Top 10 local stories of 2017

News Tribune staffers rank biggest local stories of year

A sign marking the future site of the second Jefferson City High School sits off Missouri 179.
A sign marking the future site of the second Jefferson City High School sits off Missouri 179.

Jefferson City's 2017 included moments of celebration, some challenging issues and a front-row seat for a once-in-a-lifetime celestial show.

This year, we approved funding for a second public high school, broke ground for a new Special Olympics training campus, secured 32 acres of Missouri State Penitentiary from the state, and opened several new facilities including a new athletic complex at Helias, a wellness center at Lincoln University and a new Boys & Girls Club. And, nearly 30,000 folks descended on the Capital City to see a total solar eclipse.

Read on for summaries of our top 10 local news story picks of the year.

1. Jefferson City area voters approve funding for second public high school

Given all the news about designs and construction timelines in the months since, it could be easy to forget Jefferson City Public Schools' two-high school future was anything but certain going into the April 4 election, when voters approved the local school tax levy increases to fund a second high school and renovations to the existing one.

A more than 64 percent majority of local voters in 2013 vetoed a plan to build one large mega-high school, and that electoral outcome was still fresh on the minds of proponents for expanding and updating Jefferson City's high school facilities.

Fear of failure at the polls again drove a majority of the district's Board of Education to agree when deciding what to put on the ballot for the two-high school plan to not include a measure to immediately address community concerns of overcrowding at East Elementary School by funding construction of a new elementary school.

That decision was not enough to scuttle the two-high school plan. Proposition J, which asked for a 65-cent tax levy increase to fund a $130 million bond issue got 62.4 percent approval; Proposition C, which asked for a 45-cent operating levy increase - 25 cents to cover the operating costs of a second high school and 20 cents to cover needs within the existing school system - got 60.4 percent approval.

The 32.2 percent turnout in the election exceeded the county clerk's projection and was higher than the 2013 election's turnout.

"I just feel blessed," JCPS Superintendent Larry Linthacum said the night of the election as the results came in, reflecting on how much the community had entrusted the school district with.

Voters' approval of the two-high school plan goes beyond the construction and renovation of those buildings. Future no-tax-increase bond issues available through the district's increased bonding capacity will allow for other new construction projects in the coming years, likely as soon as 2021 or 2022. These may include construction of new elementary, middle, or fifth- and sixth-grade buildings.

The future of Simonsen 9th Grade Center is being evaluated, perhaps to become an alternative school.

The board in February approved minor boundary line changes that shifted students away from East Elementary School, in light of the overcrowding concerns.

The second high school at Mission Drive off Missouri 179 is expected to open for its first students in fall 2019, and a committee recently started the work to redraw other boundary lines to adjust which students go to which of the district's two middle schools. The plan to have Thomas Jefferson Middle School students attend the second high school and Lewis and Clark Middle School students go to the renovated existing high school has not changed.

The increase in the district's operating levy also has paid for new textbook series and accompanying teacher planning resources, classroom technology improvements, expanded behavioral and mental health support for students, and a preschool room at Callaway Hills Elementary School.

Groundbreaking for the second high school is expected in January, when the district also plans to reveal the school's name, as chosen by the community from three choices determined by public submission, committee and board approval and a final public vote: Capital City High School, Mission High School or Stoneridge High School.

2. Jefferson City is in the path of totality for total solar eclipse

Thousands of stargazing tourists flocked to Jefferson City on Aug. 21 to see a rare total solar eclipse shroud Jefferson City and surrounding areas in darkness.

For 2 minutes and 29 seconds at 1:15 p.m. Aug. 21, the moon completely blocked the sun and turned day into night. During the spectacle, the path of totality extended about 30 miles north and south of Jefferson City.

The Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated about 30,000 people visited Jefferson City during the days surrounding the eclipse. Hotels around the area were booked nearly to capacity during the weekend surrounding the eclipse.

City officials and event organizers planned more than a year in advance for the weekend festival leading up to the Aug. 21 eclipse. Festivities included a Capital Eclipse party and live music in downtown Jefferson City, NASA's "Journey to Tomorrow" exhibit at the Missouri Capitol, a carnival and eclipse-themed corn maze in North Jefferson City, and a two-day "Total Eclipse of the Park" event hosted by the East Side Business Association at Ellis-Porter Riverside Park.

NASA TV filmed the eclipse from the steps of the Missouri Supreme Court.

CVB officials said about 10,000 people gathered at the North Jefferson City Recreation Area, which served as the main gathering spot to watch the event.

A few miles south, about 15,000 people gathered on the lawn of the Capitol, eliciting cheers from people who reported hearing crickets during totality.

Texas Supreme Court Judge Nathan Hecht flew up from Austin to see the event.

"We've been planning this trip for months and months - we looked all across the United States, the West Coast and the East Coast, and the chances of the weather being good here were better," Hecht said. "It was unbelievable."

Students at Jefferson City High School and Helias High School gathered at the schools' respective football stadiums to watch the eclipse. Helias Principal Kenya Fuemmeler said the event served as an educational experience.

3. Community discusses diversity after racially insensitive photo incident

There's a saying about how many words a picture is worth, and whatever the intent of local students involved in a photo that circulated locally on social media this fall, it opened a pathway for community conversation about diversity, inclusion and inequities over the past several months.

The photo that surfaced in September - and that Jefferson City Public Schools officials later called "racially insensitive" and confirmed involved three Jefferson City High School students - showed youths posed in front of a car that had racist and other offensive imagery drawn into dust on the trunk. The inscribed imagery included swastikas and a racial slur against African-Americans.

JCHS took disciplinary action against its students involved, even though the event occurred off school property and after hours. JCPS officials said they felt obligated and legally capable to act in the interest of student safety and potential disruptions of school learning environments.

Beyond the immediate reaction by the district, the notoriety of the photo proved to be a seismic force that cracked a facade - behind which was a reservoir of community concerns that became more widely public at church-hosted town hall forums and later district-sponsored meetings.

The conversations at these events about racism, diversity and inclusion were not exclusive to local schools. But a lack of diversity among school staff compared to the diversity of the student body, disparities in discipline between white and non-white students, and a perceived lack of diversity in curriculum were among the chief concerns expressed.

The district's community meetings after the town hall forums asked people to come up with ideas to address these and other issues, and asked the community what they saw as the role of schools, parents and the wider community in promoting diversity and inclusion.

A more detailed plan by the school district to address issues is expected in the coming weeks and months, as discussions with outside entities like Columbia Public Schools on best practices, internal discussions with students and staff, staff diversity training, and audits of the district's discipline data continue or are planned. JCPS Superintendent Larry Linthacum has said the district will bring back its multicultural advisory committee.

Meanwhile, task forces within the local Faith Voices for Jefferson City group are working to encourage support of minority-owned businesses, tackle issues of community or neighborhood improvement, study and offer recommendations on the school district's hiring practices and city and police department policies, and be a liaison with the school district to work on discipline issues.

Following the community discussions, Jefferson City also revived its Human Relations Commission.

4. Kevin Rome leaves Lincoln University; school seeks new president

Three-fourths of the way through his fourth year as Lincoln University's 19th president, Kevin Rome announced the 2016-17 school year would be his last in Jefferson City.

Rome became the 16th president of Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee, on July 1.

He told reporters in March he - and many others - consider Fisk to be one of the nation's "elite" historically black colleges and universities, but he wasn't trading administrative headaches for smooth sailing.

"Private schools actually experience more budget challenges than public schools," he explained, noting his decision to accept the Fisk offer "was about the opportunity to lead such a historic institution during challenging times."

A search for his successor began in August and is expected to be finished in February or March 2018.

Barbara Bowles, Fisk University Trustees' chair, said in a news release: "Fisk was looking for a transformational leader who would be able to shape our future and accelerate our growth as a leader in the Liberal Arts and Stem disciplines. We believe that Dr. Kevin Rome is that person."

Rome came to Jefferson City in June 2013 but left four years later with a mixed record of making some welcomed changes, while also helping create a rift with faculty - especially through decisions to cancel LU's history and sacred music programs.

The history degree program later was re-instituted, with changes.

State budget cuts resulted in nearly 50 employees, including 15.5 faculty positions, being cut at the start of the new business year in July.

Rome told reporters he'll always be a Lincolnite and told LU's faculty, staff and students in the email announcing his departure: "While I have held other leadership roles previously, Lincoln University is my first presidency."

5. Jefferson City makes improvements to East Capitol Avenue

As the Jefferson City Housing Authority continues to pursue condemnation of three properties in the East Capitol Avenue urban renewal zone, the city completed the streetscape project along East Capitol Avenue in November.

The streetscape project extended from Adams to Lafayette streets and included new lights and trees, repaired sidewalks, improved curbs and gutters, and new bicycle lanes. The project cost about $1.5 million.

Last year, the Jefferson City Council approved the East Capitol Avenue urban renewal zone, bordered by East State Street, Lafayette Street, East High Street - including some parcels on the south side of East High Street - and Adams Street. This area was declared blighted due to deteriorating conditions of some of the homes.

The Housing Authority sent letters to property owners earlier this year as part of the East Capitol Avenue Urban Renewal Plan, stating if they did not sign rehabilitation agreements and fix up their properties, they risked eminent domain.

While a couple of property owners received extensions and are in the process of working on their properties, several have completed rehabilitating their properties.

The Housing Authority received and reviewed appraisals for seven properties in the urban renewal area, which were listed as priority properties for urban renewal through a public forum, city staff recommendations and the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners' review.

In August, the Housing Authority filed a civil suit against Barbara Buescher, property owner of 101 and 105 Jackson St., and Stephen and Cheryl Bratten, owners of 103 Jackson St. The Housing Authority had offered to purchase the homes, but Buescher refused and the Brattens did not respond. Three commissioners have been appointed to review the value of the three properties and determine their fair market value.

6. Helias opens Crusader Athletic Complex

Helias Catholic High School celebrated the grand opening of its new Crusaders Athletic Complex in August with a Friday home football game against the Hannibal Pirates - almost exactly one year since excavation began at the site.

The original budget for the complex was $5 million, and the project had been broken up into phases based on immediate need. However, donations made it possible to set summer 2017 as the completion date for the entire, ultimately more than $10 million complex that features Ray Hentges Football Stadium with a large, full-color LED scoreboard; a new track and buildings with locker rooms, offices, storage and concessions and more than 2,800 seats and hundreds of new parking spots for fans; the 300-seat De La Salle Soccer Field; and Gerhardinger Tennis Pavilion with seats for 60 spectators to overlook eight courts.

Ray Hentges Football Stadium is named after a former head football coach, athletic director, golf and basketball coach and teacher. Hentges joined Helias in 1964 and retired in 2009. In the 34 years in between, he led the Crusaders to five state and 26 district titles.

Before the complex was completed, Helias played its home football games at Jefferson City Public Schools' Adkins Stadium. The school's soccer team practiced and played on a field off Missouri 179, and Helias was unable to host track competitions because of its degraded asphalt track.

While Helias' complex was built, improvements to adjacent Myrtle Avenue - including installation of a pedestrian underpass that connects the high school with the athletic complex - cost $500,000 in city and county sales tax project funds.

7. Special Olympics Missouri breaks ground on Training for Life campus

After years of work to make the project a reality, officials with Special Olympics Missouri and the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce broke ground in May for SOMO's Training for Life campus.

The facility is under construction at 2221 Christy Drive on a 16.5-acre site three-quarters of a mile south of Ellis Boulevard on property previously used as a rock quarry.

In early 2015, SOMO officials announced the project had been awarded to Jefferson City over a competing bid from Columbia. The proposal, submitted by the chamber, included the Christy Drive property donated by Land Investments, which is run by Bud Farmer, Mike Farmer and Frank Twehous. The property is valued at $3.2 million.

