Fast Start|Blue Springs boys and girls track and field teams begin season at UCM relays.

By Jake Singleton
The Journal Staff
It was a good beginning to the season for the Blue Springs boys track and field team on Monday at the University of Central Missouri relays.Wildcat sophomore Jordan Dodd and senior Evan McCray finished second and third, respectively, in the 400-meter dash. Dodd's time of 51.08 and McCray's time of 51.96 were only bettered by Raytown South's Maurice Mitchell's meet-record time of 48.88. McCray earned all-state honors last year in the 400.Blue Springs senior Derwin Hall finished fourth in the 55 meter dash (6.68) and Dustin Burleson finished fifth (8.16) in the 55 meter hurdles. Junior Drew Matthews finished third in the 800 (2:08.20) and senior Philip Hickman took fourth in the one-mile (4:50.52).The Wildcats' defending state champion 1,600 relay team, which consisted of senior returners Carlos Anderson, Donnie Prather and McCray, took second (3:35.20) to Kansas City Central (3:33.80)."We hope to defend our district championship and will be in hot pursuit of a (Suburban Big Seven) conference championship," said Wildcat first-year head coach Joseph Cusack. "If we can get through the season healthy, we believe it could be a good one."While the district championship boys got off to a good start, the Blue Springs girls track and field team, who finished with the school's highest ever state placement last year finishing third, found out what life is like without last year's core."We lost a lot of talent with Bridget Kleine, Trista Elmore and Caitlin Laskowski graduating," said Wildcat head coach Jennifer Reeder. "I believe we were so successful last year because of the core of our team was so strong. Our theme this year is, 'Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.'"The Wildcats had four top-five individual finishes at the University of Central Missouri Relays and one top-two finish in the relays.The Wildcats' Mauri Lane took third in the 55 meter run (7.55), Melissa Fuerst finished second in the one-mile (5:40.15), Gabby Lovelace took fifth in the high jump (4-feet-8 inches) and Allison Harold finished fifth in the long jump (13-3.5)."Lane really made some noise at the state level last year and I expect her to use that experience to show the other girls on the team that hard work and persistence does pay off," Reeder said. "I look forward to Fuerst being successful in the distance events and to keep the standard high where Caitlin left it last year."Blue Springs' 800 relay team, which won state last year with Lane and Brittany Thomas returning, finished second (1:51.10) to Raytown South (1:49.70), as Trista Elmore and Bridget Kleine filled the other two voids on the team. The Wildcats also finished sixth in the 1,600 relay (4:34.60).Blue Springs' Frances Veneble cleared 7-6 in the pole vault to finish eighth and round out the Wildcats' top-10 finishes.

Ready and Kicking

By Jake Singleton
The Journal Staff
The Blue Springs South girls soccer team, which finished second in the Suburban Big Seven (9-3), upset St. Teresa's Academy 2-0 to win the Class 2 District 15 championship and ended the season 13-7 with a 3-1 loss to Liberty in the sectional qualifier, will miss the four senior starters they lost to graduation."We graduated four outstanding senior leaders last year," said Jaguar head coach Todd Finley. "These four positions will need to be filled and, more importantly, their skills and leadership."While South lost all-state recipients Kelsey Stokes and Alex Woolard, along with Tabby Davis and Logan Thorp, they will return all-state senior forward Sharaya Sidebottom and five other seniors with multiple years of varsity experience."Our team strength will be our five returning seniors bringing 11 years of varsity experience," Findley said. Along with bringing back three-year letter winner Sidebottom's 17 goals and 15 assists from her junior season where she earned not only all-state honors, but all-conference and regional honors as well, senior forward Taylor Irwin returns from a knee injury to provide the Jaguars with some added punch up front.South also returns senior forward Ashley Killian and sophomore forward Courtney Codilla."Team speed and forward depth will also be a strength," Findley said.On defense, the Jaguars return three-year senior letter winner Kelly Gardner and two-year letter winner Sam Thompson along with two-year letter winner, junior Brynn Abram and sophomore Marissa Robb.The midfield will be young for South this season as they return two sophomores, Casey Rausch and Ashleigh Kaberline.Cats return 18Only one player, forward Ryanne Miller, will be missing from the Blue Springs girls soccer team's roster from last season.Blue Springs, which finished 9-9-1 overall and 6-4-1 in the Suburban Big Seven last season, returns 18 and adds only one new player to the roster in Bailey Randol."Lots of players returning means they have a good idea of what to expect," said Wildcat head coach Douglas McLagan.But while the Wildcats only lost Miller, the loss was a big one as Miller Blue Springs in scoring last season with 10 goals.The Wildcats, however, returns its second leading goal scorer from 2007 in forward Mallory Malone, who scored eight goals and had five assists. The Wildcats also return forward Tara Beck, who scored six goals last season.Outside of Malone and Beck, Blue Springs' scoring disperses.The Wildcats returns four players - Jana Teague, Morgan Hafner, Synthia Padfield and Lindsey Byle - who all scored three goals last season. Lauren Pouche had four goals last season for Blue Springs while Ashli Gray, Brittany Gholson and Amanda Schwartz each finished with two goals.But out of the 18 returning players, the Wildcats have only four seniors, two of whom - Laura Creason and Jordan Joyce - will be Blue Spring's captains this year.In goal, Blue Springs returns senior Danielle Bennefeld and junior Catherine Bohanon.

