Eastern Jackson County Progress 2019 by The Examiner

9 Saturday, March 2, 2019

n CRAFT BREWING, E3 n NEW TOWN HARMONY, E3 n GRAIN VALLEY LOOKS TO THE FUTURE, E10

SECTION E

Area schools keep adding bigger and better spaces By Michael Smith michael.smith@examiner.net Four Eastern Jackson County school districts have had bond issues passed by voters recently, allowing them to move forward with facilities improvements. The Independence School District made improvements to its three high schools and is building a new elementary school. Following the passage of a $38 million bond issue in April 2017, the district moved ahead with construction of Cassell Park Elementary School in southwest Independence. The school is set to open this summer. It is two stories tall and has 69,000 square feet, which will accommodate 500 to 550 students. Cassell Park Elementary allowed the district to get rid of trailers, which were previously used as classrooms at Fairmont, Korte and Three Trails elementary schools. Improvements at Van Horn High School are also complete, with a new gym as part of a 42,000-square foot addition. The school also added a mezzanine area for wrestling practic-

High-profile park among many set for upgrades By Mike Genet mike.genet@examiner.net

Cassell Park Elementary at 32nd Street and Hardy Avenue in western Independence opens later this year. [Photo courtesy of the Independence School District] es, a hall of fame area, classrooms for a metals class, two parking lots, five commercial kitchens for culinary arts classes and a physical therapy and athletic training space. Old science and woodshop classrooms were also remodeled. Truman High School’s additions to its lunch room and revamped main entrance are

finished, and William Chrisman has a new weight room on the lower level. Both also received addition classrooms for career academy classes. Fort Osage Voters passed an $11.37 million bond issue in April 2017, which paved the way for some improvements at Fort Osage

High School and a new Early Childhood Center. The Woodland Early Childhood Center was completed last winter and opened in January. The Woodland Early Childhood Center, a 20,000 square foot facility, replaced the Fort Osage Early Childhood Center and serves 190 students. It’s located See SCHOOLS on E8

Two years after Blue Springs voters approved a half-cent sales tax for parks and trails maintenance, the city is well into its five-year, $15 million plan, with notable improvements at four parks and a large makeover at probably its oldest and most historically significant park. In 2018, the first year with dedicated sales tax funds available, the city replaced tennis courts at Blue Springs and Pink Hill parks and the Rotary and Ward park playgrounds and improved a few trails. At Burrus Old Mill Park, the tennis courts have been removed to make way for the city’s first splash pad, the playground is being replaced, and renovations are coming for the basketball and volleyball courts, the softball field, the skate park, shelters and restrooms. The estimated price tag is $2.4 million. The city hopes to dedicate the park for Memorial Day weekSee PARKS on E5

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Saturday, March 2, 2019

BLUE SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Assessing worker readiness for in-demand jobs It’s been some years since I’ve been in high school, but when I was, taking the ACT and SAT was something every student did. Now that my children have been in high school, I’ve learned that the ACT is still a test they take but that they also have other options. To build the workforce employers demand and qualify students for current jobs, ACT has developed another test. It’s called the ACT WorkKeys Assessment. This test is used in high school and is also being used by employers and agencies during the hiring process. Some employers use it to assess current workplace skills and establish employees’ goals for training and advancement. By taking the WorkKeys Assessment, a person can earn a National Career Readiness Certificate, NCRC for short. The test is in three parts – applied math, graphic literacy and workplace documents. These three tests provide an accurate representation of a person’s

ability to read and understand workplace documents, analyze workplace graphics and apply math to workplace problems – all skills needed by employers today. There are four levels of NCRC certificates – bronze, silver, gold and platinum – and ACT provides sample occupations that correlate with the skills measured at each level. For example, an individual with a bronze certificate has been test-

High honor for chamber The Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce in 2018 was named the chamber of the year by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We worked truly hard,” said Lara Vermillion, president of the Blue Springs Chamber. The group was honored at the Missouri Chamber’s annual banquet in Kansas City in November. The Missouri Chamber looks for local chambers addressing issues with a statewide scope, such as workforce development and online vs. brick-and-mortar retailing. There was a lengthy review process, which Vermillion said underscored for her the number of chamber members, board and staff who know and care for their community. “That is what I love about chambers – that you get to bring everybody’s best and make something greater,” she said. – Examiner staff

ed to have the skills necessary to work in 35 percent of today’s jobs including auto body repair, veterinary assistant or drywall installer, to name a few. On the highest end of the testing scale, a person who earns a platinum certificate, shows ability for 99 percent of jobs including a sales manager, technical writer, registered nurse or accountant. Obviously, in the case of a registered nurse or accountant, additional degrees are required. However, with the increasing demand for registered nurses, businesses in our area are hiring candidates without the RN degree and paying for the cost of education to obtain it. Part of the appeal of National Career Readiness Certificates is that they are nationally portable. Each state is testing students and asking for employers’ support in recognizing the WorkKeys Assessment as a valid tool to verify workplace success. At the time of writing, there

are 4.54 million certificates in the United States. Of those, 114,381 certificates are in Missouri. In Missouri 4,275 employers support this program. Employers who support this program have reported that by using this tool in hiring and training, employees work faster and stay on the job longer. A study in southwest Missouri reported that a bronze certificate increased employee wages by 33 percent, a silver by 65 percent and a gold by 102 percent. To further ensure employee skills meet workforce needs, ACT has created the Work Ready Communities Initiative. It’s measured by county and assesses the skills gap and the level of workforce readiness in each. To be a WorkReady Community, you must have a number certificates attained and a number of employers supporting the program. There are 114 counties in Missouri and 99 are participating in the WorkReady Community program. Of those 99,

75 are Certified Work Ready Communities. Jackson County is almost there, at 96 percent of goals attained. The final step is to measure business engagement and establish additional employers support. In Jackson County, 63 employers have registered support for the program and 210 are needed. If you own or work in a business located in Jackson County and have not already, please consider indicating your support of the program. You indicate your support of the ACT WorkKeys Assessment and National Career Readiness Certificate by adding your business’ name to the list. It costs nothing and takes about five minutes. You can add your business’ name at www. WorkReadyCommunities.org or by e-mailing lvermillion@ bluespringschamber.com. – Lara Vermillion is president of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Breakout year in housing Blue Springs set the pace for Eastern Jackson County new-home construction in 2018 and jumped into the top cities in the metro area, Developments south of U.S. 40 – Colonial Highlands, Eagle Ridge Villas and Tequesta Village – greatly helped push the city to the issuance of 382 permits to build single-family homes in 2018. That’s a 68 percent jump from 2017. Figures are com-

piled by the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City. With that figure, Blue Springs nosed ahead of No. 5 Lee’s Summit among all cities in the eight-county metro area and trailed only Kansas City, Olathe, Overland Park. Independence also had a strong showing – 133 permits, up 8 percent, and No. 13 in the metro area. Grain Valley, with 117, was down 20

percent and was No. 16. Altogether, roughly one of every five new single-family homes built last year in the metro area was in Eastern Jackson County. Metrowide home building was off 8 percent from 2017, but 2018 was still the second-best year of this decade, according the HBA. – Examiner staff

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ST. MARY’S MEDICAL CENTER: INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY, HEARTFELT CARE

ealthcare as we know it is changing, rapidly. Between policy reform, technological advances, new models of care, and an aging population, it seems like there is something new every day. St. Mary’s Medical Center has met these challenges head on to find the best solutions for our community in a variety of ways including robotic technologies, telepsychiatry services, and a senior-focused service line. As the pace of technological advances continues to accelerate, St. Mary’s has jumped on board investing in breakthrough robotics technology. One such technology is the NAVIO™ Robotic Assistant - the latest in minimally-invasive joint replacement. Through an advanced software program, the NAVIO™ system relays precise, patient-specific, data about a joint to a hand piece controlled by the surgeon. By adding this layer of accuracy, our patients are seeing improved

gevity of their new knees, with decreased downtime. St. Mary’s also invested in a da Vinci® SiTM Surgical System, which is designed to facilitate complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach. The surgeon controls the robot from a console that displays a magnified view inside a patient’s body. The robotic technology allows the surgeon’s hand movements to be translated into small, precise movements of tiny instruments, making it possible to perform procedures through a 1-2 cm incision. That means less scarring, less blood loss, less pain, and quicker recovery. The need for mental health evaluations for patients is growing need. The lack of accessibility and cost of these evaluations onsite are also growing. St. Mary’s has removed these barriers by offering telepsychiatry services to our inpatient population. There is growing evidence that shows telepsychiatry

outcomes and higher patient satisfaction and St. Mary’s is no exception. To meet the needs of our aging population, St. Mary’s has implemented a senior-focused service line, Senior Care Services. This service line addresses the complex physical and social challenges seniors face from the emergency room to inpatient units to discharge. The care team associated with this service line monitors the patient from beginning to end and ensures a continuum of care for older adults who have earned a little extra attention. While the healthcare industry continues to evolve and transform, St. Mary’s Medical Center continues prepare for the future, all while providing the warm, compassionate care you expect. Between our award winning cardiovascular care to our Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine to our Geriatric Accredited 24-hour Emergency Department you can count on your community hospital to take care of

9 Saturday, March 2, 2019

Homes going up at New Town at Harmony By Mike Genet mike.genet@examiner.net Construction at New Town at Harmony, the “new urbanism” development in Independence’s Little Blue Valley, continues to creep along. There is one occupied home at the site, two more scheduled to be occupied by the end of March, a few lots under contract with building imminent and a few more parties planning to go to contract, realtor Jessica Calcara of Ripley Associates said. “We have some spec homes for sale and ready for owners or getting close,” Calcara added. Officials had the ceremonial groundbreaking for New Town in the summer of 2016, and utilities work and some pavement were in place and the first houses were going up by early 2018. Planning for New Town started as early as 2002, but the 2008-09 recession stalled initial plans and led to Homes by

Whittaker coming on board as the new developer. Builders are Dwellings by Design KC, H&R New Homes, Zvacek Construction and Walker Construction. New Town’s first of 10 planned phases includes 79 residential lots, two commercial tracts and three common-ground tracts. The 10 planned phases will include more than 500 residential lots, and the Blue Springs School District has identified land on a site off Truman Road for a potential elementary school if population grows enough. New urbanism is a concept that promotes compact, walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods that feature front-porch houses of various sizes for a variety of income levels. Homes by Whittaker started constructing a new urbanism community in the St. Louis suburb of St. Charles more than a decade ago, and it now boasts a population of more than 3,000 and about 40 businesses and continued growth.

Homes have started going up in the New Town Harmony development in the valley of the Little Blue River in eastern Independence. The concept behind it, New Urbanism, is meant to promote closer community connections. [Mike Genet/The Examiner]

Brewers aim to keep it local and serve it fresh By Mike Genet mike.genet@examiner.net Two local craft breweries – one each in Blue Springs and Independence – opened in 2018, and a second brewery in Independence opened in February. In addition, a craft distillery also is close to opening in the city. On the Independence Square, 3 Trails Brewing just opened, with owners Matt Medley, Kyle Weinand and Brian Clark and brewmaster Jesse Rose. Apex Aleworks opened in October, from the same owner (Jeremy Parratt) as Apex BBQ and Brew Supplies next door. With both Independence breweries, outside food is allowed with a beer purchase. East Forty Brewing in downtown Blue Springs, owned by David Mann and Matt Bryan, opened in June and

offers a limited food menu in addition to its home brews. The genesis for all three micro-breweries is men who had been home brewers and decided to turn the hobby into a business. Evansfield Distillery, by Dennis Evans and John Whitfield, has a patented “endless aging” process for its whiskey that involves a wood medallion in the bottle. The local bloom of micro-alcohol-producing businesses is in line with a recent national trend. “People are into the craft, and the millenials are really driving it,” Evans said of the proliferation of such micro-businesses, adding that some of the giant distillers have responded by trotting out new flavored whiskeys. “They want something they can call their own,” Whitfield said.

Accidents happen. When they do, Say St. Mary’s.

David Mann opened East Forty Brewing in downtown Blue Springs last summer. [Corbin Kottmann/The Examiner] Parratt sees it as a return to olden days, before the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (enacted in 1919, banning alcohol) and then the 21st Amendment (1933, legalizing alcohol once again). After the latter, the giant breweries gobbled up nearly the entire market.

“It’s going back to beer pre-prohibition,” said Parratt, who started as a home brewer about a dozen years ago. “You used to have a brewery in almost any town and could get your beer super-fresh and super-local.” “It’s an awesome time to be in the game.”

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Saturday, March 2, 2019

INDEPENDENCE COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

City enjoys wage gains – but sees challenges For economic development organizations, progress is the measuring stick by which success is determined. In Independence, it is no different for the Independence Council for Economic Development. While our mission has not changed over the 35 years this organization has existed, the methods and strategies have changed drastically. The ultimate goal is to make sure our residents have the best opportunity at economic success and that employers have an environment that they thrive, grow and be profitable. The EDC always sets annual goals for progress/growth, but a few years ago we added some long-term priorities that we felt were important to measure. We looked at past data and then built some stretch goals that we felt were attainable, albeit not easily attainable within the timeframe allotted. It was going to take some work by everyone in the community to make it happen. The first goal was raising median household income. From the period of 2000 to 2013, median income increased by 8.7 percent. While this period did include a severe economic downturn and higher unemployment rates, it wasn’t on par with other regional communities that saw higher rates of growth. As a result, many families struggled to keep up with the rising cost of living and revenues that support public services such as police, fire, streets, and parks saw a drop that took seven years to recover back to previous levels between 2007 and 2014. In 2015, the EDC Board of Directors set a goal of reaching a figure of $50,000 in median household income by the year 2020. This would mean that we would

need to achieve 13 percent growth in a five-year period as we came off a period in which we only saw less than 9 percent growth in the 13 previous years. Last year, we achieved our goal two years ahead of schedule as we reached a level of $50,122. So how did we see such minimal income growth for 13 years and then alter the growth curve so substantially? I think the answer to the first part of that question is a result of lost focus on what really drives economic development success. If you look back at the early 2000s, Independence was very focused on enhancing the retail areas around the Interstate 70 corridor. We used tax incentives to overcome some barriers to

development, but we traded away the financial resources we needed to provide public services. The good news is that many of those tax incentives have started to expire and will continue to do so over the next decade, and that will bring new revenue dollars to our schools and other public services funded by sales taxes. The influx of retail also created new employment opportunities, but retail jobs won’t grow your median household income. The number one employment sector in Independence is service, but that sector is also among the lowest paying jobs in a community. While it is necessary and vital to have retail and service amenities to serve residents, you don’t want to put all your eggs in that basket. So what changed in the last few years? I think the biggest change is focusing on what our employment priorities are going to be. It kicked off with the effort to retain the Unilever manufacturing facility on 35th Street. After the sale of the WishBone brand, this facility was on the brink of closure. Working with Unilever officials, we developed a plan to support the expansion of the plant to support a new product line. It helped us retain over 200 jobs and they have since added another 100 jobs. At the time of the expansion, average wage levels were over $40,000 per year, and those types of jobs will move the needle on median household income. Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital ATK) continues to hire at Lake City at a wage above regional averages for manufacturing. We also continue to work with other existing companies like Ronson Manufacturing as they expand their op-

erations. We still have much work to do if we want to continue our momentum to grow and attract advanced manufacturing. Less than 3 percent of industrial space is vacant, but we’ve been unable to attract new speculative industrial construction and that is a top priority right now. While land in the Little Blue Valley is vast, so is the flood plain, which either limits our ability to develop or makes the cost prohibitive without substantial incentives to offset the costs to mitigate. We are also faced with the challenge that every community is dealing with, and that is workforce. Jobs that used to be very manual-labor-oriented have now shifted to being very mechanized. Even the word labor has become outdated as we’ve shifted from physical exertion to mental capacity because not only do today’s workers have to run the machines, many times they need to be able to program them as well. Success in the next few years may very well be measured by how prepared we are to prepare and train our workforce for the jobs of the future. In the end, community success isn’t measured by numbers on a spreadsheet. It is measured by the quality of life citizens enjoy. To be able to support their families, to have reliable transportation to get to work, and having that extra income to enjoy a night out occasionally. When we are successful at that, we all win. – Tom Lesnak is the president and CEO of the Independence Chamber of Commerce and the Independence Council for Economic Development.

THE CENTRAL JACKSON COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (CJCFPD) IS A FULL-SERVICE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT IS PROUD TO SERVE

he Central Jackson County Fire Protection District (CJCFPD) is a full-service fire department that is proud to serve the cities of Blue Springs, Grain Valley, and Lake Tapawingo, as well as the surrounding areas of unincorporated Jackson County. CJCFPD employs 135 women and men as officers, firefighters, and support staff. CJCFPD was formed in 1961 and has grown from a volunteer fire department serving only Blue Springs to a fulltime professional organization covering 52 square miles. CJCFPD provides all services including fire protection, advanced life

support emergency medical response, fire prevention and public education, EMS education, hazardous materials and heavy rescue response. CJCFPD operates out of 5 fire stations, four in Blue Springs and one in Grain Valley. Each station houses a fire truck and an ambulance along with ancillary equipment such as water tankers and brush fire trucks. There is at least one paramedic on each ambulance and fire truck allowing CJCFPD to provide advance life support to every patient whether the ambulance is on the scene first or not. The Stephen P Westermann Education Center is a state of the art facil-

ity for training CJCFPD employees and outside students in fire and EMS education. CJCFPD is an accredited fire agency, which confirms they are continuing to provide the high level of service their communities expect and deserve. In 2008, they received their first accreditation after an extensive self-evaluation and assessment by a Peer Review team made up of members of fire departments across the country. The assessment looks at all aspects of the organization including finance management, personnel, response, and external relationships. After that in-depth process,

CJCFPD was awarded accreditation by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. This process was repeated and renewed in 2013, and in 2018, CJCFPD was awarded their third accreditation. CJCFPD is one of 258 accredited agencies worldwide, six in Missouri, and 7 in the Kansas City Metro. In 2018, CJCFPD also was awarded a Class 1 insurance rating by the Insurance Services Office (ISO). This rating is based on many of the same components of the accreditation process including staffing, response, and operational capabilities. After an evaluation by ISO, CJCFPD was given

the rating of one, which can have direct impact on insurance rates in the protected areas. Of the approximately 30,000 fire departments across the country, CJCFPD is one of less than 400 that are rated an ISO 1, and one of only 78 that carry both a class 1 rating and are accredited. The men and women of The Central Jackson County Fire Protection District are proud to protect these communities in Eastern Jackson County. They strive to be the best in every aspect, from providing a well-trained staff using state of the art equipment, to managing the money taxpayers have entrusted to them.

Programs are constantly being evaluated for effectiveness and adjusted as our communities and public needs change. Such a program is CJCares: a program to help citizens who call the ambulance for help, may not necessarily need formal medical care, but could use help to access other resources. This program helps citizens, but also helps keep CJCFPD resources available for emergency response. For more information, visit our website at www.cjcfpd.org or The Central Jackson County Fire Protection District on Facebook and Twitter.

