Month: October 2017

New Eagle Scouts honored in KCK

Recent Troop 5 Eagle Scout honorees posed together after the ceremony. (Photo courtesy Boy Scout Troop 5) left to right: Lewis Spangler, Brett Nichols, Jared Turrel, Blake Best, Max Schumaker

by Brian Turrel

Brett Nichols and Lewis Spangler, of Edwardsville, and Maxwell Schumaker, of Kansas City, Kan., received the Eagle Scout award at a ceremony at Trinity Community Church on Monday night. A crowd of parents, friends, and other Scouts attended the ceremony and reception that followed.

The Eagle Scout award is Boy Scouts’ highest award. It is given upon completion of extensive requirements of skills, service, and leadership, and takes dedicated work over a period of years.

As part of earning the award, each Scout planned and led a service project to benefit the community.

Brett Nichols led a project to improve the landscaping in the training area at Paws for Freedom, located in Tonganoxie, Kan. Paws for Freedom trains puppies to become service dogs to assist the disabled.

Lewis Spangler organized a campaign to collect toiletry supplies for Giving the Basics, an organization that provides assistance for children and families in need. Lewis’s campaign collected over seven thousand toiletry items.

Maxwell Schumaker led a team that repaired a retaining wall, planted flowers, and improved other landscaping at Trinity Community Church, Troop 5’s sponsoring organization.

Boy Scout Troop 5 meets at Trinity Community Church at 5010 Parallel Parkway, and is one of the oldest Scouting units in the Kansas City area.

Eagle Scout award recipient Max Schumaker received congratulations from his parents, Ronald and Janie Schumaker. (Photo courtesy Boy Scout Troop 5)
Lewis Spangler received his Eagle award ribbon from his mother, Mary Spangler. (Photo courtesy Boy Scout Troop 5)
After the ceremony, Eagle Scout award recipient Brett Nichols posed with his parents Paul and Pauline Nichols and sister Morgan Nichols. (Photo courtesy Boy Scout Troop 5)

Today’s forecast: Cool with light rain

Temperatures are in the 40s today, gradually warming to the 70s by Thursday. (National Weather Service graphic)

It’s jacket weather today, with temperatures reaching a high of only 48 degrees. Periods of light rain today will result in a few tenths of an inch of rainfall today, according to the National Weather Service.

No hazardous weather is expected today, the weather service said.

Thunderstorms are possible Saturday afternoon and evening, some of which could become strong or severe, according to the weather service.

Today, there is a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms likely before 3 p.m., then a chance of showers, the weather service said. The high will be near 48 with a north northwest wind around 14 mph, gusting as high as 22 mph. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.

Tonight, the low will be around 40 with a northwest wind of 8 to 11 mph.

Wednesday, the high will be near 61 with partly sunny skies and a northwest wind of 5 to 7 mph, becoming calm in the afternoon, the weather service said.

Wednesday night, the low will be around 47 with a light south southeast wind, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be sunny with a high near 74, the weather service said. A light south southeast wind will become south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Thursday night, expect mostly clear skies with a low of 60, according to the weather service.

Friday, it will be sunny with a high of 83, the weather service said.

Friday night, there is a 60 percent chance of showers after 1 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 64.

Saturday, there is a 60 percent chance of showers with a high near 78, the weather service said.

Saturday night, a 60 percent chance of rain continues, mainly before 1 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 54.

Sunday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a high near 69, the weather service said.

Sunday night, skies will be mostly clear with a low of 48, according to the weather service.

Record-setting KCKCC women in home finales Tuesday, Thursday

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

With the most wins in history already in the books, the Kansas City Kansas Community College women’s soccer team will close out its home season this week with games Tuesday and Thursday.

The Lady Blue Devils (6-7) are coming off a single season record sixth win, a 4-2 win over Cowley College. They will play host to Jayhawk Conference rival Coffeyville Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the first half of a women’s-men’s doubleheader and then close their home season Thursday at 2 p.m. against non-conference rival Maple Woods.

The Blue Devils led from start to finish in their record sixth win. KCKCC scored twice in the first 12 minutes on goals by DeSoto freshman Madison Plake assisted by Harmon freshman Itzel Almanza and Bishop Ward sophomore Serena Ortiz on a pass from Sumner Academy sophomore Marisol Rangel.

Sophomore Emilie Lutz made it 3-0 early in the second half on Rangel’s second assist. Cowley closed to 3-1 on a penalty kick but an unassisted goal by Shawnee Mission North sophomore Joseline Oregon made it 4-1 with 11 minutes remaining. Shawnee Heights freshman Jessica Hills had four saves in goal for KCKCC while the Blue Devils had 11 shots on goal.

The win came on the heels of a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Allen County, the Lady Red Devils’ Hailey Gonzalez scoring the game-winning goal with just 2½ minutes remaining. Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Itzel Almanza tied the game early in the second half on a pass from Emelie Lutz.

After Allen had regained the lead 2-1, Almanza tied it again on a pass from Marisol Rangel with 17 minutes left. Jessica Hill had three saves for KCKCC, which had seven shots on goal.