The other day, I came across a shirt online that said something along the lines of, “My book is calling and I must go.”

If there were ever a shirt I needed to own during this pandemic, this is it. While things outside of our homes are anything but ordinary, I have found my own escape to normal times through the pages of some bestsellers over the last several months. From popular political tell-alls, to your run-of-the-mill romance, I’ve been ticking novels off of my seemingly-never-ending list of things to read at (for me) record-breaking pace. Some friends and I even started a book club (recently finishing our fourth book: The Nickel Boys).

Through the pages of these books, I have lived in Paris, off the coast of Maine, in the desert and on top of mountains. I’ve celebrated Christmas and Kwanzaa, and I’ve been on the solving end of some high-profile cases. In these worlds, things have been normal. People, like us, are hugging, shaking hands, going to concerts and living ordinary lives, fictional or otherwise.

Immersing myself into their stories has provided a respite from reality. Turning each page (or, really, clicking through to the next page on my Kindle), I dive deeper and deeper into this alternate world, full of normalcy and status quo.

While my own routine has been disrupted, I have been longing for the ordinary. I’d like to go have a happy hour with my friends, take a vacation with my new husband, or sit down with people in our community one-on-one for interviews again. I’m grateful for my own health and the health of my family, but I’m simply tired.

So, I’ll wrap myself up in my Snuggie on these cooler evenings, open up my e-reader, and go to all the places that we can’t right now. But first, I’m ordering that shirt.

 “Sniff.” You smell that? It’s almost fall, which means cooler weather, shorter days, and, this year, virtual learning. Never in my wildest imagination would I have dreamed up a scenario where my son would be starting high school at home, likely in sweatpants and socks, on his computer.

I’m nervous for our kids. The little ones, whose memories of beginning school will be of zoom meetings and muting themselves, are probably the most affected by this, and they don’t even know any different. I know I personally have been struggling with things; I can’t imagine what the kids are feeling.

This year has been crazy, right? And we are seemingly still in the thick of the craziness. But, amid all of the unknown and the flat-out weird, there’s been a lot of really amazing things, too. Our police and fire departments have found new and unique ways to serve our community. Neighbors have stepped up to help neighbors. Churches have discovered that the building is just one vessel for their ministries. It’s been interesting and fascinating to watch the transformations happen in every facet of our lives.

We weren’t prepared. Our schools weren’t ready. Our lives were busy and planned and scheduled to the max. If this pandemic has taught me anything, it’s been to slow down; take a breath and just let things happen as they will. I’ve learned that I can’t control everything in my world, as much as I want to, and that’s okay. I’ve been spending a lot more time at home, with my family, and that’s worth all of it.

So, as fall approaches, and the weather turns cooler, I’ll breathe it all in with a smile on my face and warmth in my heart. This, too, shall pass. It’s all going to be okay.

 I’ve heard it said that the best writers are also avid readers. While writers don’t necessarily take ideas from other writers, they may glean a phrase or a word here and there that they wouldn’t always come up with on their own.

I’m a big reader. I can’t remember a time where I wasn’t in the middle of a book; be it a novel, a memoir, or both at the same time. I love reading on my Kindle, and have mastered the art of downloading books for free from our own Mid-Continent Public Library. If it’s on the best sellers list, chance are I have it on mine, too.

Recently, Mid-Continent Public Library hosted their annual Legacy Luncheon, held virtually this year due to COVID-19. As part of the ticket price this year, library supporters also received a signed copy of Alex George’s latest novel, The Paris Hours.

Without giving away too much (because if you’re a reader, you should put this book on your list), the story follows four ordinary people in the extraordinarily beautiful backdrop of Paris in the late 1920s. Readers follow along with an artist, a journalist, a puppeteer and a maid during a 24-hour period, each living separate lives, yet all are connected in ways in which the author brilliantly brings them together at the end.

