February 28 - March 2, 2015 D1

PROGRESS IN EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY

Progress EJC
www.examiner.net

in

SECTION D

THE EXAMINER February 28 - March 2, 2015

Unilever jobs contract extension penned

The plant will undergo an increase in square
footage, change in products produced plus an
increase in jobs.
By Jeff Fox
jeff.fox@examiner.net

With one move, Independence is turning a

worrisome threat into
growth and long-term
stability for hundreds of
manufacturing jobs.
Construction is underway on the expansion of
Unilevers plant on 35th
Street just west of Noland
Road.
The nearly 200 jobs at
the plant had been at risk
since the announcement
in mid-2013 that Unilver
was selling its Wish-Bone
and Western salad dressing division. For another
year or more, the plant
would keep making those
products under contract
with the new owner, but,
according the Independence Economic Development Council, Unilever
had no long-term plans
for the plant.
EDC President Tom
Lesnak and others worked
to get the company to
consider alternatives and
keep the plants $10 million annual payroll going.
That came together last
May, when the company
announced it would start
making soups, sauces, gravies and side dishes sold
under the Knorr and Lip-

ton brands, replacing the

salad dressing production.
That new production is
being shifted from Canada. The plant also will
continue to make iced tea
mix, as it has for years.
The upshot: a $99
million investment by
Unilever in its 53-yearold plant, the preservation of existing jobs and
the addition of about
70 more. Average pay is
about $48,000, higher
than average for the area.
Unilever, based in both
Britain and the Netherlands, makes a wide
range of consumer products, including Caress and
Dove soaps, Ragu, Q-tips,
Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream,
Suave shampoo, Klondike bars and Lipton Tea.
Worldwide, it has about
174,000 workers.
The company is getting
about $20 million in state
and local incentives for its
Independence expansion.
Lesnak said the company was persuaded to stay
in Independence in part
because its been satisfied
with its workforce here,
and he said the plant has
a secure future.
I think it gives us
another 25 years, he
said at the time of the
announcement.
Construction underway at the Unilever plant in Independence. | Jeff Fox / The Examiner

20% off EntirE storE

DoSal
sElEctEd itEms up
toAntiques
50% off
RM478108

[816] 809-8535
118 n main
independence, mo

D2 February 28 - March 2, 2015

PROGRESS IN EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY

Future for IPL looks bright

The plant will undergo an increase in square
footage, change in products produced plus an
increase in jobs.

to natural gas also be

next January (one unit
will switch in April). In
fact, Blue Valley received
its final shipment of coal
By Mike Genet
fired Missouri City Power
last
month.
mike.genet@examiner.net
Plant and switch the Blue
Two big questions
Valley Power Plant excluremain regarding MisIndependence Power
sively to natural gas for
souri City:
and Light took some
energy production one
1. Whether to retire
large steps toward signifi- of the councils directives
the
plant (estimated cost
cant long-term changes
in that resolution. Mis$900,000,
according
in 2014.
souri City, which was not
to
IPL
Director
Leon
Before the City Coun- even fired up this past
Daggetts
report
to the
cils renewable energy
year, will cease operacouncil
last
month)
or
resolution that passed
tions by Jan. 31, 2016,
dismantle
it
and
refurin July, IPL had already
while Blue Valley will
planned to close the coal- have completely switched bish the land (estimated
$18 million);

2. If groundwater sampling indicates IPL will

simply be able to cap the
ash pond for a significantly
smaller sum than the estimated $10 million it woul
take to haul the ash away.
IPL requested follow-up on half of the
eight bids received in
December for a possible
5-megawatt solar farm,
which would be about
35 acres of city owned
land off Bundschu Road.
Negotiations for that are
ongoing.
Another point from the
councils energy resolution was that IPL make a
voluntary commitment to
increase the percentage of
electricity produced from
renewable sources to 10
percent by 2018 and 15
percent by 2021; and solar
farm would go along with
the 15 megawatts per day
the city purchases from
Smoky Hills Winds Project II near Salina, Kansas.
The 15 megawatts represents about 5 percent of
IPLs intake. Daggett also
reported last month that
IPL is in contract negotiations for a purchase agree-

