The Spring River Current: Issue #28, December 16, 2016

December 16, 2016 

The Newspaper for the Community with News About the Community 

Issue #28 December 16, 2016 

~ Friday Dec 16th ~ 

• Go by CBT in Riverton 

and tell Royce congrats! 

11 am to 1 pm. 

• Basketball: RHS vs 

St. Paul; QHS @ Welch 

Tourn. 

• Last day of School for 

Christmas Break Baxter 

K-6 dismissed at Noon. 

• Last day of School for 

Christmas Break Quapaw 

dismisses at 2 pm. 

~ Saturday Dec 17th ~ 

• QHS @ Welch Tourn. 

~ Sunday Dec 18th ~ 

• There’s plenty of room 

on the back pew, and a 

lot of churches looking 

for members, feel free to 

drop in and see what you 

can learn. 

~ Monday Dec 19th ~ 

• Those poor Riverton 

Kids are still in school. 

Riv. Elem Christmas 

Program at 6:30. 

~ Tuesday Dec 20th ~ 

• Riverton is out for 

Christmas. 

~ Wednesday Dec 21th ~ 

• Official First Day of 

Winter. 

~ Thursday Dec 14th ~ 

• BHS Boys at Diamond. 

• Members Only returns 

to Legends Sports Bar 

at Downstream Casino, 

Free Concert at 8 pm. 

~ Friday Dec 15th ~ 

• USD 508 dismissed at 

Noon for Christmas. 

• Quapaw last day before 

Christmas Break. 

• Quapaw Elem. Winter 

Party at 1:30 pm. 

• Quapaw Elem. AR 2nd 

9 Weeks deadline. 

• RHS at St. Paul. 

~ Saturday Dec 24th ~ 

• Christmas Eve 

~ Sunday Dec 25th ~ 

• Christmas Day 

Staff Reports 

Riverton - Royce Donaldson 

has spent 39 years in the banking 

business. It all started on 

June 13, 1977 when Bill Poteet 

hired her to work as a teller at 

Citizens State Bank of Galena. 

Royce has held many different 

positions within the bank, including 

teller, proof operator, 

bookkeeper, assistant cashier, 

loan officer & has also served 

on the Board of Directors. 

In late 1990, the bank decided 

to open a branch in Riverton, 

Kansas. On February 6, 

1991, Royce was selected to 

manage the new branch location 

of Citizens State Bank 

in Galena. She was promoted 

to Assistant Vice President. 

Columbus (Coffeyville Community 

College) - Kenyon 

Clark, a Riverton High School 

junior, attends classes at the 

Baxter Springs welding site 

offered by Coffeyville Community 

College, Columbus 

Tech Campus. Kenyon is the 

first student attending the new 

program to earn a 6G pipe 

welding certification. Students 

from the program are tested by 

an AWS certified welding inspector. 

Students’ welds must 

meet the acceptance criteria of 

Section IX of the Boiler Pressure 

Vessel Code in order to 

certify. 

High school juniors and seniors 

from Baxter Springs, 

Galena, and Riverton High 

Schools attend the welding 

program in Baxter Springs, 

overseen by the Columbus 

Technical Campus of Coffeyville 

Community College. 

Published Weekly on Friday. Issue Price FREE AGAIN! Per Copy 

USD 404 Student First to Earn Welding Certificate in New Program 

Students have the opportunity 

to enroll in dual credit classes, 

earning both high school 

and college credit. Tuition is 

free to high schools students 

through Senate Bill 155. Students 

receive training in four 

different welding processes: 

(SMAW) Shield Metal 

Arc Welding, (GMAW) Gas 

Metal Arc Welding, (FCAW) 

Flux Cored Arc Welding and 

(GTAW) Gas Tungsten Arc 

Welding. Students also earn 

their OSHA 10 outreach training 

card. 

Kenyon traveled to the CCC 

Columbus Technical Campus 

welding facility to take 

his first of four welding bend 

tests, successfully passing his 

SMAW Certification on December 

2. Todd Madl, Columbus 

Technical Campus Welding 

Instructor, and Certified 

Welding Inspector, administered 

the testing and verified 

the bend test. 

Madl states, “At CCC, students 

are taught to weld in 

industry. Meeting the criteria 

of the AWS structural welding 

codes and the ASME power 

and process pipe welding 

codes is what these kids must 

learn to do to pass our classes. 

I think our programs are a 

great opportunity for area students 

to take advantage of!“ 

Gale Hess, Baxter site welding 

instructor says, “It was 

exciting and rewarding as an 

instructor to see Kenyon progress 

to the point to where his 

skill level advanced to where 

he could pass the pipe certification.” 

Kenyon states, “The test was 

hard. You can’t go in unprepared. 

You can’t slack off at all 

and you have to concentrate. 

You can’t mess around.” This 

Donaldson Retires after 39 years at Riverton Bank 

Since that time, Royce has 

spent countless hours helping 

build that branch into the little 

powerhouse it is today. 

Part of the personal investment 

by Royce has been 

countless hours working on 

community events such as the 

“Riverton Parade Committee” 

for the last 23 years; several 

years ago, Royce decided to 

have the branch start the annual 

“Cookies for a Cause” 

project. The employees bake 

cookies every Friday starting 

the first of November and let 

the community become involved 

by making donations 

for a bag of cookies. The great 

people of Riverton have been 

very generous and the money 

is then given to the Christmas 

Angels Project put together by 

the local school district. If you 

live in or around Riverton, it’s 

impossible not to know the impact 

that Royce has had on this 

small community and the surrounding 

residents. Royce currently 

serves as the treasurer 

on the Board for Spring Riverton 

Mental Health & Wellness. 

On March 4, 2003, Royce’s 

branch was merged into Community 

Bank & Trust where 

it still remains today. Royce 

is the face of banking in this 

small community. Her branch 

has continuously been at the 

top among all CBT locations 

Student’s Ring Bells for Salvation Army 

Joplin MO. - Riverton’s 

Future Educators of America 

Chapter (FEA) were honored 

to ring bells this Christmas 

season for the Salvation 

Army. 15 students, along with 

two sponsors, spent Tuesday 

morning at West 7th Wal-Mart 

and Wal-Mart on Range Line 

in Joplin. They served at the 

main entrance doors, passed 

out suckers to the smaller 

children entering the store, and 

sang some Christmas Carols 

for the enjoyment of all. 

when it comes to loans. It’s 

safe to say that people trust 

Royce with their financial futures 

and that she will be dearly 

missed. 

Community Bank & Trust 

will host a Retirement Reception, 

at the Riverton Branch, 

in honor of Royce’s dedicated 

service to all of her wonderful 

customers TODAY, from 

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Everyone 

is welcome to stop by, 

share old stories, say goodbye 

and wish Royce a wonderful 

retirement! 

For more information, please 

contact Community Bank & 

Trust- Riverton Branch at 

(620)848-3200. 

Pictured with Kenyon Clark, right, is Baxter Springs welding instructor Gale 

Hess. Photo courtesy of Coffeyville Community College. 

Bob Page Auto Supply Closes Down 

is Kenyon’s first time to weld 

on pipe. He will continue his 

training to earn the three additional 

welding certifications 

upon graduation from high 

school. 

USD 508 

6th Grade 

Students 

Random Acts 

of Kindness 

Baxter Springs - Mrs. Casi 

Shaw’s 6th grade class has 

been participating in random 

acts of kindness this month. 

They had their finale 

Wednesday by taking food to 

the Food Pantry, goodie boxes 

and a singing to the Police 

Department and performing a 

few skits for the 3rd Graders, 

while they were gifted with a 

book from the Baxter Springs 

Kiwanis. 

So far this month the students 

have taken out trash, 

given compliments, “candy 

caned” cars and have practiced 

Kindess all month. 

For those who don’t know 

the red kettles of the Salvation 

Army raise millions of dollars 

for their programs that provide 

food, shelter, rehabilitation, 

disaster relief and much more 

for people and families in 

crisis. Last year they raised 

more than $144 million 

nationwide. 

If you or your group are 

interested in “Ringing” you 

can register to do so at www. 

registertoring.com. 

The inventory of the Bob Page Auto Supply being boxed up and packed out on a semi trailer. 

By Dustin Andrews 

Baxter Springs - Bob Page 

Auto Supply closed their doors 

effective December 14th. 

A note from their facebook 

page and one that was sent 

out to customers read “As of 

December 14, 2016 the Page 

family has decided to close the 

doors after serving the community 

for 62 strong years. We 

would like to think all of our 

customers, family members, 

friends, former employees 

that have been through all the 

times with us. We are sorry for 

not being able to keep the local 

family business open. 

Thank you for all of your 

business that you kept local. 

Thank you, 

The Page Family” 

From those of us in town that 

frequented their business - 

Thank you for your time and 

for having a business in Baxter 

Springs. 

If you are on facebook, you 

can join the multitude of locals 

who are expressing their 

regrets to the news and well 

wishes to the Page’s in their 

future endeavors.

Page 2 - December 16, 2016 

Accepting gently used clean furniture. 

