LS Lowdown: 🌶️ Local Spice, Historic Trees, & The Dome Debate

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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. Here’s what we are covering this week:

  • 🎙️ National Bound: LSHS students dominated in Speech & Debate.

  • 🌶️ Spice & Success: A local entrepreneur’s booming mission-driven business.

  • 🌳 Douglas Street: Historic trees vs. necessary infrastructure.

  • ⚽ The Dome Debate: City Council approves the View High inflatable soccer dome.

I’ve done one last sweep of the news and meeting minutes to make sure your Monday morning coffee comes with the most up-to-date lowdown. (And a quick heads-up: if you need a refill on that coffee or a fountain drink, the 3rd Street QuikTrip is finally back open!)

We have some “bubbly” news from the pitch, a refreshing new “Misty Dawn” cocktail reveal, and some critical deadlines for our schools as we head into election season.

Let’s get into the Lowdown while the sun is out!

🎙️ National Bound: LSHS Speech & Debate Victory

A huge congratulations to Greyson Helm and Evie Latman from Lee’s Summit High School! The talented duo recently dominated the competition at the District Tournament, officially qualifying for the NSDA National Speech & Debate Tournament.

Greyson and Evie have been standouts all season, consistently placing in events like Lincoln Douglas Debate and Public Forum. They will represent Lee’s Summit on the national stage this June in Des Moines, Iowa, competing against the best speakers and debaters in the country.

Be sure to wish them luck if you see them around town—we can’t wait to see them bring home the gold! 🏆🗣️

🌶️ Spice, Success, and Giving Back

An inspiring business story this week comes from Max Crawford. A KC-area native and entrepreneur with Down syndrome, Crawford started making homemade spice blends as gifts for his high school teachers. In just two years, his hobby has exploded into “Max Mix Spices,” and his MSG-free seasonings are now stocked in over 150 Midwest stores, including Hy-Vee. Proving that a mission-driven enterprise can scale successfully, Crawford also donates $1 from every bottle sold to Belong KC, a local nonprofit supporting people with disabilities.

🍸 Introducing The “Misty Dawn”

Remember that secret I mentioned last week? I am so excited to finally reveal that we’ve partnered with The Pink Elephant for our very first Lowdown Cocktail of the Month!

Starting this week, you can escape the 3-digit-feeling heat and duck into their cool, dark interior to try the “Misty Dawn.” It’s an incredibly refreshing, raspberry-infused creation that perfectly balances the pub’s upscale, moody vibe with a crisp, spring flavor.

If you haven’t been lately, grab one of those plush leather chairs, enjoy the air conditioning, and ask for the “Misty Dawn.” Be sure to let them know the Lowdown sent you! 🐘💖

🌳 The Friction of Development

Physical progress isn’t without its casualties. Over on Northeast Douglas Street, an area known for its historic homes and beautiful canopy, the city is cutting down nearly 50 mature trees. The removal is part of a voter-approved 2017 Capital Improvement program designed to replace aging water lines, address flooding, and fix increasingly hazardous sidewalks. While the city has promised to plant more trees than they are taking down once the project is complete, residents are mourning the loss of the neighborhood’s historic character, calling the clearing “tragic”.

⚽ The Dome Debate

A similar battle over quality of life is playing out near The Summit Church, where the City Council just voted 8-1 to approve a five-year special use permit for a massive inflatable soccer dome. The 15-acre View High Sports Complex will feature a 53-foot-tall dome, inflated for 16 weeks from late November to late March.

Soccer parents are thrilled; as dad Brad W. noted, the indoor space is a “game changer” that will save local families from driving to Kansas for winter training. However, neighboring residents gave the project a red card. Opponents, like neighbor Janey A., argued the dome is a looming eyesore and a prime example of “project creep” that will significantly affect their neighborhood’s daily quality of life.

🏗️ Breaking Ground: The New Greenwood Elementary

It’s official! Work is beginning on the first major project from the 2025 Bond, and the district is inviting the community to help kick things off.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Greenwood Elementary at its new location is set for this Friday. If you’re a LS/Greenwood resident or a future GWE parent, this is a great chance to see exactly where the new school will sit.

  • When: Friday, April 3 at 8:30 a.m.

  • Where: 2nd Avenue South, Greenwood (The entrance is just past Buckley Powder at 1109 2nd Ave S).

⚠️ Pro-Tip for Navigating: The district asks that everyone enter the site from Second Avenue South only. If you’re traveling south, the marked entrance will be on your right.

⏪ The LS Loop

City Council

The March 24th meeting was a marathon, packed with packed pews and big decisions. If you missed the livestream, here’s the TLDR version:

The Big Debate: The “Soccer Dome” is a Go ⚽ In an 8-1 vote, Council approved a 5-year permit for a nearly 60-foot-tall inflatable dome at the View High Sports Complex.

New Business & Building 🏗️

  • Douglas Corporate Center: Approved (7-2). Look for a new 30,000+ sq. ft. commercial space at NE Lee’s Summit Rd and NE Douglas. There was some hesitation about a potential gas station near Discovery Park, but the project is moving forward.

  • Downtown Growth: A new, 2,500 sq. ft. office building was unanimously approved for 414 SE 3rd Street, designed to match our downtown aesthetic.

  • Airport Soaring: A new study shows our local airport is a massive engine for the area, generating $58.3M in economic output last year.

Quick Hits from the Dais ⚡

  • Public Safety: The LSPD is getting a major tech upgrade, including 182 new body cams and four Skydio drones.

  • Kratom Rules: New city laws now prohibit “candy-like” Kratom products and set the purchase age strictly to 21+.

  • Todd George Parkway: Good news for commuters! A new partnership will fast-track the construction of the parkway, likely finishing well ahead of the original 2030 schedule.

  • Spam Filter Snafu: During public comments, it was revealed that an IT glitch had been sending some constituent emails straight to the Council’s spam folders. (So if you didn’t get a reply lately, that might be why!)

🗳️ Your Guide to the April 7th Election To help you cut through the “noise” of yard signs and stump speeches, I’ve spent the last month attending forums and analyzing every candidate questionnaire I could find.

I’ve compiled a Voter Guide on my website to help you go into the booth informed. I’ve broken down the candidates and the issues to help you save time on your research before heading to the polls! I’ll be updating as more information becomes available. Feel free to email me if you notice anything I should add!

Read the Guide Here

🎸 Live & Local

Where to find the best tunes this week.

Sunday, March 29

Tuesday, March 31

  • Lee’s Summit Jazz Orchestra: March 31, 6:00 PM | 1909 Club

Wednesday, April 1

  • The Blues Experience w/ Nick Schnebelen: April 1, 7:00 PM | 1909 Club

Thursday, April 2

Friday, April 3

Saturday, April 4

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

📝 The Weekly Lineup

Tuesday, March 31

Wednesday, April 1

Thursday, April 2

Friday, April 3

Saturday, April 4

✍️ Help Me Shape the Lowdown

The Sports Dome debate is definitely the talk of the neighborhood this week. Are you “Team Dome” for the year-round sports access, or are you concerned about the 53-foot footprint in a residential area? Hit reply and let me know your thoughts!

Thanks for being part of the Lowdown crew!

– Jen

 Editor, Lee’s Summit Lowdown

P.S. Next Saturday is the official season opener of the Downtown Farmers Market! 🍓 There’s nothing quite like that first Saturday morning walk with caffeine in hand, browsing the local stalls. I’ll see you at Green Street!

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