Giving back Page 2
Valentine treats Page 7
Where are the fish biting? Page 8
Free complimentary copy February 7, 2014 • Volume 1, No. 19
www.raytowneagle.com • 75¢
Five Free Movies In The Park This Summer On state-of-the-art equipment
By Robert Smith President of Friends of Raytown Parks As I sit here and write this article, I look out the window and see the snow falling and they say we will have 10 inches by this evening. Anyway that just makes it seem all the better to think ahead to this summer. Thanks to the Friends of Raytown Parks
(FORP) and a grant from Truman Heartland Community Foundation there will
be FIVE Movies in the Park this summer. FORP has purchased a 16-foot screen and projection and sound equipment so Parks will not have to hire a company to provide the equipment and show the movies. Mark your calendar and join us for Movies in the Park at C. Lee Kenagy Park at 79th Street and Raytown Road on May 16, June 13, July 11, Au-
gust 15 and September 5. All movies will begin at dusk. Businesses have the opportunity to advertise by sponsoring a movie. Sponsorship acknowledgement can be in several different venues. Businesses can call Parks at 816-358-4100 for details. The Friends of Raytown Parks and Recreation, Inc. is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2007. FORP was organized exclusively to create a partnership with the Raytown Parks & Recreation Board for fund raising and to foster and promote public awareness of parks, open spaces and recreational activities, services and resources for the public. Unlike Parks, FORP is a separate organization from the city and its Board of Trustees are stakeholders. The FORP works in partnership with Raytown Parks Dept. to assist with many activities throughout the year, such as the Annual Fishing
MOVIE DATES May 16 June 13 July 11 August 15 September 5
The Raytown Parks and Recreation’s new 16-foot SilverScreen Showcase Series outdoor theater system will bring movies to life in Kenagy Park
Derby, Arts & Music Festival, and Movies in the Park, all of which take place at Kenagy Park. These events all require providing Parks staff with extra help from organizing to event tasks. We need you to continue our efforts. You can become a member for as little as $10 annually. There are various
O’Hara Winners Of Student Essay Contest Congratulations to the following junior students at O’Hara High School whose essays were selected as winners in the Knights of Columbus Essay Contest. Nina Gavoli (1st place), Jordan Wilcoxson (2nd place) and Katie Tyler (3rd place). The essay this year was expanded to include all Catholic students in 8th grade through 12th grade. This year the theme of the essay contest was “The Importance of Religious Freedom.” The students were encouraged to discuss the challenges faced in this area, the importance of religious freedom, and the idea of the Catholic in the public square. Great job to these students and the many others who submitted their essays across the country. All 3 students are residents
Left to right: Nina Gavoli, Jordan Wilcoxson, Katie Tyler All 3 students are residents of Lee’s Summit, MO and are in O’Hara’s Advanced Placement English Composition and Language Class.
of Lee’s Summit, MO and are in O’Hara’s Advanced Placement English Composition
and Language Class.
levels of membership and each has different benefits. Membership at the $75 Platinum/Stakeholder level is required to serve on the Board of Trustees. We have a few openings on the board for those who live, work, use or otherwise have an interest in Raytown Parks and Recreation. We also accept dona-
tions and endowments and all funds are managed by the Truman Heartland Community Foundation, our fiscal agent.
Raytown Police Announce Implementation Of Youth Court Program The Raytown Police have implemented their Youth Court program. The Raytown Youth Court will process cases involving first time, misdemeanor, juvenile offenders. The local youth court will reduce the number of referrals to Jackson County Family Court, which will allow that court to focus on more serious crimes. The Youth Court is a diversion program that is vetted and endorsed by Family Court. The program is peer-based. Offending juveniles will have an opportunity to be judged by their peers, using the power of positive peer pressure. Raytown Youth Court mirrors the judicial system, in that there will be a judge,
prosecuting attorney, defense attorney, court clerk, and bailiff. Those roles are staffed by trained, juvenile volunteers. A group of those volunteers have recently graduated from the training program. Not only is the program valuable to the offender, but to the participants as well. Volunteers get the opportunity to see firsthand, on a smaller scale, how our judicial system works in the United States of America.