ment for additional wind

power and anticipates
having a recommendation
to the council within a
month or two.
The city purchased the
property of the old the
Medical Center of Independence in 2014 and
is planning to renovate
the former medical office
building that remained on
the site (the hospital building was torn down) into a
new office building for IPL.
Daggett said the initial
design of that building
includes the use of solar
or wind power and could
possibly reach Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
Gold certification, the
second-highest level of
energy production and
conservation practices.
Renovatoin designs were
scheduled to be completed last week, bidding
should be finished by
June 18 and IPL is shooting for a March 2016
completion of the project.
The City Council
approved discounted
power rates for Unilever after it announced a

significant fortcoming
expansion, as well as
for the schools, as well
as more forgiving temperature thresholds when
delinquent customers face
possible disconnection.
Daggett told the council
that a preliminary report
on IPLs ongoing rate study
that a modest increase
should be expected at
some point over the next
five years, but there will be
no increase this year and
Daggett said he probably
will budget for no increase
next year, as well.
Sugar Creek revealed
late in 2014 that the city
has been pushing for a
solar panel farm at the
site of the old BP refinery. Mayor Matt Mallinson said the city has an
unsigned contract with
an unnamed company
ready to go once there
committed customers.
The proposed solar farm
would generate 12 to 18
megawatts of electricity. The mayor said that
Amoco (BP owns what
was formerly Amoco)
paid for engineering
study for the project.

TOP: Crews have begun the work of razing the vacant Medical Center of Independence building at the corner of East 23rd Street and R.D. Mize
Road. The building will be demolished by the owner, Truman Manor LLC, before the land and the adjacent three-story medical building (background
left) is sold to the city of Independence for $1.5 million. The city plans to use the medical building for Independence Power and Light offices.
| Karl Zinke / The Examiner BOTTOM: The Independence Power and Light Blue Valley Plant is being converted from coal to natural gas as part of
the city's energy future plan. | Sheila Davis / The Examiner

about us: Crossroads Hospice

Now located in Independence

Crossroads Hospice, Kansas City, is proud to announce the relocation of our central office to Independence. The move has brought an exciting time of
growth and change for us.
Serving the community for 16 years has been an honor. Crossroads is committed to being at the forefront of
the hospice care industry continually shaping the way
palliative care is viewed and administered. Our new
location in the Marketplace Shopping Center will allow
us to be more visible and efficient in serving those on
our service.
In addition to our office, we have new opportunities
to serve the community as a whole. Our beautiful building has a conference center that we hope organizations
will utilize often. Our complimentary Grief Recovery
Method groups are a resource provided through the
Crossroads Hospice Charitable Foundation as a Gift
to the Community.
We are also proud that our Veteran Recognition program has achieved Level 4 status with the We Honor
Veterans program.
Crossroads Hospice is happy to be in Independence
and grateful for the warm welcome we have received.
Please contact us 24/7 with any questions at 816-3339200.

Santa Fe GlaSS is proud to continue to provide all

of your Residential & Commercial glass needs
as we have for over 50 years. We thank you
for your support in the past, and look forward
to servicing your glass needs for years to come.

Residential Comme RCial

Independence 816-254-5516 | Lees summIt 816-524-0086
merrIam 913-894-1131 | GLadstone 816-255-2718
HarrIsonvILLe 816-380-4471 | odessa 816-230-7731

PROGRESS IN EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY

February 28 - March 2, 2015 D3

Amercian Family Insurance

RM434495

Debbie Miller Agency

1524 E 23rd St S Ste 101
Independence, MO 64055
(816) 373-0068
dmille6@amfam.com

Austin Conley Agency

3709 S Noland Rd Ste A
Independence, MO 64055
(816) 478-1115
aconley@amfam.com

Discounts may vary by state, property policy form and company underwriting the auto policy.
Discounts may not apply to all coverages on an auto or property policy.
American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its Subsidiaries, American Family Insurance Company
Home Office Madison, WI 53783 2012 005598 Rev. 2/12

