Monday, April 6, 2026
Obituary - Dwight Alexander
Dwight was born on August 2, 1933, to Leo and Opal Alexander. He graduated from Clinton High School in 1951. On October 12, 1958, he married the love of his life, Dorothy. They shared 67 wonderful years of marriage.
Dwight spent an incredible 68 years working in the automotive industry, a profession that reflected his strong work ethic, skill with his hands, and love for building and fixing things. He began his career in 1951 at Alva Allen Chevrolet, moving to Lester Moore Chevrolet in 1955 then Bob Stayton Chevrolet in 1957. In 1984 he joined Readi Chevrolet, and in 1988 he began working at Jim Raysik, where he remained until retiring at the end of July 2019.
He had a special way with his nieces and nephews. His family will always remember the joy he found in the little things and the time he spent with them.
Some of Uncle Dwight’s favorite things included helping Carlye and Heather decorate the house for Olde Glory Days, building shelves and a bed for Caroline’s American Girl dolls, and working in his basement workshop with Jack Henry. He loved spending Christmas morning with Charlie, building Lincoln’s trampoline with Troy (sometimes more than once), and sitting in the Winnie-the-Pooh tent with Chance and Carlye when they were little.
He also enjoyed driving Chance around in the Corvette before Chance turned 16, playing the imaginative games Lincoln created during sleepovers, watching fireworks on the deck with George, and surprising the kids with stories they never expected.
Dwight is survived by his beloved wife Dorothy; his sister Leora Houk; his nephew Michael Houk, who loved visiting and bringing books that Uncle Dwight enjoyed; his great nephew Chance Duensing and wife Heather; his great niece Carlye Howk and husband Troy; his great-great niece Caroline Duensing; his great-great nephews Jack Henry Duensing, Lincoln Howk, and Charlie Duensing; and his almost great-great nephew, George Arbuckle.
Uncle Dwight leaves behind more than memories. He leaves behind things he built, traditions he helped create, and a family who will always hear his stories, remember his kindness, and feel his love in the everyday moments he made special.
To those who loved him most, he will always simply be “Dight.”
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.
#MidAmericaLive
Capitol Report from Rep. Dane Diehl
April 2, 2026
We have had a busy and productive couple of weeks in the Missouri State Legislature. This week, the Missouri House gave final approval to the state budget and sent it to the Senate for consideration.
Missouri’s Constitution requires a balanced budget—a principle I’m proud of as a Missourian. Achieving that balance, however, requires a significant amount of careful work from our budget committee. While we have taken steps to promote economic growth across our state, challenges such as inflation and the winding down of federal ARPA funding have placed added strain on this year’s budget.
Given these conditions, every area of spending must be carefully reviewed, and thoughtful decisions must be made to ensure we are using taxpayer dollars responsibly. Missouri’s budget is complex and wide-ranging, covering priorities such as education, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, corrections, and economic development, among others. As legislators, it is our duty to make sound investments that position our state for long-term success.
I believe the House has put forward a strong budget proposal that serves Missouri well. The next step is for the Senate to develop and pass its version, followed by a conference committee where both chambers will work together to reach a final agreement before sending the budget to the Governor’s desk.
I sincerely appreciate the support, visits, and guidance I’ve received throughout this legislative session. It is an honor to serve the people of Bates, Vernon, and Cedar counties. If you are visiting Jefferson City, please feel free to stop by my office in Room 114, or reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Below you will find information on other legislation that recently was passed in the Missouri House.
Rep. Dane Diehl, District 125
Missouri Legislature Sends Major Regulatory, Infrastructure, and Financial Oversight Measures to Governor
The Missouri General Assembly has passed and sent to the governor for signature three bills addressing cannabis regulation, regional development financing, and financial services oversight. Cannabis and Hemp Regulation, HB 2641, updates state cannabis law by regulating intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid products under Missouri’s existing marijuana framework through the “Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Act.” It limits certain products to licensed dispensaries, establishes THC thresholds, and updates definitions of hemp and industrial hemp while maintaining protections for non-intoxicating hemp products.
