December 16, 2003
Panel Backs Expanded Gaming In Kansas City And Centropolis
By Isadora Seymore
The Governor's Gaming Committee on Friday endorsed expanded gambling in Kansas City and Centropolis and said it should begin with issuing of a license to build and operate a new casino near Centropolis Speedway.
The 15-member panel appointed by the Governor sidestepped the difficult issue of whether the casino should be operated by the state, city or by one or more American Indian tribes.
The panel proposed a variety of other gaming activities ranging from a few slot machines at fraternal lodges to small casinos in high tourist areas. It did not identify which organizations might qualify.
The recommendations drew unabashed support from spokesmen for the city Governments of Kansas City and Centropolis.
The Potawatomi Prairie Band Tribe and the Sac and Fox Nations already have teamed up on a proposal to build a $175 million casino and hotel complex in the western portion of Centropolis. An as yet undisclosed tract of land has been optioned for the project. However, a compact with the state and approved by the Legislature requires the tract to be designated as tribal land.
Both the Potawatomi and the Sac and Fox operate casinos in Kansas City and Centropolis, as do the two other Missouri-based tribes, the Kickapoo and the Iowa.
“The state should expand Indian gaming only if it receives a significant percentage of the casino revenue and takes the primary role in regulating the Indian casino,” the committee recommended.
It also called for existing Indian gaming compacts to be renegotiated “to secure better terms.”
The gaming panel's “Summary of Findings and Recommendations” was distributed at a two-hour meeting Friday. The complete report will be released at the committee's meeting Wednesday. The committee's sweeping proposals to expand gambling throughout the entire state came as no surprise to Glenda Mack, who heads Stand Up for Missouri, an organization that opposes widespread expansion of gaming in the state. “The committee was stacked to start with, and its report is what you would expect,” Mack said. “It's like having 15 lobbyists who support gaming.”
The committee concluded that the state would be better off with expanded gaming than without it. Benefits, it said, would include increased economic activity, job creation, revenue to state government and increased tourism and entertainment options. Glenda Mack said costs to the state and community would include increased addiction, crime and competition with existing entertainment activities.
December 15, 2003
Young Duck Hunter Drowns In Lake
By Isadora Seymore
The Centropolis Water Patrol reported that three men were rescued but a 13-year-old boy died in Riss Lake on Saturday after the boat they were using for duck hunting took on water.
The boat was about 100 feet from shore when it swamped, sending the four hunters into the lake, the patrol said. The boy, identified as Seth Mortimer, told the men he could not swim, then disappeared beneath the surface.
The patrol said, nearby hunters heard the men yell for help and pulled them from the water. The boy's body was recovered later.
December 14, 2003
Now you can call him Sir Mick Jagger
By Associated Press
LONDON - Mick Jagger sealed his place among Britain's establishment Friday, accepting a knighthood from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
"It's very nice to have honors given to you as long as you don't take it all too seriously," said Jagger, the 60-year-old prancing frontman for the Rolling Stones. He sported black suede and leather sneakers for the occasion.
He laughed off the abuse he has taken from fellow Stone Keith Richards, who has called the knighthood an "(expletive deleted) disgrace."
"I think he would probably like to get the same honor himself," Jagger told reporters outside the palace. "It's like being given an ice cream - one gets one and they all want one. It's nothing new. Keith likes to make a fuss."
Jagger was accompanied at the ceremony by his 92-year-old father Joe and daughters Karis, 32, and Elizabeth, 19.
December 13, 2003
Murders in the Red Light District
By Isadora Seymore
Centropolis’ residents are loath to admit the existence of a thriving Red Light District within the city. Those women and men on the lower rungs of the world’s oldest profession ply their trade along a section of Blue Ridge Blvd. that contains numerous run down businesses, the Flamingo Park Estates Trailer Park and the less than reputable Blue Ridge Inn along with a thriving banking district and what citizen’s call church row.
Centropolis Chief of Police, Perry Wainwright, called a press conference to issue a warning for those that might live, work or have need to visit the area because of two recent murders in the “district”. In both of the cases, the police were alerted to the murders by bums who stumbled across the women’s bodies in two separate alleyways of this sector of town. Mr. Wainwright reports that the women were dressed in the typical clothes of a prostitute and investigations confirmed their occupation. Investigations of evidence at the site indicates that the murders took place elsewhere and that the women were dumped in the alleys. On questioning, the witnesses could not recall seeing anyone enter the alleys but themselves and some animals.
A spokesman from Forensics and Coroner’s Office provided the following information in regards to the two grisly murders. The two women had been slashed multiple times by what appeared to be a surgical instrument, this instrument of choice most likely being a scalpel. According to the spokesman, cut throats were the cause of death for both women. However, the mutilation of reproductive organs and the excising of other parts of the anatomy that could be construed as having a sexual use were apparently extensive enough to cause the bodies to “bleed out” on the original site of the murders since the bodies were devoid of blood upon presentation to the Forensic and Coroner’s Office. Since there were no fingerprints found, the perpetrator more than likely used medical gloves in the commission of the crimes.
December 12, 2003
An Art Theft Epidemic?
By Isadora Seymore
It seems an art burglar might be operating in Centropolis. Do you remember the October theft of two bronze otters done by local artist, Bernadette Moore? Since then, a thief or thieves have broken into the Gardner Art Museum and several other art galleries showcasing the work of local artists and carted off one sculpture and six paintings done by some of Centropolis’ most prominent artisans. Investigators along with museum and gallery officials have varying theories on the whereabouts of the paintings. Some believe they've been secretly shipped off to collectors around the world, while some say one person has the entire take stored and now collecting dust in a storage facility somewhere.
December 11, 2003
Starlight Carnival To Raise Funds For Mt. Olivette Hospital
By Isadora Seymore
Morris Burdock, the eloquent owner of Starlight Carnival, announced plans to hold a fundraiser in the near future to help with the reconstruction or relocation of Mt. Olivette Hospital that suffered massive damage from an explosion on October 28, 2003. Starlight Carnival has strong roots in this community which, through Mr. Murdock’s grandfather, proceed the carnival’s opening day on April Fools Day, 1992. Although some of the troupe is on the road for a portion of the year, Centropolis remains a stationary year round attraction and winter quarters for the carnival. To the delight of this reporter, Penelope Madding—a student at St. Paul School of Theology and employee of Starlight—was on hand during the interview and presented a preview of her fire-walking, fire-eating and fire-starting act. A date has not yet been decided on for the fundraising event.
December 11, 2003
Christmas Gala For Toys For Tots
By Isadora Seymore
From early reports, the formal Christmas Gala held December 10th to benefit Toys For Tots was a huge success. The advertised price of admission for the event was $20.00 but from all accounts most gave more and brought with them a toy to brighten some less fortunate child’s holiday. On hand for the gala were many notables from the city including our illustrious mayor Reginald Hubbard, circuit court judge William Valentine and Chief of Police Perry Wainwright. The rich and famous or almost famous were not the only ones present for the event. The attendees at the gala represented a wide cross spectrum of the residents of Centropolis.
December 10, 2003
Predators become Prey
By Richard Hager
Being a criminal has become a dangerous game if you live in the Centropolis/ Kansas City Missouri area.
Enrique Gonzalez, a felon fleeing from authorities, who was wanted to stand trial in the rape and murder of up to ten individuals in the area was found, his entrails and genitals removed from his body, in the dumpster of an Outback Steakhouse Monday morning.
The alleged “Campus Killer,” whom authorities had very little description of aside from a particular umbrella he carried, was found in his college dormitory impaled and pinned to his desk by said umbrella and surrounded by other evidence linking him to the campus killings that Campus Security had failed to locate during dormitory searches earlier this month.
Helena Miller, the woman who had stood trial in June for the starvation-murder of her three children but who was let off due to a paperwork technicality, was found dismembered and her body parts scattered in several highway disposal barrels along E. US-40. She had previously been assumed to be on the run from police due to drug possession charges brought against her last month.
Aaron Banks, a man under investigation for his link to a major child pornography ring was found Friday evening. Mr. Banks' body was recovered from a warehouse leased under an accomplice's alias, strangled then stabbed to death on the top floor which served as a studio for taping of child pornography found on the second floor. Four children, ages 6-14, were found alive in the building.
What's the connection?
In a press release, Private Investigator Angelina Barnes attempted to link these crimes. In each case, this Vigilante Killer had time to not only torture his victims, carefully cover his tracks, but it has also been noted that most of the victims found had bled to death.
"Clearly what we have here is a case of someone familiar with forensics and police procedures" Ms Barnes is quoted in her report, "Perhaps we may be dealing with someone highly intelligent, or otherwise a rogue or ex-cop or military personnel.'
In each of the incidents, even forensic investigators found very little blood. Blood that was recovered was exclusively that of the victim. Thus far no other evidence has been found, no hairs, no fingerprints, car tracks or shoe prints.
To further complicate this puzzle, the nights around and when the murders were presumed to have occurred, no disturbances were reported from the homes of the victims.
"We believe the killer is somehow known to all of the victims" Chief of Police Perry Wainwright stated in a telephone interview, "They were able to enter the victim's homes freely. We assume it may be someone from the criminal world as in all cases each victim had connections to gangs or drug influences."
It seems, however, the public may not be eager to help the police hand over this vigilante killer.
"I hope the bastard suffered" a tearful Maria Turner said of Enrique Gonzalez, her twin 16-year old daughters were found murdered in Enrique's home August of last year. "Anybody who does that to somebody's babies deserves to suffer. I hope they get no less!"
Other residents of Centropolis had commented that they hope this one vigilante killer might motivate the police to work harder and faster on cases they have been receiving due to the recent increase in crimes.
Thus far, no witnesses have come forth with information leading to the arrest of the vigilante killer. If you or anyone you know may have information leading to the arrest and conviction of this criminal, please call 1-800-000-0000
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