Adrianne DeWeese's blog

While I might be slightly limited in my personal volunteering opportunities because of future potential conflicts of interest with reporting, I still enjoy reporting about those who work hard – and without monetary pay – for the improvement of their communities.

Tina Wyatt-Rockers has worked hard to involve a wide range of community leaders and citizens for a public meeting at 7 tonight at Cler-Mont Elementary School, 2101 N. Twyman Road, in Independence. The topic will be recent fights that Wyatt-Rockers captured in a cell-phone video. Tina had told me last week that she was making calls like crazy in efforts to attract representatives with state and federal legislators, as well as Independence city staff and City Council members.

Hello readers,
Just in case you didn't catch my final business column today, I would like to announce that I am now the city of Independence beat reporter. Toriano has moved up to assistant sports editor, as he wrote several blogs below this one. I will definitely miss my business beat, but I know that I also will stay extremely busy with the city of Independence beat. Thanks to all of you for your readership and participation in our online blogs. 
 
-Adrianne

This week, my business column discusses the history of Stephenson's Old Apple Farm Restaurant at U.S. 40 and Lee's Summit Road. Many of you know that the restaurant closed in spring 2007. Unfortunately, I never got to experience the old Stephenson's, but I enjoyed hearing the stories of history Monday morning with Steve Stephenson, the son of Loyd Stephenson. Loyd founded the original restaurant with his brother, Les.

As Chrysler files for bankruptcy protection and restructures its corporation, I am reminded of another restructuring in Chrysler's history.

Despite dozens of articles, editorials and guest columns over the past three months, many are still craving more information about the proposed Independence Regional Entrepreneurial Center (a.k.a. the business incubator) that would be housed at the former Independence Regional Health Center.
Tomorrow, a press conference is scheduled to make the announcement official.

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver spoke for an hour straight Friday morning before a packed room of business professionals at the Independence Chamber of Commerce. He spoke softly, yet firmly, only pausing several times for a sip of water. As he dived into the economic recession and different components of its discussion, he came upon the "Big Three" auto bailouts. He claimed that failing to financially help or "bailout" the auto industry would, by some economists' accounts, cause unemployment in the U.S. to rise to 15 percent overnight.

It's an exciting day at The Examiner. Our featured bloggers site is finally live, and I am anxious to hear from our readers. Please allow me to introduce myself further.

Because of overwhelming online registration for Sen. Claire McCaskill's Independence "Kitchen Table Talk" Wednesday, the registration has reached its maximum capacity. For those who did RSVP in time, the event will now take place at MCC-Blue River, 20301 E. Missouri 78, in the Arts & Sciences Building gymnasium. The Independence Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the event. For coverage and a personal Q5 with Sen. McCaskill, be sure to check out The Examiner.

I've been at The Examiner now for almost five months, and I love my beat. Businesses keep me busy everyday, especially in this fragile economy. When I first started writing my Tuesday column, "What's Going On," I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find something new to write about each week. Now, I have a long list of new businesses opening and topics to write about. If you see something being built around town or a new/closing business and wonder, "What's going on?" please feel free to call me at 816-350-6321 or e-mail me at adrianne.deweese@examiner.net.

As promised, a scanned-in copy of the IRMC TIF cash flow is attached to this blog post as a jpg file. Remember, these numbers are not guarantees; these are projected numbers. I'll address this further in a follow-up story in the weekend edition of The Examiner.
-Adrianne

 Good evening bloggers, 
I should have provided this update on Monday. During Friday morning's Independence Chamber of Commerce legislative briefing, City Manager Robert Heacock provided several updates on upcoming events in Independence. Most importantly, the city will announce the primary tenant for the Independence Events Center in the next week or two. This will be the long-anticipated announcement of the Central Hockey League team. 
Also, on May 7, the city will participate in a topping ceremony at the events center. 

Good morning everyone,

Hello again everyone,
Thanks for reading the blogs last week about the Independence Regional Medical Center Tax Increment Financing Plan Advisory Committee and its meeting about $12 million available for the revitalization of the two former Independence hospitals. Please note that the issue isn't final yet because the Independence City Council has the final vote.

An important meeting will take place at 6 tonight at the Truman Memorial Building on West Maple Avenue. The Independence Regional Medical Center Tax Increment Financing Plan Advisory Committee will hear the Truman Manor LLC/MCI proposal – as requested at last week's meeting – and then committees members will make their recommendation.