In This Issue
5-Year Dedicated Parks Maintenance Sales Tax Initiative
Honoring Those Who Served
JAG TV Honored as "Best in State"
Blue Springs Education Foundation
2017 Chamber Lip Sync Battle
2017 Women of Distinction
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 Jeff Quibell     
 
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 Answering the Call Fundraiser
Sunday, April 9
Noon - 4 p.m.
Blue Springs High
2000 NW Ashton Drive 

Blue Springs Police Department Officer Keegan Hughes will run a full marathon in police uniform to raise funds for Independence Police Officer Tom Wagstaff who was critically wounded while answering a call for service. 

This event is open to the public and will feature music and refreshments from Cosentino's Price Chopper with all profits going to Officer Wagstaff's Answering the Call fund. Financial donations for Officer Wagstaff's Answering the Call Fund will be accepted during the event. 

 To donate to Officer Wagstaff's Answering the Call Fund visit any of the Greater KC Public Safety Credit Union branch locations. For more information or branch locations, click here or call 816-504-2800.
 Advanced Weather Spotter Training
Wednesday, April 5, 7 p.m.
Blue Springs Freshman Center
2103 NW Vesper Street, Blue Springs, MO

Join the National Weather Service - Kansas City Missouri and Central Jackson County Emergency Management Agency (CJCEMA) for a free Advanced Weather Spotter Training session. 
This class is open to the public. 
 Council Town Hall Meetings 
This March each of our Council members hosted a LIVE town hall meeting with Blue Springs residents where they addressed the 5-Year Dedicated Parks Maintenance Sales Tax Initiative, fielded questions from residents and facilitated dialog about district priorities. 

If you were unable to make the meeting for your council member,  please select the links below to view the footage. 

Councilman Dale Carter & Councilman Jeff Quibell


 Household Hazardous Waste Program
householdwaste
Saturday, April 22
8 a.m. to Noon (or first 300 cars)
Pink Hill Park
2715 NW Park Dr

This event continues to be one of the most successful recycling programs in Blue Springs. Materials collected this year include automotive fluid, batteries, household cleaners, lawn and garden products, pesticides, paints and related products. Residential waste ONLY.  
 
Blue Springs is a member community of the MARC Regional HHW Collection Program. Residents can use the HHW facility in Kansas City or Lee's Summit year round, free of charge. For more information, click here  
 Face to Face Forum
Monday, April 17
Noon
Blue Springs Assembly
2501 NE Duncan Road

Join officers and command staff as they meet with residents to answer questions about the Blue Springs community. 

Face to Face forums are held each quarter and address a range of important topics regarding public safety and other topical events throughout the year.  
 The Blue Springs Magazine
The spring 2017 issue is now available online and will be at City Hall by the end of the week.  This issue is all about enjoying what our City's outdoors have to offer from bike/walk trails to hiking, water sports and camping. 

To view The Blue Springs Magazine click here  . To view past editions, click here  
 Let's Move! Saturdays
These events are free and open to the public, unless noted.

To view the entire winter schedule, click here

Adams Pointe Golf Course
1400 NE Coronado Drive
April 8, 10 a.m. to Noon
Free range balls, beginner instruction

Rink Ratz
513 SW Keystone Dr
April 8, 7 - 9 p.m.
Open Roller Skating 

GAGE Center
1101 NW Jefferson
April 15, 11 to Noon
Bump City

Roundhouse Fitness
1901 NW Highway 7
April 15, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Crossfit Training 
City of Blue SpringsNews Happenings
Around Town
 
A bi-weekly message from your Blue Springs Mayor and City Council
Hello and welcome to News Happenings Around Town, your on e-stop source for City information and news updates including information that's im portant to you.

As Mayor I am sending my weekly message early to ask that each of you take the the time to vote tomorrow, April 4, during our General Municipal Election. Polling locations are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

We ended March on a celebratory note with the recognition of our City's prominent women during the Distinguished Women Luncheon and appreciation of our veterans during the Honoring Those Who Served ceremony last week. It looks like the month of April will be just as full of happenings including a Face-to-Face forum with our police officers, an opportunity to train for severe weather and our annual Household Hazardous Waste recycling program. Please keep reading for more information.  

As always, please continue sharing this timely publication and spreading the word about the good things in the City of Blue Springs. 
5-Year Dedicated 
Parks Maintenance Sales Tax Initiative

On Tuesday, April 4, Blue Springs voters will be asked if the City should impose a sales tax of one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) for five (5) years, for the purpose of providing funds for local parks for the City. 

The proposed 5-year dedicated parks maintenance sales tax initiative will be funded by residents and non-residents making retail purchases in Blue Springs.  The ½ cent sales tax adds 25 cents for every $50 spent in Blue Springs and would raise approximately $3 million dollars annually.

Please view this short video for more information about this sales tax initiative and how it will affect Blue Springs. You can also see more details on our website by clicking here. 
Honoring Those Who Served


On Thursday, March 30, I had the privilege to speak at the Honoring Those Who Served: Valor, Sacrifice and Service  program to recognize our nation's 50th Anniversary welcoming home our veterans at the end of the Vietnam War.  

The event was presented by the Blue Springs Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), City of Blue Springs and program partners; it was dedicated to all of the men and women who served. I was joined by a number of  community members as we gathered at Veterans Way Memorial  and heard from fellow Vietnam Veteran and Veteran Services Officer, Chuck Lear.

