Month: April 2014

KCKCC catcher signs with Bethel College

There were smiles all around as KCKCC sophomore catcher Megan Dike inked her letter of intent to attend Bethel College. She was joined by, from left, KCKCC coach Kacy Tillery, parents Steve and Amy Dike and Bethel coach Stacy Middleton. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins
Kansas City Kansas Community College catcher Megan Dike will continue her collegiate softball career at Bethel College in North Norton, Kan.
A sophomore from Lansing, Dike was signed to a letter of intent by Bethel Coach Stacy Middleton Tuesday.
“I’m very excited,” said Middleton, who started the softball program at Bethel three years ago. “Megan is a good catcher and a great hitter; fundamentally solid and well coached. She’s going to bring a great work ethic to our program.”
Dike had a banner season at the plate, catching every game and hitting .365 with one home run and 16 runs batted in. “Bethel is getting an incredible player,” said KCKCC coach Kacy Tillery. “She calls a game as well as any catcher we’ve had here and she pitches as well so she has the know how to help a pitcher out when in trouble.”
The daughter of Amy and Steve Dike, Dike said she was especially attracted to Bethel because of its Special Education program. “I think it’s going to be a good fit on and off the field,” Dike said. “They’ve got a good education program.”

BNSF Railway honors five KCK employees for outstanding achievements

BNSF Railway Co. honored five Kansas City, Kan., area employees at its 2013 Employees of the Year ceremony held this week in Fort Worth, Texas.

Kansas City, Kan., team members recognized for their contributions to the STARC Digital Radio Repeater Deployment project included: Nicholas Chubb, electrician; Bob Leedham, consulting systems engineer I; and Roy Ward, comm/signal foreman.

This team rolled out the STARC digital radio repeater system at BNSF’s Hobart Yard. The technology determines which receiver has the best signal strength and uses that signal for the repeated audio process. This greatly increases radio connectivity and user flexibility.

Additionally, BNSF recognized the “Best of the Best” work leaders for their outstanding safety leadership in 2013. Their work teams achieved exceptional safety performance in 2013; each work group was injury-free. Kansas City, Kan. “Best of the Best Recognition” employees include Scott Hawthorne, manager, roadway equipment, Engineering; and Robert Millinder, manager, signal, Engineering.

“BNSF’s dedicated employees fuel the success of our company,” said Carl Ice, president and chief executive officer of BNSF. “The 2013 Employees of the Year awards honor those individuals who demonstrate BNSF’s Vision and Values through their integrity, dedication and commitment to working safely and efficiently to meet the expectations of our customers and the communities we serve.”

BNSF Railway is one of North America’s leading freight transportation companies operating on 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain and agricultural products, low-sulfur coal, and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food and beverages. BNSF’s shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power American homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. We work continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy, and environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve. Learn more about BNSF at www.BNSF.com.

–    from Andy Williams, BNSF

KCKCC participates in ‘kick butts’ campaign

(KCKCC photo)

by Kelly Rogge

The Kansas City Kansas Community College Blue Devils “kicked butt” recently by cleaning up cigarette debris around campus.
KCKCC participated in the Blue Devils Kick Butts Campaign April 23. Organized by the KCKCC Wellness Committee, 14 student, faculty and staff volunteers picked up cigarette butts and trash on campus. This is the first campus cleanup event that has been organized with Tobacco Free Kansas.
“I wanted to coordinate something during the week of Earth Day (April 22) to raise awareness of the dangers tobacco use has on the environment, not just what it does to the consumer and the dangers of secondhand and third-hand smoke as a result,” said Rob Crane, director of the KCKCC Health and Wellness Center. “Tobacco use is responsible for nearly one in five deaths in the United States. Because cigarette smoking and tobacco use are acquired behaviors − activities that people choose to do – smoking is the most preventable cause of death in our society.”
The amount of cigarette debris that volunteers collected was impressive. More than 6,390 cigarette butts, four empty cigarette packets, one broken lighter and a few match books were picked up. The butts represented approximately 300 packs (20 per pack) of cigarettes or 30 cartons. Crane said this was done in only a few hours and did not include the entire campus.
“We wanted to raise awareness and make people think about what they are doing to themselves, other people, wildlife and the environment,” he said of the event. “Cigarette butts contaminate our water sources, leach toxic chemicals and carcinogens into the environment and are poisonous to wildlife as well as our pets. They are also the number one littered item in the US. Water runoff from our campus drains directly in to the Kansas (Kaw) river. Tobacco smoke also contributes to outdoor air pollution and indoor air quality.”