Month: January 2016

Three persons injured in crash at I-635 and Swartz Road

Three persons were injured when a Ford F-150 truck exited on the I-635 southbound ramp to Swartz Road and hit a tree on Friday morning, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

A trooper’s report stated that the truck left the roadway “for an unknown reason.”

The crash occurred at 5:05 a.m. Friday, Jan. 29, according to the trooper’s report.

The driver, a 23-year-old Kansas City, Kan., woman, was injured and taken to a hospital, the report stated.

A 26-year-old Kansas City, Kan., man who was a passenger in the truck also was injured and taken to the hospital, the report stated.

A 22-year-old Bailey, N.C., man, also a passenger in the truck, was injured and taken to the hospital, according to the report.

None of the occupants of the truck was wearing a seat belt or safety restraint, the report stated.

KDHE expands investigation into norovirus illnesses at Overland Park dinner theater

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is working with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment to investigate an outbreak of norovirus infection among individuals who became ill after attending the New Theatre Restaurant in Overland Park, Kan.

Based on reports of illness from attendees, KDHE is now expanding the investigation. KDHE would like all persons, those that became ill and those that did not become ill, who attended performances since Friday, Jan. 15 to fill out our secure, confidential online survey available at http://tinyurl.com/newtheatre2016. KDHE is still investigating the source of the illness.

So far during KDHE’s investigation, more than 390 individuals have reported illness and attended the New Theatre Restaurant from Friday, Jan. 15 to present. Four people who became ill have laboratory specimens that confirmed norovirus.

Norovirus is different from influenza and is very contagious. Norovirus symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain. A person develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed and most people get better within one to three days, the KDHE said. Norovirus is spread person to person (having contact with someone who is infected with norovirus), through contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces.

Norovirus is not spread through the air through coughing, sneezing or talking, according to the KDHE. The best way to prevent norovirus is proper handwashing. Norovirus causes an estimated 19 to 21 million persons to become ill each year, and is more common in the winter months.

Individuals who may have attempted to fill out the survey before KDHE expanded its investigation to include these additional dates are asked to go online again to fill out the current survey which includes additional attendance dates.

Personal information provided to KDHE will be held confidential, and this information is protected by state law. Persons who have already participated in a telephone interview do NOT need to complete an online survey. Persons with questions or concerns regarding the outbreak may call the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317.

Get outside today to enjoy the nice weather

National Weather Service
National Weather Service

There’s seldom a forecast like Friday’s in January in Wyandotte County. Today, skies will be sunny and temperatures will reach a high of 62, according to the National Weather Service.

Tonight’s low will be 33, the weather service said.

On Saturday, expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 59, according to the weather service.

Sunday, the high will be near 49, the weather service said, and a west northwest wind will be 7 to 14 mph, gusting to as high as 20 mph.

On Sunday night, the low will be around 31.

Monday, there will be a 50 percent chance of rain with a high near 43, the weather service said. Monday night, there is an 80 percent chance of rain with a low of 32.

This storm system Monday night and Tuesday may produce heavy snow in areas north of Kansas City, with lower amounts in the Kansas City area, the weather service said.

On Tuesday, there is a 70 percent chance of rain and snow, becoming all snow in the afternoon, according to the weather service. The high will be near 36.

Tuesday night, there is a 30 percent chance of snow with a low around 18, the weather service said. It will be blustery.

Wednesday, the high will be 28, with mostly sunny skies, according to the weather service. Wednesday night, the low will be 17.

Thursday, the high will be near 33, the weather service said, with mostly sunny skies.