Winter scene …
A sudden storm Feb. 5 covered everything in snow and caused several traffic accidents. However, by the next morning, most of the streets were completely cleared. Snow is in the forecast again today. (Photo by Bettse Folsom)
Click here to see Breaking News, "Snow a factor in accident."
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News briefs ...
Grant to fund homeless programs
Wyandotte County has been awarded $111,886 in federal funds under the National Emergency Food and Shelter Program to assist the homeless and near homeless in 2010.
The selection was made by a national board that is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from The Salvation Army; American Red Cross; United Jewish Communities; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; and United Way of America. The national board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high need areas around the country. Locally, the distribution of funding is administered by United Way of Wyandotte County, which distributes to agencies that have programs providing food pantries, food kitchens, food vouchers, rent and mortgage assistance, and shelter.
Agencies may receive an application by contacting Cynthia Tooley at the United Way of Wyandotte County at ctooley@unitedway-wyco.org or (913) 371-3674 by Feb. 10. Applications are due by Feb. 15. Agencies applying must have electronic funds transfer capabilities. After the applications are received, a committee representing community members and local agencies will determine which agencies will receive funding and the amount to be awarded to each agency.
Agencies receiving funds from the program in 2009 were Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, Central Avenue Center of Hope, Cross-Lines Community Outreach, Economic Opportunity Foundation, Friends of Yates, Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry, Mt. Carmel Community Outreach, Salvation Army, National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Wyandotte Southern Baptist Ministries.
KCK casino moves closer to final approval
by Mary Rupert
Feb. 8 -- The final details are sorting themselves out this week for the new $386 million destination casino in western Wyandotte County.
But still in question are the hopes of saving The Woodlands dog and horse track here.
The Hollywood Casino anticipates final approval this week from the Racing and Gaming Commission, according to Karen Bailey, spokeswoman for the casino, a Kansas Entertainment project with partners Penn National and International Speedway Corp.
The casino is to be built on turn two of the Kansas Speedway at the intersection of I-70 and I-435 in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway has released a new drawing today of the exterior of the casino building.
At a meeting Feb. 12 of the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, background checks are on the agenda and are expected to be considered by the commission, according to Mike Deines, spokesman for the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.
The background checks will be considered in a closed session, he said. If the commission approves the background checks, then it could move on to the next step of taking a vote to approve the final contract with the destination casino manager.
At the same time, on Tuesday in Topeka, hearings are continuing on a bill that would give The Woodlands and other horse and dog tracks more revenues from slots. The bill proposes 22 percent of the proceeds from slots would go to the state instead of the present bill’s 40 percent for the state. Woodlands officials have said that the casino is allowed to keep much more of its revenue than the racetracks, under the expanded gaming law.
The destination casino opposes the Woodlands’ bill.
In a statement to the Committee on State and Federal Affairs, the Penn National officials wrote, “Moreover, the tax and investment advantages currently contained in SB401 will materially and unfairly alter a settled gaming framework and our investment plan. Under the proposed legislation, the racetracks will be the beneficiaries of a disproportionately low 22% tax rate without even having to compete for the license. Meanwhile under our pending agreement with the state, Kansas Entertainment will be paying a 27% rate. Tax differentials, even in what seems like a minute discrepancy, result in big advantages -- particularly in a competitive marketplace such as Kansas City. Simply put, paying less in taxes (as well as infrastructure) permits the tax-favored racetrack to spend more aggressively on marketing and in turn steal significant market share from our proposed project (and commensurately the state coffers).
"The proximity of a racetrack to our current site will have an impact on the development we have currently put forth. Changing the marketplace now, on the eve of construction, will be reason enough for us to pause and reconsider the proposed obligations to the state and the county before those obligations become firm.”
The situation has left the Unified Government and local legislators in the unenviable position of choosing between supporting the destination casino or The Woodlands. Voters in Wyandotte County in the past have voted for both. At a recent UG meeting, commissioners directed the UG’s lobbyist to support the destination casino’s position.
Basic Spanish class offered for community
A fun and interactive three-week class in Community Spanish I will be offered at Kansas City Kansas Community College beginning Monday, Feb. 22.
The six-session class will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. each Monday and Wednesday through March 10 at KCKCC’s West State Plaza.
Instructed by Stephanie Marquez, the class will equip participants with the skills and confidence to communicate more effectively by learning and actively practicing basic grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation to greet, meet and even assist Spanish speakers in the community.
Tuition is $85 or $80 for Club 45 members and includes all materials. Persons may register online at www.kckcc.edu by clicking on Continuing Education and then Spring 2010 Schedule; by phone with credit card payment at 913-288-7660; or by sending name, address, phone number, e-mail address, course name and payment to KCKCC Continuing Education, 7250 State, Kansas City, Kansas, 66112.
Pet telethon scheduled March 14
A KC Pet Telethon will be held March 14, according to officials from the Greater Kansas City Humane Society, 54th and Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas.
The event will be broadcast from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Channel 38. Those interested in participating in fund-raising through a web page may visit the site, https://atl.etapestry.com/fundraiser/HumaneSocietyofGreaterKans/PetTelethon/.
Thornburgh to resign as secretary of state
Feb. 8 -- Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh formally announced today that he would resign his position effective Feb. 15.
Gov. Mark Parkinson will appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of the term, which expires on Monday, Jan. 10, 2011. The only candidate who has filed for the office of secretary of state, as of earlier today, was State Sen. Chris Steineger, D-6th Dist., of Kansas City, Kansas.
Other candidates who have announced, but not yet filed, for the secretary of state's position include Republicans Kris Kobach of the Piper area of Kansas City, Kansas; J.R. Claeys, from the Salina, Kan., area; and Shawnee County Election Commissioner Elizabeth Ensley, from the Topeka area. more
Valentine’s event to benefit Red Cross
A Valentine’s benefit for the American Red Cross will be held Feb. 9 at Village West.
Palmer’s Candies and Ice Cream and Country Club Bank will sponsor the informal “Have a Heart” fund-raiser from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Feb. 9 at Palmer’s at Village West.
Ten percent of all sales during the event will benefit the Wyandotte County Chapter, American Red Cross.
NAMI to meet Feb. 8
The Kansas City, Kansas, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is scheduled to meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at Trinity Community Church, 5010 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. Teola Tillman, a nurse and charter member of the chapter, will review the book, “Mental Illness: Can It Be Cured? Prevented?” by Erving G. Walmann. For information, call Gerald Ulrich at 913-299-8490. Consumers or their families, or both, may attend.
Free stuff for Monday, Feb. 8...
Turner Teen Club to meet
The Turner Community Library Teen Club will meet from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at the Turner library, 831 S. 55th. Games are included.
Teen 'Mardi Gras' planned
A Teen "Mardi Gras" is scheduled at 6 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Main Kansas City, Kansas, Library, 625 Minnesota. Those attending will have the opportunity to make a Mardi Gras mask.
Health screening …
Several dozen medical and dental students from Park University and Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences visited Bertram Caruthers Elementary School, 1100 Waverly, recently to examine students in a Score One for Health screening. According to Windy Garrett, school nurse, this helps to identify students with potential problems and early signs of diabetes. (Photo by Bettse Folsom)
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