Bates County native, Dr. Ethan Weeks is now seeing patients

Dr. Ethan Weeks is officially seeing patients at Family Care Clinics today

A Bates County native, Dr. Weeks is coming home to practice family medicine and care for the community he has always called home.

Welcome home, Dr. Weeks!

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Osage Valley crews to hold training exercise this week

Osage Valley Electric Cooperative will be conducting a Mayday pole-top rescue training exercise with local first responders at 10:00 AM on Thursday, September 10. The exercise will simulate an electrical contact emergency involving a lineworker requiring rescue from a utility pole.

Local EMS and a medical helicopter will participate in the exercise, providing an opportunity for responders to practice communication, coordination, patient care and rescue procedures in a realistic environment.

If you see emergency vehicles, responders or a medical helicopter at our Butler office location, please know this is a planned training event — there is no actual emergency.

Training together is an important part of keeping our communities safe. Exercises like this give all levels of our local first responders the opportunity to work alongside one another, understand each agency’s role and strengthen the coordination that is critical when a real emergency occurs.

We appreciate the partnership and commitment of our local emergency responders as we work together to be better prepared when our communities need us most.

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Learn more about apprenticeships through special program

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City of Archie still searching for elusive water leak

City of Archie Water Customers:

The Water Department is still looking for the leak. Anyone using yard sprinklers is asked to please refrain until the leak has been found. Please continue looking for water flowing, or wet areas that usually aren't wet. Thank you for your continued help.

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Eagles take 3rd place in Bronaugh volleyball tournament

Miami JH Volleyball received 3rd Place at the Bronaugh tournament on Saturday, September 5th. Nicely done, ladies!


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Results are in for the Show Us Bates County Photo Contest

After receiving more than 70 photographs from photographers throughout Bates County, our judging panel reviewed 63 eligible entries and selected the following winners:

- First Place: Braylee Haddix

Gravel road off O Highway in Bates County

- Second Place: Sarah Miller

Bates County Courthouse, Butler

- Third Place: Ashlee Decker

County Road 1056, Butler

Honorable Mentions:

Tommi Decker

B Highway Bridge, near Rich Hill

Doneda Swenson

“Morning Snack” | Johnstown, Mo.

Choosing just a few winners from so many stunning photographs was no easy task. Judges reviewed the eligible submissions anonymously and selected photographs based on their ability to capture the beauty and character of Bates County, offer a compelling perspective, demonstrate strong composition and visual appeal, and have potential to work as artwork in our hospital and clinics.

Over the next few weeks, we'll feature each winning photograph and honorable mention, along with more about the photographer and the story behind the image.

And we're not done yet! On October 6, the BCMH Health Fair will give our community a chance to see more of the Show Us Bates County collection and select a People's Choice Award winner from photographs that were not selected for the judges' awards. It's one more opportunity for a Bates County photographer to have their work recognized by the community.

Thank you to everyone who picked up a camera, stepped outside and shared a view of the place we call home. You showed us Bates County beautifully, and we're excited to share more of what you showed us.

Courtesy Bates County Memorial Hospital

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This heat is nuts!

  This squirrel found a shady spot by the 'pool' in the back yard of Ginger Zellmer of rural Butler and she couldn't resist taking this photo. Fortunately, cooler temps will be ushered in later this week with highs in the 80's and reasonably good chances of some rain over the weekend.

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Obituary - Carol Ann Benninger

Carol Ann Benninger, née Walter, passed away on August 21, 2026, in Louisburg, Kansas. She was born on February 7, 1940, in Buffalo, New York, and was raised there, remaining in the Buffalo area for many years before later relocating to the Kansas City area.

Carol graduated from Kensington High School in Buffalo with the class of 1959. On July 22, 1961, she married Gene Benninger, beginning a marriage that would remain an important part of her life. She spent most of her working years as a daycare teacher, a role that suited her well. She loved children and loved her work, and her years in daycare reflected the warmth and care she brought to others each day.

She was also deeply creative. Carol enjoyed sewing, made clothing and dolls, and loved a variety of crafts. She was very crafty, and her talents were an expression of both her patience and imagination. Along with her creativity, she was known as a social butterfly who had tons of friends. Her great sense of humor and kind-hearted nature made her a welcome presence wherever she went.

Carol will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Lois Jackson; her grandchildren, Tricia, Jimmy, Lynnette, Carollynn, and Michael; and by her great grandchildren, Jolee, Sarah, Charlotte, Luke, and Layla. Her family and friends will remember her with affection for the joy, laughter, and kindness she shared throughout her life.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Benninger; her daughter, Sarah McNamara; her brother, Eugene Walter; her father, Albert Walter; and her mother, Lynette Walter.

Carol will be remembered for her kindness, humor, creativity, and the love she gave so freely to children, friends, and family. Her memory will continue to live on in the lives of those who knew and loved her.

A visitation will be held at 1:00 pm, Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Louisburg Baptist Temple, 6961 West 271st Street, Louisburg, Kansas 66053. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 pm.

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