Month: June 2014

UG Commission to meet today

The Unified Government Commission plans a meeting at 7 p.m. June 19 at the Commission Chambers, City Hall lobby, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan.

Before that meeting, a UG subcommittee was scheduled to hold a meeting at 5 p.m. on Community Development Block Grants.

Items on the 7 p.m. agenda include:

– A resolution authorizing payment of $1,520,000 for settling a claim made by the Laborers’ National Industrial Pension Fund for outstanding withdrawal liability amounts for prior participation in the LIUNA Fund. The resolution would authorize general obligation bonds or temporary notes to be issued.

– Presentation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial report from the UG’s independent auditor.

– A resolution designating Brotherhood Bank as an eligible depositor to receive UG funds for investment, subject to meeting eligibility requirements.

– An ordinance authorizing issuing up to $10 million of industrial revenue bonds for Dunn Realty Inc. logistics facility, 240 S. 65th.

– Plat submitted of Village West Apartments, 112th and Parallel Parkway, developed by NorthPoint Development.

– Reappointment of Lynn Kuluva to the Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District, appointment by Mayor Mark Holland.

– Resolution authorizing a land survey for the construction of the 55th Street Bridge north of Leavenworth Road. Eminent domain is authorized under the resolution. The project replaces two bridges and requires drainage improvements for construction along 55th-Nearman Drive, north of Leavenworth Road, and south of Dickinson Road. These are located not far from the Missouri River. According to UG documents, the work includes Work includes installation of a temporary bypass route at each location, demolition of existing structures, and replacement of each with new concrete box culverts, including related street approach replacement, street and channel improvements, guardrails, and the relocation of utilities.

– A resolution authorizing an agreement with the city of Shawnee, Kan., for the paving of County Line Road from 55th Street to 65th Street. The UG share of the cost of the project will be $101,796.

– Two resolutions approving an increasing for the Merriam Lane, 10th to 24th Street project. The local funding requirement increased from $4.8 million to $6.1 million. This project has $4.2 million in federal grants.

– Land Bank item: Transfer of property at 4022 Springfield Ave. to Rosedale Development Association for a community garden.

The agenda is online at www.wycokck.org.

KCKCC celebrates fathers with 18th annual Father’s Day luncheon

The Stone Lion Puppet Theatre performed “Stella Luna” during the 18th annual Father’s Day Luncheon at KCKCC. (KCKCC photo)

by Kelly Rogge
Celebrating positive male role models was at the center of Kansas City Kansas Community College’s 18th annual Father’s Day Luncheon earlier this week.

The event, sponsored by the KCKCC Campus Childcare Center, was June 16 in Lower Jewell.

In addition to a presentation by keynote speaker Jonathan Long, dean of student services at KCKCC, there was a performance by the Stone Lion Puppet Theatre. The Kansas City-based group uses marionettes, masks, shadow and rod puppets to bring classic stories to life. Stone Lion tours throughout the Midwest and the United States and is also a Smithsonian Institute touring performer as well as on the rosters for the Missouri Arts Council and the Kansas City Young Audiences organization.

“The luncheon is a day to celebrate and show appreciation to the fathers and other male role models at the center,” said Doris Holleman, director of the Campus Childcare Center at KCKCC. “We began the tradition of hosting a Father’s Day Luncheon 18 years ago when I began my tenure as director.”

Long spoke about the effect his father had upon his life and the importance of fatherhood. He said it is important to create a partnership between parents so that the family is “healthy and well-adjusted family.”

“Children sometimes see fathers as their hero and sometimes as a zero,” he said.

Kayleigh Dusil, Vandoran Huston and Kristopher Simmonds, students in the school-age program, read books on several topics to those in attendance. The entire school-age class sang “America the Beautiful” as Jah’Lil Drew played the saxophone. Drew, a fellow school-age student, also played “Wade in the Water” on the saxophone.

Another speaker at the event was Rhonda Erpelding, of the American Heart Association and Nemours. She spoke about the partnership between the AHA and the Campus Child Care Center, focusing on the steps the center has taken toward providing healthier meals and more physical activity. These initiatives include removing pre-fried foods from the menu, increasing the availability and appeal of water and reducing screen time for children.

Wrapping up the event were comments and a musical solo from Shawn Derritt, director of the Advising Center at KCKCC and a slide show of the children and their activities. A presentation of gifts to the fathers in attendance was then made.

“It is important to host these types of events each year because it shows the community that our college and childcare center values cultural and personal diversity of our male students and other men residing in our local community,” Holleman said. “Furthermore, Father’s Day specifically, can be an encouragement to our men to be active in the lives of their children. The children have the unique experience of having contact with other men on our campus who are positive role models for their future growth and personal development.”

The KCKCC Campus Childcare Center held the 18th annual Father’s Day Luncheon June 16. The goal of the event was to highlight positive male role models in a child’s life. (KCKCC photo)

Police investigate two deaths in northeast area

Kansas City, Kan., police are investigating the death of two men in the 1200 block of Esplanade Avenue, in the northeast area of Kansas City, Kan.

A police spokesman said police received a call around 6:37 a.m. June 19, and then found two males lying in the grass who were dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

The location of the bodies was Memorial Park Cemetery, near the Missouri River.

The age of the victims is unknown, police said.

The identity of the victims is being withheld pending positive identification and family notification, according to police.

The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department’s Major Case Unit is asking anyone with information regarding the incident to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).