Month: January 2020

Winter weather advisory in effect until noon

A light snow was reported on Wednesday morning in Wyandotte County. (National Weather Service graphic)
National Weather Service graphic

Light snow today is expected to end by the late morning into the early afternoon, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

A winter weather advisory is in effect for Wyandotte County through noon today, the weather service said.

Less than an inch of snow fell overnight and earlier this morning. The snow will taper off from west to east. South of I-70, one to two inches of snow were possible, according to the weather service.

Untreated surfaces will be slick during the Wednesday morning commute, the weather service said.

Motorists are advised to slow down and use caution when driving, according to the weather service. Road conditions are available at www.kcscout.net, kandrive.org or by calling 511.

Today, most snow should be ending around 9 a.m. in this area. The high will be near 34 with a calm wind becoming north northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon, the weather service said.

Tonight, there will be patchy fog after 11 p.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 28 with a light and variable wind.

Thursday, there will be patchy fog before 9 a.m. The high will be near 36 with a calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the morning, the weather service said.

Thursday night, it will be mostly cloudy with a low of 29 and a calm wind, according to the weather service.

Friday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 41 and a light and variable wind, the weather service said.

Friday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 29, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 48, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 37, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be sunny, with a high near 61, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low around 43, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 54, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 29, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 32, the weather service said.

For more weather information, visit www.weather.gov.

Possible case of coronavirus strain reported in Lawrence area

A possible case of the 2019 novel coronavirus has been reported in a Lawrence area resident, according to a news release from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

A Douglas County resident is currently in isolation at a Lawrence hospital as a precaution, health authorities announced.

The patient, who is not severely ill, traveled to Wuhan City, China, and returned to the United States within the last two weeks, authorities stated.

There is an outbreak of the novel coronavirus strain in Wuhan.

The patient had symptoms in recent days and sought health care on Monday, according to the KDHE. However, the person has not been diagnosed with 2019 novel coronavirus. Specimens are being sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and KDHE expects to receive results later this week, according to a spokesman.

“While we have not confirmed this as a case of the 2019 novel coronavirus, we believe it is important to keep the public informed and educated on this new virus,” the KDHE spokesman stated in the news release.

The KDHE is working with the CDC, Lawrence Memorial Health, and the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department to identify and contact all of those who may have had contact with the individual, so they can begin monitoring them for fever and respiratory symptoms if this is a confirmed case, according to the spokesman.

The 2019 novel coronavirus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the KDHE. Symptoms are thought to appear within two to 14 days after exposure and consist of fever, cough, runny nose and difficulty breathing.

Those considered at risk for contracting the virus are individuals with travel to Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, or individuals in close contact with a person infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus.

The KDHE spokesman stated that the flu and other respiratory diseases are circulating in the state. The KDHE is recommending everyone get a flu shot and follow basic prevention guidelines.

Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and staying home when sick, according to the KDHE.

The best ways to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Anyone who has recently traveled to Wuhan, China, and has developed fever with respiratory symptoms within 14 days of their travel or have had contact with someone who is suspected to have 2019 novel coronavirus, should stay home and call their health care provider. They also may call the KDHE epidemiology hotline at 1-877=427-7317 if they believe they may have been affected.

Record 18 home three-pointers propel Blue Devils to 105-64 win

KCKCC had five slam dunks in a 105-64 win over Park University junior varsity Monday including two by sophomore guard Calvin Slaughter. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
Tim Barbieri’s determined drive to the basket drew a foul in KCKCC’s 105-64 win over Park junior varsity Monday. Barbieri scored a career high 13 points. Teammate Jermaine Yarbough (23) looked on. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
Not only was KCKCC’s Jalen Davis (5) a perfect 9-for-9 for a game high 21 points Monday, the sophomore guard also hauled down seven rebounds and handed out seven assists in a 105-64 win over Park junior varsity. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Brandon Burgette’s Blue Devils put on the biggest aerial show in the history of the Kansas City Kansas Community College Field House Monday night.

The Blue Devils knocked down 18-of-29 three-point attempts for a sizzling 62.1 percent in a 105-64 win over Park University’s Development Team. It’s the most three-pointers and the best shooting percentage on 20 or more shots in a single game in the Field House.

It’s also the most three-pointers in 31 years, dating back to the 1988-1989 season when the Maurice Lamar- led Blue Devils drained 21 treys (47 attempts) in a 122-113 overtime loss to Garden City in a game remembered as the best ever in the old Jayhawk Shootout. The best record for percentage is .650 (13-of-20) against Penn Valley Nov. 15, 1988.

The long-range assault was not the only highlight. Jalen Davis’ 9-of-9 shooting from the field has been exceeded only one other time. Henry Thomas was 10-for-10 back in 1991. And the Blue Devils dealt out 29 assists on 43 field goals led by a career high 11 from freshman Deron McDaniel. Davis added seven and DeAngelo Bell five.

“We did a great job sharing the ball which helped us have a great shooting night,” Burgette said. “One thing about shooting it well is trusting each other to make open shots and our guys have been shooting with a ton of confidence and encouragement.”

The Blue Devils also shared in the three-point attack No one had more than three treys and eight Blue Devils had at least one three and seven had two or more. Only Robert Rhodes did not have a trey and he did not attempt one while sharing rebound honors with seven and blocking a pair of shots.

Nearly half of the three-point production came from a source not usually expected. The forward trio of 6-8 Jermaine Yarbough, 6-5 Jaemaal Newson and 6-6 Tim Barbieri combined to make 8-of-10 three-pointers. Yarbough and Newson were both 3-of-4 and Barbieri a perfect 2-of-2.

Davis led the scoring with 21 points including a trio of treys and added seven rebounds, seven assists and just one turnover. Yarbough added 17 points and seven rebounds while DeAngelo Bell had 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, Berbieri a career high 13 points, Calvin Slaughter 12 points and five rebounds, Newsom 11 points and five rebounds and Ezekiel Lopes six points and three assists.

For the game, the Blue Devils were 43-of-75 for 57.3 percent. They also dominated the rebounding 45-32) while turnovers were almost even (17-16).

The win wrapped up non-conference play for the Blue Devils (9-12), who have won four of their last six heading into Jayhawk Conference road games at Fort Scott Wednesday (7:30 p.m.) and Highland Saturday (3 p.m.)