George also happened to be Mid-Continent’s keynote speaker this year, and in his speech, he spoke of coming to terms with having “two first names.” When he was a young boy, growing up in England, he visited his own library often. One day, he lost his library card. After searching and searching, he returned to the library with his mother to ask for a replacement card.

The librarian, who George said was very stern and unforgiving with him previously, looked at him sheepishly and informed him that his card had been wrongfully filed under George Alexander, instead of Alex George. Thus, his first, but likely not last, encounter with having two first names.

George is a masterful storyteller. His writing style is one which takes you on a beautiful journey as he artfully describes each scene in the story. I read The Paris Hours over the weekend; but, if you have the time, I’d recommend reading it in a day, if for no other reason than to go on a little vacation to France with some ordinary people who, at the end, will leave you wanting more.

Though he’s originally from England, George now resides in Columbia, MO, where he owns an independent bookstore, Skylark Bookshop, located on 9th Street downtown. Also an attorney, he runs a law firm in Columbia.

 Slow down. Why are we in such a hurry?

This week, a Grandview resident stopped by my office and let me know that she has seen an increase in vehicles speeding down her street. Bennington Avenue in Grandview, in her mind, has become a racetrack, with cars, trucks and the like zipping and zooming down the residential neighborhood. Signs posted indicate a maximum of 25 mph; however, she said she rarely sees that limit obeyed.

It’s not just on Bennington, either. I’ve seen this on Main Street, down side streets, and on the highways. People seem to be late for something, all of the time. I’ve learned that just to keep from getting tailgated, I have to go with the flow of traffic. Sometimes, that’s a good five or ten miles per hour over the speed limit.

In a time when more people are at home, and our kids are in the middle of an extended summer break before “heading back” to classes in September, I think we all need to remember to have a bit more patience in our daily tasks.

When you get behind the wheel of a car, you are responsible for everything that happens with that vehicle. Slow down. There’s no need to rush. You’ll get to your destination when you get there, safely and securely, if we all just slowed down.

 When I began high school, I walked through the doors feeling overwhelmed and excited. The next four years, I remember thinking, would mold and shape me into an adult. And, surely I’d leave high school knowing everything there was to know about life, and about being a civilized, productive member of society. Big dreams for a skinny 13-year-old girl with braces and pimples, indeed. But, those were real dreams, and I was determined to see them through.

I’m convinced that my son and his friends have the same thoughts I had nearly 23 years ago (has it really been THAT long?). However, the beginning of high school will look much different for my son. There won’t be a chance to walk through the front door on that first day, nervously navigating hallways that don’t yet make sense. Though, undoubtedly, it’ll be an unforgettable start to his high school career.

The uncertainty is not easy for any of us, but I think our kids are being impacted the most by this pandemic. It’s hard to explain to my 14-year-old what to expect from day to day when I don’t really have a clear answer myself. Things are changing constantly to where, well, there is no constant. What is happening today in our community can completely change tomorrow. And, somehow, we’re supposed to be prepared and know how to respond.

Michael wants to be in school. He wants to start conditioning and weightlifting for the wrestling season. He needs to see his friends and he does better work when he has a good rapport with his teachers. To say he was disappointed that his freshman year is going to start virtually would be an understatement. When you’re a teenager, the world revolves around you, so it’s not easy to gain the perspective needed to face a pandemic, especially when you’ve spent the majority of the last five months in the confines of home.

As his mom, though, I’m breathing a small sigh of relief, knowing he will be safe and healthy at home. But, I’m also sad for him and for the memories he will forever have of freshman year. None of this is ideal, and none of this was planned. I’m hopeful that life can return to normal, if for no other reason than so our kids can experience normal again. Homecoming dances, student council elections, Friday night football games and everything else that comes with high school, those are the memories I want my son to have.

High school years were some of the best of my life. I want the same for my son, after we get through this crazy start.

 We’re over halfway through with 2020. I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to breathe a little bit easier knowing, well, hoping, that maybe we’re also over halfway through this pandemic, too. I think the uncertainty is what is scariest when it comes to COVID-19.

