The Parkville Missouri Luminary

Driver in Parkville Drive-by Shooting Sentenced to 25-years

2012-02-16T15:55:00.000-06:00

From the Platte County Prosecutor: Ellis A young man who was the driver in a drive-by shooting that killed a teenager at a Parkville intersection has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Stephen L. Ellis, 20, of Kansas City, received the sentence on February 16 in Platte County Circuit Court after earlier pleading guilty to his role in the July 2010 death of Spencer J. Crosthwait.

FBI Searching for Stolen Midwest Bank Booty

2012-02-14T06:19:00.000-06:00

From the Federal Bureau of Investigation: The FBI is investigating a bank robbery at Bank Midwest at 6430 N. Cosby Avenue Monday morning (the place near Subway and Tuesday Morning.) The robbery happened at 9:32 a.m. FBI spokeswoman Bridget Patton a man walked into the bank, showed a weapon and demanded cash. The man ran out of the bank after getting some money. No one was hurt. Witnesses

Park Hill Cancels School on Monday Due to Snow

2012-02-13T22:24:00.002-06:00

Yeah, they did. Also, Defenbaugh's garbage truck was stuck on the hill at South National Drive for hours until a massive B.J. McKay and his best friend Bear-type rig got involved. Here's a tip: spray your snow shovel with Pam or a like type of non-stick spray. Make sure you cover the top of your head and your ears as this is where most of your body heat is lost. A scarf will help insulate you

Meth Lab Busted Up By Lawmen

2012-02-10T02:15:00.001-06:00

From the Platte County Sheriff's Department: This afternoon the Platte County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force (PCMEG -Platte County Multi-Jurisdictional Enforcement Group), executed a search warrant on a suspected methamphetamine lab in the 400 block of Vine Street in Platte City with the assistance of the Kansas City Police Department Street Narcotics Unit, Platte City Police Department

'Significant, long-term traffic disruption' for the Northland

2012-02-09T16:55:00.000-06:00

From the Missouri Department of Transportation: MoDOT plans major repairs on Route 169 along the Missouri River beginning in late July through the remainder of this year. The work is both necessary and urgent, but will create a significant, long-term traffic disruption along an important link between Downtown Kansas City and Northland communities. You and your stakeholders need to know what

Disher for Fisher

2012-02-09T11:59:00.000-06:00

From the Park Hill School District...not sure what the Dr. Seuss symbolism means but, okay...

Platte County Rick Rolled

2012-02-09T02:42:00.003-06:00

By Mark Vasto There was nothing to be gained delegate-wise, but Missouri's primary certainly put momentum behind the Rick Santorum campaign for president. Santorum, the former Republican senator from Pennsylvania, prevailed in Missouri, garnering 55 percent of the vote in the Tuesday election. Mitt Romney, considered the front runner nationally, only captured 25 percent of the

County Resumes Community Center Expansion

2012-02-08T14:12:00.003-06:00

From the Platte County Commission: After a public January 3rd budget hearing, in which Prosecutor Eric Zahnd proposed rescinding the voter approved one-half cent parks sales tax and replacing it with a one-fourth cent sales tax for law enforcement and a one-eighth cent sales tax for parks, the Commission placed a stop work order for the Community Centers on January 5th. The stoppage was

Local Leaders Decry Park Hill Board Decision

2012-02-08T00:10:00.000-06:00

By Mark Vasto As previously reported by The Luminary, the decision to hire Scott Springston, Ph.D, as the successor to Dennis Fisher, Ph.D, has been a controversial one. Nowhere has this been more apparent than on the Internet, where local officials and patrons of the Park Hill School District have sounded off via Facebook and Twitter. Leading the charge against both the

Amid Controversy, Springston Offered Park Hill Super Job

2012-02-07T23:51:00.000-06:00

By Mark Vasto Despite strenuous opposition to the move from both a grassroots and official level, the Park Hill Board of Education voted tonight to offer a contract to Scott Springston, Ph.D to succeed Dennis Fisher, Ph.D as the next superintendent of the school district. The offer was confirmed but the terms of the contract were not disclosed by Park Hill in their press

Controversial Pick for New Park Hill Superintendent

2012-02-06T17:36:00.001-06:00

By Mark Vasto The Park Hill Board of Education last Friday announced their final candidate to fill the district's vacancy and it has been met with immediate howls of derision -- at least on area social media websites like Facebook and Twitter. Dr. Scott Springston The candidate, Scott Springston, Ph.D, is the current superintendent of the Valley Center School District in

Updated: Arson and Death in Platte City

2012-02-03T12:06:00.000-06:00

From the Platte City Police Department, updated to reflect name of victim: This morning at 5:25 a.m. members of the Platte City Police Department were dispatched to a car fire at 1881 Wilkerson Drive. At 6:50 a.m. Officers were dispatched to 2128 Catie Lane for another car fire and at 7:04 a.m. an unidentified male body was located in a truck at 2113 Wilkerson Drive that was not owned by the

Journalists Expose (Alleged) Ambulance District Corruption

2012-02-03T10:24:00.002-06:00

From the office of the Platte County Prosecutor: The President of the Northland Regional Ambulance District has been charged with misusing official information stemming from a land transaction that allegedly netted him $144,000. Kevin N. Rawlings, 40, of Dearborn, allegedly purchased land in an area where he knew the ambulance district was planning to build a new station. Rawlings bought

Park Hill's Cox Announces Run for Assessor

2012-02-02T14:00:00.000-06:00

From the David Cox campaign: Today [January 31] David Cox announces that he will seek the office of Platte County Assessor. “I am running for Platte County Assessor to ensure our taxpayer property valuations are calculated in an objective and equitable fashion that reflects the current ‘fair market value’. Additionally, I will work to make the assessment process more transparent and

Parkville Police Report 1/30/2012

2012-02-01T09:00:00.000-06:00

Click here to see a .pdf of the latest crime report from Parkville's finest.

From the Publisher: A School Named Sue

2012-01-31T16:08:00.001-06:00

The Park Hill Board of Education voted to name the district's 10th elementary school Tiffany Ridge at the regularly scheduled January 26 meeting of the Board. Lula Mae Ridge wouldn't have sounded right. From Nicole Kirby, PR rep for the District: "This was the top choice of the naming committee after its second effort to narrow the list of community suggestions. The committee recommended

Feature: The Ugly G's: Guilt and Grudges

2012-01-31T14:57:00.002-06:00

Here's a hard hitting feature from the University of Missouri Extension Council: Holding a grudge or feeling guilty can keep you from enjoying all that life has to offer. Khaaaaaaaaaan! “Guilt is something we impose on ourselves,” said Vera Massey, nutrition and health education specialist for University of Missouri Extension. “We get into the ‘I should have done that,’ and the ‘

Chamber Releases Commerce Survey

2012-01-26T15:49:00.000-06:00

From Amy Acock, director of the Parkville Area Chamber of Commerce: "Thank you to everyone that participated in our 6th Annual Gala. We can't thank you enough for all of the donations, participation and support for the Chamber. We raised $4,000 for the Park Hill Clothing Center which will go along way to help support the youth of our community. "We would appreciate you taking just a

Municipal Election Slate Set

2012-01-26T10:39:00.000-06:00

As previously reported in this space, there will be a contested race in Parkville for mayor and several aldermen seats this election season. The next election will be Tuesday, April 3. Nan McManus Incumbent Mayor Gerry Richardson will be stepping down after this term. Seeking to fill the void are Ward 1 Alderman Jim Brooks and Ward 4 Alderman Nan McManus. Brooks is a longtime volunteer

Romney Leads in Parkville GOP Donations

2012-01-25T16:35:00.000-06:00

Source: Federal Election Commission

Collector Announces Quarterly Tax Payment Option

2012-01-25T16:29:00.000-06:00

From Platte County Collector, Shelia Palmer: "Sheila Palmer, Platte County Collector announced a new program which will give Platte County taxpayers the option of paying their real estate taxes in quarterly installments. The new option will become effective immediately with a deadline of March 15, 2012 to enroll. “Paying all of your taxes in one large payment at the end of the year can be

Park Hill Board Candidates Locked In

2012-01-19T11:44:00.002-06:00

The ballot for the next Park Hill School Board election has been set and it features three Parkvillians: Fred Sanchez PO Box 29053 Parkville, MO 64152 fs1948@yahoo.com 816.590.5220 Chris Seufert 6502 NW Sioux Drive Parkville, MO 64152 seuf96@yahoo.com 816.326.7845 Cell 816.286.9200 Edward Stephens 6940 NW Avalon St. Kansas City, MO 64152 eestephens@gmail.com 816.217.8608 Allison Wurst 14500

A Sporting View: Ali Hurt More than Himself

2012-01-19T11:41:00.000-06:00

By Mark Vasto The "Drama in the Bahamas." (AP) Burgundy carpet, beige couches and reheated pepperoni pizza from the night before, television tuned to WABC to watch the Wide World of Sports ... that was a typical Saturday spent with my father during the late '70s and early '80s. It's hard to understand now, in the

Park's Underground is No Secret

2012-01-13T12:29:00.002-06:00

From Hake's Real Estate regarding the Park University Underground: New leases and tenant expansions led to a net absorption of 58,615 square feet last year in the Parkville Commercial Underground in Parkville, Mo. In August of 2010, Park University retained Hakes Real Estate to market and lease the vacant space in its 1-million-square-foot Parkville Commercial Underground. At the same time,

Governor Appoints Ferguson to Election Board

2012-01-11T14:00:00.000-06:00

From Governor Nixon's Office: Duly Noted The Governor has appointed James Dallas Everett (D), of Platte City; and Marvin Ferguson (R), of Parkville, to the Platte County Election Board. The board oversees and directs elections in a non-partisan manner, providing direction for voting entities and procedures to assure that a fair and honest election is held for the residents of Platte County.Dr