D4 February 28 - March 2, 2015

PROGRESS IN EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY

Grain Valley road

construction
improves downtown
will be wider with a lefthand turn lane to relieve
congestion. It will also
Grain Valley Mayor
feature a new set of sideMike Todd envisions a
walks, with one side of
downtown friendly for
the street wider so it can
small business when the
allow for bicyclists.
improvements for Main
And instead of just
Street are completed.
ditches, it will have curbs
The second phase of
and gutters, he said. It
the Missouri Departwill have a much nicer
ment of Transportations
appearance and it will
transformation of the
really improve traffic flow
main arteries in the city
through the middle of
got underway in midtown. And people will be
February.
able to walk anywhere,
Already completed
and that should help
is the rebuilding of the
businesses downtown.
Interstate 70 interchange
Right now drivers are
and the rerouting of U.S. able to park along Main
40. Now work is started
Street but those spots will
on rebuilding and widen- be eliminated to allow for
ing Main Street through
the widened road and the
town.
sidewalks. In its place, the
It started with relocat- city will build a new parking utility lines and train ing lot next to the intersignals the week of Feb. 9. section of Main and WalA pre-construction meet- nut streets to make up for
ing was held on Feb. 19,
those spaces. Todd said it
and the main work on the will be within easy walkroad is expected to start
ing distance of the small
soon.
businesses downtown.
When it is done, Todd
Its a good size lot,
said it will have more
Todd said. It will have
curb appeal. He is asking additional parking, in fact
residents and those who
it will have more parking
travel through Grain Val- than whats there curley to be patient while the rently.
work is done.
When the work is comThe construction
pleted on the road, sidecompany wanted us to
walks and parking lot, the
close Main Street at first
mayor sees small busiso they could get it done
nesses making a return to
faster, but we said, No,
downtown.
we cant do that, Todd
Weve got quite a few
said. Thats our main
empty storefronts at this
artery through town and time, but when its comtoo many businesses
pleted, in the short term I
would be affected.
think those will start fillWe will have some
ing up again, Todd said.
delays. There will be days
In the long term Todd
when its down to one
sees possibly more comlane, but when its done it mercial development
will be worth it.
replacing some older
Todd said the road
housing near downtown
By Karl Zinke

karl.zinke@examiner.net

between Yennie and Walnut streets.

As people move out,
they are taking down
those houses, Todd said.
Soon there will be a solid
block open for possible
redevelopment. Wed like
to see them build more
buildings that fit in more
with the old town kind of
look. We see more retail
and small businesses
there.
This is really going to
beautify things and bring
us new business.
Todd said Grain Valley
is already seeing benefits
from the completed I-70
interchange, and said
more may be coming
soon.
Were already seeing
an increase in tax revenues with the theater,
Advanced Auto and the
new McDonalds. And
were expecting to make
some announcements in
the next month or two
about some new business
north of the interchange
and near it. We knew
once we got it done that
it would start spurring
interest. Its a great location.
And Todd hopes the
same will happen downtown on Main Street.

TOP: Grain Valley

Railroad crossing
during the downtown
construction.
BOTTOM: Grain Valley
construction causes
stop sign to temporary
fall over.
| EXAMINER PHOTOs

An active, caring community

Independent Living
Assisted Living
Skilled Nursing
Now INtroducINg

Forest VIew wellNess BIstro!

24-Hour
Skilled Nursing
Long-Term Care
Short-Term Care

Medicare Approved
Physical Therapy
Cable provided

Offering a menu of opportunities to adults 55+ in

Independence and surrounding community!
Innovative classes emphasizing on Brain Health
Wellness workshops, fitness equipment, group trips
Water Fitness classes
For more information or to schedule a tour,
call (816) 254-3500 ext 362 or 415

Nourishing Opportunities for Continued Vitality

Taking Admissions 24/7

Accepting most insurance including Medicare

816-257-2566

1800 S. Swope Dr.

Independence, MO 64057

1515 W. White Oak Independence, MO

816-254-3500 ext. 415 www.thegroves.com

PROGRESS IN EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY

February 28 - March 2, 2015 D5

Woods Chapel Road Roundabout

PHOTO COLLAGE: Work in progress on the Woods
Chapel Road roundabout in Blue Springs during
2014. | SUBMITTED PHOTO / City of Blue Springs.

GOT PAIN?
GET RELIEF!

