Raytown Debate Page 2
July 4th Feast Page 7
Vendor Of The Week Page 8
Free complimentary copy July 3, 2015 • Volume 2, No. 36
www.raytowneagle.com • 75¢
Jackson County To Set Off Biggest Fireworks Shell In The U.S. Big Bang 4th of July celebration features live music, kids games
Jackson County is definitely putting the BIG in its Big Bang 4th of July celebration. The county will light up the sky over Longview Lake when it launches the largest fireworks shell being shot off in the United States. The pyrotechnic exclamation point will cap an Independence Day party also featuring live music, a free kid’s carnival area, skydivers and a patriotic Salute to the Military. Gates at the event site, Longview Lake Shelter 13, will open at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 4. Admission is free. “It’s going to be a blast,” Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders declared. “We’ve prom-
ised to make the Big Bang celebration bigger and better every year. We’re going to deliver on that promise.” The gargantuan shell that will make Jackson County’s fireworks finale, one of the largest in the Midwest, is so large it could not be assembled elsewhere and then be legally transported for commercial use. The 24-inch diameter shell is being custombuilt on site at Longview Lake. The fireworks will deliver the red glare—among other col-
ors—to commemorate the nation’s 239th birthday. The prelude to the Big Bang fireworks includes not one but two bands performing live, with headliner
Blackjack Billy back for an encore concert after rocking the stage at the 2013 Jackson County 4th of July celebration. Before the fireworks are propelled into the sky, parachutists from Skydive KC will descend
over the event grounds. One will be tethered to a giant Stars & Stripes flapping in the wind. In addition to the free admission, the new, improved Truman Medical Center Kid’s Blast area with inflatables, games and
other attractions will be free this year. “For me, even beyond the fireworks, the highlight of the celebration is the Salute to the Military,” said County ExecuContinued on page 2
Found Animal Pages Reunites Owners And Pets On any given day in Raytown, the Neighborhood Services Officers get calls reporting on animals that are loose and roaming neighborhoods. They diligently pick up the animals and impound them. In the past, their work stopped there and they hoped that they would find the animal’s microchip or the owners would pick up their fuzzy friends. But all of that changed this year. In April, Neighborhood Service Specialists worked with Brenda Gustafson, the City’s Public Information Officer to develop ways to get the found animal’s pictures out to the public on Facebook and the City’s website. If your animal is lost,
call up either the City’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/CityofRaytown, and look for photo album “Raytown Animal Control’s Found Pets” or visit the City’s website, Raytown.Mo.us. Click on Govern in the header, then Departments/ Development & Public Affairs/Animal Control. When an animal is picked up, the picture of the animal, a short physical description and where it was found is posted. Things start happening when people share that information with friends and neighbors. Sometimes the owner sees the post, sometimes it’s a neighbor who recognizes the pet but eventually
someone knows both the animal and its owner. One recent picture created over 600 shares on Facebook. The success of this program has been phenomenal. The very first dog found under the program was a boxer who had been missing from a Raytown family when he broke his cable. The dog’s info was posted on Facebook and the City’s website and one of their neighbors saw the picture and contacted Neighborhood Services. “To see the smiles on the owner’s faces when we are able
to reunite them with their pet is so heartwarming,” said Allyn Harvey, Neighborhood Services Specialist. “Then we see the pet get excited to see his or her family.” On another occasion, the City picked up a bunny that was roaming in someone’s yard. We posted the picture and a Raytown resident contacted us with a possible owner’s address. Come to find out, the rabbit had been stolen out of his hutch about a month before. Through Facebook, “Bugsy” was reunited with his owner who were
overjoyed to have her furry friend back! These are only a couple of the stories of how social networking is crucial to helping bring lost pets home. The majority of pets that are returned to their owners have some sort of identification. The City encourages all pet owners to have a City pet license and microchip which are invaluable to helping Neighborhood Services Officers ensure a safe trip back home when your pet is lost.