Spring River Current Issue #30 Dec. 30, 2016

December 30, 2016
The Newspaper for the Community with News About the Community
Issue #30 December 30, 2016
Published Weekly on Friday. Issue Price FREE! Per Copy
~ Saturday Dec 31st ~
• Baxter Alumni
Basketball Scrimmage at
BHS, Girls 9 am, Boys
10 am.
• New Year’s Eve - Arrive
Alive - Drive Safe
~ Sunday Jan. 1st ~
• New Years Day
• Get up and go to
Church,
~ Tuesday Jan 3rd ~
• USD 508 & Quapaw-
Students return - parents
can finally take a breath.
• Cherokee County
Economic Development
Board meets at 6:30 at
201 E. Pine, Columbus.
~ Thursday Jan 5th ~
• USD 404 Students
return - parents can relax
~ Friday Jan 6th ~
• QHS at Welch
• RHS at BHS
~ Saturday Jan 7th ~
• QHS vs Wyandotte
~Tuesday Jan 9th ~
• RHS Girls vs Thomas
Jefferson
• Baxter District Dental
Screening & Clinic
• USD 508 Board of
Education Meeting.
~ January 13th - 15th ~
• Riverton Winter
Classic X Basketball
Tournament. See page 4.
~ Sunday, January 15th ~
• Bethel Community
Church will have a concert
with SpringStreet at
10:30 am.
~ Saturday, January 21st ~
• Prom & Bridal Dress
Event at BHS, 5 pm
CenturyLink Outages
Come Back
By Dustin Andrews
If you have a landline or internet
in Baxter Springs, you
might have felt like you were
up a creek this week.
According to CenturyLink:
“CenturyLink is aware some
customers in the Baxter
Springs, KS area may have experienced
disruptions to their
services December 26-27th
due to an equipment malfunction.
CenturyLink technicians
worked quickly to identify
and restore impacted services.
All services were restored
Tuesday night. CenturyLink
is committed to providing reliable
services to its customers
and we apologize for any
inconveniences this may have
caused.” was the official response
from Market Development
Manager II Nancy DiVinay-McNeley.
I was informed that AT&T
had outages with their cell service
as well. As of press time
I was unable to reach one of
their representatives for more
information.
CenturyLink had an outage
early this month from a fiber
cable being severed and now
this and add to that the Cableone
transition has had its fair
share of “bumps” and the folks
in Baxter feel like they are in a
black hole of internet connectivity
and phone service.
Middle School Students Give Back
Staff Reports
This holiday season, Riverton
Middle School students
worked together on two large
projects for Cancer patients.
The first was a fundraiser, selling
Team Tumblers from Great
American Opportunities, with
the hopes that we would raise
enough money to give a nice
financial blessing for Christmas
to one of the families in
our district fighting cancer. In
addition, students wanted to
hand make blankets as gifts for
each member of their peer’s
household affected by the disease.
There were 10 families sign
up as recipients, with three
more families outside RMS
also being blessed.
Character Ed students came
up with a way to include
school spirit into the fundraiser.
Students submitted drawings
in a contest for the winner
to be chosen as a custom Ram
tumbler to be sold. In addition,
PAC students incorporated
a way for every student
who sold at least one tumbler
to receive a Ram t-shirt, also
designed by a student. Students
and teachers had a fun
time voting on the submissions!
Bailey Rogers won the
contest for best submission for
our custom Ram Tumbler, and
Rachel Wilson won the contest
for best t-shirt design.
Students chose a Superhero
theme for their blankets because
they believed that anyone
fighting a battle against
cancer was a superhero! Superhero
Fleece blankets were
made by the hearts and hands
of middle school students in
Character Education & Leadership
Classes along with the
PAC team (Principal’s Advisory
Committee). While they
were hard at work, Character
Ed students took the time
to think of our students with
disabilities. Considering them
also to be super-heroes, they
made a blanket for each of
them as well. Altogether, the
students made over 40 blankets.
In addition, RMS reached out
to two other families in our
area battling cancer; one, a
kindergarten teacher, married
with 2 small sons. The other,
a grandmother and grandson
team both fighting cancer. The
grandmother is raising her
grandson after her daughter,
his mother, passed away at the
young age of 22 due to cancer.
