It's not as easy as it looks...

Bates County Archery held its annual county shoot on Sunday, June 28 at the home of Mark and Carla Armentrout of rural Hume, MO. Congratulations to all of the participants!
Shown are the 1st place winners for each age category:
Juniors (ages 8-10). Kaylee Roberts
Intermediate (ages 11-13) Dylan Randalls
Senior (ages 14 and over) John Armentrout

Bates County August 2020 Sample Ballot

Click on the Image to make it larger! 

Butler Chamber Car Show set for July 18th

Obituary - Mitzi Ann "Sis" Pearce

Mitzi Ann "Sis" Pearce, age 44, of Maud, Oklahoma, formerly Adrian, Missouri, passed away June 25, 2020 in Bowlegs, Oklahoma from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

Mitzi was born August 30, 1975 at Paola, Kansas. She was the younger of two children born to Doug and Jennie (Murr) Pearce. Mitzi attended grade school in LaCygne and graduated from Osawatomie High School with the Class of 1993.

She attended Johnson County Cosmetology School. She later attended college at Penn Valley Community College in 2013.

Her first job as a hair stylist was with The Hair Shop in Olathe. She owned and operated Head Over Heels beauty salon in Adrian, Missouri in the late 1990's.

She was currently working as a physical therapist assistant for Health Pro Heritage out of Edmond, Oklahoma.

Mitzi has one son Walker Douglas and he was the center of her life. Mitzi also enjoyed horses, mostly barrel racing, but also had participated breakaway roping. She was a dog lover. Her dog, "Ty" a Jack Russell terrier, was her canine companion. She also enjoyed gardening. She loved the lake and enjoyed swimming and boating. Mitzi always had a smile on her face, she was a kind soul.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Roy and Lynn Pearce, her maternal grandparents Layton and Goldie Murr, her aunt Laura Pearce-Smith, and her uncle Dale Pearce.

She is survived by her son Walker Douglas; her parents Doug and Jennie Pearce of rural Lane; her brother Jeff Pearce of Spring Hill; two nephews Garrett and Brayden Pearce; a great niece Dylynn Pearce; many aunts, uncles, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, July 2, 2020 at Dengel & Son Mortuary, 305 N. Pearl, Paola, KS, 66071. There will be a private family burial at a later date. Memorials are to the Walker Pearce Education Fund and can be sent c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary.

Family and friends are encouraged to post their memories and condolences on Mitzi's Tribute Wall.

Street Closure in Rich Hill

With the upcoming 4th of July festivities, Park Street has been closed from Railroad Street to 5th Street.

Please remember to use caution while traveling in the area of the downtown celebration area.

Any questions or concerns can be directed to City Hall at 417-395-2223. Thank you and lets make this the best 4th ever!

Have you seen this missing woman from Belton?

Date Missing: June 17, 2020 Hailey Slinger is missing from Belton, Missouri. She goes by the online names of Sophia Lynn, Sophia Lynn Hernandez, and Princess Sophia. Her online activity ceased on June 18, 2020. Hailey is 18 years old. She is 5’ 2” and approximately 110 lbs. Her brown hair was dyed red. She has blue eyes. If you have information, please contact the Belton Missouri Police Department at 816.331.5522 or the Missouri State Highway Patrol Missing Persons Unit at 800.877.3452 or 911

News Release: Celebrate Responsibly This Holiday Weekend

JEFFERSON CITY – After months of quarantine, the Fourth of July will find many hitting the road for some holiday weekend fun. While noted as one of the busiest summer holidays, it’s also one of the deadliest due to increased travel and substance-impaired drivers.

Alcohol, illegal and prescription drugs, and even some over-the-counter medicines can cause impairment. Local law enforcement will be out July 2-6 with increased efforts to prevent impaired drivers. No warnings. No excuses. If you drive impaired, you will be arrested. Don’t risk losing your independence by choosing to drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

“Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has serious consequences,” said Nicole Hood, MoDOT highway safety and traffic engineer. “In 2019, law enforcement made 93 substance-impaired driving related arrests during the Fourth of July impaired driving campaign across the state.”

Often, people have a hard time recuperating financially from the cost of a crash or arrest itself. Violators risk killing or harming others, facing jail time, the loss of their driver licenses, higher insurance rates and dozens of other unanticipated expenses from attorney fees, fines and court costs, car towing and repairs, and lost time at work.

There were 15 people killed and 58 seriously injured in traffic crashes in Missouri over the 2019 July Fourth holiday. Of the 73 people killed or injured, 18 were involved in a crash where there was at least one substance-impaired driver. The 15 fatalities included three motorcyclists, one ATV occupant and 11 vehicle occupants, with 80% of the 11 vehicle occupants being unbuckled. Of the fifty-eight serious injuries included two pedestrians, 11 motorcyclists and 45 vehicle occupants with 65% being unbelted.

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety recommends these simple tips to avoid an impaired-driving disaster:

• Plan a safe way home before the fun begins.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver.
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely.
• If you happen to see an impaired driver on the road, call local law enforcement.
• Always wear your seat belt.  It’s your best defense in any traffic crash.

Obituary - Nancy Kathryn Long

Nancy Kathryn Long, 77, Adrian, MO passed away Saturday, June 27, 2020 at her home with her children by her side. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Atkinson Funeral Home in Adrian. 

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Atkinson Funeral Home in Adrian, Missouri. Interment will follow services at Crescent Hill Cemetery. 

The family would appreciate the wearing of masks and responsible social distancing throughout the visitation and services. Contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Arthritis Foundation.

Nancy was born September 19, 1942 near Iconium in St. Clair County, Missouri the daughter of John C Greenwell, Sr and Beulah May (Feaster) Greenwell. She married John (Pete) Long on September 10, 1958. Unto this union three children were born: Clint, Robin & Rhonda. Nancy worked as a painter for Bass Buster Lures, TWA and American Airlines, retiring in 2008.

Nancy was dedicated to her family, friends and faith. She enjoyed crocheting, caring for her many plants & flowers, traveling and was a devoted Royals & Chiefs fan. Nancy loved to visit with family and friends, especially her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Nancy was proceeded in death by her husband, Pete; her parents, John C and Beulah Mae Greenwell; her brother, John C Greenwell, Jr; her sisters: Virginia Lee Shelton and Beulah Mae Allison; and her son-in-law, Rick Watson.

She is survived by her children: Clint Long and his wife, Susi of Pleasant Hill, Mo; Robin Watson of Warrensburg, Mo; and Rhonda Koehn and her husband, Mark of Adrian, Mo; eight grandchildren: Dessa Watson; Ben Koehn and wife, Ashley; Ricky Watson and wife, Tammy; Chelsea Dangler and husband, Chip; Jake Koehn and wife, Kristen; Zachary Ford; Rachel Long; and Grant Long; nine great-grandchildren: Sammi, Waylon, Phoenix, Brylan, Nola, Talon, Willie, Charlie & Nellie; her sister-in-law, Darlene Greenwell; brothers-in-law: Arnie Shelton & Porter Allison; and many nieces and nephews.