Free complimentary copy April 15, 2016 • Volume 3, No. 25
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Bus driver named Raytown schools Support Staff Employee of the Year Derrick Knight, a bus driver for the Raytown C-II School District for the past two years, has been named the Support Staff Employee of the Year for the 2016-17 school year. Knight, who was selected from 21 candidates, will speak at the district’s annual Back to School Convocation in August. The judges who interviewed Knight in the nomination process called him “humble, respectful, and happy about the work he does.” “I have found the ability to touch the lives of young people to be very rewarding,” Knight said in a statement from the school district. As part of nomination materials, one student submitted testimony on Knight, citing his “personal touch that makes my route enjoyable.” Other nominees were: Bryan Casey, technology department;
Sheri Cathcart, Little Blue Elementary; Tom Crowe, Laurel Hills Elementary; Pam Fells, Northwood School; Freda Green, Spring Valley Elementary; Adriana Hull, Fleetridge Elementary; Marlena Johnston, Raytown Middle School; Sherri King, Eastwood Hills Elementary; Kayla Lee, Raytown Central Middle School; Amber Masoner, Robinson Elementary; Derek Mathieson, Raytown High School; Cherryl Rowland, New Trails Early Learning Center; Christina Murphy, Blue Ridge Elementary; Justin Sanders, buildings and grounds; Rochelle Settle, Norfleet Elementary; Katie Thonen, Southwood Elementary; Rena Tilley, Raytown South Middle School; Mandy Trotter, Westridge Elementary; Shelia Watts, Raytown South High School; and Julie Wishy, administration department.
The deadline for filing personal tax returns this year is April 18. The Internal Revenue Service is extending the deadline in observation of Emancipation Day, which marks the day the Compensated Emancipation Act was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. Because April 16 falls on a weekend, the holiday is being celebrated on the closest weekday, Friday.
Photo courtesy Raytown C-II School District Derrick Knight, right, 2016-17 Raytown C-II School District Support Staff Employee of the Year, poses with district Superintendent Allan Markley.
Raytowner a Fire board completes bond refinance, finalist for Miss truck purchase Missouri Pageant Raytown’s Bailey-Rae Stanton, 7, is a state finalist in The National American Miss Missouri State Pageant, and she’ll be competing for the crown in her age division June 24 and 25 in Columbia. Bailey-Rae is the daughter of Shawn Stanton and Kamisha Gatlin. The Junior Pre-Teen contestants do not wear makeup or model swimsuits. They are judged in four categories: personal interview, formal wear, personal introduction and community involvement. More information on BaileyRae’s trip is available at www.gofundme.com/Bailey4thecrown, or through Gatlin at Kamisha.Gatlin@ gmail.com.
By Kris Collins
Photo courtesy Kamisha Gatlin Raytowner Bailey-Rae Stanton, 7, is competing in The National American Miss Missouri State Pageant June 24 and 25 in Columbia.
‘Good Food Revolution’ author to speak April 19 at MCC-Longview event in Lee’s Summit Renowned urban farmer Will Allen will speak at Metropolitan Community College – Longview’s spring convocation on April 19. The free public event, to be held at the Pavilion at John Knox Village, located at 520 N.W. Murray Road in Lee’s Summit, begins at 5 p.m. with a reception. Allen speaks at 6 p.m. Eleven MCC instructors have used Allen’s 2012 autobiography, “The Good Food Revolution: Growing Healthy Food, People and Communities,” in their classes, and several campus programs have focused on urban gardening and related topics. Those wishing to RSVP for the Will Allen program, which will include a Q&A, may do so at www. mcckc.edu/events/lv-homecoming. Allen will also speak to and take questions from a group of about 75 MCC-Longview students who’ve been reading his book before the evening event.
Photo courtesy Metropolitan Community College Will Allen, author and urban farmer, will speak at Metropolitan Community College – Longview’s spring convocation April 19.
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Tax return deadline April 18
The Raytown Fire Protection District Board and staff were nearly giddy Tuesday evening as the board finalized the refinancing of a 2006 series of bonds that resulted in a 13 percent savings over 10 years, and while approving a lease-purchase agreement with Blue Ridge Bank & Trust for two new fire trucks with a glowing 1.75 percent interest rate. “The sale went very well,” said Michael Short, vice president and director of capital markets in Kansas City for Ameritas Investment Corporation, the firm that brokered the deal. “The staff had worked very well with us in prepping everything up so that the documents were ready last week and could be gotten out to the marketplace in advance, which always helps.” The 2006 bonds were insured by a bond insurer, and the district did not seek a credit rating, which is common practice for newcomers to the market, Short said. However, the district sought a rating through Moody’s Investors Service this time around. “We felt that, after our financial analysis of the district, that you had the ability, standing alone, to get a credit rating,” Short said. “We had been hoping for an AI rating. … You actually got an AAIII, which is a notch up higher than we thought or hoped, and that put you in the AA rating category which is very, very good and you should be proud of that. That means you have a good financial condition, it means you have good management practices.” The board approved a resolution to finalize the sale of the bonds and closing will happen April 27. The district issued $5,210,000 in new bonds with a 1.81 interest rate to replace $5,370,000 in the 2006 bonds. “Right away you have a $160,000 benefit to your longterm debt position,” Short said. “Secondly, the gross savings from this refunding is almost
$740,000 over the course of 10 years, a very, very good result for you.” It’s standard practice to refinance bonds if a 3 percent savings is possible. The bonds have a seven year call, which gives the district financial flexibility in planning in the future. “In seven years, you have the flexibility then to pay those bonds off with cash, to refinance them again in conjunction with something else you might be doing,” Short said. Truck finance Additionally, the board approved the financing of two fire trucks for $1,025,000 through Blue Ridge Bank & Trust at a 1.75 percent interest. “The best option and the one that certainly has the best community feel to it is working with Blue Ridge Bank & Trust right here in your own community, and, really, those folks have given you a tremendous financing opportunity. This is a very attractive rate,” Short said. This is the first municipal lease for Blue Ridge Bank & Trust. “We were excited by the fact that we can keep it local,” said Raytown Fire Protection District Chief Matt Mace. “We’ve had communications with all of you and it has been fantastic,” he said to bank representatives. Mace said the board decided, as a result of the good interest rate and working relationship, to move its assets to Blue Ridge Trust & Bank. The board approved a resolution Tuesday to being that process.
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Raytown woman charged for running school bus stop sign, hitting child By Kris Collins A 21-year-old Raytown woman was charged with three felonies Wednesday for allegedly failing to obey a school bus stop sign and hitting a child crossing the street, breaking his collar bone. Aminah Z. Ali faces seconddegree assault, failing to stop for a school bus receiving or discharging school children and leaving the scene of an accident for the December 2015 incident, according to court records. Police documents state Ali was in a white Chevrolet Malibu in a line of cars stopped behind a bus at E. 84th Terrace and Hillcrest Road in Kansas City on Dec. 21, 2015 while children were being let off the bus. Ali reportedly drove around the cars and passed the bus, striking the child as he was crossing the road. He was thrown into some bushes on impact. Several witnesses identified the vehicle and police issued a stop order for Ali. She was arrested April 12, police documents state. Prosecutors have requested a $25,000 bond.
Raytown school board approves graduation ceremony expenses, bond projects By Kris Collins All the details are coming together for the Raytown C-II School District’s first outdoor graduation ceremony. The Raytown Schools Board of Education approved an $18,442 contract Monday evening for video services. “We think we’re all set. We’ve got a video company in place,” said Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Brian Huff. “We have the chairs coming, the stanchions, the ropes, the outline of where everybody is going to be,” Huff said. “There are a ton of details we really took for granted at First Baptist (Raytown) because we’ve just done it there for so long (that) everybody just kind
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