TOP 10 SCORERS

The Journal Staff

Blue Springs' Bret Schwartzand South's Riley Reynolds finished season among top scorers in the area

Blue Springs’ Bret Schwartz (far left) and Blue Springs South’s Riley Reynolds (left) were among the top-10 scorers in the area this year. Schwartz ranked eighth on the list, scoring 372 points in 25 games for an average of 14.9 points per game. Reynolds ranked seventh, scoring 239 points in 16 games — the lowest amount of games played by any player on the list — for an average of 14.9 points per game.

SOLO Mission

By Jake Singleton
The Journal Staff

Blue Springs South junior Nick Monaco forgoes high school season for USTA

Blue Springs South junior Nick Monaco felt it was the best decision for him. “It’s been a big toss up, high school tennis is a lot of fun,” Monaco said. “But your junior year is when college coaches start looking at you for athletics and that’s why I chose to play in the USTA Missouri Valley tournaments this year. It will get me more exposure and get my name out there better to college coaches than high school will.” Monaco, who has been undefeated in the Suburban Big Seven, was the district champion last year, finished sixth in the state in singles and helped guide the Jaguars to an eighthplace team finish at state, will not return to the court for South this year. Instead, Monaco, who was not allowed to play both high school and club tennis because of Missouri State High School Activities Association rules, will compete in the United States Tennis Association’s Missouri Valley tournament events. The tournaments consists of events held throughout the United States and is comprised of top boys tennis talent in the nation. “I’m not certain the number of matches I’ll get. It should be pretty even, but it depends on how I do in these tournaments,” said Monaco, who had a 24-4 overall record last season and went 3-2 in the state tournament. “And I’m going to try and play as much doubles as I can since you have to develop your double skills to be successful in college. But I’m trying to find someone who will be at some of the same tournaments I’m in.” And while Monaco is looking forward to testing himself in the Missouri Valley, he knows he will miss being a part of the Jaguars boys tennis team in he spring. “I think I took it harder than (my teammates) did,” said Monaco. “My teammates understood. I think they were disappointed, but I’m disappointed as well.” Jaguar boys tennis head coach Sheri Rehmer also took the news her top tennis player wasn’t returning relatively well. “I basically laid out my thought process and my decision and I think she understood,” Monaco said. “I’m pretty straight forward, but I’ll miss playing for her and the team.” “I respect his decision,” Rehmer said, “although I may not fully understand it.” Monaco began his Missouri Valley tournament schedule today in a USTA Futures Tournament in Tulsa, Okla.

Show-Me Showmen

By Jake Singleton
The Journal Staff

Blue Springs’ Clarance Neely and Chris Chionuma help lead Missouri to a 32-24 win over Kansas in the 16th Annual U.S Army Metro Classic Dual.

Blue Springs seniors Chris Chionuma and Clarence Neely helped spark the Missouri all-star wrestling team to a 32-24 win over the Kansas all-stars in the 16th annual Army Metro all-star wrestling classic at Kansas City Community College. Chionuma, who was 33-4 overall and a state champion at 160-pounds, wrestled down a weight class to face Sabetha’s Jordan Meyer. Meyer entered the match 38-1 with his lone loss coming in state, but lost by technical fall (21-6) to Chionuma, who began a six-match winning streak by Missouri that allowed them to separate themselves from the order rivals. “Chris dominated his guy,” said Wildcat wrestling head coach Mike Hagerty. “It was truly a takedown clinic.” During the six-match stretch, Neely, who was 50-2 and a state champion at 171 pounds, kept things going with an 11-7 win over Leavenworth’s Phil Witt. Witt entered 42-8 overall and was a state runner-up. “Clarence dominated on his feet and struggled on the bottom against a guy who was very tough on top,” Hagerty said. Other Missouri winners included: Raymore-Peculiar’s Justin Forrest (119) 5-1 over Blue Valley’s Jake Tanenbaum; Kearney’s Colin Pierce (125) 15-8 over Blue Valley North’s Nathan McCormick; Platte County’s Tyler St. Louis (140) 8-5 over Gardner-Edgerton’s Aldon Isenberg; Oak Park’s Marcus Armato (160) 14-6 over Prarie View’s C.J. Randell; Oak Park’s Brent Hayes (189) 16-2 over Shawnee Mission’s Matt Baker; Oak Park’s Kolton Kono (215) 13-5 over St. Thomas Aquinas’ E.J. Walter and Oak Park’s Elijah Madison (285) 9-4 over Rossville’s Duane Zlatnik.

Chevy HHR SS handling, value good for performance

By Mark Phelan
Detroit Free Press (MCT)

If there were ever a car to make you long for summer evenings, picnics and drives to the lake, it’s the 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS.
Particularly if you drive really, really fast on the way to the lake and appreciate good value and fuel economy.
The HHR SS is the amped-up performance model of Chevrolet’s compact retro wagon. Offering 260 horsepower, excellent handling, good fuel economy and a practical interior, it’s a beach party on wheels that delivers kick-in-the-pants power at a bargain price. The combination of funky looks, value and terrific performance make the HHR SS my favorite among the current crop of sport compacts.
It’s a spiritual successor to the surf wagons of yore, but with infinitely better handling and a 100,000-mile warranty on its high-output powertrain.
Prices for the 2008 HHR SS start at $22,375. All SS models come with a turbocharged 2.0- liter four-cylinder engine that produces 260 horsepower at 5,300 r.p.m. and an impressive 260 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 r.p.m. when linked to the standard five-speed manual transmission. The engine is detuned to 235 horsepower and 223 pound-feet when linked to an optional fourspeed automatic transmission.
I tested a well-equipped HHR SS with the manual transmission and a list of options that includes a limited-slip differential that virtually eliminates torque steer. It carried a sticker price of $25,604. All prices exclude destination charges.
The HHR SS competes with sporty compacts like the Dodge Caliber SRT4, Honda Civic Si sedan, Mazdaspeed 3 and Volkswagen GTI.
The Civic Si, Mazdaspeed 3 and VW GTI all beat the HHR SS handily on interior look and feel, but none of the cars can match its overall package of power, performance and value.
The Civic Si and GTI share the HHR SS’ dynamic virtues — clingy handling, good steering response and excellent brakes — but at 197 and 200 horsepower, respectively, neither approaches its level of brute force.
The Mazdaspeed 3 and Caliber SRT4 have the power, at 263 and 285 horsepower, respectively, but rampant torque steer makes both of them more work than play when driven hard.
The HHR SS also stacks up well in fuel economy. Its EPA ratings of 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway essentially match the GTI and Civic Si and beat the Mazdaspeed 3 and Caliber SRT4. All of the cars require premium gasoline, due to the high output wrung from their four-cylinder engines.
I drove an HHR SS from Detroit to Chicago for the auto show and got a pleasant 27.2 mpg on a long, fast highway run.
The car acquitted itself equally well on sharp, twisting roads. The steering provided excellent feel and response and the sport-tuned suspension kept the HHR SS fl at and composed through highspeed curves.
The turbocharged engine revs freely and provides excellent power in all ranges from a full stop to high-speed passes. The manual transmission operates smoothly and the light clutch pedal won’t exhaust your left leg in stop-and-go city conditions. The detuned 235-horsepower engine mated to the four-speed automatic provides ample power, but lacks the excitement of the full-bore package.
The HHR SS is so stable and quick that it’s easy to lose track of your speed on the open road, as long as you have the optional 260-watt Pioneer stereo and like your tunes loud. Otherwise, the HHR transmits very noticeable road noise to the passenger compartment. Wind noise is minimal, however, and road noise is not an issue in city driving.
The interior offers the room and flexibility that helped make the HHR popular and adds sporty touches like a turbo boost gauge on the A-pillar.
Optional sport seats provide good support and comfort. They come in three color combinations and feature leather trim with mesh neoprene and suede seating surfaces. The doors also feature color-matched leather inserts, which look good, but do little to improve the comfort of the HHR’s hard armrests.
Hard plastic trim in a few other places, most notably the top of the door where you’re most likely to rest an elbow, are less appealing than the carefully crafted interiors of the Civic Si, GTI and Mazdaspeed 3.
Despite its minor shortcomings, though, the HHR SS is a blast, and a car anybody shopping for a affordable sporty compact should consider.

(c) 2008, Detroit Free Press

Inadvertent animal cruelty a side effect of Easter

Special Easter pets are a part of the celebration for many families. That’s why
each year doting parents and grandparents race to the pet store or farm in search
of a baby chick or rabbit for the kids in their lives. Unfortunately, the joy of
those Easter bundles is often short-lived.
According to the American Humane Association, the vast majority of the baby bunnies, chicks and ducklings that are given as Easter gifts may only survive the first few weeks after the holiday. For animals that do survive, the novelty of the pet can wear off pretty quickly as cute babies turn into larger, adult rabbits, chickens and ducks. Here are some facts to consider:
The gift of a pet may be an unwelcome surprise. The recipient may not want or be permitted to have a pet.
Ducklings, chicks and bunnies are vulnerable animals. They require special feeding, care and consistent temperature control. They’re also very fragile. During the course of play, small children often unwittingly break the animals’ fragile bones and cause other fatal injuries.
If the novelty wears off, these animals are often released to animal control groups, where they could be euthanized. Other times, they’re simply left in the
woods or other area to fend for themselves.
This Easter, carefully weigh the options of bringing a bunny or chick into the house as a special pet for children. It may be better to substitute a stuffed animal in a real one’s place.
© 2008, Metro Newspaper Service

NINE WAYS TO CREATE ‘EGG’CEPTIONAL EASTER EGGS

Special to the Journal

Easter egg coloring is one of the well-known traditions associated with the holiday Coloring eggs can be fun for children and adults alike.
As with many Christian holidays, some of the traditions associated with Easter are rooted in prior Pagan rituals or are influenced by European settlers to North America. Easter is a spring holiday, and spring is synonymous with fertility and new life. Eggs are thus linked to the festivities because of their connection to fertility. What’s more, according to History.com, German settlers in America are said to have brought over the tradition of a bunny named “Oschter Haws” who would visit houses on Easter eve, leaving colored eggs for children. Easter eggs were painted different colors to represent the sunlight of spring. Christians later used eggs to symbolize the rebirth of Christ.
For those who will be incorporating the magic of colored eggs in their festivities this year, there are several ways to adorn the eggs that go above and beyond the traditional coloring kits. Here are a few ideas to consider.
1. The well-known Paas coloring kit still remains a classic favorite, replete with dipping spoons and colored packets. Many companies have put their own spins on the coloring kit to include a brighter array of colors and even stickers and other embellishments.
2. There are shrink-wrap kits that feature plastic rings that shrink into place when the eggs are boiled. The rings are imprinted with an Easter design.
3. You can make your own egg dye with the following recipe: Combine 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of food coloring with 2 teaspoons white vinegar in a cup that can accommodate an egg. Add water to about the half-way point. Dip in the eggs with a spoon to color.
4. Tie-dye eggs can be created by wrapping rubber bands around eggs before dipping them into the dye. Remove the rubber bands after the dye has dried and see the designs that have resulted.
5. A similar technique can be achieved by using wax crayons and dye. Color designs onto the egg with the crayons, such as dots, lines or squiggles. When the eggs are dipped in the dye, the crayon will repel the dye and leave the designs in place. Those who don’t want to use dye with very young children can simply color in the eggs with the crayons.
6. ‘Egg’stra special designs can be made by using craft supplies to adorn the eggs. Make cute egg people or animals to display. How about an Easter bunny complete with cotton ball tail? Scour the craft store for stick-on jiggle eyes, fuzzy noses and more.
7. You can use regular acrylic paint to brush or sponge on designs. For safety’s sake, don’t eat any eggs that use a dye other than a natural food coloring.
8. Food and beverages can be used to create natural dyes. Boil eggs with beets, spinach, tea, blueberries and more to create the colors desired.
9. Use your imagination and rely on just about anything to make eggs dazzling. Glitter, markers, paints, stickers and so much more can help you to create one-of-a-kind eggs.

Hard-boil know-how

Of course eggs need to be hard-boiled before decorating. Place your eggs in a pot filled with cold water, covering the eggs. On medium-high heat, bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the eggs for approximately 10 minutes. Place the boiled eggs in cold water to cool before coloring.

© 2008, Metro Newspaper

Cuddle up to Easter: Special lamb cake mold creates festive dessert

By Donna Pierce
Chicago Tribune (MCT)

CHICAGO — Carole Kaempf of Westmont, Ill., was planning ahead when she
wrote to us requesting a recipe for a chocolate poundcake baked in a lamb mold — a set
of two cake pans that creates a three-dimensional dessert. We found more than the
recipe, which appeared in Good Eating in 2000.
We also found the 6-cup, two-piece cast-iron lamb mold that was used to bake it, hiding in the back of a test kitchen cupboard. We also found several of these super-sturdy pans on eBay, but you don’t have to get into a bidding war to find one for Easter.
Gretchen Homan, test kitchen manager at Wilton Industries, said that the company’s 6-cup, two-piece aluminum Stand-Up Lamb Pan mold is available for $13 online at wilton.com.

Holding on to summer

Last week, in the midst of yet another snowfall, Lambert Novak of Hammond, Ind., wrote us a welcome estament to the long-range benefits of growing a summer herb garden. Because he froze a batch of pesto he had made with his summer crop of basil, Novak was able to enjoy it throughout the winter.
“This morning,” he wrote, “I took out two frozen cubes of my pesto and let them thaw in the fridge.” Novak spread it on toast and, he added, “Now I am having the summer feast of my life.”
It’s not too early to begin planning a kitchen herb garden. Do any herb growers out there want to share their favorites to grow indoors, on the patio or in back-yard plots? Don’t forget to tell us how you use them.

Chocolate Easter lamb cake
Yield: 12 servings
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour

We used prepared frosting to decorate the cake; you also can make a batch of a favorite buttercream frosting. Because we had difficulty removing the cake from the two cast-iron molds we used, we rubbed oil in the interior of each before greasing and flouring — a strategy that did the trick. This recipe was developed in the Tribune test kitchen.
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons plus
1 ½ teaspoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa
3 tablespoons each: boiling water, milk
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract Vanilla buttercream frosting, sweetened flaked coconut, jelly beans
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Whisk together cocoa, boiling water and milk; set aside.
2. Beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar gradually, beating until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition until mixture is smooth, about 5 minutes. Beat in the reserved cocoa-milk mixture and vanilla. Lower the mixer to low speed; add the flour mixture gradually, mixing just until combined.
3. Coat the interior of each half of the lamb mold with vegetable oil; let sit 5 minutes. Remove excess oil with a paper towel; grease and flour both interiors. Place the front half of the lamb mold face-down on a baking sheet. Pour batter to within 1/4 inch of rim. Place back half of mold on top. Bake 40 minutes. Remove the cake from the oven; turn the mold face side up. Return to the oven; bake until a tester tests clean, about 20 minutes.
4. Cool on wire rack 5 minutes; remove the front half of mold. Cool 10 minutes. Turn out the cake, supporting it with your hand and turning it faceside- up onto a wire rack. Cool completely before icing with frosting, using the frosting to cover any flaws in the cake.
Nutrition information per serving: 247 calories, 46 percent of calories from fat, 13 g fat, 8 g saturated fat, 83 mg cholesterol, 31 g carbohydrates, 3 g protein, 148 mg sodium, 1 g fiber
© 2008, Chicago Tribune

Try decorating Easter eggs naturally

Special to the Journal

Decorating eggs is a traditional craft practiced by families and artisans around the world.
Some use decorating methods handed down over generations, such as the elaborately decorated pysanky of Slavic nations or the cascarones of Mexico. Others invent new ways to embellish their eggs each year — painting them, writing on them, turning them into funny faces, or trimming them with odds and ends from around the house. Many folks, though, prefer their eggs simply dyed in a rainbow of hues. For both children and adults, it can be fascinating to see the effects of dipping the eggs into different colored dyes.
You can decorate either hard-cooked eggs or empty eggshells. Hard-cooked eggs are a bit sturdier for children to use, while empty shells are best if you’re making an egg tree or want to keep the eggs on display for a considerable time. To dye your eggs, use commercial egg dyes, food coloring or dyes you make yourself from foods and spices. According to the American Egg Board, homemade natural dyes are easy to prepare and go well with all-natural eggs.
Simply toss your choice of a handful — or two or three —of one of the materials below into a saucepan. For spices, try a spoonful or two instead. Use your own judgment about quantity. This is an art, not a science. Add about a cup of water for each handful, so the water comes at least an inch above the dyestuff. Bring to boiling, reduce the heat and simmer from 15 minutes up to an hour, until the color is the shade you want. Keep in mind that the eggs will dye a lighter shade than the dye. Remove the pan from the heat.
To achieve the following colors, try these natural dye materials:
Pinkish red — Fresh beets, cranberries, radishes or frozen raspberries
Orange — Yellow onion skins
Delicate yellow — Orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seed or ground cumin
Yellow — Ground turmeric
Pale green — Spinach leaves
Green-gold — Yellow Delicious apple peels
Blue — Canned blueberries or red cabbage leaves
Beige to brown — Strong brewed coffee or black tea
Brown-gold — Dill seeds
Brown-orange — Chili powder
Gray — Purple or red grape juice or beet juice
Through cheesecloth, a coffee filter or a fine sieve, strain the dye mixture into a small bowl that’s deep enough to completely cover the eggs you want to dye. Add two to three teaspoons of white vinegar for each cup of dye liquid. With a slotted spoon or wire egg holder from a dyeing kit, lower the eggs into the hot liquid. Let the eggs stand until they reach the desired color. For emptied eggshells, stir or rotate for even coloring. With the spoon or wire egg holder, remove the eggs to a rack or drainer. Allow the eggs to dry thoroughly. Within less than two hours, refrigerate hardcooked eggs that you intend to eat.
If you’d like a shiny finish, rub the dyed eggs with a bit of cooking oil. You can also use food-safe white glue to add natural decorations, such as beans, seeds, small pasta shapes or large pieces of spices. Be creative and experiment to express yourself in unique ways. For other eggdecorating ideas, visit www. IncredibleEgg.org.
Courtesy of ARAcontent

WHY SAVVY CONSUMERS KNOW THEIR SCORE AND MORE

COMMENTARY by Jamshid Hoorfar

Are your personal files favorable? Your credit report and FICO tell only part of the story.
Do you pay your mortgage or rent on time? Are you in good health? It’s unlikely you will be asked these questions directly when you apply for a job, loan or insurance. But, those in a position to give you credit, health insurance or even a job are asking these questions and more, and answers come from a host of specialty consumer reporting bureaus that know a lot more about you than just your FICO score.
If you don’t know what’s in your files, it’s time to find out. Some simple sleuthing can help you confirm the accuracy of your reports, and put you in the driver’s seat when it comes to shopping for personal and financial services.

Start with your FICO

The “Big Three” national credit bureaus are Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. These bureaus track your credit history and report a snapshot summary of it in a three-digit score known as your FICO. Higher scores earn you faster loan approval and better interest rates, among other perks.
It’s a good idea to request your report at least once a year and check it for accuracy. Contact the credit bureaus immediately with any disputes. If your score is low, consider working with a financial expert to learn what steps you can take to bring the number up.
Access your credit file by contacting:
Equifax (800-685-1111)
Experian (888- EXPERIAN)
Trans Union (800-916- 8800).
Beyond the big three

