Month: February 2019

Police investigate overnight homicide

Kansas City, Kansas, police are investigating a homicide in the early morning hours Saturday.

At about 1:37 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, officers responded to the 200 block of Kindelberger Road on a shooting, a police spokesman stated.

When officers arrived, they found a man in his 30s, suffering from gunshot wounds, according to the spokesman. The man had life-threatening injuries and was taken to an area hospital where he later died, police said.

The identity of the man is being withheld until there is positive identification and family notification, the spokesman stated.

The homicide is under investigation by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, which is encouraging anyone with information to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

Saturday events

KCK school board to meet Feb. 23
 The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Education is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, for a special meeting at the Central Office, 2010 N. 59th Street, Kansas City, Kansas. For an agenda, see www.kckps.org.

Black History Month program planned at library
 A Black History Month Program on the Tuskegee Airmen is planned from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at the craft room of the Main Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The program is geared to children and teens ages 11 to 16. Those attending will hear about the fighter and bomber group from World War II, and participants will build a model airplane. Space is limited for this program and registration is required to https://kckpl.librarymarket.com/black-history-month-tuskegee-airmen or to 913-295-8350, Ext. 1013. For more library programs, visit www.kckpl.org.

Book signing planned today
 A book signing is planned from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Café area of the Main Kansas City, Kansas Public Library, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The presenter will be Dr. Shaq Tom, author of “Global Warming of Hearts.”

KCKCC to play final regular season home basketball games today
 Kansas City Kansas Community College women will play final regular season home games at 2 p.m. today at the college, 7250 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The women will be competing against Johnson County Community College, playing for the Division II championship and Jayhawk Conference title. The KCKCC men will play at 4 p.m. Saturday at home against Johnson County.

Blue Devils’ Nija Collier wins fifth KJCCC Player of Week award

Nija Collier (KCKCC photo)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Nija Collier has done it yet again – a fifth KJCCC Player of the Week award for the Kansas City Kansas Community College sophomore from Detroit’s Chandler Park High School.

Playing in three games in Week 14, Collier’s performance was highlighted by 25 points and 14 rebounds in a 69-64 win over nationally ranked Johnson County. A 6-0 forward, Collier scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the second half as the Blue Devils won at JCCC for only the second time in more than 20 years.

For the week, Collier averaged 20.3 points and 10.6 rebounds although playing only 11 minutes in a 124-37 win over Hesston. Knocking down 5-of-14 three-pointers, she shot 58.3 percent from the field and made 14-of-18 free throws. She now has 19 double-doubles on the season.

The only player in the Jayhawk Conference to rank in all four top offensive categories, Collier is second in scoring (17.3), rebounding (10.1) and field goal percentage (.611) and third in 3-point accuracy (.405).

With 501 points this season, she becomes only the 12th KCKCC player to score 500 or more points in a season. Teammate Lillie Moore was also a KJCCC Player of the Week recipient.

A two-time selection as NJCAA National Player of the Week, Collier nationally ranks eighth in offensive rebounds, 13th in total rebounds, ninth in average points per minutes played and 10th in field goal percentage.