November 2014 – Page 17 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

FreeWheels for Kids holds open house

by William Crum

FreeWheels for Kids is an organization that empowers youth to improve their lives and the health of the community.

They teach students the basics of bicycle mechanics and how to ride safely. Plus they help provide youth bicycles, helmets and other tools to help them be safe and successful bikers.

They start in elementary school with basic writing skills and traffic safety. In middle school students go through a comprehensive bike repair class and earn a bike of their own. They teach them traffic safety and writing skills and take them on group rides throughout Kansas City. For many students, this is the first time getting to know the resources that are available in their neighborhoods. They also help students start clubs.

Each group of students chooses a project to improve the health and accessibility of Kansas City. These projects include political advocacy, trail building, upgrades to local parks and community education.

At the open house students gave a presentation on what their club is doing to improve the community. They also talked about future plans.

“Next year we are planning a $350,000 budget,” said Bryan Kidney, president of FreeWheels for Kids.

At the open house there were parents, as well as a student who came to learn more about FreeWheels for Kids.

FreeWheels for Kids bike event on Saturday. (Photo by William Crum)

Tony and Irene Burns of the Boys and Girls Club of Wyandotte County. (Photo by William Crum)

Gas prices lower in places

Gas prices were reportedly decreasing in areas on Sunday and Monday.

A small “gas price war” was going on among three stations on Leavenworth Road from 55th to 59th this past weekend, when gas prices went down to $2.53 at one station, and $2.54 at some other stations.

On Monday, two other stations in Kansas City, Kan., were reporting gas prices of $2.59, at 86th and State, and $2.64, at 77th and Parallel Parkway.

AAA reported the average gas price in Kansas City, Kan., is currently $2.65 per gallon. That is down from a month ago, when it was $2.93 a gallon, AAA stated.

The average price of gas in Kansas is currently $2.68 per gallon, according to AAA.

The average price of gasoline in Kansas City, Mo., is $2.57 per gallon, according to AAA.

AAA reported that $2.81 per gallon was the national average of gas prices today.

Lady Blue Devils set steal record; tough Hutch Classic next

by Alan Hoskins
If Kansas City Kansas Community College’s game against Wentworth’s women Saturday had been a prize fight, it would have been stopped in the first round.

Just 5½ minutes into the game, the Lady Blue Devils had built a 23-2 lead on the way to a 103-32 win.

Wentworth had been held to just four shots – none good – and forced into 10 turnovers, nine on a record-breaking night of steals while the Blue Devils had scored on 9 of 13 shots (69.2) percent including 3 of 4 three-pointers.

By the halfway point of the first half it was 36-6 and 12 Blue Devils had gotten into the action on a night 12 players scored and 12 had rebounds.

The win, the seventh in a row for the unbeaten and 18th Blue Devils, set up KCKCC’s biggest pre-holiday tests – the Hutchinson Classic where KCKCC will play unbeaten Hutchinson (6-0) Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Dodge City Saturday (6-3) at 1:30 p.m.

KCKCC wrote two records into the record book – the most steals (38) in a game and the most forced turnovers (47). Leading 62-18 at the half, 41 of the Blue Devil points had come off turnovers (62 for the game).

“We really played well the first 15 minutes, especially in the transition game,” said KCKCC head coach Valerie Stambersky.

Reserves accounted for 49 of KCKCC’s 103 points and played a big role in limiting Wentworth to just seven field goals in 42 attempts, half the number of Blue Devil shots (39-of-84).

Cierra Gaines led the Blue Devils with 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting while Cheyenne North added 12 points and a game high eight rebounds.

Cassidy Harbert had another big assist night with nine along with 11 points.

Arrica Day led the scoring off the bench with 11 points while Sierra Roberts had nine,

Rashaun Casey seven and Iland Shurn and Julia Garrard six each.

Alan Hoskins is the sports information director for KCKCC.