Month: August 2015

Heat index hits 100; heat advisory in effect

Marginal risk of severe storms tonight. (National Weather Service graphic)
Marginal risk of severe storms tonight. (National Weather Service graphic)

A heat advisory is in effect today, according to the National Weather Service.

The advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. Saturday. An excessive heat warning issued earlier has been canceled, according to the weather service.

With high temperatures reaching the 90s today, the combination of heat and humidity has resulted in a heat index of 100 degrees.

The temperature was 91 at 3 p.m., a heat index of 100, according to the weather service.

The forecast for tonight calls for a 20 percent chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms. Winds from the southeast will be from 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph, the weather service said.

For Sunday, expect a high of 91 with a heat index near 99. There is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Sunday and Sunday night, according to the weather service.

Severe weather hazards (National Weather Service graphic)
Severe weather hazards (National Weather Service graphic)

Blasters take series with extra-inning win

The Kansas City T-Bones and Joplin Blasters were neck and neck all night in their last game of a five-game series, but the Blasters took the series with a 5-3 win in 10 innings in front of 5,738 Friday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Kansas City starting pitcher Bobby Doran didn’t allow a hit through the first three innings, but that ended in the fourth on a single by Maikol Gonzalez. The next batter, Jairo Perez, launched a home run over the left field wall, making it a 2-0 game.

The T-Bones fought back that same inning. One batter after Nate Tenbrink singled, Adam Bailey, who has five home runs in the past 10 games, blasted another one over the left field wall, tying it 2-2.

Joplin took the lead again in the fifth, after Omar Luna, who singled to left and eventually went to third on a fielder’s choice by Joe Coyne, scored on a single by Oscar Mesa.

Kansas City came back and tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when Robby Kuzdale hit a two-out single to left that scored Alex Marquez, who had doubled to the left-field corner, and tied the game at 3-3.

The game stayed quiet until the 10th inning, when an error from Kansas City first baseman Kyle Robinson put Joplin’s Steven Tinoco on first. Gonzalez followed with a double to center, scoring Tinoco. Perez finished it off when he singled to left center and scored Gonzalez, which gave the Blasters the final 5-3 lead.

Fernando Hernandez (3-5) took the loss after allowing three hits, two runs, one of which was earned, along with two strikeouts in 3 innings pitched.

The loss gives Joplin the series win, three games to two, and now puts the T-Bones and Blasters in a tie in the wild-card race.

The T-Bones (38-30) will play host to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (23-48) for a three-game series starting Saturday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the box office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

Saturday events

In the event of inclement weather, call the sponsoring organization to see if the event is still being held.

Back-to-School Bash planned

The 18th annual P.R.I.D.E. Parade and Back-to-School Bash will be held Saturday, Aug. 8. The Garvin Run – Balloon Release will be held at 8:45 a.m. Saturday at Cissna and Quindaro (1726 Quindaro Blvd.), Kansas City, Kan. The parade starts at 9 a.m. from Cissna and Quindaro Boulevard to 9th and Quindaro Boulevard, Parkwood Park behind Fire Station No. 5. The parade grand marshal this year will be Alvin Sykes, community and civil rights activist. After the parade will be a day with P.R.I.D.E. black firefighters at Parkwood Park, 950 Quindaro Blvd., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free with no admission charge. There will be special awards, games for children and a talent showcase. There will be school supplies giveaways for kindergarten and school children while supplies last. Also, hot dogs, chips and drinks will be served. The pool will be open free to all swimmers, with a canned good donation.

Summer Fest planned Saturday at Grinter Place

Celebrate summer with food and fun at Summer Fest, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at Grinter Place State Historic Site, 1420 S. 78th St. (South 78th and K-32). Events include:
8 – 10 a.m.
All you can eat pancakes and sausage with coffee, juice, and milk. Fee: $8
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Croquet tournament, kite flying, and children’s games. Motorcycle and classic car display. Tours of Grinter Place. Concessions available for purchase.
2 – 4 p.m.
Ice cream social on the lawn with entertainment by the Kansas City, Kan., Community Orchestra. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. Donations welcome. Tours of Grinter Place are available. Admission for home tours is $3 adults, $1 students. Kansas Historical Foundation members and children five and younger admitted free. Grinter Place is located at 1420 S. 78th Street, Kansas City. For more information, call 913-299-0373 or visit kshs.org/grinter_place. The event is presented in cooperation with the Friends of Grinter Place. Grinter Place State Historic Site is one of 16 state historic sites operated by the Kansas Historical Society, a state agency.

End-of-Summer Carnival planned today at environmental library

An End-of-Summer Carnival is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library at Wyandotte County Lake, 91st and Leavenworth Road. The event, wrapping up the summer reading program, will include a silent auction to support future programming at the library. A magic presentation will be held by Simply Magic by Dale at 11 a.m. Concession food will be for sale by the Leavenworth Road Association. For more information visit www.kckpl.org.

Strawberry Hill Museum open on weekends

The Strawberry Hill Museum, 720 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kan., is open on the weekends. The museum is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The admission charge is $7 for adults, $3 for children 6 to 12, and free for children under 6. Special tours are available during the week for groups of 20 or more by calling 913-721-0081. The museum’s tea room is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday and Sunday of each month. For more information, visit www.strawberryhillmuseum.org/.

Wyandotte County Museum open

The Wyandotte County Museum, 631 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays and holidays. For more information visit the website www.facebook.com/wycomuseum or call 913-573-5002.