Monthly Archive

Mullinax Funeral Home & Cremation Services, based in Drexel, has expanded to serve the community of Butler and surrounding areas. On June 22, 2009, Mullinax Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Butler opened at 24 N. Delaware, which is located on the west side of the historic Butler square.
Greg Mullinax, Drexel resident who owns the funeral homes, said he appreciates the warm welcome he and his staff have received in Butler. The new funeral home will be open daily from Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., or any time by appointment by calling the funeral home at 660-679-0009.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, July 14-15, fifty students from nine school districts in Cass County participated in the Sheriff’s Office Third Annual Youth Camp for DARE students. Students from Drexel, East Lynne, Harrisonville, Midway, Pleasant Hill, Peculiar, Raymore, Strasburg, and Sherwood were chosen to attend the two day camp held in Harrisonville. Students spent the first day meeting new friends from around the county as they were organized in teams. Each team was then lead by high school students from area schools during the team competitions and presentations.

The Missouri State Water Patrol, while investigating numerous thefts tied to fishing tournaments on Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake and Truman Reservoir, has recovered tens of thousands of dollars worth of stolen fishing equipment. Based on investigations of recent thefts, the Water Patrol served a search warrant on July 11, 2009 in Cass County at the Peculiar residence of Keith A. Clark. The Water Patrol was assisted by the Cass County Sheriff’s Department. Clark was taken into custody and a warrant was issued in Cass County on a felony charge for receiving stolen property.

The Drexel R-IV School Board of Education held their regular monthly meeting last Monday, July 20th, in the ITV Conference Room. President Christyne Hellebuyck, Vice President Brad Lancaster, Treasurer Kim Hocker, Members Chuck Martin, Ronnie Jacobs, Brenda Hadley and Chris Collins, Superintendent Dr. Judy Stivers and Secretary Linda Moles were all in attendance. Three visitors were present.
The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of silence.

Richard and Emily Gregg of Ft. Leonardwood, Missouri are the proud parents of a son born July 16, 2009. He has been given the name Austin Dale Gregg. He was born at Columbia Regional in Columbia, Missouri and weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces.
Maternal grandparents are Ron and Bobbi Milam of Liberty Hill, TX. Paternal grandparents are Doug and Lori Gregg of Drexel.

Clara Marie Bauer, age 92, died at home in Drexel, MO, on Thursday, July 23, 2009.
Funeral mass was held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 27, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Louisburg with burial following in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation was Sunday, July 26, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Louisburg Chapel, with the Rosary held at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Edie Bauer Memorial Scholarship Fund. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.penwellgabellouisburg.com.

Alan and Karen Lynn are pleased to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Jessica Jo Lynn, to Michael Fink of Sterling, Kansas. The parents of the groom are Vicki Kimbrough of Amsterdam, Missouri and Roger Fink of Drexel, Missouri.
Jessica is a 2000 graduate of Louisiana High School and a 2007 graduate of Hannibal LaGrange College. She is a registered nurse working at Promise Regional Medical Center in Hutchinson, Kansas.

The H1N1 (swine) flu pandemic is likely to persist as a problem into the coming school year and that means school board members and administrators need to plan now for that possibility. That’s according to Marjorie Cole, a state school nurse consultant with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Drexel R-IV has done just that.
Cole made a presentation on managing a pandemic flu outbreak at the 2009 MSBA Leadership Summit.

Brett and Jessica Napton of Lee’s Summit, Missouri would like to announce the arrival of Cale Evan on July 16th at 3:01 p.m. The young man weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces and was 18 3/4 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Charles and Helen Howard of Jacksonville, NC. Paternal grandparents are Philip and Toreca Napton of Drexel, MO and Linda Napton of Lee’s Summit, MO. Paternal great-grandparents are Eunice and the late Clyde Napton, and Frank and Dorothy LoChiano, all of Drexel, MO. Step-great-grandparents are R. Wayne and Opal Griffin of Trenton, MO.

By RICHARD HETTINGER

On Saturday, July 11, 2009, a fun event for golfers was held at The Hill Sandgreen Golf Course in Drexel. Tee-time was held at 5:00 p.m. sharp for 18 holes of golf at the local course.
Later in the evening, golfers took a break to devour a smoked meat dinner, smoked and prepared by Todd Russell of “Gettin’ Piggy With It.” After the very nice meal, nine holes of night golf, also known as playing glo-ball, began.

