Obituary - Charlie Franklin (Frank) Foster Jr.

Charlie Franklin (Frank) Foster Jr. of Harrisonville, Missouri departed this life Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at Sunrise Nursing and Memory Care, Raymore, Missouri surrounded by love and family. 

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri with interment at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Harrisonville, Missouri. 

Visitation will be held 10:00 a.m. - 11: a.m Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri. 

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

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Obituary - Helen Irene Burton

Helen Irene Burton, 93, of Harrisonville, Missouri, a treasured mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend passed away on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at her home surrounded by her loved ones. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 6, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO. Graveside services will immediately follow at approximately 11:15 AM at Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Croix Hospice. Helen was born on September 11, 1933, in Randolph, Nebraska, a daughter of Allen and Arvilla Parrish. She attended grade school in California before moving to Butler, MO, where she completed her education.

In April of 1950, Helen met the love of her life, Clyde Burton, on a blind date at a skating rink. Just seven months after their first date, Clyde and Helen said “I do” on October 17, 1950, in Bentonville, Arkansas. The couple fulfilled their wedding vows until their last breaths. The happy couple had two children; daughter, Cheryl (Burton) Roughton, and son, Kevin Burton. Their family enjoyed annual vacations together where love and laughter were shared and memories were made.

Helen spoke fondly of her close friends and often recalled stories from the memorable moments they had shared together working at Graham’s South Side Drug and locally at the Harrisonville School District.

Helen and her sister, Carol Davis, shared a bond like no other. In Helen’s final years, she and Carol were gifted the opportunity to live together again, just like they had as young girls. During this time, their jar of memories overflowed, always sharing laughs, ornery ideas, and genuine love for one another. Their sisterly bond remained steadfast throughout the many trials and tribulations a life well-lived brings.

Throughout her life, Helen was no stranger to being a caretaker and nurturer to those she loved. Helen‘s favorite nickname was “Grandma,” you could always find her with a great-grandchild sitting in her lap. Her silly, sarcastic demeanor radiated the love and compassion that she had for everyone that she crossed paths with. Her grandchildren fondly remember memories of Helen waving them goodbye on the back porch when they’d leave a visit with her.

Helen was an avid Kansas City Chiefs football fan and loved attending games. The most memorable game that she attended was when she was gifted tickets to a game versus the Raiders for her 80th birthday. Helen was always wearing her Chiefs gear and her wish of being laid to rest in Chiefs apparel will be fulfilled. We would love to see those attending her services wearing Chiefs-themed attire in honor of her love for the team.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Cheryl (Bart) Roughton; sister, Carol Davis; daughter-in-law, Donna Burton; 8 grandchildren: Shatauna (John) Rhoades, Jenna (Michael) Taylor, Bryan Roughton, Erin (Dylan) Smith, Ashley (Chace) Larson, Sarah (Austin Limback) Burton, Rachel (Wyatt) Essary, and Nathan Roughton; along with 19 great-grandchildren; as well as, many other relatives and close friends.

Helen is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Clyde; her son, Kevin Burton; her parents, Allen & Arvilla Parrish; and 5 of her siblings.

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Obituary - Lavonne Thomason

Lavonne Thomason, 89, of Garden City, Missouri, passed away on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Monroe City Manor in Monroe City, MO. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO. Interment in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, MO.

Lavonne entered this world October 10, 1937, on a dairy farm near Topaz, MO, the daughter of Price and Oleta (Nevill) Rogers. She attended Johnson School, a one-room country school, and was a 1956 graduate of Cabool, Missouri, High School. In 1959, she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Education from Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, MO. Lavonne was united marriage to Cliff Thomason on June 25, 1960, and they had lived in Kansas City, Peculiar, and Garden City, MO.

Lavonne enjoyed teaching high school business classes at three different schools in her career, namely Platte City, Sherwood Cass R-8, and Raymore-Peculiar. Lavonne was a member of the church of Christ in Harrisonville, MO.

Lavonne was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her son, Wayne; and two brothers: Allen Rogers and Albert Rogers. Lavonne is survived by a daughter, Rhonda (Dean); four grandchildren: Cole (Meagan), Connor (Destinee), Hunter, and Shelby (Devin); and seven great-grandchildren: Brenden, Karsen Renee, Sophie, Carson Lee, Jace, Rylee, and Adalee.

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Local author's life story helps those facing similar challenges

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'Gas station drugs' now banned in Butler

From the  Butler city council meeting this week

The possession/sale of  non regulated drugs such as Kratom within in the city limits of Butler again came into discussion by the council on Tuesday. Some time back, a resident addressed the council regarding a serious reaction after consuming such a product that was purchased in Butler resulting in hospitalization; a request was made to look into the issue further and consider banning the sale of it along with other associated "gas station" drugs including cannabinoid derivatives, among others.

The council moved forward with an ordinance banning the sale and possession of such, with police chief Jarret Wheatley stating that in his investigation there have been several more reports of bad reactions to the drugs, which again are not regulated by the FDA, and otherwise don't appear to have any medicinal value, in his opinion.

To complicate matters, manufacturers of the drugs often change the name, chemical make up or even a description to elude bans- Wheatley suggested to overcome this issue, the ordinance will ban any derivative thereof such product.

During the discussion, councilman Young asked if a person is in possession of the product that was purchased elsewhere, how would that affect enforcement; Wheatley replied that officers will have full discretion in handling the stop and furthermore, if there is a question about what the substance actually is, it will be sent to a lab for analysis. 

To alleviate confusion, Wheatley reiterated that enforcement of the ordinance is specifically geared towards non FDA regulated drugs and any other drug related matters (marijuana, opiates, etc.) will be handled lawfully as usual.

He added "This needs to stop now. Not five years from now when it's totally out of control."

The ordinance was passed unanimously by the council and Wheatley said a transition to enforcement will begin with officers visiting local outlets that sell the products to explain the ordinance and give retailers time to make the necessary changes.

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A new lease on life coming for old Butler high school

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Missouri hunters harvest 1,633 birds during firearms portion of fall turkey season

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that hunters checked 1,633 turkeys during the firearms portion of Missouri’s fall turkey season, Oct. 1-31. Top harvest counties were Greene with 56 birds harvested, Laclede with 42, and Perry with 42.

For current fall firearms turkey harvest results by county, go online to MDC’s website at extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/

Hunters harvested 1,950 birds during the 2025 fall firearms turkey season. For more harvest results for past seasons, visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/turkey/turkey-reports/turkey-harvest-summaries.

"Temperatures were well above normal across much of Missouri during the first two weekends of the fall firearms season, which likely accounts for some of the drop in harvest,” said MDC Turkey Biologist Nick Oakley. “We also had a very wet spring, which hurts nest success and poult survival, so there are fewer young birds on the landscape this fall.”

Fall archery turkey hunting continues through Nov. 13 and resumes Nov. 25 through Jan. 15, 2027.

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HEART athlete of the week, Harrisonville senior Spencer Truman

Congratulations to this week's HEART athlete of the week, senior Spencer Truman for Cross Country

Coach Bliss said,

"Spencer is not only one of the drum majors for the Royal Regiment, he is also running cross country, or participating in ANY sport, for the first time his senior year. I believe he embodies the HEART award because he gives 100% to not only band and cross country, but he also excels academically. He could have given up or just gone through the motions to get through the season because cross country is not an easy sport, but he works to get better every day, and he WANTS to get better. Spencer is also very encouraging to his teammates on the cross country team and is equally as supportive of his bandmates in the Royal Regiment. Again, I believe he is deserving of the HEART award because of his hard work in the classroom as well as his TWO extracurricular activities he is involved in."

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