THE GAZETTE “Your Hometown Newspaper” for 22 years “Special 4th of July edition” “Serving the Fort Osage and Wellington/Napoleon School districts” Volume 22, Number 4 Thursday, June 16, 2016 The Local Skyline is Changing By Jim Hisle A new water tower is being built obtained by the District and a grant at the corner of Sunny Nook School from the Missouri Department of Road and Little Road approximately Natural Resources State Revolving three miles southwest of Buckner. Fund. The target date for the new The new tower is being built by the tower to come on line is Public Water Supply District #16 October 2016. of Jackson County. This project is On another front the District another step in the District's program staff has also been busy replacing to increase capacity and renew the its radio read meter system. The District's infrastructure. The tower older meter units were becoming is built at an existing District site a maintenance liability. This fact and near the presently used tower coupled with the bankruptcy of the that serves the clients in the south original manufacturer, made the part of the District. The new tower meter units replacement a priority. will have a 500,000 gallon capacity, The District hopes to have the all vastly increasing the old tower's units replaced with new system by 100,000 gallon capacity. Kyle the end of summer 2016. Leeds, District Manager, mentioned Note: I placed a small yellow inset that the old tower was built in 1994 box on the SAM 1131 picture of both but will continue to be used as a towers then did an enlargement of wireless antenna platform for a few the inset box showing a worker who Pictured L-R: New Water District 16 water tower and old water more years. Mr. Leeds stated that the was on the tower today. Its grainy tower located at the corner of Sunny Nook School Road and $1,500,000 project was made possible but gives an idea of the scale of the Little Road through a joint financing from a loan tower. Stephanie Smith named MOSPAR Fort Osage Press Release: Retired Professional of The Year Superintendent Receives Award Stephanie Smith, Director of Public school district and community and Relations for the Fort Osage Public she is known as one of the strongest Mark Enderle, was recently honored retiring. Enderle was nominated for Schools, has been named the public relations professionals in our by the Missouri Association of School the award by his colleagues in the Missouri School Public Relations association.” Administrators (MASA) for his Greater Kansas City area. Association’s 2016 Professional service to public education. Enderle (See Stephanie Smith on p. 3) of the Year at their annual Spring was one of eight former educators to Conference held March 30 – April 1 receive the associations Outstanding at the Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Emeritus Educator Award. This Ozark, Missouri. special recognition was made during Ms. Smith has provided strategic, the awards banquet at the MASA researched communications the Fort Spring Conference at The Lodge of Osage Public Schools for 13 years. Four Seasons at Lake Ozark, Mo. The primary criteria for the MASA presents the award annually Professional of the Year is that they to recognize individuals for their have made a valuable contribution length of administrative service, to either an education institution or their participation in MASA while MOSPRA in promoting school PR or an active member, significant have made a difference in the life of accomplishments as a school students. administrator and their continued MOSPRA President, Lana Snodgras, interest in public education since Mark Enderle stated, “Stephanie is the consummate professional. She is a leader in her Stephanie Smith Page 2 The Gazette Newspaper “Your hometown newspaper for 22 years” The Gazette would like to thank ALL our advertisers for their support and everyone who has sent us a news story, an idea for a story, pictures, etc. Without all of you, our communities wouldn’t have such an informative and enjoyable newspaper! Looking forward to working with all of you in many years in the future! The Gazette and ALL our Advertisers! Mildred B. Struewe Obituaries Donald Lee King Mildred B. Struewe, age 89 of Buckner, MO passed away Tuesday, June 7, Donald L. King, 69, formally of Buckner, MO passed away June 4, 2016 2016 at Centerpoint Medical Center. Services were held, Friday, June 10, in Jackson TN. Visitation was held at 1:00-3:00 p.m. Thursday, June 9, 2016 at the Ebenezer United Church of Christ in Levasy, MO 206 W. Old 2016 with services to following at 3:00 p.m., at Speaks Buckner Chapel, Lexington Rd., Levasy, MO 64066. Burial followed in Ebenezer Church 300 Adams Street, Buckner, Missouri 64016. Burial will take place in Cemetery. The family greeted