9 Saturday, March 2, 2019

New space for a wide range of local events Independence Uptown Market, the new permanent home for the Independence farmers market, opened for the Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival last Labor Day weekend and has been busy in the months since then. The Uptown Market, constructed at a cost of $3.3 million for the city, has an open-air structure separate from a enclosed structure that has roller doors for open-air use, restrooms and a catering kitchen and can be used as a year-round events space. City officials broke ground on the building a year ago. It occupies what had been a city-owned parking lot off Truman Road between Liberty and

The Independence Uptown Market is on Truman Road on the north edge of the Independence Square. [Examiner photo] Osage streets. Mayor Eileen Weir says the building hosted more than 40 events and 40

classes and programs in its first five months of operation. It also allows for some farmers market events in the win-

ter. Among the events it has hosted is a reception for Gov. Mike Parson. – Examiner staff

PARKS From page E1 end. Burrus Old Mill Park occupies land at Woods Chapel Road and Walnut Street generally acknowledged to be where a grist mill and the first permanent settlement were constructed to help supply westward pioneers who would stop nearby for the cool, clean water – hence the city’s name. Like it did with the Rotary and Wark park playgrounds and the new skate park design, Blue Springs citizens had the opportunity to vote on a theme for the Burrus playground and splash pad. They chose “jungle.” “With every one of our big projects, we’ve tried to engage our community and give them some options,” said Dennis Dovel, the city’s director of parks and recreation. In 2020, many parts of Wilbur Young Park next to Blue Springs South High School will be replaced or enhanced, a project that will cost about $3.4 million. Projects over the next three years include numerous trails and parking lot improvements, redoing the Hidden Valley Park playground and some fix-ups for the Vesper Hall senior center.

An artist’s rendering of the planned new playground and splash pad for Burrus Old Mill Park in Blue Springs [Image courtesy of the city of Blue Springs]

BLUE RIDGE BANK OPENING SOON ON THE INDEPENDENCE SQUARE

lue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. is a locally owned community bank that has been serving the eastern Jackson County communities since 1958. Just coming out of a year of celebrating the institution’s 60th year as a trusted community partner in the banking industry, the momentum continues as a new branch will soon open on the Historic Independence Square. With a target open date of May 1, 2019, 201 W. Lexington Avenue will be the new home of Blue Ridge Bank’s ninth branch. All standard banking services will be available on site for new and current customers as well as a walk-up ATM and a secure night-drop depository. The branch will operate Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. There will also be a community room avail-

able as a meeting space and a small self-serve coffee bar for customers in the lobby area. What makes this branch of Blue Ridge Bank different from the other eight locations is its inclusion of Independence School District (ISD) students. The Bank has entered into a partnership with ISD to help facilitate a handson learning experience for students enrolled in the Business pathway of the ISD Career Academies Program. Beginning in August in the 20192020 school year, senior capstone students already accepted into the program will be on site. Working alongside Blue Ridge Bank staff and an ISD instructor, students will receive a learning experience like no other within the branch that complements the business and finance courses in which the students are enrolled. Having the

opportunity to interact directly with account holders and local business owners will provide real-world training for students interested in a career in banking. Blue Ridge Bank’s President and CEO Bill Esry is a third-generation Independence resident and Truman High School graduate. When ISD Superintendent Dale Herl approached Esry with the idea of expanding the Academies’ Business pathway to include the Bank, Esry was immediately on board. “I think it’s just a great, great program,” he says. “We’re all about financial literacy. … I’m just so excited about what we can bring as a partner to the learning process.” For more information about Blue Ridge Bank, visit BlueRidgeBank.com or call 816358-5000.

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Dr. Dale Herl, Independence School District Superintendent and Bill Esry, Blue Ridge Bank President and CEO

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Saturday, March 2, 2019

New spot, same friends at Blue Springs diner By Bill Althaus Bill.althaus@examiner.net Erika Lucas heard the whispers when she was working in her iconic Blue Springs restaurant, Sandy’s, the past year or so. “Why isn’t Erika here more often,” Lucas said. “It would be like, ‘We never see Erika. Is everything OK?’ Well, it’s OK. In fact, we hope it’s going to be great.” For the past two years Lucas has been plotting, planning, praying over and dealing with the move to a 6,800-square-foot space less than a mile from her current 3,000-square foot location at 1428 U.S. 40 that has served loyal patrons the past eight years. “We’re excited, a little bit scared, and just wondering how it’s all going to work out,” said Lucas, as a lunch crowd filled every table in the restaurant that features home-style cooking served up by members of the Sandy’s family. “Everyone in here – our staff, our customers – they’re all family. My mom (Sandy Scalf) once told me she never served a customer or worked with an employee. She worked with friends and served members of the Sandy’s family, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do at our new location.” Sandy’s plans to make the move in late March or early April to the larger spot behind 54th Street Grill & Bar and Side Pockets in South Blue Springs. “It’s less than a mile from here, and our friends can use a back road and never have to get out on the highway. It’s going to be easy. And I want to stress to everyone – it’s still going to be Sandy’s!” “We’re taking all our staff, our tables, our artwork – everything. We’re keeping our menu – but we’re adding some exciting new things like a big salad bar, which we just didn’t have room for here, and some gluten free items.” “We’re still going to have our prime rib Friday nights, our tenderloins, our big ol’ breakfast and cheeseburgers – everything that has made Sandy’s what it is today. We’re just going to be in a bigger restaurant with a lot more parking.” Lucas was introduced to the food

