SEVERAL NEW RESTAURANTS OPENED LOCALLY IN 2022
The middle months of the year 2022 in Platte County featured a bevy of news highlights, including the Parkville Farmers Market getting struck by trucks not once but twice, as well as several announcements of restaurant openings and new developments on the way.
Below is part two of The Landmark’s three-part series looking back at the past year in news. Here are some highlights ripped from The Landmark’s headlines for the months of May through August.
May 4:
The east end of the iconic Farmers Market structure in downtown Parkville was damaged when it was struck by a box truck on Thursday morning. Witnesses gave a description of the truck and police reviewed a video from a nearby rail cam located at the railroad crossing downtown. The investigation led police to a company in North Kansas City, a company that performs pickup of thrift store items.
An armed homicide suspect from Kansas City, Kan. was shot and killed by Kansas City police and Missouri State Highway Patrol officers in the New Bedford Falls subdivision off Running Horse Road just south of Platte City.
The Culver’s fast-food restaurant in Platte City was burglarized overnight last week, with an undetermined amount of money stolen from a safe inside the restaurant’s office.
May 11:
Platte City’s police department will continue to use its current leased location as a headquarters until the new City Hall/police station is completed later this year or early in 2023, city officials say.
Dr. Jeanette Cowherd, who is retiring as Park Hill superintendent, was honored by the district at a reception this week.
May 18:
The FBI hosted an official groundbreaking ceremony at 1180 NW Prairie View Road in Kansas City, east of I-29 near the 112th St. exit in Platte County, to mark construction of a new home for the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office. The field office is expected to open in the fall of 2023.
An effort is alive to build a new Northland Career Center. The state has appropriated $30 million in matching grant money. The center is currently located in Platte City but a new location will support a larger and more diverse student population, officials say.
May 25:
Four students at Platte County High School were taken to the hospital Thursday morning after intentionally consuming over-the-counter medication for recreational purposes, police say.
Planning is underway for a grand opening celebration for the new KCI Airport, which could be celebrated in February of 2023. Early indications are that the grand opening will include a combination of public events, an open house and a private formal gala.
GasBuddy has released the results of its annual summer travel survey revealing that even with record-high gasoline prices, 58% of Americans intend to road trip this summer, a rise from last summer when gas prices were nearly $1.50 per gallon lower.
June 1:
A 42-year-old man is facing charges for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting his elderly father over nearly a 24-hour period. John Houston Fraley of Lenox, Ia. allegedly abducted his father and moved him across state lines and multiple jurisdictions for some unknown benefits.
This year, Zona Rosa, the outdoor shopping complex off of I-29 at Barry Road, has put together a list of Friday and Saturday night entertainment with its Zona Rosa Summer Concerts in the Park. The concerts will take place at Zona Rosa’s newly-revamped Central Park, which is the green space next to Bravo Italian restaurant.
The City of Platte City’s new splash park at 1009 Second Street was a popular place on a warm Memorial Day. A nice-sized gathering of kids, accompanied by their parents, had some fun as the temperatures climbed into the 80s.
June 8:
A LongHorn Steakhouse is coming to Platte County. A major remodeling of the former Ruby Tuesday building at 9770 NW Prairie View Road, just west of I-29 at the Tiffany Springs exit, will pave the way for LongHorn. Tentative opening date is set for September.
A First Watch restaurant is coming to the intersection of N. Ambassador and NW Skyview, which is across Ambassador from the Tiffany Springs Market Center. A Whataburger fast food restaurant owned by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is also being planned for that intersection.
A Twin Peaks restaurant, which features cold beer in a mountain lodge theme, will open in the former Houlihan’s location at 8600 N. Boardwalk Avenue, Kansas City in Platte County. A “summer” opening is planned for the Texas-based restaurant chain.
June 15:
For the second time in the past couple of months an iconic structure in downtown Parkville has been hit by a truck. On Monday a tractor-trailer ran into the north side of the city-owned Farmers Market building. The crash was investigated by the Parkville Police Department. The truck and driver remained at the scene and the driver was cited. The entire structure sustained significant damage.
A family pet’s paws caused a house fire by activating the touch controls on a cooktop at a home in the 8000 block of Park Ridge Drive in Parkville. Damage to the home was described as “moderate.”
June 22:
The Platte County R-3 Board of Education approved increasing all salaries by six percent.
The City of Platte City has decided to stick with free food option at its annual 4th of July Celebration, planned in downtown on Monday, July 4. Meal options will include multiple food trucks and a downtown restaurant that will have an outside offering that day.
June 29:
Electrical provider Evergy is catching some static from frustrated consumers in Platte City. In recent months, power outages that some customers and government officials are considering too frequent and too lengthy have spurred complaints. Those complaints have been spoken in public online forums by customers and spoken in person to Evergy representatives by local government officials.
Briarcliff Barrio, a Mexican Kitchen & Bar, has opened in the Briarcliff Village Shopping Center at 4125 North Mulberry Drive in Kansas City.
July 6:
For the second straight year, a July 4th Celebration in Platte City filled the downtown square with area residents eager to partake in family-friendly activities and take advantage of free meal offerings provided by the City of Platte City. Mayor Tony Paolillo says estimates list the crowd during the four-hour event at between 1,800 and 2,200 people.
DJ Gehrt, the longtime city administrator, has announced he will retire at the end of June in 2023. Gehrt’s successor is already in place–it will be Marji Gehr, the city’s finance officer who is now also serving as assistant city administrator.
After being struck twice by trucks in recent months, the iconic Parkville Farmers Market structure “will have to come down,” Mayor Dean Katerndahl said in an interview on Landmark Live. Katerndahl said the structure suffered damage beyond repair.
July 13:
A targeted tree-trimming effort is underway by electrical provider Evergy in the Platte City area this week, as the company blames frequent power outages over the past several months on weather events that downed or weakened tree limbs and branches.
Experience community spirit and family-oriented activities at this year’s Platte County Fair, starting Wednesday July 20. This four-evening event features live music, an old-fashioned carnival, competitive rodeo action, two nights of demolition derby and a mud-a-thon.
Federal dollars are available that could help the City of Camden Point develop a municipal sewer system. It would replace the need for aging individual septic systems. Up to $3.3 million will be available for wastewater projects in Camden Point, says Congressman Sam Graves.
July 20:
Will renewal of a roads tax question be on the ballot in November in Platte County? County officials say that is currently undecided.
Parkville officials are getting input and discussing options for replacing the damaged Parkville Farmers Market structure.
The judges of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, have elected Gary D. Witt of Platte County as chief judge. The two year term for Witt began on July 1. The chief judge serves as chief administrative officer of the court and duties include presenting the court’s budget to the legislature and approving all financial transactions involving the court. The chief judge also assigns the court’s 11 judges to panels to hear appeals and petitions for extraordinary writs and designates the presiding judges of those panels.
July 27:
The Parkville Board of Aldermen approved the hiring of Brittanie Propes as the city’s first-ever parks and recreation director.
Parkville officials are examining strategies for improved communication with the public now that a new mayor and several other new faces comprise leadership in the city of about 7,100 residents.
The Platte County Sheriff’s Office was one of several sheriff’s departments chosen for an audit by the FBI of concealed carry weapons (CCW) permits.
Participants in the Riverside Junior Police Academy learned that law officers are “more of a public servant than anything.” Ten young cadets graduated from the fourth class.
Aug. 3:
Jason Maki of Platte County is a statewide winner for his efforts to preserve and protect the Sunshine Law, the state law governing open meetings and open records in Missouri. He is being honored as Missouri Sunshine Hero by the Missouri Sunshine Coalition.
Acre is the name of a new restaurant opening in the Parkville Commons at 6325 Lewis Street in Parkville. The 3,500 sq. ft. restaurant has 80 seats.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of King Tut’s ancient tomb and countless artifacts, an Immersive King Tut Exhibit will take the spotlight at Zona Rosa starting on Sept. 16.
At the primary election on Tuesday, 53% of Platte County voters asked for Republican ballots and 46% chose a Democratic ballot.
Aug. 10:
A zipline ride will go in at Rising Star Park in Platte City, which is home to the city’s splash pad. The zipline is expected to be ready by mid-November. The playground equipment allows young riders to launch from a platform and soar swiftly through the air until they are rapidly bounced backward.
Twin Peaks, a new sports bar, is set to open Monday at 8660 N. Boardwalk Ave., Kansas City in Platte County, just in time for football season. Twin Peaks is known for a couple of things, including beer served at an ice cold temperature of 29 degrees.
Initial indicators are the people want weekly recycling, Platte City officials say. And city officials say a trial run of a less frequent pickup of recycling did not result in substantial cost savings for the city.
Aug. 17:
City Hall in Platte City was closed last Friday, Aug. 12 due to a COVID outbreak among city staff.
A Taco Bell at the new Creekside development in Parkville will celebrate its grand opening on Aug. 19. Restaurant officials ay the doors will open at 7 a.m. and the first 100 guests are scheduled to receive a free combo meal.
There’s fun for virtually everyone in the family when the annual Parkville Days festival takes place this weekend in downtown Parkville.
Aug. 24:
A city survey reveals support for the Parkville Farmers Market remaining in its current location.
A renewal of the county sales tax for roads will be on the ballot in November in Platte County, but the sales tax will be proposed at a reduced level of a quarter cent instead of the current 3/8th cent. The Platte County Economic Development Council had recommended to county commissioners that the tax be kept at its current 3/8th cent level.
The Platte County Sheriff’s Office and the Park University’s Frances Fishburn Archives and Special Collections have announced a partnership to chronicle the history of the sheriff’s office.
Aug. 31:
‘From nothing to wow.’ A major development is changing the face of an area of Platte County. In fact it’s relatively sudden appearance is catching some folks off guard, in a good way. Creekside Development is a $300 million project at the Intersection of 435 and Hwy. 45 at the west end of Parkville.
The City of Parkville has substantially completed improvements to Hwy. 9 from Hwy. 45 to Lakeview Drive, including a new sidewalk that connects to Main Street.
Platte City officials have agreed to issue taxable industrial development revenue bonds of up to $186 million to finance the costs of a project east of Interstate 29 at Hwy. 92. There are 300 acres total involved in what is described as “the largest private sector investment and largest single development in Platte City’s history.” VanTrust Real Estate has plans to construct three industrial buildings on that site, which will be known as the Platte City Commerce Center. The project will be a multi-million square foot light industrial/logistics complex near the I-29 and Hwy. 92 interchange.