Month: March 2019

KCK schools have longer days because of earlier weather cancellations

The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools have added some time to the beginning and end of the school day, starting this week, to make up for some snow days earlier this year.

Additional minutes are being added to the school day for all kindergarten through 12th grade students, according to information from the district. The changes went into effect on Monday, March 18.

According to district information, the first bell will be 8 minutes earlier for schools and the last bell will be 7 minutes later for schools. It is not expected to change any bus schedules.

Seniors now must attend school on Thursday, May 16, and Friday, May 17, according to the district’s announcement. May 17 will be the last day of school for seniors. Seniors also must be at school for the earlier and later times each day.

According to the announcement, preschool start and end times are not affected.

For more information about this schedule change, visit http://www.kckps.org/.

Blue Devil hurlers give up one run in sweep of North Ark

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College’s streaking softball team continued to get outstanding pitching Monday, limiting North Arkansas to just one run in a doubleheader sweep.

Sophomore Faith Maslak allowed four hits in a 4-1 7-inning opener; freshman Mackenzie Pinkerton gave up just two hits in an 11-0 shutout in the second game.

The two wins stretched the Blue Devils’ winning streak to seven in a row and improved their overall record to 12-4 heading into a doubleheader with Ottawa University junior varsity Wednesday at 2 and 4 p.m. The games were originally scheduled for Tuesday but were moved back a day.

KCKCC will then resume Jayhawk Conference play Thursday when the Blue Devils play host to Highland, the No. 14 ranked team in NJCAA Division II.

Maslak had a shutout until the seventh inning in the opener. She struck out eight. The Blue Devils pushed a run across in the second and lengthened their lead to 4-0 with three runs in the fourth.

Devin Purcell led a 7-hit KCKCC attack with a pair of singles. Hannah Redick, Alexis Rymer, Kaylee Arnzen, Britney Smith and Paris Forshey had the other hits.

The Blue Devils had 10 hits in support of Pinkerton in the nightcap. Pinkerton allowed two hits, struck out six and walked two in five innings.

The Blue Devils had two big innings, scoring six in the second and five in the fourth.

Three Blue Devils, Smith, Arnzen and Jennice Messer, each doubled and singled with Smith driving in three runs and Arnzen two while Purcell singled twice, scored twice and stole a base.

Victims of fatal accident at 55th and Freeman identified

Two victims of a fatal accident in the early morning hours of March 19 at 55th and Freeman Avenue have been identified, according to Kansas City, Kansas, police.

The driver was identified as Donald E. Norris, 39, and the passenger was Ericka Y. Jones, 35, both of Kansas City, Kansas, a police spokesman stated. Both died at the scene of the accident.

The vehicle was traveling south on 55th Street when it lost control, left the roadway and struck a tree, the spokesman stated.

The accident is under investigation by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department’s Traffic Support Unit – Critical Collision Response Team.