Come Meet Your Shawnee PD

Our Shawnee PD will be participating in the National Night Out on Tues, 8/2/16 from 5:30 - 8:30PM at 75th Street and Nieman Rd in the Wal Mart parking lot.

This is a family based event, and there will be items of interest for all members of the family from the youngest to the oldest.  You will have the opportunity to view up close various pieces of police equipment and speak with officers from the various sections (patrol, traffic, STAR team, K9 and others).  These individuals would like to answer your questions about what it is that they do.  Rumor has it that our four legged K9 officers are discussing with their two legged partners on being able to show some of what they do.

Local businesses are helping to sponsor this event and food and refreshments will be provided.

Mark your calendars and please be there for an event that promises to be fun and informative.

Show Up or Shut Up

Wow...............the title of this blog sounds like "fighting words".

OK, what is meant by those words?  Well, it has to do with the budget.  On Monday, 7/25/16 the city council will be holding a public hearing on the new budget.  The meeting starts at 7:30PM.

Every year I hear some folks griping about the budget (and some who like it).  But the gripers never show up to voice their opinions publicly and get their thoughts onto the record, or do anything to change it.

Over the past few months there have been a variety of  council committee meetings where the budget was discussed.  The schedule was posted.  How many members of the public showed?  How many will show this coming Monday night?

Maybe my comment in the title is not polite.  Well, it's not meant to be.  I get real ticked off when I hear folks complain about city government and do nothing about it.  And that includes Shawnee's abysmal voter turn out for city elections.

So, in case you didn't read it, I'll repeat it.  Monday is the budget hearing...............show up or shut up.

We Grieve For Another Fallen Officer

This afternoon the KCK PD lost Captain Robert Melton to an act of violence.  Not only did Captain Melton serve many years in law enforcement, with the KCKPD and prior to that with the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office, he was also a member of the Kansas Army National Guard. He had previously been deployed to Afghanistan.

We know that those not in law enforcement cannot feel the pain and hurt that his brother and sister officers are feeling.  On the other hand, those individuals who believe in law and order and who rely on the brave men and women who put their lives on the line daily to protect us, also grieve.

When a member of law enforcement is killed by an act of violence it affects all of us.  Whether it is in Baton Rouge, Dallas, or in this case, right across the county line. 

It has been confirmed that the Shawnee Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association will be making a memorial donation as it recently did for Detective Brad Lancaster.  The KC Star is reporting that Captain Melton was a member of the Honor Guard for Detective Lancaster.

Thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, and fellow officers.  Thoughts and prayers to those on duty, may they be protected.

B & B Theater Renovations from Eco Dev Funds - Good, Bad & Ugly

Good:
At this past Monday's council meeting a proposal was made to use eco development funds to assist in in the renovation of the B & B 18 Theater (formerly West Glen 18).  Basically, the eco development funds would be spread out over a 10 year period using a formula similar to a TIF (tax increment financing) district.  There will also be either one or two additional restaurants in the shopping center.

When we consider that we have two new hotels going in across the street from the theater, along with a retail/restaurant building, it could make the entire area a mini destination venue.  The hotel count will jump to five and we have some nice existing eating establishments there.  The revitalization can bring in business from other surrounding cities and western Shawnee and reduce the number of those folks who go to OP and other areas.  Folks staying at the hotels, be it for business, pleasure, recreation (sports tournaments) etc will now have more entertainment/eating choices. All of this literally within walking distance if they want.  I think it can be positive.

Bad:
During the discussion on this item both Council Members Jenkins & Pflumm brought up one very important fact.  This item appeared on the council agenda the Thursday before the meeting, which gave both council members and the public very limited time to review the project, prepare possible questions, and maybe even alternative suggestions.  Normally projects like this go to a council committee meeting first.  It is at the committee meetings that the "fleshing out" takes place.  Then, it goes to a council meeting, which also allows for even additional or follow up discussion.  This project needed to go to a committee meeting first.  I disagree with SEDC Exec Director Andrew Nave's comments and reasoning concerning the need to have a rush to judgment.  (Personally I would still have been in favor of the project). Others who deserved time to review/speak out about the item were not given that chance.

Councilmember Jenkins even pointed out that this was not the first time that an item had skipped the committee process and gone directly to council.

Ugly:
It is my opinion that whoever fast tracked this item to the council, without having come before the committee was wrong.  I also feel that that individual needs to apologize to both the council and the citizens of Shawnee for this "push".  Let's stick to proper procedures.  A few extra weeks would not have been detrimental to the renovation process.  I am reminded of an old saying that went something like "a delay or procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part"

Lost Heritage, Let's Bring It Back

This past Monday yours truly asked the council to consider four items that have an impact on the city's heritage/history.

