Jan. 25, 2019 – Editor’s Note: This article begins a series to profile each candidate running for Excelsior Springs City Council and the Excelsior Springs Board of Education. 

Excelsior Springs residents Thomas Shue and Carl A. Harper filed to oppose incumbent Brent McElwee in his quest to retain his currently held seat of the City Council. 

Challenger Kalyn Goode will oppose incumbents Darren McKown and Tray Harkins for the school board. The election will be held April 2. 

For one local business owner, the school board needs to include one more voice, one of the mothers. 

Kalyn Goode

Kalyn Goode said she decided to run for the board of education for two main reasons. One, she feels the board needs another female voice. Two, she wants to represent all the other mothers in Excelsior who wish to speak for their children. 

“As a mother, I wanted to be able to have a voice for the other mothers in town on the school board,” she said. “I don’t feel like they have as big of a voice as they should represented on the board right now.” 

With her business, Goode said she sees many children each week. They talk with her and often bring up their experiences at school. Listening to their stories, she said she can see different trends and patterns of situations happening within the school system. She said those experiences will help her bring a different point of view to the board. 

She often hears the different opinions at her salon. She said she believes the school board listened to those who went to the school district’s long-term facility plans forums. However, she said she often hears the different opinions at her business. Opinions that sometimes differ from the ones expressed in a formal meeting setting. 

Her qualifications include simply being a resident of Excelsior Springs, she said. As a parent, she said she possesses a different level of compassion with children than a non-parent. Being a mother, she said she sees things from a different point of view than others. She runs her own business and often deals with the financial planning she will encounter on the board. 

While often visiting her own kindergartner at school to eat lunch, Goode said she finds herself surrounded by children in the cafeteria. She hears their stories there. Both there and in her salon, she said she sees a different side of the children. 

While also fully supporting the district’s bond that will also appear on April’s ballot, Goode said she fully supports the demolition of The Monterey Motel. The demolition will help Excelsior in several ways, she said. It will help make the city more beautiful, it will make the area surrounding Lewis Elementary safer and it will help the long-standing traffic issues the school encounters. 

She said she believes the school district needs to take a different approach to the schools’ ongoing bullying problem. She said she would like to see the Substance Abuse-Free Environments program’s ideas fully implemented in the schools. 

Goode said she grew up in Excelsior. She possesses a great love for the city, she said and wants to help it succeed. 

“I’m raising my children here,” she said. “I opened my business here. My whole life is based here.”

Nanette Marie Ragan
Feb. 25, 1947 – Jan. 13, 2019

Nanette Marie Ragan, most beloved and cherished Mother went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jan. 13, 2019 while surrounded by her daughters, family and friends.

Nanette was born the youngest of three girls on Feb. 25, 1947, to Corene and Robert Plumberg, Nanette was often known as a fun-loving tomboy and she and her sisters suffered a great loss when their mother passed away at a young age. Soon after, their Father moved the family to a Kansas City, Missouri neighborhood where Nanette befriended a wonderful family, John A. and Ida L. Ragan and their children. She then met their son, John Lee Ragan when he came home on a naval leave, and the two fell into the love of a lifetime. John Lee often said their love was so strong, they were one. The couple married and had two children, Amy and then Jennifer.

For a while, Nanette co-ran a successful ceramics class from the Ragan home with her mother-in-law, whom she absolutely adored and cherished. The family moved to a farm home in Excelsior Springs, Missouri which began the happiest years of their lives. It was during this time one of their nephews, John W. Evers, moved in for a time and became like a son to the couple and they loved him dearly and spared him no number of chores.

Nanette was an immensely strong and loving woman who cherished her role as Mother and wife and was first and foremost a servant of God. She cherished her Bible and loved studying every aspect of God’s word. She truly loved her family, friends and her little fur-babies and would want everyone to remember “Read Your Bible.”

She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, John Lee Ragan; her parents; her aunt, Lorene M. Roberson; sisters, Pam Almony and Ann Crowl; her beloved in-laws John and Ida Ragan; sister-in-law, Judy A. Bird and her niece Beki Huff. She is survived by her daughters Amy Ragan and Jennifer Ragan; sister-in-law Janice Dyer and husband Greg; brother-in-law, Lloyd Crowl; several nieces and nephews and their families.

Her daughters give a very special thank you to Pastor Doug Richey, Pastor Gary Barkley, Lisa and Benny Oliver, Glenda Powell, Marian Barney, Janice and Greg Dyer, Gaylene Barker, Shawn Harmon, Alexa Summit, Jon Moore, Kip Provost, Bob Chuning and the numerous kind hearts who reached out to us not only on the day she left us but the days prior and after when we needed you so much. We also give thanks to one of the kindest souls we know, Ryan Cashatt of Cashatt Family Funeral Home, St. Lukes Hospice House and the staff of Unit 64, KUMed Center.

Memorial services will be held March 9th, 2019 at Pisgah Baptist Church in Excelsior Springs. Visitation will begin at noon, with services to follow at 1 p.m. A reception will immediately follow.

 Feb. 1, 2019 – Editor’s note: this article continues a series to profile each candidate running for Excelsior Springs City Council and the Excelsior Springs Board of Education. 

Excelsior Springs residents Thomas Shue and Carl A. Harper filed to oppose incumbent Brent McElwee in his quest to retain his currently held seat of the City Council.

Challenger Kalyn Goode will oppose incumbents Darren McKown and Tray Harkins for the school board. The election will be held April 2.

One man decided to run for the Excelsior Springs City Council after seeing the large impact a small group of people can have on a community.

Thomas Shue said he began watching the impact some of the decisions have on Excelsior residents. Some of the decisions, he said could have been better.

Thomas Shue

“I see myself being able to add a lot to a small group of people who make big decisions and I want to be a part of those decisions,” he said. “That’s why I’m running, to help make better choices in our town.”

He said he sees himself as being the person who uses all available information to help make the best decisions for the community. Some of the information may be obtained by outside research, he said. He will also ask questions about the projects presented to the council.

Shue said he took a close look at Excelsior before deciding to run. He said he believes he can provide a fresh set of eyes to the decision-making process. He doesn’t identify with either major political party, he said. He doesn’t consider himself a politician. He said he simply wants people in office that will make the best decision for the city.

He plans to go door-to-door, he said, and invite people to ask questions. He said he wants to hold a special session each month where people can come and ask questions.

Shue said he sees issues with projects that have been performed by the city. One example, he said, included the improvements to the sewer plant. He said he believes when the city learned of the needed improvements, they could have completed them a different way.

“How about look at something that’s been going on since the 30’s on the West Coast,” he said. “What are they doing out on the West Coast where water is at a premium to process their water?”

He said the city could have looked at different, more sustainable technology. He said not all water needs to be treated as solid waste. Maybe the city should consider installing probes on toilets to determine how many gallons of water travel to the sewer, he said. The city could also use the data provided by the tax assessor to develop a tiered sewer charge based on the number of bathrooms within each home.

“City councils can make life really hard for people in town by passing regulations,” he said. “I don’t think we’re that far here yet, but I think there has been a lot of mismanagement of the programs put in place.”

The key in maintaining costs, he said, always comes down to staffing. Shue said he worked as a midwest regional manager of a major retailer and he knows how to maintain costs by hiring and training the best staff. 

He said he can look at the data and see the existing problems.

Shue said ultimately, he wants to help the community be more involved in the decision-making process. He said he plans to do this by asking the residents how they want their tax dollars to be spent.

“Would you like to say how your money is to be spent,” he said. “Do you want ‘yay, yay, yay,’ to everything or do you want somebody who’s going to look at all available information and make the best choice on your behalf?”

Jeffery L. Carrell
May 29, 1947 – Feb. 2, 2019

Jeffery L. Carrell, age 71, passed away at his home in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. on February 2, 2019 after a lifelong battle resulting from injuries he sustained in Vietnam.

Jeff was born May 29, 1947 in Excelsior Springs to G.W. and Erma Gean Carrel.  He graduated from Excelsior Springs High School in 1965.

