Month: February 2020

Police notes

Three persons arrested after chase on Central Avenue
 Three persons were taken into custody after a pursuit at 1:50 a.m. Feb. 26 in the 1000 block of Central Avenue, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

Officers on a routine patrol located a stolen auto and tried to stop the vehicle, according to the report. The vehicle did not stop, and a pursuit was begun. The suspects’ vehicle was eventually stopped, and three persons were taken into custody, the report stated.

Burglary reported on South 40th
 At 1:55 a.m. Feb. 26, a suspect was prying open the front door of a house in the 1500 block of South 40th Street, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

One of two victims inside the house chased the suspect away, according to the report.

Pursuit started in Platte County, ended in Wyandotte County
 A pursuit started in Platte County and ended in Wyandotte County at 3:17 a.m. Feb. 26 at K-5 and I-635, according to a social media report by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The pursuit started with Platte County officers for traffic charges. According to the KCKPD, the suspect was in a stolen vehicle with stolen tags. The suspect was taken into custody.

Shooting reported in 7400 block of Oakland
 Kansas City, Kansas, police stated in a social media post that they responded to a hospital on a walk-in shooting about 8:55 p.m. Feb. 26. The shooting had occurred in the 7400 block of Oakland Avenue.

According to police, the victim stated a friend accidentally shot him. The victim did not cooperate with the investigation, police said. The victim had non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Pursuit reported in 3800 block of Georgia
 Officers tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation about 10:53 p.m. Feb. 26 in the 3800 block of Georgia Avenue, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The vehicle did not stop, and a pursuit was initiated, police stated. The pursuit later was terminated, according to the report.

Students discuss vaping at Teen Town Hall meeting at Sumner Academy

Students at Sumner Academy listened and asked questions during a Teen Town Hall meeting on vaping. The town hall meeting was sponsored by the University of Kansas Medical Center, KU Cancer Center, Fox 4 News and the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools. (Photo by William Crum)

by William Crum

Students at Sumner Academy, 1610 N. 8th St., gathered Thursday morning to participate in a Teen Town Hall meeting on vaping.

Dr. Roy Jensen, director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center, told the students during the meeting that vaping companies target teenagers.

Dr. Jensen said vaping companies tell Congress and others that they are not marketing to teenagers. That is a flat-out lie, Dr. Jensen said.

Students asked questions during the program, and doctors provided factual information. Fox 4 news anchors moderated the program. Student vaping is a problem across the community and across the nation, according to experts.

In an interview, Sumner Academy principal Dr. Rick Malone was asked what he thinks of vaping in the schools.

“We are aware of the serious problems of vaping, especially with teenagers because of the taste,” Dr. Malone said.

He said it wasn’t like the old days, when school personnel might catch teenagers smoking in the bathroom.

“I have personally sent out letters to the parents regarding this issue,” Dr. Malone said. “We want to be aware of the problem. It is a grassroots campaign.”

The Teen Town Hall program was sponsored by the University of Kansas Medical Center, KU Cancer Center, Fox 4 news and the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools. Fox 4 news, which moderated the program, showed a video of it on social media. The video can be seen at https://fox4kc.com/news/fox4-teen-vaping-town-hall-discussing-a-problem-prevalent-in-all-of-our-communities/.

Doctors from the KU Cancer Center and KU Medical Center joined with Superintendent Charles Foust and Fox 4 news anchors to hold a Teen Town Hall on vaping on Thursday morning at Sumner Academy. From left to right were Dr. Matthias Salathe; Dr. Laura Martin; Dr. Roy Jensen; Dr. Foust; and John Holt and Abby Eden, anchors with WDAF-TV/Fox 4 News. (Photo by William Crum)
At the Teen Town Hall meeting Thursday morning at Sumner Academy were, left to right, John Holt of WDAF-TV/Fox 4 News; Abby Eden of WDAF-TV/Fox 4 News; Dr. Charles Foust, Kansas CIty, Kansas, Public Schools superintendent; and Dr. Rick Malone, principal of Sumner Academy. (Photo by William Crum)
A Teen Town Hall meeting was held on Thursday morning at Sumner Academy. (Photo by William Crum)
Students at Sumner Academy participated in a Teen Town Hall meeting Thursday on the topic of vaping. (Photo by William Crum)
Students at Sumner Academy participated in a Teen Town Hall meeting Thursday on the topic of vaping. (Photo by William Crum)
At the Teen Town Hall meeting on vaping on Thursday morning at Sumner Academy were, left to right, Dr. Charles Foust, superintendent of the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools; Dr. Matthias Salathe; Dr. Laura Martin; Dr. Roy Jensen; Abby Eden and John Holt, anchors with WDAF-TV/Fox 4 News. (Photo by William Crum)

Pothole patching scheduled today and Friday on I-70, 18th Street and K-5

Pothole patching has been scheduled Thursday and Friday on I-70, 18th Street and K-5 in Wyandotte County, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

The work will take place between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting.

Traffic will be controlled by mobile lane closures using trucks with arrow boards and digital message boards, according to KDOT.

KDOT asked motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a highway work zone. To stay aware of all road construction projects across Kansas go to www.kandrive.org or call 5-1-1. Drive safely and always wear a seat belt, KDOT stated.

KDOT crews will perform pothole patching on 18th Street on Thursday in the northbound and southbound lanes, with alternating lane closures from I-70 to Steele Road.

K-5 northbound and southbound will have alternating lane closures from I-635 to Sunshine Road on Thursday.

I-70 eastbound will have alternating lane closures from I-670 to James Street on Thursday.

There is also pothole patching work being done on I-435 in Johnson County, from the Kansas River to 95th Street.