There is a slight chance of strong to severe storms Friday afternoon and evening in Wyandotte County, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic)The area is at limited risk for damaging winds, hail and flash flooding Friday afternoon into Friday evening. (National Weather Service graphic)
Today’s weather forecast from the National Weather Service is sunny, a high near 81 and winds gusting to 20 mph.
A cold front is moving through the region, but doesn’t bring a sharp change in temperatures, according to the weather service.
It will bring a 20-degree drop in dewpoints over the next day, making temperatures in the upper 70s feel more like fall, the weather service said.
The drier weather will not last long, with dewpoints climbing back into the upper 60s Friday with a southerly return flow on the back of the surface high pressure, according to the weather service.
The weather will change on Thursday night, when there is a 30 percent chance of showers and storms, rising to 60 percent on Friday.
The weekend rains might bring 2 inches or more of rain, according to the forecast.
The main risk of the Friday storms will be damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding, the weather service said.
Missouri River flooding could be affected by the rainfall, according to the weather service. On Wednesday morning, the Missouri River at Parkville, where the gauge is on I-435 between Wyandotte County and Platte County, was in action stage at 24.04 feet. Minor flood stage is 25 feet.
The Missouri River at Parkville, where the gauge is on I-435 between Wyandotte County and Platte County, is currently in action stage. (National Weather Service – USGS graphic)
Today, it will be partly sunny, then becoming sunny, with a high near 81, the weather service said. A northwest wind of 6 to 10 mph will become north northeast in the afternoon, gusting as high as 20 mph.
Tonight, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 57 and a north northeast wind of 5 to 7 mph, according to the weather service.
Thursday, it will be sunny with a high near 77 and light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 9 mph in the morning, the weather service said.
Thursday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 a.m., with a low of 70, according to the weather service. A south wind of 6 to 11 mph will gust as high as 24 mph.
Friday, there is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 83 with a southwest wind of 8 to 14 mph, gusting to 29 mph. Between a half and three-quarters inch of rain is possible.
Friday night, there is a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 59 with between three-quarters and one inch of rain possible.
Saturday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 73, the weather service said.
Saturday night, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 67, according to the weather service.
Sunday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m., with a high near 83, the weather service said.
Sunday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 73, according to the weather service.
Monday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 84, the weather service said.
Monday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 72, according to the weather service.
Tuesday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 82.
Rosalyn Brown, left, an incumbent member of the Kansas City Kansas Community College Board of Trustees, visited with college staff at a candidate forum on Tuesday evening at KCKCC. (Photo by Mary Rupert)Don Ash, incumbent, is running for a fourth term on the KCKCC Board of Trustees. (Photo by Mary Rupert)Patricia Brune, left, a candidate for KCKCC Board of Trustees, visited during a candidate forum Tuesday evening at KCKCC. (Photo by Mary Rupert)Dr. Ray Daniels is running for re-election to the KCKCC Board of Trustees. (Photo by Mary Rupert)Jammie Johnson, right, a candidate for KCKCC Board of Trustees, visited during Tuesday evening’s candidate forum at KCKCC. (Photo by Mary Rupert)Paul Jones, left, is a first-time candidate for the KCKCC Board of Trustees. (Photo by Mary Rupert)
by Mary Rupert
Perhaps the friendliest candidates in the Wyandotte County elections this fall are running for the Kansas City Kansas Community College Board of Trustees.
A high level of civility, with no accusations, no raised voices and no jabs taken at other candidates characterized a Tuesday evening candidate forum at KCKCC.
After giving speeches, the candidates met individually with those who attended the event.
Incumbents Don Ash, Rosalyn Brown and Ray Daniels are joined by three candidates, Patricia Brune, Jammie Johnson and Paul Jones, who are running for four seats on the Board of Trustees.
A primary was not required for this contest; the general election is Nov. 5. Tuesday, Oct. 15, is the last day to register to vote for the general election. Advanced voting by mail begins Oct. 16, and early voting in person opens Oct. 26.
Elected in 2015, besides the late Mary Ann Flunder, were Don Ash, with more than 5,900 votes, Ray Daniels with more than 5,700 votes, and the late Clyde Townsend, with more than 5,800 votes.
In 2017, Rosalyn Brown received more than 11,000 votes to fill the unexpired term of the late Mary Ann Flunder.
Incumbent KCKCC board member Don Ash spoke at Tuesday evening’s candidate forum at KCKCC. (Photo by Mary Rupert)
Don Ash
Ash, also the Wyandotte County sheriff, is serving his third term and 12th year on the KCKCC Board of Trustees.
Ash said he was a huge champion of education and higher education.
Ash also said he would not have been able to do many of the things he did in his career without the foundation of education he received at KCKCC, when he was a student there.
A graduate of Washington High School, Ash has an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Kansas City Kansas Community College and a bachelor’s degree in management of human relations from Mid-America Nazarene University. He began his career at the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department in 1972 and retired from there in 2006, then became sheriff.
Rosalyn Brown, incumbent KCKCC board member, spoke at the candidate forum Tuesday evening at KCKCC. (Photo by Mary Rupert)
Rosalyn Brown
Appointed in 2016 to the Board of Trustees after the death of Mary Ann Flunder, Brown then was elected in 2017 to the remainder of the term.
Brown was employed by the Unified Government for 33 years, worked in housing and development for 25 years and in the mayor’s office for eight years.
She favors development of student academic skills as well as life skills that will help students think critically, act responsibly and be caring members of society.
The board has taken an innovative approach, with a desire to create a culture of excellence, for KCKCC to pursue expanding resources and services throughout the community, she said.
Patricia Brune is seeking her first term on the KCKCC Board of Trustees. (Photo by Mary Rupert)
Patricia Brune
Patricia Brune, who worked for 31 years in the federal court system in Missouri, is also a past president of the Kansas City, Kansas, Women’s Chamber, past president of Leadership 2000, and served six years on the KCKCC Advancement Council.
She said she is an advocate of servant leadership, and believes in leaving an organization better than you found it.
She stated she would like to make sure KCKCC is doing everything it can to protect the hopes and dreams of students and faculty.
Also, she is in favor of protecting the interest of the tax-paying community to make sure funds are spent well.
She said the community receives a good return on its investment, last year the college generated over $180 million for the community, and for every dollar it puts in, the community receives $1.30 back.
Ray Daniels, incumbent, is running for a fourth term on the KCKCC Board of Trustees. (Photo by Mary Rupert)
Ray Daniels
Dr. Ray Daniels, who worked 40 years for the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools including four years as superintendent, said when he retired he was still interested in education in Wyandotte County.
He has now served more than 12 years on the KCKCC Board of Trustees.
“There’s a lot of needs, a lot of potential, and a lot of challenges in Wyandotte County,” Dr. Daniels said. “This college provides those opportunities for people to have a successful life.”
The opportunities at KCKCC help provide people with a quality life, good families and good quality jobs.
Jammie Johnson is seeking her first term on the KCKCC Board of Trustees. (Photo by Mary Rupert)
Jammie Johnson
Jammie Johnson, who works at the University of Kansas as a graduate adviser in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said she moved here with her family as a child in the 1960s to help desegregate the schools.
She attended Chelsea Elementary, William Allen White, West Middle School and Schlagle High School.
She has a bachelor’s degree in communication theory and human relations from Park University and a master’s in student personnel administration from the University of Central Missouri.
She has worked at a community college, a four-year private institution and four-year public university. She serves on committees at KU, including a staff professional development committee.
She also is involved, in her own time, in youth work with her church here, and also is a Girl Scout leader, with her troop in the Douglas, Caruthers, Parker, Quindaro and Northwest schools.
“I want to serve my community in a way I am passionate about,” Johnson said. “I am concerned about the future of our youth, and the sustainability of our community, because we all know that our community is only as successful as our young people.”
She said she is committed to supporting initiatives that educate the community, make college affordable, prepare students for the work force, attract and retain diverse students, faculty and staff, and encourages efficiency and transparency.
Paul Jones is seeking his first term on the KCKCC Board of Trustees. (Photo by Mary Rupert)
Paul Jones
Paul Jones, who is retired from the Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department, said, “I’m very passionate about my community.”