County Sheriff Jail Roster 

Inmates booked into the Detention 

Center within the last 24 hours, as of 

12/8. 

Brittle, Quentin D; Booking #: 

2016-01441; Booking Date: 12-08- 

2016 - 3:13 am; Charges: DUI; MIS- 

DEMEANOR; COURT COST: BAX- 

TER SPRINGS KS; Bond: $2595 

Hancock, Kevin W; Booking #: 

2016-01440; Booking Date: 12- 

07-2016 - 10:34 pm; Charges: DO- 

MESTIC BATTERY; KNOWING/ 

RECKLESS BODILY HARM; Bond: 

$2500.00 

Metcalf, Benjamin S; Booking #: 

2016-01439; Release Date: 12-08- 

2016 - 1:16 am; Booking Date: 12-07- 

2016 - 4:50 pm; Charges: POSSESS 

OPIATES/OPIUM/NARC DRUG 

AND CERTAIN STIM; INTERFER- 

ENCE WITH LEO; OBSTRUCT/ 

RESIST FELONY; USE OR POSS 

PARAPH W/INT TO CULTIVATE 

CONT SUBS; Bond: $7500 

Rader, Jeremy D; Booking #: 2016- 

01438; Booking Date: 12-07-2016 

- 12:43 pm; Charges: CRIMINAL 

RESTRAINT; CRIMINAL THREAT; 

UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCE; 

Bond: $1500 

Cassiday, Cameron L; Booking #: 


2016 - 8:55 am; Charges: JAIL CON- 

TRACT BED; HELD FOR ANOTH- 

ER JURISDICTION; Bond: No bond 

Lowe, Gregory A; Booking #: 2016- 

01436; Booking Date: 12-07-2016 - 

8:55 am; Charges: JAIL CONTRACT 

BED; HELD FOR ANOTHER JU- 

RISDICTION; Bond: No bond 

Martin, Michael L; Booking #: 


2016 - 8:00 am; Charges: COURT 

ORDERED COMMITMENT; Bond: 

No bond 

Inmates released from the Detention 

Center within the last 24 hours, 12/8. 

Metcalf, Benjamin S; Booking #: 





AND CERTAIN STIM; INTERFER- 

ENCE WITH LEO; OBSTRUCT/ 

RESIST FELONY; USE OR POSS 

PARAPH W/INT TO CULTIVATE 

CONT SUBS; Bond: $7500 

Kinslow, Leigha M; Booking #: 


2016 - 4:16 pm; Booking Date: 11-03- 



AND CERTAIN STIM; POSSES- 

SION OF CERTAIN HALLUCINO- 

GENIC DRUGS; USE/POSS DRUG 

PARAPHERNALIA/HUMAN 

BODY; USE OR POSS PARAPH W/ 

INT TO CULTIVATE CONT SUBS; 

POSSESSION OF CERTAIN DE- 

PRESSANTS; AGG ENDANGER- 

ING A CHILD; RECKLESS ; 

Bond: $15000 

Malone, Ashton B; Booking #: 


2016 - 9:16 am; Booking Date: 12- 

02-2016 - 8:48 am; Charges: JAIL 

CONTRACT BED; HELD FOR AN- 

OTHER JURISDICTION; Bond: No 

bond 

Smith, Tanner A; Booking #: 2016- 

01386; Release Date: 12-07-2016 - 

9:16 am; Booking Date: 11-23-2016 - 




Comstock, Jerry A; Booking #: 






bond 



12/9. 

Perryman, Ira J; Booking #: 2016- 


12:17 am; Booking Date: 12-08-2016 

- 8:20 pm; Charges: DOMESTIC 

BATTERY; KNOWING/RECKLESS 

BODILY HARM; COURT COST: 

BAXTER SPRINGS KS; Bond: 

$2595 

Sargent, Deana M; Booking #: 2016- 


8:20 pm; Charges: DOMESTIC BAT- 

TERY; KNOWING CAUSE PHYS 

CONTACT 2ND; Bond: $3500.00 

Imbeau, Michael W; Booking #: 


2016 - 5:46 pm; Charges: COURT 


No bond 



12/9. 

Perryman, Ira J; Booking #: 2016- 




BATTERY; KNOWING/RECKLESS 

BODILY HARM; COURT COST: 

BAXTER SPRINGS KS; Bond: 

$2595 

Ashley, Kenny L; Booking #: 2016- 


8:17 pm; Booking Date: 10-18-2016 

- 7:09 pm; Charges: ARREST BY 

LEO; WARRANT; INTERFERENCE 

WITH LEO; OBSTRUCT/RESIST 

FELONY; DOMESTIC BATTERY; 

KNOWING/RECKLESS BODILY 

HARM; FAILURE TO APPEAR; 

FAILURE TO APPEAR; FAILURE 

TO APPEAR; COURT COST: BAX- 

TER SPRINGS KS; DISORDERLY 

CONDUCT; FIGHTING WORDS/ 

NOISY CONDUCT; FUGITIVE 

WARRANT; Bond: $5500 

Hamilton, Kentorian C; Booking #: 


2016 - 6:16 pm; Booking Date: 11- 

07-2016 - 1:36 pm; Charges: PROBA- 

TION VIOLATION; Bond: $400.00 

Perme, Camille D; Booking #: 2016- 


5:16 pm; Booking Date: 11-25-2016 

- 3:00 pm; Charges: FAILURE TO 

APPEAR; Bond: $743.50 

Cornwell, Nathanael; Booking #: 



03-2016 - 4:30 pm; Charges: AR- 

REST BY LEO; WARRANT; Bond: 

No bond 

Klinge, Linsey R; Booking #: 2016- 

01433; Release Date: 12-08-2016 

- 11:16 am; Booking Date: 12-06- 

2016 - 10:56 pm; Charges: VEH LI- 

ABILITY INSURANCE REQ; DWS; 

1ST CONVICTION; POSSESSION 

OF CERTAIN HALLUCINOGENIC 

DRUGS; POSSESS OPIATES/OPI- 

UM/NARC DRUG AND CERTAIN 

STIM; VEH; UNLAWFUL ACTS; 

E.G. REGISTRATION; Bond: $7000 

Hancock, Kevin W; Booking #: 



07-2016 - 10:34 pm; Charges: DO- 

MESTIC BATTERY; KNOWING/ 

RECKLESS BODILY HARM; Bond: 

$2500.00 



12/10. 

Gilbert, Allison L; Booking #: 2016- 


- 1:37 am; Charges: DUI; MISDE- 

MEANOR; Bond: $1500.00 

Vanderpool, Joshua J; Booking #: 


2016 - 5:00 pm; Charges: COURT 


No bond 

Reust, Kyleigh M; Booking #: 2016- 



APPEAR; Bond: No bond 

Howland, Nicole A; Booking #: 


2016 - 9:11 am; Charges: FAILURE 

TO APPEAR; Bond: $763.00 

Baker, Valentina X; Booking #: 





Hurtado, Sherry B; Booking #: 2016- 





Murdock, Jimmy L;Booking #: 





Johnson, Eli H; Booking #: 2016- 





Grant, Ladell D; Booking #: 2016- 





Pitman, Shane A; Booking #: 2016- 







12/10. 

Cummins, Brandy M; Booking 

#: 2016-01434; Release Date: 12- 

09-2016 - 4:17 pm; Booking Date: 

12-06-2016 - 10:56 pm; Charges: 

POSSESSION OF CERTAIN HAL- 

LUCINOGENIC DRUGS; POSSESS 


AND CERTAIN STIM; Bond: $4000 

Cassiday, Cameron L; Booking #: 






bond 

Ferguson, Michael D; Booking #: 





OTHER; JURISDICTION; Bond: No 

bond 

Crawford, Michael W; Booking #: 






bond 

Clifton, Joseph D; Booking #: 2016- 


9:16 am; Booking Date: 11-02-2016 - 






12/11. 

Adams, Jesse R; Booking #: 2016- 


- 11:53 am; Charges: DOMESTIC 

BATTERY; PHYSICAL CONTACT 

IN RUDE MANNER; Bond: $1500.00 



12/11. 

Sargent, Deana M; Booking #: 2016- 




BATTERY; KNOWING CAUSE 

PHYS CONTACT 2ND; Bond: 

$3500.00 

Imbeau, Michael W; Booking #: 



08-2016 - 5:46 pm; Charges: COURT 


No bond 

Gilbert, Allison L; Booking #: 2016- 




MEANOR; Bond: $1500.00 

Brittle, Quentin D; Booking #: 2016- 


6:16 am; Booking Date: 12-08-2016 


MEANOR; COURT COST: BAXTER 

SPRINGS KS; Bond: $2595 



12/12. 