Jeff enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1968 where he was severely injured by a shot to the head.  He spent the remainder of his military service in the Great Lakes Medical Center where he eventually obtained his honorable discharge.

Jeff married Diane Chipps on February 11, 1982 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Jeff was preceded in death by his father, G.W. Carrel; mother, Erma Gean Barber; step-father, Duane Barber; and grandparents, Harry B. and LouElla Carrel and Ernest and Mildred Clemmons.

Survivors include his wife, Diane; his son, Matt; his stepson, Gary (Tracy) Grass; sister, Pam Love; half-sister, Cathy Scott; grandsons, Mason and Lakota Carrel and Damon Grass; his uncle, H.B. “Shorty” Carrel; cousins Harry Carrel, his wife Nok, and stepdaughter, Nam Thip, and Carl Carrel; and sister-in-law, Connie Chipps-Ueling; nieces, Tamera (Brandon) Kidwell, Tanya (George) Temores; nephews, D.J. Herzog, Shawn and Neil Scott, and many great nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 at Hillcrest Cemetery in Excelsior Springs.

Arrangements: Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs.

Feb. 8, 2019 – Editor’s note: this article continues a series to profile each candidate running for Excelsior Springs City Council and the Excelsior Springs Board of Education. Excelsior Springs residents Thomas Shue and Carl A. Harper filed to oppose incumbent Brent McElwee in his quest to retain his currently held seat of the City Council. Challenger Kalyn Goode will oppose incumbents Darren Mc- Kown and Tray Harkins for the school board. The election will be held April 2.

The current president of the Excelsior Springs Board of Education wants to continue the trend of bringing the best educators to the students of Excelsior.

Tray Harkins said he began serving on the school board approximately 12 years ago. He said when he started, the district battled constant turnover of the teachers and staff, issues that have improved with time.

“We’ve hired experienced and talented administrators as well as teachers and we’ve reduced our turnover,” he

TRAY HARKINS

said.

During his tenure, he said he helped change the culture of the district. He said the board currently works to iron out the details of new things that will continue to assist the staff and administration of the district. He said he hopes the board will also be able to increase the salary schedule for the district’s teachers.

Working as a mortgage banker for the past 20 years, he said provides the experience he needs to help guide the board through budgetary concerns and other financial matters.

He said he also provides a needed level of experience provided by his more than a decade of service to the district.

“I think I’ve done a good job for the 12 years I’ve been on there,” he said. “I think we’ve made some errors, but we fixed them which is part of learning.”

Harkins said he helped to work out the district’s long-range facility plan and wants to see the plan fulfilled and the new schools built.

The plan proposes a 19-cent tax increase to be added to property taxes. The plan proposes new buildings for Westview Elementary and Lewis Elementary, an expansion to Elkhorn Elementary, tearing down the old hallways at the current Westview location and moving the Early Childhood Education Center to the site. They also hope to perform improvements and remodel work to the middle and high schools.

The plan also includes the demolition of the old Monterey Motel with a new transportation plan to be added to Lewis. Harkins said he hopes the plan will go through for the good of the district.

“I think we’ve had a good run and, hopefully, it continues and we get these schools

Bob Wheeler, 74, of Excelsior Springs, Missouri passed away Feb. 8, 2019. Visitation will be held 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home followed by graveside services at Hillcrest Cemetery, Excelsior Springs. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Northcare Hospice House.

Feb. 8, 2019 – As the debate into the future of the Excelsior Springs’ Memorial Airport intensifies, airport supporters attended the Excelsior Springs City Council meeting to voice their concerns with plans.

Thomas Creel addressed the council regarding what he said he described as the city’s attempt to close the airport. He said the council assured him at their Dec. 3 meeting a malfunctioning door on the airport’s north hangar would be repaired. A few days later, he said, city officials chose to destroy the door instead.

City Manager Molly McGovern said the malfunctioning door became an issue earlier. She said it came equipped with a braking system to keep the door from falling on a person and causing injury. The city expected to fix the door and move on, she said, but a pilot told her he needed his plane out to keep a scheduled lesson. In addition to this, the Excelsior Springs Area Chamber of Commerce trolleys being stored in the space needed the door open to keep previously scheduled appointments.

McGovern said due to the time constraints, the city made the decision to remove the door. To open the door, she said they would have to apply equal pressure to both sides of the 48 feet wide door. In addition, if they cut the cables to free the door, she said, it could pose a risk to workers.

Jerry Woods of Excelsior Springs speaks to the Excelsior Springs City Council as the Channel 41 news crew films the meeting. Woods said he contacted State Auditor Nicole Galloway’s office asking her to look into the Excelsior Springs city budget.
KIMBERELY BLACKBURN | Staff photo

After meeting with McGovern and Mayor Brad Eales, Creel said city officials told him they did not have the money to repair and maintain the existing door. He said pilots agreed to provide the funds to do the repairs, but city officials refused the offer.

“In a meeting that I had with Brad and Molly, I was told the why,” he said. “The city of Excelsior Springs has to be in a runway business, but not in an airport hangar business anymore.”

He said when looking at the minutes of the Dec. 3 city council meeting, he saw the council’s recommendation to repair the door recorded and asked McGovern when they changed their decision.

McGovern said the council discussed the matter during their scheduled retreat that took place after the meeting and decided to remove the door.

Eales responded by reading a letter he planned to submit to The Standard’s Managing Editor. The letter can be read in its entirety here.

RENTING THE SPACE

Creel said he believes Eales and McGovern wish to close the airport and did not have any intention of advising the pilots of their intentions to turn the hangars over to other departments. When he read The Standard’s story regarding Excelsior Spring Parks and Recreation taking ownership of the north hangar, he said he and the other pilots believed it to be part of the overall plan.

“Well, we all got together and it made sense, the plan was in the works over a month ago,” he said. “It just needed some strategic planning to enforce it. That’s why the door was cut off, it was to drive the pilots off.”

McGovern said the city looked for private businesses or another city department in the past with the funds to maintain the buildings and who could also provide the needed maintenance to the existing buildings.

The Parks and Recreation Department put together a proposal to remodel the north hangar to meet their needs for $50,000, which would provide savings to their additional $100,000 budget, McGovern said.

“(This would) not disrupt the operations of the airport other than the loss of three indoor hangar spaces,” she said. “There remain several unrented outdoor hangar spaces in the property.”

She said the interest from the Parks and Recreation Department did contribute to the decision to not repair or replace the door.

Ron Holmes said he wanted to know who made the decision to remove the door. He said Airport Manager Don Myers advised the city of two additional pilots who wanted to house their planes at the site. He said he wondered if city officials decided to remove the door quickly before the new pilots arrived in their attempts to close the airport.

McGovern said Myers did share the interest of two pilots, but the city did not have signed leases at that point. Because of this, they decided to move forward to rent spaces to the trolleys.

Creel said he believed Eales to have a conflict of interest in dealing with matters concerning the airport. He said Eales’ brother lives close to the property and does not want the planes flying over his house. Creel said Sylvia Eales visited an airplane board meeting asking for the planes to not fly over her son’s house.

McGovern sits on the Chamber of Commerce’s board, Creel said and told Myers to make room in the north hanger for the two trolleys.

City Councilwoman Sonya Morgan said McGovern did not think the trolleys would be a good fit for the space. Board members asked her to see if she could make room, Morgan said.

McGovern said she did not believe the trolleys would be a good fit for the space due to their schedules. She said she thought having to frequently move the trolleys would cause an additional moving part to the equation that could cause issues. However, the city began renting spaces to recreational vehicles, boats and campers for a few years.

“To agree to rent to trolleys was not out of line compared to our practice of renting to non-aviation,” she said.

CITY ASSETS

Creel said the airport exists as a recreational airport for lightweight aircraft. He said he compared the

Thomas Creel tells the Excelsior Springs City Council he will circulate a petition to
save the Excelsior Springs Memorial Airport. He said the petition asks for the council to establish an airport budget and re-establish the fuel system.
KIMBERELY BLACKBURN | Staff photo

recreation as no different than walking a dog or playing golf. According to figures found on the city’s website, Creel said, the city spent $19,846 and $23,954 in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Also according to the same figures, Creel said the city spent almost seven times more during those same years on the golf course. He cited $124,000 in 2016 and $189,000 in 2017.

