The City of Blue Springs, Missouri and the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District (CJCFPD) have contracted with Emergency Communications Network to license its CodeRED high-speed notification solution. The CodeRED system provides officials the ability to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or the entire covered region. This service is available to all Blue Springs residents and those covered in the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District.

Blue Springs Police Chief Wayne McCoy, cautioned that such systems are only as good as the telephone number database supporting them. "If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called." One of the reasons the CodeRED system was selected is it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly into the system's database, this is an extremely important feature.

“No one should automatically assume his or her phone number is included,” McCoy said urging all residents and businesses to visit either the City of Blue Springs Website, www.bluespringsgov.com/codered or the CJCFPD Website, www.cjcfpd.org/codered, and follow the instructions on the site. Those without Internet access may call the CodeRED hotline at (816) 220-CODE (2633) to supply their information over the phone. Required information includes first and last name, street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes), city, state, zip code, and primary phone number, additional phone numbers can be entered as well.

All businesses are encouraged to register, as well as all individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the past year, and those who use a cellular phone or VoIP phone as their primary number.

Central Jackson County Fire Protection District Fire Chief Steven P. Westermann explained, "CodeRED allows geographically based delivery, which means street addresses are required to ensure emergency notification calls are received by the proper individuals in a given situation. The system works for cell phones too, but we need to have an associated street address to provide relevant messages."

Westermann stated, "CodeRED gives those who want to be included an easy and secure method for inputting information. The data collected will only be used for emergency notification purposes."

For more information about the CodeRED system, please contact Kim Nakahodo, Communications Manager at (816) 655-0497.
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With Father’s Day approaching this weekend, I thought it appropriate to look at the unique and wonderful relationships we have not only with our own fathers but also with our children.

My daughters, Ashley and Crystal, are both adults now. No longer am I the authoritative parent, raising my daughters (with Wanda’s help, of course), teaching them and guiding them as I did throughout their childhood. Our relationships have changed. As a father of adult daughters, I have the privilege of sharing their lives, both the joys and the sorrows. At times, they will still seek my advice, but the decisions are theirs to make, right or wrong.

Our youngest daughter, Ashley, is an early childhood/special education teacher. You might recognize her from her recent commercials with Bryan Busby on KMBC Channel 9. She joined me on Monday for lunch and dinner, followed by a pleasant ride on the Gold Wing and several hours of conversation. We discussed nothing specific or earth shattering. We just enjoyed quality time talking about life, work and family.

Wanda is spending this week with her father in Clinton. We lost her mother just a year ago, and she greatly values the time with her father. Visiting and talking with him is truly a blessing, as it is with my mother Trudy and father Don, and with my birth mother Ann and birth father Arthur. As our parents age, the roles they have in our lives change. However, the importance they have in our lives never ends. This generation has wonderful memories to share and stories to tell of their experiences, their triumphs and their challenges. We learn from them, just as we hope our children learn from us.

When was the last time you spent time visiting and talking with your parents or children? While most of us will observe Father’s Day this weekend in one form or another, take advantage of the opportunity to spend time with your family. Time passes us by so quickly, and the opportunities for connecting with those we love are precious.

Hmm, I think I might drop in on my father in Warrensburg this weekend. Don’t tell him if you see him. I want it to be a surprise!

Blue Springs, Mo. – The Blue Springs water tower located at 1100 SW Smith Street is currently undergoing cellular communications mounting upgrades and repainting resulting in the loss of 21 parking spaces.  The primary parking lot at the Howard Brown Public Safety Building will be closed until the project is completed in September.

Temporary parking will be available to visitors of the Blue Springs Public Safety and the Community and Youth Outreach Buildings, Municipal Court, Planning Commission, and City Council meetings on the east side of 11^th Street.  Handicap accessible parking will be available in the municipal parking lot at 200 SW 11^th Street.  Signs are posted at the entrance of the temporary lot for ease of identification.

The parking lot is also used for the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings and Tuesday afternoons and will be unavailable for parking.  Visitors will need to use on-street parking when the Farmers Market is in session.

For more information, contact Chris Sandie, Assistant Director of Public Works at (816) 228-0195.
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In November, Business Week magazine announced its list of the “Best Places to Raise Your Kids,” naming Blue Springs the number one city in Missouri to raise a family, with Lee’s Summit and Joplin listed as runners-up. This unsolicited honor speaks volumes about the great community in which we live.

What is it that made our community rise to the top of that list? Criteria included school performance, number of schools, household expenditures, crime rates, air quality, job growth, family income, museums, parks, theaters and diversity, with the greatest weight given to affordability, safety, and school test scores.

However, there is much more to this story than just the statistics. Our citizens, not only in Blue Springs but also throughout all of Eastern Jackson County, are actively involved in their community. Volunteers are the heart and soul of community service, and many local non-profit organizations rely on their commitment and generosity. People serve their communities as elected officials and on the many boards and commissions that are integral to local government. Parents and other volunteers support sports activities available to our youth. Community service organizations such as the Community Services League, Rainbow Center, Hillcrest Ministries and StandUp Blue Springs provide services to those in need within our communities.

