Free complimentary copy March 18, 2016 • Volume 3, No. 21
www.raytowneagle.com • 50¢
American Pickers to film in Missouri American Pickers Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, along with their team, are returning to Missouri for new finds for the show in May. American Pickers is a series that explores the world of antique ‘picking’ on the History TV channel. The hit show follows
Wolfe and Fritz as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques —from motorcycles, classic cars and bicycles, to one-of-a-kind vintage memorabilia. American Pickers is looking for leads and unexplored treasure. They are on the hunt for characters with interesting and unique
items. Some of what they look for are: vintage bicycles, toys, unusual radios, movie memorabilia, advertising, military items, folk art, pre-50s Western gear, early firefighting equipment, vintage musical equipment, automotive items, and clothing. If you or someone you know
has a large, private collection send us your: name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 1-855-OLD-RUST.
Raytown police searching for murder suspect released from jail
Photo courtesy Raytown Police Department Malcolm Johnson is being sought by police for the 2014 shooting and death of Monteario Hogan. He was released from jail by mistake in February.
By Kris Collins
Photos courtesy American Pickers American Pickers, left to right, Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe.
Fire district looks to improve residential buildings following Feb. 7 fire that killed 2 By Kris Collins After a fire at Somerset Village Apartments on Feb. 7 claimed the lives of 4-year-old Jeremiah Roberts and his grandmother, 59-yearold Cherri Roberts, the Raytown Fire Protection District is meeting with residential building owners in town to recommend improvements to prevent such a fire from occurring again. “I’m very proud of our people and the work that they did,” Raytown Fire Deputy Chief Mike Hunley said. “I’m sorry that we lost lives, but I’m grateful that we actually saved somebody in conditions that are as extreme as it gets that somebody could survive.” After a week-long investigation, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives National Response Team, Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office, Raytown Police Department and Raytown Fire Protection District determined the fire began in trash can in the laundry room of the three story building. Authorities do not believe
the fire was intentionally started. “Everybody pulled their weight and then some,” Fire Chief Matt Mace said of the investigation. The fire district plans to give its recommended improvements to Somerset Village Apartments, which was built in the 60s and did not have a centralized sprinkler system, and other large residential buildings in the coming weeks. Hunley said no smoke alarms were found in the apartment complex, which could have been in part to the heavy fire damage. With an estimated $1 million in damages,
the building is set to be demolished. The Raytown Fire Protection District received a 911 call on the fire at approximately 2:20 a.m. on Feb. 7. Authorities said Jeremiah Roberts was killed in the fire. Cherri Roberts died on the evening of Feb. 8 from injuries she suffered in the fire. A third victim, 18-monthold Jabin Roberts, suffered burns to approximately 70 percent of his body. Hunley said Jabin is now in good condition and is expected to survive. While two lives were lost and a building destroyed, the district gained training and experience from working alongside ATF and the fire marshal’s office. “It was a new experience for all of us, as far as the scope of this thing was,” Hunley said. “The State Fire Marshal and ATF were both wonderful to work with. We had no complaints at all that I know of about either one of those agencies. They both went out of their way to deliver a professional investigation, to make sure everybody was
safe during the process, to make sure we got as close to the right answer as we could. We knew this was something that was beyond our internal scope to handle and have a high degree of confidence that we were doing it the right way.” Hunley estimates the resources the State Fire Marshal and ATF contributed to the investigation exceeded $100,000. ATF footed the bill. The fire district and Kansas City Fire Department will be reimbursed by the building owner’s insurance company for equipment damaged in the fire. The fire district lost approximately $5,500 in equipment. The district is also making an effort to raise fire safety awareness in the school district through a donation of instructional children’s videos on fire safety in Jeremiah Roberts honor to the school district. The fire district secured a $1,000 grant earlier in the year and spent the remaining $500 on five sets of “Rainbow Valley,” a cartoon and live-action video, so that each elementary school will have a copy.
Hy-Vee constructing walk-in clinic, Market Grille
The Raytown Police Department is looking for Malcolm Johnson, who was charged in the October 2014 murder of 22-year-old Monteario Hogan, after he was released by accident from the Jackson County Detention Center in February. It is unclear exactly when Johnson was released or why he was released. Court records show charges — second-degree murder and armed criminal action — were refiled against him on Feb. 18. The county released the following statement on Johnson’s release and offered no additional details: “We are aware of the release of an inmate from the detention center and have worked with the prosecutor and law enforcement on the issue. Charges for that inmate were dropped and a new warrant was issued. Our internal investigation on the matter is ongoing, and disciplinary action may follow. We are updating our procedures to add additional checks to releases of certain inmates.” Hogan was shot and killed Oct. 24, 2014 at the Blue Ridge Plaza shopping center. Anyone with information on Johnson’s whereabouts is asked to call the Raytown Police Department at 816-737-6020 or the T.I.P.S. Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
Raytown Aldermen meeting moved to March 22
By Kris Collins
Hy-Vee on Missouri 350 is one month into construction for improvements to its food court and pharmacy areas. A walk-in clinic is being constructed on the left-hand side of the store, near the pharmacy area. Saint Luke’s Hospital will be renting out the space, according to Hy-Vee staff. At the opposite entrance, improvements are being made to make way for Hy-Vee’s Market Grille, which is similar in style to a number of nationwide family restaurant chains. Construction is estimated for completion in mid-May.
Conservation Grants Page 3w
Photos courtesy Hy-Vee
Beef Stroganoff Page 7
The Raytown Board of Aldermen meeting normally scheduled for the third week of the month has been moved to March 22 in consideration of Missouri’s primary election. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Raytown City Hall.
Raytown Sports Page 8