As I sat down to write my column this week, I told my mom that I was just feeling “blah” about things. She said, “So, write about that, then.” This year is just that: blah. I’m not really sure how else to describe it.

Like most of you, I’ve spent a lot of time by myself over these last several months. In my office, I get a lot more done when there are little distractions. But, it can get awfully lonely, too. Luckily, I am able to go home to my family each day, but I know that’s not the case for all of you.

As we’re spending time alone, sometimes it can be stressful to even turn on the television. The evening newscasts make me sad, especially as the number of homicides in our area increases day after day. Coupled with the number of cases of COVID-19 on the rise, it seems like a recipe for disaster for our community.

It’s not all been doom and gloom, though. Throughout the last few months, I have seen people come together in ways that have uplifted my own spirit. Through Black Lives Matter, we have witnessed new breakthroughs in equality. I have seen neighbors helping neighbors, whether they’ve placed groceries at doorsteps or helped with lawn care. From honoring our graduating classes to honoring our first responders, our community is strong and loving.

There’s an old quote from Fred Rogers that I found years ago online. It reads: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” Mrs. Rogers was right. There are always helpers, no matter how dire the circumstances may seem. We can always find people doing extraordinary things if we open our eyes and seek them out.

I hope that throughout the shut downs, the protests, the pandemic and the uncertainty, you have had some helpers in your own world.

COVID-19. Coronavirus. PPE. N-95. Social distancing. Flatten the curve. Community spread. Just a handful of months ago, if these terms were said to me, I’d probably be confused. Now, though, they have all since become household words. In the world of news writing, we call these “buzzwords,” meaning just the word itself can conjure up a specific time, item or event.

Not unlike trends of the past, the buzzwords tend to come and go with the cycle of the news. I have a feeling that these words might be staying past their welcome, though.

This pandemic has been confusing. I don’t know how else to describe it, and maybe that’s my own buzzword for COVID-19: confusing. It seems none of the folks we typically rely on to keep us informed can agree on things surrounding this virus. The CDC, WHO, even FOX and CNN, are all seemingly on different pages at times. It can be hard to keep up.

With all of the misinformation and contradicting messages, we, the public, seem to be the last to know what’s going on. From one city to the other, the rules on reopening might look different. Living so close to the state line, we see that from state to state, the opinions on what phases of opening we should be in can differ greatly.

Masks aren’t necessary. Masks will stop the spread. Tests available only for those showing symptoms. Everyone can get tested. Do this. Don’t do that. Wait, let’s go back to doing this again. No, never mind. It’s left a lot of us shaking our heads, wondering what we should be doing to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy.

Are we recovering from the pandemic? Is herd immunity a thing? It’s hard to tell, with more testing available all the time, and with distancing becoming shorter and shorter between us. The one thing I do know is this: my own curve is certainly not flattening with all of the social distancing taking place. Much like the “freshman 15” people experience when heading off to college, we can call this the “COVID-19.”

For up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 and what we should be doing here locally, I recommend www.jacohd.org for those not in Kansas City proper, and www.kcmo.gov/city-hall/departments/health for KCMO residents. It’s confusing, but if we work together (and wear our masks when out in public), hopefully we can make these buzzwords a thing of the past.

If I’m completely honest here, I felt as though the 2019-20 school year would never come to an end. But, it did. Eventually and finally. Though, if your student wasn’t a member of the graduating high school class this year, school ended quietly, without a lot of fanfare (or, really any).

My son, Michael, finished his eighth-grade year at Martin City Middle School last month. The ending to his junior high experience was unlike one any of us have ever witnessed before. Instead of signing yearbooks on those last days, our students were signing off of Zoom calls and returning electronics, drive-through style. There weren’t any hugs; it just sort of stopped. Weird, right? But, I’m sure it felt even weirder for our kids.

