Station Identification

Crossed wires: Regarding Mark Kind’s Kansas City Strip (February 21): 90.1 KKFI has changed hands recently in a rather abrupt fashion. Friends of Community Radio is campaigning to restore 90.1 to democracy, transparency and accountability in its affairs. It’s unclear what direction the new board and management have for 90.1, but clearly it’s not for community radio as we understand it. I have faith that the FCR has legitimate concerns and demands and deserves the support of the activist community.

Kenneth J. Gates

Overland Park

Money for Nothing

Law schools: Thanks for an important and well-done article on the Kansas City, Missouri, school district’s legal expenses (Joe Miller’s “Legal Tender,” February 14). I couldn’t agree with you more. I live in the Center school district, and it seems too much money is spent on routine administrative activities related to Missouri School Board Association policy minutia.

Bob Kessler

Kansas City, Missouri

In a Home Alone

Death in the family: Regarding Deb Hipp’s article on Norma Jean Hunsucker (“Sudden Death,” February 14): Rockhill Manor Care Facility cares. It’s upsetting for people to feel so hopeless and feel there is nowhere to turn. Mental illness affects many people’s lives. There is treatment, medication and support groups. Now many people can work and live productive healthy lives.

My diagnosis is bipolar and depression. I educate myself and others about mental illnesses. I’ve spoken on panels, to the former lieutenant governor of Missouri and Senator Henry Rizzo about educating the public so they don’t need to be fearful if they or family members have this illness.

At Rockhill we feel like a family. If a resident gets sick or dies, it affects us all. Fortunately we have grief counselors available. Living here opened my eyes, heart and desire to help others. I teach, work and volunteer my time as a way of saying thank you for accepting me as I am.

At first I was scared, but without the love and support I get here, I don’t know where I would be today.

Alicia M. Bagley

Kansas City, Missouri

Size Matters

The tiny and the small: Regarding “The Heinous and the Cruel” (February 21): Casey Logan probably means that Vaughn Flournoy used a .38 caliber (.38 inches in diameter) revolver, since .38 millimeters would be smaller than the lead in a typical mechanical pencil. While often the stuff of fantasy novels, I hadn’t realized that flechette pistols were available to be used in offing Grandma.

Name withheld on request

Little Town of Horrors

The Lone Jack ranger: Regarding Allie Johnson’s “Jacking Around” (February 7): I was lucky because a friend brought me a copy of the Pitch. I was amazed with all that goes on in our little town. It is a bit scary to think that there is that much corruption. Keep us posted. You seem to be the only one who is. It is too bad that most of the people in Lone Jack will never see a copy of the article. Oh, well; maybe ignorance is bliss. Thanks for shedding some light on things that go on.

Name withheld on request

Get Back, Loretta’s

To live and die in KCK: Almost a great article about KCK and Loretta’s Café (Charles Ferruzza’s “Power Breakfast,” February 21). Just a few minor corrections, and then I’ll let you in on a well-kept secret. First of all, never, ever, have I eaten “lumpy” mashed potatoes at Loretta’s. Now if you ate at my house, you would be served lumpy potatoes. Second, Gary and Loretta seldom have cigarettes dangling from their lips. They keep pretty busy serving up good meals to their loyal customers. As you well know, you can’t smoke and cook at the same time in a restaurant. Now for the well-kept secret. The residents in KCK realize that there is no crime in Kansas City, Missouri, Overland Park or even Leawood; at least it’s kept hidden from the media. They haven’t had a homicide in those cities in how long? We in KCK are a very close-knit group. We let the media say what they want about us being crime-ridden. That way we can keep the riffraff out of our community. We have more neighborhood groups per capita than other surrounding cities. We have a multitude of churches of all denominations — gee, we’re a pretty religious city, aren’t we? And best of all, we stick together. I am not ashamed to say I have lived in Kansas City, Kansas, all my life. I raised my children here, my grandchildren are growing up here, and I will remain here until they cast my ashes to the wind in Kansas City, Kansas.

Stasia Wolcheski

Kansas City, Kansas