The Parkville Missouri Luminary

Arson and Death in Platte City

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

From the Platte City Police Department: 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 unidentified male. The truck had also

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

A Sporting View: The Wide World of Sports

2012-01-11T11:55:00.000-06:00

By Mark Vasto NBC Sports used the “The Winter Classic” hockey game between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers to also officially announce the formation of their own sports network – the aptly named “NBC Sports Network.” As Costas said it, I remember thinking, “Well…what took you so long?” After all, NBC Sports has a good a legacy as any other network. Notre Dame football,

Commission Gives Budget a Makeover

2012-01-10T15:28:00.002-06:00

Here's the County Commission's press statement regarding the 2012 budget: "Shortly after the scheduled 11:00 a.m. Administrative Session, the Platte County Commission passed an amended FY12 budget. With a vote of 3-0, the Commission unanimously approved several amendments to the proposed FY12 budget. Highlights of the new budget include funding both the Prosecutor and the Sheriff at their

Gomer's Takes the Wine Crown

2012-01-10T12:11:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Tom Stacey, who had the vision for the vineyards you see outside Gomer's. Turns out they make pretty good juice too: they just won the "Jefferson Cup" wine competition. From The Midwest Wine Press: Many wine enthusiasts are wondering about the he 2011 Honorary Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition Award that went to “2008 My Three Sons Norton” from Missouri. We can

For Your Convenience: Twenty-Two For 22

2012-01-10T11:45:00.000-06:00

From the Platte County Prosecutor's office: A Kansas man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for the armed robbery of a Platte County convenience store. Brandon Goodwin, 22, received the sentences on January 5 for robbing a clerk of the Trex Mart Convenience Store in Dearborn at gunpoint. Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, “This sentence sends a loud and clear

Funeral Services for Chester MacDonald, Piropos Grille Co-Owner

2012-01-09T01:29:00.000-06:00

Seems like another day, another obituary on the Luminary site. Many know Chester as the "cut-to-the-chase" co-owner of Piropos Grille in Parkville. A good friend to The Luminary, he will be missed. Our sympathies to his wife, Sheila. What follows is his official obituary: Chester Stanley MacDonald, a resident of Weatherby Lake, MO, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at St. Luke’s

SUSPECT CHARGED IN SHIPPERT MURDER

2012-01-09T01:07:00.001-06:00

From the Platte County Prosecutor's Office (*WARNING* This is an extremely graphic and upsetting report report.) A Platte City man has been charged with the murder of a woman in May 2011 and the assault of another woman on December 26, 2011. Quintin P. O’Dell, 22, is accused of murdering Alissa F. Shippert near the Platte River and assaulting another woman in Ferrelview the day after Christmas

Commission Blinks on the Budget

2012-01-05T01:12:00.000-06:00

After a few weeks of general bashing from Platte County staff, the Platte County Commission released the following statement last Thursday: "In response to the Platte County Prosecutor’s proposed plan to rescind the Platte County Park’s tax in favor of a law enforcement tax, the Platte County Commission has stopped all work on the planned expansions at both Platte County YMCA Centers. "During

The Kitchen is Closed: The (Rejected) Obituary for my Grandmother

2012-01-04T15:24:00.001-06:00

Most journalists start their careers, ironically, by writing obituaries. I started in the "toy department" (sports) and avoided that task. When my grandmother passed away yesterday, my mother made the mistake of asking me, Mark Vasto, to write the obituary. I consulted editors from around the country, studied famous obituaries and did a lot of soul searching. How do I encapsulate the life of the

Sheriff Flips Out On Commission Budget

2012-01-04T09:47:00.000-06:00

From the Platte County Sheriff: Platte County Sheriff Richard L. Anderson along with several other Platte County elected officials testified against the Platte County Commission’s proposed 2012 Budget at the public hearing on the 2012 budget held earlier today. Sheriff Anderson stated that the Commissions’ proposed 2012 budget would result in the Sheriff’s Office having fewer deputies,

Zahnd Slams Commission for 2012 Budget

2012-01-03T15:31:00.000-06:00

The following is a press release from the Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd: Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd testified against the Platte County Commission’s proposed 2012 Budget on January 3, 2012. Zahnd criticized the proposed budget for requiring “draconian cuts to the core functions of government while spending millions upon millions on frills such as massive

Parkville Police Report 12/30/11 - 1/1/12

2012-01-03T15:00:00.002-06:00

Updated every Monday, except holidays.