Obituary - Gregg Lewis Laffoon

Gregg Lewis Laffoon, 67, of Cleveland, Missouri, passed away on Sunday, March 24, 2024 at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, MO. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, April 5, 2024 at 6:30pm at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO, with visitation beginning at 5:00pm.

Gregg was born November 15, 1956 in Kansas City, MO, a son of John R and Virginia (Harris) Laffoon. He was a lifelong Cleveland resident and was a 1975 graduate of Cass Midway High School. Gregg worked as a machinist for over 41 years before his retirement. His main activities after retirement were spending time with his family, mowing his acreage, watching the Chiefs and Royals, his love of old western movies, and watching the sunset over his pond.

Gregg is proceeded in death by his parents and sister-in-law, Debbie Laffoon. He is survived by two sons: Jamie (Teresa) Laffoon, Belton, MO; and Jacob (Lisa) Gutshall, St. Louis, MO; two daughters: Suzie Carpenter, Overland Park, KS; and Kayrin (Troy) Vincent, West Des Moines, IA; a brother, Gary Laffoon, Raymore, MO; a sister, Gayla (Mark) Hampshire, Cleveland, MO; and six grandchildren, who were his world: Ethan, Lily, Henry, Amelia, Juliet, and Caroline. He is also survived by his beloved basset hound, Clyde. He is survived by many others who called him a second dad and many nieces and nephews that he was close with. Gregg touched the lives of many throughout his life and was always there if you needed him.

Obituary - Connie Marie Connelly

Connie Marie Connelly, 81, Nevada, MO passed away on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. Connie was born April 27, 1942 in Nevada to William B. and Wilma L. (Phipps) Coale. At the age of 11 she met the love of her life, Russell Lee Connelly, and 8 years later at the age of 19 they were united in marriage on June 10, 1961 in Nevada and he survives of the home.

Connie was raised in Nevada and graduated from Nevada High School in 1961. She became a seamstress at the age of 15 and operated a seamstress shop for 5 years. Connie later worked with her husband Russell in the family painting business, Connelly Painting and Dry Walling, for 35 years until her retirement due to poor health. She enjoyed “arts and crafts”, interior decorating, flower gardening and taking care of her yard, and her cats.

In addition to her husband Russell, survivors include a daughter, Teresa Wright (Darryl), Nevada; several nieces and nephews; and her special cat, “Kitty Blue”. She is preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Billy Gene Coale, and Sam Coale.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2024 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Les Brown officiating. Interment will follow in Moore Cemetery in Nevada. Friends may call from 8:00 a.m. on Friday until the hour of service on Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested in her name to the Nevada Animal Shelter c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

Butler Lady Bears softball team defeated Lockwood

The Butler Lady Bears softball team defeated the Lockwood Tigers 3-2 on Wednesday after taking the lead late in the game. The game was tied at two in the bottom of the sixth when Taylor Hudson singled, scoring one run.

Kylee Dubray struck out 14 batters on the day. The right-handed pitcher also gave up two hits and two runs over seven innings while walking one. An error put Lockwood on the board in the top of the third.

Sydney Davis grounded out, which helped the Butler Bears tie the game at one in the bottom of the third.

The Lockwood Tigers took the lead in the top of the fifth. Reese Whitesell tripled, scoring one run, to give the Lockwood Tigers the lead, 2-1. Davis singled, which helped the lady bears tie the game at two in the bottom of the fifth.

Kallie Griffin started in the circle for the tigers. The starting pitcher surrendered seven hits and three runs over six innings, striking out eight and walking none.

Davis, the number eight hitter for the bears, led the way with two runs batted in. The right-handed hitter went 1-for-2 on the day. Cloey Fritts led the bears with two hits in three at bats.

The tigers Whitesell made the most of their chances at the plate. The number nine hitter led the team with two hits in two at bats. The bears will travel to Windsor for their next game on Thursday.

Miami County Kansas Sheriff's Office Wanted Wednesday

 

Clinton School District names new superintendent

During Monday evening’s Board of Education meeting, the Clinton School District approved the hiring of Daniel Brungardt as Superintendent beginning in the 2024-2025 school year.

Mr. Brungardt currently serves as Superintendent in the Unified School District 204 in Kansas. With over 20 years of experience in education, he has implemented a variety of initiatives and programs that have enhanced opportunities for students. Brungardt also oversaw the passage of a $40 million bond issue referendum which passed with 77% voter approval, as well as a high school graduation rate that increased by 10%.

