Michael Studards, 82 of Butler, Missouri passed away May 9, 2025 at his home in Butler.  Cremation, with no public services scheduled at this time.  Arrangements entrusted to Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009).  Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

 

Michael “Mike” Gordon Studards was born June 30, 1942 in Granite City, Illinois, the son of Clint and Virginia Spriggs Studards.  On January 30, 1966 he was united in marriage to Dolly Cage and from this union two children were born.

Mike worked for years as a Kansas City Metro bus driver, winning four bus rodeos during his career.  His greatest priority in life was his family and loved spending time with them.  He had a love for fishing, hunting, bowling, and playing most any sport.  Mike was a devoted fan of the KC Chiefs and Royals and loved watching the games on TV or in person.

 

Mike was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Dan Studards.  He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dolly Studards, son Gary Studards, daughter Diane Boonstra (Andrew), granddaughter Michaela Stilwell (Robert), grandson Harlan Boonstra, great-grandsons, Michael Boonstra, Andrew Cheek, Liam Boonstra.  He is also survived by his sister-in-law Ilene Allen, and brothers, Tom Studards (Paulette),  John Studards (Marjorie), and Chris Studards.

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Monday Night Bingo at Adrian Optimist Club

 

The Adrian Optimists host Monday Night Bingo weekly from the Optimist Building in Adrian. The doors open at 5pm and offer food and concession selections from the kitchen for you to enjoy.

Bingo starts promptly at 7pm, so grab a friend and head to Adrian every Monday night for an evening of fun and excitement

You must be 16 years old or older to play bingo.

This week’s jackpots for Monday night:  5-19-2025

Hot ball:  800.00

Blackout: 850.00

King of Diamonds will pay:  5480.00

 

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We proudly recognize National Police Week

 

This week, we proudly recognize National Police Week and extend our heartfelt thank you to all of our law enforcement officers—past and present—who serve with dedication, courage, and integrity.

From the officers here locally, to their brothers and sisters in blue across the country: your commitment to protecting your communities does not go unnoticed. We honor your service, your sacrifices, and the difference you make every single day.

Thank you for standing the line. Stay safe and know you are appreciated.

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Prepare for the Upcoming School Year by Getting Your Vaccinations

 

All incoming kindergarteners, 8th graders and 12th graders will need vaccines for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. You won't want to wait until the last minute to get those done, Call Bates County Health Center at 660-679-6108 or walk in Monday-Friday 8:30AM-4:30PM. They are also open the first Thursday of every month until 7PM.

 

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Rich Hill to Host City Wide Clean Up

 Rich Hill's City Wide Clean Up will be the week of May 18th. Your street day will fall on your regular trash day!

ACCEPTABLE ITEMS:

1). Two bulky items (items weighing more than 40 lbs, but less than 100 lbs or exceeding dimensions of 5ft x 4ft)

2). Six bags/boxed or times with maximum weight of 39 lbs per bag/box or item.

3). Car batteries

4). Maximum 5 paint cans (must be dried & open); no sealed paint cans will be accepted- NO EXCEPTIONS

5). Carpet MUST be rolled and tied; each roll counts as one bulky item and may NOT exceed five feet in length or 100 lbs per roll.

6). Four tires with NO side walls; tires with side walls or mounted on wheel will NOT be accepted- NO EXCEPTIONS

If you have any questions, please call City Hall @ 417-395-2223

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City of Harrisonvile City Wide Clean Up Saturday, May 17th

 The City of Harrisonville will once again be using the GFL/WCA facility, located at 22820 MO-291 Highway, as the host for the event. Gates will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

GFL has made a few changes for what items they will accept. Please see below.

GFL will no longer accept electronic waste, bulk construction debris or appliances containing freon. If you are trying to get rid of an item that used to contain freon, a "freon free" sticker will need to be present on the item before it will be accepted.

Harrisonville's Spring City-Wide Clean Up event is coming up Saturday - May 17.

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Hiring at Bates County Industries: Warehouse Manager

 NOW HIRING: WAREHOUSE MANAGER

Start Your Career with Purpose and Impact!

Starting Pay: $17.50/hr

We are looking for a Warehouse Manager to oversee our recycling operations and manage the production floor. This role includes:

• Loading and unloading trucks

• Managing and organizing warehouses

• Overseeing employees with disabilities

• Maintaining a clean and safe work environment

This is a hands-on leadership role with real purpose.

For more information about working hours and other details, please contact:

Devyn Hair — 660-679-3667

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What's Up by LeRoy Cook

 Another String Attached to AIP Money

With the benevolent blue skies prevailing over the midwest last weekend, aviation was definitely encouraged. Aerial application was going full stream over the still-sodden farm fields and numerous practice instrument approaches were being made to the closed Butler airport, including one business jet checking out a new avionics installation.

 Butler Airport was reopened to traffic last weekend, with new LED lighting and other improvements. The cost of operating the new system will be much cheaper and the lights are brighter. Jeff Gorden went flying in the family Beech Bonanza E35 and Chris Hall got one of his Cessna 182s out for a test run. A Cessna Skyhawk and a Skylane RG were in on Saturday. I flew the club Skyhawk out of its temporary base at Nevada, with a side trip to Prairie City, and then we performed a flight review for a friend at Harrisonville, using one of Sky 4’s rental Cessna 150s. On both missions, the advisory frequencies were filled with good-weather radio chatter.

 As if the overly-extended crew aboard the USS Harry S Truman aircraft in the Persian Gulf didn’t have enough bad karma going on, reported on in last week’s column, the ship lost another F/A 18 Hornet on May 4^th, when the go-around procedure from a bad landing didn’t work. The bird went into the sea but the crew ejected and was picked up by the rescue chopper.

