Forum Flashbacks: July 9-July 15

By Geoffrey Woehlk | July 10, 2020 |

FORUM FILE PHOTO
Forum Flashbacks: Making way for Hy-Vee – The facade of a vacant store adjacent to the Hy-Vee grocery store in Maryville was all that was left standing after demolition crews tore the structure down. Crews were clearing the way for an expansion to Hy-Vee which will double the store’s size. Demolition of the old structure is expected to be completed this week. The renovation and expansion of Hy-Vee is part of a recently-approved Tax Increment Financing district in the city, and the shopping center was purchased by developer David Christy.

25 years ago

After the recommendations were made and a plan was drawn up, the Maryville Parks and Recreation Board decided against raising program activity fees at Thursday’s meeting.
MPR board members’ logic behind not raising fees at this time was not that fees are already high enough, but that revenues would increase from the sales tax proposal should it go to election and pass.
The increase proposal was drawn up at the board’s Planning Committee on June 12. Fee increases were proposed after the Planning Committee made several cuts to the budget.
Two Parnell girls were recently awarded Girl Scouting’s highest recognition, the Gold Award.
The basic elements of the Gold Award — which was earned by Amanda Beatty, daughter of Terry and Judy Beatty, and Felicia Mercer, daughter of Fred and Georgia Mercer, all of Parnell — are skill-building, leadership development, career exploration, self development, and service.
The Gold Award recognizes a person’s commitment to developing the skills that are needed to meet present and future challenges. Beatty and Mercer spent two years completing various aspects of this recognition. Their final service project was the construction of a new town sign, welcoming people to Parnell.

15 years ago

A man who dedicated his career in government and education to improving the lives of northwest Missourians died on Thursday.
Everett W. Brown, a former state representative and longtime Northwest Missouri State University administrator, passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City. The 93-year-old had been battling illness for several weeks.
Before winning election to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1976, where he represented the 5th District (which included Maryville before redistricting), Brown spent 30 years in key leadership roles at Northwest Missouri State University, the institution where he earned an undergraduate degree while working his way through school as a cafeteria “hashslinger” in the 1930s.

5 years ago

Gene Drake has had a long run in the lumber business. Now after 43 years operating Drake Building Supply at the north end of town on Business Highway 71, he’s putting the final nail in his retail career.
Following a progressive six-week sale that began July 9, Drake, 74, will retire from the retail business to focus on other business interests.
“All my friends that are anything over 65, they’ve retired and they’re having a ball,” he said. “I think I’ll just join them.”
After almost three decades as Maryville Parks and Recreation Director, Rod Auxier has announced his plans to retire in February 2016.
“I’ve been in the park and recreation field since 1978 and you never know what you’re health is going to be like so I decided to retire when I turned 60,” Maryville Parks and Recreation Director Rod Auxier said. “That was my goal and I’m going to be able to fulfill that I believe.”
Auxier worked in St. Joseph for two years and Peoria, Illinois for six years for the Peoria Park District prior to becoming Maryville’s director in 1986. During Auxier’s tenure as director, the Maryville community has witnessed improvements made to the city parks, ball fields, pool and the creation of the Maryville Community Center.