Month: August 2019

Grants announced for agencies that serve crime victims

Grants were announced recently for agencies that provide services for victims of crime, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

A total of $333,000 was awarded to agencies in Greater Kansas City.

Grant recipients included:

• CASA of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties, Mission, Kansas, $30,000 to continue to recruit a diverse pool of volunteer advocates to serve children brought into the court system due to abuse or neglect.

• Friends of Yates, Kansas City, Kansas, $51,952 to enhance project oversight and grant management of shelter and outreach services to victims fleeing and living in abusive situations and to provide training and presentations to community service agencies, professionals, service providers, faith-based institutions and the community at large on the dynamics of domestic violence and teen dating violence.

• Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, Kansas City, Missouri, $55,000 to provide effective fiscal and programmatic leadership, representation and services.

• SAFEHOME, Inc., Overland Park, Kansas, $31,599 to provide free legal advocacy and representation for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.

• SAFEHOME, Inc., $77,000 to provide victims of domestic violence and their children with shelter, emergency assistance, case management and community referrals to help them achieve independence free from violence and abusive partners.

• Sunflower House, Inc., Shawnee, Kansas, $27,275 to provide age-appropriate personal safety presentations to children and adults in the community, as well as those that serve at-risk and special needs communities, to recognize, resist and report abusive behaviors.

• Sunflower House, Inc., $32,500 to provide quality forensic interview and family advocacy services to victims of child abuse and neglect in a timely manner. Victims will have access to extended service hours and long-term assistance from family advocates.

• 10th Judicial District Court Services, Olathe, Kansas, $27,810 to provide supervised exchanges for families through the Family Court of the 10th Judicial District.

The awards were made from the Protection from Abuse Fund, State Child Exchange and Visitation Centers Fund, State Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund and State Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund for Child Abuse and Neglect.

The Protection from Abuse Fund is funded by State General Fund appropriations, marriage license fees, county court costs and municipal court assessments. The State Child Exchange and Visitation Centers Fund is funded through marriage license fees and State General Fund appropriations. The State Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund is funded though the remittance of applicable fines, penalties and forfeitures from clerks of the district courts. The State Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund for Child Abuse and Neglect is funded through county court costs, municipal court assessments and State General Fund appropriations.

Pleasant weather ahead

National Weather Service graphic

Pleasant weather is ahead for Wyandotte County, with highs in the 80s this week, according to the National Weather Service.

The next chance for stormy weather won’t be until late in the work week, with chances for rain on Friday and Saturday, the weather service said.

The Missouri River at Parkville, which includes the Wyandotte County area, rose to the action stage after Monday’s rains, and it remains below flood stage. The Kansas River at 23rd Street, where the gauge is at Kansas Avenue and the state line, remains below action stage and below flood stage.

Today, it will be sunny with a high near 80 and a north northwest wind of 5 to 10 mph, the weather service said.

Tonight, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 57 and a north northwest wind of 5 to 8 mph becoming west southwest after midnight, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 81 and a west wind of 5 to 10 mph, the weather service said.

Wednesday night, it will be clear, with a low of 64 and a light south southwest wind, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be sunny with a high of 86 and a south southwest wind of 5 to 9 mph, gusting as high as 21 mph, the weather service said.

Thursday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be 68. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is expected.

Friday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 81, the weather service said.

Friday night, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 65, according to the weather service. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall.

Saturday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 77, the weather service said.

Saturday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m., with a low of 64, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be partly sunny with a high near 79, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 64, according to the weather service.

Monday, Labor Day, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 82, the weather service said.

The Missouri River at Parkville, which includes Wyandotte County in its area, went into action stage on Monday. It is below minor flood stage. (National Weather Service – USGS graphic)
The Kansas River is below action stage and below minor flood stage. (National Weather Service – USGS graphic)

Volunteers prepare for Slovenefest

Carol McCarty helped make apple strudel on Saturday in preparation for Slovenefest. The annual festival, which raises funds for Holy Family Church, will be from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. (Photo by Kathy Hanis)
Volunteers worked in the kitchen on Saturday to prepare for Slovenefest, which will be Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Holy Family School grounds and at Monsignor Mejak Hall, 513 Ohio. (Photo by Kathy Hanis)

by Kathy Hanis

Holy Family Altar Society, friends and family gathered together Saturday to prepare 150 apple strudels for Slovenefest 2019 at Holy Family Club, 513 Ohio, Kansas City, Kansas.

Slovenefest is set for Saturday, Sept. 28, at Monsignor Mejak Hall and Holy Family School Grounds in Kansas City, Kansas.

The festival begins with Mass at 4 p.m. Sept. 28 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 274 Orchard St., Kansas City, Kansas.

A traditional Slovenian dinner, polka music with the Brian McCarty Band, tamburitza music by Hrvatski Obicaj, family entertainment for children and adult games are planned. Slovenefest will run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 28. All funds raised will support Holy Family Church.

More information about the festival is at www.holyfamilychurchkck.com.

Bernadette Horvat prepared apples on Saturday for the annual Slovenefest, which will be Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Holy Family School grounds and at Monsignor Mejak Hall, 5th and Ohio. (Photo by Kathy Hanis)
Susan Rezin and Lauren Nuhn worked in the kitchen on Saturday to prepare for the annual Slovenefest, which will be Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Holy Family School grounds and at Monsignor Mejak Hall, 5th and Ohio. (Photo by Kathy Hanis)
Bernadette and John Soptick volunteered to help make apple strudel to prepare for the Slovenefest, which will be Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Holy Family School grounds and at Monsignor Mejak Hall, 5th and Ohio. (Photo by Kathy Hanis)
Apples were prepared on Saturday for the apple strudel for the Slovenefest, to be Saturday, Sept. 28, at Holy Family School grounds and at Monsignor Mejak Hall. (Photo by Kathy Hanis)
Annette Keller helped in the kitchen to prepare for the annual Slovenefest, to be Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Holy Family School grounds and at Monsignor Mejak Hall, 5th and Ohio. (Photo by Kathy Hanis)
Tammy Snapp, left, and Britany McFaul prepared apple strudel for the annual Slovenefest, to be Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Holy Family School grounds and at Monsignor Mejak Hall, 5th and Ohio. (Photo by Kathy Hanis
First Lady Melania Trump, Melanij Knavs from Sevnica near Slovenia, sent a photo and note that is displayed at Holy Family Club. (Photo by Kathy Hanis)
Hayley Overcash, left, and Carol McCarty volunteered in the kitchen to prepare for the annual Slovenefest, which will be Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Holy Family School grounds. (Photo by Kathy Hanis)