This year eight plaques will be added to Veterans Way Memorial to honor our veterans. Plaques that will be placed in the memorial include: a commemorative plaque for the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam war presented by Blue Springs DAR; a plaque presented to Ed 'Doc' Golden and Friends in Service of Heroes founder Paul Chapa; a plaque in memeory of those lost presented to Victor Bochek and Ric Shutts by the Vietnam Veterans of America Post 317; a plaque presented to Kent and Melissa Egy for the three generations of his family who served, Kent's service to our country, his work bringing the Wall that Heals through Blue Springs and help building the Veterans Way Memorial; a plaque in memory of Donald Fulfor presented to Annette Fulfor and Mindy Anderson; a plaque in memory of WWII veteran Robery Harry King presented to Will Margaret King and Linda King; and a plaque presented to the family of William Arthur Michael--the only Blue Springs resident killed in action during the Vietnam War. 

I am honored to say that I also received a plaque along with a hand-stitched Quilt of Valor for my heroic efforts while serving in Vietnam.

Following the program, Vietnam Veterans were given a commemorative lapel pin provided by the U.S. Department of Defense. 

As a US Army Vietnam Combat Infantry Veteran, it was a pleasure to share this day with fellow veterans and to see the community members who joined us to celebrate such a significant event. 

To view more photos from this event,  click here
JAG TV Honored as "Best in State"

On Thursday, March 30 Blue Springs South High School's "Jag TV" received the All-Missouri Award - Best overall TV Broadcast in the state, from the University of Missouri's Broadcast-Journalism department. This award is the highest level and it is only the high school's second time entering the contest. 

In addition to the All-Missouri Broadcast Award several Jag TV students received high scores in other categories:

  • Superior Awards: Jada Page (Tori Findley Story), Carissa Alford (Freedom Fitness Story), Isaiah Jackson (Student Assistant Fund Story), and Donald Kelly (Sports Cast).
  • Excellent Award: Blake Isaacson (Reptile Club Feature Story).

What an honor! Congratulations to each student who has worked diligently and the staff who has been there to support them. You can check out Jag TV by clicking here
Blue Springs Education Foundation

Blue Springs Education Foundation Highlight 2016-2017
Blue Springs Education Foundation Highlight 2016-2017

On Tuesday, March 28 the Blue Springs Education Foundation  held their annual Spring into Giving breakfast and highlighted some of the major  achievements   of the students and staff of Blue Springs School District in 2016. Check out the video above to learn more about some BSSD accomplishments including the more than $45,000 in classroom grants awarded at various  BSSD schools and support provided to students to improve health and reading skills. 

Congratulations to the Blue Springs Education Foundation on another year of providing our Blue Springs schools with innovative opportunities for staff to  enhance   their skills and students to increase their knowledge. 
2017 Chamber Lip Sync Battle

BSSD Faculty -winners for the People's Choice for the Community Division & Most Money Raised.

On Thursday, March 31 the  Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce hosted their second  Lip Sync Battle at Adams Pointe Conference Center. I had the opportunity to judge this event along with John Foster  of  Foster Dental Nick Bender of  KMBC Channel 9 and surprise guest Christine Smiley, former owner of Christine's Salon in Blue Springs.

We enjoyed performances from  teams who covered a range of music styles. Award winners included:

Judge's Choice for the Community Division -Kelly O'Reilly & Looks of Shear Elegance

People's Choice for the Community Division and Most Money Raised Award - Blue Springs School District Faculty ( Bryce Johnson, Jason Woolf, Shawn Roderick). 

Judges Choice for the School Division- Blue Springs South High School (Musical Mayhem) 

People's Choice for the School Division - Blue Springs South High School (Musical Mayhem)

Freedom Fitness and Blue Springs High School (Boogy Woogy Bugle Boy and 4N6 5) also participated in this year's competition.  Each team is a winner for helping the Chamber raise $11,972.00 for the Chamber High School Scholarship Fund! 

Click here  to see more photos.
2017 Women of Distinction


On Thursday, March 23, a total of 20 Eastern Jackson County women were celebrated for their successes at 
The Examiner   2017 Women of Distinction Award Luncheon

The focus of this event is to highlight the impact these women have made locally in both society and in the economy. 

Honorees included representatives in the business field, government, education and non-profit organizations.  

Blue Springs Honorees Include:
Thank you to each of these women for you work making Blue Springs and Eastern Jackson County a place of distinction. 
 City Government Channel CTV-7
Check out what's new and going on in Blue Springs, 24/7  by tuning into CTV-7 on Comcast Cable channel 7 or AT&T U-verse Channel 99.

To watch videos of past Blue Springs events, check out the City's YouTube page by  clicking here
I hope you have found this issue of News Happenings Around Town to be both informative and timely for your City information needs. Is there anything we missed? Do you have questions about any of the articles from this issue? Share your thoughts with me and the City Council by calling City Hall at (816) 228-0110. Know that we truly value your time and support of our City and hope you join us for the next issue of News Happenings
 
Sincerely,
 
 Ross sig
Carson Ross, Mayor
City of Blue Springs
Our
Mission 
The City of Blue Springs is a unique community where families, visitors and businesses share a special quality of life and an abundant spirit of community closeness and cooperation. 

 

Our number one goal is to ensure that our residents, visitors and patrons receive quality customer service and attention with every program and service the City provides. Just as you stand by a community that strives to meet your family's needs, we promise to do our best to meet these needs and anticipate what's best for you and our community, to the best of our ability.