JULY
July 7 – Local author William Dozier takes the lead in underground Kansas City poetry scene; County depository banks approved after one week delay due to conflict with collector Sheila Palmer; Platte County Health Department director Mary Jo Vernon announces her retirement at the end of the year; A death in Parkville was under investigation by the Platte County Sheriff’s Office.
July 14 – The Parkville Board of Aldermen approves a six percent sewer rate increase; Climate activist Stephen Melton spoke to the Platte County Women’s Democratic Club about carbon pricing; A groundbreaking was scheduled for the new Green Hills Library Center, part of the Mid-Continent Public Library system; A miniature of the Platte City Krause mini-mansion was completed by a Butler, Mo. artist.
July 21 – The Delta variant of Covid-19 began to tax local hospitals, with officials asking residents to wear masks to prevent its spread; Platte County commissioners appointed county officials to an ARPA committee to determine how best to use funds from the federal package; Three children died in a house fire in Platte Woods; Platte County R-3 School District superintendent Dr. Mike Reik announced his retirement in 2022; the county prepared for the return of the Platte County Fair.
July 28 – Lydia Rose Davis was crowned Platte County Fair Queen; The Centers for Disease Control recommends even vaccinated people should wear masks indoors, due to the Delta variant; Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced a state-wide vaccination incentive program with cash prizes; The North Platte High School FFA hosts an alumni cookout; The City of Parkville entered into a settlement agreement with county resident Jason Maki over a lawsuit concerning alleged Sunshine law violations.
AUGUST
Aug. 4 – Road projects, including the reconstruction of the Interstate 29 and Highway 92 interchange were well under way; Platte County commissioners approve COVID-related federal grant applications; Park Hill graduate Chris Nilsen earns a silver medal in pole vaulting at the Tokyo Olympic Games; Park University director of athletics Claude English announced his impending retirement.
Aug. 11 – Cops and kids come together for fun annual event in Platte City; The Platte County Health Department recommends indoor masking, again, due to COVID-19 Delta variant; Leaders of Kansas City area hospitals paint a grim picture of rising COVID case counts due to Delta variant; Platte City Girl Scout Jessica Fernandez helps to preserve the histories of local veterans.
Aug. 18 – The Park Hill Board of Education mandates masking in schools after a five-hour public meeting; The annual Parkville Days festival was scheduled to return after a one-year delay due to the pandemic; Parkville officials face a dog park challenge as patrons squabble over signage; The Platte County Commission directs the remainder of county CARES Act funds to the Platte County Health Department.
Aug. 25 – The Parkville Board of Aldermen places a use tax question on its November election ballot; Mid-Continent Public Libraries partner with Platte County Health Department to host COVID-19 vaccination clinics; Bill Graham discusses the challenges of returning to in-person schooling during the pandemic; The Transportation Security Commission extends its own masking mandate through Jan. 18; Paving work began at the new KCI Airport.
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 1 – The newly-formed Northland Parent Association sues the Park Hill and Platte County R-3 school districts over mask mandates; Fall sports returns with the kick off of high school football; Aushena Warren pleaded guilty to murdering her eight-year-old son before she attempted to jump off the Kit Bond Bridge; U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Gena Ross deals with long-haul COVID-19 symptoms.
Sept. 8 – History takes shape on Weston’s historic New Deal Warehouse as residents paint a mural on its side; Work begins on a Diverging Diamond Interchange at North Platte Purchase Drive and Highway 152; Michael Gunn Park to be developed in southern Platte County; The Platte County Commission put out a request for qualifications for capitol improvements funded by the federal government’s ARPA program.
Sept. 15 – Park University holds a special ceremony in remembrance of the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C.; The Parkville Board of Aldermen gave the developer of a condo plan a second chance to go before the city’s planning and zoning commission; An Independence man died on train tracks along Highway 45 at Oberdiek Lane; Andrew Warlen was hired to replace retiring director Mary Jo Vernon at the Platte County Health Department.
Sept. 22 – The North Platte School District holds its homecoming festivities; Platte County commissioners approve grant funding for the prosecutor’s office, sheriff’s office and others; The Parkville Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance regulating short-term vacation rentals; The City of Riverside landed a $15 million national soccer training center; Dearborn prepares to honor Louis Buntin at its annual Reminisce Day.