Specialty consumer reporting agencies operate much like the credit bureaus, and collect information about you from a variety of sources. Reports can offer detailed descriptions of your medical conditions, check writing history, homeowner and auto insurance claims, tenant history, criminal records and more.
Unfortunately there is no centralized place where you can access every available report, and not everyone has a file in every category. Still, it’s good to check, especially if you plan to apply for credit, private insurance, or if you’ve been the victim of identity theft.
Following are some bureaus that issue reports:
Insurance claim history:
ChoicePoint CLUE Reports: 1-866-312-8076.
A-Plus Reports: 1-800- 627-3487.
Medical history:
Medical Information Bureau for Medical History: 1-866-692-6901.
Resident History:
Tenant history: 1-877- 448-5732;
SafeRent: 1-888-333- 2413
Checking and savings account reports:
ChexSystems: 1-800- 428-9623.
Shared Check Authorization Network (SCAN): 1-800-262-7771.
Many consumers are in the dark about information in their credit file and other specialty reports. Don't wait until you’ve been denied a job, insurance or credit application. Do your homework now because when it comes to background and credit checks, knowledge really is power.
Jamshid Hoorfar, Financial Planner, PhD, CHFC, LUTCF, CLTC, offers investment advisory services through Prudential Financial Planning Services, a division of Pruco Securities, LLC. He can be reached at jamshid.hoorfar@prudential.com and 816-525-0900.

Former teacher starts in-home tutoring business

By Miranda Wycoff
The Journal Staff

As a former teacher, Jayme Richardson has a passion for teaching that didn’t stop whenshe left the classroom to take care of her own three children.
That’s when she decided to get into the tutoring business.
Richardson, a graduate of Blue Springs High School, started a Club Z! in-home tutoring franchise for the Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs and Raymore areas in fall 2007. The tutoring began in Lee’s Summit, but Richardson has recently expanded into Blue Springs.
“Originally when I purchased the franchise, I purchased the Blue Springs area too,” she said. “I started in Lee’s Summit, but I wanted to expand into Blue Springs because it is close in proximity, a booming community and I grew up and graduated from there.”
There are more than 450 Club Z!s nationwide. but this is the first one on this side of Missouri.
When she found Club Z!’s Web site, Richardson said she fell in love with their philosophy based on nurturing self-esteem while working with curriculum provided by the students’ teachers.
She now has more than 25 tutors working for her, which include degreed professionals with prior tutoring experience and area teachers.
“I have tutors with Ph.D.s, professors at the local community college and teachers from the surrounding area school districts,”
Richardson said. “It’s amazing to me; all these people love children and they want to help people. I’m really excited about this.” Richardson said if an area student is interested in being tutored, she goes to the home and does a needs-assessment, comes up with goals for the child and looks at about how many hours per week he or she will need to work with a tutor. Then, Richardson matches the child with a tutor, not only based on geography, and schedules, but also based on shared interests and hobbies, she said.
“Its important that the child builds trust and a relationship with the tutor,” Richardson said. “They have a mentor they can count on to give them the special time and support needed to be successful in learning.”
The child works one-on-one with the tutor in the comfort of the child’s own home and works with the curriculum provided by the classroom teacher.
“We support the classroom teacher and we don’t give the child different work because we don’t want to confuse them,” Richardon said.
She said Club Z! tutors initiate communication with the child’s classroom teacher and get feedback from both the parents and the teachers on the student’s progress.
In addition to working with all parties — parents, teachers and students — Club Z! offers flexible month-to-month contracts.
“I taught for 12 years and no one can predict how long it is going to take a child to reach their goals,” Richardson said.
With the month-to-month contracts, students aren’t committed to paying for or receiving more than necessary, she said.
Since opening Club Z! for the Lee’s Summit area in August, Club Z! has serviced more than 35 families in the Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit and Raymore areas, Richardson said.
In addition to assisting students with their school’s curriculum, Richardson said Club Z! offers it’s own curriculum for “anyone who just wants to learn.”
This includes prekindergarten preparation, middle school and high school study skills, ACT and SAT preparations and foreign languages.
Richardson said the inhome component of Club Z! is important for both parents and students.
Parents don’t have to worry about providing transportation to a learning center, the tutor comes to them. The flexible schedules accommodate working parents and most tutoring is performed after normal business hours and on weekends.
Students, Richardson said, are able to learn in a secure, comfortable surrounding where they receive individual attention.
Club Z! offers tutoring services for pre-kindergarten to adult students in all subjects, including reading, math, science, computers, language arts, foreign languages and more.
Richardson said Club Z! is endorsed by the government for the No Child Left Behind Act and has forged partnerships with various social service programs to provide tutoring to those students who may not be able to afford it on their own.
“They focus on reaching all students and that’s what is really special about Club Z!,” Richardson said.
For more information on the Blue Springs-area Club Z!, call 816-965-0090 or visit the Web site at www.clubztutoring.com.

CULTIVATING ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR MISSOURI

COMMENTARY by Matt Blunt

As governor, I have worked to cultivate economic growth and make Missouri
a state of opportunity by enacting pro-jobs, progrowth initiatives.
Before I took office, the state was losing jobs at an alarming rate, 34,000 in the previous four years. Missouri state government faced a $1.1 billion budget deficit. Education funding had been cut and withheld and we were suffering from a legal system tilted in favor of personal injury lawyers. As a candidate, I pledged to change the way state government operates and to improve the business climate in our state.
I am very pleased to report that our changes are working and our state economy is on solid financial ground. This is in vast contrast to what many other states are experiencing. According to a survey conducted by the National Governors Association, 19 states are projecting a shortfall for fiscal 2008 in the amount of $14.6 billion and 22 states are projecting shortfalls for fiscal 2009 in the amount of $32.2 billion.
Due to the positive changes we have made, Missouri is not projecting a shortfall this year or next year, and instead, is projecting growth. With the help of your elected representatives we have turned an inherited $1.1 billion budget deficit into three consecutive surpluses in a row. We have dramatically increased spending on education, and we have implemented meaningful lawsuit reform that has leveled the playing field in Missouri courtrooms.
We also enacted the Missouri Quality Jobs Act that provides Missouri communities with new tools to attract high paying jobs to Missouri. To qualify for the incentives under the Quality Jobs Program potential employers have to provide a competitive wage in the county and have to provide health benefits to their employees. Our state is already witnessing a very real impact from the Quality Jobs Act. Since its creation, Quality Jobs has helped create more than 22,000 new jobs across Missouri.
Most importantly, by changing our state’s business climate, we have helped Missouri entrepreneurs, small businesses, and large employers to create 94,700 jobs in our state since I took office in January 2005.
While our state economy is growing and improving, concerns over the national economy and housing markets are creating worries for families. Rising gas prices make commutes even more onerous for Missourians. Rising food prices is cutting into family budgets. That is why it is so important to Missouri families for us to continue on our path of increasing jobs, lower taxes and efficiency in state government.
While we are helping grow Missouri’s economy, we are also shrinking the size of state government. A recent survey released from the Pew Center on States and Governing magazine confirmed that the positive changes my administration has made are working.
According to Pew, Missouri tied for fourth in the country in the management of state government and received a higher grade than all eight surrounding states. Missouri received a “B+,” the second highest grade issued to states this year by Pew. The magazine article about the survey stated, “Missouri has a track record of extremely conservative fiscal management and currently is in strong structural balance.”
Missouri’s excellent showing is another sign that effective management has put our state back on the right track and we have done it by putting Missouri families, Missouri values and Missouri taxpayers first. Our sound economic and management policies are paying dividends for Missourians.
With the dedication of Missouri’s working men and women, together we are letting businesses know that Missouri is open for business. Our changes are working and Missouri’s families are benefiting from sustained economic growth at the state level.

Matt Blunt, Missouri governor, is a guest columnist for the Journal. To respond to today’s commentary, call the Journal’s Rant & Rave line at 816-282-7020, or send comments via the Internet at www.bluespringsjournal.com.

Pondering the three presidential candidates still standing

COMMENTARY by Mick Mithelavage

We still have several months in which to make up our minds about who should be our next president, but now might be a good time to remind everyone what we’re trying to accomplish. This prolonged Democratic primary period is starting to get a bit stale, and we need to stay focused on the objective.
There’s no doubt the current Republican
administration has made some historical blunders, but then, what administration hasn’t? No matter who’s in office, no matter what party controls Congress or how strong or weak the economy is at the time, every past president has had his share of self-inflicted wounds. Stuff happens. So let’s put aside the personal biases and political agendas and find someone for the Oval Office who we the people can look up to. Unlikely? Perhaps.
Impossible? I hope not.
The reason why it’s so hard to find such a leader is not because we don’t have excellent candidates. It’s because the best candidates are not willing to subject themselves to the public ridicule and personal attacks. Why should they?
Add the meager salary, and only an ambitious politician would take the job. Until our country returns to a more caring, more courteous, more understanding nation,
all the heroic leaders, the top-notch managers and the most savvy decision makers
will continue to swap CEO positions among their Fortune 500 corporations. The Catch-
22 is that we won’t become a more caring, more courteous, more understanding nation
until we find that one-of-akind leader to take us there.
So, as it turns out, our current electoral system has left us with these three folks from whom we can choose: a) a female lawyer, b) a young black man, and c) an old white guy. And believe it or not, some Americans will place their vote based solely on these simple descriptions. Forget the knowledge; ignore the leadership qualities; disregard the issues. Just vote for the person who most resembles yourself. If only there was a Lithuanian running for the job, my decision would be much easier.
So, for those who want a quick look at the last standing politicians who want to take over for Dubya, here’s my view.
Hillary Clinton: Some people actually accept Hillary’s claim that living in the White House while her hubby was president qualifies as “experience” for leading our nation. No doubt she had some unique experiences during those eight years, but experience to be Commander-in-Chief?
Don’t think so. To a huge section of America, her most attractive qualifier is her gender. If she was a man with the same resumé, would she be in the running? Doubt it.
Barack Obama: He truly is a fabulous public speaker, and he has served about half of a full term in the U.S. Senate. And then there’s… well… there’s the… hhhmmm… end of story I guess. Oh, there is one other thing. His late father was Kenyan. That one fact alone will be enough for millions of Americans to vote for him. If Barack were Hispanic, would Oprah have endorsed him? Doubt it.
John McCain: Forty years ago, his Air Force jet was shot down from under him. The same thing happened to George H.W. Bush, but that didn’t make him a good president. The fact that McCain had the misfortune of being captured by the enemy and withstanding years of agony is testament to his stamina and strong will, but leadership? He’s been in Washington D.C. for 25 years, and he says he can change things now. Why did he wait so long?
As we listen to the rhetoric and the bickering and the school yard whining about each other’s paid political announcements, let’s keep in mind one thing: We have hundreds of men and women taking up space in the U.S. Capitol and, as a whole, they all need to move in step to get us anywhere. The person we select to lead this batch of professional politicians needs to have that very rare talent of leadership. As of right now, I would not feel comfortable following Hillary or Barack anywhere, and I’m not too sure about the old white guy either.

Mick Mithelavage, a Lee’s Summit resident and author, is a guest columnist for the Journal. To respond to today’s commentary, call the Journal’s Rant & Rave line at 816-282-7020, or send comments via the Internet at www.bluespringsjournal.com.

NEWS BRIEFS

Forensics tournament winners

Brittany Hill Middle School competed in its first forensics tournament of the year on March 7 at the Blue Springs Middle School tournament. The squad of seventh- and eighth-graders placed third overall.
Individual winners were: Taylor Carr and Tyler Eisenreich — first place humorous duet interp; Anson Long-Seabra second place prose; Mary O’Neal and Megan Meadows — second place duet improvisational acting; Marissa
Gallego — third place oratory; Kierstin Benefi el and Sarah Hamar — third place dramatic duet acting; Miranda Pratt and Megan Goss — third place duet improvisational acting; Taylor Carr and Anna Brooks — fourth place dramatic duet acting; Ida Alalew — fourth place impromptu speaking; Tyler Eisenreich and Amanda Trosen — fifth place duet improvisational acting; Kierstin Benefiel — fifth place prose; Rebekah Singleton
— fifth place oratory; Mason Hawk and Michelle Byers — fifth place humorous duet acting.
Their coaches are Fran Keal, Janifer Alpers and Katie Schmidt.

Centerpoint Medical Center Receives re-accreditation as a chest pain center

We’re proud to announce that Centerpoint Medical Center has received full accreditation from the Accreditation Review Committee of the National Society of Chest Pain Centers. Centerpoint was an accredited Chest Pain Center upon opening and went through a re-accreditation survey several weeks ago. Accreditation expires in 2011.
Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with 600,000 dying annually of heart disease. More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain.
The goal of the Society of Chest Pain Centers is to significantly reduce the mortality rate of these patients by teaching the public to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack, reduce the time that it takes to receive treatment, and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment.

LET THEM EAT CAKE

Special to the Journal

On Feb. 29, students at Delta Woods Middle School were served cake during lunch by PTSA members Jennifer Guinty and Ava Payne, in collaboration with the library media center, to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday March 2.

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto

Special to the Journal

The Blue Springs High School Robotics Team 1996 recently earned the Motorola Quality Award at FIRST Robotics regional competition in Kansas City. The BSHS robotics team earned a spot in the finals at the regional competition. Team 1996, comprised of 20 BSHS students, is in its second year of existence. The Kansas City regional competition took place from March 6 to 8.

BS man sent to prison for identity theft

The Journal Staff

A Blue Springs man was sentenced more than a year in prison last week for stealing the identity of an Army major who was stationed in Kuwait.
Richard Stanley, 34, of Blue Springs, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner on March 4 to one year and six months in federal prison without parole.
The court also ordered Stanley to pay $36,475 in restitution to several victims and to forfeit to the government three laptop computers, seven cell phones, 27 computer hard drives, and 96 American Cash Advance cards and assorted credit cards in other people’s names, financial documents in other people’s names and a birth certificate in another person’s name.
On Sept. 13, 2007, Stanley pleaded guilty to identity theft. Stanley admitted that he obtained identity information of other people by searching through trash dumpsters, then opening credit card accounts — usually by applications submitted over the Internet — which were used to make purchases and ATM withdrawals.
Victims who had charges made to accounts in their names included more than 10 people but less than 50 people. The total sustained loss was at least $36,475. Among the identity theft victims is an Army major who was stationed in Kuwait at the time of the offense. Stanley admitted that he made at least six purchases on a credit card in that victim’s name, totaling $1,822.
The case is being prosecuted by Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel M. Nelson. It was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

BLUE SPRINGS PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS RECYCLING CENTER PLAN

By Russ Pulley
Special to the Journal

Blue Springs might get a recycling center, run by a private company that intends to open a trash-transfer facility in the city.
The Planning Commission on Monday recommended approval of a concept plan for a “materials recovery facility” proposed by Evergreen Reclamation and Recycling Inc. The local company wants to build on a 12-acre site along Missouri 7 at the north end of town, on the east side of the highway, between Pink Hill Road and Argo Road.
Blue Springs residents would be able to drop off sorted recyclable materials for free. The facility also could take yard waste, but there might be a fee.
Commissioner George Abbott, who also is a member of the city’s Solid Waste Commission and an environmental engineer, said the city for some time has wanted to make a recycling center available to residents.
“This is an exciting concept, if it’s done right,” Abbott said.
The material recovery facility’s money-making potential comes from providing trash haulers with a more efficient way to get rid of refuse they pick up in neighborhoods.
“Packer” trucks aren’t designed to carry trash long distances on highways. At the proposed facility, they could pull those trucks into the building, dump the load on the floor, where high-loaders would move it into 18-wheelers to be taken to a landfill.
The company also plans to eventually extract recyclable materials from the trash. That could start in six months to three years, when volume has reached a point to make that economically feasible, said Roy Browne, an architect representing Evergreen.
In that phase, the trash would go onto a conveyer and workers would take out cardboard, aluminum and other valuable material to be baled and sent to recyclers. The remaining trash — its volume reduced by about 25 percent — is trucked to a landfill.
Altogether, proponents say, it can save wear and tear on city streets and trucks and save and reduce the volume of trash going to landfills. And that would help hold down the price of residential trash collections, Browne said. Individual Blue Springs residents could sort their own recyclables. If they desire, they also could dispose of other trash for a fee.
The proposed facility would be in an area zoned industrial and next to a construction waste landfill that was once a junkyard.
Commissioners questioned Browne and company owner Aaron Day about various aspects of its operations, such as possible odor and noise and traffic on Missouri 7.
Browne noted that the nearest house was 760 feet away and the site was about one mile from the nearest subdivision.
No trash would be stored on site. Instead, it would be hauled away daily, after being transferred to tractor-trailers inside the building, so the company anticipats no odor problems. There also would be a long driveway from the highway to the building.
“I don’t think you’d be aware of the noise,” Browne said.
No residents spoke at the commission to oppose the project.
Commissioner Keith Sullivan, who cast the single vote against approval, asked whether the facility would draw more trash trucks from outside Blue Springs.
Browne said the plan was to have trucks from the region use the facility, with the traffic on state highways. But the number of trips packer trucks make on Blue Springs residential streets should drop, he said.
The Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve the facility.
There are more regulatory steps the facility must clear before it opens.
It will have to submit plans to the city for controlling storm water, litter and odors. The Missouri Department of Transportation will have to approve its design for
the entrance, to make sure it is safe for motorists on the highway. And it needs permits from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
It is expected to take six months for approval of the drop-off recycling portion of the project and a year to get approval for the transfer station, Browne said.

Parks and Rec Department outlines goals

By Miranda Wycoff
The Journal Staff

It has been eight years since the city of Blue Springs has updated its Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan, but last week a new plan was presented to the City Council.
According to city information, there was a Parks Strategic Plan created in 1995 and updated in 2000. Each plan was intended to last five years.
As a part of the strategic plan update process, a citizen’s committee was formed and, according to Roscoe Righter, director of parks and recreation for the city of Blue Springs, more than 40 citizens attended each meeting.
The parks and recreation department, the citizens group and the consulting firm hired to create the new plan identified three areas that the plan should address: people, places and progress.
According to the city information, citizens of Blue Springs want their parks and recreation department to something for everybody, provide strong leadership and good staff, look after the health and well-being of the
community and keep people happy and in Blue Springs.
In the place category, the citizens want the parks department to provide new and unique places and open spaces, provide a long-range
view for the facilities, provide good programs and parks and invest in the maintenance and
development of new parks, according to city information.
In order to progress, the consulting group found that the citizens want the parks department to be able to support the growing
needs of the community, provide creative and diverse programming, invest in the community’s quality of life and expand the reach of the department.
To address these needs, the strategic plan is outlined by five general goals.
The first goal addressed by the updated strategic plan is to build new and maintain current facilities to serve the growing needs of the community.
According to city information, a survey done during the parks strategic plan update process shows that
citizens satisfaction with the maintenance of city parks and park equipment has declined
approximately 10 percent since 2000. In addition, the survey shows that satisfaction
with athletic fields other than Hidden Valley has decreased, from 71 percent in 2000 to 51
percent in 2007.
In order to address these concerns and to reach the first goal, the parks strategic plan outlines several objectives. These include providing aquatic facilities, providing facilities to house performing arts and community activities and providing a facility for outdoor athletic activities to accommodate people of all ages and people with special needs, according to city information.
The second goal outlined is to provide the city with parks and open spaces that would meet the city’s parks and recreation standards.
According to city information, resident
satisfaction with the number of city parks has declined from 80 percent in 2000 to 76 percent in 2007.
To address these concerns the strategic plan states that the parks department would
like to acquire parkland in the southern and eastern areas of the city, develop appropriate facilities for open space and continue to update and revise parks and open space
standards.
The third goal outlined in the strategic plan is to provide programming that meets the
needs of all age groups and persons with special needs.
To achieve this goal the strategic plan suggests providing opportunities for intergenerational interaction, identify future programming needs, provide health- and wellness-focused programs, more youth sports programs and programs for people with special needs.
The fourth goal is to adequately fund planning, land acquisition, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the current and future facilities and services.
The last goal outlined by the plan is to enhance and promote the image of the Blue Springs Parks and Recreation Department.
In order to achieve this goal, the strategic plan states that the department needs to achieve accreditation and programming accreditation, make the city an area leader in unique programming services, implement and fully fund the
marketing plan and create and install signs to educate the public regarding the facilities.