Before joining Unified School District 204, Brungardt served eight years as Assistant Superintendent and two years as Director of Curriculum and Instruction/Director of Federal Programs for Unified School District 428 Great Bend in Kansas. Mr. Brungardt also has experience as a middle school and elementary building principal and a 6th grade science and social studies teacher.

Mr. Brungardt earned his Education Specialist degree in Educational Administration, Superintendent from Fort Hays University, a Master’s degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Wichita State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Fort Hays University.

Daniel is a member of several professional education organizations, including National Forum on Education Statistics, Kansas Association of School Business Officials, Kansas School Superintendents Association, and Kansas/Missouri Superintendent Leadership Forum. Mr. Brungardt is also active in several community organizations, including Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, and a variety of community task forces.

Mr. Brungardt and his wife, Beverly, have three grown children. In his free time, Daniel enjoys cycling, photography, traveling, and fishing. The Brungardts are looking forward to their move to the Clinton community. “My mother grew up in the Stamps, Arkansas area, while my father hails from Western Kansas. As a child, I valued our visits to Arkansas, enjoying its lush trees, shaded spots, serene lakes, and refreshing rainfall—a stark contrast to the dry climate of Kansas. I am eagerly looking forward to relocating to an area abundant with outdoor recreational opportunities.”

“Mr. Brungardt brings a wealth of experience to this crucial role,” says board president, Archie Goucher. “The Board of Education is confident that under Mr. Brungardt’s leadership, the Clinton School District will continue to thrive and provide the highest quality education for all of our students.”

Mr. Brungardt who will officially begin serving as superintendent on July 1, 2024 says, “The Clinton School District represents a model that all school districts should strive to become. It has a great mix of career and technical education programs combined with college credit options, providing students a variety of opportunities before graduation. I am very excited to be part of an outstanding school district that delivers high quality education and empowers students to reach their full potential.”

Adrian man arrested in Bates County

On Tuesday March 26th around 8:25 p.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Bates County arrested 42 year old Daniel G. Wareham of Adrian, Missouri.

Mr. Wareham was arrested on the following charges 1.) Driving While Intoxicated -Habitual Offender 2.) Endangering the welfare of a child 3.) Driving while revoked.

Daniel G. Wareham was booked into the Bates County Jail in Butler and he was later released.

Disclaimer: Arrest records are public information. Any indication of an arrest does not mean the individual identified has been convicted of a crime. All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

View arrest report below:
https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP71/ArrestDetailsAction?TW01REPORTNUMBER=I486113A

Obituary - John William Read

John William Read, age 68, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, March 25, 2024.

John was born March 8, 1956, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the son of Francis Marion “Cisco” Read and Ruth Louise Groner Read.

John was married May 22, 1976 to his wife Paula Raye Smith at the Catholic church in Fort Scott, Kansas.

He attended elementary school at Saint Mary’s Catholic School, where he made lifelong friends, and graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1974.

He began working as a mechanic at the age of sixteen and was a diesel mechanic for B&D until the flood of 1986. Shortly after, he began working for Kansas Truck Center Freightliner in Wichita, Kansas until his retirement in 2021.

After retirement, he and Paula moved back to Fort Scott to spend more time with their children and grandchildren. In addition to being with his family, he enjoyed fishing, tinkering and fixing things, growing tomatoes, and reading to his great-granddaughter.

He is survived by his wife Paula Read; one son David Charles Read and his wife Jessica of Carl Junction, MO; one daughter Carrie Louise Read Lord and her husband Heath of Uniontown, KS; four grandchildren Isabel Neva Read and Isaiah William Read both of Carl Junction, MO, Krystal Raye Lord of Chanute, KS and McKenna Mae Lord of Uniontown, KS; and one great-granddaughter Bexley Raye Shelton of Chanute, KS. Also surviving are one brother Chuck Read: six sisters: Becky Grounds, Brenda Read, Julie Smith, Carol Read, Joyce Swearingen, and Rose Gauthier; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, March 29th at the Apostolic Christian Church in Ft. Scott. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the John Read Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Drexel Police Department seeking public assistance

The Drexel Police Department is seeking public assistance locating a vehicle who stole last friday around 6:30 pm, a white male, driving this vehicle, stole the propane tanks from the Food Fair. 

If you recognize this vehicle or have information about this incident, please contact us via Messenger.