“This is the first time I ever ran for anything; I just ran track,” Jones told the audience.
He attended Bryant Elementary, Northwest and Wyandotte High School. He had the choice to go to KCKCC but went to Cloud County Community College instead, then to the University of Arkansas on a track scholarship. He qualified for the 1980 Olympic team, but the Olympics was boycotted that year. He received an education degree.
He taught for two years here, then he went to work for the Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department and retired after 30 years as battalion chief. Currently he is working at the University of Kansas as a fleet manager for the safety department. During his years with the Fire Department, he was a substitute teacher on his off days, for about 30 years, he said.
He said he was raised by a single mother who instilled in him “giving back, education, loving what you do, and always do your best.”
“I’ve always tried to instill that in the people I’ve mentored, coached, as well as my son,” he said. “I want everybody to know about KCKCC,” Jones said. “I have a great passion for KCK,” he said, adding he was also passionate about KCKCC and about all students getting their education.
Freshman forward Melissa Siegel delivered the goal of the game in KCKCC’s 7-0 win over Allen County Saturday, a blistering shot from 25 yards out from which Red Devil defenders had no chance. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins) KCKCC sophomore Tina Alvarez outmaneuvered five Allen County defenders for a goal in the Blue Devils 7-0 win Saturday. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins) Allen County goalkeeper Phoenix Michaelis had no chance in stopping KCKCC freshman Madison Broeker from scoring off a corner kick by Melissa Siegel. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s No. 19 ranked Lady Blue Devils tightened their hold on a share of first place in the Jayhawk Conference with a 7-0 blanking of Allen County Saturday.
The fifth win in a row for the Blue Devils (7-1) sets up the toughest road schedule of the season – at Coffeyville Wednesday at 5 p.m. and at No. 6 Butler County Saturday at 7 p.m.
KCKCC and Cowley share the Jayhawk lead at 4-1 followed by Butler (3-1-1), the only team to defeat the Blue Devils this season.
“The toughest week of the season, for sure,” KCKCC coach Shawn Uhlenhake said. “We’re playing good teams on the road and then add all the travel. And it’s still early. The second round of play is going to be real difficult. We’re going to be facing big challenges.”
The Blue Devils were led by freshmen Corrine Hughes, who had a “hat trick” with three goals; and Melissa Siegel, who had two goals and two assists including a blistering free kick from 25 yards out.
Sophomore Tina Alvarez and freshman Madison Broeker added the other goals. KCKCC led only 2-0 at the half.
Siegel scored what would be the only goal the Blue Devils would need with a shot from outside the box just three minutes into the game and Hughes made it 2-0 late in the half on a header assisted by Kayley Pedersen.
Hughes’s second and third goals opened the second half and put the game out of reach. The goals came on assists from Pedersen and Alvarez.
Broeker’s goal came on a rebound on a shot by Siegel and Alvarez beat goalkeeper Phoenix Michaelis on a deflection of a corner kick from Siegel.
KCKCC’s lone international student from Endingen, Germany, then finished the win when she rocketed a free kick home from 25 yards out.
“That was unstoppable,” Uhlenhake said.
“The goal of the game,” agreed assistant coach Sara Matthews. “The inside post might still be ringing from how hard she hit that shot.”
The Blue Devils finished with 23 shots including 19 on goal.
“Allen’s keeper was good with good hands,” Matthews said. “Her saves saved a lot of goals (12).”
“We came out slow and were not connecting,” Uhlenhake said. “The defense was not connecting with the midfielders and the midfielders were not connecting with the forwards. We led 2-0 but it was kind of sloppy. But the second half we startedconnecting and returned to being a dangerous team. Melissa was unstoppable and Corrine Hughes has a rare talent of finding ways to score goals. Defensively, we were organized and didn’t give up a goal but had trouble connecting.”
“We really didn’t turn on the fire until second half,” Matthews said. “Going into the second half we’re going to need read to pounce from the first whistle. But we’re learning from every game and getting a number of players good field time and experience with good results.”
