Month: May 2020

KCKCC’s Caroline Hoppock commits to NAIA power William Penn

KCKCC’s Caroline Hoppock is hoping for another national championship at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Not content with one national basketball championship, Kansas City Kansas Community College standout Caroline Hoppock has her sights set on another one.

“That’s my goal, two national championships,” Hoppock said after committing to an NAIA national power, William Penn in Oskaloosa, Iowa. “They’ve got a program good enough to win a second national championship.”

“I’m really happy for her,” said Joe McKinstry, a two-time national coach of the year at KCKCC and a William Penn graduate. “I really like to see our players go on and play in meaningful games and for national championships and she’ll do that at William Penn.”

Indeed, Steve Williamson has taken the Lady Statesmen to the NAIA DI national tournament in each of his three seasons as head coach.

An automatic qualifier in the national this past season with a 25-7 overall record (19-5 conference), the Statesmen were denied a chance at a national championship by the coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to coming to William Penn, Williamson coached 13 years at Iowa Wesleyan where he had five teams qualify for the NAIA national tournament and three teams reach the USCAA national tournament where the Tigers finished runnerup in 2016 and Williamson was named national coach of the year.

Williamson expects Hoppock to make an immediate impact on a Statesman program that loses seven seniors and a junior who graduated early.

“She fits in perfectly with the way we play,” Williamson said. “We’ll play her exactly the same way Joe (McKinstry) did with a lot of four and five in and out motion. We think she’ll create a lot of mismatches because of her ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter as well as rebound and play the post.”

Williamson’s first look at Hoppock came in her freshman year in 2017.

“I like watching Joe’s teams play because they play hard and compete so we know we’re getting a good player,” he said. “Caroline showed she could compete and shoot the ball as a freshman. Now she comes in a lot more prepared and can become a leader. We’ve got eight spots to fill but we feel we’ve got good kids coming in from great programs like KCKCC, Kirkwood and Highland.”

Unlike most recruits denied visitations by the pandemic, Hoppock is no stranger to the William Penn program in more ways than one. Not only did KCKCC play in Oskaloosa in each of her three seasons, she’ll also have an inside track on the William Penn offense.

“During the 2018-2019 year I saw Penn play at Mid-America Nazarene and really liked what they were doing offensively,” McKinstry said. “During the break coach Williamson sent me three pages of notes on their offense and we took some things from their offense that really helped us, especially in the national tournament. Caroline is a smart defensive player and her talent and ability as an offensive weapon will make her a good player for a real solid program.”

“I think it’s a perfect fit for me starting a new journey,” Hoppock said. “It’s got a great winning culture which is what I wanted. The coach is awesome and they really wanted me. And they have amazing facilities – a great weight room, basketball and volleyball courts, a turf field. They also have a ton of sports including football. I love football, I missed not having it at KCKCC.”

Ironically, the NAIA has announced plans for adding Flag Football for Women this fall and should William Penn add it as its 10th women’s sport, the college would have a bona fide quarterback in Hoppock, who throws a football with the best, men included.

In Hoppock, William Penn will get a three-year veteran who played a vital role in KCKCC winning the 2019 NJCAA national championship.

Invaluable off the bench in a “sixth man” role, she averaged 7.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists playing in all 36 games. Sidelined by injury after just six games as a freshman, Hoppock also missed the Blue Devils’ first 16 games this season because of injury. Playing in 15 games, she averaged 13.3 points, shooting 41.7 percent from 3-point and .821 from the free throw line, both team bests.

“Were it not for all the injuries, Caroline would undoubtedly have been the best 3-point shooter I’ve ever had,” McKinstry said.

When she finally got into action this season, Hoppock knocked down five 3-pointers in each of her first three games. Last year, she tied the all-time record for threes when she made eight of 11 attempts. Averaging 2.6 threes this season, Hoppock finished her career with 109 treys in 57 games, fifth on the all-time career list.

Looking back, Hoppock calls her decision to play at KCKCC “one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Coach Mac did so many things for me and really took care of me, not just playing basketball but preparing me for life and how to get things done.”

William Penn is a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference, which has members in five states including Baker, Benedictine and Mid-America Nazarene in Kansas.

“It’s the toughest conference in the nation in Division I,” Williamson said. “For us, our success has been remarkable thanks to getting the right type of kids from winning programs.” Other Heart members are in Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois.

Kansas COVID-19 cases up by 410 as Wyandotte County cases rise by 33

Kansas reported 6.144 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases on Thursday, an increase of 410. (KDHE map)
A state graph showed new cases in blue and total cases in yellow in Kansas. (KDHE graph)
Wyandotte County reported 939 positive COVID-19 cases, an increase of 33, with the same number of deaths and hospitalizations as the previous day. (From UG COVID-19 website)

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Wyandotte County rose to 939 at 11:05 a.m. Thursday, while there were no increases reported in deaths or hospitalizations Thursday morning, according to the Unified Government COVID-19 webpage.

It was an increase of 33 cases in Wyandotte County since the 1:40 p.m. Wednesday report.

