Strong storms and heavy rain Saturday night have forced the closure of roads and recreation areas in Jackson County. Residents are encouraged to avoid these areas for their safety.
All three major trails – Little Blue Trace, Longview and Lake Vista – are closed to the public. Crews are posting signs at all trailheads and access points to alert residents. Once the flood waters recede, crews will evaluate the damage and begin the necessary work for re-opening.
In addition, Longview Beach is closed today and activities at the 122nd and Blue River Soccer Complex have been cancelled. Leagues at the Frank White, Jr. Sports Complex will continue today as scheduled.
Drivers will also not have access to some roads in Jackson County due to high water. Road closed signs have been posted at the following locations:
Old Highway 40
Nebgen Road
Hardsaw Road
Gillespie Road
Old Pink Hill Road
Duncan/Howell Road
Seymour Road
Jackson County crews have worked efficiently and effectively over the past week conducting clean-up and repairs following storms and flooding on July 27. They will continue to closely monitor these locations and take the required action in an effort to make them safely accessible to the public.
Police were called to the 7300 block of Raytown Road on 06-06-2017 at around 1:30 P.M., after a robbery was reported at a local loan company. It was reported that a subject approached the business from the south on foot. Upon entering the business the subject displayed a hand gun and demanded money. As the subject fled the scene he fired shots in an unknown direction. Witnesses stated that the suspect left in black newer model Chevrolet Camaro in an unknown direction.
The man was described as standing between 6’00” and 6’04” with a thin build. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, jeans and had a red bandana.
There were no injuries reported. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call the Tips Hotline, at 474-TIPS.
Blue Ridge Blvd. United Methodist Church
5055 Blue Ridge Boulevard, KC MO, 353-1435
presents a week of FREE Musical Theater Workshops beginning Sunday, June 11 for “JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT”. (June 11-16, 5:30-8:00pm culminating in **one performance only!** Saturday, June 17 at 7:00pm. Involve the whole family, bring friends and relations! Attend all the workshops to learn the show, then at the end of the week perform Andrew Lloyd Webber’s upbeat musical that tells the biblical story of Joseph and his many-colored coat.
Workshops are free, open to all ages, no audition required.
Please register on our websitewww.blueridgechurch.org
General admission tickets to the performance on June 17 are $10 and are available now through the church office Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00am-12:00noon and 1:00-4:00pm or on Sunday morning.
LAWMAKERS PASS $27.75 BILLION STATE OPERATING BUDGET
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Republican-controlled House of Representatives on May 4 granted final approval to a $27.75 billion state operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year that eliminates services for many elderly and disabled Missourians and slashes funding for higher education while providing local public schools a relatively modest funding boost. The Senate had passed most of the 13 appropriations bills that make up the operating budget for 2018 fiscal year, which begins July 1, but was still working on final passage of the remaining bills in advance to a May 5 constitutional budget deadline.
Vehicle Taken in Armed Carjacking Located by KCMO Police
Update: Kansas City, MO- Shortly after a female was carjacked in Raytown, MO, the Kansas City, MO Police located the victim’s vehicle. After a short pursuit, the vehicle crashed into a building in the 2600 block of Truman Road. One male was apprehended and transported to a local hospital. Detectives are not releasing his name at this time. The investigation is ongoing.
On 4-4-17, at approximately 2:50 p.m., Raytown Police Officers were called to the Raytown Schools Education and Conference Center located at 10750 E. MO 350 Highway, Raytown, MO 64138 on a reported carjacking that had occurred. The female victim reported that a white male followed her from the building to her vehicle. The male pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded the keys to her vehicle. The suspect left westbound from the area in the victim’s vehicle. There were no injuries reported. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477)
Parties unknown claimed to Facebook that my endorsements were abusing and managed to get them deleted. To read my Endorsements and decide for yourself if there is an iota of abuse or abusive language in my endorsements, you have to go to this website if you are reading this one facebook. Everyone else, please share my endorsement post.
Half of our Board of Aldermen are up for election next Tuesday, April 4th.
Ward I
No endorsement
Ward II
Loretha Hayden: Hayden`s real world business experience, pleasant nature, would be a great asset to the Board of Alderman. Hayden served as the Chair of the Raytown Chamber of Commerce.
Ward III
Ryan Myers : This is a tough call, as both candidates are good-natured and have good intent. Ryan add more energy and numeric analysis to the board and by that gets the endorsement.
Ward IV
Chuck Henss: Henss has education and experience in large international projects. His ability to work well with diverse people to a common goal (as in trans-Pacific telecom cables) would add needed skills to the Board.
Ward V
Bonnaye Mims: Mims probably has the most impressive set of skills, education, and experience of any candidate to run for the Board of Alderman. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Master’s in Government Business and two terms as a State Rep for a district that includes the lower west part of Raytown. She sat on the Appropriations Committee that oversees all State spending. Here skills in creating, overseeing and passing budgets is a skill Raytown is in need of. Mims also served 13 years on the Hickman Mills School Board and was elected four times in succession to the post of Board President.
DOROTHY TUCKER ROBERTS – Ms. Roberts history of being an educator, business owner, and State of Missouri licensing board member in her profession make her an outstanding candidate for the Raytown School Board. Her quick mind and pleasant nature is an added bonus.
TERRY E. LANDERS – The good work Mr. Landers has done for this community would fill a book. Teaching, coaching, volunteering for kids and for seniors, Raytown Arts Council, Raytown Retired Teachers and School Personnel Association, Raytown PTA Council, and the Raytown Rotary Club, Raytown Parks Board, Shepherd Center Board, and Raytown Kiwanis are a few ways Terry has served.
Mr. Landers is a stable force on the School Board, whose knowledge of the Boards history and ability to get people to work together are a great asset.
If you need to know more about Mr. Landers, click HERE to see him being presented with the Truman Heartland Man of the Year Award.
The Raytown Times article gave Mims only 5 % of the space that was given her opponents and no photo and her name was the only one of all candidates in all races not highlighted. To balance the scales, Raytown Online will provide featured coverage.
Dear Neighbor,
I want to be your Ward 5 Alderman and I am asking for your vote on Tuesday, April 4th. My experience as an active member of the Raytown community, a State Representative and a School Board Member make me a great choice to be the voice of the people.
We have many things to be excited about! Raytown is growing and this is exemplified by the increase of new businesses and the face-lifts of current businesses. Continued public and private investment will increase the opportunities for Raytown’s ongoing economic growth.
I have been speaking with residents in the 5th Ward and have been honored to meet so many wonderful people. The common theme we share is a vision for safe neighborhoods, providing local services for seniors, Veterans, and families, and repairing our streets and building sidewalks.
Residents are looking for experience and leadership and I would be honored to be your voice in our city. I firmly believe it is my responsibility as a public servant to not play politics, but to give our community the resources needed to thrive, not just survive.
The Raytown Times article listed Chuck as John Henss and gave him only 20% of the space that was given his opponent and no photo. To balance the scales, Raytown Online will provide featured coverage.
I was born and raised in a small town on a family farm, one of thirteen children, where I learned the value of hard work and family. I am a husband, a father, and a grandfather. My wife and I have been married for 35 years. We raised two lovely daughters and have 5 beautiful grandchildren. My younger daughter is a wife and mother of 5. My son-in-law is journeyman electrician with IBEW Local 124. My older daughter owns and operates a small business (Mobile Menagerie) in Athens TX. When we retired, and work no longer determined where we lived, we chose Raytown for our home.
I graduated in 1971 with a degree in Education. My first position was in a small elementary/junior high school where I taught science and coached both boys and girls sports teams. In 1979, I was offered an opportunity for a career in telecommunications which led to a position at Sprint. I worked for Sprint for 25 years. The majority of that time was in the International Network division of Sprint, where I led a team of highly skilled network planners, building voice and data networks with our foreign partners throughout the globe. I traveled extensively, working with many different cultures and have come to appreciate what can be accomplished when people from diverse backgrounds work together for a common goal. Also in this position with Sprint, I was responsible for budget management, efficient management of resources to meet business goals, and, most importantly, was an advocate for the ideas and needs of my team to Senior Management.
I chose to run for Alderman to support Raytown and be an active member in the community where I live. Raytown became our community when I retired and my job no longer dictated where we live. There are many in Raytown who were born here and chose to stay here, and that is a good thing. In my case, I chose to move here, to live out my retirement years here, to make this my home, my community. A place where my grand-kids play with our neighbor’s kids, enjoy the city parks, especially Kenagy Park, and enjoy the local restaurants, especially Breakfast and Lunch Lovers, and the soda fountain at Fox’s Drugstore. My wife is a gardener, and because of our many moves, has never been able to see her gardens grow to be fully matured. She now has a garden that she will nurture and watch as it develops to its fullest potential. Although we were not born and raised here, this community is every bit as important to us as a lifelong resident.
I believe I have the determination and skills to represent the people of Ward 4. I pledge to be a voice for my constituents, and will be open to all views and concerns. I will support city services, ensure efficient use of tax revenue, attract both commercial and residential growth, treat all neighborhoods equally and with respect, and help make Raytown a destination that is known for its schools, local shops and restaurants, and a great place to call home.
POSITIIONS I WILL PROMOTE AS ALDERMAN
With your help, I would like to bring my skills and experience to the position of Alderman to help our community with the following goals:
Treat all neighborhoods equally; keep our streets safe and clean; maintain all infrastructure including city parks; provide storm cleanup, and quality public services
Improve public areas, especially on the 350 corridor to attract both commercial and residential growth
Provide support to residents to meet codes, especially for the elderly
Support Raytown School District, the cornerstone of the community
I am a strong supporter of unions and will ensure unions are part of the bidding process for all construction and economic development in Raytown
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
I have talked with many of my constituents in the last few weeks and have listened to their issues and concerns. What bothers my constituents most is that they are being ignored by city government. Here is a list of issues my constituents want to see addressed:
Street repair: many streets are in need of repair with problems ranging from pot holes, cracked curbing, and crumbling driveway access. Often, the problems are given temporary patches rather than a fix.
Street clean-up: debris in the streets and curbs is accumulating in many neighborhoods. There was a time when street sweepers made occasional passes on the streets but this service is no longer being provided.
Code enforcement: Most code violations are dealt with by sending a letter followed by a ticket for non-compliance. Citizens would appreciate personal contact with city officials so there can be a better understanding of why the property is in violation and the options to resolve the situation.
Code enforcement and senior citizens: Senior citizens may require special treatment and financial assistance to deal with code violations. As alderman, I would propose the city provide this assistance.
Code enforcement for bank owned properties: Often times, bank owned properties are left vacant for years and left to deteriorate and yards are neglected. Banks must be held accountable to the same codes.
Tree clean-up: Many trees in the city are on city easements and should be the responsibility of the city to maintain, especially pruning of the dead branches. Often this falls on the property owner.
Storm clean-up: The city should provide a service to clean up branches and debris after a storm. Many cities provide this service.
Sidewalks and streetlights: Some neighborhoods do not have sidewalks and others are in need of repair. The same is true of streetlights.
All neighborhoods need to be treated equally in resolving these issues.
The League of Women voters forum for candidates for Raytown Missouri’s Board of Alderman. In order to quickly post this no editing has been done. This is straight from the camera.
The Cardinals won their third post-season game against Center by a score of 64 to 56 this Tuesday. The game took place at Blue Springs South and advances South in the Missouri Class 4 boys sectionals. Next up for the Cardinals is Kearney on Saturday at 1:00 pm in the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena in Independence.
Leading scorer for the Cardinals was Senior Alex Herndon with 20 points.
Truly South has turned into a Cinderella team in the post season after a less than exciting regular season.
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Jackson County until 10 pm. This means that conditions are such that a tornado may form. It does not mean a tornado has been spotted.
Raytown’s Jeremi Barnes is competing in the NAIA Indoor National Championships in Johnson City, Tenn today. His event is scheduled for 1:30 pm. Jeremi has the 8th longest Triple Jump distance in the nation. Jeremi is a Freshman at Avila University and is the son of Donna and Jerome Barnes of Raytown.
March 8, half of all fundraiser sales from Kansas City Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants will benefit the KC Pet Project, the largest no-kill animal shelter in Kansas City, caring for almost 10,000 pets a year.
Between 10:45 a.m. and 10 p.m., 30 restaurants across Kansas City will donate 50% of all participant proceeds to the KC Pet Project. There are three ways to make sure half of your readers’ lunch/dinner benefits KCPP:
• Bring in the flyer
• Show the social media posts
• Mention the fundraiser at checkout
It’s the first Friday of the month. C’mon down to Blue Ridge Methodist Church tonight for great music and fellowship with the Kansas City Area Bluegrass Music Club. We’re located at 51st St. and Blue Ridge Boulevard; parking and entrance behind the building. The program starts at 7, with featured bands on stage, and there are multiple jam sessions going at the same time for pickers and singers. The UMW provides yummy food at a very reasonable price, and families are welcome. No admission charge for the entertainment, although the traditional hat will be passed to support the club. This clip features the Hootin’ Annies singing “Just a Little Walk with Jesus” at the meeting last March.