Tray Harkins said he wanted to provide figures to help the community understand why the city invested money in the golf course.

He said 60 percent of golf play came from outside of the community. He said many of those who have traveled to play golf also stay in Excelsior and shop and eat here, creating a positive economic impact on the community.

Harkins said if one applies the number of out-of-town players and the average number of dollars they spend in the community to the economic impact formulas, a substantial impact can be seen for the Excelsior Springs community. According to a survey taken from 2012-2017, he said golfers added an average of $846,100 per year to the local economy.

Creel said he knows the airport will never bring in a large amount of money for the city. However, he said, if managed properly, it will bring in money.

Thomas Shue, one of the candidates for City Council said the officials have an obligation to protect the city’s assets.

“When you take and decide to do something different with the airport without partnering with the community that actually owns the airport which is the citizens, you’re doing a disservice to your office and the oath that you gave to the people when you took your office to protect the citizen’s assets.”

He said the city should find someone who cares about aviation to provide creative solutions to protect the airport.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

The city, along with members of the airport board heard a proposal from a private businessman to build a hangar that would house 10 planes with rent of $250 per month, McGovern said.

“If the board could find 15 interested tenants, he would construct the new hangar,” she said. “After the businessman could recapture his investment, the hangar could convert to city ownership and the rents would be enjoyed by the airport.”

McGovern said the city mailed a letter to a list of all licensed pilots in the area and garnered no interest The board could only find 7-8 potential tenants, she said.

Mayor Pro-Tem Sharon Powell said she sat as Liaison to the Airport Board for a few years.

“Through that time, ideas were expressed on how to increase revenue at the airport,” she said. “In my opinion, the board did not take the initiative to follow through on these ideas.”

McGovern said the city also reached out asking for interested fixed based operators to no response.

An opportunity which McGovern said she described as “exciting” also expressed interest in the site. Although she said the interest expressed from a parachuting outfit would be a great fit for the community, due to liability reasons, the city could not make it work.

As the owner of a trucking company, Creel said his company parked cars for an air show that occurred in Mosby. They made “a ton of money” just parking the vehicles, he said.

Bruce Bellemore of Wood Heights said many in the community possess fond memories of the airport from their childhoods. The site hosts BBQ Fly-In festivals and other events which helped raise money for worthy causes, he said.

CIVIL AIR PATROL

Most recently, Bellemore said the Civil Air Patrol, which holds their meetings at the airport, partnered with the Kansas City Police Department in helping to track those who may wander off, including Alzheimer’s patients, he said.

The program provides a tracker which Bellemore said he helped to test. He traveled to Rocky Hollow and walked into the wood area, he said. The CAP found his location within 2 1/2 hours, he said.

“Our airport does give a lot to the community,” he said. “It does cost the city money, but so do all the parks, the community center, but the airport is one of the amenities that have and can still generate money for the city.”

Carl Harper, another candidate for City Council said he wanted to offer a plea for the city to allow the CAP program to continue to meet at the location.

McGovern said she reached out to the CAP program and plans to allow the program to use the space. She said the state CAP program sent her an agreement this week advising her of the details of the use.

THE AIRPORT’S USE

Creel said the Excelsior Springs airport serves as a place for recreational pilots to fly their lightweight planes safely, something they cannot do at the Clay County Airport in Mosby.

“The hobby pilots don’t want to be in their air when an IFR pilot poses his flight plan 10 miles out coming in at 150 miles per hour while they’re only flying around at 15-20 miles per hour,” Creel said.

FUTURE PLANS

Creel said he spoke to corporate lawyers about the possibility of a class action lawsuit against the city for the gross mismanagement of an airport. He said he also contacted the Federal Aviation Administration due to the hazard associated with having pedestrians and golf carts on the runway and tarmac. He said he found no notices advising pilots of the potential dangers associated with such practices.

“Throughout the past two years, I suspect there were several thousand lives that were endangered by this gross mismanagement and failure to comply with the FAA airport guidelines,” he said.

McGovern said Myers advised her he issued the required notices for airmen for all golfing events scheduled in compliance with the FAA.

Creel said he plans to start a petition with the intention to save the airport. He said supporters want the city to provide such services including not tearing down the airport, not misusing facilities, not bullying the pilots to leave, replacing the airport board, replace the hangar door, repair fuel system and establishing an airport budget.

The city purchased a fuel system which cost the city over $24,168 in maintenance over the course of six years, McGovern said. The city made $22,190 in profits over the same period, she said, a loss of approximately $2,000.

The airport board advised the city of another fuel system which other airports used with success. However, McGovern said they could not guarantee the new system would work, and the city decided to not take the gamble.

McGovern said any budget for the airport would have to come out of the city’s general fund along with public safety and the budget to help fix minor street repair, including potholes. Other city departments, including parks and recreation, have their own separate budget due to the revenue they acquire. According to state law, McGovern said the city can not use money from one’s department revenue in another department’s budget.

McGovern said because the funds would have to come from the general fund, to establish a budget would take money from the other departments included.

Creel said he plans to continue to fight any action attempted by city officials to close the airport.

“I love our city as much as everyone here,” he said. “I really do not want to tie up all the tax dollars in fighting this thing … but I will.”

Once again it has come to my daily thoughts about a letter to the editor that I wrote last August about gossips, troublemakers and negative people. My last letter was to defend the (Excelsior Springs Police Department).

Recently, a few people have again taken to social media to trash the City and the Council. A Council that includes: Ambrose Buckman, who has been on for 10 years, Brent McElwee, eight years, Sonya Morgan, seven years, Sharon Powell, five years, and myself, seven years. A total of thirty-seven years of collective service and experience. We work hard to do what is best for Excelsior Springs. It is not always easy. It is not always popular.

Troublemakers:

In recent weeks, I have been trashed and accused of something unethical. Let me set the record straight. I have never bid a job for the city of (Excelsior Springs) or any other cities. I work for individuals, many churches, never charging them, I volunteer more often than not, do you? This person has already called me, questioning me, and accusing me. Do your due diligence, ask the editor to investigate, which I know you

have. Call the news media, which I know you already have. When you find out your rumor mill is incorrect, then go back to social media and apologize. I know you won’t, but that’s ok, because anyone who has an understanding of ethics, knows I would not do it anyway.

Gossips:

As to the recent hottest topic in social media, the airport, any numbers shown from anyone other than the City Manager or the Finance Director are a waste of ink. With the cost of maintenance, staff, utilities, phones, mowing, fuel, repairs, the City has exhausted its efforts trying to make a dying airport viable.  Pilots needed fuel, we bought fuel, with a new tank, card readers, a canopy, and numerous other items. It failed! The cost to try to keep it up and running was astronomical. In 2016, we needed a new runway, at a cost of around $500,000, approximately $50,000 out of tax payer’s pockets. It failed! (At this time, I will apologize because I voted yes to this project). Next, it was the new hangers. We were told build them, they will come. We found the possibility of private investors building the hangers … wait, they were too expensive, we can’t afford the rent.

We had a couple wanting to take over the airport and run it privately, but the numbers wouldn’t work. Neither would the insurance on a few different occasions. The bottom line, it’s not working. If the Community Center only had 10 members, do you think it would stay open?  If people only drove by any businesses in town, but never went in, would that business still be there?   If our local grocery store had more employees than customers, would it be open?

Everything is a business or a service and must, at the very least, break even, not be a continued drain on taxpayers. At the City Council forum, held in 2012, for citizens to ask candidates questions, I was asked about the airport and why taxpayers kept having to supplement someone’s hobby. I replied that if it was losing money, I would try to make it work and make it viable. I have tried.  I am exhausted and I am frustrated.

Negative people:

The hatefulness of a few that want everything handed to them on a platter with a silver spoon, at no expense, except to the taxpayers, depresses me. I am done trying. It’s time to look at better options for the land and the betterment of Excelsior Springs. (This is my personal opinion, not the opinion of the Council or the City).

