Monthly Archive

Missourians benefit every day from the dedicated energies and countless hours devoted by a group of more than 3,600 men and women in every community across the state. These public servants are elected by local constituents and do not receive compensation for their tireless efforts. These men and women are the local school board members of Missouri.

The Drexel Police Department has been rather busy these past few weeks working on apprehending those responsible for break-ins and thefts within the Drexel city limits.

By SHARON KIESEL
he final list of candidates for the April 6, 2010 election was completed Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at the end of business hours. Several more people have signed up for various offices, including the two open seats on the Bates County Hospital Board. The candidates and offices for which they have filed are as follows:
Bates County
Hospital Board
Five year seat: James Shade
Four year seat: Glenn ‘Rusty’ Hamilton
School Boards -
Two for three year terms

The Drexel First Baptist Church was full for the welcoming of Gracia Burnham, the widow of missionary Martin Burnham. For 17 years Gracia and Martin served with New Tribes Mission in the Philippines where Martin was a jungle pilot. On June 7, 2002, in a firefight between the Philippine military and the Abu Sayyaf Group, Martin was killed. Gracia was wounded, but was freed after 376 days in captivity. On Sunday, Gracia provided reflection on the spiritual truths she learned in the jungle and how they apply to anyone’s life. Berries and Blossoms sponsored the occasion.

Drexel R-IV Student Council is sponsoring a school-wide contest to raise donations for earthquake victims in Haiti. All donations will go to the American Red Cross. Each classroom is competing to see who can raise the most donations. The winners will get a pizza party provided by the Student Council.  The contest is going on now, so please help our Student Council help the American Red Cross with your generous donations! 

By RICHARD HETTINGER
Traveling to Butler on Tuesday, the 19th of January, was much better over head as the weather had improved to a more decent temperature and the fog had lifted. Underneath was a different story as noticed by everyone who parked in the mud caused by the bad weather south of the Butler School.

By RICHARD HETTINGER

Mr. and Mrs. Bob S. Moberly
Bob and Alfreda Moberly, married on January 23, 1960 at the Drexel Baptist Church, celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at Ryan’s Buffet in Independence on Saturday, January 23, 2010.  They enjoyed dining with family and friends and sharing many memories of their life.  A special speech was prepared by their son, Larry Moberly, followed by special music “Danny’s Song” performed by Mona Loy.  A special cake was prepared by grandson Matthew Moberly. 

By HANNAN GRIFF,
Student Journalist
n Saturday, January 16th, the stars chose to collide at the Drexel High School’s annual Winter Formal held at the Drexel Community Center. The doors opened at 7:30 p.m. for pictures, and the dance itself started at 8:00 p.m. and ended at 11:00 p.m. A breakfast was held afterwards in the school’s art room and was sponsored by parents who volunteered to help cook and prepare food. Any student was welcome to come.

Nancy C. Burkitt, 70 of Drexel, passed away January 13, 2010 at Kindred Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.
Nancy was born November 10, 1939 in Clinton, Mo., to Albert Richard and Nellie Myrtle Denny of Coal, Mo.
Visitation was held from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, January 17, 2010 at Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel. A graveside service was at 2 p.m. Monday, January 18, at Sharon Cemetery near Drexel. Memorial contributions in memory of Nancy are suggested to the South Fork Baptist Church or the American Heart Association, and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Verna Sue Coltrin Thomas, 74, longtime resident of Louisburg, Kansas, died Saturday morning, January 16, 2010. Sue, as she was more commonly known, was born to Ted J. and Margery O. Coltrin in Kansas City, MO on February 21, 1935.

By RICHARD HETTINGER
The fog didn’t seem to bother the boys either as they took it to the Mustangs in Belton. Seba got 2 on a fast break and then a three pointer. Cooley a steal and coast to coast for 2 while Hadley hits a three. Bolton made 2 of 2 from the line and Drexel led 12-4 after 3 minutes and 44 seconds. Hadley to Seba for 2, Moles with a steal and then shoots 2 from the line making 1 and the Bobcats lead 18-14 after one.

By RICHARD HETTINGER
On Tuesday, January 12th, the Bobcat teams headed to Sheldon to face the Panthers.

You have heard the gut-wrenching story of her and her husband’s torturous ordeal in the Philippines... now hear for yourself.

On Sunday, January 24th, Berries and Blossoms will be sponsoring a presentation by Gracia Burnham. Gracia Burnham is the widow of missionary Martin Burnham.