Foundations such as Truman Heartland Community Foundation and Eastland Community Foundation provide opportunities for philanthropists to concentrate their resources and provide funding to the many non-profit organizations throughout the area.

The Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce’s annual leadership class, in conjunction with Home Depot, Haldex, Randy and Jan Castle, MarKirk Construction, the Blue Springs School District, Hy-Vee, Betty’s Restaurant, Costco, Adams Dairy Bank, Sonic, Lamar’s, MAC Corporation and Architectural Ornaments, joined forces this past Saturday morning to renovate the patios at St. Mary’s Manor. Individuals and businesses working collaboratively make our community a special place to live.

Each year the Heritage Philharmonic holds a competition for local young musicians. The winners will perform with the philharmonic this at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Blue Springs High School performing arts center. The members are volunteer musicians from our community, and the orchestra provides opportunities for these musicians to hone their skills and share their talents with the community at large. Led by a volunteer board of directors, the orchestra provides the community a cost effective opportunity to enjoy a diverse variety of fantastic music.

These organizations, and others like them, are the lifeblood of our towns. By investing our time in these organizations, and making a commitment to the success of our communities, we continually set the bar a little higher, and we strive to reach it. By participating in the process, by giving of your skills and passions, you will reap benefits tenfold.

Blue Springs and Eastern Jackson County is blessed to have many generous philanthropists. Truman Heartland Community Foundation is just one of the organizations that works to connect philanthropists with non-profit organizations.  Following are the guidelines that an area non-profit would follow to apply for grants with the Truman Heartland Community Foundation.

For more information, please contact: Director of Programs and Donor Services Truman Heartland Community Foundation 300 North Osage Independence, MO 64050

Phone: (816) 836-8189 Fax: (816) 836-8898 Email: mcclure@thcf.org

Truman Heartland Community Foundation Community Grants Program Guidelines

Overview

It is the mission of the Truman Heartland Community Foundation to improve area communities by promoting private giving for public good. Since its beginning in 1982, Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) has taken a needs-based approach to philanthropy. Conducting annual needs assessments in the communities it serves, THCF has become an expert in listening and responding to community needs by providing creative charitable solutions and resources.

From its community-wide assessments THCF has prioritized funding to address the many community needs; funding priorities are detailed in these grant guidelines. Today, THCF manages more than $35 million in assets, comprised of over 550 charitable funds established by individuals, charities, businesses and municipalities. THCF’s family of charitable fundholders make annual grants totaling more than $3 Million to benefit the local, national and global community! It is the generosity and commitment of THCF charitable fund advisors that enables the foundation to respond to community needs. THCF has established affiliate foundations in Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Lee’s Summit and Raytown and supports three foundation initiatives: THCF Charitable Reinvestment Foundation, Jackson County Free Health Clinic and THCF Youth Advisory Council. Nonprofit Business Solutions, a supporting organization, joined THCF in December of 2005.

While THCF charitable fund advisors award grants year-round at their discretion, THCF awards grants from its unrestricted funds during one annual session. At the donors’ requests, these grants are limited to the following guidelines.

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Avoiding Census Fraud

Article 1, Section 2 of our Constitution directs that an enumeration of the people take place every 10 years. The census is used to determine representation and to divide up federal dollars.

Experts tell us that Missouri is on the edge of losing a representative after the 2010 census is completed at the end of this year. Not only would there be one less member of Congress representing Missouri in Washington, but also Missouri’s share of federal dollars would decrease. Missouri needs everyone to be counted in order to get our fair share.

However, there are those who try to take advantage of the confusion surrounding the once a decade count. It’s important to know that all census takers will have an official government badge. You may ask the census worker for a picture ID to confirm their identity. In addition, never under any circumstances will a census worker ask to enter your home, contact you by email, ask for a donation, your social security number or bank account number.

As the 2010 census takes place, you will receive a letter from the Census Bureau Director, notifying you that your household will receive a form in the mail, or a phone call from the Census Bureau, or a visit from a Census Bureau representative.

While it is important that Missouri gets a full and accurate count; it is also important that you do not fall for a scam or fraud. You can find more information about the census online at www.census.gov

Sincerely,

Sam Graves

Listen to your favorite music, get BSSD news every hour, up-to-date weather forecasts, and hear LIVE BSSD High School DJs in the late afternoons and early evenings!

BSSD RADIO will also broadcast LIVE sporting events, take music requests, have giveaways and much more!

Music Programming:

Midnight to 3pm – Lite Rock
3pm to 6pm – Top 40!
6pm to 8pm – Tween Time Rock!
8pm – 80s at 8!
9pm to Midnight – Lite Rock

Sundays – Classical Favorites

NOW!

Find us always at www.bssdradio.net

BDDS RADIO is commercial free and all music is screened.  This is just the beginning!  Our programming will grow throughout 2010 as our students become the driving force for this station.