Our school districts now are tasked with preparing for the unknown. Much like last March, getting ready for the next school year to begin in August is a job that I don’t envy at all. Will our schools be back in session come fall? What will school look like? Will our children be required to wear masks? Or gloves? Or hazmat suits? Will in-person education be optional? Would it be possible for some students to stay home while others are in the classroom? What will sports and other extra-curricular activities look like? Or, as my son wants to know, will he be able to wrestle during his freshman year?

See what I mean? Our school districts simply were not prepared for this pandemic. No one really was, in all actuality. Our schools, and our kids, likely took the hardest hit. They are all working to better plan for the future, but knowing that things can change drastically day-to-day, it is a next-to-impossible challenge to face. The Grandview School District is working to tackle this head-on.

Superintendent Dr. Kenny Rodrequez is spending time hosting discussions with community members, parents, staff and students to determine Grandview’s next course of action, or plans A, B, C, D, and so on. As if preparation for the unknown is possible, Rodrequez and his team of education professionals are determined to cover all the bases, known or otherwise.

This week, the district will be distributing a survey to parents, which will ask the questions I asked above, in order to garner feedback on what those next steps might look like for our students. It is my understanding that they are looking for honesty, however brutal those responses might be. They are aware of the mistakes they made in the last quarter of the school year. They are also hoping to learn from those issues and implement plans to overcome inconsistencies, all while engaging students in a healthy, active learning environment, which will likely look very different from what we are used to seeing.

Again, not a task I envy. Personally, I hope our students, especially mine, can head back to school in August. My son learns better in a structured environment, and frankly, he needs to socialize, too. Regardless of what schooling looks like this fall, our school districts, our principals, our teachers and our students need our support. It truly takes a village, whether in person or virtually.

This year, our family closed the book on middle school. We’re looking forward to high school. I just hope it can be as normal as possible for my kid.

I had every intention of writing my column about the results of the recent local election this week. I have things I’d like to say about that, which, honestly, are things you’ve all heard before. I’m hopeful that those who were elected to serve understand what they are getting themselves into, and that they fulfill the terms they will or have sworn to complete.

I could go on and on about this. I have before. However, I feel as though there is something more pressing affecting our community, and our nation, that I think if goes unaddressed in this space I will be doing an injustice to our readers.

Like many of you, I watched the video that has gone viral of George Floyd’s death in Minnesota. I had to look away as the police officer, with his knee to Floyd’s neck, nonchalantly, with his hands in his pockets, allowed this man to lose consciousness and die. It makes me sick, and I would much prefer to imagine a world where things like this simply don’t take place.

But, I’m not that naive. I’ve been around long enough to see racism first-hand. I’ve covered enough stories of injustice. And, I’ve written in this column that changes need to be made and those changes need to start in our own homes.

I’m just a white girl who was raised in a diverse community to love my neighbors and treat others as we want to be treated. I’m raising my son much the same way.

I don’t have the answers. I wish I did, but I believe the answer will be a collective effort from all of us. We have to work and live together, regardless of our prejudices or beliefs. Let’s get back to basics: the golden rule and the ten commandments. It’s not hard. There’s nothing complicated about equality.

You might have noticed a new name on the front page this week. No, we didn’t hire a new reporter...though we may be looking for one of those as soon as life begins to return to a new normal.

On Saturday, May 23, in the backyard at my mom and dad’s home, surrounded by just a few special guests and our children, Joseph King and I were married. We had this date picked out long before social distancing and pandemics were a reality, and we decided that, if it was possible, we’d still like to get married on that day. So, we did.

The ceremony itself was very short and sweet (less than seven minutes long, according to our iPhone recording), but it was perfect for us. We read our own vows, and exchanged our rings that have been sitting in a drawer since Christmastime, just waiting to adorn our hands. My mom and my brother signed our license, and we began the next chapter in our lives as husband and wife. Hopefully, in a few months, we can celebrate with all of our family and friends, but for now, we’re honeymooning at home (and work) until we can take a real one.