Green, Tim A; Booking #: 2016- 


- 5:00 pm; Charges: DISTRIBUTE 

CERTAIN SUBSTANCES IN 65- 

4105(H); DISTRIBUTE CERTAIN 

SUBSTANCES IN 65-4105(H); DIS- 

TRIBUTE CERTAIN SUBSTANCES 

IN 65-4105(H); CONTRIBUTE TO 

CHILD MISCONDUCT; ENCOUR- 

AGE FELONY; CONTRIBUTE TO 


AGE FELONY; CONTRIBUTE TO 


AGE FELONY; AGG ENDANGER- 

ING A CHILD; RECKLESS ; 

Bond: $20000 


Riverton Schools Board Approves Audit 

Riverton - The board heard 

from Mr. Terry Sercer with 

Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPA, 

P.A. regarding the District’s 

2015-16 audit report. Mr. Danny 

Anderson moved to approve 

the auditor’s report as presented; 

Mr. John Gaines seconded; 

carried unanimously. 

Mr. Michael Wischmeyer 

with CGA and Mr. Aaron 

Hight with Crossland Construction 

gave the board a construction 

update. 

Mr. Chad Harper, High 

School Principal, reported on 


12/12. 

Vanderpool, Joshua J; Booking #: 



09-2016 - 5:00 pm; Charges: COURT 


No bond 



Crosser, Brittany N; Booking #: 

2016-01461; Booking Date: 12- 

13-2016 - 1:30 am; Charges: POS- 

SESSION OF CERTAIN ILLEGAL 

DRUGS W/1 PRIOR CONV; USE 

OR POSS PARAPH W/INT TO CUL- 

TIVATE CONT SUBS; Bond: $6000 

Galloway, Sean A; Booking #: 


2016 - 10:00 pm; Charges: ARREST 

BY LEO; WARRANT; FAILURE 

TO APPEAR; COURT COST: BAX- 

TER SPRINGS KS; FAILURE TO 

APPEAR; FAILURE TO APPEAR; 


TO APPEAR; FAILURE TO AP- 

PEAR; FAILURE TO APPEAR; 


TO APPEAR; Bond: $6259 

Ward, Mark T; Booking #: 2016- 


8:30 pm; Charges: ARREST BY LEO; 

WARRANT; Bond: No bond 

Mccool, Jeffery S; Booking #: 2016- 


7:01 pm; Charges: THEFT OF PROP/ 

SERVICES; MISDEMEANOR; 

COURT COST: BAXTER SPRINGS 

KS; Bond: $1595 

Nelson, Cody B; Booking #: 2016- 



APPEAR; Bond: No bond 



Upton, Jason E; Booking #: 2016- 



- 9:50 pm; Charges: POSSESS OPI- 

ATES/OPIUM/NARC DRUG AND 

CERTAIN STIM; POSSESSION OF 

CERTAIN HALLUCINOGENIC 

DRUGS; POSSESSION OF DRUG 

PARAPHERNALIA; POSSESSION 

OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA; 

POSSESSION CONTROLLED 

SUBSTANCE; ENDANGERING 

A CHILD; DOMESTIC BATTERY; 

PHYSICAL CONTACT IN RUDE 

MANNER; DOMESTIC BATTERY; 

PHYSICAL CONTACT IN RUDE 

MANNER; AGG BATTERY; CAUSE 

GREAT BODILY HARM; Bond: 

$7500 

Adams, Jesse R; Booking #: 2016- 

01455; Release Date: 12-12-2016 

- 12:16 pm; Booking Date: 12-10- 

2016 - 11:53 am; Charges: DOMES- 

TIC BATTERY; PHYSICAL CON- 

TACT IN RUDE MANNER; Bond: 

$1500.00 

Martin, Michael L; Booking #: 



07-2016 - 8:00 am; Charges: COURT 


No bond 

Flowers, Travis R; Booking #: 2016- 



- 1:58 pm; Charges: AGG BATTERY 

OF LEO; GREAT BODILY HARM 

W/ WEAPON; AGG BATTERY OF 

LEO; GREAT BODILY HARM W/ 

WEAPON; CRIM DAMAGE TO 

PROP; WITHOUT CONSENT > 

$25000; CRIM DAMAGE TO PROP; 

WITHOUT CONSENT > $25000; 

FLEE OR ATTEMPT TO ELUDE; 

RECKLESS DRIVING; RECKLESS 

DRIVING; 

DWS; 1ST CONVICTION; 6 

COUNTS OF FAILURE TO YIELD 

AT STOP OR YIELD SIGN; IM- 

PROPER DRIVING ON LANED 

ROADWAY; Bond: No bond 



12/14. 

Fry, Melvin L; Booking #: 2016- 


- 9:01 pm; Charges: DISORDERLY 

CONDUCT; FIGHTING WORDS/ 

NOISY CONDUCT; BAXTER 

SPRINGS KS COURT COST; Bond: 

$595 

Edens, Erik B; Booking #: 2016- 


- 6:49 pm; Charges: DUI; MISDE- 

MEANOR; COURT COST: BAX- 

TER SPRINGS KS; Bond: $2595 

Blake, Jeffrey L; Booking #: 2016- 



- 2:00 pm; Charges: DWS; MIS- 

DEMEANOR; UNK CONV; Bond: 

$500.00 

Jones, Willie E; Booking #: 2016- 


- 11:00 am; Charges: COURT OR- 

DERED COMMITMENT; Bond: No 

bond 



12/14. 

Blake, Jeffrey L; Booking #: 2016- 



- 2:00 pm; Charges: DWS; MIS- 

DEMEANOR; UNK CONV; Bond: 

$500.00 

Hopkins, Charity L; Booking #: 



06-2016 - 11:55 am; Charges: COURT 


No bond 

Jones, Lisa D; Booking #: 2016- 



- 11:50 am; 

Charges: COURT ORDERED 

COMMITMENT; Bond: No bond 

Dickerson, Nicolle E; Booking #: 



2016 - 8:06 am; Charges: FAILURE 

TO APPEAR; Bond: No bond 

the various activities in the 

High School. 

Mr. Zach Martin, Middle 

School Principal, reported on 

the various activities in the 

Middle School. 

Mr. Keith Wilson, Elementary 

Principal, reported on the 

recent Site Council meeting. 

Mr. Keith Wilson, Elementary 

Principal, reported on the 

recent Food Drive in the Elementary 

that was started by 

two 5th grade students. 

Mr. Todd Berry, Superintendent, 

notified the board that 

various surplus equipment 

would be sold and/or disposed 

of in the upcoming months. 


reported on the current 

condition of the Dixon mower 

and informed the board that the 

District would need to replace 

The Baxter Springs board of 

education held a regular meeting 

on Monday, December 

12, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at 1108 

Military. Members present 

were: DeAnne Binns, Mary 

Kirkpatrick, Dusty Deringer,(via 

speaker phone), Josh 

Sweaney, Brandon Williams, 

Chuck Sweeton and newly 

appointed member, Casey 

Eaton. Also present were: 

David Pendergraft, Superintendent, 

Vicki Bradley, Clerk, 

Cory White, HS Principal, 

Roger Reynolds, HS Assistant 

Principal, Robert Womack, 

Central Principal, Ken 

Boeckman, Lincoln Principal, 

Nicky Hastings, HS Special 

Education Teacher, Don 

Hastings, Angela Yarbrough, 

Angela Burrows, Rev. Tracy 

Rowe and Daymon McCorkle, 

Maintenance and Grounds 

Director. 

President Binns called the 

meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 

Brandon Williams led the 

board and guests in the pledge 

of allegiance. Rev. Tracy 

Rowe led the board and guests 

in a word of prayer. 

Brandon Williams made a 

motion to adopt the agenda as 

printed. Josh Sweaney seconded. 

Carried 6-0. 

Mary Kirkpatrick made a 

motion to approve the consent 

agenda which included approval 

of the bills, approval of 

the minutes of the November 

14, 2016 meeting and approval 

of the treasurer’s report. 

Josh Sweaney seconded. Carried 

6-0. 

Vicki Bradley, Clerk, administered 

the oath of office to 

newly appointed board member 

Casey Eaton. Upon taking 

the oath of office, Mr. Eaton 

assumed his duties as an active 

board member and participated 

in all further business 

of the board meeting. 

Superintendent Pendergraft 

informed the board that Nicky 

Hastings, BHS Special Education 

teacher, had received 

the Pittsburg State University 

College of Education 

Distinguished Service Award 

for Outstanding Teacher in a 

ceremony at PSU today. He 

introduced Mrs. Hastings to 

the board and guests. Nicky 

shared her story about her 

childhood and how she is able 

to help her students because of 

her life story and her desire to 

help students achieve their potential. 

The board and guests 

gave Mrs. Hastings a standing 

ovation and were very moved 

by her story. President Binns 

congratulated her on her 

award and expressed her appreciation 

to her for excelling 

as a teacher. 

Superintendent Pendergraft 

presented the Kansas State 

Department of Education policy 

on exempt fundraisers for 

approval as follows: 

“One exempt fundraiser per 

school organization per semester 

that does not meet the 

Nutrition Standards for All 

Foods Sold in School during 

the school day on the school 

campus will be allowed. An 

organization is defined as a 

that mower in the near future. 


reported on the status of 

selling and removing the modular 

classrooms. 

The board discussed the current 

board vacancy and will 

seek clarification from KASB 

on this issue. 


gave the board a legislative 

update. 

