People love to shop, and they can do so in Blue Springs.

When Independence Superintendent Jim Hinson first sat down with state Sen. Victor Callahan to discuss the possibility of annexing western Independence from the Kansas City School District into the Independence School District, he had no idea that the positive changes would have happened so quickly.

Once a major destination in any American city, Main Street in Blue Springs has not been exempt from hard times. With the soaring popularity of fast food restaurants and strip malls, old time Main Street has taken a beating.

Here are developments from the last year that show how Eastern Jackson County continues to grow.

The 360-acre project will be at Missouri 78 and Missouri 7, in east Independence across M-7 from the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.

Independence Mayor Don Reimal, along with city officials from public works, community development and economic development, answered the following questions surrounding past, present and future progress across Independence.

Blue Springs Mayor Carson Ross answered the following questions  about progress in the city in 2010 and what’s ahead for 2011.

Construction on a new elementary school in eastern Independence will begin as soon as the ground thaws from the winter months.

The past year certainly presented our community with its share of challenges but, in typical Independence fashion, the challenges were converted to opportunities and the result is a community that is continuing to grow and expand with new economic opportunities for our citizens.

Every day brings news of job cuts; chronic unemployment and global competition through numerous media sources, and more uncertain economic news remains in the forecast.