Mid America Live

Monday, June 29, 2026

What’s Up by LeRoy Cook

GPS: Trust, But Verify

Almost daily rains dampened flight activity last week, with the concomitant growth in the acres of grass needing mowing around the Butler airport. If you think you’re having trouble keeping your home’s lawn in check, consider the margins around a ¾ mile long runway and taxiway, hangars and frontage. It’s been a hard year for the crew and equipment needed to keep up with mowing at the aerodrome.

Other than for the few Kansas City-based trainers coming in, and a departing Colorado-bound Cessna 182, transient traffic was light last week, no doubt due to the weather. Locally, there were multiple AirTractor agplanes working full time from the BCS base, Gerold Koehn had his Cessna Skyhawk out, and Gerald Bauer and Jeremie Platt took their planes to Harrisonville to represent us at the third-Saturday pancake breakfast.

Last month’s flight-into-terrain accident at Sierra Blanca, New Mexico, when a King Air medevac airplane impacted a mountain while descending to pick up a patient, seems to have been complicated by military GPS jamming. Jamming takes place regularly in the Southwest for training exercises. We are all so spoiled by our GPS navigation receivers that we can hardly find our way without them. It’s important to realize that the Global Positioning System belongs to the military, and we use it at their behest. At midnight in the mountains, the King Air crew didn’t realize they had lost signal; you must always crosscheck one navigation method with another.

The “free” presidential Boeing 747-8i bequeathed to the U.S. by the Emir of Qatar has been delivered to Andrews AFB outside Washington, DC, where it is being given final preparation for entering service, probably as Air Force One. Lavished outfitted in royal service, it underwent special outfitting for the VIP fleet. It’s to relieve the hard-working 36-year-old Boeing 747-200s, until Boeing delivers the two new VC-25s on order, now expected in 2028.

Much has been made over the go-around by a Delta Airlines pilot at Boston week before last; although cleared to land, he was aware of an American Airlines plane that was cleared to take off on an intersecting runway, and when he saw it moving after a delay he realized it would be too close and pushed up the power to climb away. It seems to me that the system worked just as it should; human at the controls evaluated and took action. Case closed.

Our previous column had a question about a monument near Bazaar, Kansas in the Flint Hills. Tim Enos knew the answer; it marks where a TWA Fokker trimotor airliner lost a wing in 1931, carrying famous football coach Knute Rockne on his way to Los Angeles. Next week’s brain-teaser is, “what is the approximate weight of a cumulus cloud measuring one kilometer on each side?” You can send your answers to kochhaus1@gmail.com.

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From Bates County Presiding Commissioner, Jim Wheatley

Solar and data center information

On Wednesday, 17 June, I attended a Data Center Summit to get more information. This meeting was put on by MO Association of Counties, MAC, the Municipal League of MO, representing cities and towns, and the State Association of School Boards. Members of these organizations were the only people allowed to attend. If your city government or school administration did not attend, ask them why they did not participate.

If they did attend, ask them what they learned. I did speak with an attorney at the meeting who told me that with one solar project moving forward and with another starting to talk with attorneys, Bates County will more than likely be looked at for a data center in the future. I can personally say, no one has notified or spoken to me about any data center wanting to come to Bates County.

We, the Commission, have been told that the local Electric Coop cannot supply the electricity needed for a data center and that the rural water districts cannot supply the amount of water needed. Based on the information I have been able to find and what was brought up in Jefferson City, #1, the data center can build their own power supply by various means and #2, they will drill wells and put up tanks to store any water needed. Not all data centers have excess water discharge. Most are using a closed loop system reusing the water before discharging it. I will be getting more information in the next few weeks about data centers and I will be able to share that information with you.

All the townships in Bates County, except for one, have voted down being zoned and having a Planning and Zoning Board like most of our cities have. By not having any form of zoning in the rural areas, the Bates County Commission has NO way of "formally" stopping these projects. There are ways to discourage them, but if landowners are willing to lease or sell their property, they can. I want everyone to know that I will NEVER stand in the way of anyone wanting to lease or sell their property. It is your RIGHT to do what is best for you and your family.

Any time you have questions or concerns, I am willing to address them.

Jim Wheatley, Presiding Commissioner of Bates County

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Sunday, June 28, 2026

The Carpenter's Cup Named Butler Chamber Business of the Month Ahead of 10-Year Anniversary

The Butler Area Chamber of Commerce has named local Christian bookstore and community hub, The Carpenter's Cup, as its featured Business of the Month for June 2026. The recognition arrives as the establishment prepares to host its landmark 10-year anniversary celebration on Saturday, July 18.

The origin of The Carpenter's Cup is a story rooted deeply in faith, calling, and family collaboration. Ten years ago, owner Becky chose to pivot from a successful 40-year career in the healthcare industry to open a storefront in Butler. Following months of reflection, she officially stepped into her new role in 2016, experiencing an immediate wave of relief and confirmation that she was on the right path.

When the store first opened its doors, it was established as a multi-generational family venture. Becky was supported from day one by her mother JoAnn, stepfather Rich, sister Barb, daughter Rachael, and son Shannon. One year into operations, the team expanded when Becky's sister, Phyllis, relocated back home from Houston to join the enterprise. While JoAnn and Rich have since passed away, their foundational impact endures, and the establishment remains a proudly family-run business.

To anchor the storefront's daily operations and ministry, Becky's family partnered with friend and employee, Jenny. "All we have to do is unlock the doors and God will do the rest," Jenny noted of the business's foundational philosophy over the past decade.

Over the past ten years, the business has grown into much more than a retail shop for books and custom gifts; it serves as a central pillar of local charitable action. The Carpenter's Cup frequently steps up as a primary donation collection point for area families experiencing sudden hardships or tragedy.

Furthermore, Becky, her family, staff and countless volunteers coordinate extensive seasonal outreach programs. Their annual calendar of service includes organizing Thanksgiving meals, hosting a Christmas Angel Tree, managing a "Coats for Kids" drive, distributing winter blankets, assembling care backpacks for the unhoused population, and providing fans and air conditioning units to neighbors in need during hot summer months when inventory allows. The shop also coordinates closely with local ministries, keeping Vacation Bible School (VBS) resources available for area churches and supporting Alvina’s summer lunch program.

The community is invited to celebrate this decade of impact at the storefront on Saturday, July 18. The 10-year anniversary event will feature an array of activities, including dedicated times for community Praise & Worship.

For more information on the anniversary celebration or to learn how to contribute to their ongoing outreach programs, visit The Carpenter's Cup on South Bishop Street.

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