For generations of Pleasant Hill residents, it’s simply been “the green bridge.” No explanation needed. No map required. Just a familiar crossing with steel beams overhead painted green.
Pleasant Hillers know it as the green bridge heading from or towards Harrisonville, but it was officially named the Dr. Fred L. Seevers Memorial Bridge. Seevers was born July 24, 1889, in Jackson County, Missouri, and served as a 1st Lieutenant in the Veterinary Corps during World War I. He went on to a long career in veterinary medicine and public service.
The steel truss structure carried many over Big Creek since 1948, built in the post-World War II era when cars were becoming essential, and infrastructure was rising in the US.
As Pleasant Hill has evolved, so has the area around the bridge. What was once a straightforward creek crossing is now part of a broader landscape that includes the Rock Island Trail. The bridge stands above not only water but also a network of recreational spaces that people can enjoy on foot and by bike.
After nearly 80 years of service, MODOT has decided that the bridge has reached the end of its useful life and needs to be modernized. Changes in traffic volume, vehicle weight, and modern safety standards mean that the structure no longer meets current needs.
A new structure will carry Route 7 forward, built to handle today’s demands and tomorrow’s growth. It will be safer, stronger, and more efficient.
Still, for many in Pleasant Hill, the change marks more than a construction project. It signals the loss of something familiar.
The green bridge has never been flashy. It hasn’t been the centerpiece of festivals or the subject of headlines—until now. But its presence has been steady, woven into the town’s rhythm. It is the kind of place people don’t always think about until they’re told it won’t be there much longer.
And that’s often how landmarks work. Not through grand statements, but through consistency.
Pleasant Hill will miss the green bridge and all it stood for in the 80 years it’s graced its entrance.
Demolition Derby Time at the Cass County Fair – Talking to J.W. Hanes
On June 6, 2025, downtown Pleasant Hill was bubbling with excitement—and quite literally covered in foam! Gray’s Lot became the place to be as families gathered for the First Fridays event hosted by the nonprofit Downtown Pleasant Hill. This lively community celebration took over Historic Downtown Pleasant Hill with a perfect mix of sunshine and fun.
The warm, beautiful weather set the stage for an afternoon filled with laughter and joy. Kids and adults alike enjoyed a variety of attractions, including tasty offerings from local food trucks and unique items from several vendors. Face painting brought bright smiles and colorful designs to eager faces, while the main highlight of the day—the massive foam party turned the lot into a frothy playground that had everyone slipping, sliding, and laughing together.
“I think the event went really well, and we are excited about upcoming events,” said Carla Murray, a representative from Downtown Pleasant Hill, MO, reflecting the enthusiasm felt by many in the community.
This First Friday’s event was more than just a fun day out; it was a reminder of the strong community spirit and the efforts of Downtown Pleasant Hill, MO, to create memorable experiences for residents and visitors alike. With so much foam and smiles, the event left everyone looking forward to the next chance to come together in Historic Downtown Pleasant Hill.
For more information and to stay updated on upcoming nonprofit Downtown Pleasant Hill events, visit this link.
The Pleasant Hill Library’s summer program launched with enthusiasm on May 31 as families gathered for the colorful and creative kickoff event, “Color Our World.” The event marked the beginning of a summer-long adventure in reading, learning, and community connection. The program runs from June 1 through July 31, offering fun activities, meaningful engagement, and prizes for all ages.
According to the library, this year’s theme, Color Our World, celebrates more than just summer fun—it’s a call to action. It’s about coloring our world with knowledge found in books, with our actions that make the world brighter, and by spreading our creativity and art through the community. Whether through learning something new, lending a helping hand, or expressing ourselves through storytelling or drawing, everyone has a unique way to bring more color into the world around them.
Outside the library, around a hundred children and parents enjoyed a variety of games and hands-on activities, including a ring toss and a whimsical cardboard box fort constructed by staff member Laura Long and her husband, Tim. Kids explored the fort like a castle, sparking laughter and imaginative play.
Staff member, Laura Long Volunteer Tim Long is working on the cardboard fort
The event also featured live animal visits and valuable community outreach. The Pleasant Hill Police Department made an appearance, and the local animal shelter brought along a friendly demonstration dog while sharing helpful information about shelter services and adoption opportunities. Heirloom Farms delighted families with a petting zoo of bunnies, a baby goat, and a fluffy lamb. Giving children the joy of meeting farm animals up close.
Adding to the heartwarming moments, two lovable service dog trainees from KSDS Assistance Dogs, Inc., were on site, helping spread awareness of the organization’s mission: training dogs to assist individuals with disabilities. Their appearance was a crowd favorite. “We are looking for people who are willing to help train dogs to be assistance animals,” shared one KSDS representative, inviting the community to get involved in this life-changing work.
