Month: April 2014

KCK police temporarily suspend pursuits

Kansas City, Kan., Interim Police Chief Ellen Hanson today said that pursuits would be temporarily suspended, except for the pursuit of a felon. (Photo by William Crum)

by William Crum
Kansas City, Kan., Interim Police Chief Ellen Hanson announced today that the police department is temporarily suspending chases, unless it is a chase of a felon.
The policy is suspended while the department studies it, she said.
The announcement came after a 7-year-old girl, Jasmine Rodriguez, was killed at 63rd and Leavenworth Road on Wednesday night. A man who had been pulled over for a traffic stop fled from police, driving north on 63rd Street, failed to stop for a red light and hit a minivan on Leavenworth Road that was carrying the 7-year-old.
Another recent incident involved a chase on Feb. 17, in which an innocent bystander, Graciela Olivas, who was driving in the area of 34th and Shawnee, was killed.

Mayor Mark Holland made a statement today: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their family at this tragic time.  I support our police chief and our police department in an aggressive evaluation of both our policy and the implementation of police pursuits.”

See earlier story, https://wyandotteonline.com/child-dies-in-crash-on-leavenworth-road/.

KCKCC coach humbled by 2014 WCBA awards ceremony

A photo with Connecticut coach legend Geno Auriemma was one of the highlights of KCKCC’s Valerie Stambersky during her trip to the women’s Final Four where she was one of three nominees for community college Coach of the Year – and Auriemma’s U-Conn team won a record ninth national championship. (KCKCC photo by Damian Stambersky)

by Alan Hoskins

It was a day Kansas City Kansas Community College women’s basketball coach Valerie Stambersky will never forget.

A photo with Connecticut Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma. Sharing the spotlight with Notre Dame Coach of the Year Muffet McGraw. Recognition as one of three community college Coach of the Year nominees.

“It’s such a huge, huge honor and so humbling. I really didn’t feel I deserved to be in the same room with some of the people and what they had done,” said Stambersky of the 30th annual convention of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) held Monday in the Broadway Ballroom of the Omni Nashville Hotel, site of the NCAA Women’s Final Four.

Trenia Tillis Jones, who took Tyler Junior College from an 11-19 record in 2013 to a 30-6 season, national tournament appearance and No. 11 national ranking in 2014, was named Russell Athletic-WBCA Community College Coach of the Year award over Stambersky and Ned Mircetic of Ventura College, the Coach of the Year in 2009.

In her 15th year at KCKCC, Stambersky took the Lady Blue Devils from a 10-21 record in 2013 to a 24-8 mark in 2014 with six of the eight losses coming to teams ranked in the Top Five in Division II.

“If I had won, it would not have been what I did but a tribute to my staff and the players for what they did throughout the season,” Stambersky said.

This year’s award was especially special because it is the Pat Summit Award named in honor of the winningest basketball coach (men’s or women’s) in NCAA Division I history with 1,098 career victories. Summit stepped down as head coach in April 2012 after leading Tennessee to eight NCAA Division I national championships. She was named Division I national coach of the year three times.

Stambersky and all other nominees in six coaching levels (NCAA Division I, II and II, NAIA, community college and high school) were introduced via video to a crowd of more than 400 at the awards ceremony. Notre Dame’s Muffet McGraw repeated as NCAA Division I Coach of the Year after leading the Irish to an unbeaten season until losing to U-Conn and Auriemma in the championship game Tuesday night.

Both McGraw and Auriemma were interviewed at a reception prior to the awards ceremony Monday night.

In addition to mingling with many of the top women’s coaches in the nation at the reception, Stambersky was able to reunite with her coach at Ferris State University, Tracy Dorrow, now head coach at Valparaiso, and a former player, Brittany Graham, current assistant coach at Berry College.

Stambersky was accompanied by her husband, KCKCC assistant baseball coach Damian Stambersky, and their two children, Taylor and Tyler.

Looking back, Stambersky said it was the highlight of her coaching career – and motivation for next season. “You get a taste of what it’s like and you want to be in that situation of winning next year,” she said.

