This Week in Lee’s Summit: Issue No. 6
This is the web edition of our weekly newsletter, brought to you by The Lee’s Summit Community Facebook Group. Issue No. 6, Thursday, October 8, 2026.
Hey neighbors! Issue No. 6. The Tigers shut out West 47-0, council deadlocked on a raise for the city's judges, Mizzou opened a guaranteed-admission path for some LSR7 students, and city trash collection is on your Nov. 3 ballot (we're voting no, and we explain why). Plus our new Fall & Halloween thread, Oktoberfest at Stonehaus this Saturday, the garage sale thread, four spotlights, and three new directory members. If a neighbor would like this, they can sign up at thelocalcommunities.com/newsletter.
LS Sports
Tigers 47, Titans 0. It was scoreless after one quarter, then Drew Benassi broke an 89-yard touchdown run and Sullivan McCarthy added field goals from 44 and 46 yards for a 13-0 halftime lead. Lamar Johnson, Matt Kates, and Grady Ferguson ran in three more scores, and freshman D.J. Scott picked off a pass. Junior linebacker Grant James set the school's single-season record for tackles for loss with 24. Lee's Summit is 4-2, West is 2-4. Full recap and more on Grant James
Around the district. North won its homecoming game 58-7 over St. Joseph Central, with two Carson Soeken touchdown passes and two Kenzo Hockerson touchdown runs. The Broncos have won four straight and are 5-1. Summit Christian beat University Academy 57-30 and is also 5-1.
This Friday, Oct. 9, all at 7 p.m. Lee's Summit travels to Liberty North. North plays at North Kansas City (tickets). West hosts Blue Springs South at Titan Stadium (tickets). Summit Christian is at Van Horn.
Around Town
🛍 Garage Sale Weekend, Oct. 8 to 11. Every garage, yard, estate, and moving sale in and around Lee's Summit is in one thread in the group. Hosting one? Add yours in the comments with the address, dates, times, and a few standout items. Hunting? It's your map for the weekend. Open the garage sale thread
🗳️ City trash collection is on your Nov. 3 ballot, and we're voting no. A yes vote would replace the roughly 10 local haulers you can choose from today with one city contractor for up to 11 years, with no opt-out. We lay out the facts, both sides, and why we think it's a bad trade. Read why we're voting no. Registration closed Oct. 7; in-person absentee voting starts Oct. 20.
Council deadlocks on judges' pay. On Tuesday an ordinance to raise the city's two municipal judges from about $51,000 to about $105,000 a year failed 4-4. Voting yes: Melanie Adkins, Nyauna Cravens, Donnie Funk, and Mia Prier. Voting no: Dana Arth, Trish Carlyle, Shari Frazier, and Hillary Shields. Mayor Beto Lopez recused himself because his wife is one of the judges, and outside counsel told council a midterm raise would likely be overturned in court. Council agreed instead to form a court task force. In the same meeting: a gas station and drive-thru at U.S. 50 and Blackwell Road was denied 7-1, and three projects moved ahead on first reading: a Rivian dealership and service center off NE Maguire Boulevard (about 35 jobs), a taxing district to help fund a planned Dillons on Douglas Street, and a Graham Packaging expansion (82 jobs). Link 2 Lee's Summit's full report. You can watch any council meeting on the city's YouTube channel.
Mizzou guarantees admission for some LSR7 students. Lee's Summit R-7 is one of five districts in Mizzou's new Early College Direct Admission Pathway. Students in the district's Early College program who earn at least a 3.0 core GPA and complete 12 college credit hours by the end of junior year are admitted with no application and no fee, and are notified by Aug. 1 before senior year. Mizzou's announcement
Pay your county property taxes at City Hall. Starting this week, City Hall takes Jackson County property tax payments at the first-floor cashier window, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Cash and checks are free; cards carry a fee (1.5% debit, 2.75% credit). Handy with December bills on the way. Details
🔔 Sign up for LS Aware. The city's free alert system sends weather warnings, road closures, water interruptions, and other notices by text, call, or email, your choice. Worth doing before winter. Sign up for LS Aware
School calendar. Friday, Oct. 9 is the end of the first quarter and a late-start day. No school Friday, Oct. 16, and no school Oct. 21 to 23 for parent-teacher conferences. LSR7 calendar
Out & About
🎃 Our Fall & Halloween thread is open. Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, trunk-or-treats, haunted houses, and fall festivals, all in one thread in the group. Know a great one? Add it with the where, when, and cost. Looking for weekend plans? Start here. Open the Halloween thread
Sat Oct 10: Stonehaus Farms Winery Oktoberfest, noon to 8 p.m. at 16514 NE 150 Hwy, with live music 1 to 6, wine, beer, and food trucks. Details
Thu Oct 8: Witches Eve in downtown Lee's Summit, 5 to 8 p.m., with dozens of shops open late. Details
Thu Oct 8: Remembering Lee's Summit, local storytelling from the Historical Museum at Bridge Space (210 SW Market St), 6:30 p.m., free. Details
Sat Oct 10: Farmers Market at Green Street, 8 a.m. to noon (also Wednesdays and Saturdays through Oct. 31). Details
Sat Oct 10: Rock the Cheese Block, a mac and cheese cook-off at Paragon Star, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details
Sat Oct 10 and Sun Oct 11: Art Market at Green Street, with Gallery Night Saturday 5 to 7 p.m. and the market Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Details
Sat Oct 10: Lee's Summit Symphony's Ignite! Dance on Fire with the Fountain City Brass Band, 7 p.m. at the Pavilion at John Knox Village, $25 adults, $5 students. Details
Book ahead for next weekend: the Haunted & Historic Spaces Tour downtown on Saturday, Oct. 17 ($25, ages 13 and up, space is very limited) Details, and Adult Night Out: Neon Nights on Friday, Oct. 16 (free, ages 18 and up, registration required) Details.
Member Spotlights This Week
Local businesses that got their moment in front of the whole community this week:
⭐ Chef Aristo's Eatery, Curbside & Catering
A new member business is featured every weekday on our Facebook and Instagram. Browse all spotlights
Welcome to the Directory
Three new local businesses joined The Local Directory this week. Give them a warm welcome:
✨ love.kaylastudio, photography for couples, portraits, families, maternity, engagements, and small weddings, from Makayla Vasquez.
✨ Inner Current, guided 9D Breathwork sessions to release stress and reset, from Tina Roe.
✨ Lees Summit Nutrition, a local wellness and supplement shop, from Anna Coleman.
Run a local business? Get listed and join them. Want to help keep the group great? Apply to moderate.
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