The Drexel Medical Clinic will be providing free athletic physicals for Junior High and High School students:
August 4th
3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
For students entering the 7th - 9th grades.
August 5th
3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
For students entering 10th - 12th grades.
PLEASE START AT THE NORTH COMMONS AREA OF THE HIGH SCHOOL TO FILL OUT PAPERWORK, THEN PROCEED TO CLINIC.
**REMINDER**
MSHSAA requires all athletes participating in extra curricular activities to have a current physical on file with the high school.

The noon whistle has seemed to be a thing of the past.... but the City of Drexel is working on it! According to the city, the siren was damaged in the June 15th storm and it has since been repaired. However, the timer is not currently activating the alarm at noon and they are still working on that part. No word on when they will have it up and running again. The siren can be set off manually, if need be, in the event of a storm.

Bob Reighard has retired after 15 years of service with the Public Water Supply District #12, Cass/Bates. He recently received a plaque for his years of dedicated service and commitment. Reighard, who has been with the district since it’s beginning in 1994, accredits his success to all of the Board Members and staff of District 12, including Shelley, “For always being there!” Congratulations Bob!

Ten Drexel youth football players participated in the Kimble Anders’ House of Fundamentals Football Camp last Saturday, July 11, 2009, from 8:00am to 4:00pm at Memorial Stadium in Harrisonville, Missouri.
The unique camp, for ages 6-16, focused on football specific and position specific skills along with speed and agility training.

The Drexel Athletic Department began a Football Fundamentals Camp on Monday, July 13. A good number of boys attended the first day of the camp. The camp will run through this week starting at 6:30 in the evenings. Head Coach Sterling Hudson is working one on one with the boys getting them ready for the 2009 season and the home opener against Cass-Midway on August 28th. Photo by Richard Hettinger

By STACY RICE,
Managing Editor
Fifty years have gone by.....
The aroma of barbeque, the squealing of dirt bikes as they rounded the tight curves, the popsicle smiles of the young, and the sign of patriotism was evident everywhere you looked during the 50th Annual Fireworks in the Park last Saturday in H.T. Smith Park. The weather was talk of many as the drippy clouds parted ways moments before the parade began allowing a cool overcast for park visitors the entire day.

Drexel Lions Club President Sue Wishon, left, recognized five Lions Club members during the Fireworks in the Park celebration Saturday for their dedication and hard work over the years. Each member received an engraved plaque in recognition. Those honored and their years of service were, left to right, Dr. Kenneth Hatten for 39 years of service (1968-2009), Sody Geuy for 52 years of service (1957-2009), Herby Thomas was named Fireworks Master for 53 years of service (1956-2009), and Dr. Charles Marsh was named a Charter Member for his 56 years of service (1953-2009).

Beverly Lambe of Bartow, Florida announces the birth of her first great-grandchild, Kali Lyn Imhoff, also of Bartow. Florida.
Kali weight 5 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19 inches long. The proud parents are Amanda and Josh Imhoff of Bartow, Florida. The proud grandparents are Janell and Ed Russell of Bartow, Florida. Shirley and Frank Fink are the great-great aunt and uncle of Drexel.

Roy Douglas Barker (better known as Bop Bop), 78, Harrisonville, MO, passed away July 6, 2009.
Cremation. A Memorial service was held at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, July 12, 2009 at the Dickey Funeral Home with inurnment in the Freeman Cemetery, Freeman, Missouri.
Family received friends from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, MO.

Richard E. Kesterson, 46, of Linn Valley, KS, passed away July 8, 2009.
Cremation has been accorded with no public services scheduled at this time. Written messages may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfh.com. The family is being assisted by Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel, MO.

Several visitors were present at last Monday nights’ Drexel City Council meeting. Mayor Reece called the meeting to order with all Board of Aldermen present.
Mayor Reece asked for approval of the agenda at which time Alderwoman Sue Wishon asked to discuss the financial statements. The agenda was approved with a 4-0 vote.
Several presentations were given to the council:
John Southard of CPSK Insurance gave an overview of the city’s insurance property insurance plan. There were questions by both the council and the citizens regarding specific coverage’s on the policy.

The Drexel Varsity Cheerleading Squad has returned from NCA Summer Camp held at Northwest Missouri State College in Maryville, Missouri. Their summer camp experience began with a sleep over to start team building at captain, Ellen Shannon’s home. The following day the team traveled to Maryville. The girls spent four days learning new cheers, chants, and a dance. They also received training on stunting and jumps. Each evening they reflected on their day’s experiences and continued on team building activities.

Charles (Chuck) Huppe, Drexel, MO, departed this life Friday, July 2, 2009 at his home. He was born on November 16, 1930 in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Joseph Augustine and Isabelle Gertrude (Shaffer) Huppe.
Funeral mass was held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Harrisonville. Graveside service was held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Kansas City. Family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Our Lady of Lourdes Building Fund.

By STACY RICE
Sitting at the Coffee Club table at the Drexel Pharmacy a kind-hearted gentleman, Herbie Thomas, flips through hundreds of drawings.
The drawings don’t mean much to you or I, but to Thomas they are 50 years of labor in the construction of the most notable fireworks display in the county.

By STACY RICE
The City of Drexel and the Drexel Lions Club have teamed up to offer another 4th of July filled with fun and games for the entire family.
This years’ event will be bigger than years prior.... it’s the 50th!

By SHARON KIESEL
A Drexel woman was injured in a single vehicle accident in Cass County, Tuesday, June 23, 2009. The accident occurred at 1:50 p.m., on Route D, five miles north of Drexel, between 323rd and 327th St.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Nicole J. Jones, 21, of Drexel was traveling south in a 1990 Dodge Dynasty, when the vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway. The driver over-corrected and the vehicle returned to the roadway and then slid off the left side of the road and overturned, ejecting the driver.

In what has been an incredibly active and wet pattern during the past two weeks, according to the National Weather Service, yet another round of severe thunderstorms brought torrential rainfall and wind damage to the area. Late last Monday afternoon, large supercell thunderstorms developed across portions of central Kansas and began to lift northeastward towards eastern Kansas and
western Missouri. As these storms moved east, they began to merge into a large cluster of storms called a “Mesoscale Convective System” or MCS. These storms were able to interact with a highly unstable

The Board of Aldermen of the City of Drexel, Missouri met in Special Session to discuss Water System Improvements at City Hall on June 12, 2009. A quorum was established with all Board of Aldermen in attendance; twenty-five visitors were present.

Hawthorn Bank of Drexel held it’s first Shred Fest on Saturday, June 13th shredding onsite over 1,400 pounds of documents for customers and noncustomers alike. In this day of identity theft, proper disposal of personal records such as old tax returns, medical and credit card information is very important. Hawthorn Bank plans to offer this service to Drexel area residents by making this an annual event. Along with the shredding service, the employees served hotdogs, chips and sodas with all donations going to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life Walk.

Dale and Jo Pippin of Amoret, MO and Rusty and Lisa Loe of Drexel, MO are proud to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their children, Jamie Jo Pippin to Derek Royce Loe. The wedding will be held on June 27th at the Double Branch Christian Church in Butler, MO. Jamie is employed at DSWA Certified Public Accountants, P.C. in Butler, MO as a staff accountant. Derek is employed with A & M Carpet in Olathe, KS. Jamie is the granddaughter of Junior and Dorothy Payne and the late Kenneth and Erma Pippin.

Gov. Jay Nixon has directed that 12 Missouri law enforcement agencies that did not comply with the reporting requirements of the state’s law on traffic stop reporting be ineligible to receive state funding. The agencies were listed as being non-compliant in the annual Missouri Vehicle Stop report issued June 1 by Attorney General Chris Koster.

Story and photos by
STACY RICE
The sounds of chain saws filled the summer air as residents in Drexel began the clean up early Tuesday morning of downed tree limbs and debris following the devastating storms that moved through the area late Monday night.
The destructive storm brought straight line winds, heavy rain and hail, resulting in a trail of downed power lines, uprooted trees, crumpled vehicles, and heavy damage to many homes and businesses.

Glen Duane (Threa Feather) Feighner, Jr., 81, passed away Saturday, June 13, 2009. He was born August 17, 1927.
Funeral services were at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at the home of Desiree and Justin Garcia, 2651 W. 375th St., Louisburg, KS, 66053. Friends called from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the home. Burial with military honors followed in the Louisburg cemetery, Louisburg, Kan.