939 the Eagle’s "CEO Round Table"

Crews from Columbia-based construction company working around-the-clock at massive Kansas battery plant site

January 26, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

This is an artist’s rendering of the $4-billion EV battery factory that’s being built by Panasonic Energy near Kansas City (November 2022 rendering courtesy of Panasonic Energy website)

A Columbia construction company is currently doing grading work at the future site of the multi-billion dollar Panasonic Energy EV battery plant in Kansas.

The $4-billion factory will be located in De Soto, Kansas, near Lenexa. Columbia-based Emery Sapp and Sons has been awarded a major contract for site preparation.

“Right now we’re doing all the grading work. Very fast schedule. We have, we’re running three shifts a day, so night and day around the clock,” Emery Sapp and Sons vice president Brian Burks says.

Panasonic says the project will make Kansas and the Kansas City region a key player in the domestic electric vehicle industry.

“Do the excavation and grading, get site level and then do all the utilities and pavements, so we can take it from road to front step,” Burks tells 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.”

The plant site is about 30 miles from Kansas City. Panasonic predicts that the new plant in De Soto will add critical capacity to the domestic EV battery supply chain.

Click here to listen to 939 the Eagle host Fred Parry’s full interview with Mr. Burks.

Top Columbia banker predicts more explosive growth in Ashland

January 16, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

This is a design of the campus that Ranken Technical College is currently building in fast-growing Ashland (April 2022 design courtesy of Southern Boone R-1 spokesman Matt Sharp)

The president of Columbia’s largest bank says growth continues in Ashland, Boonville, Hallsville and Centralia.

Central Bank of Boone County president Ed Scavone notes the bank has branches in all of those communities.

“Some of the housing issues we talked about and cost of land and cost of living is enough difference between Columbia and those markets where that commute’s not so bad. And if you live in south Columbia and you work downtown it’s not much shorter than driving from Ashland to downtown now,” Scavone says.

He says the bank wants to help those communities and businesses grow. Ashland’s population has increased from 3,700 in 2010 to about 4,700 in 2020. That explosive growth has caught the eye of Scavone. He joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning for 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Round Table.”

“Maybe not in my career, but I see it like (southwest Missouri’s) Nixa to Springfield. And between us and Jefferson City. And you’re seeing with the Ranken School that I know you were a big part of making that happen, that’s just a tip of the iceberg of what’s going to happen down there I believe over the coming years,” says Scavone.

Construction continues on Ranken Technical College’s new center in Ashland. It will focus on IT, construction, nursing and manufacturing and is being built next to Salter Lawn Service, near Highway 63. Ranken’s president has told 939 the Eagle that Ranken didn’t choose Ashland, and that it was Ashland which chose Ranken.

Central Bank also opened a new branch in Naples, Florida in August.

(AUDIO): Central Bank of Boone County President Ed Scavone discusses economy and growth on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Round Table”

January 15, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Central Bank of Boone County is Columbia’s largest bank, with about $3-billion in assets. The bank has numerous branches throughout Columbia, two Boonville branches and branches in Ashland, Centralia, Hallsville and Sturgeon. Central Bank of Boone County president Ed Scavone joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Round Table.” Mr. Scavone credits the REDI staff for taking some REDI board meetings on the road to smaller communities. He also predicts that Ashland’s explosive growth will continue. Mr. Scavone predicts that in the future, Ashland and Columbia will be similar to what we’re seeing in southwest Missouri’s Nixa and Springfield:

Seewood: Most of Columbia’s murders in 2022 involved domestic violence

January 10, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood at city hall (July 28, 2022 file photo from 939 the Eagle’s Brian Hauswirth)

Preventing domestic violence is a top priority for Columbia’s city manager. De’Carlon Seewood tells 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Round Table” that nine of Columbia’s 11 homicides last year were domestic-related.

“How do we do some of the mental health support to help people get out of those situations so they’re not involved in the position where they’re being abused or they could potentially can lose their life because of who they’re with,” Seewood says.

Columbia saw at least two murders involving domestic violence in November. 31-year-old Montez Williams is charged with first degree murder for the shooting death of 42-year-old April Joann Brooks of Cuba, who was shot to death in a running vehicle. 31-year-old Cadilac Derrick is charged with two counts of second degree mureder for the November deaths of 22-year-old Lea’johna Sanders and 53-year-old Laura Myers. Court documents say Derrick and Sanders had an infant son.

Mr. Seewood also says while the city is a “pretty safe” community, it must invest in programs aimed at preventing violence. Columbia’s youth are a top priority for Seewood, who’s about to mark his first anniversary as city manager.

“We have to do youth programs. So how do we get in front of some of our kids who potentially could go down that path. To make sure they have positive outlets so they don’t go down that route,” says Seewood.

Click here to listen to host Fred Parry’s full interview with Seewood.

(AUDIO): Columbia city manager Seewood outlines his first year on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Round Table”

January 8, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood is about to mark his first anniversary in that position. He began on January 15, 2022. Mr. Seewood describes Columbia as a gem for residents to enjoy. Seewood joined 939 the Eagle host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning at 7 on the “CEO Round Table,” recapping his first year. Taking care of the homeless continues to be a top priority for Seewood, and Room at the Inn (RATI) has moved to the former VFW Post 280 building on Ashley street. Seewood tells listeners he believes there are about 100 to 200 homeless residents in Columbia. He also spoke about rollcarts, trash collection and the city’s power grid infrastructure: