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Free complimentary copy July 10, 2015 • Volume 2, No. 37
www.raytowneagle.com • 75¢
Eagle Scout Project Brings Cave Springs Upgrades By Kris Collins William M. Klein Park, commonly called Cave Spring, is no stranger to Eagle Scout projects. The park has had 13 so far this year, according to Al Maddox, park director. “Over the last few years we’ve probably averaged nine to 12,” he said. “They do a good job. We’ll have 16 when we get through these next three.” Carl Glosenger, of Troop 428, recently completed his Eagle Scout project, which was to make improvement for the new kid’s area being built in the park. In total, Glosenger made six improvements to the park, in-
cluding a fire pit, tree-stump benches and a lean-to. Maddox said the additions are to give park visitors and idea of how sitting around a camp may have been in the 1880s. Work on the kid’s park is expected for completion in August, Maddox said. The park also received help from Youth Volunteer Corp. In early June, eleven kids, under 13 years of age, worked six hours per day for four days for a total of 264 hours, according to Raytown-Brooking Eagle archives. The three upcoming Eagle Scout projects will bring the kid’s park to fruition, Maddox said. “We have to build a tree house and a makeshift cave, a 32-foot-
Scouts and scouters from Troop 428 take a pause from their work for a quick photo
Carl Glosenger inspects the lean-to
long cave the kids can go into, a little rope-climb or a step-rope over an A-frame,” he said. Maddox said the volume of families and women with children who attend the park sparked the improvements. The next three Eagle Scout
projects, Maddox said, will be the makeshift cave and improved trails, one of which will lead to a seldom visited part of the park. “We have a very old Osage orange tree, 175 years old, according to the (Missouri Department of) Conservation people” Mad-
dox said. “It’s a humongous tree; it’s got 40- to 50-foot limbs … This scout is going to rebuild the trails back to it. It’s a great climbing tree for kids. The limbs aren’t high.” More information on William M. Klein Park is available at cavespring.org.
Raytowner Rebuilding Restaurant After July 1 Tornado By Kris Collins and Megan Terry Nearly a week after the July 1 tornado that bounced around Lee’s Summit at approximately 6:25 p.m., at least one business is starting the road to rehabilitation. Raytowner Andres Orozco, owner of Fiesta Azteca Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, said the electricity to his restaurant at 1196 NE Douglas was restored Wednesday. He was inside the building when the torna-
do passed overhead. “When my brother and I heard that the tornado was coming south of Unity Village, we realized it was coming our way,” Orozco said. “We saw the dark sky and knew we were in trouble. At first I thought about my family and was worried about them before I even worried about the restaurant. It sounded like a loud train, and we could hear the brick roof coming off of the building and the AC units flying around.”
Photo courtesy of Raytown Fire Protection District The Raytown Fire Protection District reported a tornado touched down in the Unity Village area July 1. According to a statement from the Lee’s Summit Fire Department, the tornado touched down at approximately 6:25 p.m. and moved southeast through the center of the city. The fire department reported some structural damage in the area
Orozco and his brother escaped the building without injury and waited across the street from the restaurant for emergency personnel to arrive because they smelled gas. “There were cans on the ground and smashed windows from the brick roof pieces flying around,” he said. “There was so much damage, but we were just thankful to be alive.” Despite the damage, Orozco said he plans to re-open the restaurant at its current location as soon as possible, which he projects could be as few as three weeks away. He was uncertain as of Wednesday what the assessed damage to the building is. “I think because I have the lease, we’ll still re-open (here),” Orozco said. “I still have another eight months on my lease. I’m going to try
to do the same thing I did. That’s the plan, just re-open. God gave us the opportunity again. That was just a little sign.” Sheila Wheeler, server at Fiesta Azteca and a five-year employee of Orozco’s, said she has confidence in the re-opening. “I have known Andres for many years,” Wheeler said. “I know how strong he is, and I am confident he will pick up the broken pieces and rebuild what he had, and I know he will build it up even better than last time.” Orozco opened his first restaurant in Raytown in 2003 and the restaurants have been a family endeavor since. Orozco’s son, Alejandro Orozco, said, “It is upsetting to see my dad have his hard work taken down in
such a short amount of time. It took so long to build and in a matter of seconds it was all gone. All we can do is hope for the best and work together to get that location going again.” In the meantime, Orozco said he is trying to clean up and restore the restaurant with the help of his employees, for whom Orozco is trying to keep paychecks ongoing while the restaurant is closed. “I’m just trying to keep them busy so they can support their families,” he said. While the re-opening date is uncertain at this point, Orozco said he plans to host a grand re-opening when the restaurant is restored. The main restaurant located at 705 SE Melody Lane off of Missouri Route 291 remains open for business.