Weekly report from the Bates County Commission

June 2, 2025 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.

The Commission received an email from the US Treasury stating they are withdrawing the recoupment of the ARPA funds as all reporting was completed and accepted.

Vanessa Kennedy, Samantha Blum and Emily Gilkey with Code 1 Wellness came in on their scheduled meeting to discuss funding for a Rural Community Opioid Education Summit. They are trying to bridge the gap left between addiction, mental health crisis, and the legal systems. There is a lack of knowledge of where an individual can reach out for help. Code 1 originally set out to have a resource for First Responders as they have specific needs. In the rural areas the first responders have a lack of coverage and support for dealing with the traumas they experience in the course of their jobs. Vanessa states with a wellness program in place for first responders’ other insurance premiums can go down for the cities. They have a list of resources available for a list of community needs including critical incidents. They have grown in the Adrian community that is accepting and supporting their efforts. They have opened their focus to the public. When trying to gain support and participation from other medical professionals they have met with push back and determent. Her efforts with Bates County Memorial Hospital were turned away. She mentioned a forum they attended where there was a lot of talk but no follow-through or action afterwards. BCMH has its own set of issues and public opinion leading them to have community surveys and meetings. “it is people that have said, hey, if, if I have a heart attack, don't call Bates County. I'm serious. I mean multiple, not just one or two, but I mean multiple, do not send me to Bates County.” stated John. “They are working on it, or they are trying to work on that aspect.” John further states. Trent mentioned an abandoned boy’s home in Rich Hill that might fit Vanessa’s goal of having an inpatient facility for detoxing and mental health. The Commission informed them that Judge Highley has taken on forming the Opioid Board. Conversations with her would be needed.

Shane Balk with iNetVisions came in on this scheduled meeting to discuss upgrading the county's telecommunications infrastructure. Lumen's current $85,635 annual cost for internet and phone services was highlighted, with a proposed $84,560 annual cost if Lumen is retained. Shane proposed moving to an in-house phone system, saving $30,000 annually, and using SIP trunks for $600 monthly. For internet, Conexon and Starlink were considered, offering significant cost reductions. Fiber connections between buildings were proposed, with an initial cost of $170,000 and a payback period of 26 months. RFP will be published for bid on the project. 

June 4, 2025 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.

The Commission has had 2 invoices submitted recently that have led to several discussions on the legalities of using the taxpayers funds for public functions. Possible meeting will be called with the office holder.

Lindsey Chaffin and Zak Olivas with Great River came in on their scheduled meeting. The BRO bridge project contract was signed. They should be starting in September and scheduled to be completed in December given any weather issues. The soft match current balance is $2,132.75. They discussed which bridge out of the remaining ones for repairs to start for soft match credit. Out of the 3 possibilities bridge # 2590026 would be the best candidate for Road and Bridge to complete the work. The other 2 would need a contractor. The cost of the labor, benefits, and engineering would equate soft match credit for future builds.

John made the motion to move forward with replacing bridge #2590026 on route 9002 over Willow Branch for soft match credits. Trent seconded the motion. All vote yes. No opposition.

Great River will begin the process. Turning to the TAP project for the Courthouse sidewalks. Jim signed off on the plans to be submitted to MoDOT’s final approval. This should go out to bid in July with the possibility of also being completed in late fall.

John has organized a Rattlesnake hill meeting set for Wednesday June 11 at 6pm at 2750 SE Rattlesnake Hill.

Work in progress

Policy Regarding Indigent Cremations given 8/25/2023 updates current

Rattlesnake Hill Roads 11/06/2023 updates current.

Policy Regarding Computer, E-Mail, Devices and Social Media given 2/14/2024

Telephone Contracts 3/11/2024 updates current as of June 2, 2025

Opioid Settlement Resolution 10/2/2024 (Judge Highley)

EEZ Board 3/26/2025

June 9, 2025 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.

The Commission received an email from Butler City Administrator Corey Snead requesting a letter of support for the TAP-Project through MoDOT from Prospect street to Fran Avenue.

John made the motion to submit a recommendation letter for the TAP Sidewalk Project. Trent seconded the motion. All vote yes. Motion carried. No opposition.

County Clerk Jami Page submitted a quote from inFlux services on cleaning the windows at the courthouse. The glass has had construction and grime resulting in a film that doesn’t easily come off and poor vision through the glass. Interior and exterior $4365.63 or exterior only $2,425.35.

Trent made the motion to have the Courthouse windows exterior and interior cleaned for the quoted $4365.63. John seconded the motion. All vote yes. Motion carried. No opposition.

Two different Township Board members stopped in separately to speak on road maintenance and funding issues. Gary Anderson with Cornland and Rick Laning with New Home. The Commission has made some changes to the contract this year and in the coming year they are hoping to make the CART funds division clearer in the road mileage each township must maintain. Rick asked about using the road grooming equipment the county purchased this last year. The Commission extended for any township to call and speak with Bill Stephan for the road groomers to be used on their roads. The township will pay for the fuel and the Road Crew will perform the work. This will ensure there are no insurance issues, and the equipment is being used by those trained for it. Rick spoke on 2 road issues he is facing from overuse by hauling trucks that are tearing them up causing more wear than normal. One on county road 4647 and another on the Cemetery road. The commission told him about ways to build them up but did not have any comforting answers on funding or materials.

Road and Bridge supervisor Bill Stephan was in to speak on the recent decision the commission made to replace bridge #2590026 on county road 9002 over Willow Branch for soft match money with the state. Great River will be engineering construction and Road and Bridge will be doing the labor. They talked about the possibility of making some minor repairs to a few other bridges. They encouraged Bill to hire 2 more workers.

Former Bulldog student returns as educator

 We love announcements that involve bringing a former graduate back to work with us full-time! Please take a moment to welcome our new High School English Language Arts Teacher for the 2025-2026 school year, Bethany Strope.

Courtesy Appleton City Schools

Hot & Humid Today; Rain Chances Tomorrow

Obituary - Ann Venae Loudermilk

Ann Venae Loudermilk, age 74, of Bronaugh, MO, passed away Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Nevada, MO.  She was born July 11, 1950, in Brazil, IN to William Henry and Norma Gene (Chillson) Keiser.  She graduated from Clay City High School in 1968 and went on to graduate from Indiana State University with a bachelor's degree and then earned a master’s degree from Indiana University.  On June 12, 1982, she married Gary Loudermilk, and he preceded her in death in March 2025.

     Ann was a high school librarian and English teacher and had taught at the North Miami High School in Peru, IN and in the Liberal MO High School.  She loved to do bookwork and served as the clerk and treasurer of Bronaugh, MO.

     Ann is survived by one sister; Sue Smith and her husband Dennis, Clay City, IN; two sisters-in-law, Claudine Barker, Nevada, MO and Donna Lamb, Fort Scott, KS; several nieces and nephews as well a several friends that she considered family.  She was preceded in death by her husband Gary Loudermilk; her parents; a brother, Ken Keiser; a brother-in-law, Terry Loudermilk; sister-in-law Debbie Willen Keiser; an infant brother, Larry Keiser; a nephew Nathan Smith and a great nephew Dakota Wrightsman.

     Ann And Gary were devout Christians, and great will be their reward!

     Family and friends will gather at 1:00 pm, June 29, 2025, at the Bronaugh Community Center to celebrate the lives of Ann and Gary.

     Memorials may be made to Bronaugh High School Scholarship Fund with the funeral home serving as custodian.

Obituary - Helen Ann Cleveland

Helen Ann Cleveland, 79 years of age, died peacefully with a flower in her hair at her home in Broken Arrow, OK on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Helen was born in Nevada, MO to Wilford and Maxine Streich on April 20, 1946. She dearly loved the farm where she grew up and attended Nevada High School where she met and married her lifelong sweetheart, Michael Cleveland on August 20, 1962. They were happily married for 54 years.

More than anything else, Helen Ann loved Mike and her family. She devoted her life to making their home a warm and loving place. She was honest, smart, strong, genuine, kind and humble. She made every Christmas a magical experience with her cooking, baking, and artfully wrapped Christmas presents.

As an excellent wildlife artist, she was invited to travel with the Silver Dollar City craft shows. Helen Ann had a keen eye for acquiring antique tine, post cards, furniture, and timeless treasures from her farming youth. She loved wildflowers so much that she became a master gardener and volunteered her free time at the Vernon County Historical Society of Nevada, MO. You will find a mural she painted at the Bushwhacker Museum. She also made beautiful, thoughtful scrapbooks for her family.

Helen Ann loved her two daughters. She enjoyed horses and was often a part of Christine’s many horse show competitions. Helen Ann passed on her cooking and crafting magic to Nichole.

Helen Ann is survived by her two daughters, Christine Kunzweiler of Tulsa, OK and Nichole Jacobs of Tualatin, OR; and her younger brother, Edwin Streich and his wife, Beth, of Carthage, MO. She will be missed by her sons-in-law, Steve and Brian; four granddaughters, Sandra, Jenny, Jackie, and Jessica; as well as her niece, Lindsey. She also was blessed to have two great-grandsons, Alex and Andrew with Sandra’s marriage to Ryan Gabay. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike, and her parents.

Helen Ann was laid to rest next to her husband, Mike Cleveland in Newton Burial Park, Nevada, MO. on June 7, 2025 with Father Peter Savidge officiating. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Vernon County Historical Society in c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

Obituary - Victoria J. Smith

Vickie Smith, 81 of Appleton City, Missouri passed away Sunday evening, June 8, 2025, at her residence at Medicalodge in Butler, Missouri. Cremation, with private family memorial services to be held. Arrangements entrusted to Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com

Victoria J. Smith was born November 29, 1944, in Rockville, Missouri to Wilbur and Beatrice Young. She attended school in Appleton City and graduated in 1962. Vickie married Charles Henry Bean right after graduating from High School and raised three children. Vickie divorced Mr. Bean and went to college in the mid-70’s and got her associate’s degree in communication arts. Victoria worked part time at Hallmark Cards as an artist before finding a good paying job at KCI Airport. She then went to the Police Academy and became a Police Officer for the Aviation Department at KCI. She met her late husband Bob Smith, and they got married. Bob and her retired down at the Lake of the Ozarks. She loved her view from her lake house.

She loved to draw, paint, read books and do poetry. One of her poems earned a spot on the wall at the Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri before being placed in a book of poems. She had a heart of gold and loved helping others.

Vickie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert Smith, and her son Robert Charles Bean and her brother Jimmy Young.

She is survived by her brothers Ronnie Young, California, Dennis Young, Appleton City, Mo., and Eddie Young, Stover, Missouri. Children Angela Bean, Appleton City, Mo., Dennis and Lisa Bean, Kansas City, Mo. She leaves behind Four granddaughters Angie Luecke, Kansas City, Mo., Sammii, Luecke and Joshua Weare, Florida, Katie, and Rob Bastarache, Kanas City, Mo., Jessica Dawn, Bradleyville, Mo. And twelve great grandchildren Mason, Sky, Danielle, Neveah, Myia, Harmonii, Gunner, Alexis, Anthony, Christopher, Landon, and Nova.

Obituary - Saundra LaRue Moore-Mulkey

Saundra LaRue Moore-Mulkey (Sandy) was born February 25, 1935 and was the only child of LaRue and Marian E. (Carter) Moore. Her family operated the Imperial Broom Company near Strasburg. The company sold brooms to Katz Drug stores in Kansas City and many grocery stores in Cass and Henry Counties. Sandy grew up working in this business and therefore never met a stranger.

After she graduated from Pleasant Hill High School, Sandy married Ed Mulkey, and settled down to farming. Along with her parents, they owned and operated Mulkey-Moore Farms, a 600 acre farm just south of Strasburg, Mo.

Sandy and Ed were blessed with a wonderful, talented son, Mark. Mark passed away at the early age of 14, due to an accident in June 1968.

Sandy worked at the Pleasant Hill Garment Factory as a Fore-Lady several years. She then followed her interest in newspaper and advertising and, over the years, worked for the Pleasant Hill Times, the Cass County Advertiser, Cass County Shopper and Democrat Missourian.

During the 1990’s, along with her mother and husband, she owned and operated the Medley Shop, a bridal and gift shop.

Later, she worked part time at the Cass County Sheriff’s Department.

Her interests always remained in floral arrangements, fashion and decorating. She enjoyed bowling and golfing. Sandy always had cats and dogs to care for, which she loved and enjoyed.

She and Ed moved to Raymore, Mo in 2005 to be closer to Ed’s health care providers.

Sandy was a member of the Strasburg Union Church before joining the First Baptist Church of Raymore.

After the passing of her husband, Sandy met friend and companion Sam Hedgepeth. In 2017 she and Sam moved to Collierville, TN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, LaRue and Marian Moore, her son, Mark, and husband, Ed.

She is survived by: Ed’s nephew, Don Wood and wife Nancy, great nephew Drew Wood, and special loving friends Lynn and Janet Ballew, Sharon Clark, Edward and Teresa Caesar and their sons, Will and Sam.

Cremation with a Memorial Graveside Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 19 at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Pleasant Hill, Missouri. 

Butler Youth Football signup info

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