Month: June 2016

Program to recall 1951 flood

Boat - A motorboat proved to be a very practical way to get around in the Armourdale community during the 1951 flood. Harold Smith, a powerboat dealer (center of photo wearing cap) is seen near Seventh Street and Kansas Avenue. (Photo courtesy of Wyandotte County Museum)
Boat – A motorboat proved to be a very practical way to get around in the Armourdale community during the 1951 flood. Harold Smith, a powerboat dealer (center of photo wearing cap) is seen near Seventh Street and Kansas Avenue. (Photo courtesy of Wyandotte County Museum)

by Murrel Bland

Gil Castro doesn’t remember much about Black Friday. After all, he was only 3 years old.

It was Friday, July 13, 1951, when people in Wyandotte County, particularly those in the Armourdale, Argentine, the Central Industrial District and Wolcott communities, were ravaged with floodwaters. That was nearly 65 years ago.

Castro wasn’t old enough to recall the details of the 1951 flood. But he grew up with people who still have vivid memories of that period. Castro is helping coordinate a program that will commemorate the anniversary of the flood that affected the lives of thousands of people in Wyandotte County and elsewhere in the Kansas and Missouri river basins.

The Wyandotte County Historical Society, in cooperation with the 1951 Flood Reunion Committee, will present a program at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 26, at the Wyandotte County Museum, 631 N. 126th St. in Wyandotte County Park, Bonner Springs.

Castro has assembled a panel of presenters who will tell of their experiences during the 1951 flood. Those will include Irene Gonzalez, the widow of Lupe Gonzalez, a longtime city employee and community leader; Bundy Jenkins, a retired public school teacher and a member of the Kaw Valley Drainage District Board of Directors; Loren Taylor, a lawyer and author of books about Wyandotte County history; and Manuel Reyes, publisher of the Dos Mundos newspaper.

A film about the flood damage, produced by WDAF-TV, will be shown.

Estimates are that as much as 20 percent of Wyandotte County was under water. The flood was responsible for more than $1 billion of property damage and claimed eight lives.

This flood was the reason for a massive federal program that created upstream reservoirs including Tuttle Creek near Manhattan. This flood control effort was not without its controversy as it took more than 55,000 acres of prime farmland out of production and cost more than $80 million. Community leaders from Wyandotte County, including the Breidenthal banking family, were strong advocates for flood control. They argued it was necessary to protect the county, particularly the Fairfax Industrial Area.

There will be no cost for the Historical Society program. Refreshments will be served after the presentation.

For more information, telephone Trish Schurkamp at 913-573-5002 or Gil Castro at 913-302-3188.

Theater - The Kansas movie theater in the Armourdale community of Kansas City, Kan., was damaged by the 1951 flood. This view shows Kansas Avenue near St. Paul Street. (Photo courtesy of the Wyandotte County Museum)
Theater – The Kansas movie theater in the Armourdale community of Kansas City, Kan., was damaged by the 1951 flood. This view shows Kansas Avenue near St. Paul Street. (Photo courtesy of the Wyandotte County Museum)
Railroad bridge - The Kaw River was out of its banks in this view from Strawberry Hill in Kansas City, Kan., during the 1951 flood. The bridge belonged to the Kansas City Southern Railroad. The smoke stacks in the background are from the Armour meat packing plant. The downtown Kansas City, Mo., skyline can be seen in the far background. (Photo courtesy of the Wyandotte County Museum)
Railroad bridge – The Kaw River was out of its banks in this view from Strawberry Hill in Kansas City, Kan., during the 1951 flood. The bridge belonged to the Kansas City Southern Railroad. The smoke stacks in the background are from the Armour meat packing plant. The downtown Kansas City, Mo., skyline can be seen in the far background. (Photo courtesy of the Wyandotte County Museum)
Aftermath - This building in the Armourdale community of Kansas City, Kan., at the east end of Kansas Avenue was severely damaged during the 1951 flood. It housed a restaurant and tavern that nearby meatpacking company employees frequented. The Clarke Investment Company owned the building. (Photo courtesy of Joe H. Vaughan Jr.)
Aftermath – This building in the Armourdale community of Kansas City, Kan., at the east end of Kansas Avenue was severely damaged during the 1951 flood. It housed a restaurant and tavern that nearby meatpacking company employees frequented. The Clarke Investment Company owned the building. (Photo courtesy of Joe H. Vaughan Jr.)

