Jim), and Barb Moore; her aunts: Beverly Munsterman (Gary), Paula Evans (Jim), Maxine Beavers and Germaine Wilson; several cousins, family members and many friends.

The family requests any memorial donations be made to Michelle Moore Love Fund. There is an account set up at Community First Bank in Appleton City, Missouri, or memorials may be left at Hill & Son Funeral Home.

Obituary - Virginia Lee Thomas

Virginia Lee Thomas, 90, of Harrisonville, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Crown Care Center in Harrisonville, surrounded by her immediate family and under the care of One Community Hospice. A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO. Private inurment services will take place at a later date at Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville. Memorial contributions are suggested to Harrisonville United Methodist Church in Virginia's name.

Virginia was born on September 17, 1935, the only child of Lee and Edith (Williams) Hammonds in Harrisonville, where she spent her entire life. A proud graduate of Harrisonville High School's Class of 1953, she dedicated 75 years to her profession in accounting and tax preparation, bringing her expertise and friendly demeanor to many in her community. Her marriage to Billy K. Thomas on June 18, 1955, marked the beginning of a loving partnership and a beautiful family, including her sons, Keith and Kevin, who were her pride and joy.

A dedicated grandmother and great-grandmother, Virginia cherished every moment spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, showering them with love and affection. Her nurturing spirit extended beyond her family; she was deeply active in the Harrisonville United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir from an early age and enjoyed being part of the United Women’s Faith Group.

Virginia is preceded in death by her parents; her spouse, Billy K. Thomas; and her son, Keith Thomas. She is survived by her son, Kevin (Jennifer) Thomas; her daughter-in-law, Teresa Thomas; her five grandchildren: Jason Lee (Stephanie) Thomas, Justin Dane (Abbey) Thomas, Jeremy Keith (Amber) Thomas, Juliann Nicole Thomas, and Sarah Ashton (Angel) Thomas; and her 11 great-grandchildren: Jayden, Jet, Ethan, Evan, Jagger, Gunner, Gavin, Jasper, Gianna, Gracie, & Gentry.

Mild weather on tap

 

Where we are - and where we're headed.

Man, it's pretty tough to describe the same forecast day after day. . . pretty much a repeat of yesterday today. . . and tomorrow. . .

Mid to upper 80's today with some broken clouds approaching from the west. Really dry air over us though, so don't count on an abundance of cloud cover.

Have a great day-

-Greg@660weather