Month: November 2019

Holiday remembrance reception Dec. 17 to honor crime victims

Crime victims will be honored on Dec. 17 at a holiday reception held by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and the Kansas Organization for Victim Assistance.


The reception will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.

Similar receptions for crime victims also will be held in Wichita, Garden City and Topeka.

“The holiday season can be a difficult time for the families of crime victims,” Schmidt said. “These receptions provide families an opportunity to come together and honor their memories and share support and encouragement.”

Friends and family members of crime victims are invited to attend and to bring an ornament for an “Angel Tree” in honor of their loved ones. The public is also invited to attend. More information is available on the attorney general’s website at www.ag.ks.gov/remembrance.

The Victims Services Division of the Attorney General’s Office is charged with coordinating statewide victim rights efforts and administering grants and education programs. The division also provides a Kansas crime victims’ rights hotline at 800-828-9745.

Chiefs Week promotion planned for blood drives

The Community Blood Center is planning the 22nd annual Chiefs Week from Saturday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Dec. 1.

During the week, community members who show up to give blood at the CBC donor centers will receive a Chiefs T-shirt and will be entered in a drawing to win Chiefs memorabilia, including a Patrick Mahomes jersey.

According to a CBC spokesman, there is a blood shortage currently in the nation, and the blood supply is at critically low levels. Reserves are below a seven-day blood supply.

“The Chiefs have been a wonderful partner, supporting our efforts to encourage more donors during a typically trying time,” said Kim Peck, senior executive director of Community Blood Center. “As people are busy with the upcoming holidays, we usually see a dip in the number of blood donations during the winter months. The nation’s blood supply has never been lower than it is right now. It is an especially critical time to donate and ensure that we are able to return to adequate levels of inventory.”

The CBC donor centers include one in Kansas City, Missouri, and two in Johnson County. Their addresses are 4040 Main St., Kansas City, Missouri; 10568 Metcalf Ave., Times Square Shopping Center, Overland Park, Kansas; and 16465 W. 119th St., Olathe Entertainment District, Olathe, Kansas.

Appointments can be made online at savealifenow.org. It only takes one hour to donate, and a single donation can be used to save multiple lives. CBC requires approximately 580 donors every day to meet area hospital needs. About one in seven hospital admissions requires a blood transfusion, and with a limited shelf life, supplies must be continually replenished.

One mobile blood drive to be held during Chiefs Week will be the Haley Bernard Honorary Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, at the Bonner Springs Fire Department, 13001 Metropolitan, Bonner Springs, Kansas. There will be a donor bus.

Other blood drives are scheduled in Wyandotte County after Chiefs Week. To see a list of the other upcoming blood drives or to schedule an appointment, visit www.savealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.

Free throws foil high-scoring Blue Devils at Southwestern

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Scoring has not been a problem for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s young men‘s basketball team. The Blue Devils are averaging 81.0 points a game.

Unfortunately, opponents are scoring more – an average of 4.8 points more a game including an 87-77 loss to Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa, Friday night.

The Blue Devils actually had more field goals (29-26), more 3-point goals (12-9) and more rebounds (28-20) but got destroyed at the foul line. Converting 26-of-30 free throws for 86.7 percent, the Spartans outscored KCKCC by 19 points, the Blue Devils making 7-of-11 (.635).

Both teams shot extremely well. The Blue Devils were 29-of-54 for 53.7 percent and 12-of-29 from 3-point (.414) but the Spartans were slightly better, connecting on 26-of-48 (.542) from the field and 9-of-18 from 3-point.

Leading just 35-33 at halftime, Southwestern pulled away in the second half with a 52-point outburst. Five Spartans scored in double figures led by Donzell Johnson’s 18 points.

KCKCC also had five players in double figures led by a double-double by Robert Rhodes, who had 14 points and a game and career high 14 rebounds (half of KCKCC’s 28 rebounds).

Guard Deron McDaniel led the scoring with a career high 17 points including 5-of-9 3-pointers. Jalen Davis added 14 points, Cody Dortch and Ezekiel Lopes 10 apiece and Jermaine Yarbough 9.

The Blue Devils go right back on the road after Thanksgiving, playing in the Mineral Area Classic in Park Hills, Missouri, Nov. 29-30. KCKCC will play North Arkansas at 7 p.m. on Friday and Mineral Area Saturday at 3 p.m. before returning home to face Washburn junior varsity on Friday, Dec. 6.