Here is the up to date forecast for Butler, MO.
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Nyhart School 01/15/2011
 
My wife came home from the farm in Rich Hill today very excited and flipped to page 3 of the News Xpress, there on page 3 was a picture of the Nyhart School. She boasted "thats the one room school house my Grandma went to"!

Eager to share in the excitement and also curious about the fate of the school I dove into the article. I had heard stories of the famed Nyhart School and the annual get-together's that her family had participated in for years. We had driven through Nyhart, Mo  thousands of times on the way to the farm, and Pamela and I had actually tried to find the location of the school before.

Little did we know that the actual school did still exist and was now enshrined on the Bates County Museum Grounds on Elks Drive in Butler, MO. I did a Google search for photographs of Nyhart and the only pictures I found for Nyhart, MO were on this site, Bates County Real Estate.

May 7, 2011 will be the 110th Birthday Party of the Nyhart School, the museum has something special planned, we're gonna dig in the attic and see if we can find some old pictures of Grandma (Myrtle Dunsworth / Myrtle Wirt) at one of those reunions.
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Enhanced 911

On 1/5/11 majority of the Bates County Office holders and representatives from the City of Butler met at the courthouse to discuss providing Enhanced 911 to the citizens of rural Bates County and upgrading the City of Butler’s current 911 equipment. Three issues were brought out during the meeting.

The first issue discussed was the increased volume of emergency calls the Sheriff’s Office receives. Currently when someone in the County dials 911, the calls are forwarded to the administrative lines and there is no way to know if it’s a 911 call or a regular call. The Sheriff pointed out that if someone calls in and doesn’t know their location, the responding emergency personnel search for the proverbial needle in the hay stack. This is also the case if someone calls 911 and cannot communicate verbally; there is no way to know where the call came from without Enhanced 911. Adding enhanced 911 would allow for the system to capture the location the call is made from and forward that information to the needed services. This system also includes locating the 911 calls that are made from cell phones. In the event that a farmer is injured in the field he can call 911 and the system would secure his GPS location and that location would be auto-populated and his location dispatch to emergency service personnel. This improves response time for fire services, ambulance services and law enforcement services. Currently the Sheriff’s Office is averaging 600 calls for service a month and of those calls the Sheriff projects that at least 40 would have utilized the E911 system if it was in place.

The second issue discussed was the need for the City of Butler to upgrade their antiquated 911 system. Chief Garnett first began working on replacing his system in early 2010 when the phone company advised him that there were no parts available to repair his system when it fails. The City’s 911 system was purchased around 15 years ago and the City has provided E911 to the citizens that live within the city limits without a tax to fund it.

The Third issue was how Enhanced 911 would be funded. Sheriff Anderson and Chief Garnett have been researching the possibility of purchasing equipment that would serve both the County’s needs and the City of Butler’s needs. They presented a case that showed by teaming together (city and county) and purchasing a system together there would be substantial savings versus purchasing separately.

While all the office holders and city officials in attendance agreed that E911 was a benefit and needed throughout the county, the discussion turned to how the system would be funded. It was proposed that Bates County’s portion of the hardware and software would be purchased out of existing funds from general revenue and the yearly database maintenance expenses would be maintained from the existing Law Enforcement Funds. This would mean that all county residence would be provided Enhanced 911 without the need for additional taxes.

Sheriff Anderson states that his research shows that 911 first became available in the United Stated in 1968 after a push from the United Association of Fire Chiefs, Presidents Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice. Since then generations of people have been raised on the theory that if you need help in an emergency then you just dial 9-1-1. The research also shows that 96% of the United States has Enhanced 911, which automatically gives dispatch the caller’s location.

Sheriff Anderson also pointed out that in 2009 the Sheriff’s Office joined together with four other counties to receive a grant to upgrade the reporting system for the Sheriff’s Office. With that grant each patrol vehicle in his fleet was equipped with a laptop computer with Global Positioning Systems. This system was designed to be integrated with a E911 system so that when the dispatch receives a call on 911 it auto-populates the call to the system and then pin-points that emergency call on the Deputy’s in car computer. This allows the Deputy to pull up the call and see it on a map so he can find the shortest route possible to respond to the call. The system also helps with resource allocation. When a 911 call comes in and the system pin points that call on the map then dispatchers can see the location of the Deputies and send the closest unit to the call, improving the response time for a call for help.

Sheriff Anderson says “I am excited to see all the Elected County Officials come together and work diligently to improve the quality of life for our Citizens and to be able to offer better life saving services to the citizens without asking for any additional taxes. I feel this is why the citizens have elected us to be their voice in government.”

While major steps have been taken to move forward to bring Bates County Enhanced 911 there are many things that still need to be taken care of. No definitive decision was made at the meeting but a goal was set to move to the next stage of planning for this project. This project if supported by the public may take up to a year to have in place and implemented.