Kansas reported an increase of 410 confirmed and probable cases on Thursday morning, to total 6,144, according to figures from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The state has started counting confirmed with probable causes on Thursday, a change from the previous confirmed total.

There were 147 deaths in Kansas, an increase of three, according to KDHE. Hospitalizations in Kansas increased by 16, to total 587, statewide.

On Wednesday, Dr. Lee Norman, Kansas secretary of health, stated in a news conference that it is important not to focus on one day’s numbers but to watch the overall trend lines as time goes on. Sometimes they see batch numbers from local communities come in over a few days together, not coming in the first day. There have been increases in testing recently, he said.

He said the state is monitoring 75 outbreaks.

Thirty clusters are in private companies statewide, with 339 cases and four deaths; 22 are in long-term care facilities, with 498 cases and 81 deaths; eight are in church and church-related gatherings, with 110 cases and eight deaths; six are in meatpacking plants with 985 cases and two deaths; three are in group living arrangements, with 40 cases and zero deaths; three are in correctional facilities with 479 caes and two deaths; and three are in health care facilities, with 21 cases and zero deaths.

At Lansing Correctional Facility, testing of all inmates was completed on May 5 and staff will finish testing by early next week, Dr. Norman said. Most of the staff have already been tested, he said.

He said COVID-19 cases spread quickly in prisons. It’s possible there were a certain number of cases at Lansing before it was recognized as such, he said. There was probably a number of asymptomatic people there before the numbers rose, he believes.

Gov. Kelly said there is now a system to evaluate inmates who might be released early, and they will continue to verify who is eligible and is at low risk. She also said some inmates who have been eligible have chosen not to be released, as they would be placed in house arrest, not actually released.

KDHE has loosened the guidelines for testing, with 60,000 testing kits a month available, and now anyone with symptoms can be tested, he said. Symptoms will still be required for a test, he said, such as fever, cough, chills, muscle pains and aches, malaise, headache, sore throat, lower respiratory symptoms, difficulty breathing, the loss of smell or taste, and diarrhea. Two or more of the symptoms are required through KDHE tests, while private tests require one or more symptoms, he said.

The state is now working with labs that are developing a saliva test, and a serum test is being worked on, he said. The goal is to have an antibody test that is specific to COVID-19, not the viruses that cause the common cold, he added.

The University of Kansas Health System reported 26 COVID-19 patients today, with nine in the intensive care unit. There were some discharges recently, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at KU Health System. He said he hopes the trend of discharges continues.

Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the KU Health System, said it feels like the numbers of cases are escalating around them, while the number of cases seems to be declining in the hospital.

Dr. Hawkinson said the experience here has been different from New York, where there were a large number of hospitalizations and critical patients. He is hoping that this area won’t have the large numbers of hospitalizations and the surge that the East Coast experienced, and that this is the new normal.

Wyandotte County is currently under the “stay-at-home” order, and may consider the first stage of reopening, the “red zone,” on May 11.

KU doctors offer advice about getting enough sleep, reducing stress

At a news conference on Thursday morning, doctors at the University of Kansas Health System offered advice about getting enough sleep and reducing stress.

Dr. Greg Nawalanic, psychiatrist with the KU Health System, said that people have been dealing with anxiety and depression through the entire lockdown, and some are having mixed feelings about the manner in which reopening is taking place. Sleep is sometimes affected. Some polarization and conflict has surfaced on social media, with some people becoming angry and anxious.

Dr. Suzanne Stevens, neurologist and director of the sleep medicine clinic at KU Health System, said that people’s experience with the pandemic could be reflected in their dreams. Dreams of health care workers may be reflecting trauma, she said. Others’ dreams may reflect financial and other difficulties, with zombies or invisible aliens attacking them in the dreams.

She said some records of Hiroshima victims showed an “invisible enemy” in the dreams, as people were worried about radiation then, and today it could be a common theme as well.

Another category of COVID-19 dreams is the lockdown dream, she said, where a person dreams he has done something wrong, can’t leave home and wants to escape.

Dr. Nawalanic said anxiety could get worse when people do not feel they can exert control. Some people feel what they have in place now is working for them, but now other people get to decide what their response will be in reopening.

People still have a wide range of appropriate practices that they can have control over, he said, including physically distancing, hygiene and putting on masks when they leave.

Dr. Nawalanic recommended maintaining a sleep routine, going to bed at the same time, keeping screens off an hour before bed and keeping the bedroom dark and cool. If waking up at night, don’t go get a drink or turn on the television, he said.

Dr. Stevens said anxiety begets anxiety. Being exposed to constant negativity during the day could influence dreams, so people can limit exposure to constant negativity.

She said being kind, having good interactions and caring interactions will boost the positive side, and getting outside and exercising could be part of that.

While at home, some people are working from home more, going to bed later and sleeping in later, she said. If they get up later, they could have more intense dreams toward the end of their sleep. Structure is important, with the same bedtime and same waking time.

