15 Quilts of Valor presented on Veterans Day

During the Veteran's Day ceremonies on the Butler courthouse lawn, the Honor Quilters chapter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation awarded 15 beautiful hand-made quilts to local veterans. It was windy day, but it was a great ceremony. The high school band played, Windsday Grissom beautifully sang the National Anthem, Cale Swarnes, a (2x) Purple Heart recipient was the guest speaker, and the veterans were honored with quilts. We were blessed to be a part of this remembrance event.

Those receiving quilts today were (Picture 1, R-L, Greg Bartimus, Tom McGuire, Wayne Baird, Don Constransitch, Stephen Dixon, Larry Hess, Richard Kephart, Mike Nelson, (Picture 2) Phillip Martin, and (Picture 3, R-L) Jared Fuller, Amber Kash, Randy Kash, Robert Kyle, Scott McElwain, Cale Swarnes.

Thank you to these veterans for their service in defending our freedoms- Our thanks to Rocking Chair Quilts of Butler

From the Desk of Sheriff Anderson

I wanted to reach out to the public and address an ever growing concern I have after this weekend calls for service. I am proud to serve the rural community of Bates County. I have always pledged to support your Constitutionally Protected rights as an American Citizen. I will still pledge that to you here today. But what I want to talk about is the calls for service that we received this weekend and see an increase this time of year every year.

Over the past weekend Deputies have responded to two separate incidents involving residential houses being struck with gun fire. While we are still conducting the investigations, the office and the residents do not feel that there is anything nefarious about the incidents. What we do believe is that these are stray bullets fired from people who are sighting in their rifles in anticipation for that 30 point buck to cross their paths while they are hunting. We want to remind the public that while you may live in rural America you still have neighbors. We live in a community that those very neighbors pull together when there is a time of need. We take care of each other and our neighbors. With that said, we gun owners have a legal and moral obligation to our community to practice safe handling of firearms. The most important aspect of gun ownership is protecting the innocent people around you. Here are the basic rules when using, carrying and handling a firearm. We can all use this reminder even those of us who “have been handling and carrying guns since before Nixon was born”. We are often the ones who take gun safety for granted.

Safety Rules

1. Always treat a firearm as if it were loaded.

2. Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction

3. Keep your booger picking finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot

4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it

This brings me back to an issue I have raised for the last 10 years. This community, which I would suspect has approximately 90% gun ownership, needs and deserves a public gun range where you can safely sight in your gun and safely target practice. We are seeing new houses and population growth in many of our rural areas. This increased residential construction makes it harder for your average home shooting ranges to be compliant with safety measures. We as Bates Countians need to be asking our governing body to come up with a solution to serve our community better and to be safe when it comes to shooting sports.

As your Sheriff, I am only one voice in the County Government. I support a county owned public firearm range that is free to all the citizens we serve and to give Law Enforcement a place to conduct firearms training. Let’s come together to solve this issue for you, your neighbors and all of this community.

Sheriff

Chad Anderson

Ps if you know of someone who has 5 acres that are in a low laying area that berms could be built at a reasonable price please let us know!

Warm weekend ahead!

 

What cold snap?

Warming trend well underway folks. Expect sunny skies and upper 60's in the 70's for your Wednesday.

It gets better:

Thursday 70's

Friday Mid-70's

Saturday Upper 70's [some could see 80F]

It stays dry through the weekend. Next chance for any rainfall is not until Monday.

TODAY'S FORECAST sponsored by TITAN RENTALS! Skid steers & other equipment plus trailers and lifts and more equipment being added. Call them or message them on Facebook - located in Butler Mo!

Greg @ 660 Weather

Obituary - Lucille Baecker

Lucille Baecker, age 99, passed away on November 9, 2025, surrounded her family.

She was born on November 23, 1925, to Clarence N. and Georgia Mantle Cramer in Aud, MO.

Lucille married Harold Baecker on April 10, 1943 in Hermann, MO. They were united in marriage for 75 years. Together they shared three children, Ronald, Sandra, and Diana.

She began working for Miami County in 1963 as a Deputy County Clerk, she also worked in the County Welfare and then went on to work as the Miami County Appraiser in 1975, as this was a requirement for all counties in Kansas to have a State Certified Appraiser. Lucille retired in April of 1988 after a dedicated 25 years with the county.

She had many hobbies and loved to travel, mostly to the mountains.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Harold, son, Ronald Baecker, sister, Genevieve Benson, niece, Shirley Benson, grandson, Mike Cramer, granddaughter, Ronna Sue Baecker, and 1 great-grandson.

Lucille is survived by her daughters, Sandra (Jerry) Cramer, of Salem, MO, and Diana (Jim) Stainbrook, of Paola, KS, daughter-in-law, Sharon Baecker, of Barnsdall, OK and sister, Barbara Williamson, of Fallon, NV; she is also survived by five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2025, beginning at 10:30 am with the funeral service to follow beginning at 11:00 am at the Lighthouse Church of Paola. Burial will follow the services at Osawatomie Cemetery in Osawatomie, KS.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lighthouse Church of Paola c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary-Paola Chapel 305 N. Pearl St. Paola, KS 66071.

Obituary - Alice Warren

Alice Belle Nash Warren, age 58 of Butler, Missouri passed away on Friday, November 7, 2025 in Appleton City, Missouri. Alice was born the daughter of George Keith and Mary Major-Nash on January 23, 1967 in Kansas City, Kansas. Alice graduated from Prairie View High School in 1985. She was a family oriented lady who loved crafting, painting, sewing, flowers and gardening, cooking, baking and canning. But most of all she loved spoiling her grandchildren, she was known to have several gifts for them bought or obtained throughout the year. Alice was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Keith and Terry Nash and two sisters, Denise and Marie Nash. She is survived by five sons, Jamie Warren, Josh Nash (Samantha), Austin Warren, Ronald McKeown (Jamie) and David Grubb (Rachel), two daughters, Megan Nieder (Justin) and Rachel Perkins (Nick), three brothers, David Nash, Jackie Nash (Angie), Jeremy Nash (Stacie), three sisters, Brenda Day, Kathy Querry, Amanda Nash and sixteen grandchildren.

Funeral Service will be held at 1 pm, Saturday, November 15, 2025 at the Schneider Funeral Home, La Cygne Chapel. Visitation will be from 5 pm to 7 pm, Friday, November 14, 2025 at the Schneider Funeral Home, La Cygne Chapel. Burial will be in the Brooklyn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Schneider Funeral Home to help the family defray funeral expenses, these may be sent in care of Schneider Funeral Home P.O. Box 304 La Cygne, KS 66040. Online condolences may be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

Obituary - Larry Bolser

Larry Glenn Bolser, 82, Rich Hill, MO passed away on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin in MO following a brief illness. Larry was born June 5, 1943 in Nevada, MO to Vernon Allen and Pearl Ellen (Nance) Bolser. He married Margreat Virginia Nunez on April 18, 1964 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nevada, MO and she preceded him in death on January 22, 2016.

     Larry was raised in Rich Hill and graduated from Rich Hill High School. He worked for Kenworth Truck Manufacturing in Kansas City, MO for several years, followed by his brother Harold Dean Bolser Construction in Kansas City, Wynne Telecom in El Dorado Springs, and retired from Haug Construction in Liberty, MO in 2005.

     Larry was a member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Hermitage, MO.  

     Survivors include two children, Vicenti Allen Bolser, Rich Hill, MO, and Kristal Ellen Treese, Rich Hill, MO; 13 grandchildren, Brittany, Elijah, Abigail, Madison, Caitlin, Courtney, Amanda, Jessica, Katelan, Eric, Dallas, and Shawn; 18 great-grandchildren; a brother, Jerry Bolser (Donna), Nevada; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife Margreat, he was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Harold Dean Bolser, and a sister, Audrey Miller.  

     Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 13, 2025 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Pastor Terry Mosher officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Nevada. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Obituary - Karen Sue Buhr

Karen Sue Buhr of Rolla, Missouri passed away on Friday, November 7, 2025, at the age of 78.

Sue was born on May 1, 1947, in Akron, Colorado, to Robert and Ruby (Parks) Monard. On November 20, 1965, she married the love of her life, Kenneth “Ken” Allen Buhr, in Appleton City, Missouri, beginning a beautiful life together filled with love, laughter, and family.

In addition to her parents, Sue is preceded in death by her son, Chad Buhr.

Sue will be remembered for the love and care she poured into every aspect of her life. She found joy in quilting, cooking, and tending her beautiful garden, where her love of flowers always shone through. As a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Sue’s greatest happiness came from spending time with her beloved granddaughter, Katherine. She had a gift for making her home a place of comfort and warmth, always putting her family’s needs before her own. Her kindness, creativity, and gentle spirit will not be forgotten by those who knew her.

Sue will be greatly missed by her surviving family which includes: her husband, Ken Buhr of Rolla, Missouri; two sons, Travis Buhr and wife, Shelly Baker of Saddlebrooke, Missouri, Shawn and wife Toby of Bland, Missouri; one brother, Karl Monard of The Philippines; and one granddaughter, Katherine Buhr.

Courtesy Hill & Son Funeral Home

Obituary - Sandy Bedwell

Sandra "Sandy" Bedwell, 69 of Butler, Missouri passed away Sunday, November 9, 2025 at her home in Butler. A visitation will be held from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Saturday, November 15, 2025 at Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). Funeral services will follow at 1:00 pm Saturday, also at the funeral home. Burial will take place in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

A complete obituary is pending at this time.