Fire destroys barn near Hume

Shortly after 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the Rich Hill and Foster Fire Departments were dispatched to assist the Hume Fire Department with a structure fire located south of Hume on V Highway.

Agencies that responded include Hume Fire Department , Foster fire department , Rich Hill Missouri Fire Department, The Bates County Sheriff's Office as well as Bates County EMS.

The building is considered a total loss and the exact cause is yet to be determined.

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Cold front incoming

COLD FRONT ARRIVES this evening making today the last of the above average temps until next week. Notice possible lows below 20F on Monday morning.

Today's weather sponsored by Mullinax Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. Check us out at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com and always available to you and your loved ones at 660.679.0009.

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Wednesday basketball scores

Boys 

Hume 33

Lakeland 60

Butler 53
Pleasant Hill 80

Girls

Hume 47

Lakeland 51

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Warm with high fire danger today

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Butler Chamber requests your vote for Business of the Year

It's time to VOTE for our annual "Chamber Business of the Year" recipient!

Click on the link below to access the google form.

If you're a member of the Butler Area Chamber of Commerce and I missed adding you, please message me asap.

https://forms.gle/8pJqWFyh9137krK96

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Reports from the Bates County Commission

February 11, 2026 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.
Jim, Trent and John are working on getting Lily’s house an upgraded vehicle, as theirs has broken down. They have some promising help to make this possible.
Chapter 100 is still underway, and the Commission is getting everything lined out. They have been in contact with Mark Grimm and discussed bonding and all the important details to see this through.

February 9, 2026 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.
Board Member Russel Mohr and Trustee Dennis Slattery, with West Point Township, along with Brent Bettels, with Homer Township, came in and discussed Clearway and NextEra Energy. The Commission explained to them the setup, details and everything they had questions on.
At 11:53 a.m. John Gray made the motion to go into closed session to discuss personnel pursuant to 610.021(3). Trent Nelson seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried
At 12:08 p.m. Trent Nelson made the motion to go back into open session. John Gray seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried.

February 4, 2026 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.
Brenda Wessels came in and discussed a personal property tax issue. It seems that a certain vehicle had not been filed on her assessment sheet, which confused her because she was able to tag that said vehicle at the DMV. Her son had put her name on a truck and that truck was listed there as well along with a truck that she had not owned since 2020.
When she was discussing all of this, she claimed that the blonde-haired lady in the middle window was unprofessional and told her that the people that used to work in that office were no longer there because they had no idea what they were doing. She was still unable to get the situation settled so the Commission gave her a list of things she needed to find for more information and proof of what should be there and what should not.
Shane Balk, with iNetVisions, came and spoke with the Commission and discussed renewing his contract. Before making a motion to do so, they discussed a few changes and ideas that are to be changed and/or added. John then made a motion to accept the maintenance agreement with iNetVisions. Trent seconded. All were in favor. Motion carried. No opposition.
They also discussed emergency backup ideas and are going to have Shane investigate what would work best for the buildings they discussed.
Jana Rosier, with Osage Valley Electric, came in and spoke with John about The Wall That Heals and discussed ways they are going to help the committee.
Jana said she would share The Wall That Heals on their Facebook page to help get the word out that it’s coming to Bates County.

February 2, 2026 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.
Hugh Jenkins came in at 9:30 a.m. to discuss one of his part-time employees that he feels is eligible for full-time benefits after no longer being on his spouse’s insurance. He stated that he works for Bates County part time and for Child Support Agreement part time, in which Bates County is a part of leading Hugh to view him as a full time Bates County employee.
Jim does not agree that he works for Bates County full-time and with this being after the budget has already been approved, he does not see a gap where the expense can come out for the benefits Hugh is asking for. John felt as if this was not up to the County to give him benefits now that he no longer has benefits elsewhere.
Hugh had pointed out a few different areas where he could pull from in the budget to give him the benefits Hugh feels he deserves but John and Jim would like to hear from the other counties that are in partnership with Child Support Agreement to see if they would pay anything toward his benefits before they decide. Trent is all for giving him these benefits if they can find a gap in the budget and do it correctly. The Commission wants to review the employee’s contract with the County due to the need for more information and they will be waiting to hear from the other Counties to see where they stand on this idea. Once they have some more information and answers they will decide from there.
At 10:12 a.m. John Gray made the motion to go into closed session with Hugh Jenkins per 610.021(3) to discuss personnel. Trent Nelson seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried. At 10:25 a.m. Trent Nelson made the motion to go back into open session. John Gray seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried.
Tobias Steffensmeier, with Senator Josh Hawley, came to introduce himself and catch up on anything happening in the County. John told him about The Wall That Heals and asked him about a certain vote that Senator Hawley was considering making that had a lot of folks in Missouri concerned. Tobias explained that Hawley simply needed more information and was able to change his decision once he was informed and made aware of the things he was questioning.
Tobias asked about any road or bridge construction happening and the Commission told him about Bagby Bridge. They also spoke about infrastructure and what they would like to see happen with highways and certain parcels that travel on them that aren’t always safest for other drivers. They spoke over dirt roads that are neighboring the highway, covering the highway with clouds of dust when traffic rips through throwing up a tail of dust behind them.
Jim asked that Tobias let the Commission know of any grants that might become available for Counties to help construction costs, in case they are not aware of any grants first.
Maria Acres has been added to Deer Creek Township and CART Funding. The Commission will be getting with Deer Creek to give them the information they will need moving forward.

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Obituary - William Kelly Jones

William Kelly Jones of Butler, Missouri wishes were to be cremated and remembered with fond memories.  There are no public services scheduled at this time.  Arrangements under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel and Crematory (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri.    Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

William “Bill” Kelly Jones, age 89 of Butler Missouri died Thursday, February 12, 2026 at Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler, Missouri.  He was born July 31, 1936 to Hugh and Avis Taylor Jones in Paducah, Kentucky.

Bill retired after 30 years with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department.  He then went to work as a director of security of the Unified Government of Kansas City, Kansas.  Bill was also a veteran of the Marine Corps. 

Bill is survived by his wife, Connie Jones of Butler, Missouri; eight children, Ralph Jones of Rogers, Arkansas, Cindy Brynestad of Cypress, Texas, Bill Jones of Kansas City, Kansas, Ramon Jones of Riverside, Missouri, Michael Jones of Olathe, Kansas, Kari Harris of Linn Valley, Kansas, Lisa Anderson of Kansas City, Kansas and Gary Anderson of Linn Valley, Kansas; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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Elevated fire danger the next few days

Courtesy Rich Hill Fire Department

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