Despite the cold rain, the Independence High School Prom went on as if nothing would stop them from celebrating their evening of "A Tea Party In Wonderland."

The time has come around again to show your mom just how beautiful she really is with Independence Main Street's and IDR's annual Draw Your Mom contest!

Volunteers are an important aspect of most organizations and around the community, and Girl Scout volunteers are no different. Honoring those dedicated volunteers shows appreciation for them as well as encourages others to jump on the volunteer train.

Let’s celebrate the good things communities do to promote healthy child development and also let us reflect on the work which still remains to bring prevention to child abuse. April is Child Abuse Prevention month and there are many activities around the community for all to engage in.

It also has crumbling streets and a water treatment plant that has been on its last legs, held up by the brawn and brains of the men who run it, since the early 1990s - also known as almost the entire time I've been alive. 

The fact of the matter is the city of Independence does have some great amenities that other communities in our area don't have - twice a week trash pick-up is not one of them.

Winter can often be a more hazardous time of the year. According to Shawn Wallis, Independence Fire chief, more fires happen in the winter months than any other season. "During the cold months, we spend more time indoors and use different methods to heat our homes. It's important to keep fire safety in mind when you are heating your home," said Wallis.

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