When people awaken, they could go outside and get some sunlight or turn on the lights, signaling to their brain that it’s time to get up. At night, people should limit negative information, and it might be helpful to shower before bedtime, she added. That might help people relax, and a comfortable sleeping environment might be about 65 degrees.

She said if people wake during the night, they might try deep breathing, counting to three as they breathe in and out. It also might help to visualize a pleasant place, including a positive event in their past. Others write down their dreams or record them, which might help to get it off their minds.

Dr. Nawalanic said it might help to block all thoughts about not sleeping, and keep visible alarm clocks out of the bedroom. If you wake up at night, don’t scroll through the smart phone looking at messages.

Don’t try to work or watch television while in bed, he said. A person could have dreams about what they didn’t do at work if they were working in bed previously.

Also, instead of taking a catnap in the afternoon, get out and exercise, and you might be more sleepy at night, he said.

Dr. Stites said, for those who might have anxiety about going back to work, if they maintain social distance, wear a mask, wash their hands and practice good hygiene, they have a good chance of staying healthy.

Dr. Hawkinson said it is important to continue good hand hygiene, not touch your face, and stay six feet away from others, as people go back to work.

Dr. Stevens said good sleep helps the immune system, helps prevent infections, and if people do get infected, it helps lessen infections.

Employees at KU Health System were the recipients of a barbecue meal today from Operation Barbecue Relief. It was the 4 millionth meal served by the organization, which provides meals during disasters. (Photo from KU Health System)

State case counts in other counties


On Thursday, according to the KDHE, Leavenworth County reported a total of 887 confirmed and probable cases, showing a large increase since Monday. Testing has been going on at Lansing Correctional Facility.


Johnson County reported 560 confirmed and probable cases, according to the KDHE.

Eighty-two counties reported confirmed and probable positive cases on Thursday, according to KDHE, and some of them included: Ford County (Dodge City area), 933; Seward County (Liberal area), 647; Finney County (Garden City area), 589; Sedgwick County (Wichita area), 430; Lyon County (Emporia area), 311; and Shawnee County (Topeka area), 140.

Douglas County (Lawrence area) reported 56 cases, and Riley County (Manhattan area) reported 56 cases, according to the KDHE.

To see the KU doctors’ news conference, visit https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/539926043561528/.

The UG’s COVID-19 webpage is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information.


The Wyandotte County reopening plan, a 41-page document, was posted Thursday, April 30, at https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/media/Health-Department/Documents/Communicable%20Disease/COVID19/RestartWYCOGuidanceDocument043020.pdf.


The Kansas COVID-19 website is at https://covid.ks.gov/.

The Kansas COVID-19 resource page is at https://govstatus.egov.com/coronavirus


Information from the CDC is at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/.

Flags to fly at half-staff in honor of slain Overland Park officer

Gov. Laura Kelly has ordered flags throughout Kansas to be flown at half-staff in honor of Officer Mike Mosher, an Overland Park police officer who was slain while on duty Sunday.

Officer Mosher was a 14-year veteran of the Overland Park Police Department, a field training officer and community policing officer. He was the president of the Overland Park Fraternal Order of Police.

According to Overland Park police, he was on his way to work Sunday when he went to a hit-and-run call near 123rd and Antioch. He was shot while at the scene. The suspect also was shot and died at the scene, according to police.

“I was deeply saddened to learn of Officer Mike Mosher’s death,” Gov. Kelly said. “When our officers sign up to protect and serve our communities, they are putting their lives on the line for us. The sacrifices he and his family have made will certainly not be forgotten. Officer Mosher was an outstanding officer, and I offer my sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time.”

The governor’s office will provide guidelines later on the dates that the flags will be flown at half-staff.

Gov. Kelly also has announced a new executive order, adding first responders who are killed in the line of duty to the list of those who will be officially recognized through a posthumous order. The new executive order, replacing one originally signed under another governor, adds members of law enforcement, fire and emergency response communities to the list.

The Overland Park Police Department will hold a “Salute to Blue” at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, May 10, lighting the city in blue. There will be a procession of police vehicles in Overland Park. Social distancing will be required for anyone viewing the procession from the procession route, https://dw.opkansas.org/public/FileCabinets/2fa13812-70a3-4126-848b-3a20df7175c3/Documents/10506/FileDownload?targetFileType=Auto&keepAnnotations=false.

A public visitation will be held while staying inside personal vehicles, from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, under the canopy of the 110th Street entrance to the Overland Park Convention Center, according to information from the Overland Park website, https://www.opkansas.org/events/visitation-for-officer-mike-mosher/.

A private funeral will take place Wednesday, May 13, for family and friends. The public may view the procession escort along College Boulevard and Metcalf Avenue, to the Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens, according to the website.

The private graveside service, for family and friends only, will include bagpipes and drums from area law enforcement agencies, as well as bugles for taps from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department. The Kansas Highway Patrol will provide a 21-gun salute and a helicopter flyover. The Wichita Police Department will provide a riderless horse. There will be a cannon salute from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.

Memorial donations are being accepted at the Overland Park Police Officers Foundation website, https://oppof.org/.