Month: August 2018

T-Bones shut out Saltdogs, 2-0

The Kansas City T-Bones (54-31) continued the quest to break their playoff drought as they took on the Saltdogs (42-44) in Lincoln, Nebraska Tuesday evening.

KC hasn’t made an appearance in the playoffs since 2010. Two runs was enough, and the T-Bones shut out the Saltdogs, 2-0.

Mason Davis crossed the plate twice, including a home run, and Tommy Collier struck out nine Lincoln batters in seven innings of work, giving up only one walk.

Collier, a league leader in strikeouts, struck out five straight when he threw back-to-back strikeouts in the bottom of the second and fanned all three Lincoln batters he faced in the fourth.

Lincoln’s offense, despite seven hits, was unable to score, leaving seven men on base.

In the top of the third, a solo home run by Davis off Lincoln starting pitcher Joe Bircher put the T-Bones on the board first. The homer was Davis’s seventh since being signed by the T-Bones June 22.

In the top of the fifth, Davis doubled to right and Todd Cunningham walked to put runners on base. Davis moved up on a Colin Walsh putout, then a line drive single to shallow right by Noah Perio Jr. brought him home for the T-Bones’ second run.

And that was enough to capture the win, with a final score of 2-0 Kansas City.

The T-Bones have won four straight and looked to continue the streak Wednesday when they play a doubleheader against Lincoln that began at 11:05 a.m. Kansas City returns home Thursday to begin a nine-game homestand. Friday night is Sandlot Night with a special guest appearance by Squints.

Season, group tickets, mini-plans and nightly party suites are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting the box office at T-Bones Stadium. Call the box office at 913-328-5618 or purchase and print at www.tbonesbaseball.com. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
– Story from T-Bones

Public hearing on KCP&L rate increase to be Aug. 23

A public hearing on a KCP&L proposed $26.2 million rate increase will be held on Thursday, Aug. 23.

Some residents of western Wyandotte County may be in the Kansas City Power and Light or the Westar Energy electric service areas.

The public hearing will begin at 6 p.m. Aug. 23 at the B.E.S.T. Conference Center on the University of Kansas Edwards Campus, at 12600 Quivira Road in Overland Park, Kansas.

According to information from a Kansas Corporation Commission news release, KCP&L has requested a rate increase of $26.2 million or 4.5 percent, excluding property tax rebasing. The increase including rebasing would be $32.9 million.

Because of the merger with Westar Energy, KCP&L’s request was reduced by about $10.3 million, according to the KCC.

If granted as originally requested, before the merger reduction, the average residential customer using 1,366 kWh in summer months and 833 kWh in winter months would see an increase of about $7.29 before property tax rebasing or $9.19 after property tax rebasing.

Residential customers who use electricity to heat their homes could experience a higher average monthly increase during winter months.

The KCC is accepting public comments through 5 p.m. Oct. 17. The KCC decision is due by Dec. 27.

Besides attending the public hearing, the public may make comments on the KCC website, www.kcc.ks.gov on the “Your Opinion Matters” link; may send a written letter to the Kansas Corporation Commission, Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, 1500 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, KS 66604-4027, referencing Docket No. 18-KCPE-480-RTS; or call the KCC’s public affairs office at 1-800-662-0027 or 785-271-3140.

Agency focuses on employment opportunities

Views
Opinion column
by Murrel Bland

The best paying jobs in Kansas are in Wyandotte County. However, when it comes to jobs that Wyandotte County residents hold, Wyandotte County ranks only 83 out of 105 counties. Much of Greg Kindle’s efforts are focused on closing that gap. Kindle is the president of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council.

The average annual household income in Wyandotte County is slightly more than $41,000. Kindle hopes to increase that amount to the Kansas state average of about $55,000 a year.

That was the message that Kindle delivered when he spoke to about 75 members of the Congressional Forum at a luncheon Friday, Aug. 17, at Children’s Mercy Park. The Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors the forum.

Kindle cited the success his organization has had in attracting new and expanded business during the past 25 years with more than 423 projects that resulted in $5.6 billion in capital investment that resulted in more than 27,000 new jobs. Wyandotte County affords about 100,000 jobs.

One of Kindle’s major challenges is finding qualified workers from Wyandotte County — the broad area called workforce development. Kindle and his staff make extensive calls on Wyandotte County businesses to determine how they can assist. His agency is funded by private and public funds.

Kindle identified five areas where there are major challenges.

• Language. Many of the potential employees are immigrants. Businesses can solve this problem by developing English as a second language classes.

• Criminal history. Non-violent offenders who have been rehabilitated can be productive workers.

• Transit opportunities. Operating the Area Transportation Authority business is expensive. Although the ATA bus service in Kansas City, Kansas, has been relatively successful, other creative transportation methods need to be developed.

• Post-secondary education. It will be important for public and private educational institutions to train a workforce that is computer savvy.

• Child care. Forty percent of those seeking jobs in Wyandotte County identify reasonably priced child care as an issue. The Family Conservancy and the United Way of Wyandotte County are seeking a solution to this matter.

Kindle said he expects ground to be broken this fall on the new American Royal complex just west of the Legends Outlets. He said private sector fund-raising that will complement public funds is moving ahead.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.