Shawn Derritt and Gloria Derritt performed at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival today at Kansas City Kansas Community College. The event continues until 5:30 p.m. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
The Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival is in full swing today at the Kansas City Kansas Community College Fieldhouse.
The event, celebrating the different ethnic groups that make up Wyandotte County, is free and open to the public. Dancing, music and foods are part of the events today.
The ethnic festival continues through 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at 7250 State Ave. Ethnic food is available for purchase at the event.
Winners of the Legends of Diversity award at today’s event were Barbara Clark-Evans and Eyyup Esen.
Curtis Smith, treasurer for the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival, said that sponsors this year included Kansas City Kansas Community College, KKFI, the Unified Government Department of Human Services and El Centro.
He said the festival has 62 booths and eight food vendors.
Karen Hernandez, president of the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival, with Clarence Small, master of ceremonies, today at the annual event. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Hrvatski Obicaj Croatian Orchestra performed today at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) More than 60 booths are at today’s Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival, including this booth representing the Panamanian Association of Kansas City. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Eight food vendors are at the Ethnic Festival today offering food for sale. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Food vendors are offering a variety of ethnic foods at today’s Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) A variety of ethnic foods can be found at today’s Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival at Kansas City Kansas Community College. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) A photographer snapped a photo, with the Panamanian Association of Kansas City booth in the background, at today’s Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival at Kansas City Kansas Community College, 7250 State Ave. The festival runs through 5:30 p.m. today at the fieldhouse. There are more than 60 booths and eight food vendors, plus music and dancing. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Clarence Small, master of ceremonies, talked with Helen Folsom, center, and Elizabeth Folsom, who were at a booth about Ireland., at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival today. (Staff photo) The Dialogue Institute of the Southwest booth at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival today at Kansas City Kansas Community College. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) KCKCC nursing students, left to right, Michelle Kasper, Claire Gerkovich and Rachel Griffith were staffing a booth at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival today at KCKCC. (Staff photo) Artist Chrystal Tucker was at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival today at KCKCC. (Staff photo) Nepalese culture was the focus of this booth today at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival at KCKCC. (Staff photo) The Wyandot Nation of Kansas was represented today at a booth at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival. (Staff photo) More than 60 booths were at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival today at KCKCC. (Staff photo) A booth representing Chinese culture was at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival today. (Staff photo) A booth about Tanzanian culture also was at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival today at KCKCC. (Staff photo) KCKCC President Doris Givens, right, chatted with Curtis Smith, treasurer and operations director of the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival, today at the event at KCKCC. (Staff photo) The Naturally Designed booth today at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival at KCKCC. (Staff photo) Working the audio booth at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival today at KCKCC. (Staff photo) The Russian Club of Kansas City was represented at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival today at KCKCC. (Staff photo) More than 60 booths were at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival today at KCKCC. (Staff photo) Guatemalan beverages were available at one booth at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival today at KCKCC. (Staff photo) Art from Elaine Grisnik was on display today at a booth at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival at KCKCC. (Staff photo) A booth representing Hmong culture was at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival today. (Staff photo) Colorful fabrics and items were on display at a booth today at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival. (Staff photo) The Unified Government’s Department of Human Services was one of the sponsors of the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival today at KCKCC. (Staff photo) A booth representing the culture of Brazil was at today’s Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival. (Staff photo) The German-American Edelweiss Society also had a booth at today’s Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival at KCKCC. (Staff photo) Local historian Loren Taylor, right front, and Edwardsville Mayor John McTaggart, top right, were among those attending today’s Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival at KCKCC. (Staff photo) El Centro was a sponsor of today’s Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival at KCKCC. (Staff photo) The Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department stationed a truck outside today’s Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival at KCKCC. (Staff photo) A booth on the culture of Croatia and Strawberry Hill was at today’s Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival at KCKCC. (Staff photo) A Creative Children’s Corner provided activities for children attending today’s Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival at KCKCC. (Staff photo) A Street Blues Festival booth today at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival at KCKCC. (Staff photo) The Henry Louis Center had a booth at today’s Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival at KCKCC. (Staff photo) KKFI radio, a sponsor of the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival, had a booth there today. (Staff photo) One of several food booths today at the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival at KCKCC. (Staff photo)
A 29-year-old man and a passenger in his car died from injuries in a traffic accident overnight near South 55th Street and Metropolitan Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to police.
An initial investigation showed that the accident happened about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, April 15, as a Chevy Malibu was northbound on South 55th Street and struck a Honda Element in the roadway that was attempting to turn into the Skyline Apartment Complex, a police spokesman stated.
The driver of the Honda sport utility vehicle was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries, according to police.
A male passenger in the Honda Element was taken to a hospital in critical condition, and later died from his injuries, the spokesman said.
The adult male driver of the Chevy Malibu and three juveniles in the car were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries, the police spokesman said.
The identity of the persons who died will be released after there is positive identification and family notification, according to police.
The accident is under investigation by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department’s Traffic Support Unit-Critical Collision Response Team.
The Wyandotte County Third Saturday Democratic Breakfast will meet Saturday, April 15, at The Dotte Spot, 8123 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. The buffet will begin at 8:15 a.m., and the program starts at 9:15 a.m. State Reps. Kathy Wolfe Moore, D-36th Dist., and Tom Burroughs, D-33rd Dist., are speakers at the event. The cost of the breakfast is $10; students and those on limited incomes, $6. A sponsor is paying for new students who attend. For those not purchasing breakfast, there is a $2 charge for coffee. The meeting is open to all Democrats. The purchase of a breakfast is not necessary to attend the meeting. Reservations are requested by Thursday, April 13, to [email protected], but reservations are not required to attend.
Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival planned April 15
The 12th annual Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival is planned from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at Kansas City Kansas Community College Field House, 7250 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The event is free and open to the public, and will include ethnic displays, booths, food and entertainment. More than 60 organizations, countries and ethnic groups from Wyandotte County will be represented at the festival through booths as well as onstage entertainment. There will be a children’s corner with activities, along with one free book per person, free mint tea and water. Ethnic foods will be available for purchase. A schedule of events is listed at www.freewebs.com/wycoethnicfestival/entertainmentschedule.htm. Also see https://wyandotteonline.com/celebrate-diversity-at-the-wyandotte-county-ethnic-festival-april-15/.
Library to hold Heritage Festival April 15
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. For more information, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/kansas-city-kansas-public-library-to-hold-wyandotte-county-heritage-festival/.
