1. Classifieds .......................page 5
Around Town...............pages 6-7
School News....................page 8
Volume 122
Number 13
JACKSON COUNTY ADVOCATE NEWSPAPER OFFICE
1102A Main Street - Grandview, MO 64030 • (816) 761-6200 • Open Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm (closed at noon on Wed)
> see page 2
Is a road near you on the list?
by Seann McAnally • JC Advocate
> see page 3
by Andrea Wood • JC Advocate
More than $53 in Coupons Inside!
Serving Grandview, South Kansas City & Hickman Mills for over 55 yearsApril 26, 2012 50¢
Grandview
SeeksFunds
For Road
Projects
P&G Brandsaver, Ruby Tuesday, A&W and more! SEE INSERTS
Tyra White to Play in WNBA
Hickman Mills alum overcomes obstacles, drafted by the L.A. Sparrks Women’s NBA
by Paul Thompson • JC Advocate
More than $53 in Coupons Inside!
April 26, 2012
JACKSON COUNTY ADVOCATE
Grandview officials are prepping
for a slew of applications for federal
aid earmarked for street and highway
improvements.
AtaApril17worksessionoftheBoardof
Aldermen, Public Works Director Dennis
Randolph outlined potential projects for
the board and shared priorities for potential
funds. Together, Randolph and the board
narrowed down seven projects to submit
for federal funds. The seven projects for
which the city will apply for grants are:
• A $1 million pedestrian bridge over
150 Hwy just west of Grand Summit;
• Widening 155th street from the east
frontage road to the eastern city limits to
three lanes, adding sidewalks and a multi-
use path.The estimated cost for that project
is about $2.5 million, for which federal
funds would pay for all but $250,000.
• Landscape the roadside of Highgrove/
Main St from Winchester to the east
frontage road, including sidewalk
rehabilitation at Bennington, a $650,000
project;
• A Byars Rd “trail connector” that
would provide a link between 150 Hwy’s
multi-use path and Byars Rd sidewalks
(about $150,000).
• Extending 135th St. from 5th St to the
west frontage road, a $2.2 million project
that includes two road lanes, curbs and
gutters, storm sewer and a 10-foot-wide
multi-use path.
• Reconstructing curbs and resurfacing
Highgrove Rd from the east city limits to
Whie Ave (about $925,000);
• Extending the 150 Hwy north frontage
road from Gateway Commons to Grand
Summit Blvd., with two or three lanes plus
a 10-foot-wide multi-use path at a cost of
about $900,000.
“We have needs that far outweigh
our ability to fund them…federal funds
are one way to address the shortage.”
Randolph said. “These funds can help us
leverage our available transportation sales
tax funds as we have done with our Main
Street projects.”
The current round of federal fund
applications, administered through the
Mid-America Regional Council, are
available for the 2015-2016 fiscal year,
which begins in October 2015. The
The day of the 2012 WNBA draft, former
Hickman Mills and Texas A&M star Tyra
White was a nervous wreck. She didn’t
sleep the night before. With her professional
basketball future hanging in the balance,
anxiety ruled as the clock ticked.
White’s friends and teammates have
gathered at her house in Texas in a show of
solidarity. But when the first round of the draft
came to a close without calling her name, she
quietly retreated to her bedroom, unable to
watch the proceedings.
Marooned in her room as the WNBA Draft
continued just a thin wall away, Tyra White
was feeling that old anxiety again. She had not
been invited to attend the draft, and according
to her mother, was worried that she may not
be selected.
Then, pandemonium erupted.
White was selected with the 16th overall
pick by the L.A. Sparks, a selection that
“sparked” pandemonium among the friends
and teammates gathered in the room adjacent.
She was the first Big 12 player chosen, taken
with the second pick in the second round.
“It was a relief for me,” admitted White.
“When they called my name, it was just a
blessing.”
White had been here before, to a crossroads
of doubt and uncertainty that might cripple a
weaker player. But her entire career has been
defined by a series of “almost” moments.
She almost never got this far.
For instance, White almost never played
high school basketball.
Despite distinguishing herself among peers
in middle school, the unassuming White was
hesitant to even try out for Hickman Mills
High School squad as a freshman.
“She started playing ball, probably in the
third grade,” explained Tyra’s mother, Betty.
“(But) after middle school, when she was
getting ready to go to high school, she didn’t
think she was going to make the team.”
White confirmed her initial hesitancy
to play basketball in high school.
“I really didn’t want to play, but (former
Hickman Mills) Coach Cassity came and
talked to me,” says White. “I tried out, but
I didn’t think I was going to make varsity.”
Cassity, now the girl’s head coach at
Truman High School, still remembers his
attempts to convince Tyra to try out. Cassity
had heard about the talented White’s exploits
at the middle school level, and was determined
to get her into the gym. So he tracked her
down in the hallways and told her about some
upcoming open gym opportunities, where she
would be able to test her mettle against some
of the other girls.
“She was just shy,” Cassity recalls. “She’s
so unassuming, probably somewhere in her
own psyche, she probably underestimated
herself.”
Fortunately for Hickman Mills, Cassity
BRUMBLE’S FOREST
Teeming with Children
Grandview Alderman
Brent Steeno watched as
his little girl, Odessa, age
2 1/2, was decorated with
a Blue’s Clues on her
cheek. The special event
included a balloon artist,
cotton candy, barbecue,
and more. (Photo by
Andrea Wood)
The City of Grandview showed Saturday that it is “teeming” with children to build a
strong future, as it hosted a joint Arbor Day celebration with the opening of Brumble’s Forest
playground in Meadowmere Park.
“Grandview has worked hard the past 20 years to get back to a place where we can all have
fun...and today is going to be fun,” Mayor Steve Dennis
said Saturday.
Andrew Shelton, a student at Meadowmere Elementary
School, cut the ribbon on the new enchanted playground
named “Brumble’s Forest.” His class at Meadowmere had
helped advise the city on what they wanted to see when the
playground was just on the drawing board.
As the red ribbon fluttered to the sides of a boardwalk
bridge, kids of all ages stormed past Mayor Dennis and
overtook the slides, treehouse, swings, and a host of
other unique play features that help create a “destination
playground” in Grandview.
In fact, the entire day proved that children are the future of
Grandview. A Ginko tree was planted in honor of the city’s
100thAnniversary by three life-long residents...all under the
age of eight. James Wayne II, age 4; Ethan Wood, age 4, and
Braden Shelton, age 8, assisted Parks and Recreation Director
Tony Finlay with the task. Finlay himself was also honored,
as the director announced he is taking another position closer
to his family. His last day is this Friday.
On Saturday, Grandview Mayor Steve Dennis, left, barely had time to get the ribbon cutting scissors away before children ran laughing
into the new “Brumble’s Forest” playground at Meadowmere Park. (Photo by Andrea Wood)
Middle: James Wayne II, age 4; Ethan Wood, age 4, and
Braden Shelton, age 8, helped Parks and Recreation Director
Tony Finlay plant the city’s 100th anniversary tree.
(Photo by Andrea Wood)
Sparks

2. 2 • JACKSON COUNTY ADVOCATEAPRIL 26, 2012 NEWS
Tyra White with Texas A&M (courtesy photo)
1-Year Subscription Rates (includes tax)
Jackson & Cass County Residents...................$22
Inside Missouri, out of County......................... $29
Out of State ..................................................... $34
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Subscriptions are $22 per year in Jackson and
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Mon-Fri 9am-4pm (Wed closed at noon) • (816) 761-6200
Advertising
Representative:
Missouri Press Service, Inc.
Andrea Wood.................................... Owner / Editor
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Tyra White:> from page 1
Public Notices
Tyra White:
GRANDVIEW SPRING CLEAN-UP
APRIL 7TH, 14TH, 21ST AND 28TH
Grandview residents, property owners, and businesses
will be permitted to dump trash and yard debris at
GRANDVIEW BALL PARK, 13200 ARRINGTON
ROAD (See map below) on the following Saturdays,
April 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th between 7:30 AM and 5:30
PM for a
FEE OF $12.00 PER VEHICLE
An additional fee will be charged for tires and appliances
with Freon. The fee for tires will be $1.50 each (limit 8
tires per vehicle) and the fee for appliances with Freon will
be $30.00 each. Proof of residency or ownership will be
required and those who use the dump are asked to separate
their waste and place it in the appropriate containers.
Two Ribbons CutGrandview Mayor Steve Dennis and members of
the Grandview Chamber of Commerced joined new
businesses Glad Heart Realty and CernySmith
Assessments on Friday, April 13th to celebrate their
official ribbon cutting ceremonies. Both businesses
are located in historic Main Street in Grandview
“This is vibrant with activity here, and I am so thrilled
whenever we get to do one of these,” said Dennis.
Above: Mayor Steve Dennis poses with Glad Heart
Realty owners Mike and Diane Bickle and their staff,
as they open the door on their new satellite office
on Main Street. Glad Heart Realty, which opened its
doors in June 2001, estimates that approximately
50% of their clientele is relocating to Grandview
and South Kansas City to be part of the IHOP-KC
community.
At Left: Mayor Steve Dennis with CernySmith
Assessments psychologists Patricia and Leonard
Cerny. CernySmith is a research, development,
testing, and training organization focused on
developing materials and services that support
coaches, organizations, and people living and
working cross-culturally. They provide strategies
and tips on how to enhance transitions within a new
culture. Their tools are used in over 130 countries by
thousands of coaches, international organizations,
expatriates, families, and students.
(Photos by Paul Thompson)
made no such errors in
estimation. He saw a special
player, and was determined
to get her into the fold. White
made the varsity team, going
on to start every game and
average double digit scoring
during her freshman season.
To Coach Cassity, she was a
revelation.
“I don’t know how to
describe it,” said Cassity,
probing for the right words.
“The first time you saw her do
anything with the basketball,
you could see how talented
she was. She just moved and
played like someone well
beyond her years. Her skill
set and her basketball IQ
were well beyond the average
9th grader.”
Along with her natural
ability, Tyra strengthened
her love for the game during
her sophomore season at
Hickman Mills. For the first
time in her life, she began
watching women’s college
basketball games, absorbing
every detail. In short, she was
becoming a student of the
game.
“When I first started
playing basketball, I didn’t
really watch very much,”
admitted White. “During my
sophomore year, I started
watching women’s college
basketball, and I realized this
was something that I wanted
to do.”
White quickly became
Hickman Mills’ best player, a
factnotlostuponthecountry’s
best college basketball
programs. Scholarship
information started pouring
in; both to her home and
through Coach Cassity at the
school.
“She started getting those
pretty early,” says Betty of
the scholarship offers. “She
was pretty much looked at by
all the Big 12 schools.”
Cassity elaborated on
the whirlwind of activity
surrounding his best player.
“There was an absolutely
unbelievable amount of
interest. Her recruiting was
just crazy,” adds Cassity.
“If there are 321 Division I
schools in the country, I would
say half of them or more
contacted her at one point or
another. I’ve had 12 division
1 players, and her recruiting
far exceeded anyone that I’ve
had.”
Even as the hype
surrounding White was
amplifying, she was dealing
with physical issues that
threatened to derail her
promising career. According
to Cassity, White suffered
from extreme asthma during
high school. The condition
was so severe, in fact, that on
more than one occasion she
was taken away from games
in ambulances.
“She won the Challenge
Award for overcoming very
serious asthma,” says Cassity
of White’s high school days.
“That takes a lot of bravery.”
Nonetheless, teams were
beating down the doors for
a chance to land Tyra White.
She was named a McDonald’s
All-American during her
senior year, and after a
lengthy recruiting period, she
committed to LSU late in the
signing period. But the saga
was not yet over.
LSU removed their
coaching staff before White
ever set foot on campus,
causing White to re-open her
recruiting and second guess
the path she had chosen.
“I thought it might be a
sign that this might not be for
me,” says White now, even
indicating that at one point
she considered forgoing a
four-year university in favor
of attending a community
college.
But fortunately, fate
intervened in the form of
Texas A&M head basketball
coach Gary Blair. Blair, like
Cassity before him, set out
to convince White to play
basketball for him.
“We were involved in
recruiting Tyra before she
signedwithLSU,”remembers
Blair. “It worked out perfect
because we really needed her
at the time.”
AfterWhiteagreedtoattend
Texas A&M, expectations
began to pile up. As a Kansas
City product and McDonald’s
All-American attending a Big
12 school, there was definitely
a spotlight shining on her.
Even before her first season
at A&M, White was named
as the Preseason Freshman
of the Year in the Big 12.
Her ceiling, it appeared, was
limitless.
But before her freshman
campaign could even get off
the ground, disaster struck.
Four minutes into her first
college game, White tore
her ACL. The injury was a
devastating blow to White,
who was forced to miss the
entire season while rehabbing
her knee.
“I think that kind of tore her
spirits down,” observed Betty
of her daughter.
Despite the setback, White
was mentally tough enough to
turn the injury into a positive.
Basketball was within her
comfort zone, but it was the
rest of the college lifestyle
that she needed to adjust to.
White was able to take the
time to focus on making those
adjustments. She got a feel
for the academic expectations
at Texas A&M and conquered
a bout of homesickness that
threatened to derail her career.
For his part, Blair believes
that sitting out that first year
was actually a blessing in
disguise.
“The best thing that
happened to her was sitting
out that year,” says Blair of
White. “It allowed her to
mature, and it also allowed
those players playing in front
of her to graduate.”
Coach Cassity agreed.
“I think it gave Tyra a year
to get over the homesickness,
the adjustments to academics
and athletics at the college
level,” he said.
When Tyra came back as a
sophomore,shewasbrimming
with confidence and ready to
become a team leader. Her
added maturity was self-
evident. Blair found himself
relying more and more on his
young star. He trusted White’s
ability to create her own shot,
and started calling plays to
get her the ball in important
situations. She was ready for
the spotlight.
By White’s junior season,
Texas A&M had turned
themselves into a national
juggernaut led by White with
two fellow Kansas Citians:
Forward Danielle Adams (of
Lee’s Summit) and guard
Tanisha Smith (of Lincoln
Prep).
The team made it all
the way to the National
Championship, where White
nailed the game-clinching
shot in dramatic fashion.
“I compliment the other
girls and the rest of the
team because she couldn’t
have done it without them,”
says Betty of the National
Championship, in the
typically understated tone of
the White family. “Those are
the kind of shots that I see her
make a lot. It was exciting
because we were there, and
her going up with a hand in
her face...It was amazing. I
was very proud of her.”
Although White’s senior
season did not end on the same
high note as her junior year,
she nevertheless continued to
grow and mature into a team
leader. After the season, Blair
relayed a telling anecdote
about Tyra that illustrates
her steady growth from shy
freshman to assured senior
leader.
Just last week, Texas
A&M held their annual team
banquet, an event in which
the team’s senior typically
step up in front of everyone
and deliver some words
about their tenure in College
Station, Texas. On this night,
White bucked her unassuming
disposition and delivered a
speech to the attendees. It
was a display Blair feels she
would have been incapable of
as a freshman.
“Tyra, I just was proud of
her. The seniors always get up
andgivetheirspeech,”relayed
Blair. “As a freshman, she
would have said two words,
“thank you”, and put the
microphone down. Now, she’s
got a voice to her. What we
saw was just a transformation
of Tyra, growing into a young
lady from a little homesick
girl from Kansas City.”
She may have gotten over
her homesickness, but home
is never far from her mind.
After celebrating with her
college friends inTexas, about
the WNBAdraft White picked
up the phone and enjoyed the
moment with her mom.
“She called me and we just
cried,” says Betty happily. “I
am so proud of her. She’s been
through all sorts of obstacles
and adversity. Just hearing
her name was probably the
biggest moment of her life.”
In a way, White had come
full circle. After years of
success, White once again
doubted her ability to play
with the big girls. And
once again, the powers that
be quickly disproved that
notion.
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PUBLIC NOTICE
Anthony, M
Bain, R
Davis, E
Garcia-Rojas, P
The following storage units at the said location will
be sold to the highest bidder at Star Storage Self Storage
12120 Grandview Rd Grandview, MO 64030. Auction
will be held on Saturday, May12, 2012 at 10 a.m. Units
belonging to: Anthony, M,Bain, R, Davis, E, Garcia-Rojas,
P, Griddine, T, Harris-Selectman, V, Pierson, K
Griddine, T
Harris-Selectman, V
Pierson, K