July 27, 2011

The Missouri Press Association gave us a call last week to let us know we were once again recipients of a couple of awards for excellence in journalism in the associations Better Newspaper contest. We can’t tell you the exact awards we garnered until after the annual convention this fall in Branson, but as soon as thats over, well give you the straight skinny on the new brass and the work that was honored.

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Stand up and take a bow Northeast, you did it. This For Lease sign (above) was seen inside the windows at 5402 Winner Rd. last week after the Siragusa family withdrew their request for a density variance and liquor permit for the old Git-N-Go store. According to our sources, the family caved to overwhelming community pressure as well as some negative buzz by this feisty li’l news canine. Were not exactly sure whats next for the building itself, but the whole situation bears continued scrutiny given the fact that if one current liquor permit in the area lapses, the ugly situation could rear its head once again. But, a win is a win. Well take a victory when and where we can.

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We’ve been getting a number of calls in regards to the offending pile of rubble that once was the Vista Theater. Despite clearing all of the hurdles to get moving, the aging pile of bricks remains, much to the dismay of area business owners and residents. Last week, we reported work was scheduled to begin July 21 on removal of the raw materials. However, no activity has been seen at the site. Such delays only serve to perpetuate the myth that Northeast is a trash-pit and nobody wants to come here. Bottom line is someone needs to light a fire under someones chair and get busy cleaning up this mess, especially since it’s roughly 120 days old and should have been cleaned up a long time ago. Rest assured, if this mess was in Brookside or along the Ward Parkway corridor, it would have been taken care of in short order.