Month: September 2017

Annual butterfly festival attracts families to environmental library

Mika Beckham caught a butterfly and released it inside a butterfly tent at the 12th annual Lawson Roberts Butterfly Festival Saturday at the Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Schlagle Environmental Library at Wyandotte County Lake Park. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)

Families and children enjoyed the 12th annual Lawson Roberts Butterfly Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday morning at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Environmental Library at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road.

The event featured a monarch tagging demonstration, photo contest award winner presentation, the Monarch Migration Challenge Game outdoors, butterfly and insect catch and release outdoors, and crafts and activities indoors. A release of butterflies was scheduled at 2 p.m.

Jessica Lawrenz, lead education specialist at the Schlagle Library, said she believes they are seeing about the same number of butterflies this year as they see every year.

The library has a garden with plants such as milkweed that are attractive to butterflies.

Jamie Segreto of Kansas City, Kansas, whose children were participating in the Monarch Migration Challenge Game, said she has also seen monarch butterflies this year at her home in Kansas City, Kansas.

Juan Bautista was volunteering at the butterfly tent. He composed a poem about butterflies today: “In the skies they fly so high, we do not know where they go. Is it high or is it low? Who are they?”

Amber Duffett with Arlo and Sebastian released their butterflies and insects inside the butterfly tent Saturday at the Lawson Roberts Butterfly Festival at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library at Wyandotte County Lake Park. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)

A butterfly inside the butterfly tent at the annual Butterfly Festival at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library at Wyandotte County Lake Park. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)

Another butterfly inside the butterfly tent at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L Schlagle Library at Wyandotte County Lake Park. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)

The Segreto children, Emmie Grace, Kettrick, Kenzie, and Jordan, participated in the Monarch Migration Challenge Game outdoors at the Butterfly Festival Saturday at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library at Wyandotte County Lake Park. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)

Little signs in the Monarch Migration Challenge Game described a situation and directed participants to the next step. (Staff photo)

Amber Buck, top, Dillon Buck, foreground, and Penelope Buck, left, looked at the lady beetle larva display at the Butterfly Festival Saturday at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Environmental Library at Wyandotte County Lake Park. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)

Winners of the butterfly photo contest were on display Saturday at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Environmental Library. (Staff photo)

Butterfly and insect crafts and activities were on the lower level of the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Environmental Library on Saturday. (Staff photo)

Juan Bautista caught two sulphur butterflies on Saturday at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Environmental Library. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)

All sorts of birds, insects and wildlife may be observed at the garden next to the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Environmental Library. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)

Milkweed seeds were available at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library for those who want to plant them at home to attract monarch butterflies. (Staff photo)

Saturday events

Butterfly Festival today at environmental library
The 12th annual Lawson Roberts Butterfly Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library at Wyandotte County Lake, 4051 West Drive, located inside Wyandotte County Lake Park at 91st and Leavenworth Road. There will be a monarch tagging demonstration, monarch migration game, butterfly walk, face painting, crafts, scavenger hunt and photo contest results. There is no charge.

Kidsfest planned at Children’s Mercy Park
KC Kidsfest is planned from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 23 at Children’s Mercy Park in Village West in Kansas City, Kansas. The festival includes inflatables, performances, fun foods, face painting, carnival games, arts and crafts and pony rides. Ticket are $7 for adults, and free for children. For information see https://www.kansaskidsfest.com/.

Cabela’s plans Ladies Day Out
Cabela’s at 10300 Cabela Drive, Kansas City, Kansas, plans Ladies Day Out from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be free instruction in outdoor sports, giveaways, and food samples. Archery fitting will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Taste of Cabela’s will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; self-defense seminar will be at 10 a.m.; trailer backing demonstration at noon; fish preparation, freezing and cooking demonstration at 1 p.m.; and ladies’ handgun seminar at 2 p.m.

Renaissance Festival continues Saturday
The 41st annual Renaissance Festival will continue Saturday, Sept. 23, and will run on weekends and Columbus Day through Oct. 15. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The festival site is located at 130th and State Avenue in Bonner Springs. For more information, visit www.kcrenfest.com.

9th annual Slovenefest slated for Saturday at Holy Family in KCK
Holy Family Catholic Church is preparing for the 9th annual Slovenefest, to be held Saturday, Sept. 23, at Monsignor Heliodore Mejak Hall, gym and Holy Family school grounds, 513 Ohio, Kansas City, Kansas. The festival will be from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The celebration begins with Mass at 4 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 274 Orchard St., Kansas City, Kansas. The festival will include a silent auction, games, souvenirs and an authentic Slovenian dinner of sarma (stuffed cabbage roll), poljene paprika (stuffed pepper), krvavica (a specialty sausage), Slovenian potato salad and green beans. There will be music and dancing by Hrvatski Obicaj and the Brian McCarty band. All funds raised benefit the Holy Family church. For more information about the festival, visit www.holyfamilychurchkck.com.

Marble-making demonstration scheduled
A marble-making demonstration will be held from about 10:30 a.m. to about 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Moon Marble Co., 600 E. Front St., Bonner Springs. The exact times of the demonstration may change. Bus tours and large groups are required to register ahead of time to schedule a demonstration. For more information, visit www.moonmarble.com or call 913-441-1432.

Kansas City, Mo., man convicted for dealing drugs in KCK

A federal jury Friday convicted a man who was arrested for peddling drugs in a parking lot outside a social service center in downtown Kansas City, Kan., U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

Desmond S. Gaines, 35, Kansas City, Mo., was convicted on federal charges of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, marijuana and PCP, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm.

During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that police responded to a report of a man dressed all in red in the parking lot of the center at 645 Nebraska Ave. in Kansas City, Kan.

As officers pulled into the lot, Gaines got into a white Cadillac Deville. While talking to police, Gaines shoved an officer and ran away carrying a black pouch, authorities said.

During the chase, he threw the pouch onto the roof of a building. When Gaines was arrested, officers recovered the pouch, which contained crack, marijuana and PCP, as well as more than $500 in cash, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. They found a .45 caliber HiPoint handgun in Gaines’ car.

Sentencing is set for Dec. 7. He faces the following potential penalties:
• Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine: Not less than 10 years in federal prison.
• Possession with intent to distribute marijuana: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
• Possession with intent to distribute PCP: Up to 30 years and a fine up to $1 million.
• Unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.
• Unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.

Beall commended the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead for their work on the case.