Month: August 2015

J.G. Novak, former county commissioner, dies

Former Wyandotte County Commissioner Julius G. Novak, 97, died Aug. 16, 2015.

Novak served as Wyandotte County assessor from 1969 until 1971, when he was appointed county commissioner. In 1993, he was elected as a state representative from the 36th District in western Wyandotte County.

A lifelong resident of Kansas City, Kan., Novak was a decorated combat veteran of World War II and a real estate executive.

He was born into the Strawberry Hill community. His parents, Anna and Fred Novak, immigrated separately to the United States through Ellis Island in 1907. They met and married in Kansas City, Kan., in 1910. Julius’ father died in 1924. His mother died in 1933 and her cousin, Anna Kramer, raised Julius, his sisters Emma and Rose, and brother Fred in Strawberry Hill.

Novak enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1940 at age 22. He served until wounded on Guadalcanal in November 1942. He was later awarded the Purple Heart.

Julius and Marge were married in 1946. They raised their three children, Judy, Jay and Nancy, in Wyandotte County. In 1948, Novak began his real estate career in KCK as an independent broker and appraiser.

Novak is survived by his son, Jay Novak, of the home, daughter Judy (Rob) Black, Lenexa, granddaughter Anne (Andy Wright) Black, Lenexa, sister Rose Bartkoski, Kansas City, Kan., niece Carol (Karl) McCarty, Lenexa, nephew Joseph Dragosh, Mission, nephew Ed (Rosie) Bartkoski, Wichita, nephew Roger (Kay) Novak. He is survived by great-grandchildren Addie, Thomas, and Vincent, and many great-nieces and nephews.

He was pre-deceased by his wife of fifty years, Marge, daughter Nancy, brother Fred, and sister Emma.

Novak was a founding parishioner of Christ the King Church. His visitation will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at Christ the King Church with a Mass at 11 a.m. The family suggests donations to Christ the King Church, 3024 N. 53rd St., Kansas City, Kan., or Strawberry Hill Museum, 720 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kan., 66101.

Arrangements by Butler Meyers Funeral Home, www.marybutlermeyers.com.

Victims of double homicide identified

Today police identified the double homicide victims from a shooting Tuesday afternoon on Quindaro Boulevard.

The victims were identified as Deron J. Rucker, 23, and Antonio R. Rucker, 24, according to police. They were both residents of Kansas City, Kan., police said.

The two victims were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds in a shooting in the 1900 block of Quindaro Boulevard at 2:03 p.m. Aug. 18, police said.

This incident remains under investigation by the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, which is encouraging anyone with information to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

Registration being accepted for KCKCC’s Innovation Summit

by Kelly Rogge

Registration is being accepted for the Innovation Summit Oct. 2 at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Inventors, entrepreneurs and anyone who has a creative idea may benefit from the event, to be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at KCKCC’s Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center, 6565 State Ave.

At the pitch competition, entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas in front of judges including venture capitalists, investors, other entrepreneurs, business leaders and the community.

Participants will compete in one of two divisions – concept-idea and revenue generating. Additionally, this year, the competition will have a national platform. Friends, family and investors from around the nation can view a video of the pitch and cast their votes online. This provides a wider viewing audience for the product or service participants are presenting at the competition.

Those attending the event and listening to the pitches will each receive the same amount of innovation summit currency to give to their favorite ideas.

Attendees will have 90 minutes to tour the room and visit with each pitch person-entrepreneur in order to learn any additional information to make their innovation summit currency investment.

At the end of the event, organizers will count the innovation summit currency for each entrepreneur, which will play a part in determining who moves onto the final round to pitch in front of the judges. Participants are competing for a chance to win a share of $10,000.

Once registration is complete, staff at KCKCC’s Center of Workforce Development and Entrepreneurship will help participants in preparing their pitch. Submissions for entry into the pitch competition must be received by Sept. 13.

To register for the 2015 Innovation Summit or for more information, visit the Innovation Summit’s website at www.innovationsummitkc.com. Information is also available by contacting Alicia Hooks at 913-288-7388 or by email at [email protected].

Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor for Kansas City Kansas Community College.