The board entered into executive 

session for five (05) minutes 

for matters affecting a student(s) 

in order to protect the 

privacy interests of student(s) 

who is identifiable. 

The board entered into executive 

session for five (05) minutes 

for non-elected personnel. 

Mr. John Gaines moved to 

approve the audit contract for 

Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPA, 

school group that is approved 

by the local board of education. 

Length of the organizations 

exempt fundraiser cannot 

exceed 2 days.” 

Brandon Williams made a 

motion to approve the Kansas 

State Department of Education 

policy on exempt fundraisers 

as stated above. Josh 

Sweaney seconded. Carried 

7-0. 

The board heard the following 

reports: 

Lincoln – Principal Ken 

Boeckman reported on the 

Lincoln Christmas program 

which was held last week. 

He expressed his appreciation 

to Mrs. Smith as well as the 

HS custodial staff, and paraprofessionals 

who assisted in 

helping to make this event a 

success. Mr. Boeckman also 

reported that students were 

taken to American Bank on 

Friday to visit with Santa 

Claus. He reported that professional 

development opportunities 

for staff will be held in 

January. Training will include 

ADHD training and ALICE 

training for staff. Mr. Boeckman 

said that the first semester 

has been a successful one. 

Central – Principal Bobby 

Womack, reported that the 

Central Christmas program 

went very well. He congratulated 

Mrs. Smith and students 

for a job well done. 

Central School students also 

went to American Bank to 

visit with Santa Claus. Students 

received pictures and 

candy canes. Mr. Womack 

expressed his appreciation to 

the American Bank for giving 

students this opportunity 

as they really enjoyed it. He 

also reported that this week 

the Kiwanis Club will give a 

book to the students and expressed 

his appreciation to the 

Kiwanis Club. Mr. Womack 

reported that Thursday afternoon 

will be Movie day with 

students receiving treats and 

their choice of attending one 

of several movies in “theatres” 

set up throughout the 

building. 

HS – Principal Cory White 

reported that the recent “Home 

Town Hero” banquet honoring 

Joe Pat Skye for his service 

to the school and community 

was a wonderful tribute. He 


the Skye and St. Clair families 

for participating in this 

tribute. He also expressed his 

appreciation to the staff and 

students who were involved 

with the event as well. Mr. 

White reported that 21 students 

were recently inducted 

into the National Honor Society. 

He also reported that Mrs. 

Boman recently held a blood 

drive and had great participation 

in that endeavor. Mr. 

White reported that tonight is 

the annual Christmas concert 

presented by the BHS Music 

Department. Principal White 

reported that several students 

recently received CNC 

League honors in football. 

Those students are: 1st Team 

– Doug Dardenne; 2nd Team 

– Matt Miles, Jace Flood and 

P.A. to conduct the audit for 

the 2016-17 school year. Mr. 

Tom Wimmer seconded; carried 

unanimously. 

Mr. John Gaines moved to 

approve the low bid from Pittsburg 

Interiors for the carpet removal 

and installation as bid. 

Mr. Tom Wimmer seconded; 


Mr. Tim Wilson moved to 

graciously accept a donation 

of $1000 from Jim Adams/ 

Frank Fletcher Toyota 

for the Rams Den Project. Mr. 

Danny Anderson seconded; 


Mr. Tim Wilson moved to adjourn 

the meeting at 8:35 p.m. 

Mr. John Gaines seconded; 


Members present: Tim Wilson, 

John Gaines, Danny Anderson, 

Tom Wimmer, Greg 

Walker and Amy French (arrived 

at 7:45 p.m.). 

USD 508 Board of Education Minutes 

Donavon Anderson; Honorable 

Mention – Korben Frisbee 

and AJ Himes. Seniors 

who have recently signed with 

colleges include: Jarret Dotson 

– baseball at PSU; Cheyenna 

VonMoss – Volleyball 

at Ft. Scott Community Colllege; 

Kaid Karnes – baseball 

at Cowley County Community 

College. Mr. White expressed 

his pride in all of these students 

for their achievements 

and how well they represent 

BHS. 

Maintenance & Grounds – 

Director Daymon McCorkle 

reported that some of the 

projects the maintenance and 

custodial staff will be doing 

over the holiday break will 

include: running electric for 

Opaa! at Lincoln, finishing up 

the welding shop air cleaner 

installation at BHS, obtaining 

quotes on hardware for 

main gym doors, working 

on entrances at Central, providing 

labor to install concrete 

at Field of Dreams and 

cleaning and shining at all 

the buildings. Mr. McCorkle 

reported he will be finishing 

up his evaluations. He also 


the board for having the parking 

lot sealed and striped at 

the High School as it greatly 

improved the looks of the facility. 


motion to enter into executive 

session to discuss non-elected 

personnel and negotiations in 

order to protect the privacy of 

the individuals to be discussed 

and to protect the public interest 

in negotiating a fair and 

equitable contract and that 

we return to open session in 

this room after a 10 minute 

period of time. This session 

shall include the board and the 

Superintendent. Casey Eaton 

seconded. Carried 7-0. 

6:29 p.m. Enter executive 

session. 

6:39 p.m. Resume regular 

session. 


motion to enter into executive 

session to discuss non-elected 

personnel and negotiations in 

order to protect the privacy of 

the individuals to be discussed 

and to protect the public interest 

in negotiating a fair and 

equitable contract and that we 

return to open session in this 

room after a 5 minute period 

of time. This session shall 

include the board and the Superintendent. 

Josh Sweaney 


6:39 p.m. Enter executive 

session. 

6:44 p.m. Resume regular 

session. 

David Pendergraft recommended 

hiring Kelly Noakes 

as full-time bus driver. Josh 

Sweaney made a motion to 

accept the recommendation to 

hire Kelly Noakes as full time 

bus driver. Brandon Williams 


Casey Eaton made a motion 

to adjourn. Brandon Williams 


6:49 p.m. Meeting adjourned.

Picher Christmas Parade 

Quapaw Christmas Parade 

December 16, 2016 - Page 3 

Baxter Springs Christmas Parade 

Top two rows and first two on third row courtesy of Michael Rodger Photography. 

To order prints visit facebook.com/mwrphoto 

LionBackers Hold Breakfast with Santa 

Two photos above courtesy of Christopher Collinsworth with SEK Quadcopter. 

Santa and his LionBacker’s that pulled the Breakfast with Santa together with help from a few others. Left to right: 

Courtney Buck, Misha Thompson, Terra Sweeney, Santa, Nikki Williams, Mandy McCoy and Misha Himes. 


Baxter Springs - The Lion- 

Backers held their first Breakfast 

with Santa last Saturday 

at the Cooper House in Baxter 

Springs. 

To say the event was a success 

would be an understatement. 

They had two different 

times that children could come 

meet Santa, create popsickle 

stick reindeer, color on Christmas 

themed coloring sheets 

and eat breakfast. 

The breakfast was served by 

Santa’s helpers (the Lionbacker’s) 

and a couple of Santa’s 

Elves. 

The early session was packed 

to the point that more tables 

were brought out. 

Even after a technical snafu 

with the circuits being overwhelmed 

the event went over 

very well and I’m sure Santa 

and all of his helpers went 

home and kicked their feet up 

after all of that. 

The groups next fundraiser 

will be Pie Night on January 

6th at the Baxter High School 

Basketball game against Riverton.


Get Listed on County Event Calendar 

Columbus - The Cherokee 

County Economic Development 

Director, Janet Miller 

would like to remind everyone 

that the “2017 Kansas Travel 

Guides” have arrived! 

If you would like copies for 

your customers & visitors, to 

put in guest rooms, or just for 

yourself, please let her know 

how many you’d like and she 

will drop them by for you in 

the next few weeks. 

Also, it isn’t too early to 

begin sending events for the 

2017 Cherokee County calendar 

of events. 

Miller triesto include as many 

events as possible that might 

be of interest to tourists and 

out of county visitors. However 

if she does not know about 

your events unless you tell her. 

To request copies of the 

guide or to send an event you 

can email: ecodev@cherokeecounty-ks.gov, 

call her office 

620-762-0717 and if all else 

fails you can stop by Miller’s 

office at 201 E. Pine in Columbus 

(Old Empire District 

Office). 

FCCLA Bakes Cookies for McDonald House 

Lions Announce Powerlifting Schedule 

Joplin, MO - Officers from 

Riverton High School’s FC- 

CLA (Family, Career and 

Community Leaders of 

America), baked and decorated 

cookies for the Ronald 

McDonal House of the Four 

States last Monday. 

The Ronald McDonald 

House in Joplin was opened 

in 1993 to help families with 

newborns requiring a long 

term stay at the hospitals in 

Joplin. 

The local Ronald McDonald 

House is one of 357 that are 

located in 42 countries and regions. 

Baxter Springs - The Lions 

have posted their 2017 Powerlifting 

schedule. It needs to 

be noted that ALL dates and 

times are subject to change. 

January 7, MCLouth High 

School in McLouth, KS. 

Riverton - On Thursday, December 

1, Riverton Elementary 

Pre-K through 3rd grade 

students participated in an 

assembly called “Booster to 

Belts”. The program is designed 

to teach students about 

booster seats, along with the 

Check in at 8 am. Lifting starts 

at 9 am. 

January 21, McAuley High 

School in Joplin, MO. Weighin 

at 8 am, Rules meeting at 9 

am, lifting starts at 10 am. 

February 4th, Midtown 

age, height, and weight requirements. 

The importance 

of wearing their seatbelts and 

how to properly wear a seatbelt 

was reinforced. 

Only 84% of children age 5-9 

(average booster seat age), are 

buckling up. For this reason, 

Strength, Joplin MO. Check in 

at 8 am, lifting at 0 am. 

February 18, West Franklin 

High School, Pamona, KS. 

Times to be announced. 

March 25-26, High School 

Nationals in Oklahoma City. 

All times to be announced. 

Students Learn About Seatbelts Safety 

the Kansas Traffic Safety Resource 

Office (KTSRO) developed 

“Booster to Belts” as a 

fun and interactive way to encourage 

children in kindergarten 

through 3rd grade to learn 

the importance of buckling up 

and using a booster seat. 

LEPC Holds Meeting 

Columbus - Cherokee County 

Local Emergency Planning 

Committee monthly meeting 

was called to order at approximately 

09:00 A.M. by Chairman 

Richard Matteson. 

There were no reportable 

chemical incidents since the 

previous meeting. 

Jason Allison is working on 

the annual LEPC compliance 

certification and there was 

nothing new to report from the 

Annual Chemical Hazard Review 

Committee. 

Next Tuesday, December 

13th, emergency responders 

will be working with the state 

on a foreign animal disease exercise 

to test the current plans. 

Jason Allison updated the 

LEPC on the flood buyout, 

stating that they just received 

final approval from FEMa and 

are completing the final paperwork, 

while waiting for the title 

company to complete their 

documentation. 

Jason provided the TEPW 

(Training Exercise Plan Workshop) 

document for review 

and approval. 

Chairman Matteson discussed 

his desire to see an additional 

tabletop excersise in 

the coming years that would 

involve the Jayhawk Plant. 

It was decided to include that 

with the 4th quarter of 2017. 

While discussing the recent 

explosion at the aerosol plant 

in Neodesha, Kansas, Jason 

Allison stated that Columbus 

Fire Department deployed 2 

trucks and 4 firefighters to 

respond and he anticipates an 

after action review to be completed 

and disseminated in the 

future. 

Jason and Art Mallory informed 

the group they participated 

in a tabletop exercise 

with Empire District Electric 

on November 9th with the 

scenario of large amounts of 

diesel fuel spilling into Spring 

River. 

Chairman Matteson expressed 

his desire to see the 

LEPC work towards response 

plans with regards to chemical 

related incidents and runoff / 

storm water. Further discussion 

included contacting business 

in the county with chemical 

components and inquiring 

about their facility plan in the 

event of an incident. 

Chairman Matteson then 

outlined the state mandated 

functions and responsibilities 

of the LEPC, expressing concern 

that not all objectives and 

responsibilities are currently 

being met and a desire to making 

a concerted effort towards 

coming into compliance. 

Art Mallory stated he will 

contact other emergency professionals 

to determine how 

they facilitate the request and 

dissemination of public information 

involving private companies 

and their products. 

Sheriff Groves is going to 

contact County Clerk Edmondson 

to determine how the 

LEPC minutes can be posted 

to the Emergency Management 

website. 

Prior to the next meeting, 

Jason Allison will send out 

the bylaws so they can be reviewed 

and additional changes 

can be suggested at the January 

meeting. 

Chairman Matteson distributed 

an information sheet to provide 

guidance for the future 

direction of the LEPC. That 

sheet is being attached to these 

minutes and can be returned at 

the January meeting. 

There was no public input. 

The next meeting is scheduled 

for Tuesday, January 

3rd, 9:00 a.m. at the Cherokee 

County Sheriff’s Office. 

Rube Goldberg Projects 

Saddle Club Announces New Board 

Photo courtesy of Michael Rodgers Photography. 

Baxter Springs - The Baxter 

Springs Saddle Club met last 

week for the annual Christmas 

Party and Board Election. 

The election results are President: 

Robert Browninng; 

Vice-President: Gary Downs 

AIN 

Secretary/Treasurer: Victoria 

Harris; Board Member 1: Bud 

Booth; Board Member 2: John 

Harris; Board Member 3: Gayle 

Harrison. 

The club’s high points winners 

were: 6 and Under: Remi 

STATE 

Co. 

Do You Need To Sell Your House? 

Receive Cash and Close Quickly 

If you are interested in selling, please call (316) 712-1821. 

Dustin Roy Gaines 

MADE YOU LOOK! 

Get your ad in 2400 papers 

a week that are actually seen! 

Call Dusty at 620-674-1516 

or email: 

news@springrivercurrent.com 

Sheriff Warns of Scam 

Walker; 7 to 10: Jarin Cox; 11 

to 14: Sara Wright; 15 to 18: 

Rachel Wright; Adult: Tausha 

Booth. 

The club added that they 

would like to thank everyone 

who helped get the prizes 

ready. 

The next Saddle Club meeting 

will be January5 at 7 at 

pizza hut in Baxter. .Merry 

Christmas and Happy New 

year 

Students Assist with 

Toy Box Campaign 

Staff Reports 

Riverton - Riverton High 

School students in Mr. Will 

Mallatt’s Leadership Class 

have been assisting with the 

Toy Box for Cherokee County. 

They have helped out with 

shopping, sorting, and setting 

up for distribution. Over 400 

kids will be benefiting from 

this program during the 2016 

Christmas season. 

Riverton - In Mrs. Jayne 

Jones freshmen science classes, 

students were to design, 

build, and present a Rube 

Goldberg machine. 

Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) 

was a Pulitzer Prize winning 

cartoonist best known for his 

zany invention cartoons. In 

the spirit of Rube Goldberg, 

the machine should incorporate 

many different simple 

mechanisms in a complicated 

or impractical fashion to accomplish 

a simple task. 

The task was to ring a bell. 

The students were to explain 

the simple machines and energy 

changes in their design. 

Columbus - As the holiday 

season continues, the Cherokee 

County Sheriff’s Office 

wants to remind residents of a 

popular scam that tends to surface 

this time of year. 

The scam, popular because of 

its effectiveness, is known as 

the Grandparent Scam. It typically 

begins with you receiving 

a call and the persons on 

the other end says something 

to the effect of, “Grandma, 

I’m in trouble and need money 

for bail.” The caller will urge 

you to keep the fact they are in 

trouble a secret. 

Typically, if the victim questions 

the callers voice (as not 

sounding like their grandchild), 

the scammer will simply 

say they are tired or sick. 

The scammer, posing as a 

grandchild, will then give 

instructions on how to send 

money to “help” them out. 

“If any resident receives a call 

similar to the one described 

above, we encourage them not 

to immediately send money, 

but rather hang up if you know 

it’s a scam or, if you question 

it, ask for the name and number 

of the jail the grandchild 

is in and the bond amount,” 

stated Cherokee County Sheriff 

David Groves. “You can 

then contact our office and we 

can attempt to verify the legitimacy 

of the call, even if it’s 

out of the country as some of 

these scammers will pose as 

a grandchild on vacation in 

Mexico or other places,” concluded 

Groves. 

You can contact the Sheriff’s 

Office by calling 620-429- 

3992 or 620-848-3000

Jerry Dale Jones 

Jerry Dale Jones, 47 of Broken 

Arrow, OK formerly of Baxter 

Springs, KS passed from this life 

on Thursday, December 8, 2016. 

Jerry was born in Burbank, California 

to the union of Jimmy and 

Warrena (Price) Jones. Jerry graduated 

from Baxter Springs High 

School with the class of 1987. 

Kay Leslie Brewster 

Kay Leslie Brewster, age 71, 

passed away at 4:00 pm, Saturday, 

December 10, 2016. 

Kay was born October 12, 1945 

and was raised in Joplin, the 

youngest child of Joe and Mary 

Lewis and sister to Carolyn, Jim 

and Rhonda. She graduated from 

Joplin High School in 1963. 

She married Daniel Brewster 

of Baxter Springs, Kansas at the 

Presbyterian Church in Baxter 

on Sept. 6th, 1969. Dan and Kay 

met while working together at the 

Howard Johnsons in Joplin. Kay 

was a waitress and Dan was a busboy. 

After marrying they moved 

to Topeka, Kansas where daughter 

Robyn was born in 1972. They 

Deborah Ann Douglas, age 42 

went to be with her Lord on December 

8, 2016 after a long illness 

in the home of her grandfather, 

Lonnie Ferguson at 707 W 9th St, 

Joplin, MO. 

Deborah was born October 26, 

1974 in Baxter Springs, KS. She 

lived in Galena, KS in her younger 

age, then moved to Stark City, 

MO for much of her young life. 

She then moved to Joplin MO 

where she has lived most of her 

life. 

