Mold Remediation in Independence, MO

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — A man claims staff at a Kansas City-area hospital neglected his grandmother and that she sat in a hallway for more than five days.

“No family member should have a loved one go through that,” grandson Kevin Hopkins said.

Hopkins said while his grandmother was sitting in the hallway, she suffered a stroke and developed several bedsores.

He said the chief nursing officer with the hospital told him they were sorry, and they’ll work to do better.

The then 97-year-old Gracie Reed fell and hit her head about a week before Christmas at her nursing home. She was moving from the bed to her wheelchair.

An ambulance took Reed to Centerpoint Medical Center.

Hopkins met her there on Saturday and doctors told him the CT scan came back OK. But they wanted to admit her.

Reed has dementia and a nurse gave her medicine to calm down, according to Hopkins. He said staff sat her in a chair next to the nurse’s station to keep an eye on her.

When Hopkins came back to visit the next day, Reed was still sitting in the same chair in the hallway – and that’s where she stayed for days.

“I was shocked, she’s sitting out in a hall, nearly 98 years old,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins said despite the family pushing for a room, Reed was left in the hallway for six days.

“It’s just basic human dignity,” Hopkins said.

When family visited – they found Reed in wet clothes. He said by Thursday, Reed had four bedsores on her back, bottom and heels.

“Neglect is not OK. They can’t just assess somebody and go, we’re just going to ignore this person,” Hopkins said. “I’m angry and I want to get this message out, so it doesn’t happen to somebody else.”

While coming to visit, Hopkins found food trays stacked up, untouched.

Hopkins said Reed’s speech was slurred and the right side of her face was drooping.

Hopkins believes she suffered a stroke and said doctors didn’t run a CT scan for another day or two.

This week, Hopkins said the chief nursing officer told him they did do a CT scan that Sunday.

Hopkins said the nurse on the phone also apologized for the neglect and said they’ll work to do better.

Hopkins filed a complaint with the Missouri Department Health and Senior Services and Centerpoint.

A spokesperson for Centerpoint said they cannot comment on specific patient care, but did say, “We regularly review our processes and when there is a complaint, work to resolve concerns. We are committed to constantly improving services to meet the needs of our community.”

Hopkins believes a quicker reaction could’ve lessened the issues Reed now faces.

He said her vision is severely diminished, she can’t chew and will need a catheter for the rest of her life.

“I’m hurt, I’m angry,” Hopkins said. “I realize her age, I realize she’s not going to live forever, but what little, little quality of life and independence she had is gone.”

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Independence, MO (April 7, 2025) – Emergency responders were quick to the scene, providing care to the injured victim after a devastating residential fire broke out early Monday morning on N Cottage Ave in Independence. Crews were called to the scene around 12:30 AM, prompting a swift response from fire and rescue units.

Upon arrival, firefighters initiated suppression efforts while simultaneously conducting a search of the residence for any occupants. During their search, crews located a female victim inside the home and quickly brought her outside for emergency medical care.

The woman, whose identity has not been released, sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The fire was brought under control shortly after crews arrived, limiting further structural damage to the surrounding area.

At this time, officials have not determined the cause of the blaze. Investigators remain on scene reviewing evidence and interviewing witnesses as they work to determine what sparked the fire in the early morning hours.

Our thoughts are with the woman injured in this incident and her loved ones.

Residential Fire Risks in Missouri Communities

Fires in residential settings, such as the one reported in Independence, can unfold rapidly and leave little time for occupants to escape—especially in the overnight hours when many people are asleep. Prompt detection and immediate response are key factors in limiting the devastating outcomes of such events.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, residential fires account for the majority of fire-related injuries and fatalities across the nation. In Missouri, older homes and aging electrical systems, combined with the presence of space heaters and other heat sources, increase the risk of such incidents. Smoke detectors, when properly installed and functioning, provide crucial early warning signs, but even with these measures, escape can be difficult when fires occur at night.

Victims of house fires may face long-term recovery, not only from physical injuries like burns or smoke inhalation, but also from the emotional trauma and loss of property. In many cases, fire investigations help determine whether negligence, faulty wiring, or even arson played a role. For those affected, this process can also play a role in accessing insurance benefits and pursuing any necessary legal claims.

Families are encouraged to review fire safety plans, ensure working smoke alarms are present in every room, and regularly check their homes for fire hazards. When tragedy does occur, understanding one's options—medical, legal, and financial—can be an important part of the recovery journey.

For more information or to receive help after a fire or accident, contact Local Accident Reports.

INDEPENDENCE, Mo — Big changes are coming to the historic Downtown Independence Square as officials move forward with a streetscape improvement project aimed at revitalizing the area.

The project has been put on hold since it was first introduced in the early 2000's.

“We're really excited about this project. It's been a long time coming," said Jeff Rogers executive director of the Independence Square Association.

The first out of three phases aims to improve safety for pedestrians while walking around the square.

“We're redoing the four main blocks surrounding the historic Truman Courthouse on the business side. So this will allow for a better, better pedestrian flow, safer traffic flow, as our traffic counts do increase up here in the area," said Rogers.

The first phase is set to start next week and is expected to be finished by the end of July.

The project will bring new sidewalks and crosswalks for pedestrians.

It will also feature a bike lane that connects throughout the square, while also adding new lighting and outdoor furniture to enhance the area.

“It's really exciting," said Rogers. "What we do as an organization is Historic Preservation through economic development, and so making sure that these buildings are utilized in a way that brings in activity."

This is a development many business owners like Cindy McClain who owns several businesses on the square have been awaiting for.

“Traffic. It means traffic,"said McClain. "That's what we're really excited about for because people will have more reason to come up, more reason to just come and be and exist and eat and shop and see the history.”

McClain understands the importance of preserving the rich history Downtown Independence has to offer, while making it more attractive for visitors.

“It's, it's growing and growing, and now this feels like that frosting on the cake," said McClain.

Planning for phase two and three will began after the first phase is completed.

KSHB 41 reporter Marlon Martinez covers Platte and Clay counties in Missouri. Share your story idea with Marlon.__

Copyright 2025 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - A popular water park in Independence won’t reopen this year.

The City of Independence announced Monday that Adventure Oasis Water Park will not open again.

“We are making it official,” the water park posted on Facebook Monday. “Adventure Oasis will not open again.”

“Between continual financial losses and mounting repairs needed for the park to be safe for guests, the City agreed now is the time to close the summertime icon.”

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The park charged $10 for Independence residents and $15 for non-residents last year after the Independence City Council voted in November 2023 to open it to non-residents for the 2024 season. Prior to that, the park had been exclusively open to Independence residents since 2020.

“We loved having Adventure Oasis in our backyard,” the post continued. “However, the time has come to look toward the future. The Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department is working on a new Parks Master Plan and we want your input! Opportunities for community participation are coming and we look forward to hearing what you want in the future.”

The decision was made after the city held a meeting in October last year, citing the following reasons why the water park should remain closed:

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According to the city’s website, the walking bridge was deemed unsafe, the mechanical room was damaged and equipment and features needed repairs.

In recent years, the city says attendance at the park was steady but not enough to offset the costs.

“It didn’t seem like it was full that much, they didn’t do a whole lot of business, that’s probably why it’s closed,” said Terry Blankinship, an Independence resident.

Blankinship said he’s gone there a handful of times but isn’t too surprised about the closure.

“They were too strict with their rules, kids couldn’t really have fun there, they couldn’t have no toys, no floaties,” he explained, “you couldn’t go there as an adult with a raft and relax on the water, it’s not anything that I would miss personally.”

KCTV5 did reach out to surrounding cities to see what other options Independence residents have. Both Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs’s water parks accept non-residents.

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A day pass to Summit Waves is $15, and at Blue Surf Bay Park, it’s $18 for adults and $16 for children.

Both Blue Springs and Lee’s Summit said they are prepared for an influx of non-resident visitors this season.

“We have been proactively monitoring aquatics offerings in neighboring cities,” said a Lee’s Summit spokesperson. “We project that participants from Adventure Oasis will contribute to increased attendance at summit waves.”

“Our staff will be more than ready if there is a significant increase in attendance because we expected large crowds last year during the waterpark’s first year,” a Blue Springs spokesperson noted.

For now, residents said they will be taking advantage of the free parks and the splash pad.

“We bring them, and they have a lot of fun and they got all this other stuff to run around with, so I say this is one of the better parks in the city for young kids,” said Blankinship.

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Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - An Independence teacher accused of having child pornography on his school-issued computer, will remain behind bars, for now.

A judge denied Austin Meyer’s request to lower his bond. Meyer is held on $100,000 bond. It must be paid in cash, according to court documents. Online records show the judge determined the “defendant’s bond is set in the appropriate amount and with appropriate conditions and therefore shall not be modified.”

Online records show Austin remains in custody in the Jackson County jail as of Wednesday, March 27.

Last week Meyer’s attorney released the following statement:

"Mr. Meyer is innocent until proven guilty. Court documents, allegations and the filing of a complaint are not evidence and should not be treated as such. Any attempt to prejudice the public or court against our client will not be tolerated. We caution everyone from a quick rush to judgment. Mr. Meyer is entitled to a fair judicial process. We will continue to vigorously defend Mr. Meyer and look forward to his day in court,“ Andrew H. Russek, Meyer’s attorney, wrote.

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The Jackson County Prosecutor’s office charged Austin Meyer with 11 counts of possession of child pornography last week.

Meyer is on leave from Truman High School in the Independence School District. He is the drama teacher at the high school.

Court records show the district received a malware virus notification on a district laptop issued to Meyer. They investigated and found 11 gigabytes of child pornography on the laptop. The probable cause statement describes the images as “explicit pornographic images of nude underage females.”

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The school district told families that students at the school are not in danger and there is no threat to student safety. There is no current evidence linking any students in the Independence School District to the allegations involving Meyer, according to an email from the school district.

Austin is scheduled to be in court for a preliminary hearing on April 3.

Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.