friends, Thursday evening at the church. Buckner Hill Cemetery. Donald was born on September 1, 1946 in Gallatin, Donations may be made in her name to the Ebenezer United Church of MO to Carl Sr. and Wilma (Vanderpool) King. In 1965 Donald enlisted Christ. in the United States Coast Guard and proudly served our country until Mildred was born April 20, 1927 in Buckner, MO to Benjamin Carl and 1969, at which time he transferred to the Reserves and continue to serve Olinda (Nienkamp) Brockemeyer and has been a life long area resident. until 1971. He was employed for over 28 years with Ronson Machine and She had been a school teacher in the Fort Osage, Buckner and Levasy areas Manufacturing in Independence. Donald was the Past President of Masons for over 46 years before she retired in 1992. In addition to her love of Lodge #149 in Independence. He enjoyed working in the yard and always teaching, she enjoyed playing piano, singing, writing songs and her life on had the best lawn in the neighborhood! Don also enjoyed deer hunting and the farm. Her greatest belief in life was to put God first, family second and spending time with his family. Survivors include; brother Carl King Jr.; always serve others. She was a long time member of the Ebenezer United sister Dorothy Yardley; 7 nieces and nephews, and extended family and Church of Christ and the Women’s Fellowship at the church, AARP and the many friends. Don is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Harold MSTA. King. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com She is survived by: a son, Nelson Struewe and wife Joan of Grain Valley, MO; (Arrangements: Speaks Buckner Chapel 816-650-5555). a daughter, Nancy Hall and husband Bill of Independence, MO; a brother Eugene Brockemeyer and wife Mildred of Lincoln, NE; 5 grandchildren, DORIS LOUISE (LILLY) YOUNG Jeremy LaMastres, Carrie Keating, Kimberly Boileau, Heather Struewe, and Nathan Struewe; and 16 great grandchildren. She was preceded in Doris Louise Young,age 73, passed away on May 22, 2016. A celebration death by her parents and a sister Loreen Edmondson. Online condolences of her life was held at Speaks Buckner Chapel, 300 Adams St. on Thursday, may be expressed to the family at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: May 26, from 2-5 p.m., with a graveside inurnment immediately following Speaks Buckner Chapel (816) 650-5555) at Buckner Hill Cemetery. Obituary Policy Doris was born on August 4, 1942, in Kansas City, MO, to Leonard and Faye (Hall) Kirksey. She attended school in Levasy, MO. She married The Gazette Weekly Newspaper publishes obituaries Robert Lilly, and to this union were born three children. After her children sent to us via email from Funeral Homes. We ask that the were grown, she became a CNA, and worked as a caretaker in various funeral home email us at www. gazetteweekly.com with capacities throughout Indep-endence and Blue Springs. She later married Alan Young, who preceded her in death. Over the past ten years, Doris the obituary with the families consent. A picture may be enjoyed travelling and spending time with her significant other, Dave West. included with the obituary via email. There is No charge She loved to paint and make crafts, and was very creative and artistic. She for this service space permitting. Thank You was a giving and generous person. She loved to be around her family, and certainly lived life to the fullest. Weddings, engagements and birth announcement Survivors include her daughter, Vicky Mosburg (husband, Scott); policies grandchildren, Daniel, Sarah, and Dustin; step-grandchildren, Kori, Sam, and Seth; great-grandchildren, Makenzie, Tanner, Kyler, and Isabella; and The Gazette Weekly is happy to include your many loving nieces, nephews, and other family members who will miss her wedding, engagement and birth announcements. These dearly. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Robert and Alan; son, announcements need to be sent to us via email, at www. Raymond; daughter, Deborah; and brothers, Denny and Bill. gazetteweekly.com, with the consent of the individuals In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the COPD Foundation or the Salvation Army. Online condolences may be left at www.speakschapel. emailing these announcements to The Gazette. You may com (Arr: Speaks Chapel 816-373-3600) include a picture via email. There is no charge for this service space permitting. Thank You. Page 3 From the Editor Thank You! Independence Day, The Fourth of the news and see all the deplorable July are names that we as American’s conditions in other countries. It I would like to thank everyone who came to my retirement party or sent a are very familiar with. It’s a time makes me sad to see how people, card or called me, it was a wonderful day.