Welcome to spring. And welcome to grilling season. I don’t have many skills in the kitchen but my work on the patio is impeccable. At least that’s what I tell myself.
When grilling always use a condiment.
Let’s talk the COVID-19 vaccine.
Before we begin, remember I’m not your doctor. And for that I’m thankful, because honestly there are some of you I never want to see naked. Nothing personal. I’m sure it’s me, not you.
I’m happy to say I’m fully vaccinated. I’m in the middle of that two week waiting period they say we need for full protection following the final dose. My second Pfizer shot was last week. I had heard stories of folks getting uncomfortable side effects after the second dosage, so I anticipated some problems. I even worked ahead the day before and the day of my second shot, anticipating I may have to be horizontal the day after. Nope. Other than some soreness in the shoulder the night of the shot, nothing.
So then, of course, a friend speculated that without side effects maybe I wasn’t getting the full benefit of the vaccine. While I appreciate the concern, that line of thought has no merit, according to the experts.
“Although having symptoms is a sign that the immune system is reacting to the vaccine, the absence of symptoms does not mean that the vaccine is not working,” California’s San Bernardino County Health Officer Dr. Michael Sequeira said, according to The Mercury News. “Follow-up studies with antibody measures and epidemiology studies have shown that the overwhelming majority of those who experience no symptoms after the vaccine have developed immunity.”
So there you go.
Again, I’m no expert on pandemics and vaccines and such. I yield my time to the people like the esteemed health officer above. And of course to county commissioner Dagmar Wood, who for months has faithfully provided us with important Fox News conspiracy theories on the topics.
Goodness, did the Metropolitan Community College folks get a lesson in Platte County politics. The lesson is don’t bring us the idea of a tax increase right now. Talk about not reading the room. Platte County voters swatted that thing outta here like Shaq rejecting a layup by a 5’8″ guard.
And even if you’re going to propose the idea of a tax increase, don’t try to hide it. Because if you do you’ve already lost the war. Let’s be real, the election was basically over as soon as folks realized this “attachment” proposal was a hidden tax. The only thing left to be decided was the margin of defeat.
Platte County R-3’s no-tax increase bond issue was victorious, but you may have noticed not by the comfortable margin that local school questions normally receive. The measure required 57.14 percent approval for passage–it received 61.16 percent, so only four percent to spare.
Remember, a portion of the school district crosses over into Clay County. Breaking down the R-3 results by county: In Platte, voters supported the bond issue with 2,206 in favor (62%) to 1,350 opposed (38%). In the Clay County portion of the district, it was yes 156 (51 percent) and no 150 (49 percent).
Got a question you’d like to have us ask Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas on Thursday night’s episode of Landmark Live? Shoot us your suggestion at ivan@plattecountylandmark.com.
If we pick your question you don’t win anything other than the knowledge that we picked your question. But still.
Remember back in the day when the Kansas City one percent earnings tax proposal would face organized opposition? Those days have been over for a couple of E-tax election cycles now, which comes up for renewal every five years. It passed with around 77% in favor on Tuesday. Even the Platte County portion of Kansas City supported it, but not to the tune of 77%. The Platte County portion of the vote came in at 66% in favor to 34% opposed.
The Kansas City mayor has some thoughts on the E-tax concept and we’ll ask him about it on Thursday.
Congratulations to Todd Graves of Platte County, former county prosecutor and former US Attorney who earned confirmation to the MU Board of Curators after a somewhat testy fight for a time from those who didn’t want to see it happen.
Gonzaga’s bid for an undefeated season in college basketball, something that hasn’t happened since Bobby Knight’s Indiana team of 1976, was upended when Baylor manhandled the Bulldogs Monday night in a championship game that was not close.
Gonzaga kind of reminded me of the Roy Williams teams of the 90s at KU. Pretty to watch, with a cutting and passing offense that was like clockwork. But when they came up against strong, physical, more athletic teams who weren’t afraid to bully them a little bit, it was all over.
(Nowadays you’ll often find Ivan Foley working with tongs or a spatula. Wut? Email ivan@plattecountylandmark.com <mailto:ivan@plattecountylandmark.com> )