Let me just say, I love the City of Excelsior Springs! I feel very passionate about serving on this council, as I believe everyone sitting up here does.  We will continue to do what we were elected to do, by serving all of Excelsior Springs, no matter what some people say.

Thank you for everything that Excelsior Springs stands for!  God bless and have an extremely glorifying year. Remember to get out and vote in April for the experience and not for the gossips, troublemakers and negative people.

Mayor Brad Eales

Raymond Belknap Jr.
May 30, 1924 – Feb. 2, 2019

Raymond Belknap Jr., 94, of Excelsior Springs, Missouri passed away peacefully on Feb. 2, 2019, at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Missouri.

He was born May 30, 1924, in Nevada, Missouri. to parents Raymond E. and Ruby J. (Wiles) Belknap.

Ray graduated from Nevada High School in 1942. Receiving numerous awards in music.

Prior to college, he served three years in the U.S. Army during World War II as an Air Operations Specialist.  After his service, he married Shirley Jean Morgan-Fields in 1946.

Ray received a Bachelor of Music from Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri. Post-graduate work was completed at the VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois.

Thirty years were spent teaching instrumental music, chorus and music appreciation to students in the Missouri District of Platte City, Stanberry and Excelsior Springs.

Following retirement, Ray enjoyed woodworking of all types.  His intricate miniature furniture was featured in the Kansas City Times and displayed at the Kansas City Toy and Miniature Museum.

Ray was preceded in death by wife, Shirley Jean Belknap; daughter, Janet Newby Roberts; brother, Clarence E. Belknap; and parents.

He is survived by two daughters, Debby (Nick) Houk of Excelsior Springs and Melanie (Rodney) Thomas, Kearney, Missouri; four grandchildren, Darci Houk, Kim Skeel, Kris Burnett, and Randy Roberts; two step-grandchildren, Teasha Vargas and Brett Thomas; six great-grandchildren; and two step great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Mary Jane Belknap of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Inurnment of Raymond and wife, Shirley, will take place at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri. at a later date.

Donations may be made to the American Legion Post 236, 208 Veterans Memorial Drive, P.O. Box 297, Excelsior Springs, MO. 64024 or to the Kansas City Pet Project, 4400 Raytown Rd., Kansas City, MO 64129.

Arrangements are through Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

The Clay County Commissioners recently filed a lawsuit against the State Auditor’s office asking for a judge’s decision regarding requests for information that county officials said could put taxpayers at risk.

Eastern Commissioner Luann Ridgeway said the requests put the county in a no-win situation. She said State Auditor Nicole Galloway requested blanket access to all minutes of the commissioner’s executive sessions. If released to Galloway, Ridgeway said they may have to release the minutes, which sometimes includes employee’s personal information and attorney-client privileged information, to anyone who asks.

“We’re boxed in. If we release them to her, we risk all these other downsides,” she said. “If we don’t release

Luann Ridgeway

them to her, we risk what already happened.”

Steph Detrick, press secretary for Galloway’s office said the office cannot comment as to the specifics of the audit. However, she said she described the requested information as being similar to what the office routinely requests and receives during the audit process. Ridgeway said just because Galloway described the requested information as standard does not make it constitutional.

In a press release issued by Galloway’s office, Galloway said Clay County officials have not cooperated with her office.

“Within the first six weeks of this process, my team has encountered delays, roadblocks and evasive responses that make it challenging to complete audit work in a cost-effective way on behalf of the taxpayers of Clay County,” Galloway said. “My auditors are requesting basic information, and there is no reason why it should be this difficult. Citizens asked for an audit of their government because they wanted answers about the operations of their county. I will use the full authority of my office to ensure they get the answers they deserve.”

Ridgeway said she believes the press releases issued by Galloway to be misleading.

“I think her press releases were deceptive because she didn’t really get to the true issue,” she said. “Which goes to the constitutionality of her request and the demand that we turn over information that exposes our public employees to a gross invasion of privacy that’s already HIPPA protected, but also personnel matters are protected by the Missouri Sunshine law.”

Joe Hatley with Spencer Fane LLP Law Firm, which acts as outside counsel for the county said he agrees. If the county waives the attorney-client privilege for Galloway, they waive it for all communication related to the case, he said.

Ridgeway said any smart trial lawyer would request the information to see any information related to their client. For example, she said, if the county wanted to settle a lawsuit, they discuss the maximum settlement they will authorize. If that information becomes available to the public, they will not be able to settle for less. This could be very damaging for the taxpayers. However, if they seek a declaratory judgment, the judge will decide what they must turn over to Galloway and they will not be required to waive their attorney-client privilege.

“Then we’re obliged to follow a court order, but we did not waive attorney-client privilege, we are following a court order,” she said.

Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte said he requested copies of three contracts discussed during one of the Commission executive session meetings and have not yet received them.

Jerry Nolte

“That’s not something I should have to sunshine,” he said.

He said he currently works to request them under Missouri Sunshine Law and sees how Galloway could see some in the county as being uncooperative.

He said he submitted a resolution to the commission’s discussion agenda for the Feb. 11 meeting.

“The Clay County Commission encourages and authorizes present and former employees of Clay County to cooperate fully in the citizen-initiated and lawful audit of the county by the Missouri State Auditor’s Office, consistent with applicable laws. Any employee or former employee interviewed by Missouri State Auditor’s Office should always be truthful, cooperative and polite. Interviews with county employees by the state auditors should be conducted in a confidential setting without supervisors present to alleviate any potential concerns of retaliation,” the resolution said in part.

Nolte also said he plans to discuss the handling of press releases issued on behalf of the Commissioners. He said he decided to submit the resolution after not receiving press releases until after the county submitted them to the press.

Ridgeway said another concern involves Galloway’s blanket request of Assistant County Administrator Nicole Brown’s email. Brown said her co-worker Lorie Portwood handles financial functions. Brown said she supervises approximately 85 full and part-time county employees. During peak employment time, she also supervises approximately 75 temporary employees. Those employees email Brown personal information concerning their job, Brown said.

“Their concerns come to me about their health, (and) their safety on the job,” she said. “They might report bullying from external sources from the organization. Those I fell just as much of a burden to protect as I do medical information or other private concerns because of the retaliation.”

Nolte said he did not believe Galloway’s office would release the information.

“I would think that they would be legally bound to keep that in confidence.

Ridgeway said she believed the information if released to Galloway, would have to be released to anyone who asked.

Nolte said he spoke to attorneys who do not agree with that assessment.

“Not being an attorney it’s hard for me to actually say with any certainty, but these are attorneys who have nothing particularly to gain or lose from this transaction,” he said.

Ridgeway said her main concern involved what she said she believes Galloway overstepping her bounds as described in the Missouri State Constitution.

In Article IV, Section 13 of the Missouri Constitution, Ridgeway said Galloway’s authority does not extend to matters beyond financial matters.

“No duties shall be imposed on him/state auditor by law which is not related to the supervising and auditing of the receipt and expenditure of public funds,” the statute reads in part.

Missouri law does not allow Galloway to undertake performance audits as Galloway describes, Ridgeway said.

Hatley said he agrees and the state constitution gives Galloway a narrow set of powers, which would not include a performance audit.

Ridgeway said Galloway’s comments regarding the Clay County government given in an interview with WDAF-TV Channel 4 in March 2018 also concerns her.

In a letter issued to Galloway, Lowell Pearson of Husch Blackwell, council for the county said during the interview, Galloway’s comments reflected an inappropriate pre-judging of the potential issues.

“It is clear that there are questionable activities,” the letter quotes Galloway as saying. “I don’t think that a

Nicole Galloway

taxpayer or citizen would need an audit to know that that’s ridiculous as wasteful. I think the information that you have provided, information that … um, I am aware of through the citizen petition and others. There are a lot of concerns generally about how Clay County government is operating and how it is serving citizens.”

Ridgeway said Galloway made these comments after hearing only one side of the story. The letter asked Galloway and her office refer all Clay County matters to an external accounting firm permitted in Missouri by the State Board of Accountancy. Nolte said he did not know that Galloway would be biased in Clay County, but law existed to take care of that issue if it exists. He said he openly agrees with the audit and other county officials have not asked him to recuse himself from any votes concerning the matter.

Ridgeway said she believed Galloway’s statement show more than what would be required for a change of judge in a court case.

“We have a mechanism in (the law) that if a judge that has shown presidential in any may or may have an interest in that case, we can automatically just move for a change of judge by right,” she said. “You’re even given one change of judge for no reason at all.” Nolte said he remains concerned about what he describes as a lack of transparency concerning the audit “If it’s not transparent to me, how on earth can it be transparent to anyone else,” he said.

Feb. 8, 2019 – Those involved with Slightly Off Broadway Theatre’s next production hope to do more than just entertain the community, they want to make a difference in the lives of some Excelsior Springs’ furry friends.

Sarah Oldham, director of Sylvia, which opens Feb. 15, said they hope to showcase photos and information on the area’s adoptable pets in the lobby during the production. She said they will accept donations of supplies that area shelters need.

“Anyone who makes a donation, we’ll give them a free popcorn,” she said. “Hopefully, they’ll take a look at the adoption board and find a forever friend that needs to go home with them.”

Oldham said she and the cast decided to help area shelters because of the love they have for their pets. It also ties in nicely to the play, which at its core shows the relationship between a man and his dog.

Colonsay Selby, who plays Sylvia, said she describes her character as the quintessential girl of the streets. She knows the tough life, Selby said. Oldham said Sylvia also happens to be a dog.

“Sylia is a normal dog,” Oldham said. “She just wants to be loved and fit in and rule the roost and sleep on the couch and do the things that our furry friends like to do … and it creates some tension in the marriage.”

Patrick Simpson, who plays Greg, said his character seems to be going through a mid-life crisis of sorts. No longer finding fulfillment in his career, he plays hooky from work one day … and comes home with a dog.

When Sylvia finds her Greg in the park, she fills a hole in his life, he said. Selby said Sylvia sees something more in Greg.

“I think when she finds Greg in the park, she realizes that this is her salvation and latches on and he latches on to her and things is great until I come home and meet the wife.”

As Kate, Greg’s wife embarks in a new career after her children leave home, she does not see Sylvia as just a dog. Dawn Stevenson, who plays Kate said she sees Sylvia as a threat that could come between her and the life she wants.

“I think she sees Sylvia as the other women in a way,” she said. “Just kinda this obstacle.”

Stevenson said she can see Kate’s point of view. Greg decided to change their lives without even consulting her, she said. Kate must try and get her way as well.

The play takes the audience back to the basics of communication, Selby said. It will help them remember why human beings have relationships.

The audience will also laugh, Oldham said, and find themselves experiencing real life emotions alongside the characters as they attempt to find their way through this new experience. The play shows how the heartache of the family, she said, as well as the happiness.

Simpson said the play explores emotions that people truly have. The show also portrays the emotions of Sylvia as well.

Heping local animals prove to be a bonus for the cast. Selby said her dogs provided the support she needed as a girl. As an adult, she said her dogs became part of the family.

Now, with the current economic climate, some have trouble trying to feed themselves and their children, she said. This will be a way for them to give back to those in the community that cannot fend for themselves.

“It’s unfortunate that (abandoning animals) happens more than people would like to think,” she said.

Simpson said he encourages everyone to support the local shelters. Stevenson said she adores the cats that she and Simpson, her real-life husband, adopted.

“I would go home with probably all of them if I had the room,” she said.

Oldham said, because she used to live in the country, she would often see animals dumped by their owners. She hopes the play can help tell the stories of those animals who suffer and provide them with some needed relief. Her animals have helped her family through tough times, she said. Many others have similar stories as well.

“We all have stories about how they’re there for us and how they make us feel,” she said.

Sylvia will run Feb 15-16, 22-24 and March 1-2. Friday and Saturday’s performances start at 7:30 p.m. with the Sunday matinee beginning at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $13 for adults and $6 for children aged 12 and under. Anyone wishing to get more information can visit sobtheatre.org.

Eldon Junior Howard
April 20, 1923 – Feb. 15, 2019

Eldon Junior Howard, 95, of Excelsior Springs, Missouri. passed away on Feb. 15, 2019.

Eldon was born on April 20, 1923, in Oklahoma to Eldon and Dora Howard. He served in the army during WWII. He married Doris Jean True on June 12, 1948.

He was preceded in death by his wife Doris Howard; daughter, Marsha Sue Parman; brother, J.R. Howard; and sister, Georgia Strassner.

He is survived by a son, Michael (Patti) Howard of Springfield, Missouri.; two daughters, Rhonda (Craig) Smith of Excelsior Springs; and Donna (Alan) Gallas of Kansas City, Missouri; eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

A memorial visitation will be held 1-2 p.m., Friday, March 1 with military honors following at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home in Excelsior Springs.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Disabled Veterans Association.

Arrangements: Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs, MO. 816-630-3131

Rachel N McGaugh, 25, of Kearney, passed away on 2/14/2019.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at Hidden Valley Funeral Home Of Excelsior Springs with services immediately following.

Arrangements provided by Hidden Valley Funeral Homes of Excelsior Springs 816-637-3000.

Wilfred Grafe Harris Jr., 68, of Excelsior Springs, Missouri passed away Feb. 19, 2019 at his home.  A celebration of life service will be held 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at Living Word Church, 314 Concourse Ave, Excelsior Springs, MO.

Arrangements: Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs, MO. 816-630-3131

Feb. 22, 2019 – Editor’s note: This article continues a series to profile each candidate running for Excelsior Springs City Council and the Excelsior Springs Board of Education. Excelsior Springs residents Thomas Shue and Carl A. Harper filed to oppose incumbent Brent McElwee in his quest to retain his currently held seat of the City Council. Challenger Kalyn Goode will oppose incumbents Darren McKown and Tray Harkins for the school board. The election will be held April 2.

After working for over 40 years in public safety, one candidate for the Excelsior Springs City Council hopes to use the skills he learned to help lead Excelsior into the future.

Carl Harper

Carl Harper said he worked in various positions in law enforcement for years. An Air Force veteran, he worked for the Ray County Sheriff Department for 13 years, served as the Wood Height’s Chief of Police two times and worked as Weston’s Chief of Police. He said working in law enforcement helped him to improve skills others may not realize. Those skills, Harper said, including social work, listening and making split-second decisions, will help him serve the residents of Excelsior Springs if they elect him to the city council.

“I think those have given me a lot of training over 40 years that I can listen to people’s complaints and concerns and come up with a solution,” he said.

He said positions he held in the past prepared him to serve the community. While in Weston, he said he worked with a budget so tight, they counted used postage stamps. He said he knows how to squeeze a penny.

“I’ve had to work with many budgets in places that were really tight,” he said. “Everywhere that I’ve have had any control over the budget, we’ve always come out ahead at the end of the year.”

Watching current events including the situation surrounding the Excelsior Springs Memorial Airport and listening to stories from friends closely related to the city spurred his decision to run, he said.

He said he believes the council needs a fresh set of eyes and ears to help make more positive change for the community. It seems, Harper said, those living on a fixed income in the community don’t have a voice on the council. He said he would like to provide that voice.

Serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission for five years in the past helped him to realize the income level of the community, he said, through surveys conducted during his time on the commission.

City officials plan large projects many in the community can’t enjoy, he said. For example, the community center. Harper said because residents already pay for the center with their taxes, it shouldn’t cost $8 per day for each one of them to enjoy its services. He said he would like these projects to be all-inclusive and allow each resident to enjoy them.

While in planning and zoning, he said he helped work to simplify zoning ordinances to help Excelsior grow. He said he did everything he could during that time to help simplify processes so people would start moving to the community. He said he especially wanted to attract new business. During that time, Harper said the board worked together to clean up Excelsior to draw new residents.

“We towed 2,000 cars and tore down 33 buildings. Just trying to make the city better, get more people to build here,” he said.