She is preceded in death by her 

Bradley James Burkybile age 

45 passed away from this life on 

Sunday, November 27th, 2016 

unexpectedly. Brad was born on 

January 25th, 1971. 

He was a military veteran of 12 

years and did 2 years combat tours 

during Operation Enduring Iraq 

Freedom with 1st Calvary Division 

at Ft. Hood Texas. He was 

awarded 2 medals for the Global 

War on Terrorism. After leaving 

Throughout Jerry’s life he was a 

mechanic and auto body repair 

man. He served in the Army National 

Reserves. He was a member 

of the First United Methodist 

Church of Broken Arrow, OK, and 

Grove Christian Center, where 

he was involved with helping on 

mission trips. Jerry enjoyed Mustang 

cars, boating, fishing, and 

spending time with his family, especially 

his grandchildren. 

Jerry is survived by his parents, 

Jimmy and Warrena Jones of Baxter 

Springs, KS; three daughters, 

Jennifer McElhaney of Carthage, 

MO, Jessica Jones of Joplin, MO, 

Megan Jones of Carthage, MO; 

one sister, Tammy Miner and husband 

Stuart of Riverton, KS; three 

grandchildren, Kaleb Sandefer, 

Audrey Sandefer, and Cambri 

next moved to Parsons, Kansas 

where Dan opened a law practice 

and served as county attorney, 

with Kay working as his secretary. 

Their son Justin was born in 

1974. They lived in Parsons until 

2005, raising their kids there. 

Once the kids were in school Kay 

went back to school herself and 

earned an Associates Degree at 

Labette Community College. She 

worked as the principal’s secretary 

at Lincoln Grade School in 

Parsons for 14 years followed by 

6 years in the admissions office at 

Labette Community College. She 

retired in 2005. 

Kay was a gardener and crafter. 

She was always busy with a project 

whether it sewing a costume 

for the kids, refinishing wood 

furniture or running the rototiller 

in garden. She later delved into 

genealogy, researching the history 

of the Lewis and Brewster 

families. She was an avid reader, 

always with a stack of novels on 

her nightstand. She was great with 

Deborah Ann Douglas 

Bradley James Burkybile 

grandmother, Anna Ferguson, and 

grandparents Fred and Marie Cusick. 

Survivors include her parents, 

Garry and Diana (Cusick) Douglas 

of Joplin; grandfather, Lonnie 

Ferguson, Joplin, two sisters, 

Diana Marie Cluck, Wichita, KS 

and Christian Douglas, Texas; 

one brother, Troy Kolker, Missouri; 

nieces, nephews, aunts, 

uncles, and many other family 

and friends.. She will be missed 

dearly. 

She enjoyed taking care of oththe 

army he returned to Afghanistan 

as a Government Contractor 

for 3 years and returned to Cibolo, 

Texas to start a career in the oil 

fields. He was a member of the 

American Legion 543 and will receive 

full military honors. 

Brad is survived by Mother- 

Beverly (Burkybile) Doss, Brother- 

Lloyd (wife Spring) Johnston 

the 3rd (PJ) Son- Jarred (wife Larissa) 

Burkybile, Daughter- Megan 

Burkybile, Granddaughter- Aspen 

Library Holds Santa Shop 


Baxter Springs - Johnston 

Public Library is holding their 

Santa Shop. 

The Santa Shop is a 

fundraiser being held by the 

Library to continue to raise 

funds to repair the elevator 

that was damaged during the 

2015 winter floods. 

The Shop is setup in foyer 

and in the main Library and 

features various new items 

such as books, art prints and 

toys for sale at affordable 

prices. 

The Library will be open 

for normal business hours 

through the 22nd, but don’t 

wait until the last minute, get 

in there and get something for 

your bookworm. 

New additions to the 

children’s department: “Dork 

Diaries: Tales 

From a Notso-perfect 

Pet 

Sitter” by Rachel 

Russell; “Diary 

of a Wimpy Kid: 

Double Down” 

by Jeff Kinney; 

“I Survived 

the Eruption 

of Mount St. 

Helens” by 

Lauren Tarshis; 

“Absolutely 

Truly by Heather 

Vogel Frederick; 

“Serafina and the 

Black Cloak” by 

Robert Beatty; 

“Twas the Night Before 

Christmas” by Clement C. 

Moore, adapted & illustrated 

by Daniel Kirk; “The Lion 

Inside” by Rachel Bright; 

Sneed; Special son, Jacob Britt; 

Significant other, Tracy Davis and 

her two boys, Ryan, and Zach; 

two nieces, Julia Miner and Sarah 

Miner; two nephews, Ryan Miner 

and Noah Miner. 

Funeral services will be held at 

10:00 a.m., Friday, December 16, 

2016 at Derfelt’s Baxter Chapel. 

Bob Edmondson will officiate. 

Burial will follow in the Gandy 

Cemetery. Family will receive 

friends on Thursday from 6:00- 

7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. 

Pallbearers for the service are, 

Lloyd Maute, Mark Weaver, Paul 

Nixon, Tanner Linn, Todd Price, 

and Stu Miner. Online condolences 

may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com. 

technology, easily learning to use 

each new gadget even at 70. She 

was known for her patience, tenacity 

and for being exceptionally 

organized. She was always the 

Mom, Sister, Aunt, Cousin and 

Friend who made sure you got a 

card or present on your birthday. 

Kay is survived by husband 

Daniel Brewster, Joplin MO; son 

Justin Brewster, Portland, OR; 

daughter, Robyn Brewster Henry, 

Newton, KS; brother, James Lewis, 

Broken Arrow, OK; and sister, 

Rhonda Yost, Webb City, MO. 

She will be dearly missed by all 

who knew and loved her. 

A memorial service was held at 

2:00 pm, Thursday, December 15, 

2016 at Derfelt’s Baxter Chapel, 

Baxter Springs, KS. She will 

be laid to rest in Baxter Springs 

Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial 

contributions may be made to the 

COPD Foundation. 

ers, and showed it by working at 

Joplin Sheltered Workshop for a 

period of time. She loved playing 

video games. 

Funeral services will be at 1:00 

pm, Tuesday, December 12, 2016 

at Derfelt Funeral Home, Galena, 

KS. Pastor Jeff D. Martin will officiate. 

Burial will be in Oak Hill 

Cemetery, Galena, KS. 

The family will received friends 

from 5:30 – 7:00 pm, Monday, 

December 12, 2016 at Derfelt Funeral 

Home, Galena, KS. 

Burkybile, Nephew- Lloyd Johnston 

the 4th (PJ), Niece- Abby 

Johnston. 

He is proceeded in death by 

Father- Lloyd Johnston the 2nd 

(Bubby) and his 4 grandparents, 

Lloyd and Dixie Johnston, and 

Bill and JoAnn Burkybile. 

Brad’s services will be held 

at Central Texas State Veterans 

Cemetery in Killeen, Texas on 

December 16th, 2016 at 2:00p.m. 

“Llama Llama Gram and 

Grandpa” by Anna Dewdney; 

“When I Grow Up: Misty 

Copeland” by Lexi Ryals; 

“Creature Features: 25 

Animals Explain Why They 

Look the Way They Do” by 

Steve Jenkins. 

Obituaries 

Connie Jo Allen 

Connie Jo Allen, age 66, died at 

8:18 am, Sunday, December 11, 

2016 in Columbus. 

Connie was born November 19, 

1950 in Pittsburg, KS. Her parents 

were Joseph Paul and Mary Loise 

(Carlini) Spendal. She had lived 

in Columbus most of her life. 

She graduated from Southeast 

High School, Cherokee, KS. She 

first worked at KOAM-TV studio 

before working at the Family 

Life Center. She later retired from 

Calibrated Forms in 2009. She 

was a member of Center Christian 

Church where she used to enjoy 

singing in the Woman’s Choir. 

She enjoyed traveling and watch- 

Evelyn Donna Mae McMinn of 

Miami, OK passed away Tuesday, 

December 6, 2016 at Windridge 

Nursing Center in Miami, OK. 

She was 91. 

Evelyn was born March 3, 1925 

in Pevely, MO to Horace and 

Betty J. Cook, 96 of Columbus, 

KS died at 12:20pm, December 

10, 2016 at Mercy Hospital in Columbus. 

She was born October 26, 1920 

in Erie, KS the daughter of Dewey 

Victor Cummings and Mae 

(Proctor) Cummings Luman. 

On May 2, 1941 she was united 

in marriage to Joseph W. Cook in 

Lamar, MO; he preceded her in 

death June 24, 2005. 

Betty was a secretary in the registrar’s 

office at PSU for many 

years. 

She was a longtime member of 

the First Presbyterian Church of 

Columbus and a 71 year member 

Fayette, Ala. - Clifford A. Sappington, 

age 69, died December 7, 

2016, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Services 

were held at 2 p.m., December 11, 

2016, at Moore’s Bridge Baptist 

Church with Bro. Brannon Pinion 

officiating. Burial followed in the 

church cemetery with Magnolia 

Chapel Funeral Home North directing. 

Visitation was held Saturday, 

December 10, 2016, from 6 

to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. The 

ing her grandkids. 

