Month: February 2020

Blue Devils’ Rhodes named Jayhawk Conference player of the week

Robert Rhodes (KCKCC photo)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College forward Robert Rhodes is the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) Player of the Week.

The Jayhawk Conference leader in rebounding, Rhodes was honored for his play in Blue Devil wins over nationally ranked Johnson County and Labette last week.

He had double-doubles in both games as he helped the Blue Devils vault into undisputed possession of the Jayhawk Conference lead.

His fourth double-double of the season – 15 points and 14 rebounds – came in an 82-65 win in a showdown with JCCC for first place in the conference Feb. 5 and he followed it up with 14 points and a career high 18 rebounds in an 81-77 win over Labette on Saturday.

He’s the first KCKCC men’s player to be named Player of the Week. The Lady Blue Devils’ Kamryn Estell earned the women’s honor earlier.

Rhodes leads the Jayhawk in both rebounds (9.0) and blocked shots (47), is third in field goal accuracy (57.4 percent) and seventh in steals (32). Averaging 9.5 points in conference play and 8.6 overall, he’s one of seven Blue Devils averaging seven or more points a game this season.

“Robert has the instinct to go get the ball wherever it is rebounding-wise,” KCKCC head coach Brandon Burgette said. “He does everything requested of him with an effort that goes above and beyond. He has a lot of energy and motor that never stops.”

Rhodes has posted double figures in rebounding 11 times and been in double figures scoring-wise 10 times. He also has 42 assists, an average of nearly two a game.

“He’s been playing great; really consistent every night,” Burgette said.

The Blue Devils will close out their home schedule with doubleheaders Saturday against Fort Scott (2 and 4 p.m.) and next Wednesday night against Highland (5:30 and 7:30 p.m.).

Police notes

Police pursuit reported near 9th and Central

A police pursuit was reported around 3:52 a.m. Feb. 12 in the 900 block of Central Avenue, according to a social media report by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.


When officers tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation, the vehicle would not stop and a pursuit ensued, according to the report.


After going a short distance, the pursuit was ended, the report stated. The suspect was not apprehended.

Aggravated robbery reported near 32nd and State

Aggravated robbery was reported at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 12 in the 3200 block of State Avenue.


A victim reported purchasing illegal drugs from a suspect, according to the social media report from the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department. The suspect left and later the victim heard a knock on the door, according to the report.


Suspects pushed their way in, pointing a gun and taser at the victim, the report stated. The victim was hit and kicked several times before the suspects fled with the victim’s property, according to the report.

Victim shot on Kansas Avenue

Officers were sent to the area of the 1200 block of Kansas Avenue about 9:20 p.m. Feb. 12, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.


Police found a victim on the front porch with a single gunshot wound, the report stated.


The victim was taken to a hospital, and was in stable condition, the report stated.

McClatchy files for bankruptcy

McClatchy, the parent company of The Kansas City Star, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The filing was made Feb. 13 in federal bankruptcy court in New York, according to documents online at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1056087/000105608720000005/mni-20200212x8k.htm.

McClatchy, which operates 30 media companies nationwide, plans to reorganize and has secured $50 million in debtor-in-possession financing, according to the bankruptcy filing.

Besides the Star, it publishes newspapers including the Miami Herald, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Charlotte Observer, Sacramento Bee, and the (Raleigh) News and Observer. The newsrooms are operating as usual, according to the company. The company reported in its filings that it has increased its digital-only subscriptions. Print subscriptions continue to decline.

The company reported in filings with the SEC that it has been in negotiations to restructure its debt. The company also reported in SEC filings it would ask the court to terminate its qualified pension plan and appoint the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) as the plan’s trustee. No adverse effects to pension recipients were expected, according to the filing.

According to a filing with the SEC, the company did not yet have figures for the fourth quarter of 2019 but expected total revenues to be $183.9 million, down 14 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2018. Revenues for all of 2019 were expected to be down 12 percent from 2018.

McClatchey has reported more than $600 million in debt, and some insights into the company’s situation can be found in a blog by Jim Fitzpatrick, a former Kansas City Star employee, at https://jimmycsays.com/.