The measure also strengthens privacy protections for medical marijuana patients by restricting disclosure of personal information and limiting data retention without consumer consent, with penalties for violations. Additional provisions restrict the use of the term “dispensary” by unlicensed entities and establish enforcement authority across state agencies, including the Attorney General. Key provisions take effect in November 2026.
House Advances Health Care, Mental Health, and Nutrition Policy Measures
The House has passed a series of separate measures addressing health care delivery, behavioral health treatment, and nutrition-based public health initiatives.
HCS HB 2372 enacts broad updates to health care and related public safety systems, including changes to hospital investment rules, ambulance district governance, and community paramedic services. The bill modernizes emergency care standards, expands use of epinephrine delivery systems, and establishes the “Hope for Missouri Patients Act,” allowing access to individualized investigational treatments under defined safeguards. It also includes updates to MO HealthNet coverage, telehealth standards, pharmacy regulations, insurance coverage requirements for anesthesia alternatives, mental health detention procedures, and reporting requirements tied to nutrition and disease surveillance programs.
The House also approved HCS HBs 1717 & 1643, the “Veterans Mental Health Innovation Act,” creating a structured framework for clinical research into alternative mental health therapies. The measure allows eligible veterans and first responders participating in approved studies to access psilocybin-assisted therapy under strict clinical controls, while also establishing grant funding and oversight for FDA-regulated research into ibogaine and other alternative treatments for substance use and mental health conditions.
In addition, HCS HB 2355, the “Food is Medicine Act,” expands nutrition-focused health services within MO HealthNet. The legislation directs the state to seek federal approval for a waiver to support nutrition-based interventions for individuals with chronic disease and encourages the use of community organizations and local food producers in program delivery.
House Passes Childcare Tax Credit Package to Expand Access and Support Providers
Legislation advanced out of the House this week would establish a series of tax credit programs designed to increase access to childcare and support providers, employers, and community investment in childcare services.
Beginning in 2027, HB 2409 creates a tax credit allowing taxpayers to claim up to 75% of contributions made to eligible child care providers, with incentives structured to encourage investment in underserved areas. It also establishes a separate tax credit for employers that invest in or provide childcare for employees, covering a portion of qualified expenses related to childcare facilities.
Additionally, the legislation creates a tax credit program for childcare providers, allowing credits tied to employer withholding taxes and certain capital expenditures to support facility improvements and expansion. Each program includes annual caps, eligibility requirements, and provisions prioritizing resources for areas identified as childcare deserts. All credits are non-refundable and nontransferable, and the programs are subject to annual limits with a six-year sunset.
House Passes PRAISE Act Limiting Restrictions on Religious Services During Emergencies
Reflecting lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, the House has passed HB 2760, known as the “Protecting Religious Assembly in States of Emergency (PRAISE) Act,” establishing clearer limits on how state and local governments may regulate religious services during declared emergencies.
The legislation addresses concerns raised during the pandemic era about inconsistent restrictions on in-person worship and seeks to ensure that religious services are not made impractical or effectively prohibited during future public health emergencies. It provides that state and local governments may not impose restrictions on houses of worship that prevent religious services, including services held on private property.
An exception is included for broadly applied emergency evacuation orders, with religious services permitted to resume once the immediate danger has passed. The bill also allows houses of worship affected by restrictions to pursue legal remedies in court, including injunctive relief and damages, if such restrictions are imposed.
House Advances Student Screen-Time Standards for K–5 Schools
The House has passed HCS HBs 2230 & 2978, known as the “Student Screen-Time Standards Act,” establishing new requirements for how school districts and charter schools manage instructional technology use for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The legislation requires districts to adopt policies limiting screen time during the school day and for assignments or school-issued devices by the 2027–28 school year. The bill also mandates annual parent notification, public posting of district policies, and a process for parents to request information regarding their child’s screen time usage, with exemptions for virtual instruction programs. In addition, the measure directs the Literacy Advisory Council to provide guidance on cursive instruction and creates the “Framework on Classroom Use of Screens (FOCUS) Council” to study best practices and issue recurring reports on student technology use and instructional policy recommendations.
