Happy Birthday to KMAM-1530AM

KMAM-1530AM was established in 1962 by two brothers, Bill and Jerry Thornton. Bill Thornton began his career as a DJ and continued his career in the United States Navy as an engineer, then graduated from Arkansas State with a degree in Journalism and a dream to build his own radio station.

On May 11, 1962, the first broadcast from KMAM AM 1530 began at 6 AM.

The Bates County Broadcasting Company, located at 800 East Nursery Street in Butler, may be the last radio station in the country of its age, still under its original ownership.

(DID YOU KNOW: Antique radio items and equipment can be viewed at The Bates County Museum)

The FM frequency was added on January 15, 1975 and KMAM/KMOE became two stations, simulcasting in FM and AM.

In the beginning, the radio station could only broadcast during daylight hours and KMAM is still considered a "Daytimer" station.

The station has gone from a room sized reel-to-reel tape machine, to cartridge tapes, then cassettes, CD's, and now there is full computer automation and no tapes required.

Local broadcasters had to come to the radio station in person to perform and be on air. Music was on vinyl. Now programs can be recorded anywhere at any time and brought to the station to be aired at a scheduled time.

(DID YOU KNOW: The tones your hear weekly and monthly are called EAS Emergency Alert System and replaced the old EBS Emergency Broadcast System)

From noisy teletype in a soundproof room, to satellites receiving programs from 24,000 miles in the sky, KMAM/KMOE-FM 92.1 brings the Kansas City Chiefs, ABC World News, Farm Market Reports and a variety of other shows to listeners.

KMAM/KMOE is still operated by the Thornton family and is one of the only stations remaining that continues to be operated by its original owners.

Melody Thornton is the General Manager and has been announcing since 1980 and has made positive changes to the format and programing at the station.

Recently our small studio has been featured on the History tv series of God, Guns, and Automobiles, we also aid and receive information from Kansas City TV stations.

The station continues to move forward into a competitive and up-to-date venue of music, news, and entertainment for the ever expanding broadcasting area.

Now KMAM-KMOE continue to broadcast with this years addition to World-Wide streaming on the internet, smart phones, and tablets. Also in 2014 we implemented a newly customized news site that allows us to keep our supporters, fans, customers, and general public more informed.

KMAM-KMOE & 921News.com may be your small town radio station and news outlet covering 8 counties, but we are proud to be a small market station and proud to have entertained 3+ generations of fans.

Very Cold with Snow for Tomorrow

A powerful winter storm will barrel through our area tomorrow. Light snow may develop after midnight, with widespread snow near or after daybreak.

Widespread accumulations of 6 to 10" may be possible and travel will be difficult on Tuesday.

The most intense snowfall will occur from mid-morning through the afternoon hours. Snow will very slowly diminish Tuesday night, with minor blowing and drifting of snow.

VERY cold temperatures will enter the area for Wednesday through Thursday with wind chills between -15 and -25F by Thursday morning. Stay safe!

Major Winter Storm Expected Tuesday

We're tracking another winter storm into the area for Tuesday.

At this time expect several inches of snow across a widespread area, with some locations perhaps seeing more than 6 to 8 inches of snow.

The peak of the storm likely moves through during the day time on Tuesday, and will gradually wind down Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning.

A winter storm WATCH is in effect for the region. The time to prepare for winter weather is now.

Stay updated with 921News.com, our new Facebook page or by tuning in to 1530AM, 92.1FM, or Listen Live online.

Propane Prices on the Rise

BUTLER, MO - The price of propane continued to climb on Friday, making it difficult for many to stay warm. Among the hardest hit are farmers.

Some parts of the country are rationing propane, at a time when many farmers need a refill.

The spike has been blamed on a supply problem caused by farmers using propane-fueled equipment last fall to dry wet grain, as well as a bitterly cold winter and the temporary shutdown of a major supply pipeline in December.

Several propane users are calling on the Missouri attorney general to launch an investigation to see whether there is any price gouging. The Missouri Propane Gas Association is asking the U.S. Justice Department to launch its own investigation.

If your concerned you are urged to call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-392-8222.

Adrian Clinic Closing

ADRIAN, Mo - Laura Chipman-Thiem RN, Family Nurse Practitioner has announced she will be closing the Adrian Clinic as of February 8, 2014. Nurse Laura will be returning to work at the Adrian Family Care Clinic which is across the street from where her current building is located.

She will begin accepting patients at the new location beginning February 11th. For scheduled appointments, medical records will be transferred. Anyone wishing to continue in Nurse Laura’s care and not due for an appointment may call 816-297-2640 to discuss the transfer of medical records after February 11th.

Nurse Laura would like to thank each and every one for allowing her to serve as your healthcare provider and hopes to see you at her new location.

Butler City Council news for January 7, 2014

BUTLER, Mo -- In City Council news, Butler Mayor Don Malan will be the Council’s representative at upcoming Community Betterment meetings. Lee Anna Schowengerdt and Casey Koehn, co-directors of our Community Betterment program, had sent a letter from our Chamber of Commerce, asking that our various local clubs and organizations be more active in that program.

It may interest you to know that this statewide program of Community Betterment is now 50 years old in Missouri, and Butler has been in it from the start. In fact, four Butlerites were called to Washington, D.C. in 1966, to receive an award which Butler had earned for its overall improvements. The four were Charlie Babcock, President of the then
Butler State Bank, R.A. Ellis, Editor of the then Bates County Democrat newspaper, along
with businessman Ed Robertson, and Bill Thornton of KMAM. As you see the
redbud trees in Butler, think of a tree-planting project that was part of Bill Thornton’s year as CB Chairman.

The Council discussed the Christmas decorating contest held this year they were appreciative of its success, and of course said it will continue next year.

This coming summer’s Aquatic Center admission prices were discussed briefly, but will be studied more for the Council’s next meeting January 21st.

Butler’s water plant and its state regulations have been discussed by Public Works Director Trent Diehl, along with City Clerk Casey Koehn and Laura Myers. However, Butler is in compliance on all counts at this time, so no decisions were necessary.

Butler’s transportation needs were discussed with Elizabeth Ogg, KBRPC’S representative for Butler, so more will come from that in the future. Things were discussed of which we’re already aware…things like the need for a walkway at the Highway 52 underpass and sidewalks to Butler West.

And the state of Missouri still wants a one cent sales tax that would finance transportation needs in our communities, which would include such things as jogger and bike trails. However, no definite plans have been given for what these millions would actually go for. Needless to say, Missouri cities are against it.

And closing on a good note…Butler’s new fire truck is on its way to us, and is expected by the end of the week.

Repairs finished at Butler Senior Center

BUTLER -- Hot meal delivery of lunch to Senior Citizens will resume on Wednesday. The repairs have been completed on the water main break at the Butler Senior Center that occurred on Monday evening. Only meals in the Butler area were delivered on Tuesday due to the fact they had frozen meals on hand.

The Senior Center does a great service to the seniors in our area. The cooks at the Butler Senior Center prepare nutritious hot meals for Butler, Adrian and Rich Hill. If seniors are unable to make it to the Butler Center for lunch, then it will be delivered to their homes.

The Butler Center does all the preparation and cooking of the meals that are delivered to Kern Center in Rich Hill and home deliveries in the Rich Hill and Adrian areas.

Hot meals are delivered on Mondays as well as two frozen dinners for Tuesday and Wednesday by Senior Center volunteers and another hot meal is delivered on Thursday as well as three frozen dinners for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Home delivery of meals must be approved of ahead of time with the center. If a storm is coming or the temperature is freezing the Senior Center has extra frozen meals on hand to distribute as needed.

We would like thank the Butler Senior Center for the amazing service they provide to the seniors in our area.

Cancellations for Tuesday January 7, 2014

CLOSINGS -- THIS INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE BY THESE SPONSORS
•Wilson Tire of Butler/Nevada
•Bates County Memorial Hospital •Family Care Clinics
•Bates County Dental Center

REVISION/ 9 AM

Butler Senior Center Closed
meals will be delivered in the Butler area, but not to Rich Hill or Adrian today

Bates County Industries closed Tuesday

Community Food Pantry

Dirty Bingo at the Butler Sr. Center for Tuesday, January 7th is cancelled

Old High School Thrift Store

The Pantry Thrift Store


The Butler Rotary Club ham and bean dinner scheduled for Tuesday,
January 7th has been cancelled.
Please hold on to your tickets, the dinner will be rescheduled.

Farm Business Plans Improve Efficiency and Profitability

EDINA, MO – Like any other business, a farm is more likely to succeed with a written business plan.

“A business plan can serve as a road map for your business,” says Karisha Devlin, a University of Missouri Extension agriculture business specialist in Knox County.

“You are defining what your goals and objectives are,” Devlin says. “You are saying who, what, when and where as far as what you produce, how you are going to market it, and the financing behind your business.”

A written business plan is often a requirement when seeking financing to start a new business or expand an existing one, but a plan is a good idea even if you’re not looking to borrow money.

“You are not setting the next generation up to be successful if you are keeping everything to yourself,” Devlin says. “Putting everything down on paper, not only for yourself but for others in your operation, helps everyone feel like a team and understand the direction that the operation is going. It really does lead to improved efficiency and improved profitability.”

Devlin says experienced producers can use business plans to make better-informed decisions, whether it be exploring market options, mapping out a transition on the farm, adding more family members or preparing to sell or transfer the business.

Developing a business plan might sound daunting if you’ve never done one, but don’t get overwhelmed. A business plan, Devlin says, is just telling your story: What you want to do, what you presently do, and who’s involved in it.

Local MU Extension business specialists can help with information and resources for putting together a business plan. Devlin also suggests a free online program called Ag Plan, at www.agplan.umn.edu, that provides a template that helps develop a plan.
Finally, once you develop your plan, you should use it.

“Don’t just stick it on a shelf and forget about it,” Devlin says. “Also remember to go through and revise it. Any time there are circumstances that change in your farming operation it’s good to go back and review it and make sure it accurately reflects where you are.”
Additional information on business plans is available from MU Extension.
(courtesy MU Extension)