Obituary - Tamie Person

Tamie Person age 69 of Harrisonville, Missouri departed this life Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at her home surrounded by love and family. 

Cremation with a celebration of life service will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation. Donations can be made through the link or mailed to Dickey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 432, Harrisonville, Missouri 64701. 

A complete obituary and service times will be posted once that information becomes available. 

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Obituary - Larry Burton

Larry Joe Burton, 78, of Freeman, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, August 27, 2026 at St. Luke's East in Lee's Summit, MO. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 12:00 PM at Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO, with the visitation beginning at 10:00 AM. Interment to follow at Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville, MO. Contributions may be made to Harrisonville VFW Post 4409.

A complete obituary will be posted when it is available.


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Obituary - Carl Jennings Jr.

Carl "C.D." Douglas Jennings, Jr., 78, of Garden City, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, MO. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Faith Baptist Church in Harrisonville, MO, with a visitation beginning at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Harrisonville, MO.

A complete obituary will be posted when it is available.


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BCMH welcomes Dr. Brian Heiniger, MD

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Brian Heiniger, MD, to Bates County Memorial Hospital

Dr. Heiniger is a visiting ophthalmologist who will provide cataract surgery and other ophthalmic surgical services at BCMH one day each month.

He will begin seeing patients locally on September 8 at Noe, Miller, and Miller in Butler. Appointments are scheduled through Grin Eye Care at 913-829-5511.

His first surgical day at BCMH will be September 16.

Dr. Heiniger practices comprehensive ophthalmology in the greater Kansas City area, with an emphasis on cataract and refractive surgery. We're pleased to welcome him to BCMH and bring specialized eye care closer to home for our community.

Learn more about Dr. Heiniger and ophthalmology services at BCMH: https://bcmhospital.com/meet-dr-heiniger-ophthalmologist/

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Osage Valley holds 88th annual meeting

Osage Valley Electric Cooperative held their 88th Annual Meeting on August 27, 2026, with a drive-thru format at both the Butler and Clinton offices. Employees registered members, then members were able to vote electronically from 4-6pm, receiving a gift on departure. In addition  to the drive-thru, members were able to register/vote online from August 10-25, 2026. All  registered members will receive a $20 electric bill credit.  

Electric bill credit prizes and other prizes were awarded to registered members, online and drive thru. Jeremy Short and Jenna Meade were each the lucky winners of a $250.00 electric bill  credit. Complete list of winners will appear in the October 2026 issue of the Rural Missouri.  

The business meeting featured the election of three members to the Cooperative’s Board of  Directors. All three incumbent directors were uncontested and re-elected to the Board to serve  three-year terms. They were David Rapp and Darrell Dains, representing Bates County and Joe  Hilty, representing Henry/Johnson Counties. 

An abbreviated business meeting was held by the Board of Directors immediately following the  drive-thru portion of the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors were present at both offices  and participated in a zoom meeting to conduct the business meeting. 

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Miami R-1 welcomes new staff

Please help welcome new staff to the Miami R-1 Eagles nest!

L-R: Tim Powell: PLTW/PE/Para, Sydney Brabant: Preschool/Para,  Tracy McCombs: Title 1 Reading, Maggie Schacher: Special Education

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Special sale offered by Comforting Angels on Sept. 5th

The Bates County chapter of the Comforting Angel Quilters Group will be participating in the city wide Garage Sales. They will be open Saturday only, Sept 5th, 8:30 until 2:00 p.m. at the Old Butler High School on Pine Street, south entrance. Look for our sign!

Fabric will be on sale for $2.00 a yard, finished quilt tops will be for sale as well as numerous quilt kits, table runners, thread, handmade crafts, knitting yarn, and a menagerie of small fabric under a yard available for “all you can fit” into a paper bag for $1.00.

Over the years, many donated fabrics were of the “tailor” type that just could not be used for quilting. We are reaching out to several theatre groups in the area who could use this fabric for scenery, costumes, backdrops, etc. If you know of a drama group/high school drama clubs/community theatres that could use this free fabric, please give Susi Serna a call at 518.378.8259. We are located at the Old Butler High School on Pine Street. Look for their Facebook page to see photos of available items. Plenty of parking is available.

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Bates County native Dr. Ethan Weeks to begin local practice

Ethan Weeks, DO, is coming home to care for the community that shaped him

On September 8, Bates County native Dr. Ethan Weeks will begin seeing patients as a family medicine physician with Family Care Clinics. But his connection to BCMH began long before medical school.

From working as a medical scribe at BCMH to completing clinical rotations here as a medical student, Ethan intentionally kept Bates County close throughout his education and training.

Now, after completing his family medicine residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, he's returning to care for the community he has always called home.

"Bates County has always been home for me. I know the communities, the people, and many of the unique challenges that come with accessing healthcare in a rural area, and that connection was a major reason I wanted to return here to practice."

Meet Dr. Ethan Weeks and learn why returning to practice medicine in Bates County was always part of his plan.

Read Ethan's story: https://bcmhospital.com/introducing-ethan-weeks-do/

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