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Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Monday, July 20, 2026
Final report issued regarding Butler aircraft involved in Kansas crash last year
June 16, 2025 an aircraft that departed from Butler, MO crashed onto the rooftop of a hangar at New Century airport in Gardner, KS that fortunately resulted in only minor injuries for the two persons on board. This aircraft had previously been used for parachute jump operations at the Butler airport and listed below are the official NTSB findings related to the accident
N1UC Beech E90 New Century, Kansas 16 JUN 2025
2 Minor Injuries
Pilot Flight Time:
CPL/Instructor - 795 hours (Total, all aircraft), 9 hours (Total, this make and model)
ATPL/Instructor - 40000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 750 hours (Total, this make and model)
The flight instructor and pilot-receiving-instruction were conducting a cross-country flight in the twin-engine turboprop airplane. According to the flight instructor, while in the airport traffic pattern at the destination airport, the pilot-receiving-instruction allowed the airplane to decelerate below a normal airspeed for the turn from base leg to final approach. He told the pilot-receiving-instruction to increase engine power to accelerate, but the airplane began to yaw left after the engine throttles were increased. The flight instructor “suspected that the left engine flamed out due to fuel starvation” and took control of the airplane. He retracted the landing gear and flaps, applied full right rudder, and rolled the airplane to the right into the operating right engine. The flight instructor did not feather the left propeller because he believed the left engine was still producing limited thrust. The airplane continued in the left turn despite the flight instructor’s corrective actions. The fight instructor did not attempt to turn the airplane back toward the runway because he believed the airplane was accelerating and would clear the hangar ahead of them. The airplane impacted the hangar and came to rest on the roof.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage, both wings, and the right engine separated from the mounts. There was no evidence of a fuel spill in, on, or around the hangar. Examination of the airplane fuel tanks confirmed they were not breached during the accident. When drained, the left- and right-wing fuel tanks contained about 3 fluid ounces and about 30 fluid ounces of fuel, respectively.
Although the flight instructor and pilot-receiving-instruction provided different accounts of how much fuel was present before the flight, both pilots stated that the indicated fuel level was within the yellow caution band on both fuel tank gauges before departure. According to the Beech E90 airplane flight manual, takeoffs are prohibited when the fuel tank gauge indications are within the yellow caution band (0 to 260 lbs). Ultimately, the exact amount of fuel available before the flight could not be determined with any certainty. The flight instructor estimated that the 16-minute flight required between 135 to 200 lbs of fuel. The flight instructor opined that the fuel tank gauges were inaccurate which resulted in fuel exhaustion to the left engine.
Review of ADS-B flight track data revealed the airplane decelerated below minimum controllable airspeed (VMC) during the turn from base leg to final approach. The airplane continued to decelerate during the go-around. The flight instructor stated that the accident could have been prevented had the airplane’s best single-engine rate-of-climb airspeed (VYSE) been maintained until the runway and landing were ensured. Based on the amount of fuel recovered after the accident, there was likely insufficient fuel remaining to perform a go around and reenter the traffic pattern for landing with one engine operating.
Probable Cause and Findings:
The flight instructor’s inadequate fuel planning that resulted in a loss of engine power to the left engine due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the flight that resulted in diminished airplane performance during the go-around.
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Concerns raised about operation of Mount Pleasant Township
Minutes from recent Bates County Commission meetings
Charles Rush, with Cooks Insurance, came in and talked to the Commission about United Healthcare and possibly Blue Cross Blue Sheild for them to consider when their Insurance Renewal takes place.
Jim stated that Elected Officials will be involved in the decision again this year.
July 13, 2026 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.
Judge Julie Highley came and discussed Gas Cards through the Opioid Board Funding Program with the Commission. She explained a system where they can offer MFA Gas Cards to individuals in the program that might need help with gas for their travel back and forth from work. They discussed the amount of $400.00 to be allotted towards these cards, each card totaling $25.00 apiece.
Trent liked the idea of it being an MFA card, as they can only spend it on gas and nothing else. John agreed and added that the amount of the cards, being $25 each, was a great idea.
Trent made a motion to approve the funding for the MFA Gas Cards. John seconded the motion. Jim started explaining that he wants to make sure this isn’t something that will be looked at every time an individual says they are having trouble going to work. He feels this needs to be closely monitored so it doesn't become more an expense, depleting the funds for something else. He then stated that he is on board to support people getting their life back together and likes that it is an MFA Card that can be spent at any MFA but on gas only.
John stated that he felt this was well thought out and said that he is all in with this.
All were in favor. Motion carried. No opposition.
Alan Fay, with Higginbotham Insurance, sat with the Commission to touch base. Jim told him that they were still under contract with the counties’ current insurance and that the current broker they have can do the same that Higginbotham can do.
Alan spoke over personalized policies, saving a county 40% with 100% coverage, and encouraged the Commission to reach out midsummer to discuss something perfect for the county.
Jim then discussed a period where the Commission got a lot of backlash and were accused of purchasing the cheapest insurance. He said that when they were switching insurances, they had all elected officials present during the meeting and let them have input. He said there was a lot of good conversation and input, and they were able to agree on an insurance policy.
Alan then asked the Commission to consider them when their contract is up, to which Jim stated that they stick with a local broker because they are quick to respond and get the issue resolved quickly. Alan then told Jim that they work hard to respond to any concerns and are most likely to have it resolved by the end of that day.
Trent made a motion to accept the Cyber Liability renewal price with Travelers. John seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried. No opposition.
The Commission discussed CART Funding which led John to make a motion to give $575 per mile. Trent seconded the motion. Jim voted no, as he feels the numbers do not match up to what they will be able to spend out of Road and Bridge for the remainder of the year. Jami asked if they had budgeted that much a mile, Jim thought not but found where they did budget $575.00 per mile but he still doesn’t think it will line out, as they have expenses for bridges coming out that were not budgeted. He told Jami the totals and how close they were, but Jami reminded him that they do have cash on hand that they can use as well to make up for anything. He stated he was aware of that but felt like more money was being spent versus coming in. He stated that it isn’t that he doesn’t want to give them money, he just wants them to do their jobs and not waste the money or rathole it somewhere else and start using it on the roads to make them drivable and fix the ditches.
Chad Anderson came in and met with the Commission to discuss some Personnel matters with one of his employees.
At 3:04 pm John made a motion to go into Closed Session to discuss the personnel matter. Trent seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried. No opposition.
At 3:38 pm Trent made a motion to go back into open session. John seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried. No opposition.
July 15, 2026 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.
Sydney Roberts; SEMA, Mark Mathies; Butler, Michael Wriston; Mayor of Hume, Jason Bennet; Butler Fire, Daniel Stewart; Bates County Deputy Surveyor, Jim Henry; Mayor of Butler/EMA all joined the Commission and spoke about Flood Plains.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was presented to increase awareness of flooding and reduce the risk of losing life across the state, with the help of SEMA. FEMA has the funds to get an updated map so they are in the process of creating these maps for Bates County.
They also presented a website that the County can use to see the elevation levels when building things looking at the flood plain areas that might be affected.
Wade Chandler called the Commissions office and spoke with John and Trent, as Jim had not made it back from lunch yet. He discussed the standing of Mt. Pleasant Township and addressed concern for the people that are still on the Township Board. Some of the concerns included the lack of meeting minutes from the last two months of meetings, the board’s unwillingness to cooperate with the Highway Patrol in the Township investigation, and the lack of knowledge of their financial status of the Township.
Wade stated that he had attended a board meeting on the fourteenth of July and was disappointed with the progress of the township. In the fact that they had no meeting minutes or knowledge of the things they were asked to show, a group of people that reside in Mt. Pleasant Township have come together and will be requesting an Audit and a Sunshine Request to find out what is happening within this township to this day. He told the Commission about the audit and asked for their help, as they can make this easier on the individuals going to bat for their Township. John and Trent voiced their support, and John mentioned that he had a contact that he could reach out to from the State Auditor's Office and asked Wade who he was in contact with to be able learn information about the Highway Patrol's Investigation.
Wade mentioned that he washed his hands with the Township in March and had not been since and felt as if they were worse off in July than they were in March. He stated that the stealing must stop and he wants answers for the thousands of missing funds that are not accounted for.
Wade and two other individuals are set on putting their names on the Ballot and running once there is an audit in motion. Neither of these gentlemen want to run with the current line of members and would like to step in and get things lined out and the Township back on its feet.
Kacie Robey, Treasurer/Collector, and Carl Bettels, Assessor, came in and updated the Commission on their situation with Governmentor. Gene, the owner, is in the hospital so they were unable to close on the dates that they had originally planned and is still unsure when they will be able to get switched over to Ulrich Software.
Kacie stated that she is going to get with the lawyers, as this is the only way they can communicate with Gene to get anything done, to see how they should proceed from here. Since he is a one man show, Kacie is unsure of what to do from here and their licenses are up on July 17th, 2026. She said she will not be paying any fines or fees dealing with that, as this was not anyone’s fault, but she doesn’t want to get stuck with any charges especially since it was not the Counties fault that nothing was able to be switched before that date.
Kacie and Trent both hoped that Gene was okay and would be able to recover quickly.
With Trent absent, Jim made a motion to accept Spring Line Advisor, dealing with NextEra Solar. John seconded the motion. Two were in favor, one absent. Motion carried. No opposition.
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Narcotics suspected in Vernon county traffic stop
Sunday morning at approximately 3:00 a.m., detectives with the Nevada Police Department were working Interstate 49, proactively interdicting illegal activity entering our community, specifically the possession and distribution of illegal narcotics.
During this time, Nevada Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling on I-49 and made contact with the sole occupant. During the investigation, detectives deployed K-9 Edo to conduct a free-air sniff of the vehicle. K-9 Edo gave a positive alert to the presence of narcotics.
As a result of the investigation, detectives seized what is believed to be methamphetamine that was being transported into our community. The driver was taken into custody and transported to the Vernon County Jail, where they were placed on a 24-hour investigative hold for Delivery of a Controlled Substance.
The case will be referred to the Vernon County Prosecuting Attorney for the filing of formal charges once certified laboratory results are obtained on the seized narcotics.
This is another testament to the dedication and proactive efforts of the officers and detectives of the Nevada Police Department. Our officers remain committed to identifying and intercepting illegal narcotics before they reach our community and will continue working diligently to keep Nevada a safe place to live.
This is a clear message to individuals who pass through or come to our community with criminal intentions: our officers are on patrol, alert, and proactive. We will continue to intercept this type of criminal behavior and hold those responsible accountable under the law.
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Bates County Presiding Commissioner race: Mary Dubray
Mary DuBray Age: 51
Why are you running for this office?
The people of Bates County deserve elected officials they can trust. It’s painfully clear when you look at recent events that the current presiding commissioner cannot be relied upon to do his job. You can also look at how the commission as a whole dealt with the solar farm situation and see the future of our county was not a priority and neither was letting the public know what was happening.
What are your qualifications?
I have a degree in Management. I have worked in data management for the bulk of my career. I know how to run a global team. I have experience in running a company. I know how to communicate. I have the ability to fill out forms and meet deadlines. I can do research on complex topics that I don’t know anything about so that I can become an expert in that area. I’m extremely good at taking a hard to understand concept and explaining it to regular folks in a way that makes sense. I am able to and willing to communicate even when it’s a controversial topic.
If elected, what are your priorities?
My number one priority is to restore public trust in the commission. I would do this by making regular posts on social media about what is happening with the commission. The public should not be waiting weeks for the county clerk to put out meeting minutes to know what is happening. They should be hearing directly from the commissioners and especially from the presiding commissioner what is happening in real time. I believe that many of the issues we are having currently could have been avoided if there was a line of communication open between the commission and the public in real time. My second priority is to protect Bates County. It has become painfully clear recently that the current commission is not interested in protecting our land and resources and people from outside dangers. It’s imperative that we do everything we can to prevent solar farm expansion. We can also never allow a data center in our county. While I adamantly oppose full zoning, I am aware that there are other zoning restrictions we could put in place that would protect us from future corporations taking over our home.
What is the most important thing voters need to know about you?
I am trustworthy! I will never sell out the people of this county for personal gain. I will never neglect to do my job. I will have full transparency in this position. I will open lines of communication between the commission and the public. While this is a part-time position, I would consider it a full-time job and I would be open for conversations anytime it’s necessary.
Voting information available here https://batescounty.net/elections-information/
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Voting information available here https://batescounty.net/elections-information/
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Bates County Presiding Commissioner race: Chris Gach
What is your current or past occupation?
I have recently retired from the Missouri State Highway Patrol after serving for just over 30 years. I was assigned to the Bates County Zone for approximately 25 years. For the last ten years of my assignment in Bates County I served as the Zone Commander. During the last five years of my career I was assigned to Troop A Headquarters in Lee’s Summit as the Property Control Supervisor.
Why are you running for this office?
I truly enjoyed the public service aspect of my career in law enforcement and want to continue serving others in Bates County now that I have retired. I enjoy working with others to achieve goals that benefit all of us and feel like this job gives me the opportunity to do so.
What are your qualifications for this position?
I don’t feel like a list of accomplishments would necessarily qualify someone for this position. I believe what qualifies me to serve as the next Presiding Commissioner of Bates County is that I built a career based on public service, leadership, and accountability. During my career, I displayed the ability to make sound decisions, manage people and resources, problem solve, and work with the general public. I understand the importance of listening to people, working with other elected officials, and making decisions that benefit all of us, not just a select few.
If elected, what are your priorities?
My priorities are to be fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars, build a working relationship with the Road and Bridge supervisor, and work with other office holders to make county government as efficient as possible. I believe most citizens of our county are affected by four different things: agriculture, small business, churches, and schools. These four things make us who we are as a county. I think it’s important to support and encourage reasonable growth in all four of these areas.
What is the most important thing voters need to know about you?
I want people to know that I’ve spent the majority of my adult life serving the public. I’m not seeking to become the next Presiding Commissioner of Bates County because I have any hidden agendas or personal vendettas against anyone. I take pride in knowing that during the course of my career in law enforcement, I treated people with respect and fairness. I believe I possess the knowledge, skills, and experience to help our county grow while preserving the values that make us who we are.
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Bates County Presiding Commissioner race: Jim Wheatley
Incumbent Jim Wheatley (R) will face Chris Gach (R) in the august 4 primary election. The winner will then run against Mary Dubray in the general election November 3rd. The following are responses to questions given to all candidates:
Bates County Presiding Commissioner.
Why are you running for this office?
The keep serving the people of Bates County and keep the County moving forward. To make certain the County has the funds to sustain going forward and not have to "cut" any personnel. To continue working to get the three bridges replaced that need to be replaced. To continue to work to provide the services the people in Bates County deserve.
What are your qualifications for this position?
11 years as current Bates County Presiding Commissioner.
4 years Active-Duty Air Force, Security Police
27 years Air Force Reserve, Fire Protection
19 years as Reserve Fire Chief at Peterson AFB, Richards Gebaur/Whiteman AFB, Scott AFB where I brought fire fighting teams to Combat Readiness status.
I have 40 years of law enforcement experience in Bates County.
I have HAZMAT training to the Senior Response Officer, SRO, and Incident Command, IC, levels.
Emergency First Responder trained, because of this I understand the needs and requirements of all emergency services.
I have an Associate in Arts degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
If elected, what are your priorities?
Continue to help provide services the public needs. Work with the elected officials to maintain a sound budget for the county and continue to build reserve funds to build a solid financial foundation to protect the county.
What is the most important thing voters need to know about you?
I work for them, the people of Bates County, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. "This is not just a Two Day a Week Job".
Voting information here https://batescounty.net/elections-information/
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