Doll collection ...
Bernadette Horvat, volunteer, helped to straighten one of the dolls March 6 at the Strawberry Hill Museum “Orphan” Doll Exhibit, 720 N. 4th . The exhibit, open Saturdays and Sundays, features hundreds of dolls that have been donated to the museum through the years that are dressed in ethnic, period, religious and Americana costumes. (Photo by Bettse Folsom)
Click here to see the entire text of the STATE OF THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT SPEECH by Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor-CEO Joe Reardon.
Send your news tips, club announcements, church items, photos, engagement and wedding announcements,anniversary announcements, and letters to the editor by the Friday preceding the print edition to news@wyandottepublishing.com.
To subscribe to our print edition, call 913-788-5565.
News briefs ...
Feminist writer’s workshop offered
In conjunction with Women’s History Month at Kansas City Kansas Community College, a feminist writer’s workshop is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Thursday, March 11.
The workshop is for those interested in exploring through writing, stories of their mothers, grandmothers and others. Entitled, “Telling the Untold Tales: A Writing Workshop Celebrating Women’s History,” the event will be facilitated by Tasha Haas, humanities instructor, in the intercultural center at the college, 7250 State.
Another writer’s workshop is scheduled March 30.
The program is free and open to the public.
Two persons charged in chase
that went from Missouri to Kansas
March 10 -- Two persons were charged in connection with a March 8 police chase that started in Kansas City, Mo., north of the river, and ended near 27th and Brown in Kansas City, Kansas.
According to Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerome Gorman, those charged were Jeffrey M. Haywood, 39, charged with felony eluding a police officer, felony theft, misdemeanor theft and possession of marijuana; and Crystal D. Patton, 29, is charged with felony theft, misdemeanor theft and possession of marijuana.
Police officers from Missouri at one point had to stop their chase, which was then continued by a police helicopter, according to police reports from Missouri.
Both Haywood and Patton are currently in the Wyandotte County Jail. Bond was set at $100,000. Both are presumed innocent until proven guilty, according to the district attorney.
You can help …
You can make a difference in the life of child when you volunteer to be a soccer coach. Communities in Schools is organizing a fourth grade soccer team to participate in Wyandotte County Parks and Recreation spring league. The team is being recruited from M.E.Pearson Elementary School. Volunteer coaches must be at least 16 years of age and must complete appropriate volunteer paperwork. Practices will be held at City Park Thursdays beginning April 1, 2010, with the last practices being May 13. For more information on this volunteer opportunity contact Keri at 913-627-3154 or at kemeink@kckps.org.
Sanctuary of Hope is looking for volunteers to help with their monthly “work day” this Saturday, March 13. This is a day when maintenance and improvement projects on the grounds of the facility take place. The work day is from 8am to 1pm and a lunch is served to all volunteers. If you are interested in helping on this work day contact Julie at 913-321-4673 or at julie@sanctuaryofhope.org.
Associated Youth Services is recruiting volunteers to be Life Skills Coaches. Serve as a role model for struggling young people. Share your stories and life experiences. Help enrich and motivate a young person. For more information on how you can be a life coach contact Karen at 913-831-2820 or at krohrer@aysusa.org.
Cross-Lines Community Outreach Inc. is searching for responsible and committed volunteers to serve on their board. The board has the very important task of insuring its integrity to the community by overseeing the agency as it seeks to fulfill its mission to those in poverty. Potential board members must be committed to the mission of Cross-Lines, able to make a annual financial commitment, attend board meetings, serve on at least one committee and participate in at least three special events per year. For more information on how you can make application as a volunteer board member contact Roberta at 913-281-3388 0r Roberta@cross-lines.org.
Food pantries can always benefit from drives held at churches, schools, and businesses. If you would like information on how to organize a drive or where to deliver the items collected, contact Diane 913-371-3674 or at dhentges@unitedway-wyco.org.
For more information on other volunteer opportunities contact Diane Hentges at 913-371-3674 or at dhentges@unitedway-wyco.org.
Bridge repair project to begin
March 15 in Indian Springs area
March 10 -- A bridge repair project will begin after morning rush hour on Monday, March 15, on westbound I-70 at I-635 in Wyandotte County, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.
The entrance ramp from 38th to westbound I-70 will be closed for the bridge repair project, weather permitting, according to the KDOT spokesman.
The expansion joints on the westbound I-70 bridges at the I-70 and I-635 interchange will be replaced in this project. The completion date is mid-April.
Work will take place daily, Monday through Friday, with an occasional Saturday, during daylight hours only.
Advance message boards will alert traffic to the lane and ramp closures. A marked detour will be provided for the closure.
In addition to the ramp closure, the westbound I-70 left lane will be closed through the project work zone. Two lanes of westbound I-70 will remain open to all traffic. Drivers should expect only minor delays, the KDOT spokesman said.
Updated daily lane and ramp closure information for this bridge repair project may be viewed online at www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp.
Comanche Construction Co. Inc. is the primary contractor on this $125,575 bridge repair project. The scheduled completion date for this bridge repair project is mid-April 2010.
The Kansas Department of Transportation urges all motorists to be slow down and obey signs when approaching and driving through the project work zone.
