To comment on this page click the words "1 comments" shown at the end of the Letters to the Editor following this week's stories.

Read what your neighbors have to say about the upcoming election. Check out our Letters to the Editor section at the end of our regular stories this week.

NEXT WEEK IN THE RAYTOWN REPORT

Election Day will be just one week away. Check out our endorsements,

scheduled to be released one week (April 2nd) before the election.

BY GREG WALTERS

Bits and Pieces
MR. RICHARD TUSH of the Raytown Fire Board and Fire Chief Matt Mace contributed information for this story. Raytown Community
Paramedic Receives Award

Matt Cushman holds a unique position with the Raytown Fire Department. His position is known as a “Community Paramedic”.

The Missouri Crisis Front Line Emergency Providers has awarded Mr. Cushman the prestigious “First Responder Award for the State of Missouri.”

We say “prestigious” because only one of these awards is given out annually.

Congratulations Mr. Cushman. Your efforts in Raytown are appreciated. The award is well deserved.

A Raytown Success Story

In 2018 the City of Raytown faced a serious problem. The Ambulance Service operation was falling apart. If it were a private company, it would be fair to say the operation was on the verge of bankruptcy.

An agreement was reached with the Raytown Fire Protection District to take over the ambulance service.

The Fire District came up with some innovative ideas that have improved the ambulance service in Raytown.

AMBULANCE DEBT FORGIVENESS POLICY: The Raytown Paramedic Service under Fire Chief Matt Mace has created an Ambulance Debt Forgiveness Policy.

According to Mace, “Any medical necessary transport on a Raytown Ambulance is billed directly to the provider . . . be it Medicare, Medicaid or Private Insurance. Whatever is not covered by a second party provider is written off for Raytown residents by the Fire District.

RAYTOWN COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC: When Mace combined the Ambulance Service with the Fire Department he also a position which was accurately named the “Community Paramedic”. Matt Cushman currently holds the position and has been recognized for his work in Raytown.

DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT CLOSET: Another innovation created with the Ambulance/Fire Department merger is the “Durable Medical Equipment Closet”.

Here is how the program works.

Raytown citizens provide used medical equipment such as wheel chairs, walkers, canes, crutches (even medical beds!) for those in need. The equipment is donated by Raytown citizens who no longer have a need for the equipment.

To receive or provide any of the aforementioned items contact Matt Cushman at 816-737-6035.

BY PAUL LIVIUS

Paul’s Rant!

This has been a strange election cycle due in a large part to the antics of our Mayor, Mike McDonough.

He has been busy. His attacks on private individuals and public officials, from my point of view, are damaging his reputation.

He has literally smeared Ward 3 candidate Morris Melloy on Facebook. At Public Meetings as he frequently attacks people who do not share his point of view. The Board of Aldermen have a standing rule which forbids elected officials from responding to public comments.

Apparently, that rule does not apply to the Mayor. At one meeting he literally harangued Mr. Melloy after Morris had left the microphone returned to his seat.

Apparently, having the last word is very important to Michael McDonough!

McDonough has also used Face Book to attack others as well. One of his favorite targets is Ward 1 Alderman Greg Walters.

Make no mistake, Walters and McDonough have had some colorful exchanges at City Council Meetings. In this case the Mayor blames everything “bad” that has happened in Raytown on my friend, Greg Walters.

I asked Greg if he would like to comment on this story. He said he would rather not.

He said it is a “fool’s errand” to engage an individual like McDonough on issues that are not strictly City Council business.

But he did share the following comment.

Walters said, “The Mayor is apparently confused. I am not on the ballot. After over 40 years in this business, I can take the barbs of a political opponent. But I will not play this game that demeans individuals for no reason."

Which brings me to my thoughts on the matter. I wlll close with the first stanza of a poem written many years ago named "Antigonish".

In the poem, "man" is not named. There is no a doubt, the Mayor is obsessed with the man "who wasn't there".

“As I was walking up the stairs
He wasn't there again today
I wish, I wish he'd go away...”
I met a man who wasn't there

April 8^th is Election Day.

Please remember to vote!

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Letters to the Editor

Unknown commented on "(Untitled)"

Facebook always has something interesting posted. The most recent comes from the city of Raytown and has been shared by several city elected officials. The post is reminding candidates and others not to places signs in the right-of-way as "It is the law".

Please don't get me wrong we should all obey the law as that is the basic starting point for a civilized society. The problem with this post from the city is this is not the first election cycle they have posted it. Hearing they have posted before would have you believe that the city followed through with enforcement. WRONG! Last year for month signs not only in the right-of-way, but the sidewalk at Wendy's. Our city officials did nothing day after day. This is the going trend of the current administration. Do nothing other than be a Facebook warrior. The only other thing the current administration has done is raised fees without citizens input and attempt to increase taxes on everything. When it comes to the department that enforces sign nothing has been said like the now norm excuses from the police department.

A little ttle history on these signs and enforcement. When we had enforce under public works. The head of public works would pull the signs. WHAT A DEPARTMENT HEADING ACTUALLY WORKING. Yes, once upon a time we had department heads that took pride in the city. This too has been lost under the current administration.

This is NOT just about signs, but the deeper failure of the current administration. To make sure laws are enforcement instead of excuses being made. It is the reason that it gets harder and harder to pass any tax question as why would we pay more for the excuses plague at city hall. 

Unknown commented on "(Untitled)"

This is one of the strangest elections I have ever experienced. Some of the candidates do not seem to be working very hard to hold onto their seats. Does this sound like upsets in the making? I hope so. Raytown needs change. The bunch in power right now do not seem to understand they are supposed to do more than to recommend tax increases!

For Raytown's future, for our future, please be sure to vote the incumbents out!

Unknown commented on "(Untitled)"

I know exactly what you mean. He and his soulmate, Bonnaye Mims really need to turn down their "hate speech". Complaining about all the negativity and thinly disguised racial comments is a BIG turn off to me and my friends.

Those two, Mims and McDonough, are giving our city a bad reputation. It is time to replace ALL of those running for re-election this year!

Unknown commented on "(Untitled)"

I am very disappointed in Alderman Myers and anyone who still supports him. Be honest what has he done to improve the life's of the citizens. Raising fees without any justified reason other than I am looking for new revenue sources is ethically and morally wrong. Did you know the city requires a permit for several things. The fees for these permits has gone up, but the city never comes out and inspects anything. You decide for yourself if that is right or is it taking advantage of our fellow citizens.

The honest and hardworking citizens are tied of the fact the only thing our police chief and supporters on the board do is make excuses. Instead of making excuses why not enforce vehicle license requirements. This would increase the revenue sources that Myers talks about. The problem is Myers and the rest of the Mayor's dreamteam. They are all in a different reality. A reality were they do everything right, there are no crimes, people maintain their properties, and as Chevy Chase line was from National Lampon, "people $#!+ sunshine". I don't think if Myers and the dreamteam would take off their sunglasses they would be able to see the mess because it would validate that Ryan "Myers" ryimes with Lying "Myers".
As Raytown has recently faced several wind storms that have changed the landscape with trees being removed the winds of change need to blow on April 8th with Myers and the dreamteam finding themselves with more time to spend in dream land and the end of their time to further take advantage of the citizens of Raytown.

Unknown commented on "(Untitled)"

I guess the City doesn't realize that we have had enough taxes. I am voting NO on any new taxes in Raytown. Every election it seems they have another tax issue on the ballot. They need to live within their means just like the residents do.

Unknown commented on "(Untitled)"

Read something on Facebook tonight and based on what I read we need to spend more money on public education.

The responses from several have me hoping the state will once again outlaw marjiuana. Like I said people get educated and stop using drugs or stay off Facebook. You make yourself and our community look stupid.

Unknown commented on "(Untitled)"

Ryan does very little for the people of Ward 3. He hangs them with high taxes on EVERYTHING! Remember when he pushed through the sales tax on internet sales. It went from 0% to 2% because of him. His most recent stunt was to increase our sanitary sewer bills. The city staff had recommended a 5% increase. Ryan got his cronies on the city council to raise it to 7%.

The worst that Ryan did was when he sold out the people living around 53rd and Blue Ridge. He gave very questionable testimony in favor of the development that was not wanted by the neighbors of the old Blue Ridge Nursery.The developer has not fulfilled any of the requirements of his application. The project appears to be dead.

If you live near the old nursery DO NOT GIVEN RYAN A CHANCE TO BRING IT BACK. His track record is clear. He will sell out the neighborhoods again.

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