Only being one voice on the council doesn’t deter him, he said. If city officials heard various presentations on the same matter, he said they may make another decision. As far as the airport situation, he said he sees other solutions. He said he believes a happy medium can be reached.

Harper said he simply wants the chance to make a positive difference for the Excelsior community as he did when he served with planning and zoning.

“I felt like I’d actually done something,” he said. “It was a good feeling. I’d like to get that back.”

Feb. 22, 2019 – The Excelsior Springs School District hopes Proposition A will allow them to build new schools and make improvements throughout Excelsior.

Jaret Tomlinson, deputy superintendent, said he thinks it will be a modest increase for the amount of work that will be completed.

“We’re talking about a new elementary building right now, another new elementary building in a couple of years (and) a new early childhood center to extend that program,” he said.

The bond will also allow the district to perform needed maintenance on existing buildings, he said, not allowing them to deteriorate.

“If you do a comparison for what people can get what for their money, I think this option gives them the most bang for their buck,” he said.

According to information provided by ESSD, Excelsior Springs’ current district tax rate stands at 5.1272. If Prop A passes, it will increase to 5.3172.

To figure their potential rise in property taxes, homeowners need to multiply the market value of their residential property by the assessment ratio to learn their accessed value. Excelsior’s residential assessment values currently stand at 19 percent. For a house valued at $100,000, that would equal 19,000 of assessed value.

Officials calculate tax values per $100 of assessed value or 19,000 divided by 100, which equals 190 in this example.

Multiply that value by the 0.19 proposed tax increase to determine the yearly increase. In this example, 190 multiplied by 0.19 equals a $36.10 per year increase.

According to the 2018 district tax rates provided by the school district, Excelsior currently stays close to the bottom of the area’s tax rates. Liberty’s tax rate of 6.815 places them at the top, followed by North Kansas City, 6.558, Raytown, 6.32, Smithville, 5.8503, Platte County, 5.7699, Kearney, 5.3506 and Richmond, 5.2466. Cameron rounds out the list at 4.5673, below Excelsior’s current rate of 5.1272.

If Prop A were to pass, it would place Excelsior Springs between Kearney and Richmond at 5.3172.

If Prop A passes, work will begin with a remodel of Elkhorn Elementary’s cafeteria, with more remodels of the school to follow later. The high school commons will be remodeled and work would be done to the middle school’s exterior and egress.

Phase one will continue with the construction of a new Westview Elementary School building on the district’s vacant land located on the corner of Wornall Road and Lodwick Lane.

Patrick Smith, project manager with insight Design Studio, presented an update to the school board Monday, Feb. 11, showing the board how the outside of a new Westview Elementary could appear. He said because the land drops off, the bi-level school would stay in the northeast corner of the site.

“We’re trying to disrupt as little as possible from the trees that kind of run through the middle of the site, from east to the west there and any of the trees that are on the west side of the site as well,” he said.

Students would enter on the main level, he said, and walk down to the lower level. Kindergarten-second grade classrooms would be located on one level, with third-fifth grades on the other.

Smith said the building would provide flexibility for growth in the school’s student population.

He said the cafeteria would be located on the lower level with an opening that enters into the music room. This will allow presentations to be made on a small stage located in the same space. Smith said a media room would be located in the space directly above the cafeteria. Activities and the gym would be located on the lower level.

Plans keep parking in front of the building to a minimum with a large parking lot on the south of the building. The entrance from the main parking lot would be on the lower level of the building, he said.

The bus loop will be on the east of the building. Discussion continues on where the buses will travel as they exit the loop, but Smith said at this time, they would travel from the building going south.

Phase one will continue with renovations and an expansion, complete with a storm shelter, at Elkhorn Elementary. Aaron Harte with insight Design Studios said in a community forum all new buildings and renovations will include a storm shelter to provide for the safety of the students and staff. 

The Summer of 2019 will include improvements to the middle school’s interior. 

Later in Phase one, the back hallways of the current Westview will be removed and improvements will be made to the building. The Early Childhood Center will then move to the existing building.

Phase two will include the building of a new Lewis Elementary School building and the possibility of the building of a new auxiliary gym for the high school and middle schools that will double as a storm shelter.

Tomlinson said the proposition could mean great things for the community.

“I think it comes down to what kind of community do you want to live in,” he said. “What type of opportunities do you want for children of your community?”

Proposition A will be on the ballot at the election to be held on April 2.

Feb. 22, 2019 – Some Excelsior area pilots spoke to the Excelsior Springs City Council Tuesday evening, asking the city to make changes to what they described as the mismanagement of the Excelsior Springs Memorial Airport.

In Friday’s city council’s work session, City Manager Molly McGovern said she wanted to provide answers to the pilots’ questions regarding recent decisions made by the city. She said any of the pilots who wished to submit a proposal for a business venture to use airport facilities may do so at any time. She said she doesn’t want to talk about who did what in the past, but wants to move forward.

“I really don’t need to argue over who didn’t or did fail to help each other in the past,” she said. “Let’s just look forward and state if it was unclear before, it can be clear now that we would like to see you prepare that proposal, we’re not preparing that proposal. So that will clear that up as to who’s going to do it.”

The pilots can form their own board at any time, McGovern said. The city does not wish to re-establish the

Ron Holmes speaks to the Excelsior Springs City Council.
KIMBERELY BLACKBURN | Staff photo

airport board because it would require city officials to monitor the board to ensure meetings conform to Missouri Law.

According to Missouri Law, any time at least the minimum members of a city board needed to make a meeting valid meets in one location where business may be discussed, a public notice must be published. In addition, all meeting minutes must be prepared and posted on the city’s website.

“All public governmental bodies shall give notice of the time, date, and place of each meeting, and its tentative agenda, in a manner reasonably calculated to advise the public of the matters to be considered,” Missouri Sunshine Law states in part.

McGovern said the pilots can form any organization they wish to form, but it does not have to be a city board. A non-government board will not have the meeting regulations the city would have to enforce.

Thomas Creel, a pilot who houses his plane at the airport said he met with a group of pilots protesting the city’s handling of the site to respond to McGovern’s statements. He said the pilots want a Missouri Government airport board. In addition, they want a City Council willing to listen to the board.

“The Airport Board can make all the recommendations they want to improve the airport, but if the City Council will not listen to them, it will not be effective,” he said.

McGovern said ideally, board members do not make decisions as to how to improve the airport in a typical board meeting. She said, a well thought out plan should be developed by that board, a plan that will describe what services the airport will offer, very similar to a business plan. She said the plan would also include needed resources, how the service fits into the marketplace and confirmation that the plan can be successful.

Presentation of the plan for adoption by the city council would then support the responsible entity to carry out the approved proposal, she said. This eliminates the need to ask the city council daily or monthly to gap-fill the needs that might be presented from month-to-month and would be subject to change depending upon who attended the meeting that month. The plan, she said, would also clarify the party responsible to carry out the plan, thus avoiding the finger pointing as to who failed to permit the airport to achieve its potential.

McGovern said as far as the fuel system, the previous Airport Board presented it as a money-making opportunity. She said the city paid $47,582 in capital improvement dollars to install. It made the city an approximate $22,000 profits in fuel sales over six years and cost the city $24,000 in repairs.

She said the pilots can present a proposal on how they wish to invest in a new fuel system. She said she cannot justify spending funds on making a new adjustment based on the pilot’s thoughts that it will work better than previously.

Whether the airport sells fuel in the future needs to be taken into consideration as part of the overall operation, not an isolated decision, she said.

Creel said he went through the last 10 years of the airport’s income and expense reports and found an $18,867 repair expense incurred in 2011 as the largest.

He said the existing fuel system worked fine and only needs the credit card reader replaced. He said the last card reader cost the city $14,400. Fellow pilot Ron Holmes flew to multiple airports to check on their fuel systems to determine which one would work for Excelsior, he said.

Creel said the fuel system will attract new pilots to the area once word got out the system worked.

Creel said the door to the north hangar needs to be replaced. He said the airport needs the hangar to remain operational to be self-supportive. Although McGovern knew two additional pilots wished to move their planes to Excelsior, he said, she destroyed the door to make room for the Parks and Recreation department. He said the pilots view this as a move to intentionally run the airport into the ground.

“The pilots will still be willing to come up here if the door is replaced,” he said. That hangar is 50 percent of the inside hangars the airport has.”

He said the parks and recreation department’s budget contains tax revenue, the airport does not. Parks and recreation budgeted $100,000 to a new building, he said, let them build their own building.

McGovern said the hangar will be taken over by the parks and recreation department.

Creel said the airport needs an annual budget set up for it. The farm ground associated with the airport can be rented out to local farmers to bring in extra income to the airport.

McGovern said a local farmer approached the city about farming airport land. She said the city will put it out to bid soon and any income made will be included in the airport budget still in existence. The budget can be found published with the rest of the city’s budgets on its website. McGovern said additional changes will not be made to the budget at this time.

“We’re not budgeting right now,” she said. “We’ll be addressing budgets when we address budgets. We don’t have a reason today to amend the budget, there’s been no information presented to us as to what income might be considered that might finance anything they might propose.”

McGovern said a plan that presents a complete evaluation of the business to be provided needs to be completed. It should include revenue and expenses, threats and opportunities and the service delivery model to be used. She said plenty of emotion has been presented, but with little supporting information on how this can be made to work successfully.

During Tuesday’s city council meeting, Holmes addressed the council regarding a letter read by Mayor Brad Eales during the previous meeting. In the letter, Eales said the city could not continue to spend tax dollars on hobbies.

Holmes said many people play golf as a hobby. He said according to financial statements published by the city, Excelsior spent over $3.5 million of the tax payer’s money on the golf course in 2016-17. He said golfers played 36,285 rounds of golf during that time, costing the taxpayers $8.92 per round, or $13,485.17 per month.

He said according to the same report, the negative cash flow for 2016 equaled $124,111 and $189,533 in 2017.

Holmes said the city paid $75,000 for the dog park property and he was told another $34,000 on the park since.

McGovern said in a previous statement, the city could not transfer parks and recreation funds to any other city department according to state law.

Richard Sheets, deputy director of Missouri Municipal League, said state law prohibits the transfer of parks and recreation funds raised by the designated property tax.

Feb. 22, 2019 – The Clay County Commission recently asked a judge to stop the State Auditor from taking any action to enforce what the county said they describe as unconstitutional.

The press release said during the audit process, State Auditor Nicole Galloway’s demands and subpoenas for records have been out of her authority, as outlined in the Missouri Constitution.

“Instead of spending her time completing her audit, Auditor Galloway has neglected her constitutional duties in favor of seeking headlines,” the release said. “The State Auditor’s demands are arbitrary and unlawful. She has failed to offer a reasonable explanation for such demands.”

The demands county officials cited include the release of the County’s attorney-client privileged communications and medically sensitive employee data found in the minutes of the commission’s executive sessions. County officials said Galloway requested blanket access of all the minutes. Eastern Commissioner Luann Ridgeway said county officials offered Galloway minutes with all non-financial matters redacted, but Galloway refused.

The release goes on to state if the justice system allows Galloway to succeed, she will further exceed her constitutional authority by conducting a management audit, creating an unconstitutional financial burden for Clay County citizens.

Galloway said Clay County officials have not cooperated with the audit process.

“Within the first six weeks of this process, my team has encountered delays,  roadblocks and evasive responses that make it challenging to complete audit work in a cost-effective way on behalf of the taxpayers of Clay County,” Galloway said.

County officials said they continue to cooperate with all legal requests from the State Auditor’s Office. They said they’ve turned over all financial transactions made in the past two years, including 300,000 lines of data and more than 1,300 pages of documents.

Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte said the several official communications from Clay County on the audit and the subsequent legal action concerns him. He said he finds the potentially misleading statements mischaracterizing his opinions as well as the hostile and confrontational language used in these communications disturbing.

Nolte said he did not authorize these statements, and does not agree with these statements. “I have consistently been in favor of the State of Missouri’s audit of Clay County,” he said.

“I support the county withdrawing the lawsuits and having a real dialogue with the state audit team on cooperating to facilitate an efficient and comprehensive audit. I did not have the opportunity to review the press releases and official statements on the state audit before they were distributed, nor was my input or opinion sought. I don’t know if the Associate Commissioners had the opportunity to approve these communications in advance. The views expressed in these official statements and press releases purported to represent actions and positions of the Clay County Commission do not represent my views.”

An official statement released by Clay County said while individual Commissioner opinions may not be identical, the County Commission acts as one government body.

“As court filings are public information, messaging need not be censored or delayed by any one part of the body. Any individual Commissioner is free to express his or her personal view, whether in agreement with the majority or not. Clay County is cooperating with the State Audit team within the boundaries of the Missouri Constitution.”

County officials said this Commission maintains no elected officeholder can operate above the law, including Galloway.

“The Commission again calls upon the State Auditor to hold true to her ethical and legal obligations to the citizens of the State of Missouri. The County continues to cooperate and proceed with the state audit, within the bounds of the law. Clay County respectfully requests the opinion of the Judicial branch of our government to protect Clay County taxpayers.”

Nolte said the county needs a comprehensive audit of county operations.

“The people expect and deserve open government and the responsible use of their tax money by elected officials, these issues in large part prompted citizens to demand this State Audit in the first place,” he said.

Feb. 22, 2019 – The sport of bowling opened many new opportunities for one local middle schooler after he discovered a mentor with a vision.

Josh Oldham began bowling approximately three years ago. After meeting Jerry Ferrell Jr., owner of Tiger Bowl in Excelsior Springs, he said he discovered a mentor who would teach him life lessons he never thought possible. Oldham’s love of bowling and his friendship with his mentor also created another goal. Oldham said he wants to earn his first 300 game before he reaches the age of 16, the age Ferrell received his.

“My goal is to beat him and get mine before I reach 16 … and try to get it three years before him,” Oldham said.

Jerry and Teresa Ferrell pose with Joshua Oldham at Tiger Bowl. Oldham bowled with a ball belonging to Jerry Ferrell’s father
toward the beginning of his bowling career and still keeps it as a good luck charm.
KIMBERELY BLACKBURN | Staff photo

The friendship began after Oldham’s mom Sarah suggested Oldham join a youth bowling league Ferrell and his wife Teresa began at Tiger Bowl. Oldham said he didn’t think he would be any good at the sport but said Ferrell always made him feel like he belonged. Ferrell’s lessons extended beyond bowling, Oldham said. Ferrell taught him about creating a good first impression, perseverance and hard work. These lessons served Oldham well as he recently competed in the Kansas City Open held at the Crown Lanes Bowling Alley in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Oldham said he began the tournament with a good first game and ended up averaging high enough to qualify first in his division. With his 17-point handicap, Oldham bowled a 764 and a 732 series in the qualifying rounds. In the finals, he bowled against Sydney Horton, a high school senior who recently signed with Drury University in Springfield for its bowling team, winning with a 262 game.

The award money will be added to Oldham’s bowling scholarship fund. Oldham’s scholarship fund also increased with the recent addition of an anonymous donor who plans to match all scholarship funds earned by the participants in Tiger Bowl’s youth leagues.

The donor also pledged to pay entrance fees for a year after any Tiger Bowl youth bowler earns first in their division at a tournament. This pledge could change the lives of many of the area youth.

Sarah Oldham said being a single mom often required her to decide what the household could do without to pay for Oldham’s tournaments. Now, she said, she must only be concerned with paying for the fuel to get them to the tournaments, which allows him to enter any tournament he wants. She said all the proceeds will go toward his future.

“He’s systematically working toward what he wants to do by bowling and his sponsor is allowing him to live that to the fullest,” she said.

Ferrell said he hopes the opportunities allow other youth bowlers to have similar experiences. He said he wants to get more kids involved and hopes this new opportunity creates something big for their futures.

In the past, Tiger Bowl sent one team to the state championships. Ferrell said this year, they plan to send at least three, possibly four. The entry fees for a team of four come to approximately $300 for a 4-person team, he said. For one mother who plans to send at least two of her children, he said the fees can add up. The Ferrells pay the team portion of the entry fee and the anonymous donor decided to pay the other half, Ferrell said. This will allow more bowlers to participate. This, along with the donor pledging to match all scholarship funds earned from the tournament, could help open up a world of possibilities for area youth. Ferrell said he hopes the opportunity will encourage those from some of the surrounding small towns to participate as well. Even though those kids live outside the city limits of a large city, he said, they should have the same opportunities.

The opportunities presented by bowling prompted the Ferrells to plan a new youth league for intermediate bowlers. Ferrell said he hopes this league can give these youth bowlers an opportunity to move into the next phase of bowling. The Ferrells currently look for area youth who want to excel in the sport and want to use it to further their education.

Anyone wishing to get more information on the newest or any of Tiger Bowl’s youth leagues can do so by calling the Tiger Bowl at 816-637-2901.

Josh Oldham looks for the perfect strike
while at practice. Oldham hopes to bowl
professionally in the future.
KIMBERELY BLACKBURN | Staff photo

Sarah Oldham said her son’s relationship with Ferrell came at the right time. Her husband Brad battled cancer for about three years before passing away in April 2017. She said Brad would have liked to bowl with Josh, but he could not. Having Ferrell in his life helped Oldham through dealing with the pain of losing his father, she said.

Ferrell said Brad did what he could to support the Oldham children.

“I think he could see Josh’s willingness to take on bowling and trying to get better at it,” he said. “So, he did everything he could when he was as healthy as he could he, on the days he felt good enough to bring Josh in here and let Josh bowl.”

Ferrell said he believes a higher presence prompted his family’s initial meeting with the Oldhams. He said he wanted to purchase a bowling center, but it never worked out until Ferrell’s own father passed away. At a dual tournament in Olathe, Kansas, where Ferrell and Oldham won as a team, Ferrell said he believed some in attendance could not be seen with the bare eye.

“I believe that his dad and my dad was probably standing right next to each other watching both of us,” he said.

Oldham said lessons Ferrell teaches help him in not only being a better person but prepare for his future career. Oldham said he wants to bowl professionally as an adult. However, because he said his mom always told him to have a backup plan, he also plans to use bowling to fund college, where he plans to study business … beginning in 2023.

Sarah Oldham said currently the scholarships in Oldham’s fund equal approximately $400. With the anonymous donor’s recent matching funds, that comes to over $600. With Oldham averaging two tournaments per month, he could earn much more over the next four years, she said.

Oldham said he often remembers one of Ferrell’s lessons on his road to college. If he works toward a goal, he said, he will achieve it. This lesson also rings true in Oldham’s quest toward his first 300.

Ferrell said he backs Oldham 100 percent.

“If that’s what pushes him then more power to you buddy. Learn it. Get out there and do it,” he said.

Feb. 22, 2019 – After area physicians diagnosed an 11-year-old with having a stage 4 Wilms kidney tumor, she knew she faced the fight of her life.

Ellie Cunningham, now 14, said her family lived in the hospital for her treatment for approximately a year. Her treatment often required her to miss school, which her classmates resented.

After she returned to school Cunningham found herself facing another fight, one with many of her classmates who bullied her.

“You shouldn’t have to bully people just so that you feel good about yourself. Like you shouldn’t have to make

Elli Cunningham poses with Stanley. The book “Own your Uniqueness: Stand for Acceptance” tells Cunningham’s story of being bullied.
KIMBERELY BLACKBURN | Staff photo

people feel upset about themselves because of the way they are, the way they look,” she said. “It’s not fair.”

Cunningham said her classmates bullied her due to her cancer-related hair loss. They also taunted her, she said, because she missed school due to her illness.

Then Cunningham met Stanley, a bulldog born with his own special physical challenges, at an outreach the canine did for another girl with cancer.

Debbie Pack, Stanley’s mom, said she could see an immediate connection between the very special girl and the very special dog.

“It was such a powerful moment because you could see that these two related so well together, that they had a connection, they understood each other’s differences and they came together as one,” Pack said.

Stanley related to Cunningham because others have bullied him, Pack said.

Puppies born with Stanley’s challenges including a bilateral cleft lip, a curve in his spine and deformed back legs, often receive euthanasia. Pack met Stanley after a breeder contacted her about his brother Oliver. Pack, a retired preschool teacher, used Oliver to help her classes learn how to treat others with physical differences.

When the children saw Oliver, she said they saw a normal puppy. When they saw Stanley, his appearance forced them to decide whether to accept or reject the difference.

The pair decided to come together as one to tell Ellie’s story in “Own Your Uniqueness: Stand for Acceptance.”

Christian Calgi helped Pack write the book that tells the story of Elli, a girl who returns to school after losing her hair due to her cancer treatments, and her dog Stanley, who possesses physical challenges of his own.

Christina Calgi, Debbie Pack, Elli Cunningham, Calgi’s daughter Lauren and Brian Hamm pose with Stanley. Stanley serves those with differences, showing his support.
KIMBERELY BLACKBURN | Staff photos

The book tells how Elli experienced bullying by her classmates and the retaliation she experiences after the bullies receive punishment for their actions. Exploring the stories of many children teased due to their various differences, the book also tells the story of Lauren, a girl teased due to her red hair and freckles and David, a boy confined to a wheelchair.

After the bullying reaches a head, who should come to the rescue, but Stanley, who comes to help the bullies understand how their actions affect others.

Calgi said she decided to get involved to help shed some light on bullying, acceptance and things all children go through.

Pack said they wanted the book to attract everyone to read it, Stanley helped with that. Animals reach everyone, she said.

Brian Hamm, Stanley’s veterinarian, said the human world could learn much from the animal world. Other dogs interact with Stanley, but then move on and do not bully him.

“He’s got his difference but yet no other animal bullies him or makes fun of him or teases him,” Hamm said. “Everybody kind of accepts him for who he is.”

Hamm said as a parent of three young children, he understands how no one wants their child to be bullied. However, he said while parents may not be able to stop their child from being bullied, they can have an impact on whether their child becomes a bully.

When he sees his children noticing another’s physical differences, he said he used the opportunity to have a discussion with them. The child will notice, he said. Parents cannot teach their children to not notice other’s physical differences.

While they will notice, he said they do not have to react negatively. Parents and grandparents can have a positive impact on whether their child teases those with differences, or reacts with empathy. He said having a conversation can help the child curb innate responses such as laughing and making fun of others. Children may not know another way of reacting unless their parents teach them, Hamm said.

Calgi said as a parent, she noticed her daughter Lauren looks for Calgi’s reaction after noting someone with differences.

Parents can help educate their children, she said. Those who bullied Cunningham due to her school absences, Calgi said, did not realize what she went though.

“When you go through it and you come out this strong, how strong Ellie is, and you still get bullied, it’s tough, it’s really tough,” she said.

Pack said she hopes the parents also learn as they read the book to their children. Hopefully, everyone will learn a lesson they can then pass on to the younger generation.

Cunningham said children can also teach their parents about bullying through the book. Sometimes, she said children learn the behavior after hearing their parents talk negatively about another.

Since writing the book, Cunningham said others have noticed what she went through. Pack said Cunningham and Stanley reach out to others experiencing difficulties in their own way. Often, people will approach Stanley for a simple hug. Many search for someone to cling to because they’ve lost all hope, she said. Stanley and Ellie represent that hope.

The book can be purchased for $8 through the American Childhood Cancer website at ACCO.org. Pack said all the proceeds go to a local girl with cancer and her family. When a child goes through cancer, Pack said, their whole lives become immersed in their treatment. Any money that can be raised for them becomes a blessing because parents often must leave their jobs to live at the hospital with their children. The community can help provide the support those families need, she said.

Cunningham said she simply hopes the book changes the community’s conversation about bullying.

“(I want it to) show other people that bullying wasn’t cool and it shouldn’t even be a word,” she said.