This 5th grader now has an
inoperable brain tumor that is
causing him great difficulty.
Stories like these are why our
RMS students felt compelled
to make a positive difference
this Christmas season in the
fight against Cancer!
Today, we are glad to say
that these projects raised
enough to give a Christmas
gift of $1,000.00 to a family
in our district fighting the
battle against cancer. Students
sold over 250 tumblers. There
were 67 RAM shirts made
for students. Finally, because
of their incredible hard work,
they were able to add a bonus.
Another drawing was held for
another Christmas gift of $100
for a student that participated
in the selling of tumblers for
our patients. Karli King was
the winner of that gift. It was a
heartwarming day of celebration
for everyone’s hard work
in the battle against cancer!
Local Groups Compete In Drive Thru Lights at Twin Bridges
By Dustin Andrews
Outside of Miami -
Sometimes is amazes me at
the number of things there are
to do around here (especially
at the Holidays). A perfect
example is the Park of Lights
at Twin Bridges.
Yep, thats right they do it
yearly - and it blows my mind
at how many people never
know about it.
Every year Twin Bridges
State Park plays host to the
Park of Lights. During this
time the park is lit up with a
drive through that starts on the
south end and winds up and
through to the north end of the
park.
The park opens on
Thanksgiving Day and runs
through the 30th (tonight).
Admission is completely free,
but they do ask that you take a
ballot and fill out the displays
that you feel are the best and
turn it in at the end.
My wife and I took the
kiddo’s down, we had enough
fun that I forgot to take
pictures on the first round and
had to make a second pass
through to get pictures.
Donations are accepted at the
end and all proceeds are used
to fund park improvements.
Locally we have several
groups that are competing in
the light displays: Quapaw
Tribe EMS, Quapaw FFA,
Quaker Hill Skilled Nursing,
and Quapaw Casino. In all they
had 35 displays that covered a
wide range of Christmas and
Holiday themes. The display
winners will be announced
later in January - I’ll get that
one as soon as its released.
Good luck to the locals!
Clockwise from top left: Quapaw FFA, Quaker Hill, Quaker Hill, Pizza
Hut, Grand Lake State Park, Quapaw Casino, Quapaw State Park,
Annabelle’s Fun Farm, Quapaw FFA. - It’s not too late you can take the
family and run down tonight to see the lights. The park is located six miles
east of Fairland or fi ve miles south of Miami at the junction of Hwy 137
and Hwy 60. For more information, call the park office at 918.542.6969.

Page 2 - December 30, 2016
Accepting gently used clean furniture.
County Sheriff Jail Roster
Inmates booked into the
Detention Center within the
last 24 hours, as of 12/23.
Fischer, Nathan A; Booking
#:2016-01495; Booking
Date:12-22-2016 - 11:44
am; Charges:ARREST
BY LEO; WARRANT;
Bond:$100000.00
Leas, Michael J; Booking
#:2016-01494; Booking
Date:12-22-2016 - 10:39
am; Charges:BOND
R E V O C A T I O N ;
Bond:$15000.00
Inmates released from the
Detention Center within the
last 24 hours, as of 12/23.
Busick, Jessica R; Booking
#:2016-01492; Release
Date:12-22-2016 - 10:16 am;
Booking Date:12-21-2016
- 6:40 pm; Charges:AGG
ENDANGERING A CHILD;
RECKLESS

Stephanie Lynn Cook
Stephanie Lynn Cook, age
39, entered through the gates
of heaven at 9:45 am, Saturday,
December 24, 2016 at St
John’s Medical Center, Tulsa,
Oklahoma after a lengthy illness..
Stephanie was born May 27,
1977 in Joplin, MO. Her parents
were Randall and Marcia
(McGregor) Trease. She had
lived in the Baxter Springs
area all of her life.
She graduated form Baxter
High School with the Class of
1995. Stephanie had a strong
passion for education, earning
her Master’s in Education
degree at Pitt State, Pittsburg,
KS. She was working on her
Leon Ray Atchison
Leon Ray Atchison, 73 of
Grove passed away December
24, 2016 at his home. He
was born on January 30, 1943
in Bendavis, Missouri to Harvey
Thomas and Nellie Deloris
(McGowan) Atchison.
Doctorate degree. She also
was an elite athlete playing
softball in college and continued
her love for the sport by
coaching at the high school
level. She was not only a
coach, but a mentor to many
young women.
She taught 1st grade at the
Spring Grove Primary Center
in the USD #499 school system
in Galena, KS for the past
8 years. She enjoyed shopping,
and watching her children in
all of their activities. She had
been a member of First United
Presbyterian Church, Baxter
Springs, KS.
She was married to Kenneth
Cook on July 8, 2013, in Las
Vegas, NV. He survives.
Additional survivors include
two sons, Briar Simpson and
Kyler Cook, both of the home;
three daughters, Isabelle
Simpson and Kallie Cook
both of the home, and Jesilynne
Simpson, Tulsa, OK; her
parents, Randall and Marcia
Trease, Baxter Springs; one
brother Eric (wife, Kristen)
Trease, Baxter Springs; her
John Raymond Klaus
John Raymond Klaus, 76, of
Fairland passed away December
25, 2016 at Grand Lake
Villa in Grove. He was born
in Fairland, Oklahoma to Roy
and Josephine Ella (Tipton)
Leonard J. Imhof
Leonard J. Imhof, 96, of
Cherokee, passed away at 8:18
p.m. Saturday, December 24,
2016 at the Guest Home Estates
of Fort Scott.
He was born June 14, 1920
at Cherokee, Kansas, the son
of Charles Fred and Martha
Victoria (Catterson) Imhof.
He graduated from Cherokee
High School in 1937. Following
high school, he attended
Parsons Junior College, and
then graduated from Kansas
State Teachers College, where
graduated in 1943 with his
Bacherlor of Science degree.
While serving in the Army, he
attended the University of Ala-
AIN
Mr. Atchison was a veteran
of the United States Navy.
He worked as a foreman for
electric companies to trim out
electric lines. He loved to hunt
and fish and was a member of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars
in Bernice. He was preceded
in passing by his parents, Harvey
and Nellie Atchison.
Survivors include his children
David Gary Atchison of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lisa
Lawrence of Grove, Connie
Plaisted and her husband
Brad of Grove, Cathy Beard
and her husband Galen of
Wyandotte, Leon Ray Atchi-
Klaus. He joined the United
States Navy, where he was a
mechanic for the Blue Angels,
upon his return he worked for
B.F. Goodrich until its closing
then drove a truck and most
recently for Simmons at the
plant in Fairland. He loved to
work in his garden and go fishing.
He was preceded in passing
by his parents Orville and
Josephine Klaus.
Survivors include his daughters
and their husbands Lisa
Thorpe and her husband Troy
of Fairland, Mary Fulk and her
husband Brad of Sierra Vista,
Arizona, a brother George
bama and Louisiana State University.
In 1948, he graduated
with his Bachelor’s degree in
Civil Engineering from Kansas
State University. In 1958,
he graduated from the University
of California in Berkeley
with his M.S., Sanitary, Engineering
degree. He served in
the United States Army during
World War II from 1943 until
he was honorably discharged
in February 1946. Mr. Imhof
was married to Norma
Jean Brisbin from 1946 until
1962. From 1948 to 1957, he
was employed by F.E. Devlin
as a Consulting Engineer at
Wichita. He then went to work
for the Kansas Department
of Health and Environment
where he worked until he retired
in 1983.
He was a past member of the
Cherokee United Methodist
Church, the Masonic Lodge
of Cherokee, Commandry and
Mirza Shrine of Pittsburg. National
Society of Professional
Engineers, American Water
Works Association, Water
Pollution Control Federation,
and Kansas Section Water
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
parents in law, Paul and Alma
Cook, Baxter Springs; Brother
in law, Phillip and Stacy
Cook, Carl Junction, MO;
Paternal grandmother, Jane
Trease, Quapaw, OK; Maternal
grandfather, Ronal Mc-
Gregor, Baxter Spirngs; and
nieces and nephews, Brent
Trease, Addison Trease, Cooper
Cook, Kenley Cook, and
Kylee Cook.
She was preceded in death
by her paternal grandfather,
Charles Trease and her maternal
grandmother, Patricia Mc-
Gregor.
