CNN

Pothole party: Missouri man throws birthday bash for road damage

Jul 1, 2019, 12:44 PM

pothole party kansas city missouri...

One man in a Kansas City neighborhood thought of an unusual way to draw attention to a pothole on his street he's been looking at for three months: a birthday party. Photo: Frank Sereno

Click here for updates on this story

KCTV (KCTV) — Months after western Missouri experienced a rough winter that left its mark on roads in the form of pothole after pothole, residents are grousing that the damage hasn’t yet been repaired.

Enter Frank Sereno, a resident of the Waldo neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri, who says after three months of looking at the same pothole, enough is enough.

“The asphalt is completely degraded,” he said. “It’s just a symptom of our deteriorating road conditions.”

He said he has called his local government about the pothole several times. Enough times that he decided it was time to try something new: a birthday party.

“I’m going to have a celebration for Pothole,” Sereno said. “I got some cake, lit a candle and had a little birthday party for Pothole. He seemed thrilled with the idea.”

He posted it on Facebook, much to the amusement of his neighbors.

“I didn’t sing to him,” he noted. “It was too hot out.”

A few blocks away, city workers were filling some of the cracks that formed over the winter.

“I’m extremely excited to see it filled,” Taylor Kruh said. “It’s been a fight.”

“I’m glad to see them because there’s three on this block that are terrible,” said Kay Gallardo.

People who live on streets with potholes hope their block is next. Some of them are several inches deep.

“Our crews are out on all the districts working through the 311 backlog,” Maggie Green, a spokesperson for public works, told Missouri-based KCTV.

She said rain has interfered with road repairs this spring, but that crews are making a push during the recent stretch of sunshine.

“There’s a lot of potholes still on the list we’re working through,” Green said.

Sereno hopes they’ll visit his street soon, before he makes another trip to the baker.

“I think this has to be more of a priority to the city,” he said.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Today’s Top Stories

CNN

A video recorded by Facebook user Larry Jacquez shows the police response following the shooting in...

Jamiel Lynch, CNN     

At least 3 people killed and 2 officers wounded in a shooting in Farmington, New Mexico, police say

Multiple people were shot and at least three killed in a shooting in Farmington, New Mexico, police said in a Facebook post.

11 months ago

Migrants seeking asylum in the US look through the border wall as volunteers offer assistance on th...

Nouran Salahieh

End of Title 42 policy brings fewer migrants than expected

Southern border communities report fewer migrants, but concerns remain about overcrowded processing and detention facilities.

11 months ago

EVERETT WALMART, EVERETT, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES - 2023/04/19: An empty cart is seen near an emp...

Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN

The real reasons stores such as Walmart and Starbucks are closing in big cities

Several forces are pushing Walmart and Starbucks out of some city centers: a glut of stores, people working from home, online shopping, exorbitant rents, crime and public safety concerns, and difficulty hiring workers.

11 months ago

Gay rights supporters attend the annual Pink Dot event in Singapore in June 2022. Photo credit: Ros...

Heather Chen

A law that cancels cancel culture? This country is considering it

   (CNN) — Cancel culture, the online trend of calling out people, celebrities, brands and organizations — rightly or wrongly — for perceived social indiscretions or offensive behaviors, has become a polarizing topic of debate. To some, it’s an important means of social justice and holding powerful figures to account. But to others, it’s often “misused and misdirected” and has become […]

11 months ago

Vatican Museum restorer Alice Baltera works on the bronze Hercules statue, in the Round Hall of the...

Francesco Sportelli, Associated Press

Vatican experts uncovering gilded glory of Hercules statue struck by lightning

Vatican Museum restorers are working to remove centuries of grime from the largest known bronze statue of the ancient world: the gilded Hercules Mastai Righetti.

11 months ago

Linda Yaccarino, here in 2022, is leaving NBCUniversal amid reports that Elon Musk has selected her...

Chris Isidore

Elon Musk names NBCU ad chief Linda Yaccarino as Twitter CEO

 (CNN) — Elon Musk on Friday named longtime media executive Linda Yaccarino as the new CEO of Twitter, months after he promised to step back from the role. “I am excited to welcome Linda Yaccarino as the new CEO of Twitter!” Musk wrote in a tweet on Friday. He said she “will focus primarily on business operations, […]

11 months ago

Sponsored Articles

close up of rose marvel saliva blooms in purple...

Shannon Cavalero

Drought Tolerant Perennials for Utah

The best drought tolerant plants for Utah can handle high elevations, alkaline soils, excessive exposure to wind, and use of secondary water.

Group of cheerful team members high fiving each other...

Visit Bear Lake

How To Plan a Business Retreat in Bear Lake This Spring

Are you wondering how to plan a business retreat this spring? Read our sample itinerary to plan a team getaway to Bear Lake.

Cheerful young woman writing an assignment while sitting at desk between two classmates during clas...

BYU EMBA at the Marriott School of Business

Hear it Firsthand: 6 Students Share Their Executive MBA Experience at BYU’s Marriott School of Business

The Executive MBA program at BYU offers great opportunities. Hear experiences straight from students enrolled in the program.

Skier being towed by a rider on a horse. Skijoring....

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking for a New Winter Activity? Try Skijoring in Bear Lake

Skijoring is when someone on skis is pulled by a horse, dog, animal, or motor vehicle. The driver leads the skiers through an obstacle course over jumps, hoops, and gates.

Banner with Cervical Cancer Awareness Realistic Ribbon...

Intermountain Health

Five Common Causes of Cervical Cancer – and What You Can Do to Lower Your Risk

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness month and cancer experts at Intermountain Health are working to educate women about cervical cancer.

Kid holding a cisco fish at winterfest...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get Ready for Fun at the 2023 Bear Lake Monster Winterfest

The Bear Lake Monster Winterfest is an annual weekend event jam-packed full of fun activities the whole family can enjoy.

Pothole party: Missouri man throws birthday bash for road damage