Month: March 2016

Historian to tell of Klan activities

Tim Rives
Tim Rives

Tim Rives, a noted historian who has done extensive research and writing about the Ku Klux Klan in Kansas during the early 1900s, will be the featured speaker at the quarterly meeting of the Wyandotte County Historical Society at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 20, at the Wyandotte County Museum, 631 N. 126th St. , in Wyandotte County Park, Bonner Springs.

Rives is deputy director and supervisory archivist at the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Abilene, Kan. Previously he was an archivist at the National Archives, Kansas City, Mo.

Rives found that the Klan had an extensive influence among political activities and elected officials, particularly in Wyandotte County. His work is detailed in a 62-page article in the winter edition (2015-2016) of The Historical Journal of Wyandotte County entitled “Klan on the Kaw: The Ku Klux Klan in Wyandotte County, Kansas.”

Rives grew up in Wichita, Kan., and graduated from Wichita East High School. He received a Bachelor of General Studies degree from Wichita State University and a Master of Arts degree from Emporia State University.

The Historical Society will present its annual awards for volunteer service.

24-year-old KCK resident dies in rollover crash on I-70

A 24-year-old Kansas City, Kan., resident, Brayan Josue Valladres Varela, died in a crash tonight on I-70 near 5th Street in Kansas City, Kan.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol trooper’s report, a Toyota 4Runner was eastbound on I-70 in the left exit only lane to 5th Street about 7 p.m. Saturday, March 19.

The driver made a lane change to the right to continue eastbound on I-70, when the vehicle went off the roadway, the trooper’s report said. The vehicle overturned multiple times, ejecting the driver out of the sunroof, the trooper’s report stated.

The trooper’s report stated the driver was not wearing a safety restraint.