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Sheriff's Posse honors Mark Elmer
Mark has always felt drawn to law enforcement, but his purpose deepened after the tragic loss of his son, Carson, in 2020. That experience reshaped his heart for service and strengthened his desire to help others through moments no family should ever have to face. Serving with the Bates County Sheriff’s Posse has become a way for him to give back, support others, and honor his son’s memory.
Mark brings a lifetime of experience rooted in service and responsibility. He is a registered leader in Adrian Cub Scout Pack 238, and assists when needed in Adrian Boy Scout Troop - serving for 28 years, guiding youth through high‑adventure wilderness treks and teaching them how to stay calm, prepared, and capable in challenging situations. He is trained in CPR and First Aid, is highly observant, and has a natural ability to read people and step into leadership when needed. Though he rarely seeks the spotlight, he is the kind of person who gets the job done and makes sure others are taken care of along the way.
Some of Mark’s proudest moments with the Posse include the community events, Search and Rescue training at Shaffer’s farm in Spruce, helping provide the free annual Sheriff’s Rodeo experience for local families, supporting scholarships for youth, and watching the new Youth Posse program take shape. He values the relationships he has built within the Posse “family,” many of whom he’s known since they were youngsters. Mark knows they have his back, and he has theirs — something that means a great deal to him.
Mark credits his oldest sister as one of the greatest influences in his life. A strong Christian woman and a deeply compassionate nurse, she spent years caring for patients at Chest Hospital in Mount Vernon Mo, as well as at the veteran's hospital and later in hospice care. Her compassion and empathy for people were an example that taught Mark how to walk with people through grief and hardship, something he would face in his lifetime, and shaping the way he now supports others in their most difficult moments.
Outside of the Posse, you can find Mark in his shop, or outdoors. He enjoys carpentry, working on his farm, camping with his family, fishing, and stocking his pond so his grandkids always have a place to cast a line. Mark enjoys spending time with his family... his wife Melinda, sons Hayden and Landon, and his two grandsons, Derrick 13, Gavin 8 and his granddaughter Everleigh (6 Mos).
Melinda has been his steady support — keeping him on track with meetings, events and proudly standing behind the time he gives to the community. She says that after the loss of Carson, Mark became even more sensitive to the grief of others and more willing than ever to help people through their darkest days.
Guided by his Christian faith and a strong sense of personal integrity, Mark believes deeply in earning trust and representing his name with honor. He wants people to see Bates County as the best place to be — and he works every day to help make that true. And while some may think he’s serious at first glance, those who know him well will tell you he has a great sense of humor and loves to laugh and “cut up” once he gets comfortable.
Mark, thank you for your years of service and the heart you bring to the Bates County Sheriff’s Posse. Our community is stronger, kinder, and better because of you.
#MidAmericaLive
Important Update from Hertzog Meat Company
Please note — we are running low on inventory, so there will be a limited supply of fresh product available this week.
Our new location will officially open on Friday, April 24 at 10:00 AM, which will also be our Grand Opening Day
During the transition:
We will continue taking call-in orders for pickup only
Please allow 2–3 days for order fulfillment
We will call you when your order is ready for pickup at our new location 1005 W Fort Scott St, Butler, MO 64730
Online ordering will be paused for a few weeks while we complete the move and get everything fully up and running.
To place an order: 660-720-2333
We truly appreciate your patience and support during this transition. It’s a short-term inconvenience, but we promise it will be worth it — and we’re excited to welcome you into our new home very soon.
#MidAmericaLive
What’s Up by LeRoy Cook
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Unsuccessful Hitchhiking
Some springtime weather fronts interfered with flying plans last week, a normal consequence of the Easter season, but there were opportunities to get airborne for the patient aviator. We did have to battle some gusty winds, often misaligned with the available runway direction; builds character, as my old instructor used to say.
Transient traffic included an RV-6 homebuilt, a Piper Dakota and a Cirrus SR-series. Not much was seen stirring from the local hangars, owing to the unsettled weather conditions.
A St. Charles, MO flight school has shut down operations, leaving students who put up advance payment for lessons holding the bag. This happens all too frequently, when the money on deposit gets spent and can’t be refunded. We always advised students to put the funds in secure escrow, not in the hands of the operator, even if promised a big discount for up-front payment.
On the international aviation scene, we lost another F-15E fighter jet in the mideast war last week, this time over Iran, unlike the three shot down by Kuwaiti friendly fire last month. So far, one of the two crewmen has been extracted, with an Iranian bounty placed on the head of the second.
In what’s being billed as a near-replay of last-year’s tragic collision between an Army Black Hawk and a commuter airline at Washington, DC, a United 737 and a California Army Guard UH-60 recently passed within 525 feet vertically and 1422 feet laterally during landing at Anaheim's John Wayne airport. However, this time it was daylight, both crews reported the other aircraft in sight and there was only a minor loss of required separation. If the TCAS monitor in the jet’s cockpit hadn't gone off, directing a pull-up, it wouldn’t have been on the news.
Looks as if the Palm Beach, FL, International airport is going to be renamed The Donald J. Trump international airport, by State legislation. Fooling around with “official” airport names adds no end of confusion, as when Kansas City renamed Downtown as The Charles B. Wheeler airport some years back, while former mayor Charlie Wheeler was also still alive. At least the ICAO designation, PBI, won’t change.
And then there’s the guy down in Daytona Beach, FL, who left his AA meeting and drove out to the Daytona’s International airport, crashed his Ford Mustang through the chainlink fence, cut some donuts on the ramp and then ran out to a taxiing Cessna Skyhawk, tugging on the door to try to flee from the cops. He found the over-center doorlatch locked, of course, and was taken into custody, loaded up on cocaine, marijuana and booze. He may need more than 12 Steps to get out this.
In our last question-of-the-week, we asked the identity of the retiring Congressman who is currently chair of the House Transportation committee. That would be Sam Graves, of Missouri’s 6th District, based in Tarkio. After 26 years, he's going back home to fly his fleet of airplanes. For next week, can you tell us what airplane was sold in the Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog back in the 1940s? You can send your answers to kochhaus1@gmail.com.
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Bates County Court News
Fines do not include added court costs
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City of Butler v Joshua Holden- expired plates, fine $50.50
City of Butler v Joseph Herman- parking violation, fine $50.50
St v James Huey- speeding, fine $50.50
St v Alfred Barnes- speeding, fine $80.50
St v Stacie Jones- speeding, fine $50.50
St v Kristi Banning- speeding, fine $80.50
City of Butler v Robert Peek Jr- expired plates, fine $125.00
City of Butler v Robert Peek Jr- no proof of insurance, fine $100.00
St v Eric Starke- seatbelt violation, fine $50.50
City of Rich Hill v Monty Fish- illegal burning, fine $125.00
St v Jeremy Gilkey- seatbelt violation, fine $10.00
St v Lucas Poulter- no working horn, fine $200.00
St v Cheyanne Alexander- speeding, fine $120.50
St v Caroline Daniher- no working horn, fine $147.00
St v Sean Johnson- fail to register vehicle, fine $50.50
St v Mandy Strunk- no working horn, fine $144.00
St v Issac Kagarice- no working horn, fine $114.00
St v Wyatt Blair- no working horn, fine $200.00
St v David Miller- no license lamp, fine $50.50
St v Jesus Guerrero- speeding, fine $80.50
City of Butler v Mark Dickerson- fail to register vehicle, fine $50.50
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