The 34,000-square-foot building will be complemented with a variety of outdoor recreational fields, providing space for soccer, a four-lane track with a 100-meter straight-away, long jump and shot put areas, golf skills space, horseshoe pits, tennis competition area, softball fields, bocce courts, a torch run plaza and as yet unidentified sports.

SOMO officials said this will be the only campus of its kind that offers athletes screening rooms equipped for health care professionals to conduct screenings. The free screenings include vision, hearing, teeth, feet, physical therapy, health promotion and sports physicals.

The hope is to have facilities open for use by fall 2018.

The SOMO campus is expected to bring in approximately $350,000 per year to the Jefferson City economy. Its estimated 1,200 athletes, along with coaches and volunteers, will take advantage of year-round opportunities which would bring in 1,950 room nights and 7,500 meals annually to Jefferson City hotels and restaurants, officials estimate.

The development also will add jobs, as the central area office in Columbia will relocate to the Jefferson City campus. Including those at the current headquarters in Jefferson City, the campus will sustain 30 permanent jobs.

8. The Linc wellness center, Boys & Girls Club open

The Linc wellness center opened on Lafayette Street in February after several months of construction. The Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department partnered with Lincoln University over two years ago to construct the 80,000-square-foot facility.

In 2015, the department signed a memorandum of understanding with the Lincoln University Board of Curators, agreeing to partner on the project, which cost about $11.1 million.

The facility features basketball and volleyball courts, track, classrooms, offices, a grand foyer and concession stand.

Shortly after the opening of The Linc, the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City moved to its new location on Lincoln University's campus in May after being displaced from its original building at East Elm Street.

Before calling its current 18,000-square-foot facility home, it operated from a dilapidated gas station. In 2014, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced it would put a new Lafayette Street interchange at that site, forcing the club to break off into multiple school sites that split the administration from the programs.

The facility can hold up to 350 children and offers a designated cafeteria, art and music room, learning center, and recreational room.

9. City takes ownership of 32 acres of Missouri State Penitentiary property

In July, Gov. Eric Greitens signed over 31.82 acres of the Missouri State Penitentiary to Jefferson City for redevelopment after the Senate and House passed legislation this spring. The land the city will own is between the historic site and Chestnut Street, along with some right-of-way and the old shoe factory.

As the state and city try to finalize the land conveyance, the City Council approved the formation of the Missouri State Penitentiary Community Partners last month. The group consists of city, county and state representatives that will use the Missouri State Penitentiary Master Plan as a guide to redevelop the 32 acres.

A redevelopment commission created the master plan in 2001 to prepare for redevelopment after the Jefferson City Correctional Center moved out of the penitentiary. It includes suggestions like a parkway, convention/civic center, restaurants, retail stores and hotels.

The MSPCP plan to meet in January.

10. Jefferson City deals with stormwater issues after spring flooding

After last year's two flooding incidents, which flooded more than 30 homes and the Washington Park Ice Arena, several Jefferson City residents called on the City Council to address stormwater issues. Residents, particularly in the 4th Ward, spent thousands of dollars last year to repair their basements, house appliances and pools after runoff water overwhelmed the city's stormwater infrastructure and led to flooding issues.

Residents said the city's stormwater system was out of date and Public Works Department did not have enough money to address the millions of dollars worth of stormwater issues.

The Public Works Department receives $360,000 annually from the capital improvement sales tax stormwater funds to fix stormwater issues. Department Director Matt Morasch said he would like $2 million a year for replacing and repairing stormwater infrastructure, but said even with this annual amount it would take years to address all of the stormwater issues.

The City Council voted 5-4 not to add a stormwater utility fee to the August ballot in May. Some council members said they were concerned adding the proposed fee proposed fee to the ballot would be too soon after the April approval of funding for the second public high school.

In August, a proposed $1.5 million from the fund balance for 2018 fiscal year stormwater improvements was voted down by the city's Budget Committee. They later approved a $750,000 supplemental appropriation.

The Jefferson City Public Works and Planning Committee approved using the appropriation to hire three additional crew members to work on neighborhood stormwater problems, as well as contract out some stormwater projects, in September. The council approved this hiring and contact projects in October.