If you drive through Platte City with any regularity, you likely noticed all the potholes that developed on Hwy. 92 earlier this winter. Hwy. 92, of course, is the maintenance responsibility of the Missouri Department of Transportation, not the City of Platte City. Looks like MoDOT must have come through recently and patched most of the holes. But honestly even after the patch job, we’re boating through some rough waters out there, folks.
At the height of pothole season, the stretch of Hwy. 92 from the high school to the Marshall Road intersection near the post office was like a mine field. It was causing flashbacks to ‘nam.
The roadway should not be that rough by now, in light of a 2017 resurfacing job. DJ Gehrt, city administrator, told me in a recent conversation the problem is with the base of the roadway. It seems the base below that stretch from the high school to Marshall Road is different than the base of the rest of the highway through town. I’d share the exact road construction terms DJ used but it was a casual talk in a by-chance conversation and I was not in full journalism note-taking mode. Plus, I was distracted when our conversation quickly turned to other important things like college basketball and tacos.
City officials no doubt would like to see the stretch rebuilt with a better foundation rather than just a resurfacing the next time it comes up on MoDOT’s to-do list. Getting any improvement work moved up on MoDOT’s schedule might be tough. The city might–or might not–try to sweeten the chances by agreeing to cover a portion of the costs. Because while the highway is MoDOT’s responsibility, many motorists will remember the presence of moon craters through town and consider it a reflection of the city. Let’s see how it plays out, hopefully in the not-too-distant future. In the meantime, buckle up and enjoy the ride.
We’ll be hosting Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas as our guest on next Thursday night’s episode of Landmark Live. Tune in for information and maybe a little fun. It happens at 6 p.m. on April 8 on our Facebook page at Platte County Landmark and at plattecountylandmark.com. This is a date change from April 1. When the date of April 1 was fist set, the mayor’s staff didn’t realize the mayor would be tied up with Royals Opening Day ceremonial activities. So April 8 it is.
Hope you’ve been enjoying the improvements our tech guru Schneider has brought to Landmark Live. We now have individual microphones, studio lights, multiple cameras, high definition video, a green screen for visual effects, bumper music and other unidentified tech toys Schneider has added to the mix, toys that I know little about and wouldn’t understand the explanation if I asked.
Schneider is the hardest working man in show business. The part I like best is he works cheap. Landmark Live now has some qualities of fine wine while still on a Natty Light budget.
Not to put pressure on Schneider but the show with the mayor will be the first time we’ve tried to get all these new tech toys to work while interviewing someone via Zoom from our studio.
Good luck, Schneider. We’re all counting on you.
Schneider just texted me a sample of the bumper music for the episode with the mayor. I’d describe it as dancin-rockin-groovin-soothin. It may put you in a hypnotic state. Go to the light.
Our buddy local musician Brad Carl is scheduled to join me on the show for the interview with the mayor. Thursday is also Brad’s 50th birthday, so we appreciate him joining us when he could be home falling asleep in his chair in front of the TV.
Originally Chris Kamler was scheduled as co-host but we’ve since loaned him out that night to the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, where he will be PA announcer for a soccer match, a hockey game, or a testicle festival. Frankly, I don’t know the details and there’s not much difference between the three anyway. We just ask the folks in Independence to please return Chris relatively unharmed when you’re done with him.
You ever try to eat Taco Bell in your car? It’s like an Olympic sport. You may end up needing crisis counseling.
Old time singer/actor Pat Boone is now in a radio commercial about what he calls “the government’s secret war on cash.” In the spot, ol’ Pat claims there are some banks that won’t even cash a check these days. Listen, I’m no expert on cash and currency or the Federal Reserve but my first reaction is that Pat might want to find a new bank.
Pat also claims that in some instances the government “is confiscating cash from innocent citizens.” So, like, I guess Pat is implying that government agents are knocking on people’s doors and saying “Excuse me, mam, we’re here to confiscate your cash. Hand us your purse and your kid’s piggy bank and nobody will get hurt.”
Other than some quarters in my pocket to operate Landmark news racks and a few dollars tucked away in my wallet for ill-advised drive-through meals, I don’t carry much cash. But I’m doing that by choice for convenience and security, not because the government is telling me to.
So is Pat Boone onto something? Or is Pat just cashing that check (or not being able to cash that check?) he’s getting to say these words while promoting a book written by someone who watches too many movies?
More importantly, is this the next conspiracy to be embraced by Dagmar Wood?
Please discuss.
(Try to confiscate Foley’s cash via email to ivan@plattecountylandmark.com)