 Bad luck and good luck for the Italian Air Force’s Freece Tricolori jet demonstration team. On May 6, the 10-ship formation was flying a show at a Mediterranean island when three of the Aermacchi MB-339’s nudged into each other. The pilots regained control sufficiently to get their planes safely on the ground but with serious damage; one guy broke his leg.

 When the FAA doles out money from the Airport Improvement Program (a.k.a.“trust fund”, although there’s no actual fund and very little trust) using tax money collected from pilots and passengers, it attaches strings to the funds that it can use to yank back the 90% grant it gave. Those grant assurances are to ensure the airport stays open for 20 years and treats all users fairly. There are now 40 stipulations to be kept, the latest being that the airport sponsor can’t ban the sale of leaded avgas until an approved substitute is available, which is still forthcoming.

 Our question from last week was about the origin of the name “Ercoupe” given to the little 1940 sport plane that was built up through the 1950s. It was from the first company producing it, the Engineering and Research Company, or ERCO. For next week, tell us how the Butler runway lights are able to shine at the same brightness despite their location over a two-mile loop of wiring. You can send your answers to [email protected].

 

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Tom Bennett, age 89 of Butler

 Tom Bennett, age 89 of Butler, MO passed away Sunday, May 11, 2025 at the Lee's Summit Medical Center. Funeral services are pending and will be announced by the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel.

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Billy Ward, age 90 of Warsaw

Billy Ray Ward

October 9, 1934 - May 10, 2025

Funeral services for Billy Ray Ward of Warsaw, Missouri will be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 17, 2025 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri.  Visitation prior to services 9 - 10 a.m. at the Schowengerdt Chapel.  Burial in Scott Cemetery, Amsterdam, Missouri. Contributions to American Cancer Society.  Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Billy Ray Ward, age 90 of Warsaw, Missouri died Saturday, May 10, 2025 at St. Joseph Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri.  He was born October 9, 1934 to Virgil Victor and Cleda Thornbrugh Ward in Amsterdam, Missouri.

Billy is survived by his wife, Sue Ward of Warsaw, Missouri; three sons, Gregory Ward and wife Tara of Butler, Missouri, Jeffery Ward and wife Robin of Amoret, Missouri and Michael Ward and fiancé Tammy Hendren of Nevada, Missouri; one daughter, Stephanie Teagarden and husband Matt of Topeka, Kansas; three sisters, Barbara Ward, Karen Brown and Sandy Curnette; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.  Billy was preceded in death by his parents and one son, David Ward. 

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Jake Melton, age 25 of Butler

Jake Melton, 25 year old son of Jason and Amy Melton, passed away of a motorcycle accident in Idaho. Funeral services are pending and will be announced by the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel.

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Narcotics Search And Arrest In Butler

On Friday, May 9^th, 2025 just before 8:30pm the Butler Police Department executed a narcotics search warrant at 410 N. Fulton St. which is the residence of George Lewis.

Upon arrival to the residence, there were 3 people present at the residence. All subjects were detained while Officers executed the search warrant. During the search, Officers located various suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia to include individually bagged suspected methamphetamine alongside a scale. These items were located in the bedroom of George Lewis.

After Officers completed their search, two of the subjects that were detained were then released on scene. George Lewis was transported to the Bates County Jail.

At the time that the Butler Police Department executed the search warrant, George Lewis was out on bond on charges of Delivering a Controlled Substance following a search warrant served by the Bates County Sheriff’s Office on April 2^nd,2025.

Following the search warrant served by the Butler Police Department, George Lewis received the following charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance.

George Lewis is currently in custody with a bond amount of $250,000 Cash Only.

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Martha Beshore, age 96 of Rich Hill

Martha Beshore, 96 of Rich Hill, Missouri passed away Friday, May 9^th, 2025 at Bates County Memorial Hospital.  A visitation will be held 9:30 am to 10:30 am Friday, May 16^th, 2025 at Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009).  Funeral services will follow at 10:30 am Friday, also at the funeral home with burial in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Butler Public Library or Butler Rehab and Healthcare activity fund.  Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

 Martha Lou Beshore was born September 21, 1928 in Rich Hill, Missouri, the daughter of Glen and Cecile Deems Rapps.  She grew up in the Rich Hill area and attended the Mission Branch School and Rich Hill High School graduating in 1946.  Martha was united in Marriage to William “Bill” Beshore, Jr.  As they began life together, Martha would raise their two sons and travel with Bill during his career in the United States Air Force.

Family was always important to Martha, and as her family grew, so did her love for each of them.  Along with her two sons, she welcomed four grandchildren and later five great-grandchildren.

Martha loved to cook, especially for her family and many times at family functions.  She also loved to garden and care for her home.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill Beshore, a sister Glenda McElroy, brother Edward Rapps, and a grandson Benjamin Beshore.  She is survived by her two sons, John Beshore (Michelle), and Randy Beshore (Katie), grandsons, Jason Beshore, Jeff Beshore (Katie), Brett Beshore (Katie), and Will Beshore (Nickie), along with five great-grandchildren.

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The Coop in Butler Missouri

The Coop

Open every day from 6:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Closed Thursdays

Address: 706 W Pine St, Butler, MO 64730

Phone: (660) 539-3612

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Rhyno Tire

Stop by and see Laurie, Jerret and Megan Reno at Rhyno Tire for all your tire needs. They can handle flat repairs, tire pressure sensor issues and even order you a new set of tires!

12 N Orange St, Butler, MO 64730, Butler, MO 660-679-5343

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