Month: March 2020

Critical fire weather conditions Thursday afternoon

A red flag warning is in effect this afternoon in the area, according to the National Weather Service. Outdoor burning should be avoided today. (National Weather Service graphic)
Wind speeds will be 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon Thursday. (National Weather Service graphic)
Winds may gust up to 36 mph this afternoon. (National Weather Service graphic)
Relative humidity was 48 percent at 9 a.m. in Wyandotte County, and may drop to 22 percent by 2 p.m., adding to fire danger. (National Weather Service graphic)
The red flag warning is in effect from noon until 6 p.m. Thursday. Outdoor burning should be avoided. (National Weather Service graphic)

Critical fire weather conditions will exist across the area on Thursday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

A red flag warning is in effect from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, the weather service said.

Strong and gusty northwesterly winds, combined with low relative humidity values, are expected this afternoon, according to the weather service. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph in Wyandotte County today.

Humidity values are expected to fall to around 20 percent or lower this afternoon, the weather service said.

With grass still dry from winter dormancy, the combination of strong winds and low humidity will lead to dangerous fire weather conditions this afternoon, according to the weather service.

Outdoor burning should be avoided today, the weather service said.

The next chance for rain, including some possible isolated thunderstorms, will be late this weekend, into early next week, according to the weather service.

Today, it will be sunny, with a high near 60, the weather service said. A northwest wind of 9 to 14 mph will increase to 16 to 21 in the afternoon. Winds may gust as high as 36 mph.

Tonight, it will be clear, with a low around 31, according to the weather service. A north northwest wind of 11 to 16 mph will decrease to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.

Friday, it will be sunny with a high near 56, the weather service said. A north wind of about 6 mph will become calm.

Friday night, it will be clear with a low of 39 and a calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the evening, according to the weather service.

Saturday, there will be increasing clouds, with a high near 65, the weather service said. A south wind of 7 to 16 mph will gust as high as 28 mph.

Saturday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 47, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 67, the weather service said.

Sunday night, there is a 90 percent chance of rain, mainly after midnight, according to the weather service. The low will be around 51.

Monday, there is a 90 percent chance of rain, with a high near 59, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 35, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 53, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, there is a 30 percent chance of rain, with a low of 39, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a high near 58, the weather service said.

Pothole patching continues on area highways

The Kansas Department of Transportation will continue pothole patching in Johnson and Wyandotte counties this week, weather permitting.

Wyandotte County


Night work on I-70 between 57th Street and 18th Street will continue to March 6. Work will occur from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. and includes ramps at I-635 – I-70 and 38th Street – I-70, according to a KDOT spokesman.

Traffic will be controlled by mobile lane closures using trucks with arrow boards and digital message boards

Johnson County


I-435 northbound and southbound will have various mobile lane closures from the Kansas River to K-10.


I-435 eastbound and westbound will have various mobile lane closures from Metcalf Avenue to State Line Road.

Work will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is expected to be completed Friday, March 6.

A KDOT spokesman urged all 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. Motorists are asked to drive safely and always wear their seat belts, the spokesman stated.

Blue Devils overcome 12-5 deficit to sweep State Fair

KCKCC sophomore Alaina Howe was all smiles as she was mobbed by happy teammates after her double to the fence in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the Blue Devils a 14-13 win over State Fair Tuesday. KCKCC also won the second game 9-1. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

If Lana Ross learned anything about her 2020 Kansas City Kansas Community College softball team Tuesday, it was that the Blue Devils have a lot of fight.

Trailing State Fair 12-5 after five innings, the Blue Devils rallied in both the seventh and eighth innings for a wild 14-13 opening game and then posted a 9-1 5-inning win in the night cap.

The wins boosted the Blue Devils’ record to 5-1 heading into some early season showdowns. At Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri, Thursday, KCKCC will play host to No. 9 ranked Kirkwood Friday at 1 and 3 p.m. and then goes to Northeast Oklahoma A&M in Miami on Sunday.

The Blue Devils won Tuesday’s 14-13 on three straight doubles with none out in the eighth inning. State Fair had taken a 13-12 lead in the top of the inning on a two-out fly ball that was inches fair but Hannah Redick and Alexis Rymer rapped doubles to left to tie the game and Alaina Howe won it with a high drive to the fence in center field.

Down 12-9 in the seventh, the Blue Devils pulled even on Bradi Basler’s ground ball to left field that scored two runs. Singles by Leah Seichepine, Devin Purcell and Abby Henson set up the game-tying hit. KCKCC started its comeback from the 12-5 deficit with four runs in the sixth, the big blow a bases-clearing double by Redick.

Redick finished the day with a solo home run in the fifth, two doubles, a single and five runs-batted-in. Purcell and Leah Seichepine also had four hits and Henson, Basler, Rymer and Howe two each and Jennica Messer delivered a double that ignited the four-run sixth.

The pitching winner in both games, Basler (3-1) got the win in the opener with two innings of one run, one hit relief. Shay Grosstephan worked the first 5.1 innings, giving up nine runs on 14 hits. Freshman Nerida Elson finished the 4-run sixth inning, allowing three runs on two hits and three walks.

The Blue Devils made the nightcap easy for Basler, getting two-run home runs from Rymer and Grosstephan and scoring five runs in the first inning on the way to the 9-1 win.

Grosstephan and Howe each doubled in a pair of runs in the first inning; Rymer homered after a Redick single in the third; and Grosstephan followed a walk with a 2-run shot in the fourth. Rymer finished with three hits and three RBI; Purcell and Henson each singled and doubled; and Grosstephan drove in four.

Basler faced just 21 hitters in five innings, allowing one run on four hits. She struck out seven and walked two. The Blue Devils were errorless in fielding in both wins.

“I wasn’t really happy about how we gave up runs in the first game but very pleased the way we battled back in the first game and then settled down in the second,” Ross said.