Students at Drexel R-IV, and practically all others in the duo-county area, received an extra week away from textbooks, homework, sporting activities and teachers following the end to the Christmas break. Classes resumed on Monday the 11th, with nearly all modes of transportation coming to and from school safely. The snowstorm-after-snowstorm effect kept many rural students from being able to even leave their driveways, let alone a bus making the trek to the necessary pick-up spots. Impassable rural roads due to snow and the extreme low temperatures caused for the district to cancel classes.

Discussion to continue before issuance of a parade ordinance.

By STACY RICE
Managing Editor

The regularly scheduled mobile recycling will be held January 16-17th at the Community Center parking lot from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each of those days.
For a list of accepted materials and those not accepted, and to volunteer to help, please check www.casscountysustainability.com or call 380-8155.

By RICHARD HETTINGER
On January 5th the Bobcats met up with a good bunch of Blue Jays in Montrose. Drexel started out strong with 18 points in the first quarter and 16 in the second. Their downfall was the important quarter after the break as the Blue Jays outscored the local boys 18 to 10. In the fourth quarter, Drexel came back with 14 to Montrose’s 13 but the lead was too much and the Bobcats lost their second game of the season by a close score of 58 to 61. Their record now stands at....
Read the complete story in the January 14th edition.

By RICHARD HETTINGER
On January 5th the Lady Cats fight the snow and the cold to meet up with the three point shooting young Lady Blue Jays of Montrose. Although the Lady Blue Jays are heavily favored in this match, the Lady Cats hang with them and are only down by 6 at the half. The third quarter proved to be the big difference in the game when the locals were outscored by 8. The fourth quarter was more even but Montrose still outscored the Lady Cats 16 to 12 making the final Drexel 40 and Montrose 58.
This brings the Lady Cats’ record for the young season to...

Just because you live in a small town does
not exempt you from criminal behaviors.
Neighbor watching out for neighbor and all
becoming very aware of their surroundings
can help curb the latest string of activity
targeting the Drexel community.
Lock your possessions people!

Article, with few provisions, courtesy of the Current Wave, a newspaper publication, in Eminence, MO.
hanks to the locally founded Parents Against Child Abuse (PACA), Missouri now has a Child Witness Protection Act, which was passed by state legislators in their 2009 session and signed into law by Governor Jay Nixon last summer.

Hello from Finland!
My name is Ilkka Serra. I was an exchange student at Drexel High School with the class of 1973.
Later, I visited Drexel a few times, including during the Centennial. It would be fun to hear from you guys once in a while. Happy New Year! My email address is ilkka.serra@pp.inet.fi
Sincerely, Ilkka, Finland

A state law that went into effect January 1 exempts some Missourians from having to get safety inspections for newer vehicles.
Beginning January 1, motor vehicles are exempt from the safety inspection requirement for the first five years following the model year of manufacture. For example, a car made in 2006 will be exempt from the safety inspection through 2011.

Drexel R-IV is among a total of 319 Missouri school districts – 11 fewer than last year – that have qualified for the state’s “Distinction in Performance” recognition, based on their academic achievement during the last school year (2008-09), state education officials announced last week. 
Of this year’s recipients, 266 are K-12 districts and 53 are K-8 districts. There are 523 public school districts in Missouri, enrolling a total of about 900,000 students.

As we leave 2009 behind, four-month-old Kody David Kasper helps us ring in the
new year with his parents, Tyler and Kellie Kasper, and big brother, Lane, of Drexel.
Kody and The Drexel Star wish all of our readers, advertisers, family and friends
all the best in 2010. Because of you, this hometown newspaper is one
that Drexel and area communities can be proud of.
Kody is the grandson of Ted and Debbie Kasper, Roy and Cheri McCubbin and Terri Whalen.
He is the great grandson of Floyd Pulse, David and Sandy Clayton, and Paul and Glinda Kasper.

Sharolyn Barnhart received a nice after Christmas surprise Monday afternoon. Barnhart was the recipient of the second $1,000 winner in the Christmas Cash Giveaway at Welborn’s Thriftway in Drexel. Originally, she was paid $10 for her punch card, until store clerks took another look. Barnhart had already returned home when she received the phone call explaining the $990 difference! Pictured at right, Jo Peterman, right, presents Sharolyn with her winning check.

The Drexel R-IV Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, December 21, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room at the school. The unapproved minutes of the meeting are as followed: The meeting was called to order by President Christyne Hellebuyck. Members present were: President Christyne Hellebuyck, Vice President Brad Lancaster, Treasurer Kim Hocker, Members Chuck Martin, Ronnie Jacobs, Brenda Hadley and Chris Collins, Superintendent Dr. Judy Stivers, Elementary Principal Jeff Levy, JH/HS Principal Robbie Shepherd and Secretary Linda Moles.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow