Month: October 2015

Saturday events

Turner Days scheduled Oct. 10-11
Turner Days will be Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11. The event will include a parade at 10 a.m. Oct. 10; a festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 10; and a festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11. Events are at Steineger Field, 5800 Metropolitan Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For more information, see www.facebook.com/turnerdaysofficial.

Church to hold community event
New Beginnings Community Church, 3051 N. 51st St., will hold a community event from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 10. There will be free hot dogs, chips and drinks.

Storytelling by the campfire at Grinter Place
Grinter Place state historic site, 1420 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kan., will gather around the campfire at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, for Old West stories and American Indian folklore. There will be tours of the house, roasted hot dogs and s’mores. Tours begin on the hour and half-hour. Admission is free today. Donations are welcome.

Old Quindaro Museum plans fundraiser Oct. 10
The Old Quindaro Museum is holding a fundraiser from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at 3432 N. 29th St., Kansas City, Kan. For a $20 donation, visitors will get a tour of the museum, food, music and two drink tickets. The fundraiser is for repairs to the building. The museum, part of the Underground Railroad network to freedom, displays the history of the Quindaro area including a Wyandotte National of Oklahoma and Kansas City Chapter display. All donations are welcome. For more information, call Barb Ikerd at 913-522-2512 or email [email protected].

Cabela’s plans Ladies Day Out
Cabela’s, 10300 Cabela Drive, Kansas City, Kan., plans a Ladies Day Out at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. Giveaways, guest appearances, sales, seminars, and workshops are planned. Fly fishing and personal protection are among the topics. Pre-register at customer service at 913-328-0322.

Renaissance Festival continues with ‘Oktoberfest’
The Renaissance Festival will continue Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Oct. 10-12 near 126th and State in Bonner Springs. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, each festival day, rain or shine. The event is open on weekends and Columbus Day. “Oktoberfest” is the theme of the Oct. 10-11 weekend. Featured are a farmer’s market, trick-or-treating, craft beer tastings, free arts and crafts for kids, a costume contest and eating contest. The “Harvest Huzzah” will be the theme on Columbus Day, Oct. 12, where the events will include a farmer’s market, Monday Funday, Ladies’ Shopping Day, educational programs, free arts and crafts for kids, a costume contest and an eating contest. Tickets are $20.95 for adults and $11.95 for children 5 to 12. Discounts may be available. For more information, see www.kcrenfest.com/.

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. The current exhibit is about the 75th anniversary of the B-25 and the bomber builders in Kansas City, Kan. For more information visit the website www.facebook.com/wycomuseum or call 913-573-5002.

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/.

New KCKCC softball complex to feature artificial turf

Head coach Kacy Tillery struck the first sledgehammer blow Thursday on a total renovation of the softball complex at Kansas City Kansas Community College including the first artificial turf field in the Jayhawk Conference. (KCKCC photos by Jason Browar)
Head coach Kacy Tillery struck the first sledgehammer blow Thursday on a total renovation of the softball complex at Kansas City Kansas Community College including the first artificial turf field in the Jayhawk Conference. (KCKCC photos by Jason Browar)

by Alan Hoskins

Kansas City Kansas Community College is going to the head of the class with a new state-of-the-art softball complex.

Construction of the new facility will include installation of artificial turf on the infield and outfield, making KCKCC the first member of the Jayhawk Conference to have an all-weather field.

“It’s an exciting time,” said KCKCC head coach Kacy Tillery, who delivered the first sledge hammer blow on the demolition of the present dugouts Thursday.

In her 15th season as head coach, Tillery said the artificial turf should greatly reduce then number of game postponements and cancellations over the past few years.

“Just this past spring we had 14 doubleheaders either cancelled or postponed by the weather and probably upwards of 50 or more over the last three years,” she said. “And that doesn’t approach the number of practices we lost because the field was not playable.”

Tillery said most of the postponements and cancellations were not because of inclement weather at game time but because of the condition of the field.

“We’d have pools of water at home plate and first and third base,” said Tillery. “Even this fall with as little rain as we’ve had there were days we could only practice from the pitcher’s mound on out.”

One of the major changes will be rotating the playing field with home plate facing in a southeasterly direction. “Home plate will be adjacent to the concession stand which will give fans much better access to the rest rooms and concessions,” Tillery said. The rotation will also eliminate fielders on the right side of the infield having to look directly into the sun. “The new field will also be much safer. As it was, the infield was scary because you’d never know which direction a hard hit ground ball might go.”

The KCKCC Buildings and Grounds Division in conjunction with the Dr. Thomas R. Burke Technical Center will construct new dugouts. Other changes will include a warm-up area and batting cage behind the third base dugout, a warm-up area for pitchers behind the visitor’s dugout and a limited amount of parking for the handicapped.

Athletic Director Tony Tompkins, who submitted the renovation project last fall, said the new facility will have several carryover effects beyond a new field.

“I’m extremely excited for our softball players and coaches to have the same opportunities as our baseball program,” Tompkins said. “The new field will help in the recruiting process and allow our team to be a consistent competitor at the top of the region.

“Because of the many times our team wasn’t able to play or practice because of the conditions of the field, it hurt the chances for our softball players to improve their skills and showcase their abilities to four-year institutions. Both Coach Tillery, her staff and players and I are most grateful for the support of KCKCC President Dr. Doris Givens, Dr. Susan Lindahl, Dr. Michael Vitale and our Board of Trustees in making these improvements for our softball program.”

Alan Hoskins is the public information supervisor for KCKCC.

Workshop offered on chronic conditions

“Take Control of Your Chronic Condition,” a workshop, will be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. every Monday for six weeks, starting Oct. 26.

The free 2 ½-hour workshop is offered at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan.

To register, call Keeler Women’s Center at 913-906-8990 or K-State Research and Extension, Wyandotte County, 913-299-9300.

Sessions will be facilitated by Nozella Brown, who holds a doctorate in education, and Lori Wuellner, K-State Extension family and consumer sciences agents, Wyandotte County.