Inside the library, visitors discovered themed displays, books, and information about the Summer Library Program, which rewards participants across four age categories:
Pre-Readers: Can win games, books, and a Tonie Box starter set
Kids: May earn prizes like an X-Shot Super Soaker, creative bundles, and popular books
Teens: Can enter to win the deluxe edition of Cat in the Box, a Kodak Mini 2 Retro bundle, an Owala 32oz Boneyard bottle, and three unique boots
Adults: Have a chance to win grilling accessories, event tickets, and more
And it’s not just about reading—participants can also earn points by attending events, using library services, and engaging with educational resources. The more you participate, the more chances you have to win!
Whether you’re a book lover, a curious learner, an artist, or someone just looking to try something new, the Pleasant Hill Library has something for you. Let’s color our world with knowledge, kindness, and creativity. Don’t miss out on a summer full of vibrant memories and meaningful moments.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019–2023 American Community Survey, 73.2% of homes in Pleasant Hill are lived in by their owners, while almost 26.8% are rentals. That’s typical for small towns, where rental rates usually fall between 25% and 35%.
But lately, some residents have started to worry that the number of rentals in town is rising faster than before, especially since 2023. They believe it’s something the community should pay attention to.
At the Pleasant Hill City Council meeting on April 28, 2025, longtime resident John Self voiced his concerns. He pointed out that census data might not always tell the whole story. For example, if one person owns a building with multiple rental units, the census may still count it as just one owner-occupied property, even if all the units are rented.
This is important because understanding the actual number of rentals helps the city make better decisions. Rentals aren’t necessarily bad. They give people more housing options, especially those who can’t or don’t want to buy a home. Turning empty homes into rentals has even helped save properties from falling apart in some places.
But if a town becomes mostly rentals, it can create some challenges.
A Local Example: The Boardman Street Debate
Pleasant Hill, a growing town, is now discussing precisely this issue. At the April 28 city council meeting, a discussion sparked a proposal to rezone a vacant lot on Boardman Street from R-1 (single-family homes) to R-2 (duplexes).
The request came from Ethan Stanfield of Stanfield Homes, who bought the lot last year. He said he wanted to build a quality duplex on the property and noted that he’s already built over 32 homes in the area.
Image from Youtube council meeting Ethan Stanfield of Stanfield Homes
John Self raised a question that reflected the concerns of some residents: “Why should we assume you’re going to keep this one, instead of selling it to someone else?”
Image from Youtube council meeting Resident John Self
The council was split—two members voted yes, two voted no. That left it up to Mayor John King to break the tie. He voted no, and the rezoning was denied.
Image from Youtube council meeting Mayor and Council Members
During the discussion, Mayor King expressed concern about the growing number of rental properties in town.
In response to why he voted no, John King said, “That is a complex question. I support planned multi-family developments. Building a random duplex in an established neighborhood always gives me pause. I felt the lot in this case was better suited for a small single-family dwelling. Additionally, there was a question about previous multi-family dwellings that were built by the applicant and then sold to a company. I believe that maintaining local ownership of rentals is vital to both the tenants and the community.”
The Risks of Too Many Rentals
This debate isn’t just happening in Pleasant Hill. Small towns across the country face the same questions. If rentals make up too much of the housing market, can affect property values, economic development, and locals getting priced out according to former Mayor, Mark Guffy, who is on a mission to solve this problem from a federal to a local level.
According to Guffy, cities should stop spot-zoning and create ordinances to help ward off unwanted rental properties.
Former Mayer Mark Guffy Image from Facebook
A Town at a Turning Point
The recent city council meeting showed that the conversation about housing in Pleasant Hill concerns more than one building or one lot. It’s about what kind of town people want to live in. Do we want a place full of short-term renters and out-of-town landlords, or a community where families can put down roots and build a future? Rentals can attract new residents, provide affordable options for local workers, use empty lots, and add to the tax base, and the balance of rentals and ownership needs to be monitored.
There’s no simple answer, but one thing is clear: Pleasant Hill’s choices today will help shape what it looks like tomorrow.
Voices from the Hill – Episode 3 – Talking to our small town Chief of Police
Pleasant Hill Mayor John King recently addressed concerns on a local Facebook group about using tornado sirens during a recent weather event. Some residents questioned the necessity of the alerts, noting that the storm seemed relatively mild in their area.
In part of his response, Mayor King offered reassurance and clarity:
“For the benefit of public safety, the default action will always be to err on the side of caution. I believe the emergency sirens and the warnings through cell phones did their job — they got people in front of the local news to watch the severe weather.”
His message reminds us that the primary purpose of these warnings is not to predict the exact severity of a storm at every location but to give residents enough time to prepare and stay informed.
With that in mind, let us examine the history and purpose of tornado sirens, how they work, why they are used, and why sounding them early can save lives, even when a storm appears minor at first glance.
When dark clouds start to look ominous and the winds pick up, the tornado siren is one sound that can pierce through the chaos and alert an entire community in seconds. While most of us are familiar with their chilling sound, few know their history and the critical yet limited role they play in preparing for a severe storm.
A History Rooted in War
Tornado sirens were not initially intended for weather. Their story begins during World War II, when American cities installed sirens to warn citizens of incoming air raids. These haunting tones continued into the Cold War, when the looming threat of nuclear attack gave rise to a vast civil defense network of sirens.
Not until the 1950s and 60s did communities in tornado-prone regions, particularly across the Midwest and South, begin repurposing these sirens to warn of dangerous storms. Tragic tornado events, like the 1953 Flint, Michigan disaster and the 1957 Ruskin Heights tornado near Kansas City, served as turning points, demonstrating the dire need for timely, public warning systems.
What They Do and What They Do Not
Modern tornado sirens are designed with one specific goal: to alert people outdoors of imminent danger so they can seek shelter quickly.
What they do well:
Immediate attention-grabbing: The wail of a siren is unmistakable and prompts immediate action.
Localized warnings: Many systems now allow sirens to be activated in specific geographic zones, targeting only areas under threat.
Simple and effective: When powered by batteries or solar energy, sirens can still reach a broad audience without electricity or the Internet.
But they are not perfect:
Not meant for indoors: Sirens often cannot be heard inside homes, especially those with thick insulation or during heavy wind and rain.
No detailed information: A siren cannot tell you where the tornado is headed, how fast it moves, or how long you have.
Warning fatigue: Frequent or false alarms may cause some to ignore them.
Depending on power or maintenance, tornadoes can knock out siren systems before they activate unless they have battery backups.
The Modern Warning Network
Today, tornado sirens are just one piece of a larger alert puzzle. Emergency management professionals recommend having multiple ways to receive warnings, including:
NOAA weather radios
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on your smartphone
Emergency apps with real-time radar and push notifications
TV and radio interruptions via the Emergency Alert System
Together, these systems provide both the broad reach and the specific information needed to make life-saving decisions in a storm.
What You Should Do
Sirens are not obsolete, but shouldn’t be your only line of defense. Here’s how to stay safe:
Don’t rely solely on sirens, especially indoors or asleep.
Keep a weather radio and sign up for local emergency alerts on your phone.
Know your plan—know where to take shelter, and practice it with your family.
Have you ever caught yourself talking about a dream for years, only to realize you’ve never actually taken that leap? My songwriting partner and I wrote a song about that feeling called “Dreams in a Graveyard.” You can find it on Spotify under Honey and Wine Music. The message of that song stays with me. It reminds me to examine what I talk about doing, and ask myself why I’m not doing them.
While music is my passion and the skill I have honed since I was three, publishing has long held a special place in my heart. After stepping away from the local newspaper, I continually dreamed of launching a magazine. The newspaper was an excellent chapter, but it wasn’t quite the right container for the vision growing in me. And with a changing world, a magazine might be.
So here I am, kicking off 2025 with the launch of an online publication dedicated to the stories, people, and spirit of Pleasant Hill. I’m dipping my toes in the water to see where this adventure might lead. Two residents have already committed to writing monthly articles, and another will create a video segment covering weather and local events. I’m also thrilled to introduce our video podcast, Voices from the Hill. I would love your interview suggestions.
My time running the newspaper was a crash course in small-town publishing. The friendships I made and the community connections I forged are treasures I still carry. That experience has shaped and prepared me for this new venture in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I’m honored to have been the last to own the historical newspaper.
Now, I’m inviting others to come along for the ride. If you love Pleasant Hill and have a story to tell, an insight to share, or a creative spark to lend, this magazine is for you. Let’s not let our dreams lie dormant. Let’s bring them to life.
Welcome to a new chapter for Pleasant Hill.
(You can contact me at constancewhitlock@gmail.com)
At its monthly meeting on April 19, 2025, the Pleasant Hill Town & Country Art League voted to donate $250 to the Pleasant Hill branch of the Cass County Public Library to support their Summer Programs. The League also approved a second $250 donation for a local civic project, with the specific recipient to be selected by the League soon.
Pleasant Hill Library – Picture from the Pleasant Hill Library’s website
According to a representative at the League, supporting the community through the arts and charitable giving is at the heart of their mission. They strive to make a positive impact wherever they can.
If you are passionate about art and want to connect with fellow artists, you are invited to join the Pleasant Hill Town & Country Art League! During the meetings, a speaker will discuss a specific art medium. An example is from April, when Diana Redwine came in and demonstrated how she creates silver jewelry from clay. They also have a business meeting to discuss topics such as planning for the Cass County fair. The Art League also offers classes where artists come together to work on their art.
Meetings are held on the third Saturday of each month, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the Pleasant Hill Depot. The studio’s entrance is near the railroad tracks at the back of the Depot.
Pleasant Hill Depot – Picture courtesy of Pleasant Hill Art League
They would love for you to see what they are all about—and would love to meet you! https://www.facebook.com/PleasantHillTownandCountryArtLeague https://www.casscolibrary.org/locations/pleasanthill/
Justin and Christa Tuttle made a bold decision to get out of debt. They made great strides toward financial freedom as a hardworking and dedicated family. However, they soon realized that their version of the American dream needed realignment. With faith and purpose, they set out to redefine their aspirations.
They began by selling their Barndominium, using the profit from their three-acre property to purchase ten acres of land with a house in disrepair. Justin took on the challenge of reconstructing the deteriorated home while building an attached extension to accommodate their nine children. The process was lengthy and filled with hardships, taking sixteen months to complete. However, the result—a 3,400-square-foot home—was well worth the effort. During this time, their dreams of self-sustainability began taking shape, offering new opportunities for their family.
Christa joined the Pleasant Hill Farmers Market to build community and sell natural, healthy products. Her sourdough offerings quickly gained popularity, with regular customers eagerly awaiting her English muffins, which often sold out. Throughout the season, she introduced a variety of baked goods, including Jalapeño Cheddar, Garlic Parmesan, Caramel Macchiato, Angry Orchard, and Dunkel Beer Bread for Father’s Day. She also delighted customers with cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip cookies, and her irresistible oatmeal crème pie cookies. For those interested in starting their sourdough journey, she provided complete starter kits, including dehydrated sourdough starter and essential tools.
As demand for her products grew, Christa expanded her offerings. She introduced tallow-based skincare products, recognizing their benefits for healthy skin. Her selection included citrus, lavender, peppermint, and unscented varieties. She also ventured into beard care, creating beard balm—a product that has become both a fashionable and practical choice for men.
This year, Christa plans to add even more products to her lineup. New offerings will include tallow shampoo bars, tallow soap, and even tallow-based grill cleaners. Additionally, scented tallow candles will soon be available at her booth.
With a background in nursing and experience raising nine children, Christa is passionate about providing natural products for women, particularly during pregnancy and postpartum. She crafts balms and herbal bath soaks designed to aid healing and support for postpartum and breastfeeding mothers.
Through determination and innovation, Justin and Christa Tuttle have transformed their lives, embracing self-sustainability and sharing their passion with the community.
Christa- “Redeemed Acres is our wholehearted pursuit of building a home that nurtures every generation. Over the years, the Lord has deepened our conviction to break the generational cycle of living and working primarily outside the home. Instead, we’ve reshaped our lives so that our resources start at home and overflow outward.”
“Home is not a place to escape from—it is where we truly live. It is where we work, learn, worship, grow, celebrate life’s joys and walk through its sorrows, and feast and enjoy fellowship, and the bulk of our memories will be etched through the years. Here, we are growing together, stewarding our children, animals, land, and skills with an eternal vision. Through it all, the Lord is refining us, teaching us, and drawing us closer to Him. Our prayer is that Redeemed Acres will be a lifelong resource for our children, our parents, and our entire community.”
Why is this important to both of them? Simply put, it’s simply back to nature. What do we put in our children’s bodies? How many times has your doctor recommended something you are unsure of anymore? There are healthier ways to feed and remedies to rid unwanted illnesses. Christa told me she wanted to help this community know how to use these methods and help those who want to be able to pick up healthier ingredients to keep their family well.
Their plans have evolved since they moved into their country home, which is surrounded by nature. They now have lambs that have recently given birth to five little ones. They have chickens and fresh eggs! Chickens, ducks, and geese roam the land. Next year, they are adding quail and pigs! The kids are so involved with the nature of it all. Think of the responsibilities they are learning and the fresh air they breathe. We love to visit as often as possible to feel the pleasant nature all around us. I find myself slowing down and relaxing. I find the product she makes relaxing. I’m in awe of it all.
Their hearts are in the right place. Justin and Christa claim Jesus Christ is the head of their homestead. Hence, the name Redeemed Acres was established. It’s fitting with what they are creating with their traditions. You can see the love, patience, and understanding of their direction for their life. It’s beautiful.
Businesses help businesses. Press Monkey now carries their tallow products. You can also go to their website: redeemedacres219@gmail.com. You can pick it up at Redeemed Acres or at the Pleasant Hill Farmer’s Market. Call ahead, and she’ll have it ready for you.
“I’m excited to keep dreaming stuff up,” says Christa.
Well, I think they should because they are good at it. And I do believe I’ve been Redeemed!
