Bates County Court News

Judge Julie Highley-Keutzer presiding

Fines do not include added court costs

St v Hannah M. Morris- fail to transfer plates, fine $50.50

City of Butler v Mark David Harvey- expired plates, fine $50.50

City of Butler v Jennifer Wynn Coburn- fail to signal, fine $60.50

St v Grail Skyie Unruh- speeding, fine $200.50

St v Connor Joseph McGuire- speeding, fine $80.50

St v Molly Ann Vavak- no working horn, fine $144.00

St v Donald Melvin Struebeing- speeding, fine $60.60

St v Joe Lawrence Duvall- operating commercial vehicle unlawfully, fine $50.00

St v Calvin Lavern Oyler- seatbelt violation, fine $10.00

St v Joe Lawrence Duvall- littering, fine 32.50

St v Marvin T. Ostrander- speeding, fine $120.50

Bates County real estate transfers and marriage licenses

Gurley, Kenneth to Hicks, Doris Irene Gurley Bl 23 Walnut Nka Foster+

Hutchinson, Tommie to Hutchinson, Tommie Str 22-40-33 //Se

Shepherd, Nicholas to Smiley, Joseph Str 22-40-31

Rush, Janet A to Wicker, Maria Str 15-40-31 //Se

Olson, Heath to Dejesus, Michael Str 22-42-31 //Se

Fitzgerald, Patrick to Fitzgerald, Taylor Lt 4 Bl 4 Warner's, J. A. Addn+

Rpm68 LLC to Weatherman, Michael A Str 3-42-31

Scott, Drew T. to Dry Creek Construction, LLC Str 8-42-32 //Nw

Piper Construction to Wright, Veronica Lt 243 Adrian, Original Town Of+

Medlock, Tammy to Ireland, Dillon Charles Lt 15 Town Company's First Addn+

Campbell, Paul D to Long, Bryce A Str 1-41-30 //Nw

Arnold, Jeffrey E to Sargent, Lance Edward Str 23-40-31 //Sw

Julien, Jason N to Horner, Max E Lt 4 Bl 13 Amsterdam, Original Town Of+

Satterfield, Roger to Medlock, Tammy Lt 4 Bl 5 Huston's 2nd Addn+

Winder, Clay to Dawson, Bobby J Str 23-40-31 //Sw

Wendleton, Ivan to Wendleton, Henry Str 19-41-29 //Ne

Shaffer, Arthur Dale to Shaffer, Arthur Dale Str 27-40-32 //Ne

Kithcart, Richard to Kithcart, Richard Lt 2 Bl 12 Sperrys Addn+

Mawson, Rodney P to Curtis, Nicholas S Str 4-42-31

Whitmore, Ellene Sander (Trustee) to Whitmore, Ellene S. Str 30-42-33 //Ne+

Cole Living Trust 04-16-2025 to Carroll, Justin Str 24-40-33 //Ne

Arnold, Jeffrey E (Succ Trustee) to Arnold, Jeffrey E Str 23-40-31 //Sw

Marriage license

Cahill, Maren Auston and Kazmier, Katelin Marie

Rice, Joseph Jude and Bosch, Tracy Lynn

Nichols, Cyrus Levi and Spencer, Anna Nicole

Hamilton, Malachi Leroy and Brubaker, Sarah Mazelin

What's Up by LeRoy Cook

A Routine Miracle

Unfortunately, dry weather continued into last weekend, when most of us really could have used some run-off moisture, in the form of a few days of soaking rain. I can remember when the Butler airport was a soggy grass field and rain meant no flying for a few days.

Transient traffic was busy at times last week; we observed a Cirrus SR-22, a Piper twin, a Cessna Skylane and an Army Reserve Chinook helicopter, among others. I flew a Cessna 172 out to Manhatten and also ferried a Skyhawk from the shop, seeking fuel to import along the way in both instances.

The trip west on Saturday promised benign conditions, but the reality was spoiled by a weak cold front across the route. Fog formed before sunrise, spreading 100-foot ceilings and quarter-mile visibility along a 40-mile boundary. Butler was clear, Fort Riley was clear, but in between lay the fog. We delayed until it was assured that half-hour of cruising on top would leave us comfortably in reach of an alternate landing spot.

