Local man receives Good Neighbor honor

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Twenty Missouri residents have been honored as the state’s Most Engaged Neighbors for 2025. These awards highlight everyday Missourians whose commitment to their neighborhoods strengthens community bonds and creates belonging.

The recognition is part of Missouri Good Neighbor Week, celebrated annually from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4. The initiative, led by University of Missouri Extension and The Hopeful Neighborhood Project, encourages acts of neighboring and celebrates those who make a difference where they live, said David Burton, community development specialist with MU Extension and creator of Missouri Good Neighbor Week.

“These honorees represent the very best of what it means to be a neighbor,” Burton said. “The nominations reflect a culture of care that thrives on simple and repeated human actions.”

Judges reviewed the 138 nominations with an emphasis on neighborhood-level impact—how individuals connect with those around them through service, inclusion and relationship-building, he said. Nominees could not be compensated for the service described. Elected officials were not eligible. Preference went to neighbors who strengthen relationships through events, service or consistent acts of care in a neighborhood or small community. Geographic diversity was prioritized.

Due to the quality and quantity of nominations this year, judges could not get the list down to 10, so they agreed to support 20 awards, Burton said. Those selected as Most Engaged Neighbors receive a certificate and a $100 check.

Local man Jeff Fillpot of Hume, Mo. was nominated for this award by seven different people. Since 2016, Jeff has been a steady and dependable presence in his small community, creating a food pantry that supports more than 250 families and building and serving in a community greenhouse. He steps up in times of need and brings people together through conversation, encouragement and acts of service. As one nominator wrote, “His leadership in organizing local activities and his constant willingness to help those in need have made him a trusted neighbor. In fact, I believe he embodies the true spirit of a good neighbor.” Congratulations!

Week 10 football this Friday

 

Bottom team to host. All games 7 pm

Osceola 4-5
Lincoln 4-3

Rich Hill 0-9
Drexel 6-3

Sherwood 2-7
Crest Ridge 4-5

Polo 4-5
Midway 3-5

Sarcoxie 5-4
Butler 5-4

Southeast 0-9
Nevada 6-3

Pleasant Hill 2-7
Harrisonville 6-3

Oak Grove 2-7
Clinton 7-2

What’s Up by LeRoy Cook

Sand Blasted at 36,000 Feet 

Many flying plans were thwarted over last weekend, although there were periods of rain-free high ceilings that would serve adequately for local flights. Taking advantage of the good days before Friday gave some opportunities to log time.

Transient traffic during the past week included the usual suspects, with no noteworthy aircraft. David Bradley flew over from Boonville in a Cessna Skyhawk and Josh Poe came down from Miami County in his Cessna 172. Local movers and shakers were Roy Conley in his Grumman Tr2 and gyrocopter, Randy and Bettie Miller in the club Skyhawk, and meself in the Aeronca Champion. Delaney Rindal made some final flights in her Cessna 150s, including a refueling run to Harrisonville.

Do not neglect to set your clocks back one hour this Saturday night, and go to bed an hour early to get your night’s worth. It’ll be nice to rise and shine with daylight again, but be prepared to land by late afternoon unless you were night-flying current in the last 90 days. I did my three takeoffs and landings on August 10, so I’m good for another week or so. There is, of course, no penalty for allowing currency to lapse, so long as you don’t carry passengers.

I always wondered what would happen if an airplane ran into one of those little radiosonde packages lifted into the stratosphere by a weather balloon. The information gathered by the balloons, launched by the hundreds every day, is vital to forecasting the weather, but even a few ounces hitting a 500-mph airplane has gotta hurt. When the balloon pops the package drifts down under a parachute, remaining a hazard. Well, we learned the effect last week last Thursday when a Denver-to-LA United Airlines 737 took a hit on its windshield frame at 36,000 feet, its sand ballast denting the structure and shattering the glass into the cockpit. The plane did not depressurize and diverted successfully to Salt Lake City. Evidently the balloon’s launch company had lost contact with that particular device and didn’t know its exact location.

What are some effects of aviation from the government shutdown? The Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds flight demonstration teams aren’t doing their scheduled appearances, and most fly-overs from local air bases at sporting events aren’t happening. And the training academy for new air traffic controllers at Oklahoma City is shut down. Although they’ve been asked to work without being paid, some ATC workers are having to flip burgers at McDonalds to pay the mortgage, leaving control towers partly unstaffed. Some aviation weather services are not available when getting preflight briefings. 

A Minnesota pilot has had his airplane seized by the Red Lake Indian Reservation after landing on a road after an engine failure two weeks ago. It seems that the Tribal Council recently passed an ordinance banning aircraft flying over their grounds below 20,000 feet, in a squabble with the Air Force’s training routes, despite Federal preemption of regulating airspace. The Council will have a pow-wow on November 4th to decide on what to do with the impounded plane.

The last-week’s question asked why boats and planes have a red light on their left side and a green one on the right. The correct answer is to determine right of way for converging vessels; if you see a red light you must give way, green means you can proceed. If you see both, duck! For next time, tell us the contribution to aviation made by Mr. Edwin Link. You can send your answers to kochhaus1@gmail.com. 

Obituary - Louis Neck

 

Louis "Lou" Neck, 78, of Louisburg, Kansas, passed away on Friday, October 24, 2025, at his home. 

Visitation will be held from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, November 3, 2025, at the Louisburg First Baptist Church, 406 S Vine Street, Louisburg, Kansas 66053. Memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Tuesday, November 4, 2025, also at the church. Private family burial will be held at the Louisburg Cemetery. 

A full obituary will be available shortly.

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

K-9 Enzo leads meth bust in Butler

On 08/15/2025, at approximately 10:27pm, a Butler Officer observed a Chevrolet Silverado make multiple traffic violations in the area of Fort Scott Street and Fran Ave.

The Officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the parking lot of Days Inn where the driver, later identified as Brian Watts exited the vehicle and attempted to walk away from the traffic stop until ordered to come back to the vehicle by the Butler Officer.

Due to Watts being a known drug user with a history of drug charges, the Officer requested that Watts give consent to search the vehicle. Watts denied consent.

K-9 Enzo then conducted a free air sniff of the vehicle and K-9 Enzo alerted. After K-9 Enzo alerted, Officers then searched the vehicle and discovered a glass pipe and a container inside the vehicle that both field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Courtesy Butler Police Department

 

Blackhawks Marching Band takes 1st place in Warrensburg

 FIRST PLACE! The Blackhawks Marching Band took first place in Class 2 at the UCM Band Contest today. Congratulations on a job well done.

Obituary - Elizabeth Ann Heckman

Elizabeth Ann Heckman, 73, of Harrisonville, Missouri, passed away on Friday, October 24, 2025 at the Olathe Hospice House in Olathe, Kansas. A full obituary will be posted when it becomes available.

Courtesy Atkinson Funeral Home

Edwards selected to join WCMMEA All-District Choir

 

Congratulations to Miami Junior Adam Edwards who recently auditioned and was selected to the WCMMEA All-District Choir

As a Junior, he had to sing a solo and take a test over key signatures and sight singing. The concert was held on Sat. Oct. 18th at Oak Grove High School and directed by Ken Tucker of Sullivan High School.

Courtesy Miami R-1 High School