On Sunday, July 6, 2025, the Rich Hill Fire Department was dispatched to the 100 block of West Oak for a residential structure fire. Upon arrival there was heavy fire in the kitchen & living room area. The Rich Hill Fire Department was able to quickly knock down the flames. No injuries were reported with this incident. Butler Fire, Bates County EMS as well as the Bates County Sheriff's Office assisted. The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time.
What's Up
by LeRoy Cook
7-7-2025
Suggested Banner: Bad Influence
As with most holiday weekends, flying weather had its
moments over the Independence Day break. Rain showers could pop up anytime in
the unstable air, and they did—not all bad, firefighters would agree. Anyway,
before the frontal disturbance came through there was considerable flying done.
Among rhe week’s visitors were a Piper Warrior, a Cirrus
SR-type and a Cessna Skylane, plus a Tecnam trainer from Olathe. Randy Shannon
hopped over from Drexel in his Zenith CH-750SD. Locally, Randy and Betti Miller
took the club Skyhawk out, then I flew it up to Pleasant Hill, and I also
exercised the old 1946 Aeronca Champ. Instructor Delaney Rindall reports 15
hours of flight training done this past week.
Upcoming this weekend is the big Tarkio, MO airshow, up in
the northwest corner of the state. Congressman Sam Graves and his friends
always put on an impressive celebration of aviation. The NOTAM is effective at
5:30 Friday afternoon and stays on through Saturday; check for field closing
times.
A 19-year-old “influencer” got himself in hot water this
week while attempting to fly to all seven continents. Wanting to collect clicks
for his podcast, the young American departed on a flight plan out of Punta
Arenas, Chile, but took an unauthorized side trip to land at Chile’s base in
Antarctica, which is forbidden. He’s cooling his heels in a Chilean jail for
his stunt.
The U.S. Air Force is attempting to retire all of its A-10
“Warthog” Thunderbolt II tank-killer airplanes next year, allocating $57
million to “decommission” all 162 of them. That equates to about a third of a
million to put each A-10 out to pasture, with their ground-support role being
assumed, in a very expensive and less capable manner, by F-15 and F-35 jet
fighters. Nothing else does what the old flying dump truck does.
Yet again, an expedition is being mounted to locate Amelia
Earhart’s Lockheed Electra, lost in 1937 while she was making her last
publicity-seeking flight, a trip around the world. Her disappearance in the
vast Pacific has been the subject to much speculation over nine decades. Now, a
bunch says they’ve located something that could be her plane via satellite
imagery near the island of Nikumaroro. They’ll be going looking for it next
year. We’ll await results with breathless anticipation, one more time.
The question from last week’s
column was “what planes were built at the dual-purpose Fairfax car plant in the
1950s?” Not to be confused with the B-25 bombers built there during World War
II, they were Republic F-84F jet fighters, assembled on the ground floor while
Buick-Oldsmobile-Pontiac cars were built on the upper deck. For next time, all
runways served by an instrument approach are required to have a set of white
threshold stripes painted on them. How many are in each set at Butler airport?
You can send your answers to [email protected].
Wilma Walley, 93 of
Amsterdam, Missouri passed away Saturday, July 5, 2025 at her home in
Amsterdam. A visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am Wednesday,
July 9, 2025 at Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel (816-657-4400).
Funeral services will follow at 11:00 am Wednesday, also at the chapel.
Burial will take place in Scott Cemetery, Amsterdam, MO. Memorial
contributions may be made in Wilma's memory to Scott Cemetery. Messages
of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
Wilma was born on
September 20, 1931, at the Champlin home North of Vinton Ford, Bates County,
Missouri to F. Dean Champlin and Thelma I. Erickson Champlin. She graduated
Salutatorian from Drexel High School on May 12, 1949. Wilma married C. Dowane
Walley, Jr. On February 27, 1950. In 1996 Wilma received the 4-H Ruby Clover
Award with 30 years of service. She worked for Bass Buster Lures in Amsterdam
for 20 years, and was a faithful member of the Amsterdam Baptist Church.
Wilma was preceded in
death by her parents, stillborn son Douglas, husband Dowane Walley in 1986, son
David Walley in 2018, granddaughter Marcie West in 2020, dear friend Deanie
Jackson in 2019, two sisters Juanita Dyer and Opal Taylor, and one brother Dale
Champlin.