Funeral services will be at
10:00 am, Friday, December
30, 2016 at the Performing
Arts Center, Galena High
School, Galena, KS. Burial
will be in Baxter Cemetery,
Baxter Springs, KS.
The family received friends
from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Thursday,
December 29, 2016 at
Derfelt’s Baxter Chapel, Baxter
Springs, KS. Memorial
contributions may be made to
the Breast Cancer Foundation
of the Ozarks in care of the funeral
home.
son Jr. of Ketchum, Joshua
Atchison of Commerce City,
Colorado, Jessica Richardson
and her husband Gary of Colcord,
Oklahoma, his siblings
Harvey Thomas Atchison,
Jack Atchison, Virginia Parker,
Betty McGowan, George
Atchison and Noraleen Bressie
all of Mountain Grove,
Missouri, along with nineteen
grandchildren and nine great
grandchildren.
Services were at 10 am
Thursday December 29th at
Brown-Winters Funeral Home
and Cremation Service, Fairland.
Interment will follow.
Klaus of Fairland, a sister
Nancy Myers of Stillwater
and three grandchildren Taylor
Thorpe, Brooklyn Fulk and
Courtney Fulk.
Cremation Services have
been placed in the care of
Brown-Winters Funeral Home
and Cremation Service of
Fairland. Services are planned
for a later date.
The family has asked that in
lieu of flowers to them that
memorial contributions be
made to the Wounded Warrior
Project. https://support.
woundedwarriorproject.org
Pollution Control Federation.
He was a Charter member of
the Gem and Mineral Society
of Chanute, and was an avid
rock hound. Mr. Imhof loved
photography and was a prolific
writer.
He is survived by a son,
George Randall Imhof and
wife Sally A. of rural Mulberry;
two daughters Vickie Sue
Osborn and husband, Chester
of Cherokee, and Sherri Lynn
Snyder and husband, Donnie
of Fulton, KS; eight grandchildren
and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by
his parents, a sister, Juanita
Violet Johnson, four brothers,
Ernest Elwin Imhof, Glen Roy
Imhof, Howard Daniel Imhof
and Clyde Eldon Imhof.
Services were held at 2:00
p.m. Thursday (Dec. 29) at the
Brenner Mortuary with Rev.
Bob Banks officiating. Burial
followed in the Cherokee
City Cemetery. The family received
friends from 6:30 p.m.
to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the
Brenner Mortuary.
Memorial Feast
for Jess Quapaw
The Quapaw Tribe will have
Memorial Feast for Jess Quapaw
on January 15, 2017 at
noon.
The memorial feast for Jess
is something done each year
for 3 years on or around the
date of a departed tribal member.
There are four total feasts.
One on the day of the funeral
and the three memorials.
Obituaries
Mary Alice Jumper
Mary Alice Jumper of Grove,
OK passed away Wednesday,
December 21, 2016 at Freeman
Hospital in Joplin, MO.
She was 72.
Mary was born October 3,
1944 in Claremore, OK to
David Sidney and Ellen Jane
(Blalock) Logan. She had
lived in the Grove area most of
her life. She was a member of
the Peoria Tribe and worked as
a cook for the Seneca – Cayuga
Tribe and a nurse at Grove
General Hospital.
She was preceded in death by
her husband Joe Jumper, a son
Michael Mitchell, a daughter
Rebecca Bonbrake, 3 brothers
Lois Ruth Rivers
Lois Ruth Rivers, age 87, of
Joplin, passed away on Friday
December 23, 2016 at Quaker
Hill Manor in Baxter Springs,
Ks., following an illness.
Lois was born on April 4,
1929 in Joplin, the daughter
of the late Erle Woodworth
and Lois (Lambert) Woodworth.
She has been a lifetime
area resident. She was a
Group Manager of Operator
Services for Southwestern
Bell Telephone. She was a
member of St. Peter the Apostle
Church. She was also a
David Lee DuRall, Sr., age 57
of Joplin, went to his heavenly
home on Thursday, December
22, 2016 at Freeman Hospital
following a short illness.
David was born March 23,
1959 in Joplin, Missouri to
Stanley DuRall and Ruby
Cooper DuRall. A lifelong
resident of the area, David
graduated from Parkwood
John David Lloyd, age 68,
Riverton, Kansas, entered into
Heaven on Wednesday, December
28, 2016 at his home surrounded
by family.