Community calendar

The Wyandotte Daily News is interested in news of your community event in Wyandotte County. Send information to [email protected] and include your name and phone number.

Friends of Bonner Springs Library plan book sale April 10-12

April 10, 11 and 12 are the dates for the spring book sale at the Bonner Springs Library sponsored by the Friends of the Library. A variety of fiction and nonfiction along with CDs and DVDs, large print and many books for children are available. Hard back volumes are $1 and paperbacks are 50 cents, as well as a bargain corner of older items for only 25 cents.  Many donated items are like new and would make great gifts. Nonfiction is arranged by genre and books are identified by signs noting each category.  There is a large selection of science fiction and romance novels as well as many volumes from favorite authors. Thursday’s hours are from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is a preview sale for Friends members.  To take advantage of this special time one can become a member at the door for $5 membership dues for the entire year. On Friday and Saturday the sale will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The sale is located in the basement storm shelter area which is available from the parking lot in back of the library. The Bonner Springs City Library is at 201 N. Nettleton Ave., Bonner Springs.

Kansas Black Chamber of Commerce to meet

The Kansas Black Chamber of Commerce will meet from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at Liberty Bank, 1314 N. 5th, Kansas City, Kan. The guest speakers for the networking event will be Rhonda Harris, Kansas Department of Commerce, and Jeanette Countee, Hallmark retail.

Police to hold meet-and-greet event April 10

A meet-and-greet event for the West Patrol Division, Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the FOP Hall, 7844 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kan. Residents may attend and meet patrol division officers. The West Patrol Division covers 65th Street west to the county line, Kansas to Missouri rivers.

Safety to be topic of Rosedale meeting April 10

A program on safety will be presented from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Rosedale Development Association meeting, 1401 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Kan. Lt. Col Terry Zeigler, assistant chief of police, will give a short presentation on the topic of staying safe in one’s own community. Reservations are being accepted for the program. For more information, call 913-677-5097.

UG scheduled to meet April 10

The Unified Government Commission is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Commission Chambers, City Hall, lobby level, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan. An agenda for the 7 p.m. meeting is posted at www.wycokck.org.

Town Hall Forum planned April 12

The Kansas City, Kan., Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a Town Hall Forum about legislative topics from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the West Wyandotte Library, 1737 N. 82nd St., Kansas City, Kan. The public will hear an update on legislation and will have the opportunity to meet with members of the Wyandotte County legislative delegation. The program is free and open to the public.

Candlelighting service planned for crime victims April 14

A memorial service and candlelighting is planned at 5 p.m. April 14 at the Forest Grove Baptist Church, 1417 N. 9th St., Kansas City, Kan. A light dinner begins at 5 p.m. followed by the candlelighting at 6 p.m. The Crime Awareness Coordinating Effort is planning this free event, which has several sponsors. For more information, call 913-321-1566 or visit the website at www.friendsofyates.org.

PTA to honor former superintendents at 100th anniversary celebration

Kansas PTA is 100 years old, and to commemorate the anniversary, the KCK Council of PTA is planning a special reception and dinner to honor school principals and former superintendents of the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. The event will take place on Monday, April 14, at the KCKPS Central Office and Training Center. There will be a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Former superintendents Ray Daniels and O.L. Plucker will be a part of the program. Current Superintendent Cynthia Lane and Board of Education President Evelyn Hill will extend greetings. Entertainment will be provided by the KCK Harp Ensemble and Wyandotte High School drama students.

Support group to meet April 14

The Kansas City, Kan., Support and Education Group of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, April 14, at Trinity Community Church, 5010 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kan. The program will be on understanding obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. The guest speakers will be Joe and Mary Weiler. For information, call 913-299-8490.

