Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Chieftain from Bonner Springs, Kansas • 1

SOccrrs BOXXEU SPHINGS, EDWAHDSVILLE AND THE KAW VALLEY SINCE 1896 LIVING16A SPORTSIB Change of seasons Bonner Springs althletes prepare for winter sports THURSDAY NOV. IB, 1000 cussinas if i CBWi HID 7B DEATHS IA KDITtiRlALS uvw; tc IB 4B B0XXERSPRI.NGS.COM Command performance Basehor-Linwood students get a crash-course lesson in theater Planners approve development amid onnosition sat I igS 1 1 yffVmmmtr- I iT 1 1 KEVIN WRIGHT Staff writer In the face of opposition from some residents, the Edwardsville Planning Commission approved a preliminary plat for the second phase of a controversial development In a unanimous vote at a special meeting Wednesday, Nov. 8, the commissioners approved the second phase of Country Acres Trails, in the 400 block of South 1 10th Street Some residents spoke against further development on the land because of the existing modular and manufactured homes already in place on 13 lots. The development came under fire by the city council because one of the development's residents complained about the condition of her home and the selling practices of the company her family bought it from. The new phase will add several more lots to the east of the present homes.

Resident John Altevogt was vocal in his opposition to the development "You can put all the lipstick you want on the pig, but it's still a pig," he told the commission. Altevogt lives south of the development He went on to say the selling practices of the manufactured home retailer and problems with the development recently reported in area newspapers should prompt the commission to deny the request He added the city and surrounding residents first understood the development would have stick-built and not manufactured homes. Commission Chairman Norman Maier said the commissioners weren't deciding what structures developer David Assmann could place on the land, only how the land was platted for development. Commissioner Richard Doenges also responded to the complaints. "We are not going to talk about selling practices or about the houses," Doenges said.

Two other residents spoke in opposition to the development, asking the planning commission to vote against the preliminary plat and site plan. However, Sandy Bonfield, who owns one of the houses in phase one, spoke in favor of the development She took offense to one resident calling the development a slum. She and her husband were happy with the development and looked forward to moving in, she said. Bonfield also said the houses in the development would appraise at a higher tax value than those of surrounding residents, which would mean more money for government coffers. Assmann also defended the development, saying it was "not a dump or lipstick on a pig," and homeowners would be obligated to maintain the homes in a way that would not bring down the value of the area.

"We think its going to be a nice development," he said. He echoed Bonefield's statements when he told commissioners the houses were of high quality and would appraise at a higher tax value than many existing rural houses in the area. City Planner Dan Van Petten said the preliminary plat and JACKIE HOSEYSTAFF BONNER SPRINGS High School Assistant Principal Jim Soper talks to students last week during a Veteran's Day ceremony at the school. Prior to becoming an educator, Soper served 27 years in the military. Speaking from experience Mexicans had done, and that had created some bad blood," said Soper.

Although this was not a combat situation, Soper was aware that hostilities existed nevertheless and decided to make an attempt to reestablish good will. A Master Parachutist, Soper arranged to be the first American ever to jump with the Mexican Army. "I initiated the entire situation to facilitate a more cooperative environment between the Mexican and the U.S. armies," Soper said. "They had one parachute brigade of about 2,000 men, and they also had one High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) team of 10 men.

So I not only parachuted with static line jumps, but I completed several free-fall jumps at about 30,000 feet as well," he said. "By taking this risk with them, we PATSHELEY Staff writer Because his mind is filled with vivid memories of combat duty and various missions, everyday is Veteran's Day for Retired Lt CoL Jim Soper. During his 27 years of military experience, Soper, assistant principal at Bonner Springs High School, served a 3 12 year tour of duty in Vietnam, three three-year tours in Germany, a tour in Mexico, which included an incumbency tour with Peru and an assignment in Somalia. He has also, been all over the world on various types of missions and assignments. "I think I knew from early childhood that I wanted to be a soldier because I would crawl up into the attic where my dad kept his World War II uniform, and, when he wasn't home, I would try it on." His admiration for his uncle, a 32-year, career soldier, and his fascination with sto ries told by Mr.

Krug, his freshman geography teacher, added to his determination to serve his country. "I spent most of my career in special operations which are generally conducted behind lines with small groups of men during combat situations," Soper said. He was also often involved in classified operations, the nature of which he is still obligated not to discuss. Although Soper collected an array of awards, including the Combat Infantry Badge, two silver stars, six bronze stars, two purple hearts mean I forgot to and the Army Commendation Medal for Valor, he is most proud of his achievements in Mexico. "Prior to our arrival there, an ugly situation had developed between our two countries because of America's various operations to counter the flow of drugs.

There had been a lot of uncomfortable situations where Americans were trying to override what the See VETERANS, page 3A See DEVELOPMENT, pae3A Kansas Speedway moves up starting date i 1 CtTbi. mZmi" a J' -7 it Edwardsville Council rejects candidate for city administrator KEVIN WRIGHT Staff writer Candidates for the position of Edwardsville City Administrator have gone from five, to four, to one, to none. In a 3-2 vote Monday night, the Edwardsville City Council shot down Mayor Luther Pickell's recommendation to hire Doug Spangler as the city's new administrator. Councilwoman Betty Waldo and councilmen Garrett Mellott and Jim Hess were the opposing votes, with Councilwoman Katherine DeFilippis and Councilman Ed Gillette voting in favor of hiring Spangler at a salary of $50,000 a year. Spangler, a real estate manager in Kansas City, is the Democratic state House Rep.

for the 36th District He recently won reelection in the Nov. 7 general elections. Instead of voting in executive session and then announcing they had i te ing season. The cars match the engine compression, wheelbase and weight of a Winston Cup stock car, but can reach greater speeds. The Kansas Speedway event will be the western most venue on the ARCA ReMax Series racing schedule.

Two-time, and current ARCA Bondo Mar-Hyde racing champion Jeff Kimball said the series is an exciting competition that will give race fans their money's worth. Kimball said he was impressed with the Speedway's layout and thought they would have a good race in June. The ARCA ReMax series has more than 100 races a year, and adding a race at the Kansas Speedway gives racers one more venue to win. "I can't be bad everywhere, sooner or later I have to win a race," Kimball said. The inaugural day race will be the farthest east the NASCAR's Winston West Series has run since its inception, said Kevin Green, NASCAR's Winston West Series media coordinator.

The June event will mark the fourth time the series has raced on a speedway's KEVIN WRIGHT Staff writer The Kansas Speedway is revving up its racing lineup with a double-header event for its inaugural race day. Speedway officials said Tuesday, the ARCA ReMax Series and NASCAR's Winston West Series will debut back-to-back, June 2. "We think it will be a great day of racing with two of the best racing series in the country," said Jeff Boerger, Kansas Speedway vice president and general manager. The announcement came during a press conference Tuesday at the Speedway that was scheduled to open July 7 with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. With the recent addition to the racing lineup, Speedway officials moved up opening day and will sell separate tickets for the event, Boerger said.

"We are a series were the racers aren't racing for money, they're racing for the love of racing," said Ron Drager, ARCA Bondo Mar-Hyde Series president ARCA ReMax racers run on different types and sizes of track surfaces in various race formats throughout the rac KEVBI WMGXT JTOfT A KANSAS City, racecar driver brought his ARCA Series stock car to the Kansas Speedway Tuesday in conjunction with the official announcement that the ARCA ReMax Series and Winston West Series would race in a double-header opening day, June 1 See page 3A SeeSPEEOWAY.paeOl CALL US: (913) 422-4048 FAX: (913) 422-4233 E-MAIL EOIT0RB0NNERSPRIKGS.C0M.