Free complimentary copy December 25, 2015 • Volume 3, No. 9
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Merry Christmas from Mayor McDonough
Photo by Kris Collins Dressed as one of the five kings from a spinoff song of the Biblical tale of Jesus’ birth performed by the Raytown Community Symphonic Band, Raytown Mayor Mike McDonough wished the community a merry Christmas during the band’s performance this past Sunday at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. Raytown Symphonic Community Band Director Eric Eckhoff, left, looks on.
“Reflecting on this year, as it draws to a close and all the things that go with those memories. Those that we have lost, the end of one era for me personally and the beginning of another chapter. A blessing of a new Granddaughter. Then there is the maddening chaos of terrorism and crime around the world. But, the love I see in this world, especially in our town, in the everyday kindness and charity of people gives me pause to realize that no matter how hard evil tries to destroy, care and love overcome. In this Christmas season, let us strive to treat one another well as in Christ’s love and further that caring all year long. May those who are burdened by loss and sorrow be refreshed by the caring of another. The city, Raytown Area Chamber of Commerce, Raytown Arts Council, Raytown Community Symphonic
Band, school district and businesses are all working at improving life here. It gives me hope of great things to come. I wish to give a special thanks to the wonderful volunteers of the Main Street Association that make the downtown Raytown Christmas decorations and Mayor’s Christmas Tree lighting ceremony such a success. I also wish to acknowledge the other civic groups that are so vital to a place being a community, working together for the common good of this community and of the families that live, work and play here in our town. May you find joy and peace in the season and may the New Year bring you all happiness, good health and good friendship. This is my Christmas wish for you.” Mayor Mike McDonough
Raytown Central Middle wrestling team is all 3s
By Kris Collins The Raytown Central Middle School wrestling team just wrapped up its third season in school history. Next season will be Head Coach Joe Simpson’s third year in charge. And, if you can believe it, there were three sets of identical twins on this year’s team. Jesse and Jonathan Best, 13, have been wrestling for years, but this season was a first go at the sport for 12-year-olds Anthony and Nathan Mixon, and Thomas and Christian Elkin, 13. “It always ensures you have a wrestling partner,” Jesse Best said. He went on to say that nothing too odd happened over the course of the season that might have come from having three sets of identical twins (and Mark Williams, a fraternal twin) on the team, however, some referees fell victim to confusion. Best said one referee had a hard time awarding points when he and Jonathan wrestled each other. “They have different wrestling shoes that they wear — one wear’s red (Jesse) and the other wear’s black (Jonathan) … I still call them by Best,” Simpson said. The relatively nascent middle school wrestling program has tak-
en big strides the past two years. Simpson said the first year was a struggle, and the second year, during which he became head coach, came with many improvements. He assigns much of the credit — 80 to 90 percent, to be exact — to Greg Beam and Chris Best, fathers of wrestlers who volunteered to help coach the team over the past two seasons. “The wrestlers were no longer getting taken down to the mat and just laying (sic) there looking confused,” Simpson said. “We started working with them more on the fundamentals, building up to your base, doing sit-outs, doing standups, attacking form the neutral position, just fundamentals really strongly. The third year, we just enhanced on that.” One notable milestone this season was the Platte County Invitational, in which the team placed second among 11 others. The team placed fourth the season before. Simpson said placing second against schools with long-standing wrestling programs speaks volumes for Raytown Central Middle’s team and its progress over three years. Simpson said he is looking forward to taking over full-time next
Photo by Kris Collins Raytown Central Middle School Wrestling Head Coach Joe Simpson, left, stands with 5/6th of the identical twins on the team. From left to right are Thomas Elkin, Jesse Best, Anthony Mixon, Jonathan Best and Christian Elkin. (Nathan Mixon was sick and absent from school when the photo was taken.)
year as the volunteer coaches follow their children’s athletic careers out of the middle level. “They laid an extremely solid foundation,” Simpson said. “The
foundation they’ve laid far exceeds anything I could have done myself … The foundation they’ve laid with me to help me with the basic fundamentals of wrestling has set a great
Co. Executive Mike Sanders resigning at year’s end
File Photo Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders tendered his resignation from the county effective Dec. 31.
Gaveling In The New Courthouse Page 2
Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders announced Dec. 22 his resignation from the county effective Dec. 31. Sanders has been with the county since 2002 when he was the county’s prosecutor. Sanders, 48, was elected as county executive in 2006 and won re-elections in 2010 and 2014. The county’s charter calls for an outgoing county executive to name his or her interim replacement. Other news agencies have reported Jackson County Legislator Dennis Waits will be named Sanders’ replacement. If so, Waits will have to resign from his current position as third district representative. The legislature will have 30 days to choose a replacement who will hold Waits’ position until the election next November. Jackson County offered no official statement on the resignation. Sanders released a statement through O’Neill Marketing and Events. The following is his statement in full: “It is with a little bit of gladness
Holiday Surprise Page 2
and a little bit of sadness that I am announcing my resignation as Jackson County, effective December 31, 2015. After 13 years in public life, I simply feel the time is right for me to return to the practice of law, and to be able to spend more and better time with my family – my wife, Georgia, and our two young, and very fast-growing sons, John and Patrick. And, frankly, we thought, what better time than Christmas to start the new journey. Know that I have very much appreciated and enjoyed the opportunity to serve the people of Jackson County. It has been incredibly challenging, stimulating and, ultimately, very rewarding to be able to work in concert with some excellent legislators and management professionals to rebuild the political, financial and administrative infrastructure of this great county. With the blessings and support of Jackson County’s 1,500
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tradition here at Central Middle School. They came in on their own
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Bill punishing college athletes for protests withdrawn A bill punishing collegiate athletes on scholarships for participating in protests was withdrawn by the bill sponsor, state Rep. Rick Brattin, a Republican out of Harrisonville, Dec. 16, five days after the bill was filed. Brattin did not return calls for comment to the Raytown-Brooking Eagle. House Bill 1743 had received criticism from some Kansas Cityarea state legislators before it was withdrawn. Brandon Ellington, district 22 representative, called it a
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Savor The Holidays Page 7