Man Charged in East Bottoms Drive-By Shooting

Jackson County Prosecutors on Friday charged Jovell L. Swopes with first degree assault and armed criminal action in a Tuesday evening drive by shooting of Irvin Dale House in the 700 block of North Kansas.

House told detectives that he was walking in his old neighborhood when he heard gunshots. House tried to run away from the shots but, according to witness reports, was unable to escape Swopes, who fired at him repeatedly.

House was transported to a hospital and was treated for multiple gunshot wounds to his legs. Witnesses positively identified Swopes as the shooter from a police photo spread.

When contacted by detectives, Swopes denied any involvement in the shooting. Prosecutors have requested a $250,000 bond.

Mobile Crime Watch gets $75,000 from county

After hearing that programs might get cut or budgets slashed, Northeast's Mobile Crime Watch this week was told it was getting a major boost in funding from the county.

On Monday, County Legislators and members of COMBAT approved a plan that would give the area crime watch group nearly $75,000 to help fund programs and projects throughout Northeast.

The grant, which is $51,000 more than what the county gave to the Mobile Crime Watch last year, came from the county's COMBAT program.

Officials with the crime watch said the money would be used to help publish bi-lingual crime prevention materials and bolster community involvement programs through the Whatsoever Community Center and other organizations.

Northeast taggers caught on tape

A battery of video cameras mounted on stores in the 5900 block of St. John Avenue has captured the images of two men spraying graffiti.

Videotapes show the men walking past Leon's Super Market and Leon's Truck Accessories at approximately 1:45 a.m. Tuesday, May 20. The men then tagged a meat truck and the walls of both the super market and truck-parts store. One man is beefy and seems to have a shaved head. The other is more slight in build.

Officer Shannon Hansen, who is investigating the case, says the police department will enlarge the images with the hope of getting pictures good enough to release. Hansen asked those attending Indian Mound's meeting on June 7 to keep an eye out for the men, who are suspected of repeatedly tagging several stores on St. John east of Hardesty.

"I'd say these guys are in their late teens or early twenties," Hansen said. "The video has to be blown up to get a good look at their faces, but it shows how they are built. We think they are white or Hispanic."

One of the taggers uses the word "Cricket" in his graffiti.

Kim Do, who operates a hair salon just west of Leon's store, says one wall of her building has been tagged repeatedly.

"I'd say six times since November," she says. "But I just keep going back and painting it out."

— Dennis Stack
Special to The Northeast News

Stack not to seek reelection in Indian Mound

Indian Mound President Dennis Stack Announced late last night that he would not be seeking re-election when his term ends in July.

In an e-mail to neighborhood residents, Stack said he would not be seeking the post because of other "urgent business" that will require him to be out of town for much of the coming year.

"The neighborhood association takes up a lot of time, but I have always felt that it was time well invested," he wrote in his e-mail. "For the next year or so, I won't be able to spend as many hours on volunteer work as I have, but I will try to help out when I can. "

No word yet on who is expected to replace him when elections are held next month.

Feds honor the Rev. Earl Abel

The large blue and white postal building visible from Interstate 70 will bear a new name honoring one local man who has served Northeast and the entire Kansas City community.
This week, federal officials passed legislation renaming the facility at 1700 Cleveland Avenue the Reverend Earl Abel Post Office Building.

This congressional action is in tribute to Reverend Earl Abel’s years of dedication to the Kansas City community as a minister, dedicated community activist, and public servant. Rev. Abel passed away in May of 2005 after 48 years as a minister, including 46 years at the Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ in Kansas City which he organized in 1959.

Reverend Abel established Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ with only 11 members, but today the church has grown into a much larger ministry in the Kansas City community. Under his leadership the church built two senior citizens residences, a Senior Activity Center and a church camp for both youths and adults. In the larger Kansas City community, Abel served many important roles including Chaplain for the Kansas City Police Department, President of the Baptist Ministers Union, and member of the Kansas City Council on Crime Prevention. In 1999, Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan appointed him to the Appellate Judicial Commission.

Summer camp at Whatsoever

By Kristi L. Dalberg

Want to fill those boring summer days with activities you love? If so, the Whatsoever Community Center is just the place for you.

Whatsoever is offering a variety of classes and activities during this year's summer day-camp program. Kids can join a graphic design club, art club, gardening club, cooking classes and leadership classes. Students can also learn how to make a documentary, join a mini society, join the robotics club, book club, or help complete a variety of community service projects and more.

Whatsoever will also take kids on several field trips each week to various summer activities around Kansas City. This year, organizers are planning to see a play at Starlight, attend an overnight camping trip at Smithville Lake, visit a Royals' game, climb the ropes course at Tucker Leadership Academy and visit an art museum. With summer heating up, Whatsoever also plans many trips to the swimming pool.

Whatsoever’s day camp is available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday with additional clubs on Fridays and Saturdays.

The day camp is free and will include lunch each day. Kids will only be asked to have good attendance. Spanish speaking staff will be available for children/parents who don’t speak English, and ESL assistance will be provided throughout the summer.

For more information on the day camp, contact Whatsoever at 816-231-0227.

Where is my paper?

Fear not, Northeast Neighbors. This week's edition of the Northeast News is going to be a day late because of the Memorial Day Holiday.

Look for the latest copy of the paper on your doorstep or in the racks Thursday or check out our Web site at www.northeastnews.net.