Month: April 2014

Salvation Army providing tornado relief support in Baxter Springs

The Salvation Army has announced it is providing support to the people of Baxter Springs, Kan., today after a tornado that damaged much of the community Sunday.

More than 90 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed in Sunday’s tornado in Baxter Springs and at least 25 people were injured.

Two Salvation Army mobile feeding units are on-site in Baxter Springs, providing food, snacks and beverages to first responders, clean-up crews and residents.

Each canteen has a team of trained emergency disaster services personnel and is capable of serving more than 2,000 people per day. The Salvation Army also is offering spiritual and emotional care to tornado survivors in the community.

Starting Tuesday, April 29, Baxter Springs residents affected by the tornado may apply to The Salvation Army for direct financial assistance for immediate aid including food, shelter, personal care items and medicine.

To donate to the relief fund, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY [1-800-725-2769].

Because of the emergency situation, The Salvation Army cannot guarantee that any individual donations of household goods or clothing (gifts-in-kind) will be sent to the disaster area. In times of disaster, the Salvation Army stores fill these needs from existing, pre-sorted stock. People may continue to donate gently-used household goods to their local Salvation Army store.

New entrepreneurship program offered by KCKCC Business Division

by Kelly Rogge

Entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs may enroll in a new Entrepreneurship Certificate of Completion at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Starting in fall 2014, the new program will be offered in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation. Students will be able to take classes separately or as part of the six-hour, for-credit Enterpreneurship Certification of Completion.

These are practical, hands-on business development courses designed to help entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to create, manage and grow successful businesses. Program participants will not just learn about the business, they will work on their own business ideas or ventures, moving those ideas to reality or to new levels of growth.

The program is helpful for people who want to own their own business, who have a concept for a business and want to develop a business plan for their idea, who want to explore the entrepreneurial mindset and the facets of being a successful entrepreneur, or who are currently operating a business and want to take it to the next level.

Classes within the Entrepreneurship Certificate of Completion Program:

•         Essential Career Skills (BUSN0140)
•         Is Business Ownership for Me? – The Entrepreneurial Mindset (BUSN0181)
•         Be Your Own Boss – FastTrac® Planning the Entrepreneurial VentureTM (BUSN0294)

FastTrac® programs were created by entrepreneurs and are facilitated by entrepreneurs.

Seating is limited. For more information contact Karen Gaines, business instructor-marketing program coordinator, at 913-288-7165 or email at [email protected].

Overnight lane closures planned on I-70 starting May 5

Eastbound and westbound I-70 from 78th Street to I-635 will have overnight lane closures for resurfacing and pavement marking work beginning on Monday, May 5, weather permitting, through early June 2014, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

This resurfacing and pavement marking project is resuming work after the 2013 winter shutdown period.

Traffic will be directed through the project work zone via signage and cones. There may be one or two lanes closed and varying ramp closures on I-70 during the overnight closures that are scheduled to take place between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. As well, there may be some daytime lane closures as needed.

Updated daily traffic information for this project and for all of the Kansas City metro area can be viewed online, round the clock at: www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp.

The Kansas Department of Transportation urges all motorists to be alert, obey the warning signs, and slow down when approaching and driving through the project work zone.