Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Ellett Memorial Employee of the Month, Matthew Desbien


Please join us in congratulating our September Employee of the Month, Matthew Desbien! Matt is the manager of our Respiratory Therapy Department
Matthew's write-ups (2) share some of the ways he has shown his HEART and DEDICATION to EMH:
Matt is an absolute star in our organization, and I am honored to nominate them for Employee of the Month. He leads his department with consistency, professionalism, and genuine pride, all while stepping in to support other teams whenever they need an extra hand. Matt brings friendly, positive energy everywhere he goes and is always cracking a joke, making someone smile, or just brightening the day. Patients adore him because his is not only a skilled tech, but a genuinely caring one. His knowledge and compassion make people feel safe, heard, and well cared for! Matt shows up every day with dedication, HEART, and a willingness to go above and beyond for both his team and the community. We are incredibly grateful to have him here at Ellett; he makes our hospital better in every way!
Matt runs his department with competence and compassion. He goes above and beyond for patients and coworkers alike. He consistently goes out of his way to assist other departments, eager to help wherever an extra hand is required. No job is too small, and no department is too insignificant. He lifts everyone up with his incorrigible humor and makes the harder days easier to bear. Matt certainly never fails to put a smile on my face! He is truly an asset to Ellett Memorial Hospital.
Congratulations Matt! Thank you for all you do for EMH!


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Very special painting to be showcased during Montrose Labor Day picnic


MONTROSE MO-- Shelly Mullani-Bales was commissioned to create this oil painting in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The painting will be showcased at a booth during the Labor Day Picnic, where prints will be available for purchase. Additionally, ornaments featuring the anniversary dates on the back have been ordered.

Courtesy Susan Lawson Cummings

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Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Continued steamy...


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Burn ban issued

The Vernon County Commission has issued a countywide burn ban due to extremely dry conditions and the recent increase in fires across the area. Under RSMO 49.266 allows the Commission to perform such duties as burn bans.
Residents are urged to refrain from all outdoor burning until conditions improve and the burn ban is lifted.
Please help keep our communities, homes, farms, and first responders safe. With conditions this dry, even a small fire can spread quickly.
Please do not burn until further notice.

Editor's note: It would be good practice to avoid ALL outdoor burning in the region as temps will continue to hover around 100 during the day, with no rain in sight for the time being.


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Rich Hill Family Care Clinic Temporary Closure


The Rich Hill Family Care Clinic is temporarily closed today due to a water outage. At this time, we anticipate the clinic will remain closed until 2:00 p.m. If the water outage continues, the closure may be extended.
We apologize for the inconvenience. For scheduling assistance, please call 660-200-3627.


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Swan solar project appears on hold due to pending lawsuit, moratorium

A super hot topic appears to have faded into a Bates county sunset; at least for now

The Swan Solar project, a 650 megawatt solar farm slated to begin construction in western Bates county last month shows no sign of ground breaking.

So, what's the hold up? A myriad of things beginning with a 1 year moratorium set by Linn county Kansas, prohibiting setting of power poles and lines needed to connect the solar farm to the grid near the LaCygne power plant. Subsequently, that action has prompted a lawsuit against Linn county on behalf of Clearway Energy, who is leading the project.

In the meantime however, Clearway has offered Linn county $850,000 in hopes of remedying the situation but despite the temptation of a big cash infusion, it appears that the Linn county commissioners haven't said yes. For that matter, they haven't said no either.

On the Missouri side, earlier this year the Bates county commission came to an agreement with Clearway regarding terms of the project which included approximately $1.5 million annually for the Miami School along with other monies such as a $500,000 up front payment to Bates county.

So far, Clearway is yet to return the signed contract to Bates county officials. 

Likewise, no $500,000 check either.

Interestingly, the delay has far reaching repercussions as another proposed solar project by NextEra, also to be located near Amsterdam, appears on hold as well; one could only guess that NextEra is waiting for an outcome on the Swan project before making any moves.

From the outside looking in, it may be awhile before there's any movement on the Swan Solar project. With that in mind, Mid America Live has reached out to Clearway for an update and will publish the outcome accordingly. 

The Swan Solar project website here https://www.swanenergycenter.com/


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Butler's Easton Woolace scores a perfect 36 on ACT


Butler High School is proud to celebrate Easton Woolace for earning a perfect 36 on the ACT!

Easton’s incredible achievement is a reflection of his hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence. We are so proud of this outstanding accomplishment!
After graduation, Easton plans to attend Liberty University, where he will major in Civil Engineering. We can’t wait to see where his talents and determination take him!
Congratulations, Easton! We are proud to call you a Butler Bear and wish you all the best in your next chapter!

Courtesy Butler Schools


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Football games this week

Regular season varsity play
Adrian:
9/4 Strafford 7:00 pm 

Appleton City with Ballard and Montrose:
9/4 Drexel with Miami (Amoret) 7:00 pm 

Archie:
9/4 at Lockwood with Golden City 7:00 pm 

Butler:
9/4 at Summit Christian Academy 7:00 pm 

Drexel with Miami:
9/4 at Appleton City with Montrose, Ballard 7:00 pm 

Harrisonville:
9/4 Bolivar 7:00 pm 

Midway:
9/4 Rich Hill with Hume 7:00 pm 

Nevada:
9/4 at Carl Junction 7:00 pm 

Rich Hill with Hume:
9/4 at Midway 7:00 pm 

Sherwood:
9/4 at Windsor 7:00 pm 


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