Free complimentary copy October 30, 2015 • Volume 3, No. 1
www.raytowneagle.com • 50¢
New business pops up in Raytown Plaza
Salon owner charged with murder, arson in fire that killed KC firefighters
By Kris Collins Pop That Thang, a party and popcorn joint, opened in early October and the owners made it known during a ribbon-cutting ceremony this past Friday that they intend to be in the same location for a long time. A long, long, long time, if you ask Darrell Hardin, husband to Pop That Thang Owner Tracie Hardin. The business is the newest addition to the Raytown Plaza and a fine addition in the eyes of Mayor Mike McDonough “Tracie and Darrell, on behalf of the city of Raytown, thank you, as the chamber said, for picking Raytown,” McDonough said at the ribbon-cutting event. “You guys are here in the downtown area where we’re going to try our darnedest to make it a really great place for people to come and have these kinds of businesses. That’s what we’re looking for downtown. You’re one of the first ones to be added to these other businesses. We’re glad you’re here. We’re looking forward to the holidays coming up with you guys popping a lot of good popcorn.” Hardin had dabbled in sales and her husband rented out prop-
Thu Hong Nguyen
By Kris Collins
Photo by Kris Collins Tracie and Darrell Hardin cut the red ribbon in front of their business, Pop That Thang, with friends, family, chamber officials and elected officials Oct. 23.
erties before, but this was her first big dive into the business world, having quit her full-time job just a week ago.
“I’ve always sold something,” Tracie Hardin said. “I’ve sold vacuum cleaners one time, I’ve sold lingerie, I’ve sold candles; all the
little things. I think I was always bred to be an entrepreneur, but just never put my hand on something like this.”
Pop continued on page 6
Benetti’s coffee “throwdown” raises $650 for REAP
Nearly 100 people packed into Benetti’s Coffee Experience this past Friday evening for live music, food, beer, and for bragging rights among the Kansas City Metro Area baristas as the best latte foam artist. The proceeds from the event went to Raytown Emergency Assistance Program, or REAP. “It was cool to be able get to 100 people that had never heard of REAP before and have that group understand that there’s still need in their community,” said Holly Grimwood, REAP executive director. Thirty people participated in the latte art contest, or throwdown. Local barista Simeon Brecker walked away as the victor. Though $650 isn’t a windfall, Grimwood said every dollar counts and the every dollar raised goes to REAP because there was no overhead for the event, as the supplies were donated. Grimwood said REAP is planning to make the event an annual occurrence.
Photos courtesy Holly Grimwood Approximately 100 people filed into Benetti’s Coffee Experience Oct. 23 for the REAP benefit throwdown.
Thirty people competed in throwdown to showcase their command of latte art.
Fright Night Favorites Page 8
From left, Rachel Smith, owner of Benetti’s, Kiersten Perry, owner of Messenger Coffee, and REAP’s Holly Grimwood pose at the benefit throwdown Oct. 23.
Tires And Pink Roses Page 10
A Kansas City woman was charged Oct. 27 with arson and two counts of murder for starting a fire in a building on Independence Avenue that resulted in the deaths of Kansas City Fire Department firefighters Larry Leggio and John Mesh Oct. 12. Thu Hong Nguyen, 43, faces one count of first-degree arson and two counts of second-degree murder or felony murder, which is when a death occurs while a felony is carried out. Gregory Gant, special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Kansas City Field Division, along with Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker and Kansas City Fire Chief Paul Berardi, gave more information on the fire investigation during a press conference Tuesday afternoon. “Regardless of the badge on our uniforms, those who dedicate their lives to protecting the public form a brotherhood that bonds all of us together,” Gant said Tuesday. “That brotherhood and the loss of these two heroic public servants have weighed heavily on the National Response Team members and agents of the Kansas City Field Division, who have spent the last several days tirelessly examining the fire scene and conducting interviews and pursuing leads in this investigation. “After hours of hard work with members of our investigative team, we have determined that this fire was intentionally set, and is a crime of arson.” According to court records, a federal fire investigator for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives stated that he believes the fire originated in the northeast corner of the LN Salon and Spa at 2614 Independence Ave. An investigation established that Nguyen was the last occupant of the salon on the night of the fire. She also told investigators she received insurance proceeds from other recent fires — the first was on July 25, 2013 at Nails USA in Lee’s Summit. Nguyen was an employee at the time. The fire was ruled accidental. The second fire occurred Jan. 6, 2015 at 2608 Independence Ave. in apt. No. 2, which subsequently damaged LN Salon and Spa, which is owned by Nguyen. It was determined to have been intentionally set and was classified as incendiary. According to the probable cause statement, written by an ATF special agent, “The fire was caused by the intentional ignition of com-
Arson continued on page 7
Pumpkins On Parade Page 10