Kaitlyn Conner is quite the star. Ever since she started wowing audiences in Blue Springs with her roller skating talent, she’s moved on to television.

Peggy Sowders, the senior adult programs specialist for the Palmer Center, is the July Employee of the Month for the city of Independence. Recently, Sowders also began collecting interviews for the Veterans Salute program, following the retirement of Helen Matson White.

Dalton Diehl last visited the Independence Events Center in August 2010 for the Switchfoot/Goo Goo Dolls concert.

The city of Independence is planning to issue a burn ban in the next several days, and while the ban won’t affect consumer fireworks sales, the dry conditions will make it dangerous to use them, a Fire Department official said Monday.

Mark Baumann was recently named as the Technology Services director for the city of Independence. Baumann joined Independence’s Technology Services staff in January 1984. He has served as programmer analyst, systems analyst and management information supervisor. Since March 1998, Baumann had been the information technology systems manager.

Heather Palmer is the director of oncology services at Centerpoint Medical Center and the 2012 Relay for Life committee chair. The event begins at 6 p.m. June 22, at Centerpoint. It will continue until 6 p.m. June 23. Currently, there are 28 teams registered and about $15,000 has been raised. However, the minimum goal for this year’s event is $30,000.

A Blue Springs resident for many years, Traci Via served in numerous civic capacities, including a member of the Blue Springs City Council.

Glenn Young is an American government and geography teacher at St. Mary’s High School who has been teaching for 38 years. He has held a variety of positions over the years at the Independence Catholic high school including teacher, coach and administrator.

O’Connor will become the principal of both St. Mary’s and Archbishop O’Hara high schools this fall, splitting his time evenly between the two facilities.

Diane Kyser is the founder and co-executive director of the Community Mediation Center in Independence. Now in its 12th year, the center provides “impartial, third-party facilitation for the resolution of disputes” among individuals and entities across Jackson County.

Kyser, who plans to retire at the end of 2012, has received several awards this year for her work, including the 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. award from the Independence Human Relations Commission, as well as the Jackson County Inter-Agency Council’s Human Service Award.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon declared April as Mediation Month.