John was born at home on August
2, 1948 in Ellington, Missouri,
son of the late Glenn Lloyd
and Alice Clark Lloyd. He started
his education in a one-room
schoolhouse in Garwood, Missouri,
and graduated from Ellington
High School in 1966. In
1970, he graduated from Southwest
Missouri State University
with his Bachelor’s Degree in
Education, and in 1975 with a
Master’s Degree in Microbiology.
John taught science for
one year at Winfield, Missouri
School, and then moved to the
Carthage School District where
he worked for 28 years as a 9th
Grade Science Teacher until his
retirement in 2004. He was a
Jon Logan and Sidney Logan
and Dave Edward Logan, 2
sisters Vivian Bitsie and Jackie
Francis Birdsong.
Survivors include 2 sons Jon
Mitchell and Jo Mitchell, 3
daughters Susie Mitchell, Anita
Mitchell and Sarah Mitchell,
2 brothers Jerry Logan
and Phillip Logan , 2 sisters
Margaret Logan and Sandra
Works, several grandchildren
and several great grandchildren
Funeral Services were held
Friday, December 23, 2016
at 2:00 p.m. at the Seneca –
Cayuga Community Center
northeast of Grove, OK. Rev.
member of St. Peter’s Alter
Society, Soroptimist Club of
Joplin, and the Pioneers Club.
Lois spent many years as a
caregiver to family members.
She loved her grandchildren
and great-grandchildren; they
loved her chocolate malts,
Schwans chicken patties,
sleeping pallets on the floor
and many poolside hours.
Mamaw was the Best!!!
She married Doris Raymond
Rivers on July 18, 1947 in
Joplin. He preceded her in
death on December 12, 1996.
She was also preceded in
death by two brothers, Richard
Woodworth and Charles
Woodworth; one sister, Linda
Woodworth; and one
great-grandson, Ethan Rivers.
Lois is survived by one son,
Michael Rivers and wife Renee,
Joplin; two daughters,
Terri Frey and wife Kris, Duenweg,
Mo., and Tina Giebel
and husband Michael, Joplin;
Wilma Huff-Reffett-Coleman
Wilma Huff-Reffett-Coleman
72, went to be with the Lord
Sunday, December 25, 2016 at
her residence in Clinton, Missouri.
She was born January 26,
1944 to Russell Harding and
Lola Edith (Thompson) Sanders,
and lived in the North
Miami and Baxter Springs
area until moving to Clinton
David Lee DuRall, Sr.
John David Lloyd
Missouri. She attended the
Highway Tabernacle Church
in Baxter Springs Kansas.
She was a Nurse’s Aid when
could work employed at the
Elm Hurst Nursing Center.
She is preceded in death
by three husband’s Warren
Huff, John Reffett and J.D.
Coleman, 3 brothers George,
Charles and Billy Sanders, 3
sisters Mary Ellen, Ruby and
Ruth.
Survivors 4 sons Russell and
wife Michelle Huff of Commerce,
OK Johnnie and wife
Shanna Reffett of Seneca, MO
Amos and wife Jeannie Reffett
of Stark City, MO Sam Reffett
and fiancée Gina Brumback of
Riverton, KS 4 daughters Angie
and Jeremy McWilliams
High School with the class of
1977. David worked in the
Human Resource Department
for Teleperformance in Joplin.
He was an Ordained Minister
and serving the Lord was David’s
passion. He was a member
of Christpoint Church of
Galena, Kansas. He loved to
sing and spending time outdoors,
doing things like camping
and fishing at an early age.
He was an avid Kansas City
Royals and Chiefs fan! Also,
his grandson, Dre’ was the apple
of his eye.
Surviving David is a son,
David DuRall, II of Joplin;
his mother, Ruby DuRall of
Joplin; grandsons, De’ Andre
DuRall and Courtney (C.J.)
James; brother, Randy DuRall
and wife, Judy of Joplin and
member of First Baptist Church
of Riverton where he was a Sunday
School teacher for over 20
years. John was a member of the
Masonic Lodge of Barnesville,
Missouri, was a member of the
Missouri State Teacher’s Association,
and was also a member
of the Riverton Lion’s Club.
He served in the United States
Army during the Vietnam Conflict
where he was stationed in
Germany with the U.S. Army
Signal Corp.