Connie was married to David 

Earl Allen on August 30, 1969 

in Pittsburg. He preceded her in 

death January 31, 2015. She was 

also preceded in death by one sister, 

Linda Larkins. 

Surviving is one son, Jay Allen 

(wife, Tracy), Wichita, KS; one 

daughter, Mandee Schmelzer 

(husband Eric), Columbus, KS; 

5 grandchildren, Lauren Schmelzer, 

Lindi Jo Schmelzer, Wyatt 

Allen, Dalton Allen and Collin 

Galloway; mother-in-law, Juanita 

Allen, 4 sister-in=laws, Pam 

Guardado, Carolyn Wheelock, 

Mila Jaeger, and Becky Allen; 

Norma Elizabeth Collier 

Evelyn Donna Mae McMinn 

Betty J. Cook 

Clifford Sappington 

paw Nursing Home and she loved 

to quilt 

She was preceded in death by 

her husband Joseph Collier on 

December 31, 1996 her daughter, 

Lori Branham and her parents. 

Norma is survived by her son, 

Joseph Collier, Jr. of Miami, 

OK, 2 daughters, Patty Cline and 

her husband Ronnie of Miami, 

OK and Tammy Tibbs and her 

husband Bill of Colcord, OK, 

2 brothers, Solomon Evans and 

Ed Evans, Sr. 7 grandchildren, 8 

Fairy (Williams) Mercer. She 

graduated from Quapaw High 

School 1943. She married Chester 

M. McMinn on January 20, 1945 

and they lived 65 years in Quapaw 

on their farm, until his death 

May 1, 2010. Since that time she 

resided in Miami. 

She had worked at Lerner Sewing 

Factory until beginning employment 

as a bank teller at American 

Bank in Baxter Springs, 

KS from 1968 – 1995. She later 

worked part time at the Bank of 

Quapaw in Quapaw, OK. 

She also was preceded in death 

by 2 great grandchildren, her parents 

and her sisters June Wren and 

Lorraine Dawes . 

of the American Legion Ladies 

Auxiliary in Columbus. 

Survivors include Vicki Jo Reagan 

and her husband Joe of Columbus, 

Jack K. Cook of Las Vegas, 

NV, Bill Cook and wife Twyla 

of Parsons, KS and Connie L. 

Fredericks of Columbus; a nephew 

Christopher G. Cummings and 

his wife Valorie along with many 

more grandchildren, great-grandchildren, 

great-great-grandchildren 

nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by 

her parents, husband and a brother 

Dewey Victor Cummings, Jr. 

Funeral services were held at 11 

a.m., Wednesday, December 14, 

body lie in state one hour prior to 

services at the church. 

He was preceded in death by his 

father, Lee Roy Sappington of 

Miami, Oklahoma. 

Survivors include his wife of 

50 years, Dianne Sappington of 

Fayette, Ala.; daughter, Aimee 

Dianne Guin of Northport, Ala.; 

son, Mark Allen Sappington of 

Birmingham, Ala.; sister, Sharon 

Neal of Miami, Okla.; mother, 

Marjorie Sappington of Miami, 

Okla.; grandchildren, Courtney 

Elyse Sappington of Honolulu, 

Hawaii., Kyle Allen Sappington 

of Birmingham, Ala., Erica 

Dianne Senkbeil of Northport, 

Ala., Anna Marie Caldwell of 

Dadeville, Ala., and Devin Lee 

Guin of Northport, Ala.; and one 

great-grandchild, Brayleigh Caldwell. 

He was a 1966 graduate of Quapaw 

High School in Quapaw, 

December 16, 2016 - Page 5 

one brother-in-law, Donnie Allen; 

and a host of other relatives and 

friends. 

Funeral services will be at 10:00 

am, Saturday, December 17, 2016 

at Derfelt Funeral Home, Columbus, 

KS. Justin Coberley will officiate. 

Burial will be in Park Cemetery, 

Columbus. 

The family received friends 

from 6:00 – 7:00 pm, Thursday, 

December 15, 2016 at Derfelt Funeral 

Home, Columbus, KS. 

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions 

may be made to Center 

Christian Church or Hospice 

Compasses in care of the funeral 

home. 

Norma Elizabeth Collier of Miami, 

OK, passed away Saturday, 

December 10, 2016 at Windridge 

Nursing Center in Miami. She 

was 82. 

Norma was born June 23, 1934 

in Park Hill, OK to Carmon and 

Ora (Hensley) Evans. She had 

lived in Miami since 1967. She 

had been a member of the First 

United Methodist Church in 

Commerce, OK. Norma worked 

for Bob’s Shoes in Miami and for 

Miami Nursing Home and Quagreat-grandchildren 

that she loved 

very much and her family at Windridge 

Nursing Center. 

Memorial services were held 

Wednesday, December 14, 2016 

at 10:00 a.m. at Paul Thomas 

Funeral Home Chapel in Miami, 

OK. Pastor Joe Dan Morgan will 

officiate. Services have been 

placed in the care of Paul Thomas 

Funeral Home and Cremation 

Service of Miami, OK. 

Survivors include her son Colin 

McMinn and his wife Sue of 

Goodman, MO, 2 grandchildren 

and 2 great grandchildren. 

Graveside services were held 

Friday, December 9, 2016 at 2:00 

p.m. at Ottawa Indian Cemetery, 

East of Miami, OK. Rev. Steve 

Daugherty officiated. The family 

will received friends from 6 to 8 

p.m. Thursday evening at the Paul 

Thomas Funeral Home in Miami, 

OK. Services were placed in the 

care of the Paul Thomas Funeral 

Home and Cremation Service of 

Miami, OK. Online condolences 

may be made at www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com 

2016 at the Bath-Naylor Funeral 

Home in Columbus with Pastor 

Shin Hyo Lee officiating. Burial 

will follow in the Columbus 

City Cemetery. The family received 

friends at the funeral home 

from 10 am until service time on 

Wednesday. Condolences may be 

left at our website www.bathnaylor.com. 

Memorials may be made 

to the American Legion Auxiliary 

and/or the First Presbyterian 

Church of Columbus. Services 

and arrangements are under the 

direction of the Bath-Naylor Funeral 

Home of Columbus. 

Oklahoma. Shortly after graduating, 

he began working at BF Goodrich 

Tire and Rubber Plant in 

Miami, Okla. Upon the closure of 

the plant 19 years later, he moved 

his family to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to 

work at the plant there, as a supervisor. 

He retired after 35 years of service. 

He was an avid hunter and 

fisherman who loved being outdoors. 

He also loved watching his 

grandkids in all their activities, 

and being a volunteer fireman at 

Mayfield Fire Dept. 

Pallbearers were Kyle Sappington, 

Devin Guin, Josh Senkbeil, 

Eddie Ellis, Dave White and 

Doug Edmonds. 

Honorary pallbearers are Kyle 

Caldwell, Dr. Green, Dr. Hill, 

members of Mayfield Volunteer 

Fire Dept., members of Moore’s 

Bridge Baptist Church and the 

Moore’s Bridge community. 

Monarch’s Migrating to New Location 

Columbus, Kansas 

www.columbusauctionbarn.com 

THANK 

YOU 

VETERANS! 

THIS PAPER IS 

FREE BECAUSE OF 

YOU AND OUR 

ADVERTISERS! 


Baxter Springs - One of 

the newest businesses in 

town Monarch Pharmacy 

is preparing to “migrate” to 

their new location at 16th and 

Military. 

If you’ve driven by the 

former bowling alley and 

noticed all the work these last 

few months you know that 

corner has came a long way. 

Currently the parking lot 

looks like a battle field, but 

they are in the process our 

pouring the concrete. 

Last week city workers 

relocated the water meter and 

helpe to move the process 

along. 

Kelly St. Clair-Barnes said, 

“The parking lot is all that is 

really left to finish before we 

can move in.” 

She also said the interior of 

the building is all but done, 

once the lot is finished workers 

will work on the floors and 

finish out the cabinets. 

The new pharmacy will 

feature a working soda 

fountain, local goods, and 

hand dipped ice cream. 

St. Clair says she expects to 

be in the new location no later 

than the first of February. 

Before the relocate and with 

Christmas fast approaching 

swing by and check out their 

selection of Melissa and Doug 

toys.


OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE 

10'x10' Office for lease $150 month, 10'x14' Office 

for lease $200 month. Utilities included, 1/2 

block off RT 66 in Baxter Springs Located in Excel 

Metal Buildings Office Complex. Contact Doug 

Puckett 417-438-5840. 

CHILDCARE 

Little Lites currently has openings for ages 1 to 2 

1/2. Please contact Miss. Emilee Misener at 620- 

856-5749. 

ITS FREE?!? 

Got something thats free? Well lets list it for 

FREE. Call 620-674-1516 for details. 

FOR SALE 

Preifert Head Gate - Good Condition 

Call 417-439-0957 

HELP WANTED 

Johnston Public Library is now hiring for a parttime 

janitorial position. Call Betty at 856-5591 for 

more information. 

HELP WANTED 

Can you run a video camera? Do you know basketball 

and not afraid to talk? Can you handle a little 

bit of technology? If so call Thomas with Kiss- 

TECH at 620-210-0931. 

HELP WANTED 

I’m looking for a reporter to cover city council 

meetings, go to ball games and off hours work. If 

you’re interested call Dusty at 620-674-1516. 

FOR SALE 

Two AKC Doberman Pincher Puppies. Red and 

Brown Females. For more information call 417- 

438-1155 

Commodity Distribution Date Changed For December 


Riverton - The date of The 

Emergency Food Assistance 

Program (TEFAP) distribution 

has changed for December to 

Grain Report 

Baxter Springs – Grain 

Name Basis Month Futures Price Basis Cash Price Futures 

CORN March 2017 356-4 -47 $3.09 -5-4 

CORN December 2017 386-0 -55 $3.31 -4-0 

MILO March 2017 356-4 -102 $2.54 -5-4 

MILO December 2017 386-0 -95 $2.91 -4-0 

SOYBEANS January 2017 1029-0 -90 $9.39 +5-2 

SOYBEANS November 2017 1016-2 -90 $9.26 +0-2 

WHEAT (SOFT) July 2017 433-6 -95 $3.38 -7-2 

WHEAT HRW March 2017 412-6 -119 $2.93 -7-2 

WHEAT HRW July 2017 436-2 -90 $3.46 -6-6 

Quotes retrieved on December 15, 2016, 05:47:22 PM CST 

High School Basketball 

The Baxter Springs Lions 

beat the Erie Red Devils Tuesday 

night with a final of 63 to 

55 at Erie. The boys played 

again last night in a non-conference 

game against Diamond. 

The paper went to press 

before game time. The Lady 

Lions played Girard on the 

10th with a loss of 42 to 31. 

Monday they played against 

Erie with a win of 55 to 31. 

The Rams faced off Tuesday 

with Oswego. They squeeked 

out a win of 56 to 54. The 

Rams play St. Paul at home 

tonight. The Lady Rams also 

being on FRIDAY the 23rd instead 

of the normal Saturday. 

Distribution for TEFAP in 

our area is at the First Baptist 

Church in Riverton, 6895 SE 

futures from the CO-OP as 

of deadline on Monday. All 

prices are subject to change 

beat Oswego as well with a final 

of 50 to 41. They will also 

play St. Paul tonight. 

The Wildcats faced off with 

Wyandotte witha score of 58 to 

39 for a loss. The Lady Wildcats 

also had a loss to Wyandotte 

with a final score of 38 to 

30. The Wildcats are currently 

in the Welch tournament. 

Coaches, Athletes, Teachers 

and Parents, feel free to call in 

or text final scores to 620-674- 

1516 or email me at news@ 

springrivercurrent.com. If you 

catch a cool picture send it too. 

Who Poisoned Professor 

Cool at Riverton 

Bluebird Lane, phone 620- 

848-3347. 

From the USDA about TE- 

FAP is a federal program that 

helps supplement the diets of 

and cannot be guaranteed 

by either The Spring River 

Current or Farmer’s COOP. 

BMS Score Board: Girls 

Staff Reports 

December 12, 2016 Game 

played at Riverton, Kansas 

8th grade A game: Baxter 43 to 

Riverton 9. 

Points - Brylee Rice 20pts, 

Kennedy Krokroskia 10pts, 

Lauryn Dempsey 7pts, Raeven 

Brown 2pts, Emilee Craig 

2pts, Lindi Schmelzer 2pts. 

7th grade A game: Baxter 56 

to Riverton 3. 

Points - Cassidy Pena 19pts, 

low-income Americans, including 

elderly people, by providing 

them with emergency 

food and nutrition assistance 

at no cost. 

The program is funded 

through the Department of Agriculture 

and purchases USDA 

foods that are made available 

to State distribution agencies. 

To qualify you must meet 

federal income guidelines 

of a maximum income of 

$1,287.00 per month, $451.00 

for each additional family 

member. 

Addie Kipp 8pts, Olivia Turley 

8pts, Brooklyn Giesel 6pts, 

Emmalee Williams 6pts, Abigail 

Burggraf 5pts, Addi Casada 

2pts, Payton Landis 2pts 

Combo B game: Baxter 32 to 

Riverton 2. 

Points - Addie Kipp 8pts, 

Addi Casada 6pts, Olivia Turley 

4pts, Cailey Wozniak 4pts, 

Lauryn Dempsey 4pts, Raeven 

Brown 2pts, Brylee Rice 2pts, 

Lindi Schmelzer 2pts, 

CLASSIFIED ADS 

25 Words for $5!!! 

Ask about getting your ads on our website! 

Don’t forget the deadline to get your ad in 

is Wednesday at 5 pm. 

Call Dusty at 620-674-1516 or email 

news@springrivercurrent.com 

Benefit Helps Toddler 

in Eye Fight 

Staff Reports 

Riverton - When Mrs. Reed’s 

6th grade Science students 

came to class last week they 

discovered that the “fictitious” 

Professor Molly Cool had 

been poisoned. 

Students spent the next 3 

class periods solving the mystery. 

Students ran scientific 

tests to determine what chemical 

poisoned the victim. They 

also performed ink chromatography 

to determine who wrote 

the note left at the crime scene. 

A blood typing analysis was 

performed to see whose blood 

was left at the crime scene. 

Students then analyzed all the 

evidence and determined who 

had poisoned Professor Molly 

Cool. The students found this 

to be a fun learning project that 

put their science skills to use. 

Crossword Sponsored by Angel’s on the Route 

Sandwiches • Soups • Custard • Gifts • Catering 

Call ahead at 620-856-2266 

R A Z T R U G Q H C Q B R A T H P F O I G L W U D 

V S P E F S F M C U I E A S U S E J L A D N R H B 

F W Q M O Y U I U D E M E W E X C N S V M T U E E 

S N G V A Z G O A D D V Y S A T H W Y N Q I L P Z 

P Z O V T R V X N U W H A T K E H Y X D A D K A U 

H O V W N C G I P E H C E R W L S V T R N L D X I 

E E M W H H E J H Q J H M P G F D V W A D O Z J W 

V H E A O R W Z O N R B D Y F Y U L C H T Q P M R 

I E L R Y I L I G D H D K L W U C Q O W U G G S U 

L X Y Z T S L T A C S I Y J E V W B Q T R R H X L 

L V V H A T G T P V A N L H J V H O G L L E L E S 

M D D B E M N B Q Y K U E D U B J X J T V R A L B 

E M Z I R A T S A T H N G E P U R B R T B N L T R 

W H K X S S G S B R Y H N S Q Z V M A N G E R M H 

F K D P U K Y Y L A E A A Y K P F M Y V B A X Q P 

D I F A Q X H X L P X N A L J Z F I G Q J K U K H 

I F W Y S E X C M S Z U Y V O R I G M X M P A U Z 

P A R I E W M E E T W K S L T J O T G H F I Y B P 

T Z Y E I F E A N V U K T Z L Y N C K W A N Z A A 

F H A O K W P S O J K A C U S O K R C U U J G A N 

V A T R O T V A R D M H G Y S C H V U A O K Q U L 

V O N X O F F W A E Q O Q A L T N E S E R P L W A 

C S U Z C Y N E H T X X E C I T S L O S F H I A V 

D C G M H N K D I B W C R O O K E W X H F V X Z A 

F M P I W N A T H U E O T E L T S I M V Z O C A H 

ANGEL 

BELLS 

CANDLE 

CHRISTMAS 

COOKIES 

HANUKKAH 

HOLLY 

JESUS 

KWANZAA 

MANGER 

MENORAH 

MISTLETOE 

PARTY 

PRESENT 

REINDEER 

SANTA 

SOLSTICE 

STAR 

TREE 

WREATH 


Riverton - I know when I was 

a kid and got into an eye fight 

someone usually ran to mom 

crying about it and I got a well 

deserved whoopin. Well, this 

is not that kind of eye fight. 

Spencer Ireland from Riverton 

is 18 months old and he is 

fighting to keep his sight. 

Spencer has been diagnosed 

with a Retino Blastoma (a cancer 

in his eye) he has it both 

eyes. 

According to his mother Tiffany 

Ireland, Spencer’s right 

eye is doing much better and 

his vision is at 50% after having 

chemo treatments. Tiffany 

said the doctors told her it 

might improve over time. She 

added that his left eye is still 

being treated with a laser and 

he has not had chemo on it yet. 

The family had a pancake 

feed at the Riverton Community 

Building back on the 3rd 

(morning of the parades). 

All funds from the benefit 

went to help pay for travel 

and medical expenses that the 

family is accumulating in their 

travels. Currently they have to 

travel to New York City every 

six weeks for a treatment. 

A gofundme page has been 

started for anyone who like to 

donate they can go to www.gofundme.com/spencerireland 

or 

you can leave donations at the 

Riverton Elementary Office. 

To keep up with news on 

Spencer go to facebook.com/ 

EyeFightForSpencer.

The Spring River Current: Issue #28, December 16, 2016

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