Rapid progress is being made on the senior citizen housing project in Platte City. Don and Betty Soper donated the land for the project. The FmHA approved a $470,000 loan to finance the one-bedroom apartments for the elderly. From the start, the entire community has become involved in the project. When two percent of the anticipated costs had to be raised, the VFW provided the money. Ruth Reynolds is credited with the idea of getting the project started by holding meetings three years ago.
The Good Morning America television show visited Smithville to do a story on the Franz Leuthard family at his U-Pick Farm. Prior to moving here, Leuthard had been advised by the US Embassy in Bern, Switzerland that “investors’ visas are always welcome” after he purchased a 141-acre farm and residential property near Smithville. He was then informed that due to a change in policy, such visas were no longer being processed. It was then the citizens of Platte County stepped in with petitions, etc., to keep the Leuthard family in the United States.
A wee bit of Ireland has been transplanted to Platte County with the opening of The Kerry Patch Restaurant and Pub on Barry Road just west of I-29. Dick Ryan says the mission of The Kerry Patch is to provide guests with fine food in a beautiful yet relaxed setting.
