Month: October 2015

KCKCC home volleyball final kicks off rare twin-bill Tuesday

by Alan Hoskins

Kansas City Kansas Community College will close out its home volleyball season Tuesday in the opener of a rare volleyball-women’s basketball doubleheader.

It will be Sophomore Night as the Lady Blue Devils host Longview at 6 p.m. Sophomores Alyssa Lutgen of Lansing and Lexi Nick of Bishop Ward will be honored after the game. The KCKCC women will then play host to Central Methodist in the basketball nightcap starting at approximately 8 p.m.

The KCKCC women closed out Jayhawk Conference play Wednesday with a 25-15, 29-27, 19-25, 25-19 win at Independence. With the win, the Blue Devils (4-5) tied with Highland for sixth place in the Jayhawk Conference. Without three of their four returning sophomores sidelined by injuries most of the season, the Blue Devils are 10-22 overall.

Seeded seventh in the Region VI playoffs, the Blue Devils are expected to meet 14th ranked Cowley College (22-8) in first round playoff action at Arkansas City next Saturday, Nov. 7. In the other half of the four-team bracket, No. 7 Coffeyville (31-9) will play Highland (18-12).

Johnson County, the Jayhawk champion at 9-0 and 30-5 overall, will host the other Division II playoff. Seeded No. 1, the Lady Cavaliers will play No. 8 Allen County (7-23) while No. 4 Fort Scott (27-9) will collide with No. 5 Neosho County (24-13). Both regional champions will advance to the NJCAA National Tournament.

Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.

Day of the Dead celebration planned at library Nov. 2

The West Wyandotte Library will hold a Day of the Dead celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 2. Those attending may make their own piñata, decorate a sugar skull, take pictures with La Catrina, help decorate an altar for a loved one and witness the dancing and singing of Calpulli Iskally Mitotiyotl.

There will also be Tamales, pan de muerto (bread of the dead), coffee and hot chocolate. West Wyandotte Library is a part of Kansas City, Kan., Public Library. It is located at 1737 N. 82nd St., Kansas City, Kan. For more information, call 913-596-5800.

¡Únase a nosotros en la biblioteca de West Wyandotte 18:00-20:00 el 2 de noviembre para celebrar el Día de los muertos! Podrá hacer su propia piñata, decorar calaveras de azúcar, tomarse fotos con la Catrina, rituales y danzas a cargo del grupo Calpulli Iskally Mitotiyotl. También usted tendrá la oportunidad de ayudar con la preparación de nuestro altar para recordar a nuestros seres queridos. Durante este gran festejo usted podrá disfrutar de la gastronomía tradicional como tamales, pan de muerto, café y chocolate caliente. Biblioteca de West Wyandotte es una parte de Kansas City, Kansas Public Library. Se encuentra ubicado en 1737 N. 82nd Street, Kansas City, KS, 66112. Para obtener más información, llame al 913-596-5800.

Sen. Moran expresses frustration with lack of support for community mental health centers

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., raised questions about the availability of community mental health services during a Senate committee hearing on “VA Mental Health: Ensuring Access to Care.”

He questioned Government Accountability Office Health Team Director Dr. Debra Draper and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Chief Consultant for Mental Health Services Dr. Harold Kudler this week during a veterans committee hearing on “VA Mental Health: Ensuring Access to Care.”

Five years of GOA investigations on the Veterans Health Administration have resulted in similar findings and recommendations outlining systemic VA failures. Sen. Moran questioned Dr. Draper on whether the VA has accepted GAO recommendations and taken action to remedy failures and deficiencies. Unfortunately for veterans, Dr. Draper indicated the VHA has not made much progress, which is why the VHA was placed on GAO’s “high-risk” list this year, according to Sen. Moran’s office.

Despite GAO recommendations to remove VHA from the “high-risk” list, little has changed within the VHA to correct the wrongs that have harmed veterans across the country in preventing access to care, even though the Veterans Choice Program was created to support veterans by offering the choice to receive care in the community, according to Sen. Moran.

To view selected videos from this committee hearing, visit: