Month: September 2019

Butterfly festival scheduled Saturday

At the butterfly tent at the Butterfly Festival at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library. (File photo by Mary Rupert)

The 14th annual Lawson Roberts Butterfly Festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 4051 West Drive, Kansas City, Kansas.

The annual event has scheduled many indoor and outdoor events in conjunction with learning about butterflies and viewing their annual southern migration.

Some of the outdoor events may be canceled in the event of rain, but many indoor events will be held regardless of the weather.

The event begins with butterfly storytime at 10 a.m. Saturday in the library room in the upper level.

At 10:30 a.m., photo contest awards will be presented in the library room, upper level.

Monarch butterfly tagging is scheduled throughout the day, at 10:45 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., and 2:15 p.m., if it is not raining. The tagging demonstration will be at the fire pit behind the library, close to the lake.

During the festival people can borrow nets, collect butterflies and put them in a tent on the grounds, if it is not raining.

The butterflies are scheduled to be released at 3 p.m., if there is no rain.

Another outdoor activity is the monarch migration challenge game, set up on the hillside behind the library. It is scheduled for 11 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., if it is not raining.

A self-guided butterfly walk on the nature trail near the lake also will be held, if there isn’t rain. Participants will get a checklist for the walk at the library’s front desk.

Many activities also are scheduled inside the Schlagle environmental library.

Face painting and crafts will be in the library’s lower level.

Upstairs, there will be an insect zoo and a microscope will be set up to view insects. Those attending can look at caterpillars.

This event also includes free popcorn, while supplies last. There is no charge to attend the event.

Wyandotte County Lake Park is at 91st and Leavenworth Road in Kansas City, Kansas. For more information, visit www.kckpl.org.

K-State’s engineering college honors BHC Rhodes

Kevin Honomichi

The Kansas State University Carl R. Ice College of Engineering will honor BHC Rhodes as the 2019 Company of the Year at its 36th annual Career Fair recognition event Sept. 25 in the atrium of Rathbone Hall, Manhattan, Kansas.

BHC Rhodes has been a longtime supporter of the college serving as a partner in the Engineering Leadership and Innovation, or ELI, program; providing civil engineering scholarship support; contributing to civil engineering enhancement needs; and funding the BHC Rhodes Smart Cities Lab, which benefits research efforts across the entire college.

The company, founded in 1992, delivers expertise in engineering and surveying services with offices in Overland Park, Kansas City, Kansas, and Dodge City. It strives to be a recognized leader in the industry by staying engaged with customers and within the profession. With a focus on building trusted relationships and delivering exceptional service, BHC RHODES is dedicated to establishing the company’s reputation of being the “no problem” place.

“Years ago we recognized our education and college experience at K-State helped position us for success,” said Kevin Honomichl, 1986 graduate in civil engineering, president of BHC Rhodes and current member of the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering Advisory Council. “Being active in the college is a way to stay engaged with fellow K-State alumni and with what is happening with research so we can see how it applies to our practice.

“If you view engagement with your university through only an academic lens, you are missing a world of perspective, opportunity and relationships,” he said. “Engagement is a key tool in our talent development program to stay connected with great students we may want to hire and find opportunities to get our young professionals involved with the College of Engineering so they have the opportunity to give back to the next generation of engineers.”

“BHC Rhodes is a great friend and supporter of the college,” said Gary Clark, interim dean of the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering. “As an ELI partner, when it is their scheduled time to host a career spotlight for students, they always bring fun, engaging and innovative presentations that truly inspire our students and spark their interest in professional engineering careers.”

The BHC Rhodes name reflects the 2005 merger of a company founded by surveyor Murray Rhodes, of Wyandotte County, with BHC.

The K-State Engineering Company of the Year, established in 1974, is selected annually with the distinction awarded based on exhibited commitment to engineering education, as well as high standards and quality performance in the engineering profession.

Friends of Yates receives grant to combat violence

Friends of Yates recently was awarded a $62,373 grant from the Federal Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, according to Gov. Laura Kelly’s office.

In all, programs across Kansas received more than $1.2 million from the grant program.

“It takes great courage to leave an abuser. Oftentimes, victims need to leave a dangerous situation quickly,” Kelly said in a news release. “We must do all we can to encourage women and men to leave abusive relationships. Housing and other resources must be available to keep our survivors and children safe. This grant will help provide these critical resources where they are needed most.”

The FVPSA grant program assists states in their efforts to support the establishment, maintenance and expansion of programs and projects to:

• prevent incidents of family violence, domestic violence and dating violence;
• provide immediate shelter, support services and access to community-based programs for victims of family violence, domestic violence or dating violence and their dependents; and
• provide specialized services for children exposed to family violence, domestic violence or dating violence including victims who are members of underserved populations.

These programs provide outreach, shelter, support groups, crisis intervention and advocacy in obtaining protection from abuse orders, court accompaniment, transportation and prevention education in schools and communities.