A Columbia minister who’s known for his efforts to mentor youth is optimistic about Saturday afternoon’s Columbia heart of the community summit. The two-hour summit’s aim is to brainstorm for solutions about reducing youth violence, increase volunteering and mentoring and to increase job preparation for the youth. Reverend James Grey joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, telling us that black-on-black crime must be addressed. He’s also calling for an investment in ALL neighborhoods and to stop counting numbers and instead focus on people:
(LISTEN): Grand opening for Columbia’s new Toptracer is Saturday
A big crowd is expected for Saturday’s grand opening for Midway Golf and Games’ brand-new Toptracer golf facility in Columbia.
The multi-level facility has been taking walk-ins this week. Businessman Taylor Burks is the president of Rost Inc. and serves as general manager at Midway Golf and Games.
“What Toptracer does it’s the technology that’s owned by Topgolf and allows golfers to have their golf ball tracked out of the tee box. And so you can see your own performance, but it also adds an element of video games,” Burks says.
You will now be able to ride go-karts, take batting practice and play Pebble Beach without leaving Columbia. The highly-anticipated grand-opening for Toptracer at Midway Golf and Games is Saturday from 10 am until 10 pm. Burks says you can also try different courses, with Toptracer’s technology.
“But you can select say St. Andrew’s play that. Pebble Peach, play that. On the screen you’ll see the courses, you’ll see the holes on that course and you’re playing wherever your ball lands in relation to what that course is, you’ll see that on the screen,” says Burks.
Saturday will also be the grand opening for 44 Tavern at the site. Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz will hold his countdown to kickoff event to benefit Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Missouri at 5:30 in the banquet room.
There will also be a large fireworks display Saturday evening at 9:15.
Southern Boone R-1 construction site draws picket from two union tradesmen
Ashland-area residents noticed a large inflatable rat on Wednesday near Southern Boone R-1’s football field construction site.
Two members of Operating Engineers Local 513 sat near the inflatable rat with an informational picket sign.
One of the union members spoke to 939 the Eagle at the site, saying their sign represents their message. The sign says Lee’s Summit-based Mid-America Sports Construction is paying wages to construction workers below rates established in mid-Missouri. The sign notes the picket is designed to raise awareness and that other union workers are not being requesting to stop working on the project.
The workers at Southern Boone R-1 are installing artificial turf at the football field and are also rebuilding and resurfacing the track, which was more than 20 years old. Southern Boone R-1 patrons approved a $3-million bond issue for the project in April 2022.
Operating Engineers Local 513 in St. Louis represents about 4,200 skilled trade members.
(LISTEN): Columbia clergy members and others preview Saturday summit on youth violence, poverty
A former Columbia mayoral candidate, clergy members and other area leaders have organized a Saturday community summit that’s aimed at reducing youth violence and providing more opportunities for youth.
They unveiled their plan during a Tuesday afternoon press conference inside downtown Columbia’s city hall. The Rev. Charles Stevenson tells reporters that it’s critical to restore family values.
“And we know that the absent father in the African-American family is at the crux. 73 percent of African-American kids who are without a father figure, father figure in the household, they make up 42 percent of the most impoverished of all families in the city,” Rev. Stevenson says.
He says there are underserved neighborhoods in Columbia that deserve additional resources, including Demaret and Rice road. He emphasizes there are many good people who live in these neighborhoods who deserve things like better parks and lighting.
Summit organizers say that to solve problems, we first have to understand them. Former Columbia mayoral candidate Tanya Heath, clergy members and community leaders have organized the summit. Glenn Cobbins Sr. joined Heath at city hall, telling reporters that we must redefine the term at-risk:
“I want everybody to know that at-risk is anybody that was conceived and had birth. Everybody is at-risk, I don’t care if it’s in the Highlands or in the projects or at Bear Creek. It doesn’t make any difference,” says Cobbins Sr.
Ms. Heath says 23 percent of Columbia residents are living in poverty. She tells 939 the Eagle that the group’s intentions for people’s hearts are cooperation, being open-minded and generous.
Rev. James Grey joined Heath, Cobbins, Rev. Stevenson and others at the press conference. Rev. Gray, an African-American minister and community leader, says it’s imperative that Columbia residents start talking about what he describes as real issues, including black-on-black crime.
“When are we as a community going to start talking about black-on-black crime? A 33-year-old man just got shot. He’s dead and gone: they’re (Columbia Police) looking for eight young African-American. That’s nine that’s going to be gone,” says Grey.
Rev. Grey is referring to the June 26th drive-by shooting and murder of Deshon Houston, who was killed in his north Columbia driveway by multiple shooters in two different vehicles. Grey is also challenging the news media in Columbia to tell more positive and uplifting stories in newscasts.
Heath, Rev. Grey and other community leaders have organized a community summit for Saturday afternoon at Columbia’s Community United Methodist Church on West Broadway. It’s from 1-3 pm, and you’re invited and encouraged to participate.
Familiar name is Ashland’s new interim police chief
The southern Boone County town of Ashland has an interim police chief.
City administrator Kyle Michel says Allen “Scott” Young will begin serving as interim chief this (Wednesday) morning. Mr. Michel says Young will serve as interim chief until police chief Gabe Edwards returns to duty or a new chief is appointed.
Young retired from CPD as a lieutenant in 2017 after 20 years of service to the department. Chief Edwards has been on paid administrative leave since last Monday. The city of Ashland says it involves a personnel matter. Young tells ABC-17s Nia Hinson that he doesn’t have any specific agenda and will work to bring stability to the department now.
Young’s appointment also means the Boone County Sheriff’s office will cease command of Ashland Police operations.
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