The second half of 2018 included local visits from national dignitaries and headlines proclaiming big changes in leadership at two departments in Platte City government.
Platte City announced the firing of Danny Stamper, the parks and recreation director, while police chief Carl Mitchell was reassigned.
Both moves led to investigations, which resulted in findings of no wrong doing among the police department though Mitchell would later announce his retirement from the city.
Stamper appealed his termination, but when the board of aldermen were slated to hear an appeal, he didn’t show up.
Also on the city front, Platte City annexed 69.61 acres into the city limits east of town.
Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, U.S. Rep. Sam Graves and U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill — in the heat of an election cycle — all visited Platte County. Ashcroft showed up in Platte City stumping for a statewide Senate race, while McCaskill went to Parkville for a groundbreaking ceremony for a veterans memorial. Graves came to Platte City to receive an award from the National Association of Home Builders.
The Platte County commission, after selling the Shiloh Springs Golf Club earlier in the year, still dealt with its biggest headache — Zona Rosa Town Center.
The credit rating for the county was downgraded on word that the county wouldn’t be making a bond payment for the parking garage — it didn’t — and the phrase ‘so be it’ was repeated many times by presiding commissioner Ron Schieber.
The county is also considering replacing the current jail in Platte City and hired a jail consultant to investigate what would be required. Commissioners are also looking at putting a law enforcement tax before voters in April.
July
Platte City native Andrea Martinez talked to The Citizen about being pushed by an ICE agent during an extradition of one of her clients at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Platte County, near KCI Airport.
A Smithville woman was charged in the death of her daughter in an accident in Platte County. Samantha Jones left a party in Camden Point prior to the accident near Route E and Skinner lake Road.
North Platte graduate and current Missouri softball player Regan Nash suited up for the St. Joseph Mustangs collegiate summer baseball team.
The North Platte School District and three employees were named in a lawsuit that alleges bullying. A 53-page petition alleges 11 counts of abuse against a student with down syndrome.
After 25 years working in the Park Hill School District, Andy Keefer retired as a teacher and girls track and field coach at Park Hill South.
Travel & Leisure ranked Scott’s Kitchen and Catering at Hangar 29 the best BBQ in Kansas City.
The Platte County Fair featured a rooster crowing contest for the first time.
Emma Testorff was named the Platte County Fair queen.
August
Robert McDonald, of Coushatta, La., was sentenced to 260 years in prison for 10 felony sex crimes.
Park University announced they will add an eSports team in 2019.
Newly opened Park University-Gilbert, Ariz. named Steve Wilson as the athletic director. The Platte City resident was working as the associate director of media at the Parkville campus.
North Platte held a ribbon cutting for the remodeled junior high.
Carl Braddock, the man behind the wheel of the semi that hit and killed West Platte coach Nate Danneman, was sentenced to 22 days in jail after giving credit for time served.
Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft made a stop in Platte City to campaign for Harry Roberts, who was running for a state senate spot.
Ceremonies were held for road work projects at Old Tiffany Springs Road and Northwest Prairie View Road in Platte County, totaling nearly $7 million in planned work.
A ribbon cutting was held for the new CVS Health facility in Platte County, which cost $111 million. Gov. Mike Parson attended the event.
Michael Macey is named the first school resource officer for the West Platte School District.
Plans were announced for a new Hilton Garden Inn/Old Chicago restaurant near Interstate 29/112th Street.
The Platte County Sheriff’s Office made a traffic stop that resulted in 204 pounds of marijuana — with a street value just shy of $1 million — found. Paul Deliz and Destiny Browning are facing charges from the stop.
Don and Karen Sams bought the Kids Kastle Day Care in Dearborn.
Great Britain native Toby Corder opens White Horse Cafe in Parkville.
September
Platte City parks director Danny Stamper was fired by the board of aldermen. He appealed the decision, but didn’t show up for the hearing later in the year.
Riverside assistant fire chief, emergency manager Mike Shelton retired after nearly 40 years of public service.
A ribbon cutting was held for the new softball field at West Platte.
Eric Newman of Topeka, Kan., was charged in the death of Park professor Tamara Tucker, who died on a Carnival cruise ship in the Bahamas.
West Platte’s Lea Moose set a MSHSAA record with three inside-the-park home runs in one game.
A long abandoned Howard Johnson hotel located at 7301 NW Tiffany Springs Road started renovations into a U-Haul storage center.
Platte City police chief Carl Mitchell and Lt. Al Devalkenare were reassigned and Lynda Hacker-Bristow was named the interim police chief, though it would be more than a month before she would start due to insurance issues.
Park University named its new sports medicine center after the late Ed Bradley.
The Platte County Commission hired a jail consultant to look at future needs.
Former Platte County Citizen editor/publisher Ross Martin wins three first-place awards from the Missouri Press Association.
October
The Park Hill School District sells more than $23 million in bonds to fund the construction of Hopewell Elementary, Walden Middle School and the LEAD Innovation Center.
Dearborn was selected to play ‘Skidmore, Mo.’ in a Sundance Movie Channel film about the murder of Ken McElroy.
The Park Hill South girls tennis team won a 12th straight district title.
The Platte County Kmart at 7100 Prairie View Road was part of a closure list announced by the company.
Riverside opened its World Class Fitness Court next to the community center.
The West Platte boys cross country extended it state record streak of district titles to 19 in a row.
Ferrelview board of trustees member Russell Wilson resigned.
November
The Platte City road tax passes by a large margin during the November election. Ron Schieber won re-election to the county commission, while Parkville resident Tony Luetkemeyer became the 34th district state senator.
The West Platte volleyball team finished third in its first trip to the state finals.
The cost of the new KCI Airport single terminal went up to $1.9 billion.
The Weston branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library reopened after it closed in July for remodeling.
The former Wells Bank building on Third/Main in Platte City was donated to The Farmer’s House.
Red X celebrated 70 years of business in Riverside.
Platte City police chief Carl Mitchell announced he will retire effective Feb. 28, but due to medical leave, he has worked his last day with the city.
Park Hill South basketball players Lamel Robinson (Nebraska-Omaha) and Alecia Westbrook (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) signed letters of intent to move on. Baseball player Sam Beuerlein inked with Georgetown, while Georgia Clark will swim at Iowa.
Despite not playing at West Platte High School, student Hannah McGivern signed to play softball at Missouri.
Park professor Syed Jamal spoke about his near deportation during an event held at the university on Nov. 13.
A record 5.8 inches of snow fell on Sunday, Nov. 25, leading to plenty of cancellations for local schools.
Platte Woods police officer Richard Langley was arrested for stealing drugs during a drug take back event in October.
December
The Park volleyball team won the NAIA national championship in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Platte County commission failed to make the bond payment on the parking garages at Zona Rosa.
Platte County prosecutor Eric Zahnd told the commission last year saw the second-highest number of felony charges filed in county history.
Winstead’s and Kato Japanese Cuisine off Barry Road closed, paving the way for a new shopping center that will be constructed.
The Park Hill Board of Education approved new borders for elementary, middle and high school students for the 2019-20 school year.
Platte County girls basketball coach Chris Stubbs won his 200th career game.
Park Hill High School hosted a wrestling dual between Missouri and Virginia on Dec. 20, with a sellout crowd there to see the Tigers win.
Platte County quarterback Spencer Stewart won the Frank Fontana Memorial Award, given to the best small school athlete – Class 1 to Class 4 – in the Kansas City metro area.