Raytown STARS Page 4
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“Kiss Me Kate” review Page 8
Free complimentary copy August 1, 2014 • Volume 1, No. 44
www.raytowneagle.com • 75¢
Raytown Has A Weather Station? By Diane Krizek Editor Those of you who watch chief meteorologist Gary Lezak on 41 KHSB may have noticed that he occasionally reports weather direct from Raytown when in fact the National Weather Service’s closest weather station is in Lee’s Summit. That’s because Raytown has its own weather station operated by Chuck Smith. Chuck and David Wilson’s interest in weather began when strong winds gusted through Kenagy Park
Web surfers can type in RaytownWeather.com or simply click on the weather icon at RaytownEagle.com and blew their carport clear over the top of their house. They wondered if there was enough wind to generate electricity and reduce their electric bills. Setting up a weather station would collect the necessary
data to determine the feasibility of installing a wind turbine. In December 2011, Chuck received a Davis weather station from David for Christmas. They installed the weather station on a pole in the orchard of their Green Acres Homestead just east of Kenagy Park around 79th and Raytown Road. In January 2012, RaytownWeather.com went live sharing the local weather data with the community. Davis weather stations are considered the most accurate amateur weather stations available. Chuck has the mid-level model, Davis VantageVue, which is solar powered and wireless. The station measures rainfall and rate, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, temperature and humidity. An old Windows XP desktop computer runs the weather station and Chuck found weather templates that he adapted for the website. RaytownWeather.com is updated every 9 seconds with the latest data which is shared with the National Weather Service (NWS), Weather Underground, Intellicast, Weatherbug, and several other services. “Weather Underground notifies me if readings appear to be outside the range of other sites in the area so RaytownWeather.com remains very accurate,” explains Chuck. “I don’t try to forecast but I do compare notes with other sites in the area. The forecasts on RaytownWeather.com come from the NWS and our weather station forecasts for the next 12 hours follow in
Mounted high above the treetops, the weather station feeds current information about Raytown conditions to be combined with more weather information that powers RaytownWeather.com green font.” RaytownWeather.com does not send out alerts but the banner at the top of the home page above the radar images changes color to notify viewers when NWS alerts are issued. “I think RaytownWeather.com is a great resource for residents of Raytown and anyone considering a move to Raytown. The Almanac
section of the website provides research data back to February 2011 except for a few days when the system was down for repairs. The only thing not included is snowfall amounts. I just don’t have a consistent method to measure and record snow correctly,” says Chuck. RaytownWeather.com also includes interesting items such as maps of earthquake activity, flu
season and drought conditions, as well as lunar and solar phase information. They also have weather logos that can be installed on websites to provide the current date, time and weather conditions in Raytown, Missouri. You can find one of these in action in the upper right corner of RaytownEagle.com.
Get Out To Vote Tuesday, August 5 As a citizen of the great state of Missouri, your voice or vote is very important in next week’s election. There are five Constitutional Amendments that must be decided, in addition to the election of primary candidates for U.S., Missouri and Jackson County public offices.
Primary Election
In the U.S. House of Representatives, 5th District race, Democratic candidates, Mark S. Memoly, Bob Gough, Eric Holmes and Charles Lindsey are taking a run at unseating Emanuel Cleaver II. Republican primary candidates for the 5th District are Bill Lindsey, Berton Knox, Michael Burris and Jacob Turk. In the Democratic primary, State Representative 27th District, Bonnaye Mims, a spunky defender of public schools, is fighting against India Williams to hold her position. Ryan Meyer is challenging Tom McDonald, State Representative of the 28th District but does not appear to be campaigning. No Republicans have jumped in this race. In the County Legislative Democratic primaries, Tony Miller of the 3rd District-At-Large and Scott Burnett of the 1st District are unchallenged by any party. Whoever wins the 4th District now held by Dan Tarwater and challenged by Gary Amerine gets the seat because there’s no opposition from another party. Sherwood Smith and Frank White are locking horns for the 1st District-At-Large vacated by Teresa Ruiz-Garza. Shere Alam is trying to unseat incumbent Crystal Williams of the 2nd District-At-Large and Zachary Berkstresser, Alfred Jordan and Sterling Brown are vying for the 2nd District. In the County Legislative Republican primaries, the only excitement is Teresa Galvin trying to unseat long-time incumbent Bob
Spence of the 6th District. Democrat Committeeman candidates for Brooking Township are Michael Downing and Fred Hartwell, and Committeewoman candidates are Sandra Hartwell and Kimberly Clauseluaces. Republican Committeeman candidates for Brooking Township are Bill Van Buskirk and Jason Greene and Committeewoman candidates are Mary Jane Van Buskirk.
Special Election From Ballotpedia *
Missouri Right-to-Farm, Amendment 1 - If approved by voters, the measure would explicitly guarantee farmers and ranchers the right to engage in their livelihoods and produce food for others. What ex-
actly that means, however, has been a point of debate in the Missouri agricultural community. Supporters argue that all farmers and ranchers need protections due to out-of-state interests in restricting certain practices. Opponents have countered that the amendment will actually provide protections to large corporate and multinational agribusiness, and it will, in fact, make it harder for family farmers and ranchers to protect themselves from business interests. Amendment 1’s broadly written language makes postulating possible outcomes difficult. If passed, it is likely what the “rightto-farm” means in Missouri will be decided in the courts. The right-tofarm is currently protected from nuisance suits by by Section 537.295 of the Missouri Revised Statutes.
Missouri Right to Bear Arms, Amendment 5 - The measure, upon voter approval, would establish the unalienable right of citizens to keep and bear arms, ammunition and accessories associated with the normal functioning of such arms, for the purpose of defense of one’s person, family, home and property. The amendment would allow the state to limit the possession of arms by convicted felons and those adjudged as mentally ill. Currently, citizens have the right to bear arms in defense of home, person and property, but the right is not considered “unalienable.” The amendment was sponsored in the Missouri General Assembly by State Senator Kurt Schaefer (R-19) as Senate Joint Resolution 36. Supporters say the measure would strengthen the right to bear arms and force courts to use a higher standard of review when considering the constitutionality of gun rights laws. Opponents say that it would make it harder to regulate guns and violent criminals and would jeopardize the government’s ability to prosecute gun related crimes and instances of guns being in the hands of those without a license to own them. Missouri Temporary Sales Tax Increase for Transportation, Amendment 7 - The measure, upon voter approval, would impose a temporary 0.75 percent increase on the state sales and use tax to fund transportation projects. The duration of the tax would be no more than 10 years. The measure was sponsored by Rep. Dave Hinson (R119) and Rep. Dave Schatz (R-61) in the Missouri House of Representatives, where it was known as House Joint Resolution 68. It was also supported by Sen. Mike Kehoe (R-6). If the measure is approved by voters, it will mark the first statewide tax increase since 1993 and the first tax increase for roads since 1992.
According to the Tax Foundation, 31.6 percent of state and local road spending in Missouri was covered by user fees and taxes in 2011. Specifically, 0.6 percent came from tolls and user fees, 22.5 percent came from fuel taxes and 8.5 percent from license taxes. Supporters say the existing transportation funding barely allows MoDOT to maintain the existing state highway system. If approved by voters, the measure prohibits the state, cities and counties from operating toll roads or bridges and prohibits increases in the fuel tax while the temporary tax increase is in effect. Opponents argue that the measure does not place the tax burden on those who use the roads as would a fuel tax. Gov. Nixon stated opposition, saying, “The burden of this $6.1 billion sales tax increase would fall disproportionately on Missouri’s working families and seniors by increasing the cost of everyday necessities like diapers and over-the-counter medication, while giving the heaviest users of our roads a free pass.” Missouri Veterans Lottery Ticket, Amendment 8 - If approved by voters, the measure will allow for the creation of a new lottery ticket to fund veterans’ programs. Currently, four other states - Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Texas - have special lotteries with profits that go solely toward veterans’ programs. If the measure is approved, it will take effect no later than July 1, 2015. Supporters say the lottery would help fund the state’s seven veterans homes, which have a waiting list of 1,900 people. They say veterans’ lotteries in Illinois, Kansas and Iowa have raised millions of dollars. Opponents question the effectiveness as evidenced in the lack of contributions to the educational system and the use of gambling to fund state
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