816-510-7185

DEEP TISSUE
LASER THERAPY
Joint Pain - Post Surgical Healing - Arthritis - Foot Pain - Plantar Fasciitis - Neck Pain
Back Pain - Sciatica - Disc Injuries - Shoulder Pain - Bursitis - Carpal Tunnel - Migraines
Headaches - Sports Injuries - Sprains & Strains - Soft Tissue Damage & More

Drug-free, surgery-free, pain-free treatment modality

for enhanced relief of pain and inflamation

RELIEVE STRESS ON JOINTS with:

KHEALTHNOW for Optimal WEIGHT LOSS
ACUPUNCTURE
Appetite Control, Dual Action Carbohydrate Controller
Stabilize Blood Sugar, Glycemic Index
Protect Lean Muscle Tissue, Burn Body Fat

K Koonce Chiropractic Health Center

www.kooncechiropractic.com

13905 E. 39th St, Suite 104

Independence, MO 64055

D6 February 28 - March 2, 2015

PROGRESS IN EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY

Dr. Dale Herl, superintendent, presenting the academies at the Independence School District | SUBMITTED PHOTO

Officials at the ISD launch business classes

include Health & Public
Services and Arts, Education and Business for the
The Independence
2016-17 school year.
School District will be
Each high school will
transforming all three of
offer courses in all five acadits high schools, as well as emies, so a students home
Independence Academy,
school will not change.
into Ford Next Generation
We will transport stuLearning Career Acaddents within the district
emies over the course of
to participate in these
future school years.
programs for a portion
Truman, Van Horn
of the day, Dr. Dale Herl
and William Chrisman
previously said.
high schools will offer five
The Independence
Career Academies, with
Chamber of Commerce
the debut of the Comput- introduced the district
er Science and Industrial to the FNGL initiative
Technology Academy in
in late 2013, and then
the 2015-16 school year.
it approached the Ford
Other academies slated
Motor Company about
By Brandon Dumsky

brandon.dumsky@examiner.net

becoming one of its learning communities. FNGL

is an educational outreach
program by Ford that
promotes career and college readiness through
the collaboration between
community leaders, organizations and local businesses. After developing
a master plan that took a
year and a half to devise,
ISD become one of 18
exclusive FNGL communities in the country.
The master plan proposed
the creation of Career
Academies, which are
described as personalized
small learning communities within each of our

about us: The Groves

The Groves Branches Out
Into the Neighborhood
With Forest View Wellness Bistro
Recently, health care and well-care has allowed retirement years to be lengthened and managed in beneficial ways, and older adult communities and programs have adapted to maximize
wellness for those in their retirement
years. Carrying on its tradition for
being progressive, The Groves joins
this mindset by branching out and
creating its own innovative, wellness
atmosphere. Forest View Wellness
Bistro opened publicly Nov. 13, 2014
with a ribbon-cutting and the supporting presence of the Independence Chamber of Commerce. This
new environment fosters opportunities for continued vitality through
programming and classes designed
to meet the positively changing
adult, age 55 and beyond.
An adaptation of a Chicago-based concept, the idea is to come in for a cup
of coffee, and stay for a class or two, among friends. The Forest View Wellness
Bistro now welcomes the neighborhood and community in to experience and enjoy a menu of opportunities it offers. Unique classes revolve and support all six
areas of the wellness model social, occupational, spiritual, physical, intellectual,
and emotional. Choices vary from meditation classes to modified yoga classes,
to water fitness in the heated, saltwater pool, to being a part of a creative writers
group. Challenging the intellect through classes like Kokology and touching on
current scientific trends with TED talks, the older adult has many ways to build his
or her wellness in a supportive, beautiful environment.
Cindy Schulte, the Community Wellness Coach for this new programming is
excited to offer these opportunities and expand further, with cutting-edge brain
health and wellness programming, which is not offered currently in this capacity,
at any other local facility. With a passion for brain health science, Cindy is certified
as a Brain Fitness Facilitator with the American Senior Fitness Association, and is
also among 70 people nationwide to become a Certified Total Brain Health Coach
for Dr. Cynthia Green. Well-known for appearances on health shows like Dr. Oz,
The Today Show, and also a continuous contributor to Prevention magazine, Dr.
Green is best known for her Total Memory Workout plan, which Cindy will facilitate
at the Forest View Wellness Bistro beginning in 2015. She will also be continuing a
favorite class called Noggin Joggin, which allows students to explore their cognitive abilities and neuroplasticity, beyond just that of memory.
As a part of Forest View Wellness Bistro, high-end, healthier choice food vending is also offered. With only four locations in the Kansas City metro area enjoying
the same type of open vending, this healthier vending option allows electronic
payment with only a fingerprint login to a preloaded account. Nutritiously-inclined
sandwiches, salads, juices and other foods can be consumed while enjoying free
Wi-Fi between classes.
Open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday in the Birchwood Building at
The Groves, (1600 W. White Oak, Independence, Mo.), classes and times are
listed monthly in a Course Catalog as well as benefits in becoming a member of
the Forest View Wellness Bistro. Sample a featured entre (class), swap poetry
recipes (writings) or simply taste current events (TED talks). Whatever ones
appetite, nurturing VITALITY is the primary focus at Forest View Wellness Bistro
to LIVE WELL!
For more information: www.thegroves.com; 816-254-3500; Find us on Facebook!

