Month: April 2020

KCK Public Schools to hold graduation at drive-in theater

The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools will hold graduation this spring at the Boulevard Drive-in Theater, 1051 Merriam Lane, Kansas City, Kansas.

The decision was announced at a school board meeting on Tuesday night.

Edwin Birch, executive director of communications for the school district, said graduations would begin June 1. Some details are currently being worked out, he added.

Sharita Hutton, director of communications and marketing for the school district, said there would be six graduation ceremonies, five for the high schools, and one ceremony for the alternative schools. The school information will be announced later, possibly by the weekend.

Students and their families may attend and stay in their vehicles at the ceremony, she said. Each graduate will be allowed one vehicle. They will not be allowed to get out of the cars.

Plans are to have a valedictorian speech and everything that they usually have at graduation, minus walking across the stage, she added.

The graduation plan has received approval from the mayor, and they have been working with the Wyandotte County Health Department, she said.

“All of our seniors have worked so hard to get to where they are today, and we know the importance not only for them but for their families,” Hutton said.

While they can’t give them the walk across the stage, the district still wants to give them something memorable, she said.

Health Department adds two pop-up COVID-19 testing sites

The Unified Government Health Department announced on social media on Tuesday that two pop-up testing sites have been scheduled this week for COVID-19.

One site will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at the Kansas City Kansas Community College Dr. Burke Tech Center parking lot, 6565 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.

The other site will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Salem Baptist Church parking lot, 1824 N. 11th, Kansas City, Kansas.

According to the Health Department, testing is free, and persons interested in getting a test should call ahead to register at 913-371-9298. Testing is in partnership with Vibrant Health and the Health Equity Task Force.

To be tested, persons must have had at least one symptom of fever, dry cough or difficulty breathing; or two symptoms of body aches, sore throat, sudden lack of sense of taste or smell, nausea, diarrhea and tiredness.

Testing for COVID-19 also is continuing at the Health Department parking lot area at 619 Ann Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

No appointments are needed and tests are free; however, to get a test, Wyandotte County residents must have experienced a symptom or symptoms within the past 48 hours, that may include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, body aches, sore throat, sudden lack of sense of taste or smell, nausea, diarrhea and tiredness.

Residents may call ahead to 311 or can report symptoms online to wycokck.org/COVID-19, with the Health Department following up to set up a test appointment or provide guidance.

Police notes

Victim wounded by gunfire


A victim was wounded by gunfire around 5 p.m. April 28 in the 7500 block of Parallel Parkway, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

A suspect began shooting at the victim’s vehicle, according to the report. One victim was shot and was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the report stated.