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Kansas City News Today Kansas City Front Page is a weekly news publication spotlighting attractions, jobs, events, business and hotels in Kansas City. |
KANSAS CITY NEWS TODAY - Monday, May 3, 2010  Kansas Speedway Gets a Green Flag as Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks Start of Construction KANSAS CITY, KS, (BUSINESS WIRE), May 3, 2010 - Kansas Entertainment, LLC, officially kicked off construction of Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway as Company representatives and local officials conducted a groundbreaking ceremony, April 30, at Turn 2, the track-side site of the new facility. In remarks, Lesa France Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer of International Speedway Corporation, said, "We are fortunate to have built such strong relationships with our partners, Penn National Gaming, the State of Kansas, and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. We share in their mutual vision to create a world-class destination for visitors and the community, anchored by a premier motorsports and entertainment facility. Through ongoing collaboration, we will continue to help generate sustainable economic growth for the region." Tim Wilmott, President and Chief Operating Officer of Penn National Gaming, stated, "With the excellent cooperation of our partners and local officials and businesses, Kansas Entertainment is excited to conduct its groundbreaking today, just two and a half months after receiving final approvals for the project." "Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway will be a premiere gaming and entertainment facility that contributes to and complements the local hotels, retail, dining and entertainment establishments in the Village West region. Both Penn National Gaming and ISC are committed to the long-term success of this destination resort, maximizing tourism, driving new tax revenue and attracting national media attention for the state of Kansas and our host community, Wyandotte County." The first phase of Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway includes a state-of-the-art casino and is expected to open the first half of 2012 with capacity for 2,300 slot machines, 61 table games and 25 poker tables on a 100,000 square-foot gaming floor. Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway will also feature 28,000 square-feet of other amenities including restaurants, clubs and nightlife attractions. The addition of the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway is estimated to bring nearly 440,000 tourists per year and create over 1,000 full time positions; elevating the state to a first-class, year-round tourist destination.
KANSAS CITY, KS, (BUSINESS WIRE), May 3, 2010 - Two Kansas students, Lindsey Curtis, 17, of Manhattan and Alex Stonebarger, 13, of Leawood, were honored in the nation's capital, May 2, for their outstanding volunteer work during the presentation of The 2010 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The two young people - along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country - received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Olympic snowboarding champion Seth Wescott at the 15th annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Lindsey and Alex were named the top high school and middle level youth volunteers in Kansas last February. In addition to their cash awards, they received engraved silver medallions and an all-expense-paid trip with their parents to Washington, D.C., for this week's recognition events. "The Prudential Spirit of Community honorees give us great hope for the future," said Dr. Rice. "Their compassion and commitment are already making a real difference in so many lives, and I have no doubt that their leadership will continue to positively impact the world for many years to come." Lindsey, a senior at Manhattan High School, spent nearly a month last June helping to care for 55 abandoned children at an orphanage in Uganda. "I've always wanted to serve others somewhere in a third-world country," said Lindsey. So, together with a friend who shared her passion, Lindsey earned and saved money for 10 months to pay for a trip to Jinja, Uganda, and landed at the Amani Baby Cottage. Alex, an eighth-grader at Mission Valley Middle School in Prairie Village, founded a youth volunteer organization that has raised $3,500 for animal charities by making and selling pet toys and leashes from recycled materials. "I have always loved animals and I feel strongly about helping the environment, so I combined the two ideas and created pet toys made from recycled building materials, used clothing, and other discarded fabric," said Alex. "Lindsey and Alex are wonderful examples of young Americans who care about the world around them and have taken the initiative to improve that world," said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. "We salute their effort, their achievements, and their spirit of community." More than 21,000 young people submitted applications for the 2010 awards program last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the Points of Light Institute's HandsOn Network. The top middle level and high school applicants in each state were selected in February and flown to Washington this week with their parents for four days of special recognition events. Boulevard Brewing Becomes Official Sponsor of U.S.S. Missouri (SSN-780) Commissioning KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), May 3, 2010 - When Boulevard Brewing Company began to consider becoming an official sponsor of the U.S.S. Missouri (SSN-780) Commissioning Committee, the Kansas City craft brewer knew right away that it didn't want to simply cut a check. Instead, Missouri's largest American-owned brewery saw an opportunity to inform citizens about the new Virginia-class submarine while enlisting their participation in this historic event. For every barrel of Boulevard beer sold in the state of Missouri during the months of May, June, and July, the company will contribute $1.00 to the Commissioning Committee. "No matter what Boulevard product a customer buys--a six-pack, a bottle of one of our Smokestack beers, or a pint at any Missouri bar or restaurant--money will be contributed to the Commissioning," said Bob Sullivan, Boulevard's chief sales and marketing officer. "With 40% of our sales coming from Missouri, we're on track to be the event's single largest contributor." In April, 12-pack containers of gold medal-winning Boulevard Pilsner debuted in packages showcasing Boulevard's sponsorship and featuring an illustration of the submarine. The brewery also created distinctive glassware, server apparel, and other materials retailers can use to promote the campaign. "The number of accounts that have embraced this opportunity has blown us away," said Tod Smith, director of sales for the brewery. "It's been really gratifying to see Missourians' sense of pride and their eagerness to support our troops." The U.S.S. Missouri is the seventh of the new Virginia-class submarines. Longer than a football field and weighing in at more than 7,800 tons, she is manned by a crew of 134, who will go to sea for months at a time. The commissioning will take place on July 31st in Groton, Conn. The ship is expected to see at least 30 years of active duty. Barry Road improvement Work to Start May 10 KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), May 3, 2010 - The City of Kansas City, Mo., Public Works Department is advising motorists that a project to improve traffic flow on NW Barry Road, east of I-29, will begin on May 10. The project includes improvements to the intersections of NW Barry Road and Boardwalk Avenue/Roanridge Road and NW Barry Road and Ambassador/Barrybrooke Drives. It is anticipated that work will be complete by Thanksgiving. During construction, motorists should anticipate temporary lane closures and use the following alternate routes: * I-29 and NW 72nd Street interchange to access AMC Movie Theaters, Barrywoods. * Congress and Tiffany Springs Road to access the Marketcenter (Target/Best Buy/JC Penney/Home Depot/Sports Authority.) * Tiffany Springs Road to access Zona Rosa. * St. Clair (behind St. Luke's Hospital) to access Wal-Mart and Lowe's. These improvements are designed to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance safety. Since 1996, traffic on this section of NW Barry Road has increased from 27,000 to 42,000 cars per day. It is anticipated that traffic will increase to 57,500 cars per day by the year 2030. This section of Barry Road services a major Kansas City Area Transit Authority, KCATA station. Improvements should reduce travel delays for both automobile and bus traffic. Kansas City Begins Transition for Trash Collection KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), May 3, 2010 - On Monday May 3, the Kansas City began the transition for all trash and recycling collections north of the river and south of 63rd Street to Town and Country Disposal. Because drivers may run collection routes in a different order and at different times, it is important for residents to place all trash and recycling curbside no later than 7 a.m. the day of collection. Residents should also be aware on some routes, trucks capable of storing both trash and recyclable materials will be used. Recyclable material placed in these trucks will be processed with all other recyclable material collected by the City. "We have been pleased with the performance of Town and Country Disposal this past year as they successfully managed curbside recycling collection for most of the City, said Michael Shaw, manager of the City's Solid Waste Division. "We're confident that as they expand their collection activity, they will manage the transition in a manner that minimizes service disruptions." Starting May 3, in addition to the City's current no-charge appointment based bulky collection service; residents of Kansas City will have new low cost options for more flexible bulky collection and the disposal of materials from home do-it-yourself projects. Working with Town and Country Disposal, the City's Solid Waste Division has negotiated reasonable rates for residents to use Bulky Express. For a fee, this program can provide bulky collection on a residents next scheduled trash day or on a day other than their regular trash day. In addition to Bulky Express, the Solid Waste Division has negotiated favorable rates for residents to rent dumpster-like boxes to assist with large amounts of material left over from home do-it-yourself projects. A variety of sizes are available. To use Bulky Express or schedule the rental of a large dumpster-like box, residents must call Town & Country Disposal at 816-380-5595. This program is managed by Town and Country Disposal. Kansas City to Host Mayors Innovation Project KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), May 3, 2010 - Mayor Mark Funkhouser has announced that Kansas City has been chosen to host the 2010 Mayors Innovation Project summer meeting. The conference will draw 80-100 mayors, senior city staff and national policy experts to Kansas City on July 21-23. The Mayors Innovation Project, a "learning network" for U.S. mayors, will highlight an urban redevelopment initiative developed by Mayor Funkhouser as well as Kansas City's emerging Green Impact Zone and green solutions for stormwater. Kansas City was chosen from several cities that applied to host the event. "This will give Kansas City a national spotlight for our New Tools for Economic Development initiative, and give us a chance to hear some new ideas from mayors across the country," Mayor Funkhouser said. "As cities do more with less, we can learn a lot from each other." Conference participants will tour the Green Impact Zone, a 150-square-block economically distressed area which is a nationally recognized place-based initiative. The mayors will have an opportunity to learn about the intensive work being done in partnership with stakeholders to green the community by working to improve homes using green solutions, providing opportunities for workforce development and where Kansas City Power & Light is developing a smart grid. In addition, visitors will get a look at the Target Green Project, a 100-acre program believed to be the largest pilot project using green solutions to capture stormwater before it enters city sewers.   The Kansas City Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Kansas City area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 2007 - 2010 Moore Design Group. |
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