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Independence, MO —
Longtime Kansas City Chiefs fans might best remember Fred Arbanas as a star tight end on two Super Bowl teams, but this month brings an anniversary in his much longer off-the-field career.
As of this month, Arbanas, D-Lee’s Summit, has been a Jackson County legislator for 40 years, easily the longest of anyone on the Legislature. He first won office in the fall of 1972, when voters approved the current County Charter and created the Legislature in its current form.
“And I still enjoy what I do,” said Arbanas, who chairs the Legislature’s Land Use Committee and therefore keeps a close eye on such issues as parks and zoning.
Monday also was his birthday, although he has not caught up with his old Chiefs number, 84, as his good friend and fellow legislator Bob Spence teasingly suggested. He’s 74.
“I’m just glad to be here, that’s all,” Arbanas said with a grin.
County funds Night Light effort
Jackson County legislators on Monday appropriated $40,000 in anti-drug sales tax money for the Night Light program, which is designed to keep young offenders from getting into further trouble.
Under the program, the Family Court uses sheriff’s deputies to make checks between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. on those under court supervision. They are checking to see of the person is under adult supervision, has no weapons at home and is not using drugs or alcohol. The deputies have the authority to check an offender’s room but not the whole house.
Officials say 90 percent of the young people in the program do not commit further crimes.
Longtime Kansas City Chiefs fans might best remember Fred Arbanas as a star tight end on two Super Bowl teams, but this month brings an anniversary in his much longer off-the-field career.
As of this month, Arbanas, D-Lee’s Summit, has been a Jackson County legislator for 40 years, easily the longest of anyone on the Legislature. He first won office in the fall of 1972, when voters approved the current County Charter and created the Legislature in its current form.
“And I still enjoy what I do,” said Arbanas, who chairs the Legislature’s Land Use Committee and therefore keeps a close eye on such issues as parks and zoning.
Monday also was his birthday, although he has not caught up with his old Chiefs number, 84, as his good friend and fellow legislator Bob Spence teasingly suggested. He’s 74.
“I’m just glad to be here, that’s all,” Arbanas said with a grin.
County funds Night Light effort
Jackson County legislators on Monday appropriated $40,000 in anti-drug sales tax money for the Night Light program, which is designed to keep young offenders from getting into further trouble.
Under the program, the Family Court uses sheriff’s deputies to make checks between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. on those under court supervision. They are checking to see of the person is under adult supervision, has no weapons at home and is not using drugs or alcohol. The deputies have the authority to check an offender’s room but not the whole house.
Officials say 90 percent of the young people in the program do not commit further crimes.