Along with marriage comes a name change. It’ll probably take me longer to get used to than everyone else, and I’ll be calling myself Queen Mary King, because why wouldn’t I? But, I’m happy and excited to begin this next phase of my life with a man who loves me dearly, and even wears my favorite color (and talks about my love of purple in his vows) to make me smile.

This Mary got her Joseph, and she married him. It’s like a modern day fairytale story, only this one ends with me being the one who lives happily ever after. It doesn’t get much better than that. Thank you for celebrating along with me this week.

Yours truly,
Mrs. Mary K. King

As the clock struck midnight and we celebrated the start of a new year, 2020 looked promising. Personally, the beginning of 2020 meant the end of the holidays, and a time where I can shift my focus on what will happen in the coming year.

For all of 2019, I was planning my wedding to my future husband. Since we’ve both been married before, we decided on a small gathering of family and close friends in my parents’ backyard (which happens to be park-like and gorgeous in the spring). Spending a lot of time going over dates and trying to please those who are closest to us, we decided on Memorial Day weekend 2020; a time when family from out of town can stay for a little while and the weather (and flowers) will likely be as close to perfect as we could ask.

Then along came coronavirus, and little by little, we saw our plans deteriorate over the last month. I’m not heartbroken, and I’m not going to become a bridezilla and demand that things still go my way. But, our plans have had to change. It is what it is, and we’re just going to have to be okay with that.

I consider myself lucky that I didn’t have a big soiree planned. There aren’t flower orders to cancel or event spaces to find. I know that there are a lot of other people in that boat; some who are having to rearrange their plans entirely.

I’m hoping we don’t have to do that. So, I’m crossing my fingers that the county government opens back up just in time for us to grab a marriage license and begin our happily ever after. The party may have to wait, but it will still go on. May is the month I’m going to marry my best friend, and come hell, high water, or COVID-19, we’re going to make this wedding happen...one way or another.

I have always been a bit of a social butterfly. When I was little, I made new friends pretty much everywhere I went. I was never shy, and willing to strike up a conversation with anyone who would pay me mind. So, when the Internet gods (or Mark Zuckerberg) invented social media, I was practically first in line to sign up for an account.

Like many people my age, I started off with a MySpace, or a Xanga (remember that?), but eventually Facebook took over, and I was right in the mix with some of my oldest friends, and some new ones, too. Right around the time Facebook became popular, I was a stay-at-home mom to my infant son. Of course, I’ve had to explain to my now-14-year-old Michael that his dear mom is in fact older than Facebook, or Google, or even the iPhone (much to my chagrin, of course).

Like many social media users, I’ve seen the good and the bad. However, in times of social distancing and putting our health and wellness first, I, like many, have turned to Facebook and the like to get my friend fix. Now, not only is my social media account being used to keep in touch with long-distance relatives and people I care about, but I’m also using it to keep tabs on my local friends, too. And it’s been refreshing, in a way, to see that other families I know are going through the same struggles as we are (I feel like I’m constantly cooking and doing dishes at my house and I miss going out to eat).

Besides the “social” aspect of social media, it can also be a tool for information, news, and entertainment. It is also very, very powerful. Last week certainly proved that testament to be true, as a woman in Texas posted a photo of a class ring from Ruskin High School found on the playground of the daycare school where she works. Within just a few hours, the owner of the ring was found, all thanks to the power of social media. This just goes to prove how small our world truly is these days.

My friend Liz Ogle over at Grandview Parks and Rec is certainly no stranger to social media. She is the creator of the infamous Grandview and Martin City Business Rant and Rave page on Facebook, which has garnered over 6,000 active members since its inception a few years ago. Though, her activity just within the last week may have topped it all for her Facebook career.

Knowing that families were desperate for a way to celebrate the Easter holiday while maintaining social distancing guidelines and keeping everyone healthy, Liz decided to don a bunny costume, pose for some pictures, and then personalize signs (using Photoshop, naturally) for hundreds of community children. You can see an example of one she made for a little girl named Autumn on page 8.