1. City flag:  The only city flag that is displayed is the one at city hall behind the dais of the city council.  On the flag poles at city hall, the justice center on Renner and the safety center on Quivira what is on those flag poles is the advertising banner.  The one with the tree and the advertising slogan "Good Starts Here"  IMHO advertising banners belong strung from light poles like the Old Shawnee Days banner.  When flags are displayed at half staff as memorials (the US and Kansas flags) it is, IMHO disrespectful to have an advertising banner in that position.
2. Pictures of mayors:  When the city council chambers were remodeled the pictures that were on the wall of Shawnee's mayors were removed and not replaced.  Those pictures are part of Shawnee's history and heritage.  When students and others were given a tour of city hall that was part of it. 
3. Shawnee Town 1929:  When the name was changed from Old Shawnee Town the hairs on my neck just stood up.  The year 1929 was probably one of the worst years in American history.  It was the year of the stock market crash which ushered in the Great Depression.  The theory was to relate the exhibit to the old farming community.  I'm sure there is another way to do it.  Many city employees (Parks Department) and countless volunteers have worked very hard to make the Town a premier exhibit.  It is an ongoing project with more to come.  Associating this project with the year 1929 is, IMHO insulting to those who have worked hard and diligently to make it what it is, and an insult to the project itself.
4. July 4th fireworks:  Years ago the city suspended its partnership with Lenexa and JoCo Parks for a display at Shawnee Mission Park.  The reason was cost.  The suggestion I made Monday night was to have the Shawnee Chamber partner with the Lenexa Chamber and work on a sponsorship program to get both businesses and private individuals to make it happen.  It can be a great family event, and also it can attract others from the metro.  Vendors can also be secured to furnish food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Citizen Police Academy - 2016

There are still some openings for this year's class of the Citizen Police Academy, which starts September 8th, 2016.

For more information please go to this page on the city's web site.

The academy is a great learning opportunity for citizens to find out more about what our PD does, and how they learn to do it.  It is set up in such a way that a citizen gets to experience (albeit in a very shortened version) what an officer goes through in their training. 

You may have noticed at various city events citizen volunteers for the PD.  These are individuals who have graduated from the academy and who have chosen to become members of the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association.  Joining the association after graduation is not a requirement, but if you are desirous of volunteering for some of these events, this is where it starts.

Republican Primary Elections Tuesday August 2, 2016

The primary elections (where there is one) will be held Tuesday 8/2/16

There are some Republican primaries which will affect Shawnee.  As such, below please find my choices.

US Senator -  Jerry Moran
US Congressman - Kevin Yoder

State Senator Dist 21 - Greg Smith

State Rep Dist 17 - Brett Hildabrand
State Rep Dist 39 - Charles Macheers

JoCo Sheriff - Cal Hayden

A Message for Reluctant Christians About Donald Trump

A friend of mine sent this to me.  It is an article that appears at townhall.com by Wayne Allyn Root one of their columnists:

Information for those that think Donald Trump is a bully. Look again and think a little deeper.

A Message For reluctant Christians 

About Donald Trump

Wayne Allyn Root

6/24/2016 12:01:00 AM -  Wayne Allyn Root

I am a Jew turned evangelical Christian. I am also a passionate supporter of Donald Trump.

I have a message for Christians who don’t like Donald Trump: “YOU’RE MISSING THE BOAT.”

Christians have Trump all wrong. God sends messages in many forms. You’re just not
listening. God is talking, but you’re eyes and ears are closed.

Here’s a famous joke about God and how he talks to us.

“A deeply faithful Christian man is stuck on roof of home with massive flooding up
to 2^nd floor. Rowboat comes. He says “No, I’m waiting for God.
I’ve prayed and I know he’s coming.”  2^ndrowboat. “No, I’m waiting for God.” 3^rdrowboat. “No, I’m waiting for
God.”

Water rises. The man drowns. Now he’s meeting God in heaven. The religious man
says “Where were you God? I prayed. I was faithful. I asked you to save
me. Why would you abandon me?”

God says,
“Hey dummy, I sent you 3 rowboats. Are you blind?”

Did  you ever consider Trump is our rowboat?

Maybe God is trying to tell us something important- that now is not the time for a
“nice Christian guy” or a “gentleman” or a typical Republican powder puff.
Maybe now is the time for a natural born killer, a ruthless fighter, a warrior.

Because right about now we need a miracle, or America is finished.

Maybe the rules of gentleman don’t apply here. Maybe a gentleman and “all-around
nice Christian” would lead us to slaughter.

Or do you want another Mitt Romney, Bob Dole, John McCain, Gerald Ford or Paul Ryan?
Did any of them win? Did they lead us to “the promised land?” Did
they change the direction of America? No, because if you don’t win, you have no say.

Paul Ryan couldn’t even deliver his own state Wisconsin!

And as leader of the House, Paul Ryan rolls over to Obama like my dog rolls over
for a scrap of food, or a steak bone. He’s a useful idiot. Nice, but
obedient. I mean Paul Ryan…not my dog. My dog is actually a pretty good defender and loyal.

Maybe God is knocking on your door so loud, but you’re not listening. Maybe God
understands we need a "war leader" at this moment in time. Maybe God
understands if we don’t win this election, America is dead. It’s over. The
greatest nation in world history will be gone. Finished. Kaput. Adios.

And with one last breath, maybe what we need to save us at the last second, is
someone different. Someone you haven’t ever experienced before-
because you weren’t raised in rough and tumble New York where nothing good
gets accomplished unless you're combative, aggressive, outrageous, on
offense at all times, and maybe just a tad arrogant too.

Someone with a personality you’ve never seen on stage at your church.

Maybe, just maybe, being a nice gentlemanly Christian would not beat Hillary, and her
billion dollars, and her best friends in the media who will unleash the
dogs of hell upon the GOP nominee.

I guess you think God is only nice and gentlemanly. Really? Then you’ve missed
the whole point of the Bible. When necessary God is a pretty tough guy.
When necessary, God strikes with pain, death and destruction. When necessary, God inflicts vengeance.

Maybe you think God couldn't possibly be associated with someone like Trump. Trump
is too vicious, rude and crude.

When we won WWII, was God "nice?" Were we gentlemanly when defeating Hitler? Were we gentlemanly when firebombing Germany? Were we gentlemanly when dropping atomic bombs on Japan? Is God ever "nice" on the battlefield? Or does he
send us vicious SOB’s like General George S. Patton, so the good guys can defeat evil?

It’s pretty clear to me God sends unique people to be "war leaders." That’s a
different role than a pastor or church leader. God understands that.

Maybe God purposely sent Trump instead of the nice Republican powder puffs like Paul
Ryan, or Mitt Romney, or John Kasich because he wants us to win.

And maybe it’s time to re-define “nice.” Maybe Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan aren’t nice
at all- because they led us to defeat. And losing again would mean the end
of America. And God can’t allow that.

Maybe Romney and Ryan mean well, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Or maybe they’re just jealous they had their chance and blew it. Maybe they’d
rather help elect Hillary than allow a Trump victory that would make them
look weak, feckless and incompetent.

I was reading the Bible this morning and I found the perfect verse that explains
the success of Donald Trump…

"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength;They shall mount
up with wings like eagles,They shall run and not be weary,They shall walk
and not faint." (Isiah 40:30-31)

It’s almost like God created this verse for Donald Trump and this moment in history.

Trump is our energy. More energy than
any candidate EVER. He took on the 16 best candidates in GOP history...all
younger than him...all with better political credentials...and destroyed
them with his energy. You mean that kind of energy in a 70-year old isn't
inspired by God?

Trump renews our strength. Or does the all-time record turnout and all-time record votes for a GOP presidential primary candidate not define “strength?"

With Trump we mount up with wings like eagles. With Trump as our
leader there is nothing we can’t do. Any man that can build skyscrapers in
Manhattan and vanquish 16 presidential opponents, while spending almost
nothing…can lead us to the heights of eagles.

With Trump we run, we are not weary. Just when we get
tired of the fight against Obama, Hillary, big government, big business,
big media, big unions...just when it all seems impossible to overcome the
powerful forces of evil... along comes Trump to re-energize us.

Trump inspires us. Trump gives us hope. Trump gives us confidence in victory.
Trump gives us just a touch of arrogance. Maybe God understands that’s
exactly what we need right at this late stage to save America.

God is about miracles. We don’t need a “nice guy” or a “gentleman” right now. It’s the
4^th quarter and we’re losing 14-0. We need a miracle.

So let me repeat my message to Christians: “YOU’RE MISSING THE BOAT.”

I believe Trump is our miracle. I believe Trump is our rowboat.

Except he’s more like a battleship!

No one is saying Trump is perfect. No one is saying Trump is a perfect conservative.
But he is a patriot. He is a warrior. He is a capitalist. He is the right
man, at the right time.

Yes, he's a bit rude and crude and offensive. But that may make him the perfect
warrior to save America, American exceptionalism, capitalism and Judeo-Christian values.

The choice should be easy for Christians. It’s Trump…or it’s the end of the United States of America.

 

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. - Albert Einstein