IT’S PART 3 OF THE 2022 YEAR-IN-REVIEW
The final four months of 2022 continued an onslaught of local news, with highlights ranging from a state election that saw recreational marijuana legalized, to progress on a City Hall for one local town, to growing frustration for electrical service in the county seat.
The third and final Landmark installment of a year-in-review glance at the local news of 2022 features a look back at the months of September through December.
Sept. 7:
Patrons of the Rising Star Park in Platte City, which is home to the city-operated splash pad, have noticed the lack of an indoor restroom facility at the park, which is at the site of the former Rising Star Elementary School. Portable restrooms are on site, but that will change by the time the park opens for a new season in the spring of 2023. A pre-constructed bathroom building will be in place next spring at a cost of $97,800.
Opening day for the LongHorn Steakhouse in Platte County is drawing closer. Originally planned for a September opening, corporate officials for LongHorn now tell The Landmark opening day has been pushed back by a month. LongHorn is remodeling the former Ruby Tuesday building at 9770 NW Prairie View Road, west of I-29 at the Tiffany Springs exit.
An Immersive Nutcracker Exhibit will stir up magic for the holidays at Zona Rosa beginning Nov. 19.
Sept. 14:
A head-on crash claimed the life of a Platte City man Friday night on Running Horse Road in Platte City. Authorities say a Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by John Weir was southbound on Running Horse when the motorcycle was struck by a Mercury Sable that was traveling northbound. Authorities say John Weir died at the scene. A passenger on his motorcycle, Laura Weir, 45, was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. Driver of the Mercury Sable is identified by authorities as Tiffany Sayre, 40, of Platte City, who was not injured.
Four graduates of Platte County R-3 are current members of the Chiefs Rumble Drumline. They are Devon Schmidt, Zoey Bedrosian, Callie Curtis and Cade McGinness.
The Platte County Health Department has received its first shipment of Pfizer bivalent COVID vaccines. This vaccine is authorized for those aged 12 and above.
A pedestrian was struck and killed by a dump truck at Zona Rosa. Reports indicate the pedestrian was a 24-year-old female.
Sept. 21:
Average gasoline prices in the Kansas City metro have risen 8.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.33 on Sunday. Gas prices in Platte City and Tracy that day stood at $3.39, six cents per gallon higher than the KC metro average.
Jason Maki of Platte County has been awarded the Sunshine Hero award for his work to support the Missouri Sunshine Law. Maki received a state record settlement of $190,000 from the City of Parkville after Maki’s lawsuit alleged violations of the state’s open meetings and record law by the city.
Sept. 28:
The Parkville Board of Aldermen took the first step in a process to explore whether to alter train whistles throughout the city so they’re not as disruptive to the community. The board has voted for a “quiet zone” diagnostic review to be done at a cost of $16,000.
An employee of the Parkville Price Chopper store is charged with invasion of privacy for allegedly filming shoppers in the women’s restroom at the store.
The new culinary-inspired Green Hills Library Center is now open to the public and will soon be offering culinary literacy programs. The branch is located at 8581 N. Green Hills Road in Kansas City, just a mile and a half east of the former Boardwalk Branch.
Oct. 5:
The Platte County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an incident involving a student who had a handgun in his backpack at Plaza Middle School on Tuesday in the Park Hill School District. The handgun was located upon the student’s arrival at school based on a report from another student. The student, a 12-year-old male, was taken into custody and placed in the hands of juvenile authorities.
Love and loss, friendship and family are themes within the display “Frederick Krause, an Immigrant Boy’s Story of Hope and Success” which runs now through Oct. 17 at the Ben Ferrel Platte County Museum at Third and Ferrel in Platte City.
Oct. 12:
Two adults have been charged with child endangerment in connection with the death of three children during a fire in Kansas City in Platte County in July of 2021. Authorities say meth was possessed in the home.
It’ll be bombs away with a former NBA sharpshooter when former NBA player Scott Wedman joins hosts Ivan Foley and Guy Speckman on Landmark Live. Wedman resides at Weatherby Lake in Platte County.
Ella Lowstetter has been crowned Platte County High School homecoming queen. Mohammad Allysseri was named homecoming king.
Parkville Board of Aldermen has tightened the code on short-term rentals in the city.
Oct. 26:
Rising above ground level at 224-228 Marshall Road is a new City Hall/police station complex for the City of Platte City. Construction is expected to be completed in mid-March of 2023, officials are currently estimating. Cost per the current contract with Royal Construction Services is a little more than $5.93 million.
A 15-year-old boy who shot a 17-year-old girl in the head over $20 of marijuana has been sentenced to 26 years in prison. The shooting took place at a park in Riverside.
The Twin Creeks Shopping Center, located northwest of Barry Road and US Hwy. 169 near the Platte-Clay county border, has been sold, ACF Property Management of Studio City, Calif. acquired the retail center, which is reported to be at full occupancy.
Nov. 2:
Several choices and decisions will confront Platte Countians when they step into the voting booth next Tuesday, Nov. 8, and local election officials are expecting a high turnout of around 70 percent. Local races will include Republican Scott Fricker vs. Democrat John DeFoor for presiding commissioner of Platte County.
Trudy Busch Valentine, the Democratic candidate for US Senate in Missouri, made a campaign stop Friday in Parkville. Valentine visited with Platte Countians at the Craic, a downtown Parkville Irish bar and restaurant.