John enjoyed spending time
with his family, especially his
grandchildren. He loved hiking
with his boys, and traveling
with his family. He also enjoyed
spending time working in his
yard, and being on the family
farm.
Survivors include his wife, Pamela
Ann Kitch Lloyd whom
he married August 12, 1972 in
December 30, 2016 - Page 3
Steve Daugherty and Paul
Barton will officiated. Interment
will be in Basset Grove
Cemetery, Northeast of Grove,
OK. Pallbearers will be Clayton
Schmidt, Calvin Roberts,
Robert Smith, Billy Logan,
Derrick Logan, and Charlie
Works. Honorary Pallbearers
will be Kevin Barton, Brandon
Chafin and John Rodgers.
Mary will lie in state at the
Seneca-Cayuga Community
Center. Service have been
placed in the care of the Paul
Thomas Funeral Home and
Cremation Service of Miami,
OK.
one brother, Raymond Woodworth
and wife Sharon, Joplin;
one sister, Judith Kohler and
husband Chuck, Concord, Ca.;
eleven grandchildren, seventeen
great-grandchildren, and
one great-great-grandchild.
Mass of Christian burial was
held at 10 a.m. Wednesday
December, 28th at St. Peter
The Apostle Church. Reverend
J. Friedel officiated. Cremation
will follow services.
The pallbearers will be Jeremy
Cravens, Justin Cravens,
Jason Cravens, Ryan Rivers,
Christopher Pena, Matthew
Frey, and Jared Frey.
A Rosary Service was held
at 5 p.m. Tuesday December
27th, with a visitation from
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mason-Woodard
Mortuary. Memorial
contributions may be
given to Joplin Area Catholic
Schools in care of the mortuary.
of TX Regenia Lake of Joplin,
MO Alice Huff of Baxter
Springs, KS and Mary Reffett
also of Baxter Springs, KS
29 grandchildren and 7 great
grandchildren.
Graveside services will be
2:00 p.m. Friday, December
30, 2016 at the Greenlawn
Cemetery in Treece, Kansas
with Pastor Eddie McAfee officiating.
Interment will follow
in the Greenlawn Cemetery
under the direction of the Paul
Thomas Funeral Home of Miami,
Oklahoma.
The family received friends
and relatives Thursday, December
29, 2016 from 6-7 pm
at the Paul Thomas Funeral
Home in Miami, Oklahoma.
Sister, Vicki DuRall of Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma.
His father, Stanley has preceded
David in death.
Funeral services were held
Wednesday, December 28
at 10:00 a.m. at Impact Life
Church in Joplin. Family will
receive friends on Tuesday
from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the
mortuary.
Following the service, David
will be taken for cremation
and ashes to be interred at
Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery
at a later date.
Funeral arrangements are
under the direction of Parker
Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.
Arrangements are under the
direction of Mason-Woodard
Mortuary & Crematory.
Galena, Kansas; daughter, Angie
Higgins and husband Christopher
of Carl Junction, Missouri,
son, Jason Lloyd and wife Whitney
of Fayetteville, Arkansas;
grandchildren, Dylan Higgins,
Emily Higgins, Lucy Lloyd,
and Sylvia Lloyd; sister, Edith
Bushong and husband Robert of
Piedmont, Missouri; brothers,
Wesley Lloyd and wife Brenda
of Viburnum, Missouri, Randy
Lloyd and wife Linda of Ellington,
Missouri; several nieces and
nephews.
Memorial service will be Saturday,
December 31, 2016 at 11:00
a.m. at First Baptist Church of
Riverton with Rev. Aaron Williams
officiating.
Cremation arrangements are
under the direction of Parker
Mortuary.
Family requests that in lieu of
flowers memorial contributions
be made to Hospice Compassus
or the First Baptist Church of
Riverton.

Page 4 - December 30, 2016
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
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
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
Volunteers Needed to Raise
the Roof This Saturday
By Dustin Andrews
Riverton - Help is needed this
Saturday at the Riverton Softball
Field to start the roofing
for the new dugouts.
According to Scott Donaldson,
they are needed 4 or 5
guys in the morning at around
8 am.
By Dustin Andrews
Cherokee County - The Cherokee
County Arts Association
is one of those groups that
tends to be overlooked unless
they have a show going on.
Currently they are running a
fundraiser to raise $1,000 to
help underwrite the costs of
scripts for their plays.
The group is a non-profit
ran by a volunteer board. The
rights and music for many
shows cost about $5000. Without
fundraising, sponsors and
By Dustin Andrews
Riverton/Galena - If you’ve
always wanted a chainsaw and
think you should try one out
first this is your chance!
Be at Lambert Tractor &
Machinery Sales in Galena
(across the bridge in Riverton
on north side - watch for Trac-
Staff Reports
From year to year, mumps
cases can range from roughly
a couple hundred to a couple
thousand. For example in
2010, there were 2,612 cases
reported to CDC, and in 2012,
there were 229. Before the
U.S. mumps vaccination program
started in 1967, about
186,000 cases were reported
each year, but the actual number
of cases was likely much
higher due to underreporting.
As of December 3, 2016, 46
states* and the District of Columbia
in the U.S. reported
mumps infections in 4,258**
people to CDC. Seven states
have reported more than 100
cases this year: AR, IA, IN, IL,
MA, NY, and OK.
In some years, there are more
cases of mumps than usual
because of outbreaks. Mumps
Donaldson stated in his request
that they have all the
lumber and metal and they
have the plans and a contractor
to make sure the plan goes
properly, but they need laborers.
If you can make it, please call
or text Scott at 620-762-1811.
Arts Association Could
Use Your Help
Chainsaw Demo Day
donations to help with the cost
it would be impossible to have
the shows and camps that they
do.
The groups facebook page
asks for any amount for a donation.
Their website www.
cherokeecountyarts.com also
has a donate button.
If you’re a little more old
fashioned and would like to
make a donation you can stop
by Derfelt Law Office at 223
N. Willow in Baxter Springs.
tors) on January 14th from 8
am to noon.
Chainsaw demos will be given
on Echo, Husqvarna and
Shindaiwa.
If you buy a new saw that day
it will come with a free chain.
For more information call the
office at 620-783-1895.
Mumps Cases Rise in 2016
outbreaks can occur any time
of year. A major factor contributing
to outbreaks is being
in a crowded environment.
Certain behaviors that result
in exchanging saliva, such as
kissing or sharing utensils,
etc., might increase spread of
the virus.
MMR vaccine prevents most,
but not all, cases of mumps
and complications caused
by the disease. Although it
is not mandatory to report
mumps outbreaks to CDC,
many health departments will
contact CDC when they experience
an unusually high
number of cases. In 2015 and
2016, a number of cases and
outbreaks have been reported
to CDC, primarily associated
with college settings. These
outbreaks have mostly affected
young adults.
Grain Report
Baxter Springs – Grain
CORN March 2017 349-6 -40 $3.09 +1-4
CORN December 2017 379-2 -55 $3.24 +1-0
MILO March 2017 349-6 -100 $2.49 +1-4
MILO December 2017 379-2 -95 $2.84 +1-0
SOYBEANS January 2017 1003-2 -85 $9.18 -3-4
SOYBEANS November 2017 993-4 -90 $9.03 -2-4
WHEAT (SOFT) July 2017 431-6 -85 $3.46 +3-2
WHEAT HRW March 2017 415-2 -109 $3.06 +5-6
WHEAT HRW July 2017 438-2 -90 $3.48 +6-2
Quotes retrieved on December 29, 2016, 04:16:40 PM CST
StaffReports
JOPLIN, MO, December
22, 2016 – (NYSE:EDE)
The board of directors of The
Empire District Electric
Company (the “Company”)
today declared a special prorated
dividend in preparation
for the expected closing of
the merger of the Company
with Liberty Sub Corp. (the
“Merger”), pursuant to the
Agreement and Plan of
Merger among the Company,
Liberty Sub Corp. and Liberty
Utilities (Central) Co., an
indirect subsidiary of
Algonquin Power & Utilities
By Dustin Andrews
Riverton - The Winter Classic
X Basketball Tournament will
be January 13th, 14th and 15th
at Riverton High School.
The tournament is open to
StaffReports
In January 2017, USPS
Standard Mail will undergo a
name change and be rebranded
as USPS Marketing Mail.