Members of the Sandy’s Restaurant staff who will be making the move to a new Blue Springs location less than a mile from its 1428 U.S. 40 location are, from left, Bobby Hines, kitchen manager the past five years; Paula Brooks, a server for the past 11 years; owner Erika Lucas, who took control of the restaurant when her mother Sandy Scalf passed away four years ago; Carla Thornton, a server the past two years; and Phyllis Mullins, who has also worked at Sandy’s the past two years. [Bill Althaus/The Examiner] industry when she was 7. “I’d serve biscuits and gravy at the VFW with my grandpa,” she said. “My mom was always cooking, always trying to find a way to come up with a better recipe. She did everything by scratch – and it always tasted amazing.” She recalls a special moment with her mom, adding, “I was making a scratch cake and she walked by – and didn’t even stop, she just kept on walking – and said, ‘Not enough flour.’ How did she know? But she was right.”

And Lucas savors those moments she can share with established and new members of the Sandy’s family. “The best part about being here is listening to the folks talk about their favorite dishes – the tenderloins or the homemade pies. We love to see families come in after church and the regulars who are here every morning for breakfast.” “This was mom’s home and it’s my home. And we want everyone to know we are going to be here for a long, long time – just at a new location.”

The new location will have a banquet room, an expanded waiting area for customers and the larger parking lot, which really thrills Lucas. “For the past two years, I have been picking out light fixtures, a big church pew for the waiting area and eating, breathing and sleeping this move.” Sandy’s is open Tuesday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday and is closed Monday. The phone number is 816-2951325.

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WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THE BLUE SPRINGS CHAMBER THIS YEAR?

ne of the big goals the Chamber has this year, workforce development, is directly focused on improving our community and the opportunities available to our citizens. This is something that not only affects Blue Springs but is becoming an issue nation-wide. The Chamber’s Board of Directors began discussion on ways to address this issue last Fall. After meeting with members and gathering information from community partners, the Chamber brainstormed for ways to help member businesses meet their hiring needs. In a recent survey of members, one third reported that they are not always able to find the employees they need. The Chamber established goals for 2019 to help businesses and organizations attract and develop the workforce they need for current and future operations. One of several ways the Chamber plans to help is by developing a clearinghouse of information and resources for members, such as online job boards, local job fairs and alternative workforce options. This information will be available soon

at www.BlueSpringsChamber.com under the tab, Find Employees. The Chamber is also planning to work with and teach businesses how to establish successful internship programs with high school and/or college students. An equally important goal of the Chamber for 2019 is to support existing businesses in Blue Springs and encourage entrepreneurs to start new businesses. The Chamber has several upcoming events targeted to emerging entrepreneurs including, two “How to Start a Business in Blue Springs Expos”. These Expos are in coordination with the City of Blue Springs, Mid-Continent Public Library, SCORE and the MU Extension Office. They are scheduled for Saturday, April 13 and Saturday, September 28, from 10 am – noon at the South Blue Springs Branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library. Business resources partners will be in attendance to provide one-stop shopping for those considering opening a business in Blue Springs. The Chamber also has plans to work with the Mid-Continent Public Library and the City of Blue Springs on Friday,

May 3 for a “Business Bootcamp”. This will be the third year this event has been held in Blue Springs. It will be from 8am – 12:30pm, at the Steven P. Westermann Fire & EMS Education Center. It will include resource partners, breakout sessions on business topics and an opening speaker. To help existing businesses evaluate their performance a new seminar, “Do You Have All the Pieces and Parts?”, will be offered. It will be taught by Paulette Crawford, a SCORE small business counselor, speaker and strategist on Tuesday, April 30, 11:30am – 1pm at Sinclair’s Restaurant. “What an exciting time to be a part of the Blue Springs Chamber”, said Jacqueline Reed, Mid-Continent Public Library and 2019 Chairman of the Board. “Being Recognized as 2018 Missouri Chamber of the Year has been a phenomenal honor and speaks to the valuable commitment so many of our members have made to the Chamber and the Blue Springs community. Chamber leaders are focused on promoting and supporting a strong economic environment.”

