Month: October 2015

KCKCC women hold No. 13 JCCC scoreless in two-overtime 0-0 tie

by Alan Hoskins

Not only did goalkeeper Maria Hansen and her Kansas City Kansas Community College teammates post their fourth shutout of the season Tuesday, the Lady Blue Devils did it against the No. 13 ranked team in the nation.

Turning back every shot on goal, the Blue Devils and Johnson County battled to a 0-0 double overtime deadlock – the first time KCKCC had not lost to the Lady Cavaliers. The win also came on the heels of a 7-0 win over Neosho County heading into a home contest with Dodge City Friday at 5:30 p.m.

“It was a bend, don’t break kind of game,” said KCKCC assistant coach Melanie Pickert. “We are so proud of the way the girls played for each other for all 110 minutes. JCCC threw a lot of numbers and formations attempting to break down the defense.”

Pickert was particularly pleased with KCKCC’s ability to adjust defensively.

“For a large chunk of the game, JCCC played with four forwards trying to score but we were able to adapt to several different formations,” Pickert said. “No matter who was on the field, every player contributed without a lapse of focus and energy. JCCC is a very good, talented and respected team and we able to respond with passion, tenaciousness and discipline.”

While Hansen and the Blue Devil defensive backline turned back several shots on goal, KCKCC’s had a chance late in the second overtime to win only to have Loida Carranza’s shot go wide left. The game was a fundraiser for the fight against breast cancer with both teams wearing pink uniforms.

The 0-0 tie followed KCKCC’s record 7-0 win at Neosho County. The most points scored by a Lady Blue Devil teams, KCKCC got two goals each from sophomore Madison Simmons of Tonganoxie and freshman Kaitlyn Trzok of Piper and one each from Carranza and Piper freshmen Cheyann Lake and Jessica Ibarra.

Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.

Beautiful day ahead; fire danger increases in afternoon

As temperatures today reach a high of 77 with mostly sunny skies, the National Weather Service is advising residents to be concerned about the potential for fire hazards as the dry weather continues.

Today, a north northeast wind will be 12 to 17 mph in the afternoon, the weather service said, gusting as high as 26 mph. A dry cold front is settling into the region.

With low relative humidity values, about 20 to 30 percent in the afternoon, and increasing wind speeds in the afternoon, there will be an elevated fire weather danger this afternoon, the weather service said.

If you still have vegetables outdoors in the garden, be alert on Friday night and Saturday, as the morning temperatures could dip down to near freezing in the region, creating the first frost of the season in some areas, according to the weather service.

Tonight, the low will be around 41, the weather service said. The north northwest wind will be 7 to 10 mph, according to the weather service.

Friday, the high will be near 61 with sunny skies and a north wind of 5 to 10 mph, the weather service said.

Friday night’s forecast is partly cloudy with a low of 39, according to the weather service. A north wind around 5 mph will become calm.

On Saturday, it will be partly sunny with a high near 58, and a southeast wind of 7 to 9 mph, the weather service said. Saturday night, expect partly cloudy skies with a low of 45.

Sunday’s forecast is mostly sunny and a high near 67, according to the weather service. Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 53.

Residents to talk about their ideas for improving community health tonight and Friday evening

Residents to talk about their ideas for improving community health tonight and Friday evening

A community engagement event is scheduled tonight and Friday evening on how to improve community health.

Residents are being asked for their ideas on how to improve health here.

“Your Vision for Health in Wyandotte County” will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, and from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at Douglass Elementary School, 1310 N. 9th, Kansas City, Kan.

The event is sponsored by the Kansas Health Foundation in partnership with Communities Creating Opportunity.

The KHF has a $200 million endowment and is listening to residents’ views on health and how it can better invest grant resources in Wyandotte County and across the state.

KHF has awarded a $250,000 grant to Communities Creating Opportunity to support resident-led efforts to address health issues in Wyandotte County. Four other areas of Kansas also received $250,000 grants.

The event is open to the public.