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January 14, 2011 here are all the residential listings from the MLS that are available in Bates County, MO as to this date. This list changes daily, contact us if you want an updated list.
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We finally have news that the long anticipated Walmart Supercenter will soon be under construction in Butler. Exciting as this news is we must also ask, what does that mean for other retailers in the area. The new site is rumored to be a 100,000 square foot facility on 15 acres at W. Fort Scott St. and Fran Ave. It is scheduled to open in October of 2011.

Most of us love our Country Mart and many of us frequent other small retailers in Butler and the surrounding communities. Does the new Supercenter with its grocery market mark the end of our beloved County Mart, I hope not.

While some bemoan the coming of the behemoth supercenter, others welcome it as a sign of progress. Looking at other nearby communities where similar events have transpired we often see a short term vacancy problem with the large big box stores that were there before, it is easy to point to those and say what will happen to our town with all this vacant property.

The truth is that often in a few short years growth continues and those old mothballed retail centers find a new use. The current Family Center in Butler sat vacant for some time before it became the vital resource it is now. In towns like Raytown, Mo the former Walmart is now being considered as a spot for a new Sutherlands Lumber store. As many of you know the new Sutherlands in Harrisonville is a wonderful shopping experience and a great asset to the community. When the old Walmart in Raytown closed, so did the neighboring Hy-Vee not to pack up and leave, but to move to a new bigger, better facility close to the newly constructed Walmart Supercenter in Raytown.

Many years ago Belton, Mo also lost a Walmart store, the new Walmart was bigger and better and over the years the old location was transformed into another useful and productive business for the community of Belton, MO.

I have worked for many years with commercial real estate, while most folks tend to think in terms of next month large commercial deals are more on the scale of the next several years. While the old Walmart building in Butler may face vacancy for some time, the fact is that it is a ripe opportunity for the right investor to develop it for future growth. With the coming of the new Interstate 49 and the passing away of MO Highway 71 many things will change in Bates County, it won't take weeks or even months; it will take years or even generations.

The new Butler Walmart Supercenter will bring new jobs and perhaps cause the short-term loss of some of the things we love about our community, but in the long run Butler and Bates County will thrive and be better and stronger for it. Don's Tire will survive and thrive on the service model they have lived by for ages, others will find a niche and fill a need and it will all come out for the better.

Competition is good, many good things come of it. Our country was founded on the principles of hard work and self reliance, the folks of Bates County will absorb this growth and be blessed by it. The winds of change are blowing and change can be good, or not so good it is all up to you and how you receive it.

God bless and have a wonderful 2011!
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We are very excited to have the opportunity to launch our newest website for a property not in Bates County, Mo but in Douglas County, KS.

This is one really cool horse farm with access to Rockhaven Park and right on Clinton Lake! You've got to see this one!

The web site is up, but not completely finished, take a look and let us know what you think.

Clinton Lake Horse Farm

And remember we service both Kansas and Missouri.

Thanks for Visiting Bates County Real Estate
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Not all Realtors are created equal, at least not all try as hard as others.

Recently I was cruising some listings on the MLS looking for a property for a client of mine. While I will never understand it, so many agents don't even use photographs. Some that do, should probably not bother, here's an example of photographs I found on the MLS.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, I'd say those say just one... LAZY!The single most common question from potential buyers is "do you have more photos"!

I'm guessing when these agents hear that they produce pictures from their wallet of their kids and dogs. Really what were you trying to show the buyer in these pictures?

Most MLS sites allow up to 25 photographs, there are many times when the property may not have 25 views you really want to show, but surely you could at least get out of your car.

Besides taking quality pictures, where your property is listed makes a difference also, most agents use the MLS, some have their own websites, some don't even use that.

Some actually have a marketing plan, that focuses on the interests of the potential buyer of a particular property. By far the largest resource for buyers is the Internet, almost all real estate searches begin there.

Here's a short list of websites you can find our listings on, because of syndication with other sites, you will find our listings on thousands of websites not even listed here.

• CountryHomesofAmerica.com
• LakeHousesofAmerica.com
• LandsofAmerica.com
• HomeTownLocator.com
• DTN Progressive Farmer
• Equine.com
• Field and Stream
• Hunting.net
• Outdoor Life
• Gray's Sporting Journal
• The Old Farmer's Almanac
• Grit Magazine
• Mother Earth News
• My Outdoor TV
• American Quarter Horse Association
• Mahindra
• The Land Report
• Midwest Messenger
• ASFMRA
• Log Home
• Old House Journal
• Old House Online
• The Log and Timber Home Show
• Timber Home Living
• US Hunting Today (46 sites)
• Arabian Horse World
• BaseCampLeasing.com
• Big Fish Tackle Lake
• Big Fish Tackle Land
• Forest Landowners Association
• Google Real Estate
• Oodle.com (152 sites)
• Overstock
• The Hull Truth
• United States Equestrian Federation
• United States Hunter Jumper Association
• Walmart
• GunandGame.com
• Skinny Moose Media
• American Agriculturist
• Farm Futures
• Land Walk
• Mid-South Farmer
• Prairie Farmer
• Southern Farmer
• The Farmer
• Western Farmer Stockman
• Arabian in Site
• Country Home Loans
• Country Living
• Equestrian Friends
• EquiSearch
• Equine in Site
• FCS America
• Farm Credit East, ACA
• Farm Credit Services of Mid-America
• Horse Quest
• Horses in the South
• Just Horses
• MyLandLender.com
• Pleasure Horse
• Prairie Links
• Quarter Pony Association
• Southwest Horse Trader
• United States Dressage Federation
• Web Pony
In addition to that you may also find our Missouri properties listed on
• CountryHomesofMissouri.com
• LakeHousesofMissouri.com
• LandsofMissouri.com
• St Louis Post-Dispatch
• Missouri Ruralist
• FCS Financial

Likewise our Kansas Listings are featured on
High Plains Journal, Topeka Capital Journal, Kansas Farmer, Frontier Farm Credit, lands of Kansas, Country Homes of Kansas, Lake Houses of Kansas .

We also feature our listings at Loopnet, Costar, Exceligent, and several of our own websites.
Turn-Key Properties LLC
Bates County Real Estate
Raytown Real Estate
and many others.

By advertising them also on Postlets, we then find our listings on Yahoo, Google and many other sites.

Further advertising takes place on Zillow and Trulia. If anyone is looking for your property they will definitely find it somewhere. In addition all of our listings are featured on Facebook under two separate Facebook pages, reaching millions of viewers.

Ask your agent, where you can find their listings and if you can't find them on hundreds of sites, fire them! In this market you must reach out to the buyers and find them, they are looking for property and if they can't find your listing you will not sell your house!


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Growing up we had a book called "The Best Loved Poems of The American People" it resided on a bookshelf in our living room for as long as I can remember; as a child I often read the poems and there were several that I read more than once.

Two of my favorites were "No Sects In Heaven" and "I Had But Fifty Cents" to this day, I still like to go back and re-read those and several other poems from that book.

So here is an old classic, and one of my favorite poems.
NO SECTS IN HEAVEN
By Elizabeth H. Joceland Cleaveland


 


Talking  of sects quite late one eve,

What one and another of saints believe,

That night I stood in a troubled dream

By the side of a darkly flowing stream.

 

And a "churchman" down to the river came,

When I heard a strange voice call his name,

"Good Father, stop; when you cross this tide

You must leave your robes on the other side."

 

But the aged father did not mind,

And his long gown floated out behind

As down to the stream his way he took,

His hands firm hold of a gilt-edged book.

 

"I'm bound for heaven, and when I'm there

I shall want my book of common prayer;

And though I put on a starry crown,

I should feel quite lost without my gown"

 

Then he fixed his eye on the shiny track,

But his gown was heavy and held him back,

And the poor old father tried in vain,

A single step in the flood to gain.

 

I saw him again on the other side,

But his silk gown floated on the tide,

And no one asked in that blissful spot

If he belonged to "the church" or not.

 

Then down to the river a Quaker strayed;

His dress of a sober hue was made;

"My hat and coat must be all of gray,

I cannot go any other way."

 

Then he buttoned his coat straight up to his chin,

And staidly, solemnly, waded in,

And his broad-brimmed hat he pulled down tight

Over his forehead, so cold and white.

 

But a strong wind carried away his hat,

And he sighed a few moments over that;

And then, as he gazed to the farther shore,

The coat slipped off and was seen no more.

 

Poor, dying Quaker, thy suit of gray

Is quietly sailing..away..away;

But thou'lt go to heaven, as straight as an arrow,

Whether thy brim be broad or narrow.

 

Next came Dr. Watts with a bundle of psalms

Tied nicely up in his aged arms,

And hymns as many, a very wise thing,

That the people in heaven, "all round," might sing

 

But I thought that he heaved an anxious sigh

As he saw that the river ran broad and high,

And looked rather surprised, as one by one;

The psalms and hymns in the wave went down.

 

And after him with his MSS,

Came Wesley, the pattern of godliness.

But he cried, "Dear me, what shall I do?

The water has soaked them through and through."

 

And there, on the river, far and wide,

Away they went on the swollen tide;

And the saint, astonished, passed through alone,

Without his manuscripts, up to the throne.

 

Then gravely walking, two saints by name,

Down to the stream together came;

But, as they stopped at the river's brink,

I saw one saint from the other shrink.

