LS Lowdown: Donuts, Man Caves, and… Flying Turkeys? 🍩🦃

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Hey Lee’s Summit! Here’s what’s happening this week!

Welcome back to the Lee’s Summit Lowdown! I’m so glad you’re here. Missouri weather keeps us on our toes, but Friday was a bit much even for us. Lee’s Summit R-7 sent the kids home early to beat the sirens, which seemed like the right call at first. The decision drew a lot of criticism on social media, though. Teachers were initially told they had to stay the full day or burn their own PTO while the students headed home. It’s a tough look to prioritize safety for some while keeping others in the path of a storm just to clock hours.

There is a silver lining in the cafeteria. The district just landed a federal grant to put fresh, Missouri-grown food on student trays. It’s good to know the “mystery meat” era might finally be over for our kids.

Bridge Work and Car Snacks

If your commute feels like an obstacle course, it isn’t your imagination. MoDOT started bridge and pavement work on I-470 and US 50, so prepare for lane closures. It’s a mess, but at least the roads won’t feel like a moon crater when they’re done.

On the bright side, Duck Donuts is finally open downtown. You can get warm, made-to-order donuts at 221 SE Main St. A “Bacon in the Sun” donut might be the only thing that makes a construction detour bearable.

Beware the Flying Turkeys

I wish I was making this up. A local driver ended up with a wild turkey in her lap after it smashed through her windshield. She’s fine, but the car and the bird have seen better days.

As we keep building over every patch of grass, the local wildlife is getting confused. Keep your eyes on the road and maybe keep a spatula in the glove box just in case.

Stay safe out there, neighbors.

⏪ The LS Loop

What happened in city council and school board while you were living your life last week

The April 14 council meeting felt like the last day of high school. They finished their homework, planned a huge summer party, and said some emotional goodbyes.

  • Man Caves at Shamrock Park: Council gave the green light for new flex spaces at 21 SE 30th Street. Think of these as high-end contractor garages or “man caves” for your classic cars and toys.

  • Platinum Turf for Pups: Our shelter dogs are getting a $167,301 backyard upgrade. Since they’re pros at destroying grass, the city is installing “pet platinum turf” to handle the zoomies.

  • The 250th Birthday Bash: We’re getting an extra $38,000 for the Legacy Blast fireworks this year. Since it’s America’s 250th and World Cup season, the show at Legacy Park is going to be massive.

It was also the final meeting for Mayor Bill Baird and a few others. After eight years of big changes in LS, there were plenty of heartfelt thanks before the new crew gets sworn in next week.

Big Wins and Tough Questions at the School Board Meeting

The latest school board meeting was a mix of trophy-hoisting and some blunt reality checks from the public.

  • The Trophies: Congrats to Chris Walker (LSN) for Teacher of the Year and Zach Pross for Support Staff of the Year. Our robotics teams from North and West are headed to Worlds and West’s cheer teams are officially national champions.

  • The Money: The district landed a $533,000 grant for mental health services and approved $1.9 million for 11 new diesel buses.

  • The Feedback: Public comment didn’t hold back. One veteran teacher called for an audit over the salary gap between the central office and the classroom. Another parent argued that cutting back on elementary Chromebooks could save $1 million and actually help kids’ brains. It’s a fair point – sometimes the old-school tactile way is better than another screen.

The board saw a shake-up with new members Kamile Johnson, Erica Miller, and Rodrick Sparks being sworn in. Stacie Meyers is taking the lead as Board President.

Things got a bit awkward during the reorganization, though. New member Rodrick Sparks tried to amend the agenda at the last minute to nominate himself for MSBA Region 4 director. Usually, this meeting is just a quick vote for president and vice president, but he added this item the same day without giving the public notice or letting other members consider the role. The rest of the board wasn’t having it – his motion failed 6-1.

🎸 Live & Local

Where to find the best tunes this week.

Tuesday, April 14

Wednesday, April 22

  • The Blues Experience w/ Nick Schnebelen: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | 1909 Club

Thursday, April 23

Friday, April 24

Saturday, April 25

Know a local musician I missed? Hit reply and let me know who’s playing next weekend!

📝 The Weekly Lineup

Monday, April 20

Tuesday, April 21

Wednesday, April 22

Thursday, April 23

Friday, April 24

Saturday, April 25

Sunday, April 26

✍️ Help Me Shape the Lowdown

Between bridge work detours and rogue wildlife, Lee’s Summit definitely kept us on our toes this week. I hope your commute is smooth and your student’s lunch tray is mystery-free.

As always, thank you for reading. If you have a local story or a bridge-work survival tip, hit reply and let me know! Stay safe and stay local, neighbors!

Thanks for being part of the Lowdown crew!

– Jen

 Editor, Lee’s Summit Lowdown

P.S. It’s the final countdown! 🍸 This is the last week to grab the Misty Dawn (the LS Lowdown cocktail of the month) at The Pink Elephant. It’s been a favorite all month long, so if you haven’t tried it yet – or just need one more before it disappears – head over to Douglas St. and tell them the Lowdown sent you!

P.P.S. …And seriously, watch out for those turkeys. If you capture any wild LS wildlife footage on your dashcam this week, please send it my way. I’d love to feature the best (safest) clips in next week’s edition!

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