Wilma is survived by
daughters, Frances I. Walley-Brown of Harrisonville, MO. and Peggy Walley of
Amsterdam, MO., daughter-In-law Carroll A. Walley, grandson Jeff & Shannon
Kash and Jackson
granddaughter Kim & Mike Jones and their children, Kyle, Madison, and Isabelle, granddaughter Lori & Patrick Harriman and their children, Morgan, Stanley and Taylor, grandson-In-law Grant West and children, Colin, Ethan and Khloe, granddaughter Tamar & Marc Jackson and children, Kirk and Klyde, step-grandson Jimmy & Kim McLay and family, step-granddaughter Michelle & Bobby Brewer and family, twin Sister Vena Purkey, sisters Ellen Hartman and Patricia Highfill, and brothers Stephen Champlin and Martin Champlin
Chuck Lawrence,
82 of Cleveland, Missouri passed away July 2, 2025 at Overland Park Regional
Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas. A
visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Saturday, July 12, 2025 at
the First Baptist Church of Stilwell, 19950 Broadmoor Ln, Stilwell, KS 66085. Memorial services will follow at 12:30 pm
Saturday, July 12th, also at the church. Services under the direction of Mullinax
Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel (816-657-4400).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to
the USD 368 Endowment. Checks can be made out to USD #368 Endowment Association
or by clicking on the following link: http://bit.ly/Endowment-Donations. Messages of condolence may be left for the
family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
Charles (Chuck)
LeRoy Lawrence was born Oct. 2. 1942 in Kansas City, MO. He was the fifth child
and only son born to Ethel and Otis Lawrence. This meant he was spoiled rotten
and constantly fussed over by his ever-adoring sisters.
He and his family
moved to Stilwell, Kansas in 1955. Here his love for country life and athletics
emerged, and he spent time riding horses and playing football, basketball, and
baseball. Chuck graduated from Stilwell High School in 1960. A scholarship took
him to Ft. Scott Community College for football and basketball, but
homesickness brought him back home. His cure for that was to join the US Army.
He was shipped to Germany after basic training where he spent his days as a
clerk typist in the 79th HQ company.
Upon discharge,
he married Rita Boehm, and with her established a home in Hillsdale with their
sons Greg and Keith. He and his second wife, Marilyn Slawson, and their
daughters, Heather and Lacy, lived in Stilwell. His cowboy lifestyle is
probably part of the reason he was too independent for marriage. He never
enjoyed sitting still and staying in, and even in the last weeks of his life,
he could be found golfing with friends and attending softball games of his
youngest grandchild.
Chuck worked as a
carpenter, a car salesman, a courier, and found his greatest success in
collections. His true calling was in managing people, and he loved his
employees like family. After he retired, he even did a stint as an Uber driver.
He loved going to
Arizona during the winters, but eventually moved back to Stilwell to live with
his sister Barb and her husband, Chuck. This put him in closer proximity to the
grandkids and their sporting activities. He spent a lot of his time coaching and
critiquing from a bleacher seat or folding chair.
Chuck lived life
big. He loved life, and he loved people. He couldn’t resist a deal, even if
that deal was slightly questionable, and he loved a good bet. He’d give the
shirt right off his back and the $100 bills in his wallet to anyone who needed
them, including his mom when aunt Bobby wasn’t looking.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Shirley, Maxine and Geraldine (Tutty) and son Keith. He is survived by his sisters Barbara and Sue, son Greg Lawrence, daughter Heather Lawrence-Kauk (Mike), daughter Lacy Ohlmeier (Curt), grandchildren Chaz and Casin Lawrence, Maggie, Carter, Stella, and Delaney Kauk, Josie (Cody Gabriel) and Lucas Cummings, Rebecka Jensen (Michael) and Blake Ohlmeier, great-grandsons Bridger and Lawson Jensen, and many nieces and nephews.
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Stronger Together: What BCMH Learned from Its Summer Community Talks
Date: Jul 07, 2025
The Parks Department will be spraying weeds at Hodges Park, North Main Park, and the Little League ballfields off Butcher Road, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, weather permitting. The playground equipment will be closed on Wednesday, 7/9, at 8:00am and will reopen again on Friday, 7/11, at 8:00am. This will allow the spray to work and dry up before anyone gets back on the equipment. Thank you for your patience as we strive to make the playground area better for the community.
Funeral services for Edward "Ed" Eugene Ortstadt of Adrian, Missouri will be 10 a.m. Thursday, July 10, 2025 at the Adrian United Methodist Church in Adrian. Visitation will be from 5 - 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 9 at the Adrian United Methodist Church. Burial in Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian. Contributions to Adrian United Methodist Church or Adrian Lions Club. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.
Edward “Ed” Eugene Ortstadt, age 86 of Adrian, Missouri died Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at Baptist Homes in Adrian. He was born February 19, 1939 to Arthur Leon Ortstadt Sr. and Ruth Ann Bruner Ortstadt in Kansas City, Kansas.
Edward is survived by his wife, Patti Ortstadt of Adrian, Missouri; four daughters, Jacque Underwood and husband Mike of Adrian, Missouri, Cyndee Byous of Eureka, Missouri, Debra Smith and husband Chuck of Presque Isle, Michigan and Susan McMillan and husband David of Adrian, Missouri; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
On 07-02-25, just after 5 a.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of East Pearl St for a burglary in progress. The 911 caller advised someone had entered their residence and then left. The suspect stole the neighbor's vehicle and drove away from the area. Harrisonville officers intercepted the stolen vehicle and a pursuit ensued. Tire deflation devices were successfully deployed, and the vehicle was stopped with the assistance of the Cass County Sheriffs Office near Cass Regional Medical Center.
Curry Joseph “Joe” Massey, 41, of Yukon, Oklahoma, passed away June 30th 2025. A visitation will be held Sunday, July 6th, 2025 from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm at Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 am, Monday, July 7th, 2025 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Butler, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Joe’s memory to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
His passion for
agriculture and livestock judging led him to Hutchinson Community College,
where he competed on the livestock judging team. That path brought him to
Oklahoma State University—an experience that not only solidified his love for
agriculture but also ignited a lifelong devotion to the OSU Cowboys. He earned
his degree in Animal Science from OSU and remained a proud Cowboy fan for the
rest of his life. After graduation, Joe began his professional career with the
United States Department of Agriculture, working as a cattle market news
reporter. His career took him to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, then Springfield,
Illinois, before he eventually made his way to Amarillo, Texas. From there, he
landed his dream job at the Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City—a
role he loved and truly excelled in. Joe had a larger-than-life personality and
could tell a story better than just about anyone—whether the tale was
completely true or had just a touch of exaggeration for dramatic effect. He had
a genuine gift for conversation and never hesitated to pick up the phone for a
long chat.
Joe loved to
travel and was fortunate to experience the beauty and culture of Ireland,
Greece, and Italy. He also enjoyed golfing with friends, cheering on the OSU
Cowboys, and spending time with the people he loved.
The Amsterdam Jubilee is set for September 27th. ! You or your business can be the main sponsor for the 2025 Jubilee t-shirt.
Bidding opens on June 27, 2025, and closes on August 1, 2025. The starting bid is 500.00.
If you can't be the main sponsor but still want to see your name/business in print, you still can.
Amsterdam Jubilee T-Shirt sponsor spots are available to purchase for 30.00, and the committee will be selling them until August 1, 2025.
Contact Rob Vunovich 660 200 6027.
After months of investigation and coordination, authorities have successfully apprehended Steven Michael Cope Jr., a wanted fugitive, in the Raytown area on June 30.
Cope Jr. had
been sought by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office on multiple felony warrants
and was considered a flight risk. The arrest marks a major development in what
officials describe as a lengthy and methodical search effort.
He was
wanted on the following charges:
Class D
Felony – Tampering with Electronic Monitoring Equipment (Bond set at $75,000
cash-only)
Class D
Felony – Endangering the Welfare of a Child Creating a Substantial Risk – 1st
Degree – 1st Offense (No bond)
Henry County
deputies, working alongside regional law enforcement partners, were able to
locate and arrest Cope Jr. without incident.
Cope Jr. is
currently in custody as the legal process moves forward.
On Monday, June 30, 2025, the Vernon County Sheriff's Office and the Nevada Police Department executed a narcotics search warrant in northwest Vernon County as part of an ongoing investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine.
During the
operation, law enforcement took three subjects into custody. Law enforcement
seized methamphetamine and related paraphernalia from the residence.
All three
individuals were transported to the Vernon County Jail for holding. A request
for the filing of formal charges will be submitted to the Vernon County
Prosecutor’s Office for review.
The Vernon
County Sheriff’s office states that they remain committed to keeping
communities safe and holding those involved in the distribution of illegal
drugs accountable.
On Saturday, June 28, 2025, just before 10 a.m., Cass County deputies began pursuing a vehicle that was confirmed to have a stolen license plate, as it headed northbound on I-49 in Belton.
Moments
later, after driving at a high rate of speed, the driver pulled over in
Grandview.
The driver
complied with commands from deputies to exit the vehicle and was taken into
custody.
Dispatchers
confirmed the license plate was stolen out of Kansas City and the vehicle came
back as stolen out of Gladstone.
It was also
later confirmed that the vehicle was a different color before it was taken.
Deputies
conducted a search of the vehicle and located a loaded Glock 22C .40 Cal
handgun under the front passenger seat.
Additionally,
deputies located a 50-round drum magazine in the passenger seat floorboard.
The suspect
has been identified as 29-year-old Verdell Mays Jr. of Kansas City.
He’s been
charged with three felonies:
1.
Unlawful
Possession Of A Firearm - Dangerous Felon/Prior Conviction,
2.
Aggravated
Fleeing A Stop Or Detention, and
3.
Tampering
With A Motor Vehicle.
Mays also
faces a misdemeanor charge for Operating a Motor Vehicle in an Imprudent
Manner.
🎭 Large Cast & Crew Needed! 🎭
ACT’s fall production of A Candle in the Window is calling YOU!
We’re seeking a large cast and crew to bring this heartwarming holiday tale to life. Whether you love the spotlight or prefer working behind the scenes, there’s a role for everyone!
✨ All casting and audition info:
👉 https://us.cast98.com/shows/a-candle-in-the-window-2025-actadrian
📍Be part of something special this season with the ACT family!
COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
On Sunday, July 6, 2025, the Rich Hill Fire Department was dispatched to the 100 block of West Oak for a residential structure fire. Upon ...