Governor appoints Jobe
to Council on Travel and Tourism
Gov. Mark Parkinson has appointed Bridgette Jobe, the director of the Kansas City, Kansas – Wyandotte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, to the state Council on Travel and Tourism.
Jobe also was the community director for Kids Voting Kansas in Wyandotte County and a past board member of the Kansas City, Kansas, Women’s Chamber of Commerce. Jobe currently serves as a board member of the Kansas City Regional Destination Alliance and the Travel Industry Association of Kansas. She attended Fort Hays University.
The Council on Travel and Tourism promotes the development of new tourist attractions in Kansas and the expansion of existing tourist attractions. The council also helps the Department of Commerce promote the state’s attractions and improve the travel industry within Kansas.
Call-out for Bonner competitive boys soccer team
A Bonner Springs-based 13 and under competitive soccer team called Wy-Fire is searching for boys born in August 1996 or after to join the team.
Current players are from Bonner Springs, Basehor and Piper communities. Former high school coach Frank Shannon and sixth- grade teacher Kim Nelson are the coaches for this team.
They have put together a team of boys that is dedicated to improving soccer skills and knowledge. Games start Sunday, March 21, and continue through Saturday, May 22. Practices start immediately. The team plays in the Heartland League Association.
Contact Skip Dobbs, manager, at 913-745-4654 during the evening for more information.
Women’s History Read-in scheduled today
A Women’s History Read-in is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. March 10 at the Kansas City Kansas Community College Intercultural Center, 7250 State. “Writing Women Back into History” is the title of the program, led by Polly Hawk, instructor of humanities.
County records double-digit unemployment again
March 10 -- Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, again have recorded double-digit unemployment, with rates up from December, according to the Kansas Department of Labor.
Wyandotte County registered 10.5 percent unemployment and Kansas City, Kansas, 10.9 percent, for the month of January, according to the Department of Labor figures released today.
In December, unemployment in Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, was 9.8 and 10.1 percent.
According to the Department of Labor, there are 7,519 persons unemployed in Wyandotte County, with 7,190 of those in Kansas City, Kansas.
A year ago, unemployment was listed as 13.5 percent in Wyandotte County and 13.9 percent in Kansas City, Kansas.
Statewide, unemployment grew to 7.1 percent, an increase over December’s 6.2 percent.
Unemployment in nearby counties was listed as Johnson County 6.4 percent; Leavenworth County, 8.9 percent; and Douglas County, 5.8 percent. The city of Leavenworth was the highest of large cities in the state at 11.6 percent.
A spokesman for the Kansas Department of Labor said that Kansas businesses lost 54,100 jobs during the year, a 4 percent decrease, and lost 34,200 jobs in January, a 2.6 percent decrease.
High job losses from December to January are typical, the spokesman said, and job losses from December 2009 to January are below the 10-year average of job losses in this period.
Sectors that gained jobs during the past year were education and health services, according to the Department of Labor, with the majority in health care.
Those sectors that lost jobs during the past year included manufacturing, professional and business services, and trade, transportation and utilities.
School districts look at selling surplus items
by Mary Rupert
Individuals who might be a little short in their budgets sometimes hold garage sales to pick up some extra cash. Along the same lines, school districts currently are considering selling some of their surplus items.
Piper Schools Superintendent Steve Adams, who mentioned recently that the state was about a month behind in state aid payments, has some district surplus property for sale, including a 12-foot box trailer, 2006 panel truck, 28-foot flat bed trailer, and 6-foot pull-behind mower deck. He is planning to list the surplus property for sale, perhaps in the district’s newsletter.
In the Turner school district, the board is discussing selling the Morris Elementary School building at 7120 Gibbs. The school was closed last year. At a recent meeting, the board put on first reading a proposal to list the school building with Zimmer Real Estate. The decision to list it is not final until a later reading.
Free stuff for Wednesday, March 10 …
Wii Fit and Wii Sports offered
Wii Fit and Wii Sports will be offered at noon March 10 at the Turner Community Library, 831 S. 55th. The program is for adults and seniors.
Young adult craft program scheduled
A young adult craft program will be offered at 1:30 p.m. March 10 at the Argentine Community Center, 2810 Metropolitan. Those attending will make a St. Patrick’s Day keychain, and learn how to make a festive snack. Call Marissa at 913-722-7400 to register.
Wii Fit for Teens offered
Wii Fit for Teens will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. March 10 at the West Wyandotte Library, 1737 n. 82nd.
English as a second language program planned
An open door English as a second language program is offered from 2 to 3 p.m. March 10 at the West Wyandotte Library, 1737 N. 82nd. There will be informal English chat practice with a library staff member during this program.
Turner Teen Club to meet
The Turner Library Teen Club will meet from 3 to 4:30 p.m. March 10 at the Turner Community Library, 831 S. 55th. Teens may visit with friends and play games.
Toastmasters to meet March 10
The KCK Toastmasters will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 10, at the Eisenhower Community Center, 2901 N. 72nd. Interested persons are invited to attend and learn about the nonprofit club, where members develop communication and leadership skills. The club meets the second and fourth Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, visit the Web site, kck.freetoasthost.org.
Click here to see more news stories. |
