Mayor’s Weekly Focus Group Seeks Citizen Input

Mayor Mallinson meets with (clockwise) Tracy Wagner, Eva Steinman, John Olinskey, Leigh Ann Little, and Fritzi Hazelrigg.

      Where do you go when you leave Sugar Creek?  Mayor Mallinson would like to know.  He’s not being nosy… he’s just trying to figure out what Sugar Creek needs to keep people from taking their dollars to other communities, and looking for ways to bring people to Sugar Creek to spend their money here.

  Every Wednesday at 3 p.m., Mallinson invites residents and business people in the community to his weekly focus group, where he poses the question above. In these meetings, which usually run over two hours long, citizens share their wishes, concerns, and ideas not only for the 24 Highway development project, but for improving and developing Sterling Avenue, the River Front, the Bluff, and any part of town that needs attention and improvement.  The ideas for each group are compiled into a master list, something for city planners to work with as the development goes forward, so as to make sure that the desires of the citizens are not overlooked.

   Restaurants, recreation, and a grocery store that offers a lot of variety seem universally wished for amongst Sugar Creek residents. 

   The mayor also wants to know what people DON’T want in Sugar Creek.  Payday loans, pawn shops, and tattoo parlors are widely frowned upon.  Most people agree that the city doesn’t need any more “beer joints,” although a more upscale drinking establishment has not been ruled out.

Firefighter Proposes at the Parade

During this year's annual 4th of July parade we had special (perhaps first) event that we would like to share with the world.

  Sugar Creek Firefighter Nate Richardson Proposed to his totally unsuspecting girlfriend Jen Fimreite.

    In a well-orchestrated plan that included sneaking Jen's parents into town from Colorado, and hiding them in the Fire truck that was leading the parade, spreading the word of where we would be watching the parade due to construction altering the route just a little.

     We have watched the parade together as a family for longer than Nate or Jen have been born. Always from Nate's Great Grandfathers home at the corner of Sterling and Putman, now Uncle John's home.
Shortly before the lead Fire truck reached our group of about 40 friends and family, Nate went up Sterling to join her parents in the truck. Changing clothes in the fire truck while parading down Sterling Ave. may also be a first.

     Then Pumper one, driven by Kenny Soule along with videographer/Fire Chief Pat Casey came to a stop in front of Jen and group.

     Jen's first shock was seeing her Mom step out of the Fire Truck. Then she noticed the large banner on the side of the truck with her name on it. About the time she started to catch on to what was about to happen, Nate stepped from the rear of the truck with ring in hand, dropped to his knee to pop the question.

     Amid the sound of applause and siren she said YES and the parade continued.

     As mentioned, the 4th of July parade has been a family tradition for generations. This year will be hard to top.

     Special Thanks to Pat Casey and all of Sugar Creeks finest Police and Fire for all of their help in pulling this off.

     Good Job Nate.
     Welcome to the family Jen.

     Ed, Lisa & Nick Richardson

Farewell John Lucas

   The staff of the Sugar Creek Herald joins the community in offering their sympathy to the family and friends of John Lucas, Jr., who passed away July 13 at the age of 91. 

Toni Bones Case Continued by City

   On July 9 the City of Sugar Creek continued the case of Toni “Bones” Shelton, an activist who insists she will “stand her ground” against city ordinance violations.   The press and public were initially not allowed in the courtroom, but a KCTV-5 reporter was able to gain access. The reason given for the continuance was the recusal of Municipal Judge Garry Helm. The case will now be heard on August 13.

Wayne City Landing Re-enactment

Sugar Creek Building Official Paul Loving wants to have a re-enactment of steamships unloading their cargo at the Wayne City Landing.  He hopes that this can be an annual event to coincide with Santi-Cali-Gon Days in Independence.

New Stylist in Town

   Christine’s Salon on Sterling welcomes Shannon Camacho to their salon team. Shannon has been a licensed cosmetologist for 6 years. She has spent the last several years as an instructor, teaching at a local cosmetology college in Kansas. Previous to that she was employed at a salon in Leawood, Kansas. Shannon enjoys performing all hair services that are available in the salon. She will be working on Tues-Wed-Fri-Sat. 

What are the Kids Doing in Sugar Creek?

Outside Looking In by Aimee Worley

  School starts soon, summer is almost over for the kids.
   What did your kids do this summer?  Did they do any T-Ball? Soccer Camp? Day trips, or anything that our Parks & Recreation Department put on?
   Pretty sad, another summer without any activities for the kids of Sugar Creek.
   Our P&R Supervisor dropped the ball.  Again I ask, what about the kids?
   We need the young families to come live and stay in Sugar Creek, so let’s give their kids some recreation, a community pool, trips to the zoo, day camping at the parks, mini ball camps.  A lot of our citizens are lower income, so let’s make some free.
   What’s wrong with a city government that will pay a salary for a department that has very, very few activities for our kids?
   I sure hope that with this new influx of children coming into our city for school, over 300 more, that our city does wake up.  Let’s get those kids wanting to move to Sugar Creek, and have things for kids to do, and not send the kids that are here to Independence for their recreation.

Please give to the CCRC.

Next month: Our Police, Fire, and Public Works.

Sugar Creek Reactor: 1963

Tales from Old Sugar Creek by Prof. Ulichne

 Today the Sugar Creek oil refinery is just a smelly memory.  But in 1963 the damn thing could be seen from miles away at night.

    An 11x17 inch four-page newsletter was published every month called the Sugar Creek Reactor and the following was taken from the May issue:  

   The #1 Pipe Still went on line 24/7, processing 70,000 barrels of crude every day.  It replaced older, less efficient 1914 technology.
   Retiring: Verne B. Sutton, 916 High Street, Sugar Creek.  He started as a laborer in 1924 and later he worked in the Pipe Dept. and as a fireman.  He retired as a Paint Shop foreman after 39 years of service.
   Two obituaries:
   Alfred M. Evans, 129 High Street, Sugar Creek.  He was 56 years old and died at home.
   Curtis Wright, 83, 11220 Burton, Sugar Creek.  He died at the Independence Sanitarium hospital.

Two sons of employees were awarded the Eagle Scout:
Michael Fairbanks, Troop #78 and James Hagan, Troop #221.