 

"Sprinkled or plunged.may I ask you friend,

How you attained to life's great end?"

"Thus, with a few drops on my brow";

"But I have been dipped, as you'll see me now.

 

"And I really think it will hardly do,

As I'm 'close communion,' to walk with you:

You're bound, I know to the realms of bliss,

But you must go that way, and I'll go this."

 

And straightaway plunging with all his might,

Away to the left, his friend to the right,

Apart they went from this world of sin;

But how did the brethren "enter in"?

 

And now where the river was rolling on,

A Presbyterian Church went down;

Of women, there seemed an innumerable throng,

But the men I could count as they as they passed along.

 

And concerning the road they could never agree,

The old or the new way, which it could be,

Nor ever a moment pause to think

That both would lead to the river's brink.

 

And a sound of murmuring long and loud

Came ever up from the moving crowd..

"You're in the old way and I'm in the new,

That is false and this is true";

 

Or, "I'm in the old way, and you're in the new,

That is the false, and this is the true." 

But the brethren only seemed to speak;

Modest the sisters walked, and meek;

 

And if ever one of them chanced to say

What troubles she met with on the way,

How she longed to pass to the other side,

Nor feared to cross over the swelling tide,

 

A voice arose from the brethren then,.

"Let no one speak but the 'holy men,'

For have ye not heard the words of Paul?

'Oh let the women keep silence all.'"

 

I watched them long in my curious dream,

Till they stood by the border of the stream;

Then, just as I thought, the two ways met,

But all the brethren were talking yet,

 

And would talk on, till the heaving tide

Carried them over side by side;

Side by side, for the way was one,

The toilsome journey of life was done,

 

And priest and Quaker, and all who died

Came out alike on the other side;

No forms or crosses or books had they,

No gowns of silk or suits of gray,

No creeds to guide them, or MSS.,

For all had put on "Christ's righteousness."
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BatesCountyRealEstate.com and Turn-Key Properties LLC are representing a client who is looking to rent up to 300 acres from April 18th through April 23rd 2011.

The property will need to be within a one hour drive of Kansas City and offer varying terrain. The event is a physical competition, a foot race with thousands of contestants entering for prizes and fun.

The organization is willing to pay as much as $15,000 for the use of your property for that period of time.

They assure me that they will handle all set up, clean up, water, power and logistics. They say they will return the property to the condition they found it in.

They will provide liability insurance and you will make $15,000 and have access to witnessing this amazing event.

Contestants come from all over the world to enter this competition and it is sure to be a memorable event.

They will require parking for hundreds of vehicles and the track should consist of varying terrain; the course will need to be at least 10 feet wide and cover 3 or more miles without crossing itself.

Contact Ben if you are interested.

    Contact Turn-Key Properties LLC

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The 2010 Annual Bates County BBQ State Championship and Fall Festival will be held October 29-30, 2010 at the Bates County Fairgrounds.

Sponsored by the Butler Police Association, and Country Mart, this annual event brings contestants and spectators. Proceeds to the Butler Police Association go to help the community with scholarships, children's athletics, drug sniffing dogs and other great things for the Butler community.

The 2009 Annual Bates County BBQ State Championship & Fall Festival paid over $8,300 for the BBQ Competition, this year they will be paying out at lease $8,300 to contestants.

Click here for an application to compete.

TOTAL PAYOUT OVER $8,000.00 !

BBQ Cook-off Scheduled Payouts

Grand Champion $1500
Reserve Grand Champion $750

To see the rest of the payouts for 2010 click here.

For Questions Call 660-679-6131   or   e-mail butlerpolice43@yahoo.com
Picture
Queen and Princess Rules 2010
For an entry form click here.

1.        Candidate must be a resident of Bates County

2.        Candidate must be single, never married

3.        Candidate for Queen must be 16-21 years of age

4.        Candidate for Princess must be 10-15 years of age

5.        Candidate must register at the Butler Police Department.  If Candidate is under the age 17 they must have parent or legal guardian present.

6.        Both Queen and Princess Candidates will be judged by total raffle tickets, armbands and Motocross tickets sold.

7.        Candidates are expected to make as many personal appearances during festival time to sell tickets, promote themselves and the festival.

8.        All Raffle Tickets sales must be turned in October 30th by 12:00 (Noon).

9.        All Candidates shall receive 15% of their own sales from raffle tickets and event tickets.

10.        Crowning Ceremony will be October 30th at 4:00pm Center stage.  Monetary payouts will be awarded at the crowning of the candidates.

If you have any questions please call 660-424-4151 or 660-227-9578.

Queen candidates must sell at least $750.00 in tickets to be eligible for the $500.00 scholarship.
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Bates County Real Estate is a top equestrian real estate agent in the Butler, Missouri Equestrian Real Estate Agents guide on NewHorse.com.