Sept. 29 – Weston prepared for the return of its annual Applefest; Scott Fricker announces plans to run for Platte County presiding commissioner; West Platte Board of Education member Ron Rowe resigned from his position due to a move out of state; The Park Hill School District makes international headlines due to an online petition to reinstate slavery.
OCTOBER
Oct. 6 – Lakeview Middle School was at the center of a school shooting threat; Park Hill South ninth grader wins the state COVID lottery, encourages other teens to get vaccinated; The Park Hill School District and the NAACP release statement regarding the Park Hill South slavery petition; Another lawsuit involving county resident Jason Maki may be pending in Parkville.
Oct. 13 – Platte County High School celebrated its homecoming; A suspect was charged in the murder of a man at the Riverside QuikTrip; The Weeb animated program comes to Platte City to increase public awareness of those with special needs; A network outage and severe weather caused the cancellation of hundreds of Southwest Airlines flights; Parkville’s Cafe des Amis was approved to undergo a facelift through a city abatement program.
Oct. 20 – A Platte County grand jury decides no charges should be filed in the shooting deaths of two men over firewood; Human trafficking charges were filed after a Riverside, City of Kansas City sting operation; A 43-year-old man was struck and killed by a train in Parkville; Two juveniles were arrested after making a shooting threat at Park Hill South High School.
Oct. 27 – Park Hill School District Superintendent Dr. Jeanette Cowherd announces her resignation at the end of the school year; The City of Parkville places a use tax question on its November election ballot; A Dearborn animal rescue offers unique visits with creepy, crawly critters for Halloween.
NOVEMBER
Nov. 3 – A Platte County pilot flies for Angel Flight, helping the sick get the distant help they need; Long-time Parkville planning and zoning commission chair Dean Katerndahl announces his intent to run for mayor; A Bates City man was charged after leading police on a high-speed chase that injured both the Tracy chief of police Frank Thurman and a young boy; Aushena Warren was sentenced to life in prison for murdering her son.
Nov. 10 – The Platte County Health Department begins scheduling vaccination clinics for children ages five to 11; Veterans Day celebrations were scheduled around the county; The reconstruction of Platte County High School was well under way, with structural steel erected behind the existing school; Platte City’s Yuletide Market returns to Platte City Middle School.
Nov. 17 – Weston was the first local city to light its downtown for the holidays; The Platte County Citizen’s office relocated in Platte City; The families of students involved in the Park Hill South slavery petition filed a civil suit against the district; Platte County commissioners announced the parks and recreation staff were seeking input on uses for the Dorothy Day cabin at the Green Hills of Platte Wildlife Preserve.
Nov. 24 – The Platte County School District chose Dr. Jay Harris as its next superintendent; The Park Hill School District responded to the slavery petition lawsuit; Farley Mercantile celebrated its 150th anniversary; The City of Parkville adjusted its ward map.
DECEMBER
Dec. 1 – Platte City held its annual lighting ceremony on the courthouse lawn; John DeFoor announces plans to run for Platte County presiding commissioner, after a near-fatal case of Covid-19; The U.S. District Court dismissed the lawsuit filed by Northland Parent Association regarding masking in public schools; Parkville and Dearborn plan Christmas celebrations;
Dec. 8 – Parkville hosts Christmas on the River; the Parkville branch of Mid-Continent Public Library celebrated its renovation; The trial of accused murderer Grayden Denham began with jury selection; A contractor was chosen to begin work on a walking trail at Michael Gunn Park in southern Platte County.
Dec. 15 – A Platte County jury found Grayden Denham guilty of four murders after two hours of deliberations; The City of Platte City planned a Santa Claus parade through the city; The City of Parkville sought additional input on projects in Platte Landing Park; A mechanical fire caused a fire at the Platte County Detention Center’s laundry room; A local couple celebrates 70 years of marriage.
Dec. 22 – The Wilson family in Seven Bridges continues a neighborhood tradition of Christmas decorating; MoDOT finishes work on a new roundabout at Highway 92/Highway 45 Spur; Steve the dog brings joy to English Landing Elementary School; A rare weather event knocks out power and causes damage across the metro.
Dec. 28 – A 12-year-old from another state was found responsible for a racist Zoom bombing of Platte County High School principal Dr. Keith Jones; R-3 students signed construction beams for the new Platte County High School; A 43-year-old Smithville man died in a one-vehicle crash in rural Platte County.