News Around Town

I have a lot of pictures today!!


It's the combination of snow and ice that makes things more difficult.

 

picture is courtesy of KansasCity.com
When the city advisories said "STAY OFF THE ROADS", I don't think they meant driving off of them.

This week, here at TAOBC, I am aiming for a few  heart warming stories resulting from events around Kansas City. Anything that has the word "warm" connected to it, got moved to the front of the line.  So for today, I am just talking about some nice things that have happened in my city this past week.  Hopefully, there are nice things happening where you live as well.

 Last week, I wrote about the first wave of the snowstorm that blew through here on Thursday. With that storm most of the KC got between 10-16 inches of snow.  Comparatively speaking that amount  of snow isn't all that bad.  I guess, you might disagree if you live in Phoenix or Orlando. Here in Kansas City that amount isn't unheard of but is a bit unusual.  The upside to the snow...is that it is a  lot of fun for the kids (the word "kid" here isn't defined by age)  that came out in droves to play.  I was going to post a picture of all the people on one of the local sledding hills. but after arriving, I couldn't find a parking spot. The hill was covered with all manner of people with sleds, toboggans, even sheets of plastic to slide around on this wintery slide. SPOILER ALERT!!! Just so you get to see some sledding pictures, I have added some to the bottom of the post.

ANYWHO...  as I was saying.........That was last Thursday......and the snow wasn't done with us.  After a couple of days of milder weather, round two came through.  Tuesday of this week a second snow storm  moved into the area clogging up the already snow packed roads.  That brings me to a story that is a story about people being generous and kind.  Really?? LOOK AT ME WRITING A FRIDAY NEWS STORY THAT IS ABOUT NICE PEOPLE. 

Miracle of 74th Street

Emergency crews were called to a south side Kansas City neighborhood on Tuesday where  a resident had collapsed  of an apparent heart attack while trying to shovel out the snow from his drive.  Unfortunately, when the ambulance tried to enter the unplowed street, it became stuck.

Now that is what you call GOOD NEIGHBORS.

John Molloy said he and his neighbor were both out in their yards building snow forts with their children when they saw the stuck ambulance. The vehicle's rear wheels were just spinning in the snow.  The two men grabbed shovels and headed down the street to try to dig out the back tires of the ambulance.  Other neighbors noticed as well.  One by one people started coming out of the houses all along the street..with their shovels.  Each person shoveling a portion of the street  allowing the ambulance to reach the collapsed neighbor.  As the ambulance arrived the fallen man was unresponsive with no pulse. As the neighbors waited the paramedics attempted to resuscitate the man who was loaded into an ambulance. The ill man was revived on the way to the hospital and is said to be doing well.

Later a statement was issued by Battalion Chief James Garrett.  "Truly those neighbors helped save his life. It's a great story of people helping people."




That is just downright neighborly. Doesn't human kindness just warm your heart.

The Plaza Fire

Now I have probably confused you because I was talking about "feel good" stories.  Yes, I still am heading toward a nice story.

You may of heard about the unfortunate explosion on our lovely Kansas City Country Club Plaza.  (Relax..this isn't the nice part yet.)

JJs Restaurant prior to the blast

 On February 19th a construction crew hit a  gas leak causing a massive explosion leveling JJ's, a local restaurant that has been part of the Country Club Plaza for 28 years. Again...not the nice part.

The blast

The aftermath

Here is the part that is the nice part.  The community has pulled together to help the JJs employees sustain themselves until their restaurant is rebuilt or whatever is to be decided about the future of the destroyed restaurant. 

One of the other local restaurants, Jaspers,  got the ball rolling by all of their staff  giving up shifts so that the JJs employees could keep working.  Then other restaurants followed.  A number of restaurants are absorbing the displaced workers.  Also, there are over 100 other restaurants that are donating 10 percent of their profits to help fund the JJs Employee Assistance Fund. Still others are putting together fundraisers to cover the needs of the 15 that were injured and help the family of the one fatality.  The fund will cover living expenses, medical insurance and other costs associated with the staff's needs during the process of rebuilding. According to a press release, all the displaced employees will continue to draw  paychecks.

I love when a community helps their own in times of need. 

Can You Bear It?

I am a big supporter of the local zoo. Yep, I LOVE the Kansas City Zoo. As as a  card carrying member of  the "Friends of the KC  Zoo", I am thinking our new Polar Bear is quite cute.  So today, I would like to introduce you to Berlin.

Such a lady

She has come to keep Nikita the male Polar bear at the KC Zoo company. Berlin is relaxing in the sun prior to the snow starting.

Right now, Nikita is protecting his balls.  If Berlin handles herself right, she will get them.

 I think the zoo is hoping  that Berlin the Polar Bear is a cougar. (she is older than Nikita)  It would be a nice addition to the zoo to have some baby bears.


 Bear with Me

While I try to contain myself, and not post a ton of pictures of my grandboys...because people tend to get annoyed with too much of that sort of thing.  I just can't resist a couple of these.

Big brother is holding on tight to little brother.

I'm two and I'm cool which makes big brother laugh.

Pulling someone up the hill is waaayyy harder than sliding down the hill.

 You can thank me that I didn't post 50 more.  You're welcome!