This little community project she came up with turned out to be not-so-little. In a matter of days, her post reached nearly 4 million viewers, from here in Missouri and much, much farther beyond our state’s borders. I’m sure she had no idea how much her bunny suit would be seen, and how very needed that was for families all over the world right now.

That’s the power of social media. I suppose we never really know what people are going to like or respond to. Whether we use it to share our dinner ideas for the evening, or we want to reach thousands or millions of people with our content, social media is an avenue that continues to provide us with a little bit of connection in a time when disconnection is critical to our survival.

If you don’t already follow the Jackson County Advocate on Facebook, I’d invite you to give us a like. We appreciate all of our readers, whether online or in print, new or old school, and we thank you for your support. While social media can be powerful, we feel that knowledge is even more so. Keep on reading and supporting local journalism. We can’t do this without you.

Whether you’re staying at home these days or you’re heading off to work at your essential job, you’ve probably noticed that spring is in the air - finally. On the nights that it’s been warm enough to sleep with the windows open a bit, I’ve been greeted in the mornings with the sounds of birds singing and whistling their springtime tunes.

With so much uncertainty in our day-to-day lives, it’s been somewhat refreshing to know that despite what may be going on in the world around them, the birds are still waking up happy each day. That has definitely lifted my own spirits these last few weeks. I’ve enjoyed spending some time out on my deck, watching the cardinals dart from tree to tree, or seeing the hawks fly well above everything else off in the distance. Seeing them from afar is one thing, but this spring, I’ve gotten to experience the joys of springtime birds up close and personal at my house.

A few months ago, I purchased a new wreath for my front door. It is synthetic, but made to look as though it has twigs and vines and flowers surrounding it. I proudly hung it up and have enjoyed seeing it when I come home from work each day. Apparently, however, someone else really liked my new wreath, too.

For a week or so, I kept noticing what looked like small pieces of my wreath on the concrete stoop below. A time or two, I’d walk up just in time to see someone fly out of the wreath. “You stay out of there and quit taking pieces of my wreath with you,” I’d yell at the little thief.

I noticed, though, after some time, that it appeared to be the same bird I was seeing, and it looked like she was making herself at home. Sure enough, she made a cozy little nest, right in the top of my new wreath on my door. By the time I found it, there were already five little eggs nestled inside.

My Mama Bird, as I have affectionately named her, deemed my home safe and warm enough to also be her home, at least for a little while. She comes and goes, and we try to disturb her as little as possible. When she sees us heading for the door, she’ll fly away, but never far enough where she can’t keep an eye on her babies. She’s a good Mama Bird, and I feel lucky to be able to watch my own little nature show right outside my front door.

Since I first saw the eggs, one has disappeared, and two have hatched. Mama Bird remains at home most of the time now, only leaving the nest to go searching for food or to make way for the humans to pass through the doorway. She is loyal, loving and ever-present for her little ones.

Mama Bird has reminded me during this crazy time in our world that even though there is sickness, uncertainty and sadness, spring is still in the air. The birds are still singing their songs. And, there is beauty in the most ordinary of places; you only have to look right outside your front door to see it.

Happy Easter and happy spring. I hope you’re able to sing or whistle a tune with someone, feathered or otherwise, too.

These sure are interesting times we are living in. As I type this column, I’m sitting at my desk in my office on Main Street in Grandview. I likely won’t have any visitors today, or really for the remainder of the week. Who knows where I’ll be sitting next week at this time.

Regardless of what’s happening in the world around us, though, I’ll plan to still deliver the news to you, one way or another.

For right now, our plan is to stick to business as usual around here. However, our coverage might look a little different for the next several weeks. Meetings and events are being canceled left and right, schools are closed, no sports are taking place. There’s just not a whole lot happening in terms of different things to write about. So, while our coverage will (and already has) decreased, so too may our issues. There’s only so much filler I can put in each week.