9 Saturday, March 2, 2019

Major new employer in Blue Springs Faurecia, a French-based auto parts manufacturer, began operating its new plant in Blue Springs late last year, with more than 200 employees now and plans to employ 300 or more people. The 250,000-square foot facility is on a 25-acre site just north of Interstate 70 and just east of Lake Remembrance and south of the Kohl’s Distribution Center, where workers make door panels for a pair of vehicles assembled at the Ford Motor Company plant in Claycomo — the Transit van and F-150 pickup truck. In May, company officials say, the plant will start to make center console and instrument panels. Blue Springs City Council approved a $69-million tax abatement plan for the facility about a year ago, then approved rezoning for the site in March 2018. Construction started soon after, and the building was finished last November. As of last month, the plant has 165 hourly workers and 75 salaried, officials said. Starting pay for production employees is $14.25 an hour, and process technicians make upwards of $18 an hour. – Examiner staff

Library upgrades continue The Blue Springs South branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library reopened last fall after months of renovation. Almost all Mid-Continent branches are getting upgrades after voters in 2016 approved a higher levy. The expansion of the Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence is to be completed this year, and the Blue Springs North branch is to be closed for renovation at some point this year. – Examiner staff

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Centerpoint completes expansion Centerpoint Medical Center welcomed a new CEO in May 2018 and has completed its $60 million expansion project. Bret Kolman, formerly the CEO of Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Covington, Louisiana, took over in May for the retired David Williams. Kolman had also been a financial analyst for HCA Midwest Health and later CEO of Lafayette Regional Health Center before his position in Louisiana. In October, Centerpoint opened a new seventh floor on the north side of the building – 36 new beds for general medical and surgical patients. A second new floor on that side is shelled off in anticipation of future growth. Williams said last year that since Centerpoint opened in 2008, it has experienced annual growth of 3 to 5 percent. Earlier last spring, the new seventh floor on the south side opened. It included a new 16-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit and 12 additional intensive care unit beds. The new rehab clinic will allow Centerpoint to keep patients – like those suffering stroke, trauma or orthopedic issues – who would normally be referred to other rehab services. Centerpoint Medical Center has made significant additions to its Independence campus since opening in 2008, and business has in– Examiner staff creased year after year. [Mike Genet/The Examiner]

SCHOOLS

From page E1 on the back side of Elm Grove Elementary School, off Whitney Road. The stadium got renovated, with the biggest addition being a new synthetic turf for the football field. The additions, all of which are complete, included a ticket booth, press box, fencing around the stadium, 500 additional bleachers, a new scoreboard and a concession stand and restrooms for the visitors’ side of the field. Blue Springs A $99 million bond issue passed in August 2018 allowed for the Blue Springs School District to make improvements to various school buildings. A total of $55 million was set aside for high school improvements. The Blue Springs South additions are currently under construction. They include a freshman wing, a small theater and a third gym. The school also will have updates to outdoor all-weather surfaces and the performing arts center. Officials say the freshman wing should be finished this summer, while the the-

ater is on track to be complete sometime in 2020, weather permitting. The additions at Blue Springs High School will begin this summer. It will get a new library, a new band classroom and a third gym. The school will also receive updates for all-weather surfaces and enclosure of the campus, which will connect its multiple buildings. The target date for completion of that project is the summer of 2020. Several elementary schools will see the addition of restrooms, storm-proof multipurpose rooms and library enclosures, all of which the district hopes to get done by next school year. All buildings will receive upgrades and enhancements to exterior and interior glass, door security and surveillance expansion. Grain Valley An $11.5 million bond issue, passed by voters in April 2018, allowed the Grain Valley School District to move forward with phase 4 of its improvements to Grain Valley High School. The additions are to the northeast part of the school, which includes a larger media center, more classrooms, office

The interior of Cassell Park Elementary, which opens later this year. [Photo courtesy of the Independence School District] space and a clinic. Assistant Superintendent Brad Welle said the district expects to have the media center ready in May and occupancy of the full space by June.

There also will be additional seating for the football stadium. A new entrance to the school will also be ready by the start of the next school year.

9 Saturday, March 2, 2019

Truman Library set for major renovation, expansion

By Jeff Fox jeff.fox@examiner.net

The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, one of the area’s top tourist draws, is set for its biggest changes since opening more than 60 years ago. “We have an opportunity here to celebrate a legacy unlike any other legacy,” says Kurt Graham, director of the library. The Truman Library Institute has been working toward raising $22 million for a renovation and expansion of the museum. The museum is likely to be closed for nearly a year, starting this May, while that work is done. The library, which opened in 1957, sits at 500 West U.S. 24, a few blocks north of the Truman Home and several blocks northwest of the Independence Square. It draws about 130,000 visitors a year. With the expansion, the building would be extended to the southeast, creating room to put all of the permanent exhibit on the main floor. Currently that’s divided into space upstairs about the major events of Truman’s presidency and space downstairs more focused on his life and The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence works to carry out Truman’s vision, his library being a center for the study of times. That would all become one story the presidency and government rather than a tribute to one person. It attracts about 130,000 visitors a year. [Jeff Fox/The Examiner] that a visitor would walk through room by room, more closely weaving the story Officials also want more a prominent Benton mural “Independence and the is used for special exhibits. With the of how his early years shaped him into the monument facing U.S. 24 and clearly Opening of the West” will remain a key renovation, the library would have more man he became and the crucial decisions communicating that this is a presidenpart of the visitor experience. Today it’s space for some the larger exhibits that he made as president. tial library. one of the first things a visitor sees, as travel the country and generally drive The east side of the building would be Also near the new entrance would it dominates the large lobby. With the higher attendance. rebuilt as the new main entrance, with be a bigger community-use space. The renovation, a visitor would come to it The institute has not announced firm a good deal of glass and light. A visitor Independence Rotary Club has taken on and the replica of the Oval Office toward closing or reopening dates but has concoming in would have a clear view of that part of the project and last month the end of main exhibit. sistently said the plan to be open again the gravesite of Harry and Bess Truman raised roughly $400,000 for it. These changes also free up the downby April 12, 2020, the 75th anniversary in the garden space that the museum Officials stress that the Thomas Hart stairs area, some of which currently of the day Truman became president. surrounds.

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Saturday, March 2, 2019

Grain Valley sees future in its past By Jeff Fox jeff.fox@examiner.net Grain Valley is beginning to move forward with plans to redevelop the old Sni-A-Bar Farms location as a community complex. In February, the city hired an architectural firm, Sapp Design Associates, to begin a planning process for the 60acre site at Buckner-Tarsney Road and Sni-a-Bar Road. The complex would likely include a new City Hall and new Community Center as well as an aquatic center. There’s been talk in the past of the Mid-Continent Public Library moving its Grain Valley branch to that site as well. Later this year, the city and Sapp plan to hold public forums to take citizen questions and comments. Grain Valley is growing rapidly and adding businesses, Moving to Sni-a-Bar would open up the area of the current City Hall and Community Center, on Main Street just south of Interstate 70, for redevelopment.

Cattle, progress

Sni-a-Bar Farms is a rich part of the city’s history. Here’s how The Examiner described it in a feature story in 2015: William Rockhill Nelson, a civic leader and co-founder of The Kansas City Star, bought the site in 1912 and at one point had 1,755 acres. His aim was to start breeding the best shorthorn cattle that he could. He had a road – 18 miles of concrete – built from 52nd and Topping in Kansas City out to the farm, over stiff political opposition. That road – W.R. Nelson Road and, later, Sni-A-Bar Road – was the first major east-west road in the central part of the county. Nelson’s farm prospered, though he lived to see little of it. He began cattle operations in 1913 but died two years later. For the next 30 years, the farm was held in trust, and its operation grew and its fame spread. In a Jackson County publication in 1926, officials described it as “the world’s greatest Shorthorn demonstration farm.”

The home at Sni-A-Bar Farms in Grain Valley. [Examiner file photo] The county offered plenty of details. “A comparison of the foundation cows and their first, second and third crosses made with Sni-A-Bar’s purebred bulls is a graphic illustration of the great contribution Mr. Nelson has made to the cattle industry,” the county wrote. “The first cross heifers showed a distinct broadening of the back, widening of the rump, thickening of the flesh, shortening of legs and neck and a generally improved animal type.” Nelson had been clear that he wanted to improve cattle – and profitability – for the typical Corn Belt cattle operation. Each fall 10,000 to 15,000 people would come from all over the continent for a demonstration of the advances the farm was turning up. Sni-A-Bar Farms even showed up in the National Geographic in 1946, which said the farm had “sold purebred Shorthorns to a dozen foreign lands, from Chile to China to Australia. ... Its year-

old calves, fattened on the right grass, may weigh up to 1,000 pounds.” From the start, the farm’s path to success was straightforward – breed better bulls. “Probably the greatest preventable loss in American animal production is in the low quality of sires used,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture wrote in an extensive 1926 report on the work at Sni-A-Bar Farms. “In no other phase of animal husbandry is it possible to make such direct, such marked, and such profitable improvement at such slight cost as in the use of superior purebred sires.” So bulls got a lot of attention – and some fame. Those at the farm included Cumberland Sultan, Argonaut’s Master, Hercules Conqueror, Richland Augustus and Maxwalton Revelenta. “They have appeared in show rings all over the country,” the county wrote. A generation later, the trustees singled out Prentice, Saltoun Claymore, Baron-

et, Cruggleton Aspiration and Edellyn Campeon Mercury as “Five Great Breeding Bulls.” Edellyn Campeon Mercury, for example, was described as “very deeply fleshed, rugged, and compact. He had a strong head and horn with a short neck and a crest that indicated masculinity. He was short-legged with an abundance of bone with exceptionally deep and wide hindquarters. ... The first crop of calves from Edellyn Campeon Mercury stamped him as a breeding bull of extreme merit.” Then the 30 years of the farm being held in trust passed. “Sni-a-Bar Shorthorns are prolific cattle,” wrote James Napier, the farm’s manager, when the entire herd was sold off in 1947. “They have bred into them and will pass on to their descendants the best characteristics of the world’s most useful breed. They will improve other herds and be profitable to their new owners.”

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