Obituary - Marlyn Strope

A celebration of life for Marlyn Strope of Oklahoma, formerly of Ballard, Missouri will be 1 p.m. Thursday, August 20, 2026 at the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. Visitation will be prior to service from 12:30 - 1 p.m. Thursday at the Schowengerdt Chapel. There will be a private family inurnment at a later date in Johnstown Cemetery, Johnstown, Missouri. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

A full obituary will be posted at a later date.

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History of Papinville 1673 to 1820

This week the time line will start about the explorers that we have records on that came to this part of Missouri. The first explorers were the Frenchmen. The time line will begin.

1673 Pere Marquette, a Frenchman explored two Indian villages. The Great Osage and the Little Osage. 1715 French explorers reached the Big Osage River (area of Bates County).

1785-1794 Fort Corondelet was built

1801-1802 Chief Pawhuska visits Thomas Jefferson and went to New York Missionary Society to see if they could get missionaries to come and educate their people.

1806 Zebulon Pike visited the Little Osage site. This site was located on the south side of the Osage River which is now Vernon County. The Grand Osage site was located on the north fork of the Osage River which is known as the Marais des Cygnes River.

1816 William Waldo was sent to be the agent to trade with the Osage Indians.

1816 William Waldo was a government interpreter at a factory on the Marais des Cygnes River what is now Papinville.

1820 Pawhuska (known as Chief White Hair) son of Chief Pawhuska the great, went back to Washington to ask president Monroe if he could send them some help to educate his people.

Next week the time line will be about Harmony Mission 1821 to 1858 starting of the border and Civil War in Papinville. Papinville has a lot of history. We have to keep history going so the next generations will know the history of the area. If any one is interested in this history you are welcome to join our association. The map at the bottom of this time line is a map of The Land of the Osage. It gives you an idea as to where the two villages were located. Until next week.

Submitted by Phyllis Stewart

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Cass Career Center receives generous donation

Cass Career Center is incredibly grateful to Hawthorn Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines for their generous $10,000 investment in Cass Career Center's Career Readiness Fund

This investment will help remove financial barriers for students by providing access to industry certifications, essential tools, and workforce opportunities—allowing more students to graduate career-ready and confident in their future.

We are so fortunate to have community partners who believe in career and technical education and understand that investing in students today strengthens the workforce of tomorrow. Thank you, Hawthorn Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, for helping us prepare the next generation of skilled professionals and making a lasting impact on our students, our community, and our region.

Together, we're building brighter futures—one student at a time

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Big News for Adrian's Mason Dillon

Adrian’s own Mason Dillon, a 5th grader and the son of Heather Janssen and Chris Dillon, will be taking the field this Saturday at the Chiefs vs. Rams preseason game

Mason is a member of the Junior Flag Crew and will be performing at halftime alongside the Chiefs Flag Runners, Chiefs Cheerleaders, and Junior Cheerleaders. What an incredible opportunity and memory he’ll have!

Here’s a great picture of Mason with KC Wolf from Draft Fest earlier this year.

Congratulations, Mason! We’ll be cheering you on!

Courtesy Adrian News Leader

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MSHP offers swimming safety tips

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Obituary - Carolyn Ann Hellwig

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, August 17, 2026 at the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. Visitation prior to service 9 - 10 a.m. Monday at the Schowengerdt Chapel. Cremation to follow the service. There will be a private family inurnment at a later date. Contributions to Pleasant Gap Christian Church or Round Prairie Cemetery, Appleton City, Missouri. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Carolyn Ann Hellwig, age 78 of rural Butler, Missouri died Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at her son’s home. She was born July 22, 1948 to LV Brown Jr. and Wilma Marie Nichols Brown in Appleton City, Missouri.

Carolyn is survived by one son, Kaleb Hellwig and wife Jody of Butler, Missouri; four grandchildren, Judd and Reegan Koshko and Kinley and Kie Hellwig; two brothers, Don Brown and wife Nancy and Steve Brown and wife Brenda, all of Appleton City, Missouri; one sister-in-law, Nancy Brown of Appleton City, Missouri; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bob Hellwig (08/12/2015); daughter, Cheyanna Hellwig (08/23/2012); and one brother, Wayne Brown.

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Adrian schools welcome new staff members

The Adrian School District is pleased to introduce several new members to our team for the 2026–2027 school year, including new teachers, a principal, and a Technology Director. Please join us in giving them a warm welcome to the Blackhawks Family!

Front row, left to right: Meka Bauer, Elementary Principal; Jessica Coen, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher; Flicia Shelton, Preschool Teacher; Michael Prater, HS Science Teacher and Scholar Bowl Sponsor; Andrew Friend, PE Teacher and JH/HS Football Coach. Back row, left to right: Delana Miner, 4th Grade Teacher; Erin Grimsley, Elementary Special Education Teacher; Christa Stokes, 3rd Grade Teacher; Nathan McGuire, Technology Director; Mark Williams, Band Teacher.

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Osage Valley Electric Cooperative to Hold 88th Annual Meeting

The 88th Annual Meeting of the members of Osage Valley Electric Cooperative Association will  be a “drive-thru” meeting on August 27, 2026, with members registering from 4:00-6:00pm at  either the Butler or Clinton office. Signage and employees will direct member traffic through the  pole yards at both locations for registration, voting, and receiving a gift. We ask those attending  the drive-thru meeting to bring your registration slip from the August Rural Missouri magazine.  A $20 electric credit will be given to all members participating in the drive-thru meeting.  

Online participation for the OVEC Annual Meeting will also be available again this year from  August 10-25, 2026, for those unable to attend the drive-thru meeting, or for those choosing the  convenience of online voting. Online voters will receive a $20.00 bill credit on their electric  account also. Check out our website (www.osagevalley.com) or Facebook page for a link to the  online voting portal during August 10-25, 2026.  

All drive-thru and online members registering will also be eligible for additional prizes and  electric credit certificates through a drawing. All electric credits for members registering, and  for prize winners, will be applied to the members’ September 1, 2026, electric bill. 

The Cooperative’s 2025 Annual Meeting minutes, the 2026 Official Annual Meeting Notice, the  Financial Report, the President’s Report, and bios on the incumbent directors, running  uncontested this year, are available for member review in the August Rural Missouri edition, on  our website, and on our Facebook page. An abbreviated business meeting will be held by the  board of directors immediately following the drive-thru portion of the Annual Meeting on  August 27, 2026, from 4-6pm. Directors will be present at both offices and will utilize a zoom  meeting to conduct the business meeting.

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