Our office hours may vary over the next several weeks, as well. The best way to get in touch with me is through email, because whether I’m in the office or working from my kitchen table, I’ll still have access to that. Feel free to contact me directly with any questions, concerns, story ideas, or just to say hello when you’re tired of watching Netflix. I promise I’ll respond! The address is at the bottom of this column in italics. If you’re on Facebook, follow us there, as we’ll use that medium for updates.

So, we’re still working. And we’re focusing on figuring out a plan for the near future, if and when we need to implement changes. For now, the printing press is still operating, the Post Office is still making deliveries, and government is still making decisions. While that’s all happening, you won’t notice much of a difference. Hopefully, we can keep it that way.

Stay safe. Stay home if you can. Take care of your neighbors. Don’t hoard the toilet paper. Spend money locally when possible. And, tell the people you care about that you love them. Interesting times, but together we can try and make the best of it.

February. The month that reminds me of snow, cold, dreary weather and, of course, romance. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s easy to remember all of the school parties at High Grove Elementary growing up. Well, at least it’s easy for most.

For me, my memories of Valentine’s Day when I was young include ear infections and lots of daytime television. I think, for a span of many years, I seemed to have some sort of winter illness at the time of our class party. Which meant, I missed out on the Valentine card exchange, the treats and the fun. I recall one year where I convinced myself I was well enough to go to school that day, only to be sent home just before the party started.

As a young mom, when my son was still in his early years of education, I took great pride in creating one-of-a-kind Valentine boxes each year. It’s possible I was living somewhat vicariously through my child, who wouldn’t have missed these class parties for anything (nor did he have any ear infections like I did, thank goodness).

I know it’s silly to make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day. I understand that it’s a profitable holiday, one where florists and greeting card companies flourish and bask in the glory of love. But, I still think it’s one of my favorite days of the year. There’s nothing better than celebrating the people you care about, and showering them with love and affection (and chocolate and flowers).


So, next week, I hope you feel loved. Whether that’s from your spouse, your friends, your family or even just the person taking your order at the diner, I hope that someone shows you a little bit of affection and admiration. Because, all we need is love, right? As for me, I’ll be celebrating with my fiance and likely downing the vitamins from now until then in order to keep the ear infections at bay.

If you weren’t at Arrowhead last Sunday, like most of Kansas City, you were likely glued to your television set. For 50 years, this town has waited for another chance to bring home the coveted Lombardi trophy. With Kansas City’s sweetheart Patrick Mahomes at the leading position, we will finally see our Chiefs in the big game.

With the AFC Championship’s Lamar Hunt trophy now in its rightful home, Kansas City is already celebrating. Fans packed local sporting goods retailers, searching for t-shirts, hats, or bobbleheads. A few stores had lines of people who waited upwards of four hours for the championship merchandise. Four hours for a gray t-shirt! And we haven’t even made it to Miami yet.

However, the celebration quickly turned sour late Sunday night. On January 19, at about 11:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 4800 block of Noland Rd. on a shooting.

Upon arrival, officers located one deceased adult female and one deceased adult male. As the investigation unfolded, at least 15 other victims arrived at area hospitals, with three listed as being in critical condition.

An armed security guard at the business engaged the shooter outside of the establishment. KCPD reported that they believe the shooter is the deceased adult male, and a motive or the circumstances leading up to the shooting are unknown. The nightclub, 9ine Ultra Lounge, has seen its share of violence, with police reporting to have been called to the location seven times this month.

“This city will never stand up for this type of gun violence. We will continue to try and stop it before it starts and we will make sure that in any investigation we are bringing folks to justice,” said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas during a press conference held on Monday afternoon. “We’ve got a problem in Kansas City. We’ve said a few times that it is an epidemic of gun violence. We’re losing too many lives. We have too many people shot each year. We remain committed, both at City Hall and at the Police Department, and in every agency in Kansas City in making sure that we stop this problem.”

Kansas City Police Chief Richard Smith said that as part of a proactive approach, police had just left the nightclub prior to the shooting on Sunday.

“Officers had done a check of the parking lot and were less than a minute out when we received our first call,” said Smith.

Less than a minute. It took less than one minute for chaos to ensue, and for a young woman to lose her life. The gunman, it turns out, was just released from probation on a prior felony conviction and should not have had a gun in the first place.

These shootings, which are marring the celebrations of life, are happening all too frequently. Grandview and South Kansas City are feeling the violence, as incidents are occurring right in our own backyards. We do have a problem in Kansas City, like Mayor Lucas said. It’s a serious problem, and it’s one that affects every single one of us. It’s not just here, it’s everywhere.

I’m looking forward to a Chiefs victory in a few Sundays. I’m looking forward to celebrating with the rest of our great city. But, to be brutally honest, I’ll be celebrating this one at home, with my family close, and without the threat of violence and gunfire, hoping that no one rains on this parade.

It's candidate filing time! In the world of local politics, this is just the beginning of the race. Those interested are just now getting their helmets on as they prepare to shift into high gear. It’s where we find out who we can expect to see come April on our ballots, and whether or not there will be any surprises.

I can already tell you, there’s going to be a few. Local politics thrive when there is a little bit of competition. And, selfishly, it makes my job reporting on the elections a little more interesting.

With the window for the available seats still open, as usual, we will have the full list of candidates once filing closes. In the meantime, though, I can tell you a few things that I already know.

In Grandview, Ward 1’s Sandy Kessinger has decided to hang up her Alderman coat for now, opting to not file for reelection. At last check, there were two candidates who have filed for her seat, including former Alderman Debbie Bibbs, who resigned from her position previously due to health reasons.

There were four candidates vying for incumbent Ward 2 Alderman Annette Turnbaugh’s seat, and so far no opposition in Ward 3. On the school board side of things, we’ll hopefully see an election in Grandview (we don’t always see Grandview C-4 on our ballots because of no opposition), Hickman Mills and Center school districts.

On top of all of this excitement (really, I’m excited about it, just call me a political nerd), we’ll be looking at some statewide races, as well. Check out the election notice that appears on page 6 to see what’s in store for those elections.

I’m looking forward to it. I enjoy reading the responses to our questionnaires. I love listening in on forums. And, I have fun getting to know our elected officials and telling our readers who they are. It’s going to be a great election season. Buckle your seat belts, though, as things might get a little bumpy come April!

Auld Lang Syne has been sung. The champagne bottles have been emptied. The Christmas tree has been put away (at least it has in my house). The black-eyed peas have been eaten. The new year has officially begun.
I’m a fan of new years. I’m not necessarily the type to make resolutions, because I know I’m not going to stick to making any real changes. But, I’ve always loved the idea of a fresh slate. The new year brings hope for great things, and that’s something I can definitely get behind.

As we look back on 2019, and look forward to 2020, I am reminded of the good, the bad, and sometimes ugly stories of the past year. Putting together the year in review issue is, for me, a time of reflection. It truly seems like just yesterday that the events on the front page of this week’s paper took place. I remember each of them clearly, and I recall the emotions I felt covering each story.

The new year will bring some new things into my life. Probably the biggest is that my last name will change come Memorial Day. Apart from the changes in my personal life, 2020 will bring a few new ideas and concepts to the Advocate, as well.

In 2020, our readers can expect to see a little more from us. Starting with the Homegrown in the Hometown special section in the first quarter of the year, which will feature some of your favorite family-owned businesses, we will be busy bringing you more content and more of what you like to read.

We will also look at ramping up our services we offer. We’d like for local businesses and individuals to consider us a one-stop-shop for all of their marketing and public relations needs. Think of us when you need newsletters designed, content written, social media help or news coverage at your events. Combined, we have many years of experience in all things news, and we’d love to be put to work to help you tell your stories.

Happy New Year to all of our readers, advertisers, supporters and friends. Without each of you, our work wouldn’t be possible. We thank you for a successful and fun 2019, and we look forward to what the future of 2020 can bring. Cheers to new beginnings and old traditions.