Month: March 2017

U.S. 69-Missouri River Bridge scheduled to close Thursday morning

Crews will temporarily close all northbound and southbound lanes of the new U.S. 69 Missouri River Bridge from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, March 16, to finish last items of work on the bridge, according to an announcement from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The bridge connects Wyandotte and Platte counties.

This is part of a project to replace the current U.S. 69 Highway Bridge over the Missouri River. A new structure has been constructed in its place which includes multiple lanes and bike-pedestrian access, according to a spokesman. This project is shared by the Kansas Department of Transportation and MoDOT.

There will be a ribbon-cutting for the new bridge from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday, March 16, with parking available at the west parking lot of Argosy Casino.

Motorists are reminded to slow down and pay attention while driving in work zones. Not all work zones look alike. Work zones can be moving operations, such as striping, patching or mowing. They can also be short term, temporary lane closures to make quick repairs or remove debris from the roadway.

For more information visit www.modot.mo.gov/kansascity or MoDOT_KC on Twitter.

Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library to hold Wyandotte County Heritage Festival

The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library is holding a Wyandotte County Heritage Festival from noon to 3 p.m. April 15.

Events will be held at the West Wyandotte Library, 1737 N. 82nd St. This multi-generational event, designed for all ages, is in partnership with Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area and the Kansas Humanities Council.

Children will enjoy a goat cart ride around the lawn, while the entire family visits with over a dozen local organizations that will entertain and educate them about Kansas and Wyandotte County’s rich history.

At 2 p.m., Angela Bates, executive director of the Nicodemus Historical Society, will tell the story of Nicodemus, Kansas, the only remaining western community established by African-Americans during the reconstruction period after the Civil War.

All events are free and open to the public.

Participating organizations include:
Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area
Kansas Humanities Council
Kansas City, Kansas Public Library’s Kansas Room
Old Quindaro Museum
Black Archives of Mid-America
Wyandotte County Historical Museum
Shawnee Town 1929 Museum
National Agriculture Center and Hall of Fame
Tamara Cash and her Juneteenth Panels
Grinter House
Shawnee Indian Mission
Local Author, Gwendolyn Thomas
Lecompton Reenactors
El Centro
Mahaffie Stagecoach and Farm Stop
Wyandot Nation of Kansas

– Information from Kim Woolery, Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library

New Civitan club forming in KCK

A new Civitan club is being formed in Kansas City, Kansas.

The group will meet at 6 p.m. tonight, March 15, at the Mason Jar – KC, 941 N. 74th Drive, Kansas City, Kansas.

To be called the Lancaster-Melton Peace Keepers Civitan Club, the local group will be geared toward community service projects aimed at making the community a better place to live, according to Frank Kelley of Civitan.

The name honors two slain Kansas City, Kansas, police officers. Kelley said the group has already had one meeting and there are several local residents involved in it.

“It can offer a lot to individuals looking to make a diff in the community,” Kelley said.

This meeting is open to the public and there is no charge, he said. Those who attend will pay for their own beverages and may share in the cost of appetizers.

Those who join Civitan will have an initiation fee of $25, with dues of $30 a quarter.

An international service organization, CIvitan has more than 24,000 members in 48 nations who provide community service. There is an emphasis on helping people with intellectual challenges and abilities, leadership development, and good citizenship.

There are currently two Civitan clubs in Kansas City, Kansas, including the Orchids and KC Civitan X-Men, predominantly formed of special needs individuals and mentors.

The new Lancaster-Melton Civitan Club will be in a different direction, Kelley said, focusing on the legacy of the two police officers and engaging residents in providing service to the community.

Civitan is an all-volunteer international service organization of more than 24,000 members in 48 nations working together in community clubs to provide service to their communities; with emphasis on helping people with intellectual challenges and abilities, leadership development, and good citizenship.

For more information about Civitan membership call Frank Kelley at 727-631-9354.