An incarcerated man who escaped from custody of the Platte County Sheriff’s Department while at St. Luke’s North Hospital was found and arrested several hours later near Lake Waukomis, authorities say.
Nov. 9:
Winning contested elections in Platte County were Scott Fricker for presiding commissioner and Jera Pruitt for county clerk. Both are Republicans. Fricker defeated John DeFoor 55% to 45% and Pruitt defeated Rebecca Nafzinger 54% to 46%.
Legalization of recreational marijuana was approved by voters across Missouri, 53% to 47%. In Platte County, voters here approved of legalization by a count of 62% in favor to just 38% opposed.
With installation of a zip line recently completed, the focus is on additional improvements for Rising Star Park in Platte City, home to a splash pad. Shade structures are planned. The shades will be installed prior to the park’s spring opening, city officials say.
Nov. 16:
A Park Hill High School graduate who later became Park Hill South basketball coach shot and killed his wife inside the Dallas County medical examiner’s office in Texas, authorities say. According to police, Jed Frost, 51, shot and killed his wife, Beth Frost, who worked as a medical examiner at the office. Jed and Beth were found dead in a second floor office, police say, and a second employee of the office was injured. Police say Jed Frost is believed to have shot his wife and the other employee before turning the gun on himself.
A now-former Weston police officer is accused of illegally punching a motorist after a DWI stop in August. Brinlee Ray Acklin, 24, has been charged with misdemeanor assault after he allegedly told the motorist he would “punch him in the face” and then allegedly did so.
The City of Parkville is proposing a half cent sales tax for public safety. The proposal is expected to go before voters in April of 2023.
Nov. 23:
After recent passage by voters, recreational marijuana will officially become legal in Missouri on Dec. 8.
As Americans prepare to hit the road for Thanksgiving, average gasoline prices will be at their highest level ever for the weekend, according to GasBuddy, the leading fuel savings platform. The national average price of a gallon of gas is $3.68.
Mid-Continent Public Library’s Board of Trustees have hired Aaron B. Mason as the system’s new library director and CEO. Mason moves to MCPL from Cleveland Public Library, where he spent nearly two decades of his career.
The switch on downtown Platte City’s Christmas lights will get flipped the night before Thanksgiving.
Nov. 30:
The owner of the historic Farley Mercantile store in the small town of Farley says owning the building and business has been “the weirdest blessing and strangest curse.” Farley Mercantile has existed on Farley’s Main Street since the 1870s.
Gov. Mike Parson is appointing Andrew Bailey as the next attorney general for Missouri. Bailey currently serves as general counsel to the governor’s office. State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville had reportedly been under consideration for the appointment.
Northlander Jamie Johnson, Democrat, was recently elected to House District 12 serving an area of southern Platte County. She will become the first-ever black state legislator for Platte County.
Dec. 7:
State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer has pre-filed a bill that would legalize sports betting in Missouri. At least 30 states in the country already have legalized sports wagering.
Many taxpayers in Platte County have noticed the county assessor did not lower vehicle values for the 2022 tax year. Unique factors have kept used vehicle values at a high level.
Platte County has been experiencing increased respiratory disease activity caused by multiple viruses, including flu and RSV that occurring especially among children.
Gov. Mike Parson announced that the state will make up to $10 million available in grant funding for maintenance and improvements to county jails. A Platte County commissioner told The Landmark that the county will apply for a grant.
Dec. 14:
Childhood memories walk through the door of The Little Store each day. Customers share their experiences with owners Jeannine and Santo Smiroldo at their business, also known as Price Rite Market and Deli at 6400 NW Waukomis Drive, Kansas City in southern Platte County. The couple, who purchased the boarded up one-story wooden building in 2014, are constantly reminded of the store’s historical significance to those who venture inside.
The number of felonies–which are the more serious crimes–declined in Platte County over the past year, reports the Platte County Prosecutor’s Office. Misdemeanor cases, the less serious crimes, rose by 22 percent.
Santa and Mrs. Claus paraded through Platte City on Saturday, with the parade culminating with a gathering at Rising Star Park, where treats were handed out by city officials and kids posed for photos with the couple from the North Pole.
Dec. 21:
Elected officials say they want quarterly reports and some accountability from Evergy, the electrical provider for Platte City that has been plagued by numerous and lengthy power outages. Evergy representatives appeared at a meeting of the county commission on Monday and are expected to provide an update on what is being done to improve reliability of service at another meeting in March.
Stacey Graves has been sworn in as the new police chief for Kansas City. Graves is a 25-year veteran of the department who began her career as a civilian records clerk in 1997. She becomes the first woman in KCPD’s history to be named as permanent police chief.
A few hundred people attended a ribbon cutting and open house for the new Platte County High School Phase 1 project in Platte City.
Dec. 28:
School districts in Platte County say they have no immediate plans to adopt a four-day week model, despite growing popularity with districts whose smaller enrollment numbers closely match three of the county’s four districts. Two of the local districts–West Platte and Platte County R-3–mentioned they might investigate the issue sometime in the future.
Platte County officials are looking to increase the usage of video courtrooms for prisoners of the jail. Doing so reduces the need to transport prisoners to court appearances and thereby decreases the costs and dangers involved with moving prisoners between facilities.
Liberty Hospital has been named one of the safest hospitals in the nation. The rating measures how well hospitals protect patients from preventable medical errors, injuries and infections.
Hunt Midwest says it is welcoming UPS Supply Chain Solutions as its newest tenant at the Hunt Midwest Business Center, just east of I-435 in Clay County.