Month: May 2017

Chance of storms late tonight

Damaging winds are possible tonight in some areas. (National Weather Service graphic)

After a high of 83 today, storms and rain may move into the Wyandotte County area, possibly this evening but mainly after midnight, according to the National Weather Service.

Scattered storms are developing across western Kansas today, and are expected to move eastward this evening, producing damaging winds in those areas if storms hold together, the weather service said. The storms may weaken as they move eastward. More storms may be in the forecast on Wednesday.

Today’s high will be near 83, with a south wind of 8 to 13 mph increasing to 16 to 21 in the afternoon, the weather service said. Winds may gust as high as 31 mph today.

Tonight’s low will be around 67, with a south wind of 15 to 17 mph, gusting as high as 29 mph, according to the weather service. There is a 40 percent chance of precipitation tonight after midnight.

Wednesday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, the weather service said. The high will be near 79, with a south wind of 16 to 25 mph, gusting as high as 34 mph.

Wednesday night, the low will be around 62, with mostly clear skies, according to the weather service. A south southwest wind of 18 to 23 mph, gusting to 32 mph, and will decrease to 8 to 13 mph after midnight.

Thursday’s forecast will be partly sunny with a high of 82, the weather service said, and a south wind of 7 to 9 mph.

Thursday night, there is an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 63, according to the weather service. Between three-quarters and an inch of rain is possible.

Friday, there is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 76.

Friday night, expect an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 56, according to the weather service.

Saturday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m., with a high near 67, the weather service said.

Saturday night, a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms is possible before 1 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 50.

Sunday’s forecast is mostly sunny, with a high of 71, the weather service said.

Storm outlook tonight (National Weather Service graphic)

Hold onto your caps

Turner High School students held onto their caps while they were waiting outside before graduation tonight at Kansas City Kansas Community College Fieldhouse, 7250 State Ave. There was unusually warm weather, near 90 degrees, and a south wind of 15 mph.
Turner High School students waited outdoors before commencement exercises tonight at Kansas City Kansas Community College Fieldhouse, 7250 State Ave.

Nine employees at Epiq in KCK win $1 million Powerball prize

Some of the nine EPIQ Systems employees in Kansas City, Kansas, who won $1 million in Powerball May 13 went to Topeka this morning to claim their prize. (Photo from Kansas Lottery)

The $1 million Powerball cash prize won in the May 13 drawing has been claimed by a group of nine co-workers who work at EPIQ Systems in Kansas City, Kansas, according to the Kansas Lottery.

The lucky winners matched the first five numbers, but not the Powerball to win a $1 million Match 5 cash prize.

Five of the nine winners came to Kansas Lottery headquarters in Topeka this morning to claim the $1 million cash prize.

Cathy Wissing of Olathe, Kan., who is in charge of collecting the money for the pool and buying the Powerball tickets, claimed the prize on the group’s behalf.

“We’ve been playing Powerball together since May 5, 2016,” Wissing said. “When the Powerball jackpot reaches $100 million, I send an email out to my co-workers to let them know I’ll be collecting money to buy tickets. I always buy Quick Pick tickets at the same store. Then I take a photo of the tickets and send it by email to everyone who has participated. I also keep a spreadsheet that shows the amount each person has contributed.

“The amount contributed determines the amount each person receives when we win,” she said. “For this big win, the prize amount each person will receive ranges from $182,000 to $10,000.”

Staci Werkowitch of Stilwell, Kan., was the office pool member who had checked the Powerball tickets Sunday morning and discovered the group had won the $1 million cash prize. When she called Wissing with the good news, she said she could hardly speak she was so excited.

“When I got a hold of Cathy to tell her we had won, my voice was quivering and I was screaming,” Werkowitch said.

“I was on my way to the Royals game when Staci called and said we had won,” Wissing said. “I had the original tickets in my purse, so we turned around and went to a grocery store to check them. Once we were sure of the amount we’d won, the group of us texted back and forth all day.”

Another member of the office pool, Dana Brooks of Kansas City, Mo., found out she had won part of the prize while she was at church Sunday morning.

“I sing in the church choir and after I was finished singing, I checked my phone and had several missed calls and text messages,” Brooks said. “When I called Cathy back and she told me what we’d won, I couldn’t believe it. I told her if she was lying I was going to slash her tires. It’s been quite a roller coaster ride.”

Julie Racy of Liberty, Mo., was with her grandchildren when she received the news of their big win. She said it made for a great Mother’s Day.

Group member Mary Bowers of Shawnee, Kan., wasn’t aware of the big win until she came into work this morning. “The phone number they had for me wasn’t the correct one,” Bowers said. “Everyone was giddy when I got to work this morning. When they told me why, I didn’t believe it. It still hasn’t sunk in.”

The lucky co-workers, who have dubbed themselves the EPIQ Financial Team, said they plan to continue the office pool.

The winning Powerball ticket was purchased at Green Light 838, located at 838 S. 7th St. in Kansas City, Kan. For selling the $1 million cash prize, the store is eligible for a $1,000 selling bonus.

– Story and photo from the Kansas Lottery