Small business financial tune-up

COMMENTARY By Jamshid Hoorfar
Special to the Journal

Like the name implies, a financial tune-up is a fresh look at how well your small business is working for you, the owner. Part of a tune-up is a re-consideration of the form of business entity you've selected for your business. There are several choices available for you to consider with your tax and legal advisors:- Sole proprietorship- Partnership- S Corporation- C CorporationLimited Liability Company Each form of business entity has advantages and disadvantages. What was right when you started your business may no longer be the best choice. Knowing your options puts you in control.Sole proprietorship The sole proprietorship is characterized by its ease of formation as compared to the other three legal "entities." A sole proprietorship and sole proprietor are unified in connection with: - Assets- Liabilities- Length of existence This means the sole proprietor is personally liable for the debts and claims of business creditors. Also, the sole proprietorship does not continue after the death, bankruptcy, or voluntary cessation of business by the sole proprietor. From a tax perspective, it means that profits and losses pass through to the sole proprietor and are reported on Schedule C of Form 1040.A major disadvantage to the sole proprietorship is its inability to attract investment capital. If you need additional capital for planned growth, it may be time to look at a different type of business entity. Another disadvantage is that the pass-thru of taxable profits directly to you, limits tax planning opportunities that are available with C and S corporations. Income cannot be shifted to other family members by making them owners of the business. Also, sole proprietors are unable to take full advantage of tax breaks associated with group health, disability, and group-term life insurance.Partnerships A partnership is defined as two or more co-owners carrying on a business for a profit. Partnerships take two forms: the general partnership and the limited partnership. Partnerships remain a prevalent form of business organization for long-established law and accounting firms, other professional practices, real estate development and the management of family enterprises. As in the case of the sole proprietorship, appropriate licensing and registration of a name, if the name used differs from that of the partners, are the only formalities that need be followed. Although advisable, a written agreement is not necessary to form a partnership and the partners may change their original understanding from time to time without notification of authorities. General partnerships share other characteristics with sole proprietorships. Unless agreed otherwise, each partner has co-equal management rights. Furthermore, unless otherwise agreed, the partners share equally in profits and losses. Also, each general partner, like a sole proprietor, is fully liable for the business operations and actions of the other partners who act within the scope of the business. In a limited partnership the general partners possess all the rights and responsibilities they have in a general partnership. Limited partners, on the other hand, enjoy the investment opportunity afforded by the limited partnership but possess no management control. Also, although a limited partner's investment is at risk to partnership creditors, personal assets are not. Profits and losses pass through to the partners, retaining their character as capital gain or ordinary income in the hands of the partners. Although partnerships do not pay taxes, they are required to file an informational return. The form, a K-1, reflects allocations of income and loss to the individual partners. Each partner receives a K-1 reflecting his or her allocable share of partnership profit or loss and identifying how to reflect these items on the usual Form 1040. As a trade-off to pass-thru taxation, partners lose the ability to receive the full tax advantages of certain employee benefits such as group health and group-term life insurance. C corporations Unlike the case with partnerships and sole proprietorships, state laws require certain formalities in the formation and operation of a corporation. At a minimum, the incorporators must file articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State and adopt bylaws. A corporation is a separate legal entity from its shareholders. Consequently, the owners of a corporation need not expose personal assets to corporate liability. Also, unlike sole proprietors and partnerships, C corporations are separate taxable entities. Most C corporations are subject to income taxes at rates ranging from fifteen to 34 percent. Because corporations are separate taxable entities there is more opportunity to shift income and appreciation away from an older, founding generation to a younger, succeeding generation. A disadvantage to the C corporation is the potential for double taxation, the taxing of earnings first at the corporate level, then at the personal level. It is this disadvantage that has led to the popularity of S corporations.S corporations Somewhat less common since the advent of limited liability corporations, are S corporations, which combine aspects of both C corporations and partnerships. From a legal standpoint, shareholders of S corporations enjoy the limited liability afforded owners of C corporations. On the other hand, S corporations are pass-thru entities (like sole proprietorships and partnerships) for tax purposes. There are, however, certain restrictions placed on S corporations: - No more than 100 shareholders.- Each shareholder must be an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, estate, certain trusts or certain tax exempt organizations.- The corporation must have only one class of stock. (However, voting differences are permissible.)- The corporation must use the calendar year as its fiscal year, unless there is a natural business year for the corporation or more than half the shares are owned by shareholders with the fiscal year end or there is a valid business purpose to a particular fiscal year end. - Not more than 25 percent of the corporation's income can come from passive activities, such as annuities, dividends, rents, royalties, etc. Many small businesses elect the S corporation form. Unlike unincorporated sole proprietors who pay self-employment taxes of 15.3 percent on net income up to $97,500 (2007 limit), S corporation owner/employees are subject to employment tax withholding on his or her compensation. Net earnings over and above a reasonable salary are included in income, but are not subject to employment taxes. Furthermore, while more than two percent shareholders are prevented from fully enjoying tax breaks associated with health insurance and other employee benefits, company paid health insurance premiums are not taxed to owners/employees.Limited liability company The Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a relatively new and increasingly more common type of business entity. Its most distinctive feature is that it can provide owners with the liability protection of a corporation and the tax benefits of a partnership. Furthermore, LLCs are not encumbered by many of the restrictions placed on S corporations. Most states require two owners (owners are also referred to as members) to form an LLC, but unlike the S corporation, there is no upper limit on the number of owners with the LLC. The members of an LLC enter into an operating agreement. This agreement controls how profits, losses, distributions, and management powers are shared among members. Like S corporations, management duties may be reserved solely for owners, or the owners may elect managers who operate in a role similar to a board of directors. Whatever business form you started with, it makes sense to reconsider your choice from time to time as profits and losses, tax laws, needs for additional capital, and liability risks change. Seek the guidance of financial and legal professionals to help you assess your needs and to implement any changes.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.

COMMUNITY PULSE | Letter

Dear Editor: As you (may) know, I have been active in the local business community for several years. I have also been a resident of Blue Springs, and I have been active in a number of civic groups, fundraisers, charities and citizen action groups. I have always been motivated by the many opportunities that exist to make our city a better community for its people and for its future. I am convinced that a strong local economy, a balance of commercial and residential development, the united effort of businesses and individuals, and cooperation between civic, private and public leadership will raise the quality of living in our town. I am confounded by local leaders who cast negativity at every opportunity, who offer criticism without participating in positive solutions and who attempt to throw obstacles in the way of progress for the sake of voting "no." We all need to support local leaders with vision to get beyond being a sleepy bedroom community that is satisfied with single-family housing development and fast food restaurants. We need leadership in our community that will streamline our government processes, modernize our approach to business and development, facilitate cooperation between our elected officials, city staff and the business community, and unify these groups in their goals and vision. We need fresh ideas and attitude, professionalism and results-oriented leadership in Blue Springs. I am writing because I want to see our community prosper - and I am supporting Jeanie Lauer in her race for District 1 City Council to help make that happen. Jeanie is a local entrepreneur. She owns her own management consultant business and has worked with Fortune 500 companies as well as "mom-and-pop" businesses to help them develop business processes, streamline procedures and develop leaders within their organizations. Wow - does that sound like what we need in our city government. Jeanie has proven her commitment to helping improve our community by serving on city commissions and co-chairing "Renew the Blue," our citizen-driven visioning process, and she is currently co-chairing the implementation phase of Renew the Blue to see through the process of those visions becoming reality. For her outstanding efforts and commitment, Jeanie was awarded the 2007 "Outstanding Civic Leader for Blue Springs" award. Please take the time to read about Jeanie, her accomplishments and her vision for the community at www.jeanielauer.com. Also through the Web site, you can contact the campaign about getting a sign, volunteering, contributing or otherwise helping with Jeanie's grassroots campaign. I have had the pleasure of working with Jeanie through Renew the Blue and a number of community activities. Jeanie Lauer has the vision for positive change for Blue Springs, and she is the proven professional leader this community needs. I am asking you to support Jeanie's campaign for District 1 City Council to make a positive difference in our city government and in our community. Please take an opportunity to meet Jeanie Lauer and find out more about what you can do to help make a difference in our city government.Bill EssmannBlue Springs

Don’t be left in the dark during the digital television transition

Commentary By Claire McCaskill

Now that the writers’ strike is over, many of us are back to enjoying our favorite TV programs. My daughters can’t get enough of the suspenseful investigations on “Law and Order.” My mother loves to laugh at the witty exchanges between the characters in “Two and a Half Men.” And with the presidential primaries upon us, my husband and I are thrilled to watch the talented cast of “Saturday Night Live” capitalize on the supply of comedic ammunition.
The hiatus of new and interesting television programming during the writer’s strike made TV fanatics appreciate our favorite shows more and made us realize how much we take this reliable form of entertainment for granted.
Now imagine if you came home one day to fi nd out your favorite program was gone — permanently. Except instead of being forced to watch reruns and endless hours of lame reality shows as an alternative, your TV set no longer received a signal at all. It was blacked out. No local news, weather and traffic would be available morning, noon and night. No morning talk shows. No soaps. No sitcoms. Nothing.
That’s what stands to happen to over 400,000 households in Missouri in less than a year on Feb. 17, 2009. Don’t ask me why they picked such an odd date, but that is the day analog — over-the-air broadcast signals — will cease and digital will take over. The idea was to open up the analog frequencies to first-responders to use for communications systems and at the same time give consumers a crisp, clear TV picture. This complicated sounding process is simply known as the DTV transition.
That’s right. In less than one year, you’ll have four options: 1) buy a new TV that can receive a digital signal, 2) subscribe to satellite service, 3) order cable service, 4) or keep your old, analog TV and purchase a converter box that will allow you to receive a digital signal. A basic rule of thumb is this: If you use bunny ears to receive your signal on an older TV, after DTV you’ll need a converter box to make it work.
You’re probably thinking, “It just figures that the government would make me do something that’s only going to cost me money in the end.” Well, in this case, the government is actually trying to put your tax dollars to work. Each household can receive up to two $40 coupons to go towards the purchase of a converter box, the cheapest way for households to make the transition. The government isn’t subsidizing new TVs or cable and satellite service.
You can order a coupon now and once you receive it, it’s good for up to 90 days. The converter boxes are on their way to store shelves as you read. Not only that, but nearly every single Missouri broadcast outlet is sending a digital signal at this very moment, so a converter box will work just as soon as it’s installed.
So why the push to take care of this potential problem now if the deadline is looming more than 300 days in the future? There are 21 million households across the country that currently rely on an analog signal. With only about 30 million coupons available, and keep in mind that’s up to two per household, you can do the math and see that some folks might lose out in the end.
Another reason is that there is no motivator like the last minute. As the deadline approaches, it’ll be like the day before Christmas when malls are crammed full of people and the high-demand items are fl ying off the shelves. it’s a nightmare. This can all be avoided by getting ahead of the game and starting now (and get a head start on your Christmas shopping while you’re at it).
I understand that the idea of installing new technology to an older television is a lot like being asked to program your VCR the fi rst time. It’s intimidating and confusing to say the least. However, there is a lot of information out there to help. By either calling 1-888-DTV-2009 or visiting www.dtv2009.gov, you can order a coupon, find a retailer that carries a converter box, learn how to install your converter box and get more information about the transition to digital. People are standing by to answer your every question, and my offi ce is certainly happy to assist.
The bottom line is that it’s important to get started making the transition now because when it comes down to it, it may be something far more important that comes over those airwaves than just some good entertainment you’ll be missing out on. It may be emergency information you’ll need to know for the safety and well-being of your family. I ask Missourians that we all do our part by passing on the word so that no one is left in the dark on Feb. 17, 2009.
Claire McCaskill, Missouri senator, 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.

COMBATING THE AMERICAN HOUSING CRISIS

Commentary By Kit Bond

Homeownership, the linchpin of the American dream, is turning into a nightmare for many families who can no longer afford their mortgages.
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage delinquencies are at their highest rate in 23 years.
More than 57,000 homeowners in Missouri are delinquent on their mortgages, including a full 20 percent of subprime borrowers.
In some other states, the problem is even worse.
When people lose their homes, it has a devastating affect on the family, the neighborhood, the community, and multiplied many times over, on the economy.
We are already seeing a weaker economy led by the housing crisis, and the projections are for the situation to get worse before it gets better.
The best way to get out of the housing crisis is to avoid the foreclosures that throw families out of their homes.
We already have a problem with enough affordable housing in many areas. For those already in homes, doesn’t it make more sense to try to keep them where they are?
That is why I have joined with Sen. Johnny Isakson, Sen. Norm Coleman and several other colleagues to introduce the Security Against Foreclosure and Education, or SAFE Act of 2008.
Our SAFE Act authorizes state housing finance agencies to issue $10 billion in tax-exempt bonds and use the proceeds to help refinance subprime mortgages.
The new loans will have a much lower interest rate than the high, adjustable subprime rate now trapping so many families. Lower payments will be affordable and struggling families will be able to keep their homes.
Our legislation also expedites delivery of $180 million already approved by Congress in December for counseling help to families in distress.
Through this counseling, we hope to reach families with financial solutions before they fall too far behind in their payments.
Foreclosure not only hurts families, it hurts communities.
Other homeowners in the surrounding area see the value of their homes plunge. Vacant homes invite vandalism. Nearby schools and businesses suffer from fewer students and customers. Local governments lose tax revenue.
Our bill supports these struggling neighborhoods by providing $15,000 in tax credits for purchasing a home in or approaching foreclosure. This provision will help neighbors take down foreclosure signs and stop the slide in property values.
Many troubled homeowners complain that they feel victimized by mortgage brokers who promised lower payments without describing what would happen when the interest rates adjusted.
Homebuyers are hit with dozens of pages of legalese when they reach the settlement table. What they need to see on the first page in large type is information about their loan, in plain English.
That’s why our proposal includes new loan disclosure requirements for a prominent and plain-English explanation of key loan conditions.
Congress must act now to support homeowners. This legislation is an important step in “stopping the bleeding” for many families and communities.
But Congress must also do more to curb predatory lending practices to ensure that this does not happen again.
Kit Bond, Missouri senator, 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.

Expand storage space with an outdoor shed

By Alan J. Heavens
The Philadelphia Inquirer (MCT)
Where do you store your lawn mower, your gardening implements and other tools? If the answer is the garage or the basement, odds are your gear is hard to get to or tough to find when you need it. An outdoor storage shed might be just the ticket - if you have the room.Need to know: Whether your town has zoning rules about sheds. The information generally is available from municipal building departments. But even if there are no rules, consider your neighbors. Nothing creates ill will as quickly as a shed that blocks sunlight to the garden of the folks next door. - Shabby isn't chic: If the shed looks shabby, it will make your yard look that way, too. If you're not willing to pay a bit more for quality, you might as well keep your equipment where it is. Typically, the difference between attractive and ugly is only a few hundred dollars. And remember, an outdoor shed is an investment in your property, like a kitchen or a powder room - you don't want to create a stumbling block to a quick and profitable sale in the future.Sheds made of cedar siding are the most expensive, followed by those made of vinyl. Whichever you choose, the shed's design should complement the style of your house. If you live in a 1950s airlight rowhouse in Northeast Philadelphia, a Victorian-style shed will be more than jarring to the eye. - Too cute: You don't want the shed to look too precious either - it's a utility structure, not a dollhouse. So skip the porch feature unless there's a critical need for a place where you and your lawn mower can get out of the sun.What will it cost? Be ready to spend a minimum of $350 on a shed. Good quality and good looks can be yours for about $2,000. - Material world: Some people consider metal sheds ugly, but one made of aluminum will hold up a long time. Steel tends to rust quickly, although some is coated to reduce, though not avoid, corrosion. - Wood sheds - especially cedar - look better, so there are more of them available. They aren't fireproof, though, and are subject to mold and rot, so they need regular maintenance. Squirrels and other rodents can easily chew through wood, too. Cedar sheds should be recoated with a special sealer/preservative every other year to protect them from ultraviolet solar radiation. Vinyl may not be everyone's cup of tea, but sheds made of it pretty much last forever and require little maintenance, except for an occasional power-washing to remove mildew in shaded locations. Unlike metal, vinyl doesn't dent or ding and seems to withstand extremes of weather, especially moisture, very well. - Size matters: Make sure the shed you buy will accommodate your equipment. If you have a ride-on mower, you'll need to have an extra-large shed, so the machine can get in and out easily. If you have a regular-size mower, make sure what you store is organized carefully, so you can get everything else in and out. Consider shelves to hold pots and materials, hooks for rakes, shovels, etc., and a ramp and extra-wide doors. - Firm foundation: Check with the manufacturer first, but sheds are typically placed on cinder blocks, concrete piers, a concrete slab, or crushed stone. Supports for the structure are usually made of pressure-treated wood. - Room to grow: As you've learned with your garage and basement, there is never enough room - hence the need for a shed in the first place. But even a shed can be expanded with plastic add-ons costing a couple of hundred dollars. Check for them at the local home center.
(c) 2008, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Climbing roses add a unique vertical element

By Norman Winter
McClatchy-Tribune News Service (MCT)
Climbing plants really add a vertical dimension to the landscape. Adding this new element to a garden causes a transformation that almost no other type of plant can accomplish. Climbing roses are seeing an upswing in popularity for this very reason. One of my favorites is New Dawn, which certainly is not new. It originated from the variety Dr. W. Van Fleet in 1930, but New Dawn is a repeat bloomer. In a way, it seems new since many gardeners are just now discovering this terrific large-flowered climber. Another climber that is riding a wave of popularity is Peggy Martin. This historic rose garnered nationwide attention by surviving 20 feet of salt water during Katrina's onslaught. It has gained attention among gardeners and rose lovers as a persevering plant. It reflects a spirit of renewal and hope in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina's devastating blow against those living and gardening in the Gulf Coast area. Since then, several large nurseries have introduced it for sale. Bill Welch, author of "Antique Roses for the South" says, "Growers are generously donating $1 per plant to the Greater Houston Community Foundation, with the purpose of assisting in the task of garden restoration projects in New Orleans, Beaumont and other Gulf Coast locations. With its good looks and healthy vigor, the 'Peggy Martin Rose' is well on its way to becoming a classic garden mainstay for those wanting a mannerly climber that is thornless, with abundant pink clusters of small flowers. After it has become established, it re-blooms in the fall when the hot temperatures moderate." Another must-have to consider is the Lady Banks rose. It is at the top of my list because it is among the most disease-resistant roses we can grow. You will probably never see blackspot or powdery mildew on this rose. It is also among the most drought-tolerant roses, able to withstand extended drought.If you have ever tangled with a rose bush, you may feel as though you were on the losing end of a fight with a bobcat. You will never feel that way with Lady Banks because like the Peggy Martin, it is thornless. The Lady Banks, or Rosa banksiae normalis, has been in cultivation since 1796. An improved double-flowered white form, Rosa banksiae banksiae, was found in 1807. Then in 1824 the double-yellow form, Rosa banksiae lutescens, was discovered. The white-flowered forms have more fragrance than the yellow, but the yellow has become the most popular. To call this a large, spreading rose may be an understatement. The largest rose bush in the world is a Lady Banks in Tombstone, Ariz. It covers more than 8,000 square feet. Because of its spreading nature, you will want to manage this rose. The Lady Banks is a long-lived rose; the one in Arizona was planted in 1855. All varieties of climbing roses produce long canes and require some support to hold plants up off the ground. They don't really climb by themselves but must be tied or trained to the trellis, wall, fence or arbor. Climbing roses can be used on sloping banks to aid in holding soil. Climbers, like bush roses, are grouped into several types with much overlapping among types. Most rose nurseries list ramblers, large-flower climbers, ever-blooming hybrid teas, climbing polyanthas, climbing floribundas and trailing roses. So why not try to "grow up" this year on a trellis, arbor or fence with a climbing rose?(c) 2008, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Questions delay vote on property codes

By Russ Pulley
Special to the Journal
The final vote on a proposed property maintenance code in Blue Springs is on hold. The City Council on Monday had its first reading on the ordinance containing the proposed regulations, which is the first official step toward passing the code. But the Council also voted to table a required second reading and vote until the city resolves a central issue: how to create a safety net for people who can't afford to fix their property. Councilwoman Sheila Solon said she'd prefer to see the city create a minor-repair program, similar to one in Lee's Summit that helps owners with lower incomes care for their property. She suggested the city could use annual grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that is intended to help lower- to middle-income neighborhoods. "I want this to be successful," Solon said. "I know we have many residents who put calls in to our codes department, and right now our codes aren't strong enough and are unenforceable. But we certainly don't want to go out and try to hurt people who are unable to fix their property up." Solon said she also wanted to see a more-definite plan for involving churches and other civic organizations to aid people who need help meeting the code. Councilman Jeff Quibell said he had been working on a maintenance code for three years, after he encountered a resident living next to a property in severe disrepair. But he agreed the city wasn't prepared to enact the code, because criteria were needed for deciding who could qualify for such an assistance program and the financing mechanism. He moved to send the issue back to the Property Maintenance Committee to get those components in place. The council agreed 4-2, with Ron Fowler and Lyle Shaver dissenting. Fowler said his concern was that it could be a lengthy delay in getting a repair program in place. Mayor Steve Steiner cautioned that during past years cities lobbied to keep that grant program intact. He said funding probably will continue for the short term, but it might not be there in the long run. Steiner, who has opposed the code because he was afraid of potential abuses and impact on senior citizens, said in an interview that he had decided not to veto it but would have allowed it to become an ordinance without signing it. Because of the Council's vote, it's likely the Council seated after April's election will complete the ordinance. The current Council by consensus agreed it wants some regulation, but it had varied concerns about clauses or language. Shaver said that based on comments from residents he thought the proposed ordinance was acceptable, with a few tweaks. At one informational meeting, a dozen residents had a few questions on whether the code definitions were specific enough and whether they could be abused in a neighborhood feud. The intent is for codes officers to enforce it on a complaints-only basis, except in severe cases. For example, Shaver wants to add a clause excluding materials normally used in landscaping, so residents couldn't be cited for having a pile of "four or five bricks" in their backyard. He also wanted to drop seeds, fruit and nuts from items that can't be composted.

Council approves final plat for shopping center

By Miranda Wycoff
The Journal Staff
The Blue Springs City Council unanimously approved the final plat for the Southridge Shopping Center on Monday. The shopping center will be located at the southwest corner of M-7 and S.W. Meadowridge Drive. The 5.57-acre shopping center broke ground on Feb. 8 and, according to city information, construction has already begun. According to city information, the parcel of land is required to be platted before the applicant, Royal Investment Group, can obtain the building permits for the shopping center. The Council's approval of the final plat is contingent upon several conditions recommended by the city staff. These include the completion of the construction of the water line before building permits are issued, the sidewalk to be installed before the issuance of an occupancy permit and the approval of a Master Sign Plan by the Planning Commission before the placement of any signage on the property, according to city information. According to city documents, the building will feature clear windows on all tenant spaces intermixed with a brick applique and stucco wall and column finishes. Council also heard a presentation on approving the engineering and design services for the Sni-A-Bar Wastewater Treatment Plan upgrade and expansion to E.T. Archer Corporation. In addition, the Council approved a resolution awarding a contract for ditch repair at Hidden Valley Park and a resolution approving the Tax Increment Financing Costs Certification Services in their consent agenda. According to city information, the TIF Costs Certification Services would authorize the city administrator to enter into an agreement with Conchern, Head, Vick and Co., P.C. for the services. According to city information, TIF-reimbursable project costs must be certified by the city to ensure the expenditures meet the criteria for being reimbursable under the state TIF statutes. Once project costs are certified, any available TIF revenues may be reimbursed to the developer or, in the case of a bond issue, bond proceeds would be used to reimburse the developer. The city currently has three TIF plans that have started or will be submitting costs for certification in the near future. The Copperleaf Village TIF, M-7 and 40 Hwy. TIF, and Adams Farm TIF, according to city information.

Glass is Half Full|Stained-glass artist has new outlook on life after kidney transplant

By Brett Dalton
The Journal Staff
Second chances are often a necessity in life. Nobody's perfect, as they say, and an opportunity to start anew may be just what a person needs to turn his or her life around.For some people, however, second chances are a privilege - a gift that can change one's life forever.Randy High, of Blue Springs, said his second chance was more than a necessity, more than a privilege - it was a miracle, and he and his wife Leslie could not be more grateful for it.High spent two days last week at the St. Paul's Episcopal Church on the corner of Fifth and Green streets in Lee's Summit. For the past three months, High and his friend, Bill Cosgrove, have been working to craft handmade stained glass windows for the church. High said some stained glass workers have found many shortcuts throughout the years to make their trade a little easier and a little cheaper. But cutting corners isn't High's style. He said he'd rather do it the old-fashioned way, which to him, results in a better product when it's all said and done. But it's not easy."Doing it old school is all hard," High said. "Every bit of it is hard work."But High will be the first to admit that installing 40 stained glass windows in a small church in the suburbs pales in comparison to the trials and tribulations he battled through five to six years ago.Lifelong conditionHigh, 54, said he's battled kidney disease since he was a child. He was diagnosed with Bright's Disease, which is described as chronic inflammation of the blood vessels in the kidneys, according to www.medicinenet.com. High said he was aware of his kidney condition and said he knew it may one day cause him some serious problems. Then one Saturday evening in February 2002, High finally received the news he knew may one day come."It got to a point where I didn't feel good, so I finally went in for a checkup," High said. "Then my doctor was moved to call me at home on a Saturday night. She told me I needed to get in to her office on that next Monday to start dialysis, because (my kidneys) finally quit."Leslie High said the doctor's phone call was a life-altering moment."Up until that point," she said, "ignorance was bliss. Before then, we thought he was just tired or working too hard. Our lives literally changed with that phone call."The night the Highs received the phone call, Leslie turned to her husband and told him she was going to donate one of her kidneys to him. But at the time, Randy said he didn't want to hear that kind of talk."Leslie had always said all along that she was going to be my donor," Randy said. "But I always thought, 'I'm a man,' and I wasn't going to allow someone to sacrifice like that for me. It makes you very uncomfortable to think about that."On the Monday following the doctor's call, Randy started the type of dialysis - a treatment that serves as an artificial replacement for failed kidneys - he could receive at home. He said he was on dialysis for 10 hours per day, most of them during the nighttime hours when he was asleep. High said life on dialysis wasn't the easiest he'd had it, but it was acceptable, as it was keeping him alive - or so he thought.'The final straw'On Oct. 6, 2002, Randy High was at home with his wife. He had just finished making her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and the two were standing near each other having a normal conversation. Without warning, some-thing near Randy's heart went drastically wrong and he suffered what's known in the medical field as Sudden Cardiac Death."One minute you're standing, the next minute you're dead on the floor," Leslie said. "And that's how it was."Because his kidneys didn't function properly, High said platelets built up in the blood stream, clogging one of his heart's main blood vessels. Blood could no longer reach one side of his heart and he died in an instant.Fortunately, Leslie said paramedics were stationed just down the road from their home in Blue Springs. She said they rushed over and were able to eventually revive her husband using defibrillators. But it wasn't soon enough to prevent word from circulating that Randy had indeed passed away."I had already told my wife when she was out of town that Leslie was a widow," said Cosgrove, who has been the Highs' neighbor since 2000. "Then I came home that night and she wasn't."After being resuscitated, doctors performed heart surgery on Randy High and he remained in intensive care for 18 days. High said he has no recollection of those 18 days."But what I found out was life on dialysis, while it was acceptable, it wasn't really great," he said. "I had lifelong kidney disease, but ultimately that was the final straw."The giftMonths after her husband had literally been given new life, Leslie High, who works as the director of philanthropy at Truman Medical Center Lakewood, got the chance to make good on the promise she had been making to him for quite some time. Instead of living on dialysis, Randy High decided it was time for a transplant. And as it turned out, his wife was a perfect match."So basically after doing a lot of research, and talking a little more to Leslie, they did it," High said. Since July 30, 2003, Randy High has been using his wife's left kidney. He said it was surgically placed in the front and on the right side of his body, as doctors opted not to remove and replace his non-functioning kidneys. According to Leslie, she became one of 800 spouses in 2003 to donate an organ to a husband or wife.Leslie said it took some convincing on her part to get her husband to agree to take one of her kidneys, but added it was "the best thing I've ever done." She also said donating a kidney was much easier than witnessing her husband's near-death experience less than a year earlier."I would go through 10 kidney transplants if I didn't have to relive that day," she said. Randy, who also had a defibrillator surgically installed in his chest, said he hasn't had any major health issues since the transplant, although he has become insulin resistant since the surgery.And since the Highs' transplant was a success they, along with Cosgrove and other members of the Rotary Club of Eastern Independence, have been deeply involved with the Donate Life program, a national effort to encourage others to be organ donors.Randy High said their ultimate goal is to get Rotarians throughout the country and the world to sign up electronically to be organ donors."If we could sign up just the Rotarians, we wouldn't ever have an organ shortage in the world," Randy said. Their effort has paid off during the last couple years, as they have gotten more than 1,000 Rotarians to sign up as organ donors. They also had a chance to reach more than 18,000 Rotarians at the Rotary International Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, in February 2007.Life is good Leslie High and Bill Cosgrove don't mind saying that Randy High "wasn't a people person" before that fateful day in October 2002. Cosgrove said High spent much of his time near the back of the shops he was working in and rarely moseyed up front near the crowds. But death can change a person, Randy said, and it certainly had an everlasting effect on him. "It made me appreciate things a lot more," he said. "I'd say to a very large degree, I lost my temper. I'm much more tolerant of people."Cosgrove said High is now "the most mellow man I know." "He calms people down just being with him," Cosgrove said, "because he's so appreciative of what's going on around him." The whole ordeal also had an effect on Leslie High. Before the transplant, Leslie said she considered herself somewhat of a "wimp." But after donating a kidney, she's realized she may be a little tougher than she gave herself credit for. "Now I know I'm a strong woman," she said. "There's just something that comes up from you and you do what you have to do. And I can do it. I now know that I can." Randy High's battle with his serious kidney condition forced him into early retirement from the auto industry. After recovering from the transplant, he began working in stained glass, a trade he began learning in the 1970s. High said it's more of a "dedicated hobby" than a job. He said he's installed stained glass on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, in private homes and at TMC Lakewood. Along with enjoying the trade, High said installing stained glass windows provides him the opportunity to give back to the society of which he's more glad than ever to be a part. "I figure I'm here now when I shouldn't be," he said. "So if I can do something to help some people, make them happy and occupy my time, I think that's a good deal." For more information about the Donate Life program, visit its Web site at www.donatelife.net.

Couple suspected of growing marijuana

By Brett Dalton
The Journal Staff
The Missouri State Highway Patrol found what it suspects to be several marijuana plants inside a Blue Springs home on Tuesday. According to Dan Green, spokesperson for Troop A, the MSHP was notified by an unidentified source of a possible marijuana-growing operation at 2200 S.W. Walnut Street in Blue Springs. Green said the MSHP issued a search warrant, entered the home on Tuesday morning and found what the MSHP believes to be 75 marijuana plants and two pounds of processed marijuana. Green said the plants were confiscated as evidence and have been sent to the lab to confirm that they are in fact marijuana plants. The estimated value of the plants, which "look like marijuana and smell like marijuana," is between $40,000 and $50,000, Green said. A married couple in their 50s was at the home when authorities arrived, as was their 2-year-old grandson. No arrests have been made, Green said, and potential charges will not be filed until the lab test results are returned and sent to the prosecutor's office.