Doctors concerned about heat-related illnesses

As the temperature at 6 p.m. June 22 hit the 100-degree mark, with a heat index of 103 in Wyandotte County, doctors expressed concern about heat-related illnesses.

According to the University of Kansas Hospital, there have been an average of 2.5 patients a day coming in for heat-related treatment.

In each case, the patients had other medical conditions that were made worse by the heat, the spokesman said. Most patients were treated and released.

According to KU Hospital’s Dr. Lee Norman, chief medical officer, the elderly, the very young and those with health conditions are usually the first to feel the consequences of a heat wave, but a prolonged forecast for high heat and humidity may have an effect on the healthiest people if there is long-term exposure to the heat.

Drinking fluids is critical for anyone out in the heat even for a brief while, Dr. Norman said. He said sports drinks that provide electrolytes are preferred, but water is also an important option.

He urged people to avoid alcohol, drinks with caffeine and drinks with carbonation.

The doctor also advised to pay attention to urination. If a person is not urinating or if it is a dark color, the person needs to concentrate on hydration.

“Head to the hospital if you are not urinating, are becoming confused or disoriented,” Dr. Norman said. “If you’re exhibiting the early signs, get hydrated. If you are home and not in air-conditioning, take cool baths or dab yourself with a wet towel in front of a fan,” he said.

In the video, Dr. Norman says hydration is critical for anyone out in the heat even for a brief while. He says sports drinks which provide electrolytes are preferred but water is also an important option. He urges people to avoid alcohol, drinks with caffeine and drinks with carbonation. Dr. Norman says a key is to pay attention to urination. If you are not urinating or if it is a dark color, you need to concentrate on hydration. “Head to the hospital if you are not urinating, are becoming confused or disoriented. If you’re exhibiting the early signs, get hydrated. If you are home and not in air conditioning, take cool baths or dab yourself with a wet towel in front of a fan,” warns Dr. Norman.

Heat and humidity this high frustrates the body’s natural ways to cool itself. The elderly, the very young and those with health conditions are usually the first the feel the consequences of a heat wave, but this prolonged forecast for high heat and humidity can have an impact on the healthiest people if there is long term exposure to the heat,” says Lee Norman, MD, chief medical officer of The University of Kansas Hospital.

KU doctors also suggested letting a youngster in the neighborhood cut the lawn under these conditions.

The hospital spokesman said the early warning signs of overtaxing the heart include dizziness, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, feeling faint and in more serious cases, chest pains. Even people in relatively good shape may be at risk during the hot summer days.

While exercise is considered beneficial, people who have heart disease should exercise only as part of a health program overseen by their physician, the spokesman said. For tips about heart and heat, visit the American Heart Association website at heart.org.

Joplin outlasts Kansas City

A home run in the top of the ninth by Joplin’s Mitch Glasser proved to be the winning run as Joplin defeated Kansas City 5-4 Wednesday afternoon at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Entering the top of the ninth, the game was tied 4-4 before T-Bones relief pitcher Aaron Baker (1-1) gave up a solo home run to the first batter he faced, Glasser.

The T-Bones had tied the game a half-inning earlier. An error by Joplin second baseman Glasser on a pop up allowed Anthony Gallas to reach base.

Following back-to-back singles by Dalton Wheat and Brandon Tierney, pinch-hitter Brett Wiley tied the game with a sacrifice fly that scored Gallas.

Even after surrendering the lead in the top of the ninth, Kansas City had a chance to tie the game and possibly win it in the bottom of the inning.

Starlin Rodriguez led off the ninth with a single to left field and, two pitches later, stole second base. Vladimir Frias put down a perfect sacrifice bunt that moved Rodriguez to third.

After Tyler Massey popped out to third baseman Geraldo Valentin, Joplin pitcher Victor Capellan (2-0) intentionally walked Jake Blackwood. With runners at the corners and two outs, Capellan struck out Gallas.

After a scoreless start, Joplin took a 3-0 lead in the third inning thanks to doubles by Edwin Gomez and Valentin, and singles by Axel Johnson and Glasser. Willie Cabrera added a one-out hit that scored Valentin.

T-Bones starting pitcher David Holman gave up nine hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings. Joplin starter Noel Arguelles, a former Kansas City Royals prospect, gave up nine hits and struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings.

The T-Bones will look to win the series against Joplin Thursday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones