Month: March 2017

Mayoral contest picks up another candidate; commissioner races heat up

by Mary Rupert

Filings from the Wyandotte County Election Commissioner’s Office showed a third person has filed for mayor, and some Unified Government Commission races have opposition.

D. Keith Jordan has filed for mayor-CEO of the UG, according to the election commissioner’s office. That brings to three the number of persons filing for mayor, by 3 p.m. today. Earlier, Incumbent Mayor Mark Holland and challenger David Alvey filed for mayor.

In addition, the 2nd District at-large UG Commissioner position now has two candidates in the wake of incumbent Commissioner Hal Walker saying he would not be a candidate.

State Rep. Tom Burroughs, D-33rd Dist., and John “J.D.” Rios have filed for UG Commissioner at large, 2nd District. Burroughs was the Kansas House minority leader last year, while Rios is the chairman of the Kansas City Kansas Community College Board of Trustees.

Fifth District UG Commissioner Mike Kane, the incumbent, has opposition from Sarah Kremer, according to the election commissioner’s office.

Jim Walters, a UG commissioner from the 7th District, has filed, according to the election commissioner’s office.

Other candidates who have filed include Mary Gonzales, incumbent, BPU at-large position 1; and Maria Cecilia Ysaac, Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Education.

The filing deadline is noon June 1.

Bicycles donated to LRA fishing derby

Two bicycles were donated anonymously to the Leavenworth Road Association recently for the Fishing Derby. The children’s derby will be June 10 at Wyandotte County Lake. The Leavenworth Road Association’s next meeting is tonight at 6 p.m. at Eisenhower Recreation Center, 2901 N. 72nd St., Kansas City, Kansas. Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree will be the guest speaker. The event begins with a potluck dinner. (Photo by Lou Braswell, Leavenworth Road Association)

Bishop Ward students volunteer throughout community

Bishop Ward High School students volunteered at reStart Inc. on March 10 as part of an all-school service day. (Photo by Kelly Lipovitz, Bishop Ward)

On Friday, March 10, Bishop Ward held its first All School Service Day. All students embarked throughout the community to help serve various organizations and individuals in need.

Students, teachers and administration gathered in prayer before boarding buses and heading to the following sites: Harvesters-The Community Food Network, Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic, Hope Faith Ministries, reStart Inc., Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, and Shawnee Community Services.

Director of Campus Ministry John Williams, who organized the day, said it was a powerful testament to see students and teachers working in solidarity to serve the Lord.

“Today was a great opportunity to put our faith and service into action,” Williams said.

Freshman Jackie Villanueva spent her day at Faith Hope Ministries and said, “It was a fun day! I have never had the chance to experience volunteering as a group before, and I feel closer to my classmates now.”

This day emphasized Bishop Ward’s belief as a school that volunteering can have an incredible effect on a young person’s life now and in the future.

“Teaching our students the value of volunteering will last a lifetime,” Father Tom Schrader, president, said. “Our students are individually active with various projects during the year, but this was the first opportunity for every Alliance to go out on the same day and make a huge impact in our local community.”

Every Bishop Ward student is required to complete volunteer service projects throughout their high school careers. They must earn 32 total legacy points to graduate. The points are determined based on the impact of the project and how meaningful it is to the community.

– Story by Josh Johns, marketing manager, Bishop Ward High School

Bishop Ward High School students volunteered at Hope Distribution Center on March 10 as part of an all-school service day. (Photo by Chris Sinclair, Bishop Ward)

Students from Bishop Ward High School volunteered at Catholic Charities on March 10 as part of an all-school service day. (Photo by Maggie Mohrfeld, Bishop Ward)