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Mary Richards

Ozark Phone Booth in Eminence, Missouri

My family went on a float trip to Eminence, Missouri and stayed at Eminence Cabins and Canoes http://www.eminencecanoescottagescamp.com/ . TheyOzarks Phone Booth had this phone booth by the front office. Does this have personality or what? I didn't use the phone to see if it actually worked. :-)

As we walked to the river from our cabin, we came across this fence shown below. Someone got creative and used recycled materials.

Headboard fence

Eminence, Missouri is located on the Ozark National Scenic Riverways on the Jack's Fork and Current Rivers. This was a fun trip that we would gladly do again. We hope to come back to kayak and see more of the area. The landscape here is just beautiful and would be worth the trip to see during any season.

Mary Richards Reece & Nichols Realtors 816-853-9698 cell/text; 816-420-5060 direct www.kcmoves.com maryrichards@reeceandnichols.com

Have you ever seen the inside of a water tower?

There is a new water tower being installed in Smithville, Missouri (North part of the Kansas City, Missouri metro). I have wondered what the structure is inside of a water tower and thought I'd share what I saw.

Water Tower

This is the closer view.

Water Tower under construction

This is the water tower from a nearby hilltop. You can see the crane is attached to the middle part of the structure. This tower will hold 750,000 gallons. The scheduled completion date will be in November of 2008.

Mary Richards Reece & Nichols Realtors 816-853-9698 cell or text/816-420-5060 direct www.kcmoves.com maryrichards@reeceandnichols.com

Lake of the Ozarks Great Blue Heron

Our family went to the Lake of the Ozarks over a holiday weekend and stayed at the lake house. The water is pretty rough during the day but in the mornings, it can be smooth.

Calm morning waters

View from lake house

This is the view from the lakehouse and shoreline.

This is a great time to watch for herons. It was 7:30 in the morning and I spotted a Great Blue Heron near the neighbors catwalk. He was fishing.

Heron eating

If you look closely, you can see the fish dangling from his mouth. Look just below his beak, right under the catwalk rail.

The fish is right across from this spot.

Heron swallowing

I watched as he(she?) ate the fish.

Heron gulp!

Gulp!

You can see the heron has his mouth full. If you look closely in this photo, you can see the feathers that hang down on his chest.

Heron in flight

I was lucky enough to get a few shots as the heron was flying across the water.

Heron in flight close-up

I snapped this photo right before the heron went behind the trees. These birds are amazing! I can't help but think of the flying dinosaurs such as Pterodactyls or Pteranodons when I see herons. (I was fascinated by dinosaurs as a child. Okay, so I still am.)

Mary Richards Reece & Nichols Realtors 816-853-9698 cell 816-420-5060 direct www.kcmoves.com maryrichards@reeceandnichols.com

Friday, 6/13/08 Help welcome home a Veteran returning home from tour of duty

American Flag

Jacob Sapp is returning home after two tours of duty in Iraq!

Bob and Susie Sapp, Jacob's parents, would like to invite you to join the celebration and ask that we decorate and line the streets leading to their house to pour out our love and support when he arrives home. Jacob has been married to Tonya for five years, but they have only spent three of those years together!! Jacob will be staying with his parents after he arrives home today as he and his wife Tonya will be renewing their vows in a private ceremony on Monday and have opted NOT to see each other until that time.

Jacob's flight arrives at KCI at 2:45pm and so they anticipate arrival at their home at 3:30pm. So if you are available, Susie and Bob would like to have everyone lined up the road leading to THEIR HOUSE at 3:15pm. Bring your flags, banners, balloons and wear your red white and blue. Susie was excited when I spoke to her and said that Pam called FOX news and they will be waiting with all of us at the house as well.

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Important Update!

Jacob missed his connecting flight (too little time in between flights) and he is sitting in the airport waiting to catch his connecting flight. This new flight will arrive in KCI at 6:15.

For those of you that emailed me and were disappointed that you couldn't be there because of your work schedule, I hope this allows you to be there now. Since Jacob missed his flight we need for everyone to be IN PLACE by 6:50pm.

**After Jacob's arrival, please be courteous to Jacob and his family and make your hello's to Jacob short and sweet. Or, if at all possible, wait a few days to say hello. We need to allow him to have some time alone with his family and let him unwind after traveling so far and experiencing so much. Thank you for your understanding!

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Did you know....there are 8,760 hours in a year? Jacob has sacrificed two years to serve our country...that is 17,520 hours. If you are available will you sacrifice just ONE hour to show him your appreciation?

Bob and Susie Sapp

10104 NW Mirror Lake Court

Parkville, MO 64152

Directions from N. Oak Trafficway and I-29 (Harmony Vineyard) to the Sapp's home:

Take I-29 North, take Exit 5 (MO-45 N, NW 64th St) on right

Turn left onto MO-45 (NW 64th Street)

Travel 3.1 miles and turn right on NW Blair Road

Travel approximately ½ mile and turn left on NW 67th Street

Travel approximately 1/10th of a mile and bear right onto NW Mirror Lake Drive

Travel approximately 1/10th of a mile and turn right onto NW Mirror Lake Court

Here is how we would like to organize the placement of decorations and lining up to welcome Jacob home.

•1. Start the decorations from the edge of the Sapp driveway (10104 NW Mirror Lake Court/ Parkville, MO) to the intersection of NW Mirror Lake Court and NW Mirror Lake Drive. Once that section is full....

•2. Then start at the intersection of NW Mirror Lake Drive and work towards NW 67th Street

•3. Then start at the intersection of NW 67th Street and work towards NW Blair Road

Please show your support and appreciation. If you're not able to attend today, please consider sending a card or note of thanks to Jacob for his sacrifice to:

10104 NW Mirror Lake Court

Parkville, MO 64152

Be sure to watch Fox 4 News today to see the story on the news. Thank you for your support!

Happy Father's Day Bob! What a great gift you will have this year.

Jacob: Thank you for all you have done to protect our safety and freedom.

Tonya, Bob & Susie: Thank you for the sacrifices you have made to keep life going while Jacob has been away.

Welcome Home Jacob!

Mary Richards Reece & Nichols Realtors 816-853-9698 cell / 816-420-5060 www.kcmoves.com maryrichards@reeceandnichols.com

It's Time to Contest Your Assessed Value Again!

Money TreeIf only money grew on trees...

Did your property tax assessment go up last year? Are you paying higher property taxes?

We have found that some homes are assessed at a higher value than what that home might sell for-some homeowners have taxes much higher than their neighbors. This not only costs you money in over-paid taxes, but may make your house harder to sell! We'd like to help you save money on your taxes by telling you how to contest the assessed value! If you would like complimentary information about the market value of homes in your neighborhood and the average assessed value of homes similar to yours, give us a call! We will guide you through the process. Deadlines are:

Platte County: -April 1st-April 30, 2008

Clay County: -April 1st-April 30, 2008

in Missouri

Tell your friends & neighbors. We can help them too!

Mary Richards 816-420-5060 direct /816-853-9698 cell/text Reece & Nichols Realtors maryrichards@reeceandnichols.com www.kcmoves.com