July 2015 – Page 74 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

Storms possible today and tonight

Severe weather outlook Friday. (National Weather Service graphic)

Thunderstorms will again be possible today through tonight with a slight risk of some of these storms becoming strong to severe, according to the National Weather Service.

Any moderate to heavy rainfall that falls over already saturated grounds as well as swollen rivers, creeks, and streams will exacerbate the ongoing flooding problems, the weather service said.

Heat indices will rise well into the 100s by Monday as summer heat returns, according to the weather service.

Kansas City, Kan., is on the western edge of an area that has a slight risk for severe storms today.

Primary hazards with these storms will include gusty to damaging winds, dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning, and moderate to locally heavy rainfall, according to the weather service.

A tornadic threat, as well as hail, cannot be ruled out, particularly across eastern Kansas, the weather service said.

Today, there is a risk of showers and storms, mainly after 10 a.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 82. The chance of rain is 50 percent.

Tonight, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and storms, according to the weather service. The low will be 72.

Saturday, expect mostly sunny skies with a high of 90, according to the weather service. The heat index may rise to 97 degrees. A south southwest wind of 10 to 18 may gust as high as 21 mph.

For more weather information, visit www.weather.gov/kc.

Forecast. (National Weather Service graphic)

UG Commission approves bond issue for U.S. Soccer facility

The Unified Government Commission, with little discussion, approved several issues tonight, including bonds for the U.S. Soccer training facility near 98th and Parallel Parkway.

A bond issue of up to $66 million was approved by the commission tonight for the development area near the Schlitterbahn waterpark. There are several parts to the development.

The vote on the STAR bonds was 7-0, with Commissioner Jim Walters not voting. Commissioners Ann Murguia and Hal Walker did not attend the meeting.

The commission also set a public hearing date of Aug. 13 to consider splitting the project area 2 of this development area into two parts.

On one side, project area 2A, would be four auto dealerships, a convenience store and two restaurant sites on the west side of 98th Street. On the other side, project area 2B, would be remaining auto dealerships, extended stay hotel and two restaurant sites on the east side of 98th.

The completion date for auto dealerships in area 2A would be the end of December 2016, while the completion date for other auto dealerships in area 2B would be December 2017. The agreement also includes agreements on paying for the improvements to 98th Street, as well as agreements on entrance drive improvements for Schlitterbahn, St. Patrick’s Church and medical buildings. (More information is at https://wyandotteonline.com/ug-commission-to-consider-bonds-for-u-s-soccer-training-facility-tonight/.)

There was no discussion on setting a public hearing for the 57th and State Avenue redevelopment project. The public hearing will be Aug. 13. The vote was 8-0.

Also passed 8-0 was an amendment to the parade and marathon ordinance. Commissioner Melissa Bynum requested that the Police Department communicate well with the Convention and Visitors Bureau regarding parades, marathons, runs and permits.

Deputy Chief Tyrone Garner stated that the goal is to continue the relationships that they have always had, the police chief would continue to screen the applications, and there would not be any fees for local Kansas City, Kan., groups.

The commission also voted to have a 90-day moratorium on enforcing a vending machine ordinance in Kansas City, Kan. It previously approved a 120-day moratorium. The commission plans to take up the issue again after the budget meetings are completed.

Other items approved tonight included:

• Additional changes to the smoking ordinance to prohibit electronic cigarettes in areas that are smoke-free, including changes to comply with state laws.

• Authorization for a survey of land to be acquired for a short-span bridge replacement project near 2600 N. 131st.

The commission took about 10 minutes to approve most of the items, then listened to a 25-minute presentation by OneArtsKC Regional Arts Council.

The commission also spent around 40 minutes in a closed session to discuss labor and litigation.

Commissioners also heard the administrator’s first quarter report at 5:30 p.m.

Kansas prescription drug case has sent 23 defendants to prison

Federal prosecutors have wrapped up the prosecution of a former Lenexa, Kan., doctor accused of diverting prescription painkillers to a network of users and distributors on the streets of the Kansas City metro area, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

On July 7, the last defendant in the case was sentenced to federal prison.

Dr. James R. Webb, 56, Parkville, Mo., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and hydrocodone. In November 2014, he was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. The judge entered an order of forfeiture for $7.5 million, representing the proceeds of the crime.

On Tuesday, co-defendant Michael Zona, 39, St. Petersburg, Fla., was sentenced to 19 months in federal prison.

In Webb’s plea, he admitted that the Drug Enforcement Administration began receiving reports in 2010 that he was selling oxycodone and hydrocodone prescriptions for cash. Webb’s so-called patients reported paying cash for their prescriptions based on the number of pills they could receive. Many of the patients were referred to Perry Drug in Overland Park, Kan., according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Investigators used informants and undercover agents to make purchases from Webb. They paid Webb a fee of $870 for an office visit for a prescription for 220 oxycodone tablets, and $1,400 for a prescription for 350 tablets. Webb required they pay him in cash.

In 2011, the DEA obtained records that identified all prescriptions Webb had issued. They used the records to identify so-called patients who frequently visited the doctor and obtained prescriptions from him for oxycodone and hydrocodone.

Defendants who have been sentenced in the case include:

James R. Webb Jr., physician, 12 years.
Matthew R. Perry, 45, Overland Park, pharmacist, six years.
Gerry Divelbiss, 38, Kansas City, Kan., six years.
Ricky Bridges, 39, Kansas City, Kan., 6.5 years.
Jenna Utterback, 30, Kansas City, Mo., 16 months.
Eric Halbin, 37, Overland Park, Kan., 3.5 years.
Lacy Mae Morrison, 31, Gardner, Kan., 12 months and a day.
Phil Scimeca, 51, Liberty, Mo., six years.
Jamie Eberra, 29, Kansas City, Mo., two years probation.
Regina Ann Miranda, 45, Kansas City, Mo., 12 months and a day.
Larry Lee Ray, 35, Kansas City, Mo., six years.
Nick Johnson, 34, Lees Summit, Mo., 2.8 years.
Joshua Brown, 27, Liberty, Mo., six years.
Juan Gutierrez, 39, Kansas City, Mo., 3.9 years.
Wade Becker, 28, Kansas City, Mo., two years probation.
Beau Berry, 31, Grain Valley, Mo., 3.5 years.
Luke Dearinger, 35, Gladstone, Mo., 4.3 years.
Michael Zona, 39, St. Petersburg, Fla., 19 months.
Jessica Rankin, 40, St. Petersburg, Fla., 19 months.
Thomas O’Toole, 25, Blue Springs, Mo., two years.
Scott Moore, 31, 38 months.
Erica Wikel, 29, 12 months and a day.
Louis Scimeca, 44, 3.1 years.
Martin Leahy, 53, 3.5 years.
Tish Waller, 33, 3.5 years.

Grissom commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lenexa Police Department, the Overland Park Police Department, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, the Salina Police Department, the Republic County Sheriff’s Department, the Excelsior Springs, Mo., Police Department and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug for their work on the case.