Monthly Archive

You are cordially invited to attend the Class of 2009 Graduation Exercises on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Drexel High School, William D. Gordon Gymnasium. Don’t forget the camera and box of tissues!

Well sort of... Mother Nature may have dampened the spirits of the Drexel Elementary students last Friday by not allowing Field Day to be performed outdoors, but staff at the school saw things differently. “Rain, rain, go away” was sung through the halls as teachers and administration created fun activities for the students on their special day. Pictured at right, senior Brittany Page helps a bunch of 1st graders lift the huge parachute as students run back and forth underneath. The fun, yet tiring game, was just one that put a smile on each and every one of the young faces.

Members of the Drexel Community Betterment Corporation (DCBC) met with Craig Arnold, Executive Director of the Cass County Corporation of Economic Development to discuss “Branding Drexel” last Tuesday evening.
What is branding? One definition that fits what this group is working on is as follows: “Selecting and blending tangible and intangible attributes to differentiate the community in an attractive, meaningful and compelling way.”

Gene Allen of Drexel was a recent guest of an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. to visit war memorials in our capital city. The group consisted of thirty-four World War II veterans. Allen was with the 75th Combat Infantry Division in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a platoon sergeant and after the Battle of the Bulge he was sent to the Colmar Pocket in southern France.

On Friday, May 8th, Dorothy Hodges attended a Mother/Daughter party at Vintage Park in Louisburg. Musical entertainment proceeded.
Then on Sunday, May 10th, several enjoyed a Mother’s Day cookout at the home of Marcella Johnston of Drexel. Those present were: Brad, Debbie, Skyler and Tayler Lancaster, Elizabeth Van Meter, Randy Cooley and Dorothy Hodges. Bill and Carolyn Johnston of Harrisonville were visitors in Dorothy’s home Sunday evening.

An early birthday celebration was held at the home of Brad and Debbie Lancaster on Friday, May 8th for Tayler Lancaster, who will be 10 years old on May 13, 2009. All enjoyed a cookout, cake and ice cream. Those attending were: Braylen Johnston, Jenna Eastwood, Kendall Hadley, Taylor Francis, Mikala Harding, Skyler Lancaster, Aerielle West and Dorothy Hodges.

Donald Ross Minks, 81 Drexel, MO, died Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at his home in Drexel, MO.
He was born February 8, 1928, in Montrose, Missouri to Claude and Estella Mae Minks.
Visitation was from 6-8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2009 at the D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Noland Road Chapel 509 S. Noland Rd. Independence, MO 64050. Funeral services were on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 1:00 p.m., also at Noland Road Chapel. Graveside services followed at 4:00 p.m. at the Holsapple Cemetery, Collins, MO.
In lieu of flowers the family suggested donations to the Drexel Public School Foundation Fund.

Pictured above is some of the Drexel Golf Team at the district golf tournament at Clinton Country Club. From left to right is Keifer Shipley, Kody Kaufman, Ashton Raffety, Justin Thomas and Eric Ireland. Kody Kaufman and Justin Thomas both scored a 91 and Keifer Shipley scored a 92 which qualifies them for Missouri State competition at Springfield, MO, Twin Oaks Country Club on May 18 and 19th. Ashton Raffety missed qualification for state by only 5 strokes. The team took third overall. Drexel was one of a couple schools that had a majority of their team qualify for state at districts.

Although the Drexel boys track team is small in numbers, they were able to make a little splash in their conference meet. Austin Allen had a nice time of 18.18 in the 100 M HH and finished 4th. Garrett McLellan and Luke Bartholomew participated in the 100M Dash. Justin Wheeler finished 5th in the 1600M run with a time of 5:40. Alec Young and Luke Bartholomew ran the 400M Dash and Alec finished 4th with a time of 56.99. Tony Otto placed 4th in the shot with a put of 36’8”. Lonnie West also competed in this event.

On Monday night, April 11th, the Spring Athletic Banquet was held in the south gym at Drexel R-IV. A nice meal was had after Ashton Raffety gave the blessing. Ashton, who is generally never lost for words, told me afterwards that he thought he might have stuttered a little.
After the meal all the coaches introduced their teams for basketball, track & field, golf, baseball, softball and the dance team. Katie Hocker and Alec Young received awards for outstanding sportsmanship to begin the ceremonies.

By RICHARD HETTINGER
Wednesday night, May 6th, the Marksmen of Sherwood came to visit. The Bobcats almost put the game away in the first inning when they scored 5 runs. They continued hitting the ball well throughout the evening and scored a nice total of 14 runs while holding Sherwood to 5.
Cody Breuer was the starting pitcher and pitched the first inning. He only faced 4 batters in the inning but the only one that he did not get out unfortunately slammed a home run. He did a fine job only allowing the one run.

By RICHARD HETTINGER
After our Lady Cats mauled the Lady Eagles from Miami last Monday night, the Sherwood game score was similar, only the wrong winner this time.
The Lady Marksmen were true to their name as they were hitting the mark both in batting and pitching last Wednesday evening at our hometown park.
The Lady Bobcats could not get going either at bat or in the field. The Sherwood Ladies held the Lady Cats to only 3 base hits and 2 runs while scoring 17 of their own. Our pitching and fielding were both a little ragged with 15 walks handed out and 7 errors being committed.

Friday, May 1 found Drexel High School students voluntarily “locked in” for eight hours of fun, food and prizes.  
The evening began with a presentation by Sgt. Myers of the Missouri Highway Patrol illustrating the importance of attentive driving, wearing a seat belt, and being substance free. To reinforce that message, Sgt. Myers demonstrated the Convincer, a seat belt simulator.
The rush was on to enjoy the two big games set up in the south gym. The Adrenaline Rush, an inflatable obstacle course, and Gladiator Joust proved popular throughout the night and early morning hours.

The smell of freshly mowed grass, the aroma of backyard barbeque’s, the iris’s and tulips are blooming brightly.... IT’S SPRING! Drexel folks are busy gathering their seed packets and planning their family gardens and kids are frolicking through the dandelions barefoot.... YEA! This past weekend found many enjoying the drip-free weather by taking walks with the dogs and kids.
At right, Samantha Cawby, 9, blew the dandelion seeds just as far as they could go. She and a few other neighborhood buds were glad they could finally play outside! Photo by Stacy Rice

The Drexel Community Betterment Corporation met last Tuesday, April 28th, for their regular monthly meeting. The noon whistle started the meeting with a tasty lunch catered at the Community Center, hosted by AlburtyLab/InnovaPrep. Those present were: Tyler Black, Sue Bush, Carol Pranulis, Craig Arnold, Vic Shipley, Patsy Stewart, Marc Finke, Anita Brown, Jim Welborn, Ken Reece, Patty Dreher, Ward Billings, April Rollins, Jennifer Duncan and AlburtyLab/InnovaPrep staff guests, Pam Murowchick, JoAnn Cawby, Alec Adolphson and Andy Page.

By RICHARD HETTINGER
The Kansas City Royals have nothing on our Drexel Bobcats as we too have a new and improved field for baseball play. This all was made possible by the countless volunteer hours of many as they spent months planning and renovating the previous fields into what they are today, safer and fit for both high school baseball and softball play. After many rain delays and postponements the new and improved baseball field was dedicated Monday evening, May 4, 2009.

Incumbent Kim Hocker and Chris Collins took the oath of Office from Secretary of the Board Linda Moles during last Monday’s Drexel Board of Education meeting. An election was not required in April due to the number of candidates who had filed was equal to the number of positions to be filled.
Collins replaces Vic Shipley and Hocker is entering her second term as Treasurer of the Board.
Courtesy photo

Following the opening Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence, the Drexel School District welcomed a new member and a returning veteran to the Board of Education last Monday night at the regular monthly meeting. A Board Member election was not required in April because at the last date of candidate filing the number of candidates who had filed was equal to the number of positions to be filled. Therefore, during the meeting, Board Secretary Linda Moles administered the oath of office to incumbent Kim Hocker and new member Chris Collins.

The Cass County Public Library Poetic Voices 2009 Poetry Competition was held last Thursday, April 23rd at the Cass County Public Library, Harrisonville Branch. Two are girls competed in the contest.

A crowd of 250 persons gathered at the Cass County Justice Center on Sunday, April 26 to dedicate the Burnt District Monument. The 22-foot chimney of native limestone includes interpretive signs which trace the history of the war on the western border of Missouri.
Speakers included Congressman Ike Skelton who recounted his family connection to the war in which his Confederate ancestors fought. Judge Deanell Tacha, Chair of the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area which includes this region, spoke of the significance of the history to the fight to define freedom.

Friday, April 24th, family members and friends gathered at the home of Brad and Debbie Lancaster for a cook out and early Birthday celebration honoring Skyler Lancaster. Those enjoying the evening together were: Elizabeth Van Meter, Jim and Nancy Lancaster, Curt, Amanda, Brodie and Brooke Lancaster of Louisburg, KS, Bill and Carolyn Johnston and Livia Dunham of Harrisonville, MO, Marcella Johnston, Tayler Lancaster, Jenna Eastwood, Rachel Gilbert, Arielle West, Mikaela Hadley, Randy Cooley, and Dorothy Hodges.

On Tuesday, April 21st the Bobcats and Lady Cats traveled to Archie with the following results from the boys’ coach Dennis Bolton: Austin Allen 3rd in 100M High Hurdles, Lonnie West had a time of 15.8 in the 100M dash; Alec Young 58.15 and Luke Bartholomew 1:14.7 both in the 400M dash; Tony Otto competed in the shot; Lonnie West 96’2” and Cody Hargreaves 80’7” in the disc...
Read the complete story in the April 30th edition.

The Bobcat Baseball Team traveled to Hume to do battle in a Round Robin Tournament last week. On Thursday, April 23rd they matched up with the home team Hornets. Hume has a brother pitching team from the Austin Family. Zach started the game and was relieved by his brother, Ryan. Both are strong pitchers. In fact, Ryan’s pitches have been clocked at 90 m.p.h. and he has signed a letter of intent to pitch for the Pittsburg Gorillas.

Seniors Kenny Beck and Taylor Swezey were crowned as this years’ King and Queen at Drexel Prom last Saturday night. The Promenade was held at 5:30 p.m. at the school with students and their dates traveling to Parkville, MO at 7:00 p.m. for prom festivities. Courtesy photo