high schools that guide

students towards success
in their chosen career.
ISD believes the academies have something to
offer every student in our
district, Independence
Superintendent Dale Herl
said in January.
The five Career Academies have 15 combined
pathways that could lead
a student to over 30 possible career areas. For
example, the Industrial
Technology academy has
four pathways: Architecture, engineering, manufacturing and construction. There are multiple
exit points for students as

well. High school graduates can earn either an

Industry-Recognized Credential that allows them
to immediately enter the
workforce, enroll in some
kind of post-graduate education program/apprenticeship, or advance their
studies at a vocational
school or college.
Career Academies
allows students to possess 21st century skills,
Herl said.
The academies will be
implemented through
what Herl called the three
Rs: Relevance, rigor and
real world experiences.
Relevance is defined as

meeting the students

(and todays globalized
economy) needs; rigor
meaning that students
will be learning information; and real world
experiences constitute as
skills that directly apply
to a students chosen field,
plus the skills and knowledge that will be obtained
through job shadowing,
internships and more
classroom projects-which require teamwork
and critical thinking.
Teachers will be teaching the Career Academy
courses as a team. Every

SEE ACADEMIES, D8

about us: WinterStone

Golf Course

Address: 17101 East Kentucky Road, Independence, MO 64058

Phone: 816-257-5755
Web: www.WinterStoneGolf.com
Contact: Kane Chapman
Hours: Daylight Hours (seasonal)
Tell us about your business:
Opened in 2003, the newest golf course in Independence.
Public golf course with annual passes available
Was built on top of an active limestone mine
Core golf facility (no residential development- only golf)
Advertising slogan A Touch of the Ozarks, is a great
description of the golf course- lots of elevation changes, and
wooded areas, wonderful scenic vistas all over the golf course
The Pavilion at WinterStone is a unique area for tournament
hosting or private parties (open air or fully glass enclosed with a
fantastic view overlooking the golf course)
Recently completed, off-season bunker renovation project
Course conditions equal to any in Kansas City area
About the staff:
Small, close-knit group of employees that enjoys working
together and with our players.
About the golfers:
WinterStone players are a great, loyal group.
We strive to create top-notch course conditions and golf
experience for them.

February 28 - March 2, 2015 D7

PROGRESS IN EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY

City of Grain Valley Mayor

It has been an excitfastest growing cities in
ing start to 2015 in Grain the metropolitan area.
Valley as we prepare to
In 2014, 67 new singlewrap up our Main Street family homes were built
corridor improvement
in our city, accounting
project. By
for almost
the end of the
10 percent
year, widenof Jackson
ing of Main
Countys total
Street south
number of
of I-70 to
new homes
Eagles Parkbuilt. This
way will be
growth tells
completed.
a story we
Main Street
know all too
is the gateway
well here in
to our comGrain Valmunity, and
ley, and that
we expect
is that our
the improved City of Grain Valley Mayor Mike Todd top-notch
traffic flow
schools, low
to benefit residents and
crime rate and friendly
visitors, as well as assist
community make for a
in business development
great place to raise a famefforts.
ily.
Grain Valley conAs Grain Valley
tinues to be one of the
grows, community safety

remains a source of pride.

Real estate blog Movoto
recently named Grain
Valley as Missouris sixth
safest city, based on FBI
crime data. The report
found that Grain Valley is
the safest city on the Missouri side of the state line
in the metropolitan area,
as well as the safest city in
Jackson County.
The City has taken
several steps to ensure
citizen safety and security
continues. We recently
restructured and streamlined leadership within
our police department,
a move that added two
new patrol officers to
the ranks. We encourage residents to sign up
for important and timely
law enforcement updates
delivered straight to their
smartphones through

www.winterstonegolf.com

WinterStone Golf Course

17101 E. Kentucky Road Independence, MO 64058
(816)257-5755 www.winterstonegolf.com

Nixle.com. Also at City

Hall, leaders continue to
be responsive to issues
raised by residents. After
neighbors voiced concerns
about pedestrian safety
along Sni-A-Bar Parkway,
the public works department in 2014 added new
sidewalks to the roadway.
In 2015 there will be multiple capital improvement
completed to improve
and update Grain Valleys
water, sewer and street
infrastructure. While
many of them will occur
in the background and go
unnoticed, they are critical projects that will allow
the city to grow into the
future, without sacrificing
the service and expectations of our current residents.
On the development
front, Grain Valley has
wrapped up an 18-month
Comprehensive Master
Planning process designed
to guide the citys economic development and
community development
efforts for years to come.
Through a series of public
meetings, we were able
to outline community
needs and wants and then
use that information to
develop a plan for future
growth. The full report is
posted on the home page
of the City of Grain Valley
website.
Grain Valley expects
to ramp up new business
recruitment and existing business retention in
2015 to take advantage of
the improving business
climate. Our Economic
Development Task Force
is exploring the possibility
of undergoing a restructuring process that would
ensure better public/
private collaboration and
a fresh approach to growing our economic base.
City Hall and the Grain
Valley Police Department
made some important

leadership changes in
2014. Assistant City
Administrator Ryan Hunt
was promoted to Interim
City Administrator, and
in early 2015, the City
promoted David Starbuck
to Chief of Police from his
previous post as Assistant
Chief of Police. David is
a familiar face in Kansas
City law enforcement,
and we are grateful for his
continued service to our
citizens.
As our community
grows, the Citys administration continues to
improve and add events
and activities for our
residents and families.
In the final quarter of
2014, we had our second
annual Trail or Treat,
which drew more than
2,000 citizens. The event
coincided with the Royals epic playoff run, so
the City showed the game
on the Parks Departments 16-foot inflatable
Movie in the Park big
screen. This ensured that
our patrons could watch
the World Series while
enjoying the Halloween
festivities. We look forward to again hosting
Trail or Treat in 2015,
and we encourage businesses interested in being
vendors for this fun event
to keep an eye out for
updates from the City.
Finally, Grain Valley
is making it a priority to
stay connected to citizens
through social media and
our redesigned website in
2015. You can stay up to
date on all the news from
City Hall by liking our
City of Grain Valley, Missouri page on Facebook,
by following us on Twitter @MyGrainValley and
by sharing your photos
with us on Instagram at
MyGrainValley.
Grain Valley Mayor
Mike Todd

On the
Right
Track

2014 was a big year for

reinvestment and growth in
Blue Springs. All you need
to do is look around to see
that new businesses are
calling Blue Springs home,
existing businesses are reinvesting in their facilities and
new houses are springing
up around town.
I often say that great
communities dont just
happen. They are the
result of hard work, exceptional people and dedicated partners. This includes
our community stakeholders, government partners
and the Blue Springs
School District, recognized
as one of the best school
districts in the state.
Downtown Alive! has
played a large role in
welcoming many new
businesses to the corridor
and working to beautify
and develop our historic
downtown. Their efforts
are gaining state-wide
attention and they were
awarded the Outstanding Public Partner Award
by the Missouri Main
Street Connection. To
help support business
development, the City
constructed three new
downtown public parking
lots to expand options for
visitors and businesses.
When I looked back
at 2014, I saw a lot of
teamwork. We continue
to work with the Blue
Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Economic
Development Corporation
to bring quality businesses and employment
opportunities to our City.
Together we have added
hundreds of new job

SEE RIGHT TRACK, D8

HEARING EXPRESS
LABORATORY

Repairs while you wait by an electronic Technician

3010-P South 291 Highway

Independence, MO
(816) 478-0200

Hearing Express
RM134278

Introducing Binax
The worlds first technology that outperforms normal hearing*
Available at HEARING EXPRESS LABORATORY

D8 February 28 - March 2, 2015

PROGRESS IN EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY

On the Right Track, cont.

Continued from D7

opportunities,
transitioning
from a bedroom
community into
a place where
residents can
live, work and
play. In the
fall 2014, we
announced the
How to Open a
Business in Blue
Springs guide.

This new resource helps

entrepreneurs and
business owners easily start or
relocate a business
in Blue Springs.
One of the keys
to maintaining
our Citys vibrant
community is
continuing to
invest in our
City of Blue Springs
infrastructure. In
Mayor Carson Ross
2014, we focused
on supporting public

Academies, cont.
Continued from D6

instructor will also have

shared planning time for
lessons and participate in
externships, or workplace
training programs at
businesses that are a part
of the FNGL initiative, in
preparation of teaching a
more career-oriented curriculum. To accommodate
this ambitious program,

the district has also significantly increased the

number of dual-credit
courses from 6 to 52 this
current school year, a
near ten-fold increase.
To date, 20 area businesses have partnered in
the ISD Academy program. The district expects
the number to grow in
the future. Some business

safety, transportation,
infrastructure and maintaining our community
image. One of our largest capital improvement
projects includes the
expansion of the Howard
L. Brown Public Safety
Building. I invite everyone to join us this fall as
we rededicate this stateof-the-art facility.
Prompted by our communitys desire to improve
mobility and accessibility

for all, we completed an

evaluation of the Citys 168
miles of sidewalks. The
audit revealed that 83 percent of the Citys sidewalks
will need minor modifications. We have posted a
draft plan on our website
that proposes a best practices approach.
Also in response to resident input, we partnered
with Jackson County to
open a new yard waste
collection facility and

addressed recreational concerns with the development

of the new Blue Springs
Fieldhouse, scheduled to
open late summer 2015.
One of my goals as
Mayor has always been to
increase resident involvement and diversity. In
March 2014, the City
Council unanimously
approved the establishment of a Human Relations Commission. I look
forward to seeing this

group ensure that we are

an inclusive community
where everyone is accepted and valued.
I end by saying thank
you! I appreciate our
engaged residents, our
dedicated community
partners and all of the
hard work and teamwork
that makes Blue Springs a
great place to live.

partners include: Alliant

Techsystems, Bayer, Burns
and McDonnell, Hollis +
Miller, Truman Medical
Centers, Superior Aluminium, the city of Independence and Mid-Continent
Public Library.
The implementation
of this initiative should
allow ISD to reap in the
benefits. FNGL Executive

Director Cheryl Carrier

previously reported that
one FNGL community
experienced a 20 percent
graduate rate increase
over a five-year span, and
students increased their
SAT exam scores to apply
at various universities.
This Career Academy
program is already underway. The Freshman Acad-

emy debuted this school

year, with all Independence
ninth graders required to
devise a 10-year plan based
on their career interests,
plus visit a college and take
part in a career skills fair.
Students freshman year is
also the time where they
decide what Career Academy to attend.
One of the competitive

advantages we can (see)

in the effort of attracting
high quality jobs to Independence is to have a certificated workforce ready
to go, Independence
Economic Development
Council President Tom
Lesnak previously said.
This program gives our
community a huge advantage over competition.

awthorn

a Bed & Breakfast

and so much more...

Nighttime Leg Cramps

anytime muscle cramp pain
RELIEF in seconds
PREvEnt muscle cramping for hours
RELIEvE muscle soreness

19th Century Elegance

Spacious Guest Rooms
All Private Baths Two Acre Estate
Full Breakfast Cable TV & WiFi
Complimentary Beverages
Ample Off-Street Parking
Conveniently Located
Private Dining Events
Teas Three & Five Course

One Hawthorne Place

Independence, MO 64052
(816) 252-2607
www.hawthornbb.com

Blue Springs Mayor

Carson Ross

Purchase today.
Available at these local
grocery stores and online
www.q2ocrampx.com