U.S. aviation news for the week mostly centered on the airline flights mess as the Shutdown-starved air traffic controllers, those able to work without pay, could only handle so many flights. FAA management had to limit airport access at the major hub airports, where airlines like to pack in-and-out seat swapping connections as tightly as possible. Cutting flights is the only solution when weather or lack of controllers interferes. Visual operations by general aviation don’t impact the system very much, often conducted without radio contact. However, the FAA over-reacted by prohibiting general aviation from using 12 of the nation’s big airports, instead of limiting departures like the airlines. Public airports belong to everybody, nof just the Big Guys. Fortunately, once their point was finally made, the well-paid politicians ended the government shutdown, and flights began getting back to normal holiday frustration levels. 

Last Thursday, somebody intentionally set fire to three aircraft sitting on the ramp at Avon Park, Florida, near Sebring, two Pipers and a Cessna. The perp planted the fires in the plane cabins, for no reason other than to watch flames erupt. Come on, man, they aren’t making these airplanes any more, at least none than we can afford to buy.

On Tuesday evening, a Cirrus SR-20 experiencing mechanical trouble was lost in a non-fatal crash close to Spirit of St. Louis airport, the two occupants walking away from the tree-impaled wreckage in what the TV reporter called “a miracle.” Not hardly, folks. The Cirrus, of course, is equipped with a whole-plane parachute, which the pilot wisely deployed in time to let the aircraft down safely, just as it was designed to do. Sometimes chute-pulled Cirrus’ can be rebuilt to fly again, but it looks doubtful in this case.

Our question of the week was about the luxury tax that Canada recently repealed, which had been applied to airplane purchases over $71,000. It was 10%, but wasn’t bringing in much revenue compared to the loss of sales it caused. For next week, tell us what company built the FG-1D Corsair WW-II fighter plane. You can send your answers to kochhaus1@gmail.com. 

Obituary - Shirley “Jean” (Baer) Mizner

Shirley “Jean” (Baer) Mizner went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, November 13th in Kansas City, Missouri. Jean was 89 years old and had resided in Kansas City for many years. Jean was born to Ray and Hila (Waltz) Baer in 1936 near Middle Point, Ohio and was the youngest of 7 children. Jean was a school bus driver for Miami High School for 13 years. She followed that by managing a small café in Butler, Missouri, then worked at a local factory also in Butler. Jean then left the workforce and was able to spend time with her grandchildren in her early retirement years. 

Jean is preceded in death by her father Ray, mother Hila, sister Myrna Partin, sister Mary King, brother Ronald (Bud) Baer, sister Mildred Longstreth, brother Carl Baer, sister Joann Neer, and son Robbi Mizner. Jean is survived by her son Randi Mizner, daughter Staci (John) Smith, daughter Shani (Charles) Kroll, daughter-in-law Joan Mizner, six grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. 

Following Jean’s wishes she will be cremated, and her ashes will become part of the land on the farm she grew up on in Ohio – the place she called home. "Love lives on" by Unknown Those we love remain with us for love itself lives on, and cherished memories never fade because a loved one’s gone. Those we love can never be more than a thought apart, far as long as there is memory, they’ll live on in the heart. 

Harrisonville woman injured in I-49 crash

On Saturday just before 10 am, a 2014 Nissan driven by a 21 year old Harrisonville woman left the roadway and struck a sign on northbound I-49 at mile marker 172.0 leaving her with minor injuries, according the the MSHP report.

The driver was transported to Research Hospital in Kansas City for treatment. The vehicle received extensive damage and was towed from the scene. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the Cass County Sheriff's Office.

The highway patrol no longer provides names in publicly available accident reports.

Cooler days ahead

 

A bit cooler today behind the cold front but still well above-average.

This evening I plan a livestream look at the rain chances this week AND a 2025-26 winter outlook.

Enjoy your Sunday! Greg @ 660 Weather Spot

Obituary - Timothy Crippen

Timothy Carl Crippen, 64, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at The Oxford Grand Assisted Living & Memory Care. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Atkinson Funeral Home in Adrian, MO, with a visitation starting at 1:00 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to Adrian Public Library or Children's Center - Butler.

The full obituary will be posted when it is available.

Obituary - Ronald Cutshaw

Ronald "Babe" LeRoy Cutshaw, age 86, of Louisburg, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at Olathe Medical Center. 

Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at Dengel & Son Mortuary - Louisburg Chapel, 1 Aquatic Drive, Louisburg, Kansas 66053. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, November 19, 2025, also at the funeral home. Burial will be held at the Louisburg Cemetery following the funeral.

A full obituary will be available shortly.

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