It is expected that this
name change will better
communicate to mailers how
this mail class can be used.
In response to feedback from
History Tidbit
By Mary Billington, Director Baxter
Springs Heritage Center & Museum
The town of Baxter Springs
was incorporated in 1868
after a charter was issued by
the State of Kansas. Baxter
Springs was located in the
southeastern corner of what
was previously called the
Cherokee Neutral Lands.
This unique region, situated
in Kansas, was known as
McGee County in the Kansas
Territory days. It was the
property of the Cherokee
Indians. Although the
Confederacy had claimed the
land as their own, under the
treaty provisions between
the Cherokees and the
Confederates, the sale of this
property was never actually
consummated. The Neutral
Lands were always the
possession of the Cherokees,
although they were occupied
by Union troops throughout
the Civil War.
In treaty negotiations
following the war, the
Cherokees ceded the Neutral
Lands back to the federal
government. The transaction
was enacted in 1866 and from
the Neutral Lands, two new
counties emerged in the State
of Kansas. Crawford County
was named after Governor
Samuel Crawford (who would
later become a resident of
rural Baxter Springs), and
Cherokee County was named
after the tribe of the same
name.
Staff Reports
Baxter Springs - Crossroads
Christian Church will be hosting
a New Year’s Eve Eve Jr.
High Lock In.
Yeah that’s right, it will be
Tonight at 9 pm (Dec. 30th)
through Saturday at 7 am.
All 6th through 8th grade students
are welcome.
futures from the CO-OP as
of deadline on Monday. All
prices are subject to change
Corp.
The Kansas Corporation
Commission approved the
Merger at its meeting on
December 22, 2016,
completing the final required
regulatory approval and,
accordingly, all conditions
precedent to completing the
Merger have been fulfilled
other than the customary
closing conditions. Closing is
expected to occur on or about
January 1, 2017.
The board of directors
declared a dividend of
$0.002857 per share, per day
that will accrue from
Winter Classic X Basketball Tournament
boys and girls in grades 4
through 6.
The entry fee is $120 with a
three game guarantee entry in
tournament with paid entry fee
only.
New Years Eve Eve Lock In
They will have food, 80’s
makeovers, video games,
challenges, sumo wrestling,
9-Square in the air, fun games,
competitions and more.
The church is located at 8448
US 69A, or as most people
know, just north of town at the
Hwy 400 bypass. For more information
call 620-856-3868
and cannot be guaranteed
by either The Spring River
Current or Farmer’s COOP.
Empire District Declares Pro-Rated Dividend
the mailing community. The
USPS is implementing this
change in a phased transition
period to allow both hardware
and software changes to be
implemented successfully.
Note the following terms:
• The new indicia and/or
postage markings should not
be used for letter or flat mail
December 1, 2016 (the prior
dividend record date) until
and including the day prior to
the effective day of the
Merger, or until the next
regularly scheduled record
date of March 1, 2017,
whichever occurs first. The
pro-rated
dividend is the daily
equivalent of the current
quarterly dividend rate of
$0.26 per share. This dividend
will be
payable as soon as practicable
following completion of the
Merger to shareholders of
record at the close of
The entry deadline is January
10th at 10 pm. For more information
or to enter call Brian
Mitchell at 620-848-3227 or
417-439-8915 or you can email
him at bmitchell@usd404.org
USPS To Rebrand Standard Mail
until January 2018 at the
earliest.
• Tray label and pallet
markings will be deferred
until mid-2017 at the earliest.
• Other types of changes,
such as changes to postage
statements and forms, can
move forward with the
January 2017 price change.
BUY
LOCAL
business on the last trading
day prior to the effective day
of the Merger. In the event the
Merger does not close by
March 1, 2017, the next
regularly scheduled record
date, a regular quarterly
dividend of $0.26 per share
will be
paid on the normal
quarterly dividend payment
date of March 15, 2017, to
shareholders of record as of
the close
of business on March 1,
2017.
or bkmitchells1988@gmail.
com
All proceeds from the tournament
will go toward Riverton
Softball Programs.
This phased transition period
will allow both hardware
and software changes to be
implemented successfully.
paid on the normal quarterly
dividend payment date
of March 15, 2017, to
shareholders of record as of
the close of business on March
1, 2017.