Jan. 13, 2010

With temperatures inching up into the 30s early this week, we’re starting to feel like lucky newshounds just to be rid of the below-zero temps of last week. It’s supposed to get up to 41 degrees today with sunny, clear skies. Yippie!

However, with this warming trend upon us and people finally digging their cars out from under the snow, this ‘lil news-pooch would like to encourage everyone to remove the snow from their vehicle … completely. Cleaning a hole the size of a pie plate on your windshield and calling it good is dangerous, not only to you but to everyone else on the streets and sidewalks. Of course, if this represents your worldview, then please — motor on!

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We here at the House of News were encouraged by the city’s effort (albeit half-hearted) to at least try to get ahead of the last blizzard. Snow removal is a basic city service, something Mayor Mark Funkhouser was quick to make a campaign plank in his “city that works” platform.

Talk all you want to about “30-year” snowstorms and how this wasn’t the norm, but the bottom line is there are still streets in this community that are largely impassable thanks to this city’s inability to fulfill a basic city service. Calling it anything else but the failure it is, is a lie. (There is a lot of that going around these days.)

Just remember, this is the same bunch that’s going to try to hike your water bill here before the next municipal elections. Just as elected officials are responsible for what they do, they’re just as responsible for what they DON’T do.

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The fine folks at the Kansas City Museum say they are eager to keep their neighbors up-to-date on the changes going on at the museum during the restoration process. To that end, all Scarritt Renaissance neighbors are invited to attend the monthly Hard Hat Tours of the museum. The next tour is scheduled for 3 p.m. this Sunday and will last about an hour. The tour introduces changes brought about recently, discoveries behind the walls and plans for the building and programs after renovations are complete. Admission will be free to you Scarritt folks. If you haven’t been on one yet, we’d highly recommend it! RSVP to Ericka King, eking@unionstation.org.