Turner senior Reneaux Jackson (12) went up for a finger roll in the first half of Friday night’s game against Leavenworth. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Turner Bears got a rude welcome to United Kansas Conference basketball, falling 85-35 to the visiting Leavenworth Pioneers on Friday night.
The Pioneers held a significant height advantage and used their length in a crushing press defense that limited the Bears’ offense throughout the game.
The Bears saw some success in breaking the Leavenworth press, especially early in the second half, with outlet passes down the side to Reneaux Jackson, who used his speed to finish those plays at the rim.
The loss drops the Bears to 0-5 on the season. They will play next at Lansing on Tuesday, Jan. 8.
Junior Jalen Nelson (10) was defended by Leavenworth senior Nathan Dalby (12). (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Jackson took a steal back for a drive in the lane, but was called for a charge against Leavenworth junior JaHawn Byrd (15). (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Leavenworth junior Reece Williams (33) went up for a dunk. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Sophomore guard Chris Pursley (3) drove the ball against a Leavenworth defender. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
The Turner Goldenettes dance group performed at halftime. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Junior Nick Gordon (20) brought the ball up court. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Senior Chris Burch (22) took a short-range jump shot in the lane. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Jalen Nelson went up for a layup on a fast break. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Junior TyRay Washington (14) dribbled in for a score in the second half. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Blood drive planned Jan. 5 TRC Community will hold a Community Blood Center blood drive from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 5, at the Turner Recreation Commission gym, 831 S. 55th St., Kansas City, Kansas. The blood drive is in memory of Jessie Gentry. To schedule a donation or for more information, visit www.esavealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040. Drop-in or scheduled donations are accepted. The scheduling code for TRC is https://donate.savealifenow.org/donor/schedules/sponsor_code Enter Group Code: CB7O (last digit is an O not zero) .
Spanish singing lessons planned The South Branch Library will hold Spanish singing lessons for children from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at Conference Room B, 3104 Strong Ave. Sandra Zamora is in charge of the program. Children of different ages will learn to cultivate their voices.
Movie to be shown at library The Main Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library, 625 Minnesota Ave., will show the movie, “Smallfoot,” from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, in the second floor auditorium. The movie is rated PG. The movie is for adults and senior adults.
S.T.E.A.M. storytime planned A S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) storytime is planned from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the craft room at the Main Library, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. This program is for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Those attending will do an experiment with water temperatures, freezing and melting. They will make a craft, snow storms in a jar.
Book club to meet Infinite Shades of Brown, a book club that discusses African-American books, will meet from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the first floor program room, Main Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library, 625 Minnesota Ave. This month’s book discussion is about “The House on Harbor Hill” by Shelly Stratton.
Storytime to include painting a picture A children’s storytime will include painting a picture inspired by a book from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the South Branch Library, 3104 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Snowman is the theme of the program.
U.S. Reps. Sharice Davids and Steve Watkins officially joined Congress this week and cast votes reflecting their differences, and the split between Republicans and Democrats. (Photos from Kansas News Service)
by Jim McLean and Madeline Fox, Kansas News Service
Kansas Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids hoped to spend her first day in Congress helping to end a partial shutdown of the federal government.
Instead, she got a first-hand look at the gridlock that has characterized the nation’s politics and frustrated voters in recent years.
Shortly after being sworn in as one of the first two Native American women to ever serve in Congress, Davids voted for a compromise funding package to end the budget stalemate.
“This package has previously received bipartisan support and I’m hopeful it is the path forward to ending this shutdown,” Davids said on Twitter.
President Donald Trump initially supported a similar package when it passed the Senate two weeks ago. But he changed his mind when conservative pundits criticized him for backing away from his demands for $5 billion for a southern border wall.
All three House Republicans from Kansas — Roger Marshall, Ron Estes and Steve Watkins — voted against the funding package. They also opposed Nancy Pelosi’s election as speaker.
“As I crisscrossed Kansas’ Second Congressional District over the past year, there was a reoccurring theme among both Republicans and Democrats: they did not want to see Nancy Pelosi serving as Speaker of the House again,” Watkins said in a statement.
A political newcomer from Topeka, Watkins emerged from a crowded primary to narrowly defeat Democrat Paul Davis in the 2nd District, which covers roughly the eastern third of the state.
In an interview with Topeka television station KSNT, Watkins said he wants a quick resolution to the budget fight but is committed to making “the government more efficient.”
He has also asked to have his congressional salary withheld until federal workers are back on the payroll.
The shutdown — now approaching its third week — affects thousands of federal workers across Kansas, from Coast Guard payroll clerks in Topeka to more than 400 employees at the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional office in Lenexa.
“We’re all kind of in a standstill,” said Sara Watterson, president of the American Federation of Government Employees chapter that represents some of the furloughed EPA workers.
Furloughs at the Bureau of Indian Affairs have leaders of some Kansas tribes concerned about programs that provide important services.
Joseph Rupnick, chairman of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, fears the shutdown will halt the delivery of food to about 100 low-income families on the reservation.
“The neediest population is the one that’s affected the most,” Rupnick said.
Furloughs have also forced the closure of one of Kansas’ most famous landmarks: The Brown v. Board of Education historic site in Topeka.
Rob Varnum of Oklahoma City hoped to tour the site established to commemorate the desegregation of the nation’s schools with his wife earlier this week while passing through on his way home from Kansas City.
“Here we are, but the sign says we can’t visit today because of the government shutdown,” Varnum said while peering in through a locked door. “That’s unfortunate.”
Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks. Madeline Fox is a reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can reach her on Twitter @maddycfox. Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished at no cost with proper attribution and a link to ksnewsservice.org. See more athttps://www.kcur.org/post/new-kansas-lawmakers-sworn-congress-vote-and-against-government-funding-deal