Workplace Kansas City Job Fair planned April 16 at KCKCC

Looking for a job? Then mark your calendars for the 2014 Workplace-Kansas City Job Fair at Kansas City Kansas Community College. The fair is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 16 in the KCKCC Field House, 7250 State Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

Human Resources Roundtable meeting planned

The Wyandotte County Human Resources Roundtable will hold a meeting from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at Earp Distribution, 2730 S. 98th St., Edwardsville, Kan.  For more information, contact Jay Matlack, business retention and expansion director, 913-748-2273.

Blood drive scheduled April 21

A Red Cross blood drive is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 21 at the Sacred Heart Home Health Care, 7735 Washington Ave., Kansas City, Kan.  To schedule an appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Earth Day celebration planned April 22

An Earth Day event is planned from 11 a.m. o 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the Quindaro Ruins-Underground Railroad. The community is invited to commemorate Earth Day and to discuss the new EPA air rules, as well as other topics relevant to Quindaro heritage and current environmental issues. The event is at North 27th and the Missouri River Brown, and the John Brown Memorial Plaza. It is free and open to the public. The Quindaro Ruins currently is seeking national landmark designation.

Women’s Chamber to present social media program April 24

The Kansas City, Kan., Women’s Chamber of Commerce will present a seminar on social media April 24. The seminar will be held Thursday, April 24, at Dave and Buster’s, 1843 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kan. The event starts with registration at 11 a.m., followed by lunch at 11:30 a.m. and the program at 11:45 a.m. Geared toward small businesses and entrepreneurs who are new to social media, the seminar will include information at social media platforms, how to professionally present a business online, what to do and not to do, and how to stay current on social media trends. The featured speakers will be Mary A. Redmond, a professional speaker, negotiations coach and consultant who has been blogging since 2009; Pat Brune, retired from the federal courts and now part of MelKat Creative Consult, which provides social media training to nonprofits; and Joy Richardson, senior director of resource development and community impact for United Way of Wyandotte County, who volunteers as a Facebook administrator for several organizations. Cost of the event is $25 for members, $30 for nonmembers. For more information or to register, visit www.womenschamberkck.org.

Community orchestra to perform concert and hold fundraiser

The KCK Community Orchestra will hold a free concert at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at Trinity Community Church, 5010 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kan. A silent auction also is planned with gift certificates and other items.

Local author to speak April 29

Local author Ruth Campos will give a talk at 6 p.m. April 29 at the South Branch of the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library, 3104 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kan. She will speak on “My Journey in Faith,” her new book. Campos has roots in the Argentine community of Kansas City, Kan., and is a former teacher at Sumner Academy. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.

Mayor’s Food Summit planned May 1

The Wyandotte County Mayor’s Food Summit is planned from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 1 at the KCKCC-TEC, 6565 State Ave., Kansas City, Kan. The host will be Healthy Communities Wyandotte with participation from more than 20 organizations. Local leaders will learn about changes they can make to increase access to healthy food. For more information or to sign up, visit http://vimeo.com/foodsummit.

Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardeners annual plant sale to be May 2-3

The annual plant sale of the Wyandotte County Master Gardeners will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 2, and 9 a.m. to noon (or as long as inventory is left) Saturday, May 3, at the Wildcat Room, Wyandotte County Extension office, 1200 N. 79th St., Kansas City, Kan. The Wyandotte County Master Gardeners will offer tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, herbs, and other vegetable and fruit plants started by the members, and collections of perennials, annuals, Kansas native wildflowers and ornamental grasses. New to the sale this year will be succulent plants, gently used books and gardening supplies. Master Gardeners will be on hand to help with selections and answer gardening questions. For information, call 913-299-9300.

Program covers post-harvest handling

A program for gardeners and those who raise food on “Post-Harvest Handling” will take place on May 12 in Kansas City, Kan. The program is sponsored by K-State Research and Extension. For more information, visit www.growinggrocers.org.

African-American Art Festival planned Aug. 9

The MoKan African-American Art Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at Quindaro Park, 35th and Sewell, Kansas City, Kan. Those attending the free event may bring a blanket, enjoy artwork, stilt walkers Gullah basket weathers, African drummers and dancers, food and vendors. For more information about having an art exhibit there or being a vendor, contact 913-788-7330.